As filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on July 6, 2015
Securities Act Registration No.
033-24962
Investment Company Act Registration No.
811-05186
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 136 (X)
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 138 (X)
Check appropriate box or boxes
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
Exact name of registrant as specified in
charter
Gateway Center Three, 4th
floor
100 Mulberry Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Address of Principal Executive Offices including
Zip Code
(973) 367-7521
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including
Area Code
Deborah A. Docs
Gateway Center Three, 4th floor
100 Mulberry Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Name and Address of Agent for Service
It is proposed that this filing will
become effective:
__immediately upon filing pursuant
to paragraph (b)
X
on July 8, 2015 pursuant to paragraph (b)
__ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
__ on (____) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
__ 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
__ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
If appropriate, check the
following box:
__ this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
ADVANCED SERIES
TRUST
PROSPECTUS
• July 13, 2015
The Advanced Series Trust (the
Trust) is an investment vehicle for life insurance companies (the Participating Insurance Companies) writing variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies (each, a Contract and together, the
Contracts). Shares of the Trust may also be sold directly to certain tax-deferred retirement plans. Each Contract involves fees and expenses not described in this prospectus (the Prospectus). Please read the
prospectus of your Contract for information regarding the Contract, including its fees and expenses. The portfolios offered in this Prospectus are set forth on this cover (each, a Portfolio and together, the
Portfolios).
These securities have not been
approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission or the SEC) or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) nor has the Commission or the CFTC passed upon the accuracy or
adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Prudential, the Prudential logo,
and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation
Portfolio
AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
AST Wellington Management Global Bond
Portfolio
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio
SUMMARY: AST AB GLOBAL BOND PORTFOLIO
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The investment objective of the
Portfolio is to seek to generate current income consistent with preservation of capital.
PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
The table below shows the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you invest in shares of the Portfolio. The table does not include Contract charges. Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be
higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the table. See your Contract prospectus for more information about Contract charges.
Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
Management Fees
|
0.62%
|
Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 Fees)
|
0.25%
|
Other Expenses
1
|
0.03%
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
|
0.90%
|
1
The Portfolio will commence operations on or about July 13, 2015. Estimate based in part on assumed average daily net assets of $1.4 billion for the Portfolio for the fiscal
period ending December 31, 2015.
Example.
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table does not include Contract charges.
Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the example. See your Contract prospectus for more information about
Contract charges.
The example assumes that you
invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the
Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
|
$92
|
$287
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate
higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio's performance. No portfolio turnover rate is presented for the Portfolio,
because it is new.
INVESTMENTS, RISKS AND
PERFORMANCE
Principal
Investment Strategies.
In pursuing its investment objective, the Portfolio normally invests at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in fixed-income securities.
The Portfolio invests in a broad range of fixed-income securities in both developed and emerging markets (in at least three countries), with investments denominated in either local currency or the US dollar. The
percentage of the Portfolio’s assets invested in a particular country or denominated in a particular currency vary in accordance with assessments of the relative yield and appreciation potential of various
securities and currencies relative to the US dollar. The Portfolio invests at least 40% of its assets in non-US companies under normal circumstances. In determining whether a company is a non-US company, the
subadviser will evaluate the issuer’s “country of risk.” The issuer’s “country of risk” will be determined is based on a number of criteria, including its country of domicile, the
primary stock exchange on which it trades, the location from which the majority of its revenue comes, and its reporting currency. The Portfolio can invest across all fixed-income sectors, including US and non-US
government securities, and across a range of maturities. The Portfolio may use borrowings or other leverage for investment
purposes.
Under normal circumstances, the
Portfolio invests at least 75% of its net assets in fixed income securities rated investment grade at the time of investment, and may invest up to 25% of its net assets in below investment grade fixed income
securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”).
The subadviser actively manages
the Portfolio’s assets in relation to market conditions and general economic conditions and adjusts the Portfolio’s investments in an effort to best enable the Portfolio to achieve its investment
objective.
The Portfolio may invest in
mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, loan participations, inflation-protected securities, structured securities, variable, floating, and inverse floating-rate instruments and preferred stock, and may
use other investment techniques. The Portfolio intends, among other things, to enter into transactions such as reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls.
The Portfolio may invest, without
limit, in derivatives including, but not limited, to futures (including bond, currency, equity, index and interest rate futures), currency forwards, options (swap options, options on currencies and options on
currencies) and swaps (including credit default, credit default swap index, interest rate and total return swaps). The Portfolio may invest in derivatives for both hedging and non-hedging purposes, including, for
example, seeking to enhance returns or as a substitute for a position in an underlying asset.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Portfolio.
The risks summarized below are the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio. All investments have risks to some degree and it is possible that you could lose money by investing in the
Portfolio. An investment in the Portfolio is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. While the Portfolio makes every
effort to achieve its objective, the Portfolio cannot guarantee success.
Asset-Backed and/or Mortgage-Backed
Securities Risk
. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are fixed income securities that represent an interest in an underlying pool of assets, such as credit card receivables or, in the case of
mortgage-backed securities, mortgage loans. Like fixed income securities, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and credit risk, which may be heightened in
connection with investments in loans to “subprime” borrowers. Certain asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to the risk that those obligations will be repaid sooner than expected or later
than expected, either of which may result in lower than expected returns. Mortgage-backed securities, because they are backed by mortgage loans, are also subject to risks related to real estate, and securities backed
by private-issued mortgages may experience higher rates of default on the underlying mortgages than securities backed by government-issued mortgages.
Asset Transfer
Program Risk
. Predetermined, nondiscretionary mathematical formulas used by the Participating Insurance Companies to manage the guarantees offered in connection with certain benefit programs under the
Contracts may result in systematic transfers of assets among the investment options under the Contracts, including the Portfolio. These formulas may result in large-scale asset flows into and out of the Portfolio,
which
could adversely affect the Portfolio, including its risk profile, expenses and performance. For example, the asset flows may adversely affect performance by requiring the Portfolio to
purchase or sell securities at inopportune times, by otherwise limiting the subadviser’s ability to fully implement the Portfolio’s investment strategies, or by requiring the Portfolio to hold a larger
portion of its assets in highly liquid securities than it otherwise would hold. The asset flows may also result in high turnover, low asset levels and high operating expense ratios for the Portfolio. The efficient
operation of the asset flows depends on active and liquid markets.
If market liquidity is strained, the asset flows may not operate as intended which in turn could adversely affect performance.
Derivatives Risk
. A derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The use of derivatives involves a
variety of risks, including the risk that: the party on the other side of a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation; leverage created by investing in derivatives may result in losses to
the Portfolio; derivatives may be difficult or impossible for
the Portfolio to buy or sell at an opportune time
or price, and may be difficult to terminate or otherwise offset; derivatives used for hedging may reduce or magnify losses but also may reduce or eliminate gains; and the price of commodity-linked derivatives may be
more volatile than the prices of traditional equity and debt securities.
Equity Securities Risk
. The value of a particular stock or equity-related security held by the Portfolio could fluctuate, perhaps greatly, in response to a number of factors, such as changes in the
issuer’s financial condition or the value of the equity markets or a sector of those markets. Such events may result in losses to the Portfolio.
Expense Risk
. The actual cost of investing in the Portfolio may be higher than the expenses shown in the “Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” table above for a variety of reasons,
including, for example, if the Portfolio’s average net assets decrease.
Fixed Income Securities Risk
. Investment in fixed income securities involves a variety of risks, including that: an issuer or guarantor of a security will be unable to pay obligations when due; the Portfolio may be
unable to sell its securities holdings at the price it values the security or at any price; the income generated by and the market price of a fixed income security may decline due to a decrease in interest rates; and
the price of a fixed income security may decline due to an increase in interest rates.
Foreign Investment Risk
. Investments in foreign securities generally involve more risk than investing in securities of US issuers, including: changes in currency exchange rates may affect the value of foreign
securities held by the Portfolio; foreign markets generally are more volatile than, and generally are not subject to regulatory requirements comparable to, US markets; foreign financial reporting standards usually
differ from those in the US; foreign exchanges are often less liquid than US markets; political developments may adversely affect the value of foreign securities; and foreign holdings may be subject to special
taxation and limitations on repatriating investment proceeds.
High-Yield Risk
. Investments in fixed income securities rated below investment grade and unrated securities of similar credit quality (i.e., high yield securities or junk bonds) may be more sensitive to
interest rate, credit and liquidity risks than investments in investment grade securities, and have predominantly speculative characteristics.
Leverage Risk
. Using leverage, the investment of borrowed cash, may amplify the Portfolio’s gains and losses and cause the Portfolio to be more volatile.
Liquidity and Valuation Risk
. The Portfolio may hold one or more securities for which there are no or few buyers and sellers or the securities are subject to limitations on transfer. The Portfolio may be unable to
sell those portfolio holdings at the desired time or price, and may have difficulty determining the value of such securities for the purpose of determining the Portfolio’s net asset value. In such cases,
investments owned by the Portfolio may be valued at fair value pursuant to guidelines established by the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees. No assurance can be given that the fair value prices accurately reflect the
value of security.
Market and Management Risk
. Markets in which the Portfolio invests may experience volatility and go down in value, and possibly sharply and unpredictably. The investment techniques, risk analysis and investment
strategies used by a subadviser in making investment decisions for the Portfolio may not produce the intended or desired results.
Recent Events Risk
. Events in the financial markets have caused, and may continue to cause, increased volatility and a significant decline in the value and liquidity of many securities. As a result,
identifying investment risks and opportunities may be especially difficult. There is no assurance that steps taken by governments, and their agencies and instrumentalities, to support financial markets will continue,
and the impact of regulatory changes on the markets may not be known for some time.
Regulatory Risk
. The Portfolio is subject to a variety of laws and regulations which govern its operations. The Portfolio is subject to regulation by the SEC. Similarly, the businesses and other issuers
of the securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio invests are also subject to considerable regulation. A change in laws and regulations may materially impact the Portfolio, a security, business, sector or
market.
Past Performance.
No performance history is presented for this Portfolio, because it does not yet have a full calendar year of performance.
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO
Investment Manager
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Subadviser
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Portfolio Managers
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Title
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Service Date
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Prudential Investments LLC
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AllianceBernstein L.P.
|
Scott DiMaggio, CFA
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Director and Portfolio Manager
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July 2015
|
|
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Matthew Sheridan, CFA
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Portfolio Manager
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July 2015
|
|
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Douglas J. Peebles
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Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager
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July 2015
|
|
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Paul DeNoon
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Director and Portfolio Manager
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July 2015
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|
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Michael L. Mon, CFA
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Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager
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July 2015
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TAX INFORMATION
Contract owners should consult
their Contract prospectus for information on the federal tax consequences to them. In addition, Contract owners may wish to consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investments in the
Contracts and the Portfolio, including the application of state and local taxes. The Portfolio currently intends to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Portfolio's income,
gains, losses, deductions, and credits are “passed through” pro rata directly to the Participating Insurance Companies and retain the same character for federal income tax purposes.
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
COMPENSATION
If you purchase your Contract
through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Participating Insurance Company, the Portfolio or their related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Contract, the
selection of the Portfolio and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Contract over another
investment or insurance product, or to recommend the Portfolio over another investment option under the Contract. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
SUMMARY: AST COLUMBIA ADAPTIVE RISK ALLOCATION
PORTFOLIO
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The investment objective of the
Portfolio is to pursue consistent total returns by seeking to allocate risks across multiple asset classes.
PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
The table below shows the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you invest in shares of the Portfolio. The table does not include Contract charges. Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be
higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the table. See your Contract prospectus for more information about Contract charges.
Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
Management Fees
|
0.94%
|
Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 Fees)
|
0.25%
|
Other Expenses
1
|
0.06%
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
|
0.03%
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
|
1.28%
|
1
The Portfolio will commence operations on or about July 13, 2015. Estimate based in part on assumed average daily net assets of $250 million for the Portfolio for the fiscal
period ending December 31, 2015.
Example.
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table does not include Contract charges.
Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the example. See your Contract prospectus for more information about
Contract charges.
The example assumes that you
invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the
Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio
|
$130
|
$406
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate
higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio's performance. No portfolio turnover rate is presented for the Portfolio,
because it is new.
INVESTMENTS, RISKS AND
PERFORMANCE
Principal Investment
Strategies.
The Portfolio, under normal circumstances, seeks to achieve its investment objective by allocating portfolio risk across multiple asset classes in US and non-US markets with the goal of
generating consistent risk-adjusted returns. For these purposes, risk is the expected volatility (i.e., dispersion of returns) of a security, market, index or asset class, as determined by the Portfolio’s
subadviser.
The Portfolio employs quantitative
and fundamental methods to identify distinct market environments and creates a strategic risk allocation for each environment that is intended to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns in that environment.
Allocations of risk to asset classes may differ significantly across market environments. In addition to strategic risk allocations based on the market environment, the subadviser may make tactical adjustments within
and among asset classes and pursue opportunistic strategies in response to changing market, economic or other conditions.
The Portfolio may use a variety of
security and instrument types to gain exposure to equity securities, inflation-hedging assets, and fixed income securities (generally consisting of fixed income securities issued by governments, which are referred to
as interest rate assets, and other fixed income securities, which are referred to as spread assets). The equity securities in which the Portfolio may invest include direct or indirect investments in common stocks,
preferred stocks, and convertible securities. The inflation-hedging assets in which the Portfolio may invest include direct or indirect investments in commodity-related investments, including certain types of
commodities-linked derivatives or notes, inflation-linked bonds, and real estate investment trusts. The fixed income assets in which the Portfolio may invest include direct and indirect investments in corporate bonds,
structured securities (including asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities, and collateralized loan obligations), securities in the to-be-announced market, dollar rolls, exchange-traded notes (including both
leveraged and inverse notes), equity- or index-linked notes, sovereign debt obligations (including emerging market sovereign debt obligations), US Government securities, repurchase agreements, and reverse repurchase
agreements.
The Portfolio may
invest in securities and instruments issued by both US and non-US entities, including issuers in emerging market countries. The Portfolio may also invest in currencies. The Portfolio may invest in companies that have
market capitalizations of any size.
The Portfolio may invest in
derivatives, including futures (including bond, currency, equity, index and interest rate futures), currency forwards, options and swaps (including credit default, credit default swap index, interest rate and total
return swaps). The Portfolio may invest in derivatives for both hedging and non-hedging purposes, including, for example, seeking to enhance returns or as a substitute for a position in an underlying asset. The
Portfolio may invest in derivatives to manage the Portfolio’s overall risk exposure. The Portfolio also uses derivatives to obtain leverage (market exposure in excess of the Portfolio’s assets). The
Portfolio may utilize significant amounts of leverage within certain asset classes and during certain market environments in order to maintain attractive expected risk-adjusted returns while adhering to the
Portfolio’s risk allocation framework.
The Portfolio may also take short
positions, for hedging or investment purposes. The Portfolio may invest significantly in Columbia Commodity Strategy Fund, Columbia Global Inflation-Linked Bond Plus Fund and Columbia Real Estate Equity Fund but may
also invest significantly in other underlying funds. Depending on current and expected market and economic conditions, the Portfolio may invest all of its assets in underlying funds.
The Portfolio is non-diversified
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and may invest a larger percentage of its assets in fewer issuers than a diversified mutual fund.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Portfolio.
The risks summarized below are the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio. All investments have risks to some degree and it is possible that you could lose money by investing in the
Portfolio. An investment in the Portfolio is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. While the Portfolio makes every
effort to achieve its objective, the Portfolio cannot guarantee success.
Asset Allocation Risk.
The Portfolio’s overall allocations to stocks and bonds, and the allocations to the various asset classes and market sectors within those broad categories, could cause the Portfolio
to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective. As a fund that has a larger allocation to equity securities relative to its fixed income allocation, the Portfolio risk of loss and share price
fluctuation (and potential for gain) will tend to be more closely aligned with funds investing a greater portion of assets in equity securities and notably more than funds investing primarily in fixed income
securities. Additionally, both equity and fixed income securities may decline in value.
Asset-Backed and/or Mortgage-Backed
Securities Risk
. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are fixed income securities that represent an interest in an underlying pool of assets, such as credit card receivables or, in the case of
mortgage-backed securities, mortgage loans. Like fixed income securities, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and credit risk, which may be heightened in
connection with investments in loans to “subprime” borrowers. Certain asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to the risk that those obligations will be repaid sooner than expected or later
than expected, either of which may result
in lower than expected returns. Mortgage-backed
securities, because they are backed by mortgage loans, are also subject to risks related to real estate, and securities backed by private-issued mortgages may experience higher rates of default on the underlying
mortgages than securities backed by government-issued mortgages.
Commodity Risk
. The value of a commodity-linked investment is affected by, among other things, overall market movements and changes in interest and exchange rates and may be more volatile than
traditional equity and debt securities.
Derivatives Risk
. A derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The use of derivatives involves a
variety of risks, including the risk that: the party on the other side of a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation; leverage created by investing in derivatives may result in losses to
the Portfolio; derivatives may be difficult or impossible for the Portfolio to buy or sell at an opportune time or price, and may be difficult to terminate or otherwise offset; derivatives used for hedging may reduce
or magnify losses but also may reduce or eliminate gains; and the price of commodity-linked derivatives may be more volatile than the prices of traditional equity and debt securities.
Equity Securities Risk
. The value of a particular stock or equity-related security held by the Portfolio could fluctuate, perhaps greatly, in response to a number of factors, such as changes in the
issuer’s financial condition or the value of the equity markets or a sector of those markets. Such events may result in losses to the Portfolio.
Emerging Markets Risk
. The risks of non-US investments are greater for investments in emerging markets. Emerging market countries typically have economic and political systems that are less fully
developed, and can be expected to be less stable, than those of more developed countries. For example, the economies of such countries can be subject to rapid and unpredictable rates of inflation or deflation.
Low trading volumes may result in a lack of liquidity and price volatility. Emerging market countries may have policies that restrict investment by foreigners, or that prevent foreign investors from withdrawing
their money at will.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF)
Risk
. An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a mutual fund that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. In addition, the
market price of an ETF’s shares may trade above or below their net asset value and there may not be an active trading market for an ETF’s shares. The Portfolio could lose money investing in an ETF if the
prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down.
Exchange-Traded Notes Risk.
Because exchange-traded notes (ETNs) are unsecured, unsubordinated debt securities, an investment in an ETN exposes the Portfolio to the risk that an ETN’s issuer may be unable to
pay. In addition, the Portfolio will bear its proportionate share of the fees and expenses of the ETN, which may cause the Portfolio’s operating expenses to be higher and its performance to be lower.
Expense Risk
. The actual cost of investing in the Portfolio may be higher than the expenses shown in the “Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” table above for a variety of reasons,
including, for example, if the Portfolio’s average net assets decrease.
Fixed Income Securities Risk
. Investment in fixed income securities involves a variety of risks, including that: an issuer or guarantor of a security will be unable to pay obligations when due; the Portfolio may be
unable to sell its securities holdings at the price it values the security or at any price; the income generated by and the market price of a fixed income security may decline due to a decrease in interest rates; and
the price of a fixed income security may decline due to an increase in interest rates.
Foreign Investment Risk
. Investments in foreign securities generally involve more risk than investing in securities of US issuers, including: changes in currency exchange rates may affect the value of foreign
securities held by the Portfolio; foreign markets generally are more volatile than, and generally are not subject to regulatory requirements comparable to, US markets; foreign financial reporting standards usually
differ from those in the US; foreign
exchanges are often less liquid than US markets;
political developments may adversely affect the value of foreign securities; and foreign holdings may be subject to special taxation and limitations on repatriating investment proceeds.
Fund of Funds Risk
. In addition to the risks associated with the investment in the underlying portfolios, the Portfolio is exposed to the investment objectives, investment risks, and investment performance
of the underlying portfolios. The Portfolio is also subject to a potential conflict of interest between the Portfolio and its adviser and subadviser(s), which could impact the Portfolio.
Investment Style Risk
. Securities of a particular investment style, such as growth or value, tend to perform differently (i.e., better or worse than other segments of, or the overall, stock market) depending on
market and economic conditions.
High-Yield Risk
. Investments in fixed income securities rated below investment grade and unrated securities of similar credit quality (i.e., high yield securities or junk bonds) may be more sensitive to
interest rate, credit and liquidity risks than investments in investment grade securities, and have predominantly speculative characteristics.
Leverage Risk
. Using leverage, the investment of borrowed cash, may amplify the Portfolio’s gains and losses and cause the Portfolio to be more volatile.
Liquidity and Valuation Risk
. The Portfolio may hold one or more securities for which there are no or few buyers and sellers or the securities are subject to limitations on transfer. The Portfolio may be unable to
sell those portfolio holdings at the desired time or price, and may have difficulty determining the value of such securities for the purpose of determining the Portfolio’s net asset value. In such cases,
investments owned by the Portfolio may be valued at fair value pursuant to guidelines established by the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees. No assurance can be given that the fair value prices accurately reflect the
value of security.
Market and Management Risk
. Markets in which the Portfolio invests may experience volatility and go down in value, and possibly sharply and unpredictably. The investment techniques, risk analysis and investment
strategies used by a subadviser in making investment decisions for the Portfolio may not produce the intended or desired results.
Market Capitalization Risk.
Investing in issuers within the same market capitalization category carries the risk that the category may be out of favor due to current market conditions or investor sentiment. Because
the Portfolio may invest a portion of its assets in securities issued by small-cap companies, it is likely to be more volatile than a portfolio that focuses on securities issued by larger companies. Small-sized
companies often have less experienced management, narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, and less publicly available information than larger companies. In addition, smaller companies are typically
more sensitive to changes in overall economic conditions and their securities may be difficult to trade.
Non-Diversification Risk
. The Portfolio is a non-diversified Portfolio, and therefore, it can invest in fewer individual companies than a diversified Portfolio. Because a non-diversified portfolio is more likely
to experience large market price fluctuations, the Portfolio may be subject to a greater risk of loss than a fund that has a diversified portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover Risk
. The subadviser may engage in active trading on behalf of the Portfolio—that is, frequent trading of their securities—in order to take advantage of new investment opportunities
or yield differentials. The Portfolio's turnover rate may be higher than that of other mutual funds. Portfolio turnover generally involves some expense to the Portfolio, including brokerage commissions or dealer
mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestment in other securities.
Quantitative Model Risk.
The Portfolio and certain underlying portfolios, if applicable, may use quantitative models as part of its investment process. Securities or other investments selected using quantitative
methods may perform differently from the market as a whole or from their expected performance for many reasons, including factors used in building the quantitative analytical framework, the weights placed on each
factor, and changing sources of market returns. There can be no assurance that these methodologies will enable the Portfolio to achieve its objective.
Real Estate Risk
. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate-linked derivative instruments are subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate.
Poor performance by the manager of the REIT and adverse changes to or inability to qualify with favorable tax laws will adversely affect the Portfolio. In addition, some REITs have limited diversification because they
invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property.
Regulatory Risk
. The Portfolio is subject to a variety of laws and regulations which govern its operations. The Portfolio is subject to regulation by the SEC. Similarly, the businesses and other issuers
of the securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio invests are also subject to considerable regulation. A change in laws and regulations may materially impact the Portfolio, a security, business, sector or
market.
Short Sale Risk
. A short sale involves the risk that the price of a borrowed security or derivative will increase during the time the Portfolio has borrowed the security or derivative and the Portfolio
will incur a loss equal to the increase in price from the time that the short sale was entered into plus any premiums and interest paid to the third party. Short sales may result in losses that are greater than the
cost of the investment. In addition, the third party to the short sale may fail to honor its contract terms, causing a loss to the Portfolio.
US Government Securities Risk.
US Government securities may be adversely affected by changes in interest rates, a default by, or decline in credit quality of, the US Government, and may not be backed by the “full
faith and credit” of the US Government.
Past Performance.
No performance history is presented for this Portfolio, because it does not yet have a full calendar year of performance.
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO
Investment Manager
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Title
|
Service Date
|
Prudential Investments LLC
|
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
|
Jeffrey Knight, CFA
|
Senior Portfolio Manager, Global Head of Investment Solutions and Co-Head of Global Asset
Allocation
|
July 2015
|
|
|
Orhan Imer, Ph.D, CFA
|
Senior Portfolio Manager, Head of LDI and Inflation Solutions
|
July 2015
|
|
|
Toby Nangle
|
Portfolio Manager and Co-Head of Global Asset Allocation
|
July 2015
|
|
|
Beth Vanney, CFA
|
Portfolio Manager
|
July 2015
|
TAX INFORMATION
Contract owners should consult
their Contract prospectus for information on the federal tax consequences to them. In addition, Contract owners may wish to consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investments in the
Contracts and the Portfolio, including the application of state and local taxes. The Portfolio currently intends to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Portfolio's income,
gains, losses, deductions, and credits are “passed through” pro rata directly to the Participating Insurance Companies and retain the same character for federal income tax purposes.
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
COMPENSATION
If you purchase your Contract
through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Participating Insurance Company, the Portfolio or their related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Contract, the
selection of the Portfolio and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Contract over another
investment or insurance product, or to recommend the Portfolio over another investment option under the Contract. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
SUMMARY: AST EMERGING MANAGERS DIVERSIFIED
PORTFOLIO
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The investment objective of the
Portfolio is to seek total return.
PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
The table below shows the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you invest in shares of the Portfolio. The table does not include Contract charges. Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be
higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the table. See your Contract prospectus for more information about Contract charges.
Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
Management Fees
|
0.74%
|
Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 Fees)
|
0.25%
|
Other Expenses
1
|
0.10%
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
|
1.09%
|
Fee waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
|
-0.02%
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee waiver and/or Expense
Reimbursement
2
|
1.07%
|
1
The Portfolio will commence operations on or about July 13, 2015. Estimate based in part on assumed average daily net assets of $250 million for the Portfolio for the fiscal
period ending December 31, 2015.
2
The investment manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fees and/or reimburse certain expenses for the Portfolio so that the
Portfolio’s investment management fee plus other expenses (exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 1.07% of
the Portfolio’s average daily net assets through July 13, 2016. The expense limitation may not be terminated or modified prior to July 13, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of
Trustees.
Example.
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table does not include Contract charges.
Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the example. See your Contract prospectus for more information about
Contract charges.
The example assumes that you
invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the
Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
|
$109
|
$345
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate
higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio's performance. No portfolio turnover rate is presented for the Portfolio,
because it is new.
INVESTMENTS, RISKS AND
PERFORMANCE
Principal
Investment Strategies.
In seeking to achieve its investment objective, the Portfolio allocates its assets across various investment strategies to provide exposure to a mix of domestic and international equity
and fixed income markets, as well as alternative investments. Under normal circumstances, approximately 48% of the Portfolio’s net assets are allocated to equity market strategies and approximately 32% of the
Portfolio’s net assets are allocated to fixed income market strategies, with the remaining approximately 20% of the Portfolio’s net assets to be allocated to alternative strategies. The Portfolio is
designed to provide access to institutional investment strategies managed by emerging manager investment firms. In selecting subadvisers for the Portfolio, the Portfolio's investment manager focuses on smaller or
mid-size subadvisers and/or those subadvisers that are female or minority owned, but do not apply any quantitative limits on a subadviser’s total assets under management or on the subadviser’s assets under
management within a specific investment strategy. In determining whether to retain a subadviser after the
subadviser’
s assets under management have increased, either generally or within a specific investment strategy, the Portfolio’s investment manager considers a variety of factors, including transition costs and available
options. The Portfolio’s investment manager may recommend replacement of a subadviser due to an increase in assets under management, but is not required to do so.
At the Portfolio’s
inception, approximately 60-70% of the Portfolio’s assets will be allocated to two subadvisers, each of which is an emerging manager and each of which provides a distinct investment strategy. Prudential
Investments LLC (the Investment Manager) manages the remaining 30-40% of the Portfolio’s assets.
At inception, the Portfolio will
have five strategies: a domestic large-cap core strategy, subadvised by Dana Investment Advisers, Inc., a core plus fixed-income strategy, subadvised by Longfellow Investment Management Co., an international equity
strategy, managed by the Investment Manager, a fixed-income credit strategy managed by the Investment Manager and an alternative strategy, also managed by the Investment Manager. When the Portfolio’s asset size
increases, it is expected to have four strategies that invest in equity securities (large cap core, large cap value, large cap growth and small cap core), two strategies that invest in primarily international
equities, two fixed income strategies (core plus fixed-income and fixed-income credit), and two alternative strategies.
The Investment
Manager manages the international equity strategy, the fixed-income credit strategy and an alternative strategy. The Investment Manager seeks to provide exposure to these strategies by investing in non-U.S. equity,
fixed income credit, and alternative exchange traded funds (ETFs) and other pooled vehicles in a manner consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions. Investments in ETFs and
other pooled vehicles will subject these Portfolio strategies to the risks associated with the ETFs and other pooled investment vehicles.
As the Portfolio’s asset
size increases, the Investment Manager will select subadvisers to actively manage each of these investment strategies. It is expected that as the Portfolio’s assets grow the Portfolio will be nearly fully
allocated to emerging subadvisers and the allocation to the Investment Manager will be minimal. Depending on market conditions and the strategy of the selected subadviser, it is possible for the Portfolio to perform
better or worse when it is actively managed versus managed by investing in ETFs and other pooled investment vehicles.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Portfolio.
The risks summarized below are the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio. All investments have risks to some degree and it is possible that you could lose money by investing in the
Portfolio. An investment in the Portfolio is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. While the Portfolio makes every
effort to achieve its objective, the Portfolio cannot guarantee success.
Asset-Backed and/or Mortgage-Backed
Securities Risk
. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are fixed income securities that represent an interest in an underlying pool of assets, such as credit card receivables or, in the case of
mortgage-backed securities, mortgage loans. Like fixed income securities, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and credit risk, which may be heightened in
connection with investments in loans to “subprime” borrowers. Certain asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to the risk that those obligations will be repaid sooner than expected or later
than expected, either of which may result in lower than expected returns. Mortgage-backed securities, because they are backed by mortgage loans, are also subject to risks related to real estate, and securities backed
by private-issued mortgages may experience higher rates of default on the underlying mortgages than securities backed by government-issued mortgages.
Derivatives Risk
. A derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The use of derivatives involves a
variety of risks, including the risk that: the party on the other side of a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation; leverage created by investing in derivatives may result in losses to
the Portfolio; derivatives may be difficult or impossible for the Portfolio to buy or sell at an opportune time or price, and may be difficult to terminate or otherwise offset; derivatives used for hedging may reduce
or magnify losses but also may reduce or eliminate gains; and the price of commodity-linked derivatives may be more volatile than the prices of traditional equity and debt securities.
Equity Securities Risk
. The value of a particular stock or equity-related security held by the Portfolio could fluctuate, perhaps greatly, in response to a number of factors, such as changes in the
issuer’s financial condition or the value of the equity markets or a sector of those markets. Such events may result in losses to the Portfolio.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF)
Risk
. An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a mutual fund that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. In addition, the
market price of an ETF’s shares may trade above or below their net asset value and there may not be an active trading market for an ETF’s shares. The Portfolio could lose money investing in an ETF if the
prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down.
Expense Risk
. The actual cost of investing in the Portfolio may be higher than the expenses shown in the “Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” table above for a variety of reasons,
including, for example, if the Portfolio’s average net assets decrease.
Fixed Income Securities Risk
. Investment in fixed income securities involves a variety of risks, including that: an issuer or guarantor of a security will be unable to pay obligations when due; the Portfolio may be
unable to sell its securities holdings at the price it values the security or at any price; the income generated by and the market price of a fixed income security may decline due to a decrease in interest rates; and
the price of a fixed income security may decline due to an increase in interest rates.
Foreign Investment Risk
. Investments in foreign securities generally involve more risk than investing in securities of US issuers, including: changes in currency exchange rates may affect the value of foreign
securities held by the Portfolio; foreign markets generally are more volatile than, and generally are not subject to regulatory requirements comparable to, US markets; foreign financial reporting standards usually
differ from those in the US; foreign exchanges are often less liquid than US markets; political developments may adversely affect the value of foreign securities; and foreign holdings may be subject to special
taxation and limitations on repatriating investment proceeds.
Fund of Funds Risk
. In addition to the risks associated with the investment in the underlying portfolios, the Portfolio is exposed to the investment objectives, investment risks, and investment performance
of the underlying portfolios. The Portfolio is also subject to a potential conflict of interest between the Portfolio and its adviser and subadviser(s), which could impact the Portfolio.
High-Yield Risk
. Investments in fixed income securities rated below investment grade and unrated securities of similar credit quality (i.e., high yield securities or junk bonds) may be more sensitive to
interest rate, credit and liquidity risks than investments in investment grade securities, and have predominantly speculative characteristics.
Liquidity and Valuation Risk
. The Portfolio may hold one or more securities for which there are no or few buyers and sellers or the securities are subject to limitations on transfer. The Portfolio may be unable to
sell those portfolio holdings at the desired time or price, and may have difficulty determining the value of such securities for the purpose of determining the Portfolio’s net asset value. In such cases,
investments owned by the Portfolio may be valued at fair value pursuant to guidelines established by the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees. No assurance can be given that the fair value prices accurately reflect the
value of security.
Market and Management Risk
. Markets in which the Portfolio invests may experience volatility and go down in value, and possibly sharply and unpredictably. The investment techniques, risk analysis and investment
strategies used by a subadviser in making investment decisions for the Portfolio may not produce the intended or desired results.
Recent Events Risk
. Events in the financial markets have caused, and may continue to cause, increased volatility and a significant decline in the value and liquidity of many securities. As a result,
identifying investment risks and opportunities may be especially difficult. There is no assurance that steps taken by governments, and their agencies and instrumentalities, to support financial markets will continue,
and the impact of regulatory changes on the markets may not be known for some time.
Regulatory Risk
. The Portfolio is subject to a variety of laws and regulations which govern its operations. The Portfolio is subject to regulation by the SEC. Similarly, the businesses and other issuers
of the securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio invests are also subject to considerable regulation. A change in laws and regulations may materially impact the Portfolio, a security, business, sector or
market.
Past Performance.
No performance history is presented for this Portfolio, because it does not yet have a full calendar year of performance.
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO
Investment Manager
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Title
|
Service Date
|
Prudential Investments LLC
|
|
Brian Ahrens
|
Senior Vice President, Strategic Investment Research Group
|
July 2015
|
|
|
Andrei O. Marinich, CFA
|
Vice President, Strategic Investment Research Group
|
July 2015
|
|
Dana Investment Advisors, Inc.
|
Duane R. Roberts, CFA
|
Director of Equities and Portfolio Manager
|
July 2015
|
|
|
Greg Dahlman, CFA
|
Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager
|
July 2015
|
|
|
David M. Stamm, CFA
|
Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager
|
July 2015
|
|
|
Michael Honkamp, CFA
|
Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager
|
July 2015
|
|
|
David Weinstein
|
Equity Analyst
|
July 2015
|
|
|
J. Joseph Veranth, CFA
|
Chief Investment Officer & Portfolio Manager
|
July 2015
|
|
Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC.
|
Barbara J. McKenna
|
Managing Principal, Portfolio Manager
|
July 2015
|
|
|
David C. Stuehr
|
Principal, Portfolio Manager and Senior Analyst
|
July 2015
|
TAX INFORMATION
Contract owners should consult
their Contract prospectus for information on the federal tax consequences to them. In addition, Contract owners may wish to consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investments in the
Contracts and the Portfolio, including the application of state and local taxes. The Portfolio currently intends to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Portfolio's income,
gains, losses, deductions, and credits are “passed through” pro rata directly to the Participating Insurance Companies and retain the same character for federal income tax purposes.
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
COMPENSATION
If you purchase your Contract
through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Participating Insurance Company, the Portfolio or their related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Contract, the
selection of the Portfolio and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by
influencing the broker-dealer or other
intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Contract over another investment or insurance product, or to recommend the Portfolio over another investment option under the Contract. Ask your salesperson or visit
your financial intermediary's website for more information.
SUMMARY: AST GOLDMAN SACHS GLOBAL INCOME
PORTFOLIO
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The investment objective of the
Portfolio is to seek high total return, emphasizing current income and, to a lesser extent, providing opportunities for capital appreciation.
PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
The table below shows the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you invest in shares of the Portfolio. The table does not include Contract charges. Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be
higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the table. See your Contract prospectus for more information about Contract charges.
Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
Management Fees
|
0.62%
|
Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 Fees)
|
0.25%
|
Other Expenses
1
|
0.05%
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
|
0.92%
|
1
The Portfolio will commence operations on or about July 13, 2015. Estimate based in part on assumed average daily net assets of $1.4 billion for the Portfolio for the fiscal
period ending December 31, 2015.
Example.
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table does not include Contract charges.
Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the example. See your Contract prospectus for more information about
Contract charges.
The example assumes that you
invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the
Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
|
$94
|
$293
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate
higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio's performance. No portfolio turnover rate is presented for the Portfolio,
because it is new.
INVESTMENTS, RISKS AND
PERFORMANCE
Principal
Investment Strategies.
In pursuing its investment objective, the Portfolio normally invests at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in a portfolio of fixed income
instruments of U.S. and foreign issuers (measured at the time of purchase).
The Portfolio also enters into
transactions in currencies (including foreign currencies), typically through the use of forward contracts and swap contracts to seek to enhance returns and to seek to hedge its portfolio against currency exchange rate
fluctuations. The Portfolio also may invest in other derivatives for both investment and hedging purposes. Derivatives are instruments that have a value based on another instrument, exchange rate, interest rate or
index. The Portfolio’s investments in derivatives may include futures, swaps (including credit default, index, basis, total return, volatility, interest rate and currency swaps), to-be-announced contracts
(TBAs), forward rate agreements (FRAs), repurchase agreements and options and currency forwards. The Portfolio may use derivatives instead of buying and selling bonds, to manage duration, to gain exposure or to short
individual securities or to gain exposure to a credit or asset backed index.
The Portfolio may
also employ money market instruments and affiliated mutual funds for cash management and asset allocations to specific sectors of the bond market.
Under normal market conditions,
the Portfolio invests at least 40% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of purchase) in foreign securities. Foreign securities include securities of issuers located
outside of the securities quoted or denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar.
The Portfolio is non-diversified
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and may invest a larger percentage of its assets in fewer issuers than a diversified mutual fund.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Portfolio.
The risks summarized below are the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio. All investments have risks to some degree and it is possible that you could lose money by investing in the
Portfolio. An investment in the Portfolio is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. While the Portfolio makes every
effort to achieve its objective, the Portfolio cannot guarantee success.
Asset-Backed and/or Mortgage-Backed
Securities Risk
. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are fixed income securities that represent an interest in an underlying pool of assets, such as credit card receivables or, in the case of
mortgage-backed securities, mortgage loans. Like fixed income securities, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and credit risk, which may be heightened in
connection with investments in loans to “subprime” borrowers. Certain asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to the risk that those obligations will be repaid sooner than expected or later
than expected, either of which may result in lower than expected returns. Mortgage-backed securities, because they are backed by mortgage loans, are also subject to risks related to real estate, and securities backed
by private-issued mortgages may experience higher rates of default on the underlying mortgages than securities backed by government-issued mortgages.
Asset Transfer
Program Risk
. Predetermined, nondiscretionary mathematical formulas used by the Participating Insurance Companies to manage the guarantees offered in connection with certain benefit programs under the
Contracts may result in systematic transfers of assets among the investment options under the Contracts, including the Portfolio. These formulas may result in large-scale asset flows into and out of the Portfolio,
which
could adversely affect the Portfolio, including its risk profile, expenses and performance. For example, the asset flows may adversely affect performance by requiring the Portfolio to
purchase or sell securities at inopportune times, by otherwise limiting the subadviser’s ability to fully implement the Portfolio’s investment strategies, or by requiring the Portfolio to hold a larger
portion of its assets in highly liquid securities than it otherwise would hold. The asset flows may also result in high turnover, low asset levels and high operating expense ratios for the Portfolio. The efficient
operation of the asset flows depends on active and liquid markets.
If market liquidity is strained, the asset flows may not operate as intended which in turn could adversely affect performance.
Derivatives Risk
. A derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The use of derivatives involves a
variety of risks, including the risk that: the party on the other side of a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation; leverage created by investing in derivatives may result in losses to
the Portfolio; derivatives may be difficult or impossible for the Portfolio to buy or sell at an opportune time or price, and may be difficult to terminate or otherwise offset; derivatives used for hedging may reduce
or magnify losses but also may reduce or eliminate gains; and the price of commodity-linked derivatives may be more volatile than the prices of traditional equity and debt securities.
Equity Securities Risk
. The value of a particular stock or equity-related security held by the Portfolio could fluctuate, perhaps greatly, in response to a number of factors, such as changes in the
issuer’s financial condition or the value of the equity markets or a sector of those markets. Such events may result in losses to the Portfolio.
Expense Risk
. The actual cost of investing in the Portfolio may be higher than the expenses shown in the “Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” table above for a variety of reasons,
including, for example, if the Portfolio’s average net assets decrease.
Fixed Income Securities Risk
. Investment in fixed income securities involves a variety of risks, including that: an issuer or guarantor of a security will be unable to pay obligations when due; the Portfolio may be
unable to sell its securities holdings at the price it values the security or at any price; the income generated by and the market price of a fixed income security may decline due to a decrease in interest rates; and
the price of a fixed income security may decline due to an increase in interest rates.
Foreign Investment Risk
. Investments in foreign securities generally involve more risk than investing in securities of US issuers, including: changes in currency exchange rates may affect the value of foreign
securities held by the Portfolio; foreign markets generally are more volatile than, and generally are not subject to regulatory requirements comparable to, US markets; foreign financial reporting standards usually
differ from those in the US; foreign exchanges are often less liquid than US markets; political developments may adversely affect the value of foreign securities; and foreign holdings may be subject to special
taxation and limitations on repatriating investment proceeds.
High-Yield Risk
. Investments in fixed income securities rated below investment grade and unrated securities of similar credit quality (i.e., high yield securities or junk bonds) may be more sensitive to
interest rate, credit and liquidity risks than investments in investment grade securities, and have predominantly speculative characteristics.
Liquidity and Valuation Risk
. The Portfolio may hold one or more securities for which there are no or few buyers and sellers or the securities are subject to limitations on transfer. The Portfolio may be unable to
sell those portfolio holdings at the desired time or price, and may have difficulty determining the value of such securities for the purpose of determining the Portfolio’s net asset value. In such cases,
investments owned by the Portfolio may be valued at fair value pursuant to guidelines established by the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees. No assurance can be given that the fair value prices accurately reflect the
value of security.
Market and Management Risk
. Markets in which the Portfolio invests may experience volatility and go down in value, and possibly sharply and unpredictably. The investment techniques, risk analysis and investment
strategies used by a subadviser in making investment decisions for the Portfolio may not produce the intended or desired results.
Non-Diversification Risk
. The Portfolio is a non-diversified Portfolio, and therefore, it can invest in fewer individual companies than a diversified Portfolio. Because a non-diversified portfolio is more likely
to experience large market price fluctuations, the Portfolio may be subject to a greater risk of loss than a fund that has a diversified portfolio.
Recent Events Risk
. Events in the financial markets have caused, and may continue to cause, increased volatility and a significant decline in the value and liquidity of many securities. As a result,
identifying investment risks and opportunities may be especially difficult. There is no assurance that steps taken by governments, and their agencies and instrumentalities, to support financial markets will continue,
and the impact of regulatory changes on the markets may not be known for some time.
Regulatory Risk
. The Portfolio is subject to a variety of laws and regulations which govern its operations. The Portfolio is subject to regulation by the SEC. Similarly, the businesses and other issuers
of the securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio invests are also subject to considerable regulation. A change in laws and regulations may materially impact the Portfolio, a security, business, sector or
market.
Sovereign Debt Securities
Risk.
Investing in foreign sovereign debt securities exposes the Portfolio to direct or indirect consequences of political, social or economic changes in the countries that issue the securities.
The consequences include the risk that the issuer or governmental authority that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be willing or able to repay the principal and/or pay interest when it becomes due, that
the foreign government may default on its debt securities, and that there may be no bankruptcy proceeding by which the defaulted sovereign debt may be collected.
US Government Securities Risk.
US Government securities may be adversely affected by changes in interest rates, a default by, or decline in credit quality of, the US Government, and may not be backed by the “full
faith and credit” of the US Government.
Past Performance.
No performance history is presented for this Portfolio, because it does not yet have a full calendar year of performance.
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO
Investment Manager
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Title
|
Service Date
|
Prudential Investments LLC
|
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International
|
Iain Lindsay, PhD, CFA
|
Managing Director
|
July 2015
|
|
|
Hugh Briscoe
|
Vice President
|
July 2015
|
TAX INFORMATION
Contract owners should consult
their Contract prospectus for information on the federal tax consequences to them. In addition, Contract owners may wish to consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investments in the
Contracts and the Portfolio, including the application of state and local taxes. The Portfolio currently intends to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Portfolio's income,
gains, losses, deductions, and credits are “passed through” pro rata directly to the Participating Insurance Companies and retain the same character for federal income tax purposes.
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
COMPENSATION
If you purchase your Contract
through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Participating Insurance Company, the Portfolio or their related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Contract, the
selection of the Portfolio and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Contract over another
investment or insurance product, or to recommend the Portfolio over another investment option under the Contract. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
SUMMARY: AST IVY ASSET STRATEGY PORTFOLIO
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The investment objective of the
Portfolio is to seek total return.
PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
The table below shows the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you invest in shares of the Portfolio. The table does not include Contract charges. Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be
higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the table. See your Contract prospectus for more information about Contract charges.
Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
Management Fees
|
0.89%
|
Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 Fees)
|
0.25%
|
Other Expenses
1
|
0.07%
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
|
1.21%
|
1
The Portfolio will commence operations on or about July 13, 2015. Estimate based in part on assumed average daily net assets of $250 million for the Portfolio for the fiscal
period ending December 31, 2015.
Example.
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table does not include Contract charges.
Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the example. See your Contract prospectus for more information about
Contract charges.
The example assumes that you
invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the
Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
|
$123
|
$384
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate
higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio's performance. No portfolio turnover rate is presented for the Portfolio,
because it is new.
INVESTMENTS, RISKS AND
PERFORMANCE
Principal Investment
Strategies.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio pursues its investment objective by allocating its assets primarily among stocks, bonds and short-term instruments of issuers in markets around
the globe, as well as investments in derivative instruments, cash, precious metals and investments with exposure to various foreign currencies. The Portfolio may invest its assets in any geographic market. After
determining its desired allocations, the Portfolio seeks attractive opportunities within each market by focusing generally on issuers in countries, sectors and companies with strong cash flow streams, the ability to
return capital to shareholders, and low balance sheet leverage. The Portfolio, however, may also invest in issuers with higher balance sheet leverage if the subadviser believes that the Portfolio will be appropriately
compensated for the increased risk.
The Portfolio may
invest in U.S. and foreign securities. The Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its total assets in foreign securities, including issuers located in and/or generating revenue from emerging markets. Many companies have
diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to various foreign markets through investments in these companies. The subadviser may allocate
the Portfolio’s investments among these different types of securities in different proportions at different times, including
up to 100% in stocks, bonds, or short-term
instruments, respectively. The Portfolio may have none, some or all of its assets invested in each asset class in relative proportions that change over time based upon market and economic conditions. Subject to
diversification limits, the Portfolio also may invest up to 25% of its total assets in precious metals.
The subadviser
may, when consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective, seek to hedge market risk on equity securities, manage and/or increase exposure to certain securities, companies, sectors, markets, foreign
currencies and/or precious metals and seek to hedge certain event risks on positions held by the Portfolio. In an effort to hedge market risk and manage and/or increase exposure to companies, sectors or equity
markets, the subadviser may utilize various instruments including, but not limited to, the following: futures contracts; both long and short positions on foreign and U.S. equity indexes; total return swaps; credit
default swaps; and options contracts, both written and purchased, on foreign and U.S. equity indexes and/or on individual equity securities. In seeking to manage foreign currency exposure, the subadviser may utilize
forward contracts and option contracts, both written and purchased, either to increase or decrease exposure to a given currency. In seeking to manage event risks, the subadviser may utilize short futures on
commodities, as well as on foreign and domestic equity indexes and option contracts, both written and purchased, on individual equity securities owned by the Portfolio. In seeking to manage the Portfolio’s
exposure to precious metals, the Subadviser may utilize long and short futures contracts, both long and short positions, as well as options contracts, both written and purchased, on precious metals. The subadviser
also may utilize derivatives for income enhancement purposes.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Portfolio.
The risks summarized below are the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio. All investments have risks to some degree and it is possible that you could lose money by investing in the
Portfolio. An investment in the Portfolio is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. While the Portfolio makes every
effort to achieve its objective, the Portfolio cannot guarantee success.
Asset Allocation Risk.
The Portfolio’s overall allocations to stocks and bonds, and the allocations to the various asset classes and market sectors within those broad categories, could cause the Portfolio
to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective. As a fund that has a larger allocation to equity securities relative to its fixed income allocation, the Portfolio risk of loss and share price
fluctuation (and potential for gain) will tend to be more closely aligned with funds investing a greater portion of assets in equity securities and notably more than funds investing primarily in fixed income
securities. Additionally, both equity and fixed income securities may decline in value.
Asset-Backed and/or Mortgage-Backed
Securities Risk
. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are fixed income securities that represent an interest in an underlying pool of assets, such as credit card receivables or, in the case of
mortgage-backed securities, mortgage loans. Like fixed income securities, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and credit risk, which may be heightened in
connection with investments in loans to “subprime” borrowers. Certain asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to the risk that those obligations will be repaid sooner than expected or later
than expected, either of which may result in lower than expected returns. Mortgage-backed securities, because they are backed by mortgage loans, are also subject to risks related to real estate, and securities backed
by private-issued mortgages may experience higher rates of default on the underlying mortgages than securities backed by government-issued mortgages.
Commodity Risk
. The value of a commodity-linked investment is affected by, among other things, overall market movements and changes in interest and exchange rates and may be more volatile than
traditional equity and debt securities.
Derivatives Risk
. A derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The use of derivatives involves a
variety of risks, including the risk that: the party on the other side of a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation; leverage created by investing in derivatives may result in losses to
the Portfolio; derivatives may be difficult or impossible for
the Portfolio to buy or sell at an opportune time
or price, and may be difficult to terminate or otherwise offset; derivatives used for hedging may reduce or magnify losses but also may reduce or eliminate gains; and the price of commodity-linked derivatives may be
more volatile than the prices of traditional equity and debt securities.
Equity Securities Risk
. The value of a particular stock or equity-related security held by the Portfolio could fluctuate, perhaps greatly, in response to a number of factors, such as changes in the
issuer’s financial condition or the value of the equity markets or a sector of those markets. Such events may result in losses to the Portfolio.
Emerging Markets Risk
. The risks of non-US investments are greater for investments in emerging markets. Emerging market countries typically have economic and political systems that are less fully
developed, and can be expected to be less stable, than those of more developed countries. For example, the economies of such countries can be subject to rapid and unpredictable rates of inflation or deflation.
Low trading volumes may result in a lack of liquidity and price volatility. Emerging market countries may have policies that restrict investment by foreigners, or that prevent foreign investors from withdrawing
their money at will.
Expense Risk
. The actual cost of investing in the Portfolio may be higher than the expenses shown in the “Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” table above for a variety of reasons,
including, for example, if the Portfolio’s average net assets decrease.
Fixed Income Securities Risk
. Investment in fixed income securities involves a variety of risks, including that: an issuer or guarantor of a security will be unable to pay obligations when due; the Portfolio may be
unable to sell its securities holdings at the price it values the security or at any price; the income generated by and the market price of a fixed income security may decline due to a decrease in interest rates; and
the price of a fixed income security may decline due to an increase in interest rates.
Foreign Investment Risk
. Investments in foreign securities generally involve more risk than investing in securities of US issuers, including: changes in currency exchange rates may affect the value of foreign
securities held by the Portfolio; foreign markets generally are more volatile than, and generally are not subject to regulatory requirements comparable to, US markets; foreign financial reporting standards usually
differ from those in the US; foreign exchanges are often less liquid than US markets; political developments may adversely affect the value of foreign securities; and foreign holdings may be subject to special
taxation and limitations on repatriating investment proceeds.
Investment Style Risk
. Securities of a particular investment style, such as growth or value, tend to perform differently (i.e., better or worse than other segments of, or the overall, stock market) depending on
market and economic conditions.
High-Yield Risk
. Investments in fixed income securities rated below investment grade and unrated securities of similar credit quality (i.e., high yield securities or junk bonds) may be more sensitive to
interest rate, credit and liquidity risks than investments in investment grade securities, and have predominantly speculative characteristics.
Large Company Risk.
Large-capitalization stocks as a group could fall out of favor with the market, causing the Portfolio to underperform investments that focus on small- or medium-capitalization stocks.
Larger, more established companies may be slow to respond to challenges and may grow more slowly than smaller companies.
Liquidity and Valuation Risk
. The Portfolio may hold one or more securities for which there are no or few buyers and sellers or the securities are subject to limitations on transfer. The Portfolio may be unable to
sell those portfolio holdings at the desired time or price, and may have difficulty determining the value of such securities for the purpose of determining the Portfolio’s net asset value. In such cases,
investments owned by the Portfolio may be valued at fair value pursuant to guidelines established by the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees. No assurance can be given that the fair value prices accurately reflect the
value of security.
Market and Management Risk
. Markets in which the Portfolio invests may experience volatility and go down in value, and possibly sharply and unpredictably. The investment techniques, risk analysis and investment
strategies used by a subadviser in making investment decisions for the Portfolio may not produce the intended or desired results.
Regulatory Risk
. The Portfolio is subject to a variety of laws and regulations which govern its operations. The Portfolio is subject to regulation by the SEC. Similarly, the businesses and other issuers
of the securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio invests are also subject to considerable regulation. A change in laws and regulations may materially impact the Portfolio, a security, business, sector or
market.
Market Capitalization Risk.
Investing in issuers within the same market capitalization category carries the risk that the category may be out of favor due to current market conditions or investor sentiment. Because
the Portfolio may invest a portion of its assets in securities issued by small-cap companies, it is likely to be more volatile than a portfolio that focuses on securities issued by larger companies. Small-sized
companies often have less experienced management, narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, and less publicly available information than larger companies. In addition, smaller companies are typically
more sensitive to changes in overall economic conditions and their securities may be difficult to trade.
US Government Securities Risk.
US Government securities may be adversely affected by changes in interest rates, a default by, or decline in credit quality of, the US Government, and may not be backed by the “full
faith and credit” of the US Government.
Past Performance.
No performance history is presented for this Portfolio, because it does not yet have a full calendar year of performance.
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO
Investment Manager
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Title
|
Service Date
|
Prudential Investments LLC
|
Ivy Investment Management Company
|
Michael Avery
|
Executive Vice President and Portfolio Manager
|
July 2015
|
|
|
Chace Brundige, CFA
|
Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager
|
July 2015
|
|
|
Cynthia Prince-Fox
|
Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager
|
July 2015
|
TAX INFORMATION
Contract owners should consult
their Contract prospectus for information on the federal tax consequences to them. In addition, Contract owners may wish to consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investments in the
Contracts and the Portfolio, including the application of state and local taxes. The Portfolio currently intends to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Portfolio's income,
gains, losses, deductions, and credits are “passed through” pro rata directly to the Participating Insurance Companies and retain the same character for federal income tax purposes.
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
COMPENSATION
If you purchase your Contract
through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Participating Insurance Company, the Portfolio or their related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Contract, the
selection of the Portfolio and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Contract over another
investment or insurance product, or to recommend the Portfolio over another investment option under the Contract. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
SUMMARY: AST MANAGED ALTERNATIVES PORTFOLIO
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The investment objective of the
Portfolio is to seek long-term capital appreciation with a focus on downside protection.
PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
The table below shows the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you invest in shares of the Portfolio. The table does not include Contract charges. Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be
higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the table. See your Contract prospectus for more information about Contract charges.
Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
|
Management Fees
|
|
0.15%
|
Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 Fees)
|
|
0.00%
|
Other Expenses
1
|
|
0.06%
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
|
|
1.31%
|
Dividend Expense and Broker Fees and Expenses on Short Sales
|
|
0.07%
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
|
|
1.59%
|
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
|
|
-0.05%
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense
Reimbursement
2
|
|
1.54%
|
1
The Portfolio will commence operations on or about July 13, 2015. Estimate based in part on assumed average daily net assets of $250 million for the Portfolio for the fiscal
period ending December 31, 2015.
2
The investment manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fees and/or reimburse certain expenses for the Portfolio so that the
Portfolio’s investment management fee plus other expenses (exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses) plus acquired fund
fees and expenses (excluding dividends on securities sold short and brokers fees and expenses on short sales) does not exceed 1.47% of the Portfolio’s average daily net
assets through July 13, 2016. The waiver in the table above is 0.05%, rather than 0.12%, because the waiver does not apply to 0.07% of the acquired fund fees and expenses, which accounts for dividend expenses and
broker fees and expenses on short sales at the acquired fund level. This arrangement may not be terminated or modified prior to July 13, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of
Trustees.
Example.
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table does not include Contract charges.
Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the example. See your Contract prospectus for more information about
Contract charges.
The example assumes that you
invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the
Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio
|
$157
|
$497
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate
higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio's performance. No portfolio turnover rate is presented for the Portfolio,
because it is new.
INVESTMENTS, RISKS AND
PERFORMANCE
Principal
Investment Strategies.
The Portfolio is a “fund-of-funds.” That means that the Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets in a combination of underlying investment companies (the Underlying
Portfolios). Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio allocates its assets among Underlying Portfolios that employ liquid alternative investment strategies. Liquid alternative strategies are those that do not
purely pursue long-only investing in equities or debt instruments, and engages in techniques or asset classes that differentiate them from fully paid for
long-security investments. The Underlying
Portfolios primarily include other portfolios of the Trust, but may also include, to a lesser extent, other affiliated and unaffiliated open-end funds, closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds.
The Portfolio seeks to achieve its
investment objective by allocating its assets among asset classes and investment strategies that typically have had a low correlation to each other and to traditional equity and fixed-income asset classes. At
inception, the Portfolio will allocate its assets among the following Underlying Portfolios:
Underlying Fund Portfolio
|
Allocation
1
|
AST FQ Absolute Return Currency
|
25%
|
AST Goldman Sachs Strategic Income
|
10%
|
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset
|
15%
|
AST Neuberger Berman/Long Short
|
30%
|
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return
|
20%
|
1
The allocations referenced in this table may change over time.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Portfolio.
The risks summarized below are the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio. All investments have risks to some degree and it is possible that you could lose money by investing in the
Portfolio. An investment in the Portfolio is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. While the Portfolio makes every
effort to achieve its objective, the Portfolio cannot guarantee success.
Asset-Backed and/or Mortgage-Backed
Securities Risk
. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are fixed income securities that represent an interest in an underlying pool of assets, such as credit card receivables or, in the case of
mortgage-backed securities, mortgage loans. Like fixed income securities, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and credit risk, which may be heightened in
connection with investments in loans to “subprime” borrowers. Certain asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to the risk that those obligations will be repaid sooner than expected or later
than expected, either of which may result in lower than expected returns. Mortgage-backed securities, because they are backed by mortgage loans, are also subject to risks related to real estate, and securities backed
by private-issued mortgages may experience higher rates of default on the underlying mortgages than securities backed by government-issued mortgages.
Asset Transfer
Program Risk
. Predetermined, nondiscretionary mathematical formulas used by the Participating Insurance Companies to manage the guarantees offered in connection with certain benefit programs under the
Contracts may result in systematic transfers of assets among the investment options under the Contracts, including the Portfolio. These formulas may result in large-scale asset flows into and out of the Portfolio,
which
could adversely affect the Portfolio, including its risk profile, expenses and performance. For example, the asset flows may adversely affect performance by requiring the Portfolio to
purchase or sell securities at inopportune times, by otherwise limiting the subadviser’s ability to fully implement the Portfolio’s investment strategies, or by requiring the Portfolio to hold a larger
portion of its assets in highly liquid securities than it otherwise would hold. The asset flows may also result in high turnover, low asset levels and high operating expense ratios for the Portfolio. The efficient
operation of the asset flows depends on active and liquid markets.
If market liquidity is strained, the asset flows may not operate as intended which in turn could adversely affect performance.
Derivatives Risk
. A derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The use of derivatives involves a
variety of risks, including the risk that: the party on the other side of a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation; leverage created by investing in derivatives may result in losses to
the Portfolio; derivatives may be difficult or impossible for the Portfolio to buy or sell at an opportune time or price, and may be difficult to terminate or otherwise offset; derivatives used for hedging may reduce
or magnify losses but also may reduce or eliminate gains; and the price of commodity-linked derivatives may be more volatile than the prices of traditional equity and debt securities.
Emerging Markets Risk
. The risks of non-US investments are greater for investments in emerging markets. Emerging market countries typically have economic and political systems that are less fully
developed, and can be expected to be less stable, than those of more developed countries. For example, the economies of such countries can be subject to rapid and unpredictable rates of inflation or deflation.
Low trading volumes may result in a lack of liquidity and price volatility. Emerging market countries may have policies that restrict investment by foreigners, or that prevent foreign investors from withdrawing
their money at will.
Equity Securities Risk
. The value of a particular stock or equity-related security held by the Portfolio could fluctuate, perhaps greatly, in response to a number of factors, such as changes in the
issuer’s financial condition or the value of the equity markets or a sector of those markets. Such events may result in losses to the Portfolio.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF)
Risk
. An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a mutual fund that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. In addition, the
market price of an ETF’s shares may trade above or below their net asset value and there may not be an active trading market for an ETF’s shares. The Portfolio could lose money investing in an ETF if the
prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down.
Expense Risk
. The actual cost of investing in the Portfolio may be higher than the expenses shown in the “Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” table above for a variety of reasons,
including, for example, if the Portfolio’s average net assets decrease.
Fixed Income Securities Risk
. Investment in fixed income securities involves a variety of risks, including that: an issuer or guarantor of a security will be unable to pay obligations when due; the Portfolio may be
unable to sell its securities holdings at the price it values the security or at any price; the income generated by and the market price of a fixed income security may decline due to a decrease in interest rates; and
the price of a fixed income security may decline due to an increase in interest rates.
Foreign Investment Risk
. Investments in foreign securities generally involve more risk than investing in securities of US issuers, including: changes in currency exchange rates may affect the value of foreign
securities held by the Portfolio; foreign markets generally are more volatile than, and generally are not subject to regulatory requirements comparable to, US markets; foreign financial reporting standards usually
differ from those in the US; foreign exchanges are often less liquid than US markets; political developments may adversely affect the value of foreign securities; and foreign holdings may be subject to special
taxation and limitations on repatriating investment proceeds.
Fund of Funds Risk
. In addition to the risks associated with the investment in the underlying portfolios, the Portfolio is exposed to the investment objectives, investment risks, and investment performance
of the underlying portfolios. The Portfolio is also subject to a potential conflict of interest between the Portfolio and its adviser and subadviser(s), which could impact the Portfolio.
High-Yield Risk
. Investments in fixed income securities rated below investment grade and unrated securities of similar credit quality (i.e., high yield securities or junk bonds) may be more sensitive to
interest rate, credit and liquidity risks than investments in investment grade securities, and have predominantly speculative characteristics.
Liquidity and Valuation Risk
. The Portfolio may hold one or more securities for which there are no or few buyers and sellers or the securities are subject to limitations on transfer. The Portfolio may be unable to
sell those portfolio holdings at the desired time or price, and may have difficulty determining the value of such securities for the purpose of determining the Portfolio’s net asset value. In such cases,
investments owned by the Portfolio may be valued at fair value pursuant to guidelines established by the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees. No assurance can be given that the fair value prices accurately reflect the
value of security.
Market and Management Risk
. Markets in which the Portfolio invests may experience volatility and go down in value, and possibly sharply and unpredictably. The investment techniques, risk analysis and investment
strategies used by a subadviser in making investment decisions for the Portfolio may not produce the intended or desired results.
Mid-Sized Company Risk
. The shares of mid-sized companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger, more established companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing and volatility of these
securities and on the Portfolio’s ability to sell the securities.
Real Estate Risk
. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate-linked derivative instruments are subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate.
Poor performance by the manager of the REIT and adverse changes to or inability to qualify with favorable tax laws will adversely affect the Portfolio. In addition, some REITs have limited diversification because they
invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property.
Recent Events Risk
. Events in the financial markets have caused, and may continue to cause, increased volatility and a significant decline in the value and liquidity of many securities. As a result,
identifying investment risks and opportunities may be especially difficult. There is no assurance that steps taken by governments, and their agencies and instrumentalities, to support financial markets will continue,
and the impact of regulatory changes on the markets may not be known for some time.
Regulatory Risk
. The Portfolio is subject to a variety of laws and regulations which govern its operations. The Portfolio is subject to regulation by the SEC. Similarly, the businesses and other issuers
of the securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio invests are also subject to considerable regulation. A change in laws and regulations may materially impact the Portfolio, a security, business, sector or
market.
Small Sized Company Risk
. The shares of small sized companies tend to be less liquid than those of larger, more established companies, which can have an adverse effect on the price of these securities and on the
Portfolio’s ability to sell these securities. The market price of such investments also may rise more in response to buying demand and fall more in response to selling pressure and be more volatile than
investments in larger companies.
US Government Securities Risk.
US Government securities may be adversely affected by changes in interest rates, a default by, or decline in credit quality of, the US Government, and may not be backed by the “full
faith and credit” of the US Government.
Past Performance.
No performance history is presented for this Portfolio, because it does not yet have a full calendar year of performance.
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO
Investment Manager
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Title
|
Service Date
|
Prudential Investments LLC
|
|
Brian Ahrens
|
Senior Vice President, Strategic Investment Research Group
|
July 2015
|
|
|
Andrei O. Marinich, CFA
|
Vice President, Strategic Investment Research Group
|
July 2015
|
TAX INFORMATION
Contract owners should consult
their Contract prospectus for information on the federal tax consequences to them. In addition, Contract owners may wish to consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investments in the
Contracts and the Portfolio, including the application of state and local taxes. The Portfolio currently intends to
be treated as a partnership for federal income tax
purposes. As a result, the Portfolio's income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits are “passed through” pro rata directly to the Participating Insurance Companies and retain the same character for
federal income tax purposes.
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
COMPENSATION
If you purchase your Contract
through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Participating Insurance Company, the Portfolio or their related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Contract, the
selection of the Portfolio and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Contract over another
investment or insurance product, or to recommend the Portfolio over another investment option under the Contract. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
SUMMARY: AST MORGAN STANLEY MULTI-ASSET
PORTFOLIO
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The investment objective of the
Portfolio is to seek total return.
PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
The table below shows the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you invest in shares of the Portfolio. The table does not include Contract charges. Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be
higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the table. See your Contract prospectus for more information about Contract charges.
Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
|
Management Fees
|
|
1.04%
|
Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 Fees)
|
|
0.25%
|
Other Expenses
1
|
|
0.18%
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
|
|
1.47%
|
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
|
|
-0.05%
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense
Reimbursement
2
|
|
1.42%
|
1
The Portfolio will commence operations on or about July 13, 2015. Estimate based in part on assumed average daily net assets of $100 million for the Portfolio for the fiscal
period ending December 31, 2015.
2
The investment manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fees and/or reimburse certain expenses for the Portfolio so that the
Portfolio’s investment management fee plus other expenses (exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 1.42% of
the Portfolio’s average daily net assets through July 13, 2016. The expense limitation may not be terminated or modified prior to July 13, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of
Trustees.
Example.
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table does not include Contract charges.
Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the example. See your Contract prospectus for more information about
Contract charges.
The example assumes that you
invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the
Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
|
$145
|
$460
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate
higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio's performance. No portfolio turnover rate is presented for the Portfolio,
because it is new.
INVESTMENTS, RISKS AND
PERFORMANCE
Principal
Investment Strategies.
To pursue its investment objective, the Portfolio seeks to emphasize positive absolute return while actively controlling downside portfolio risk. The Portfolio takes long and short
positions in a range of securities, other instruments and asset classes to express its investment themes. The Portfolio may implement these positions either directly by purchasing securities or through the use
of
derivatives.
The Portfolio may at times invest
a substantial portion of its assets in one or more countries (including emerging market countries) or regions. The Portfolio's investments may be US and non-US dollar denominated.
The Portfolio may invest in real
estate investment trusts (REITs) and similar entities established outside the United States. In addition, the Portfolio may invest in fixed income securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or
supranational organizations or any of their instrumentalities, including debt obligations of governmental issuers located in emerging market or developing countries and sovereign debt, as well as fixed income
securities that are rated below “investment grade” or are not rated, but are of equivalent quality. These fixed income securities are often referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk
bonds.”
The Portfolio may invest in
asset-backed securities. The Portfolio may also invest in restricted securities. The Portfolio may also invest in other investment companies, including ETFs.
The Portfolio uses derivative
instruments for a variety of purposes, including as part of its investment strategies, hedging, risk management, portfolio management or to earn income. The Portfolio's use of derivatives may involve the purchase and
sale of derivative instruments such as futures, options, swaps (including primarily total return swaps, interest rate swaps, and credit default swaps), structured investments (including commodity-linked notes) and
other related instruments and techniques. The Portfolio may also invest in currency derivatives, including, but not limited to, foreign currency forward exchange contracts, and currency and currency index futures and
options contracts for hedging and non-hedging purposes. The use of these currency derivatives may allow the Portfolio to obtain net long or net negative (short) exposure to selected currencies. At times, the Portfolio
may enter into “cross-currency” transactions involving currencies other than those in which securities held or proposed to be purchased are denominated. Derivative instruments used by the Portfolio are
counted toward the Portfolio's exposure in the types of securities listed above to the extent they have economic characteristics similar to such securities.
The Portfolio is non-diversified
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and may invest a larger percentage of its assets in fewer issuers than a diversified mutual fund.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Portfolio.
The risks summarized below are the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio. All investments have risks to some degree and it is possible that you could lose money by investing in the
Portfolio. An investment in the Portfolio is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. While the Portfolio makes every
effort to achieve its objective, the Portfolio cannot guarantee success.
Asset-Backed and/or Mortgage-Backed
Securities Risk
. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are fixed income securities that represent an interest in an underlying pool of assets, such as credit card receivables or, in the case of
mortgage-backed securities, mortgage loans. Like fixed income securities, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and credit risk, which may be heightened in
connection with investments in loans to “subprime” borrowers. Certain asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to the risk that those obligations will be repaid sooner than expected or later
than expected, either of which may result in lower than expected returns. Mortgage-backed securities, because they are backed by mortgage loans, are also subject to risks related to real estate, and securities backed
by private-issued mortgages may experience higher rates of default on the underlying mortgages than securities backed by government-issued mortgages.
Asset Transfer
Program Risk
. Predetermined, nondiscretionary mathematical formulas used by the Participating Insurance Companies to manage the guarantees offered in connection with certain benefit programs under the
Contracts may result in systematic transfers of assets among the investment options under the Contracts, including the Portfolio. These formulas may result in large-scale asset flows into and out of the Portfolio,
which could adversely affect the Portfolio, including its risk profile, expenses and performance. For example, the asset flows may adversely affect performance by requiring the Portfolio to purchase or sell securities
at inopportune times, by otherwise limiting the subadviser’s ability to fully implement the Portfolio’s investment strategies, or by requiring the Portfolio to hold a larger portion of its assets in highly
liquid securities than it otherwise would hold. The asset flows may also result in high turnover, low asset levels and high operating expense ratios for the Portfolio. The efficient operation of the asset flows
depends on active and liquid markets. If market liquidity is strained, the asset flows may not operate as intended which in turn could adversely affect performance.
Derivatives Risk
. A derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The use of derivatives involves a
variety of risks, including the risk that: the party on the other side of a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation; leverage created by investing in derivatives may result in losses to
the Portfolio; derivatives may be difficult or impossible for the Portfolio to buy or sell at an opportune time or price, and may be difficult to terminate or otherwise offset; derivatives used for hedging may reduce
or magnify losses but also may reduce or eliminate gains; and the price of commodity-linked derivatives may be more volatile than the prices of traditional equity and debt securities.
Emerging Markets Risk
. The risks of non-US investments are greater for investments in emerging markets. Emerging market countries typically have economic and political systems that are less fully
developed, and can be expected to be less stable, than those of more developed countries. For example, the economies of such countries can be subject to rapid and unpredictable rates of inflation or deflation.
Low trading volumes may result in a lack of liquidity and price volatility. Emerging market countries may have policies that restrict investment by foreigners, or that prevent foreign investors from withdrawing
their money at will.
Equity Securities Risk
. The value of a particular stock or equity-related security held by the Portfolio could fluctuate, perhaps greatly, in response to a number of factors, such as changes in the
issuer’s financial condition or the value of the equity markets or a sector of those markets. Such events may result in losses to the Portfolio.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF)
Risk
. An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a mutual fund that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. In addition, the
market price of an ETF’s shares may trade above or below their net asset value and there may not be an active trading market for an ETF’s shares. The Portfolio could lose money investing in an ETF if the
prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down.
Expense Risk
. The actual cost of investing in the Portfolio may be higher than the expenses shown in the “Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” table above for a variety of reasons,
including, for example, if the Portfolio’s average net assets decrease.
Fixed Income Securities Risk
. Investment in fixed income securities involves a variety of risks, including that: an issuer or guarantor of a security will be unable to pay obligations when due; the Portfolio may be
unable to sell its securities holdings at the price it values the security or at any price; the income generated by and the market price of a fixed income security may decline due to a decrease in interest rates; and
the price of a fixed income security may decline due to an increase in interest rates.
Foreign Investment Risk
. Investments in foreign securities generally involve more risk than investing in securities of US issuers, including: changes in currency exchange rates may affect the value of foreign
securities held by the Portfolio; foreign markets generally are more volatile than, and generally are not subject to regulatory requirements comparable to, US markets; foreign financial reporting standards usually
differ from those in the US; foreign exchanges are often less liquid than US markets; political developments may adversely affect the value of foreign securities; and foreign holdings may be subject to special
taxation and limitations on repatriating investment proceeds.
High-Yield Risk
. Investments in fixed income securities rated below investment grade and unrated securities of similar credit quality (i.e., high yield securities or junk bonds) may be more sensitive to
interest rate, credit and liquidity risks than investments in investment grade securities, and have predominantly speculative characteristics.
Liquidity and Valuation Risk
. The Portfolio may hold one or more securities for which there are no or few buyers and sellers or the securities are subject to limitations on transfer. The Portfolio may be unable to
sell those portfolio holdings at the desired time or price, and may have difficulty determining the value of such securities for the purpose of determining the Portfolio’s net asset value. In such cases,
investments owned by the Portfolio may be valued at fair value pursuant to guidelines established by the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees. No assurance can be given that the fair value prices accurately reflect the
value of security.
Market and Management Risk
. Markets in which the Portfolio invests may experience volatility and go down in value, and possibly sharply and unpredictably. The investment techniques, risk analysis and investment
strategies used by a subadviser in making investment decisions for the Portfolio may not produce the intended or desired results.
Mid-Sized Company Risk
. The shares of mid-sized companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger, more established companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing and volatility of these
securities and on the Portfolio’s ability to sell the securities.
Non-Diversification Risk
. The Portfolio is a non-diversified Portfolio, and therefore, it can invest in fewer individual companies than a diversified Portfolio. Because a non-diversified portfolio is more likely
to experience large market price fluctuations, the Portfolio may be subject to a greater risk of loss than a fund that has a diversified portfolio.
Real Estate Risk
. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate-linked derivative instruments are subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate.
Poor performance by the manager of the REIT and adverse changes to or inability to qualify with favorable tax laws will adversely affect the Portfolio. In addition, some REITs have limited diversification because they
invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property.
Recent Events Risk
. Events in the financial markets have caused, and may continue to cause, increased volatility and a significant decline in the value and liquidity of many securities. As a result,
identifying investment risks and opportunities may be especially difficult. There is no assurance that steps taken by governments, and their agencies and instrumentalities, to support financial markets will continue,
and the impact of regulatory changes on the markets may not be known for some time.
Regulatory Risk
. The Portfolio is subject to a variety of laws and regulations which govern its operations. The Portfolio is subject to regulation by the SEC. Similarly, the businesses and other issuers
of the securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio invests are also subject to considerable regulation. A change in laws and regulations may materially impact the Portfolio, a security, business, sector or
market.
Short Sale Risk
. A short sale involves the risk that the price of a borrowed security or derivative will increase during the time the Portfolio has borrowed the security or derivative and the Portfolio
will incur a loss equal to the increase in price from the time that the short sale was entered into plus any premiums and interest paid to the third party. Short sales may result in losses that are greater than the
cost of the investment. In addition, the third party to the short sale may fail to honor its contract terms, causing a loss to the Portfolio.
Small Sized Company Risk
. The shares of small sized companies tend to be less liquid than those of larger, more established companies, which can have an adverse effect on the price of these securities and on the
Portfolio’s ability to sell these securities. The market price of such investments also may rise more in response to buying demand and fall more in response to selling pressure and be more volatile than
investments in larger companies.
Sovereign Debt Securities
Risk.
Investing in foreign sovereign debt securities exposes the Portfolio to direct or indirect consequences of political, social or economic changes in the countries that issue the securities.
The consequences include the risk that the issuer or governmental authority that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be willing or able to repay the principal and/or pay interest when it becomes due, that
the foreign government may default on its debt securities, and that there may be no bankruptcy proceeding by which the defaulted sovereign debt may be collected.
US Government Securities Risk.
US Government securities may be adversely affected by changes in interest rates, a default by, or decline in credit quality of, the US Government, and may not be backed by the “full
faith and credit” of the US Government.
Past Performance.
No performance history is presented for this Portfolio, because it does not yet have a full calendar year of performance.
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO
Investment Manager
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Title
|
Service Date
|
Prudential Investments LLC
|
Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc.
|
Cyril Moullé-Berteaux
|
Managing Director
|
July 2015
|
|
|
Mark Bavoso
|
Managing Director
|
July 2015
|
|
|
Sergei Parmenov
|
Managing Director
|
July 2015
|
TAX INFORMATION
Contract owners should consult
their Contract prospectus for information on the federal tax consequences to them. In addition, Contract owners may wish to consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investments in the
Contracts and the Portfolio, including the application of state and local taxes. The Portfolio currently intends to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Portfolio's income,
gains, losses, deductions, and credits are “passed through” pro rata directly to the Participating Insurance Companies and retain the same character for federal income tax purposes.
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
COMPENSATION
If you purchase your Contract
through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Participating Insurance Company, the Portfolio or their related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Contract, the
selection of the Portfolio and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Contract over another
investment or insurance product, or to recommend the Portfolio over another investment option under the Contract. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
SUMMARY: AST NEUBERGER BERMAN LONG/SHORT
PORTFOLIO
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The primary investment objective of
the Portfolio is to seek long term capital appreciation with a secondary objective of principal preservation.
PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
The table below shows the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you invest in shares of the Portfolio. The table does not include Contract charges. Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be
higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the table. See your Contract prospectus for more information about Contract charges.
Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
|
Management Fees
|
|
1.04%
|
Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 Fees)
|
|
0.25%
|
Other Expenses
1
Dividend Expense and Broker Fees and Expenses on Short Sales
Remainder of Other Expenses
|
0.24%
0.13%
|
0.37%
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
|
|
1.66%
|
1
The Portfolio will commence operations on or about July 13, 2015. Estimate based in part on assumed average daily net assets of $100 million for the Portfolio for the fiscal
period ending December 31, 2015.
Example.
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table does not include Contract charges.
Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the example. See your Contract prospectus for more information about
Contract charges.
The example assumes that you
invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the
Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
|
$169
|
$523
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate
higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio's performance. No portfolio turnover rate is presented for the Portfolio,
because it is new.
INVESTMENTS, RISKS AND
PERFORMANCE
Principal Investment
Strategies.
The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objectives primarily by taking long and short positions in the global securities markets. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio uses
long or short positions in common and preferred equity securities, exchange traded funds (ETFs) and fixed income securities. The Portfolio also uses derivatives, including long and short positions from futures
contracts on stock indices, total return swaps on individual securities and indices, foreign currency forward contracts and call and put options on individual securities and indices including writing (selling) calls
against positions in the portfolio (covered calls) or writing (selling) puts on securities. Short positions involve selling a security the Portfolio does not own or buying a derivative on a security in anticipation
that the security’s price will decline. The Portfolio may invest in securities of, and derivative contracts on, US and non-US companies. Futures, swaps, forwards or options may be used in an attempt to increase
returns and/or reduce risks. The equity securities in which the Portfolio invests are generally those of companies with market capitalizations of at least $250 million, measured at the time the Portfolio first invests
in them. The Portfolio may continue to hold or add to a position in a stock after the company’s market value has fallen below $250 million. The Portfolio’s typical investment exposure ranges from net long
exposure of 150% of net asset
value (NAV) to net short exposure of 20% of NAV.
For example, if the Portfolio’s long portfolio provides long investment exposure of 70% of its NAV and its short portfolio provides short investment exposure of 40% of its NAV, the Portfolio would have a net
long exposure of 30% of NAV. The Portfolio may sell short an instrument in which it can invest long.
With respect to any portion of the
Portfolio’s assets invested in long equity positions, the subadviser generally invests in companies which it believes are undervalued and possess one or more of the following characteristics: (i) companies with
strong competitive positions in industries with attractive growth prospects; (ii) companies with the ability to generate sustainable cash flows which are growing at a modest rate over the long-term; (iii) companies
whose market price is below the subadviser’s estimate of the company’s intrinsic value; and (iv) companies with the potential for a catalyst, such as a merger, liquidation, spin off, or management change.
The subadviser’s estimate of a company’s intrinsic value represents its view of the company’s true, long-term economic value (the value of both its tangible and intangible assets), which may be
currently distorted by market inefficiencies. In establishing long equity positions, the Portfolio may utilize stock index futures and total return swaps and options on individual securities and indices.
With respect to any portion of the
Portfolio’s assets invested in short equity positions, the subadviser employs short positions in an attempt to increase returns and/or to reduce risk. The subadviser’s use of short positions to increase
returns and/or reduce certain risks may include, among others: (i) short sales of ETFs representing macro-economically challenged markets, industries or geographies; (ii) short sales of the equity securities of
companies that the subadviser expects to decline in price, lose economic value or generally underperform; or (iii) short positions designed to offset cyclical, currency, or country-specific risks, including, but not
limited to, short positions in stock index futures.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Portfolio.
The risks summarized below are the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio. All investments have risks to some degree and it is possible that you could lose money by investing in the
Portfolio. An investment in the Portfolio is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. While the Portfolio makes every
effort to achieve its objective, the Portfolio cannot guarantee success.
Asset Transfer
Program Risk
. Predetermined, nondiscretionary mathematical formulas used by the Participating Insurance Companies to manage the guarantees offered in connection with certain benefit programs under the
Contracts may result in systematic transfers of assets among the investment options under the Contracts, including the Portfolio. These formulas may result in large-scale asset flows into and out of the Portfolio,
which could adversely affect the Portfolio, including its risk profile, expenses and performance. For example, the asset flows may adversely affect performance by requiring the Portfolio to purchase or sell securities
at inopportune times, by otherwise limiting the subadviser’s ability to fully implement the Portfolio’s investment strategies, or by requiring the Portfolio to hold a larger portion of its assets in highly
liquid securities than it otherwise would hold. The asset flows may also result in high turnover, low asset levels and high operating expense ratios for the Portfolio. The efficient operation of the asset flows
depends on active and liquid markets. If market liquidity is strained, the asset flows may not operate as intended which in turn could adversely affect performance.
Derivatives Risk
. A derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The use of derivatives involves a
variety of risks, including the risk that: the party on the other side of a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation; leverage created by investing in derivatives may result in losses to
the Portfolio; derivatives may be difficult or impossible for the Portfolio to buy or sell at an opportune time or price, and may be difficult to terminate or otherwise offset; derivatives used for hedging may reduce
or magnify losses but also may reduce or eliminate gains; and the price of commodity-linked derivatives may be more volatile than the prices of traditional equity and debt securities.
Emerging Markets Risk
. The risks of non-US investments are greater for investments in emerging markets. Emerging market countries typically have economic and political systems that are less fully
developed, and can be expected to be less stable, than those of more developed countries. For example, the economies of such countries can be subject
to rapid and unpredictable rates of inflation or
deflation. Low trading volumes may result in a lack of liquidity and price volatility. Emerging market countries may have policies that restrict investment by foreigners, or that prevent foreign investors
from withdrawing their money at will.
Equity Securities Risk
. The value of a particular stock or equity-related security held by the Portfolio could fluctuate, perhaps greatly, in response to a number of factors, such as changes in the
issuer’s financial condition or the value of the equity markets or a sector of those markets. Such events may result in losses to the Portfolio.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF)
Risk
. An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a mutual fund that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. In addition, the
market price of an ETF’s shares may trade above or below their net asset value and there may not be an active trading market for an ETF’s shares. The Portfolio could lose money investing in an ETF if the
prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down.
Expense Risk
. The actual cost of investing in the Portfolio may be higher than the expenses shown in the “Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” table above for a variety of reasons,
including, for example, if the Portfolio’s average net assets decrease.
Fixed Income Securities Risk
. Investment in fixed income securities involves a variety of risks, including that: an issuer or guarantor of a security will be unable to pay obligations when due; the Portfolio may be
unable to sell its securities holdings at the price it values the security or at any price; the income generated by and the market price of a fixed income security may decline due to a decrease in interest rates; and
the price of a fixed income security may decline due to an increase in interest rates.
Foreign Investment Risk
. Investments in foreign securities generally involve more risk than investing in securities of US issuers, including: changes in currency exchange rates may affect the value of foreign
securities held by the Portfolio; foreign markets generally are more volatile than, and generally are not subject to regulatory requirements comparable to, US markets; foreign financial reporting standards usually
differ from those in the US; foreign exchanges are often less liquid than US markets; political developments may adversely affect the value of foreign securities; and foreign holdings may be subject to special
taxation and limitations on repatriating investment proceeds.
High-Yield Risk
. Investments in fixed income securities rated below investment grade and unrated securities of similar credit quality (i.e., high yield securities or junk bonds) may be more sensitive to
interest rate, credit and liquidity risks than investments in investment grade securities, and have predominantly speculative characteristics.
Investment Style Risk
. Securities of a particular investment style, such as growth or value, tend to perform differently and shift into and out of favor depending on market and economic conditions.
Leverage Risk
. Using leverage, the investment of borrowed cash, may amplify the Portfolio’s gains and losses and cause the Portfolio to be more volatile.
Liquidity and Valuation Risk
. The Portfolio may hold one or more securities for which there are no or few buyers and sellers or the securities are subject to limitations on transfer. The Portfolio may be unable to
sell those portfolio holdings at the desired time or price, and may have difficulty determining the value of such securities for the purpose of determining the Portfolio’s net asset value. In such cases,
investments owned by the Portfolio may be valued at fair value pursuant to guidelines established by the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees. No assurance can be given that the fair value prices accurately reflect the
value of security.
Market and Management Risk
. Markets in which the Portfolio invests may experience volatility and go down in value, and possibly sharply and unpredictably. The investment techniques, risk analysis and investment
strategies used by a subadviser in making investment decisions for the Portfolio may not produce the intended or desired results.
Mid-Sized Company Risk
. The shares of mid-sized companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger, more established companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing and volatility of these
securities and on the Portfolio’s ability to sell the securities.
Portfolio Turnover Risk
. The subadviser may engage in active trading on behalf of the Portfolio—that is, frequent trading of their securities—in order to take advantage of new investment opportunities
or yield differentials. The Portfolio's turnover rate may be higher than that of other mutual funds. Portfolio turnover generally involves some expense to the Portfolio, including brokerage commissions or dealer
mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestment in other securities.
Recent Events Risk
. Events in the financial markets have caused, and may continue to cause, increased volatility and a significant decline in the value and liquidity of many securities. As a result,
identifying investment risks and opportunities may be especially difficult. There is no assurance that steps taken by governments, and their agencies and instrumentalities, to support financial markets will continue,
and the impact of regulatory changes on the markets may not be known for some time.
Regulatory Risk
. The Portfolio is subject to a variety of laws and regulations which govern its operations. The Portfolio is subject to regulation by the SEC. Similarly, the businesses and other issuers
of the securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio invests are also subject to considerable regulation. A change in laws and regulations may materially impact the Portfolio, a security, business, sector or
market.
Short Sale Risk
. A short sale involves the risk that the price of a borrowed security or derivative will increase during the time the Portfolio has borrowed the security or derivative and the Portfolio
will incur a loss equal to the increase in price from the time that the short sale was entered into plus any premiums and interest paid to the third party. Short sales may result in losses that are greater than the
cost of the investment. In addition, the third party to the short sale may fail to honor its contract terms, causing a loss to the Portfolio.
Small Sized Company Risk
. The shares of small sized companies tend to be less liquid than those of larger, more established companies, which can have an adverse effect on the price of these securities and on the
Portfolio’s ability to sell these securities. The market price of such investments also may rise more in response to buying demand and fall more in response to selling pressure and be more volatile than
investments in larger companies.
Past Performance.
No performance history is presented for this Portfolio, because it does not yet have a full calendar year of performance.
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO
Investment Manager
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Title
|
Service Date
|
Prudential Investments LLC
|
Neuberger Berman Management LLC
|
Charles Kantor
|
Portfolio Manager
|
July 2015
|
TAX INFORMATION
Contract owners should consult
their Contract prospectus for information on the federal tax consequences to them. In addition, Contract owners may wish to consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investments in the
Contracts and the Portfolio, including the application of state and local taxes. The Portfolio currently intends to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Portfolio's income,
gains, losses, deductions, and credits are “passed through” pro rata directly to the Participating Insurance Companies and retain the same character for federal income tax purposes.
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
COMPENSATION
If you purchase your Contract
through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Participating Insurance Company, the Portfolio or their related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Contract, the
selection of the Portfolio and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by
influencing the broker-dealer or other
intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Contract over another investment or insurance product, or to recommend the Portfolio over another investment option under the Contract. Ask your salesperson or visit
your financial intermediary's website for more information.
SUMMARY: AST WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT GLOBAL BOND
PORTFOLIO
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The investment
objective of the Portfolio is to seek to provide consistent excess returns over the Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index (USD Hedged).
PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
The table below shows the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you invest in shares of the Portfolio. The table does not include Contract charges. Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be
higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the table. See your Contract prospectus for more information about Contract charges.
Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
Management Fees
|
0.62%
|
Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 Fees)
|
0.25%
|
Other Expenses
1
|
0.05%
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
|
0.92%
|
1
The Portfolio will commence operations on or about July 13, 2015. Estimate based in part on assumed average daily net assets of $1.4 billion for the Portfolio for the fiscal
period ending December 31, 2015.
Example.
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table does not include Contract charges.
Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the example. See your Contract prospectus for more information about
Contract charges.
The example assumes that you
invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the
Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
|
$94
|
$293
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate
higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio's performance. No portfolio turnover rate is presented for the Portfolio,
because it is new.
INVESTMENTS, RISKS AND
PERFORMANCE
Principal Investment
Strategies.
In pursuing its investment objective, the Portfolio normally invests at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in fixed income securities.
The Portfolio invests, under normal circumstances, in fixed income securities of companies located in at least three countries. The Portfolio seeks to generate excess returns relative to the Barclays Global Aggregate
Index (USD Hedged). The Portfolio’s global aggregate strategy seeks to generate excess returns through the combination of lowly correlated investment strategies developed by highly specialized investors. Each
investor has a specialized area of focus which is sector, region, or investment style based. The investment universe includes fixed income securities denominated in various currencies and issued by government,
government-related, corporate, and securitized issuers from around the world.
The Portfolio
invests in debt securities of issuers domiciled around the world. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio will invest its assets in securities of issuers located in the United States and at least three other
countries (based on country of domicile and inclusive of non-currency derivatives). The Portfolio may buy and sell bonds issued by government, agency, and supranational issuers; mortgage, commercial mortgage, and
asset-backed securities; corporate and real estate investment trust (REIT) debt; credit-linked, index-linked, and capital securities
(securities that combine the features of bonds and
preferred stock); loan participation securities that qualify as an eligible investment by the Portfolio (including, but not limited to, trade finance loan participations) and, in addition, bank loan assignments that
qualify as money market instruments; as well as other debt securities issued by public or private issuers, both fixed and floating-rate, including forward contracts on such securities.
Currency exposure may be taken on
an opportunistic basis. Currency exposure, including cross-currency positions which are not related to the Portfolio’s bond and cash equivalent positions, may be assumed.
Investments
represent a broad credit spectrum, including issues rated below investment-grade. There is no minimum credit rating for individual securities. The Portfolio is diversified by country, and issuer. The Portfolio makes
use of derivatives to implement active positions as well as hedge exposure. Derivative instruments may include, but are not limited, to futures (on asset classes or indices including volatility indices), forwards,
options, swaps (currency swaps, interest rate swaps, total rate of return swaps, and credit default swaps), to-be-announced securities (TBAs), structured notes and spot transactions for both active management and
hedging purposes. The high liquidity of derivative instruments assists the portfolio management team in quickly and efficiently managing portfolio exposure in the context of continually changing market
environments.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Portfolio.
The risks summarized below are the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio. All investments have risks to some degree and it is possible that you could lose money by investing in the
Portfolio. An investment in the Portfolio is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. While the Portfolio makes every
effort to achieve its objective, the Portfolio cannot guarantee success.
Asset-Backed and/or Mortgage-Backed
Securities Risk
. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are fixed income securities that represent an interest in an underlying pool of assets, such as credit card receivables or, in the case of
mortgage-backed securities, mortgage loans. Like fixed income securities, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and credit risk, which may be heightened in
connection with investments in loans to “subprime” borrowers. Certain asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to the risk that those obligations will be repaid sooner than expected or later
than expected, either of which may result in lower than expected returns. Mortgage-backed securities, because they are backed by mortgage loans, are also subject to risks related to real estate, and securities backed
by private-issued mortgages may experience higher rates of default on the underlying mortgages than securities backed by government-issued mortgages.
Asset Transfer
Program Risk
. Predetermined, nondiscretionary mathematical formulas used by the Participating Insurance Companies to manage the guarantees offered in connection with certain benefit programs under the
Contracts may result in systematic transfers of assets among the investment options under the Contracts, including the Portfolio. These formulas may result in large-scale asset flows into and out of the Portfolio,
which
could adversely affect the Portfolio, including its risk profile, expenses and performance. For example, the asset flows may adversely affect performance by requiring the Portfolio to
purchase or sell securities at inopportune times, by otherwise limiting the subadviser’s ability to fully implement the Portfolio’s investment strategies, or by requiring the Portfolio to hold a larger
portion of its assets in highly liquid securities than it otherwise would hold. The asset flows may also result in high turnover, low asset levels and high operating expense ratios for the Portfolio. The efficient
operation of the asset flows depends on active and liquid markets.
If market liquidity is strained, the asset flows may not operate as intended which in turn could adversely affect performance.
Derivatives Risk
. A derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The use of derivatives involves a
variety of risks, including the risk that: the party on the other side of a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation; leverage created by investing in derivatives may result in losses to
the Portfolio; derivatives may be difficult or impossible for the Portfolio to buy or sell at an opportune time or price, and may be difficult to terminate or otherwise offset; derivatives used for hedging may reduce
or magnify losses but also may reduce or eliminate gains; and the price of commodity-linked derivatives may be more volatile than the prices of traditional equity and debt securities.
Equity Securities Risk
. The value of a particular stock or equity-related security held by the Portfolio could fluctuate, perhaps greatly, in response to a number of factors, such as changes in the
issuer’s financial condition or the value of the equity markets or a sector of those markets. Such events may result in losses to the Portfolio.
Expense Risk
. The actual cost of investing in the Portfolio may be higher than the expenses shown in the “Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” table above for a variety of reasons,
including, for example, if the Portfolio’s average net assets decrease.
Fixed Income Securities Risk
. Investment in fixed income securities involves a variety of risks, including that: an issuer or guarantor of a security will be unable to pay obligations when due; the Portfolio may be
unable to sell its securities holdings at the price it values the security or at any price; the income generated by and the market price of a fixed income security may decline due to a decrease in interest rates; and
the price of a fixed income security may decline due to an increase in interest rates.
Foreign Investment Risk
. Investments in foreign securities generally involve more risk than investing in securities of US issuers, including: changes in currency exchange rates may affect the value of foreign
securities held by the Portfolio; foreign markets generally are more volatile than, and generally are not subject to regulatory requirements comparable to, US markets; foreign financial reporting standards usually
differ from those in the US; foreign exchanges are often less liquid than US markets; political developments may adversely affect the value of foreign securities; and foreign holdings may be subject to special
taxation and limitations on repatriating investment proceeds.
High-Yield Risk
. Investments in fixed income securities rated below investment grade and unrated securities of similar credit quality (i.e., high yield securities or junk bonds) may be more sensitive to
interest rate, credit and liquidity risks than investments in investment grade securities, and have predominantly speculative characteristics.
Liquidity and Valuation Risk
. The Portfolio may hold one or more securities for which there are no or few buyers and sellers or the securities are subject to limitations on transfer. The Portfolio may be unable to
sell those portfolio holdings at the desired time or price, and may have difficulty determining the value of such securities for the purpose of determining the Portfolio’s net asset value. In such cases,
investments owned by the Portfolio may be valued at fair value pursuant to guidelines established by the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees. No assurance can be given that the fair value prices accurately reflect the
value of security.
Market and Management Risk
. Markets in which the Portfolio invests may experience volatility and go down in value, and possibly sharply and unpredictably. The investment techniques, risk analysis and investment
strategies used by a subadviser in making investment decisions for the Portfolio may not produce the intended or desired results.
Portfolio Turnover Risk
. The subadviser may engage in active trading on behalf of the Portfolio—that is, frequent trading of their securities—in order to take advantage of new investment opportunities
or yield differentials. The Portfolio's turnover rate may be higher than that of other mutual funds. Portfolio turnover generally involves some expense to the Portfolio, including brokerage commissions or dealer
mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestment in other securities.
Recent Events Risk
. Events in the financial markets have caused, and may continue to cause, increased volatility and a significant decline in the value and liquidity of many securities. As a result,
identifying investment risks and opportunities may be especially difficult. There is no assurance that steps taken by governments, and their agencies and instrumentalities, to support financial markets will continue,
and the impact of regulatory changes on the markets may not be known for some time.
Regulatory Risk
. The Portfolio is subject to a variety of laws and regulations which govern its operations. The Portfolio is subject to regulation by the SEC. Similarly, the businesses and other issuers
of the securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio invests are also subject to considerable regulation. A change in laws and regulations may materially impact the Portfolio, a security, business, sector or
market.
Sovereign Debt Securities
Risk.
Investing in foreign sovereign debt securities exposes the Portfolio to direct or indirect consequences of political, social or economic changes in the countries that issue the securities.
The consequences include the risk that the issuer or governmental authority that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be willing or able to repay the principal and/or pay interest when it becomes due, that
the foreign government may default on its debt securities, and that there may be no bankruptcy proceeding by which the defaulted sovereign debt may be collected.
Past Performance.
No performance history is presented for this Portfolio, because it does not yet have a full calendar year of performance.
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO
Investment Manager
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Title
|
Service Date
|
Prudential Investments LLC
|
Wellington Management Company LLP
|
Mark Sullivan, CFA, CMT
|
Senior Managing Director, Partner and Portfolio Manager
|
July 2015
|
|
|
John Soukas
|
Senior Managing Director, Partner and Portfolio Manager
|
July 2015
|
|
|
Edward Meyi, FRM
|
Managing Director and Portfolio Manager
|
July 2015
|
TAX INFORMATION
Contract owners should consult
their Contract prospectus for information on the federal tax consequences to them. In addition, Contract owners may wish to consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investments in the
Contracts and the Portfolio, including the application of state and local taxes. The Portfolio currently intends to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Portfolio's income,
gains, losses, deductions, and credits are “passed through” pro rata directly to the Participating Insurance Companies and retain the same character for federal income tax purposes.
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
COMPENSATION
If you purchase your Contract
through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Participating Insurance Company, the Portfolio or their related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Contract, the
selection of the Portfolio and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Contract over another
investment or insurance product, or to recommend the Portfolio over another investment option under the Contract. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
SUMMARY: AST WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT REAL TOTAL
RETURN PORTFOLIO
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The investment objective of the
Portfolio is to seek long-term real total return.
PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
The table below shows the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you invest in shares of the Portfolio. The table does not include Contract charges. Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be
higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the table. See your Contract prospectus for more information about Contract charges.
Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
Management Fees
|
1.04%
|
Distribution and/or Service Fees (12b-1 Fees)
|
0.25%
|
Other Expenses
1
|
0.15%
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses
|
1.44%
|
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
|
-0.02%
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense
Reimbursement
2
|
1.42%
|
1
The Portfolio will commence operations on or about July 13, 2015. Estimate based in part on assumed average daily net assets of $100 million for the Portfolio for the fiscal
period ending December 31, 2015.
2
The investment manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fees and/or reimburse certain expenses for the Portfolio so that the
Portfolio’s investment management fee plus other expenses (exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 1.42% of
the Portfolio’s average daily net assets through July 13, 2016. The expense limitation may not be terminated or modified prior to July 13, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of
Trustees.
Example.
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table does not include Contract charges.
Because Contract charges are not included, the total fees and expenses that you will incur will be higher than the fees and expenses set forth in the example. See your Contract prospectus for more information about
Contract charges.
The example assumes that you
invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the
Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio
|
$145
|
$454
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate
higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the example, affect the Portfolio's performance. No portfolio turnover rate is presented for the Portfolio,
because it is new.
INVESTMENTS, RISKS AND
PERFORMANCE
Principal Investment
Strategies.
The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective by actively allocating the Portfolio’s assets to multiple global asset classes, including fixed income, currencies, commodities, and
equities, that the subadviser believes exhibit attractive valuations and attractive technical characteristics. In addition, the Portfolio allocates a portion of its assets to specialized investment teams within the
subadviser that the subadviser believes will generate attractive total returns that are uncorrelated to one another. The Portfolio also seeks to actively manage the overall risk of the Portfolio in an effort to
provide consistent positive total returns that outpace inflation over the long term, with moderate volatility and low correlation to equities, as represented by the S&P 500 Index, over a full market cycle. There
is no guarantee that the Portfolio will achieve its goal of positive total returns.
The Portfolio may invest in fixed
income securities and cash and cash equivalents, including, but not limited to, sovereign debt, agency securities, supranational investments, mortgage-backed securities, “to-be-announced” securities,
corporate debt, asset-backed securities, bank loans, convertible bonds, and other fixed-income instruments, as well as derivatives related to interest rates and fixed-income securities. These fixed-income instruments
could include non-investment grade debt obligations (also known as “junk bonds”) and emerging market debt obligations. The Portfolio may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity or duration.
The Portfolio may also invest
directly in listed and unlisted equity and equity related securities, including, but not limited to, common stock, preferred stock, depositary receipts inclusive of commodity indexes (including American Depositary
Receipts (ADRs) and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs)), index-related securities (including ETFs) and exchange traded notes (“ETNs”), real estate investment structures (including REITs)), convertible
bonds, convertible preferred stock, rights, warrants, and similarly liquid equity equivalents. The Portfolio may invest in equity securities of issuers with any market capitalization.
The Portfolio may
make significant use of derivative transactions. The Portfolio uses derivatives in pursuit of its investment objective, to manage portfolio risk and/or to replicate securities the Portfolio could buy directly. The
Portfolio may actively manage market exposure through the use of derivatives, which may include futures (on asset classes or indices including volatility indices), forwards, options, swaps (total return swaps, credit
default swaps, interest rate swaps, and swap options), structured notes and spot transactions. Derivatives will be used to obtain long or short exposure to a particular security, asset class, region, industry,
currency, commodity, or index, or to other securities, groups of securities, or events.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Portfolio.
The risks summarized below are the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio. All investments have risks to some degree and it is possible that you could lose money by investing in the
Portfolio. An investment in the Portfolio is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. While the Portfolio makes every
effort to achieve its objective, the Portfolio cannot guarantee success.
Asset-Backed and/or Mortgage-Backed
Securities Risk
. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are fixed income securities that represent an interest in an underlying pool of assets, such as credit card receivables or, in the case of
mortgage-backed securities, mortgage loans. Like fixed income securities, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and credit risk, which may be heightened in
connection with investments in loans to “subprime” borrowers. Certain asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to the risk that those obligations will be repaid sooner than expected or later
than expected, either of which may result in lower than expected returns. Mortgage-backed securities, because they are backed by mortgage loans, are also subject to risks related to real estate, and securities backed
by private-issued mortgages may experience higher rates of default on the underlying mortgages than securities backed by government-issued mortgages.
Asset Transfer
Program Risk
. Predetermined, nondiscretionary mathematical formulas used by the Participating Insurance Companies to manage the guarantees offered in connection with certain benefit programs under the
Contracts may result in systematic transfers of assets among the investment options under the Contracts, including the Portfolio. These formulas may result in large-scale asset flows into and out of the Portfolio,
which could adversely affect the Portfolio, including its risk profile, expenses and performance. For example, the asset flows may adversely affect performance by requiring the Portfolio to purchase or sell securities
at inopportune times, by otherwise limiting the subadviser’s ability to fully implement the Portfolio’s investment strategies, or by requiring the Portfolio to hold a larger portion of its assets in highly
liquid securities than it otherwise would hold. The asset flows may also result in high turnover, low asset levels and high operating expense ratios for the Portfolio. The efficient operation of the asset flows
depends on active and liquid markets. If market liquidity is strained, the asset flows may not operate as intended which in turn could adversely affect performance.
Derivatives Risk
. A derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The use of derivatives involves a
variety of risks, including the risk that: the party on the other side of a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation; leverage
created by investing in derivatives may result in
losses to the Portfolio; derivatives may be difficult or impossible for the Portfolio to buy or sell at an opportune time or price, and may be difficult to terminate or otherwise offset; derivatives used for hedging
may reduce or magnify losses but also may reduce or eliminate gains; and the price of commodity-linked derivatives may be more volatile than the prices of traditional equity and debt securities.
Emerging Markets Risk
. The risks of non-US investments are greater for investments in emerging markets. Emerging market countries typically have economic and political systems that are less fully
developed, and can be expected to be less stable, than those of more developed countries. For example, the economies of such countries can be subject to rapid and unpredictable rates of inflation or deflation.
Low trading volumes may result in a lack of liquidity and price volatility. Emerging market countries may have policies that restrict investment by foreigners, or that prevent foreign investors from withdrawing
their money at will.
Equity Securities Risk
. The value of a particular stock or equity-related security held by the Portfolio could fluctuate, perhaps greatly, in response to a number of factors, such as changes in the
issuer’s financial condition or the value of the equity markets or a sector of those markets. Such events may result in losses to the Portfolio.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF)
Risk
. An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a mutual fund that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. In addition, the
market price of an ETF’s shares may trade above or below their net asset value and there may not be an active trading market for an ETF’s shares. The Portfolio could lose money investing in an ETF if the
prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down.
Expense Risk
. The actual cost of investing in the Portfolio may be higher than the expenses shown in the “Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” table above for a variety of reasons,
including, for example, if the Portfolio’s average net assets decrease.
Fixed Income Securities Risk
. Investment in fixed income securities involves a variety of risks, including that: an issuer or guarantor of a security will be unable to pay obligations when due; the Portfolio may be
unable to sell its securities holdings at the price it values the security or at any price; the income generated by and the market price of a fixed income security may decline due to a decrease in interest rates; and
the price of a fixed income security may decline due to an increase in interest rates.
Foreign Investment Risk
. Investments in foreign securities generally involve more risk than investing in securities of US issuers, including: changes in currency exchange rates may affect the value of foreign
securities held by the Portfolio; foreign markets generally are more volatile than, and generally are not subject to regulatory requirements comparable to, US markets; foreign financial reporting standards usually
differ from those in the US; foreign exchanges are often less liquid than US markets; political developments may adversely affect the value of foreign securities; and foreign holdings may be subject to special
taxation and limitations on repatriating investment proceeds.
High-Yield Risk
. Investments in fixed income securities rated below investment grade and unrated securities of similar credit quality (i.e., high yield securities or junk bonds) may be more sensitive to
interest rate, credit and liquidity risks than investments in investment grade securities, and have predominantly speculative characteristics.
Leverage Risk
. Using leverage, the investment of borrowed cash, may amplify the Portfolio’s gains and losses and cause the Portfolio to be more volatile.
Liquidity and Valuation Risk
. The Portfolio may hold one or more securities for which there are no or few buyers and sellers or the securities are subject to limitations on transfer. The Portfolio may be unable to
sell those portfolio holdings at the desired time or price, and may have difficulty determining the value of such securities for the purpose of determining the Portfolio’s net asset value. In such cases,
investments owned by the Portfolio may be valued at fair value pursuant to guidelines established by the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees. No assurance can be given that the fair value prices accurately reflect the
value of security.
Market and Management Risk
. Markets in which the Portfolio invests may experience volatility and go down in value, and possibly sharply and unpredictably. The investment techniques, risk analysis and investment
strategies used by a subadviser in making investment decisions for the Portfolio may not produce the intended or desired results.
Mid-Sized Company Risk
. The shares of mid-sized companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger, more established companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing and volatility of these
securities and on the Portfolio’s ability to sell the securities.
Portfolio Turnover Risk
. The subadviser may engage in active trading on behalf of the Portfolio—that is, frequent trading of their securities—in order to take advantage of new investment opportunities
or yield differentials. The Portfolio's turnover rate may be higher than that of other mutual funds. Portfolio turnover generally involves some expense to the Portfolio, including brokerage commissions or dealer
mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestment in other securities.
Real Estate Risk
. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate-linked derivative instruments are subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate.
Poor performance by the manager of the REIT and adverse changes to or inability to qualify with favorable tax laws will adversely affect the Portfolio. In addition, some REITs have limited diversification because they
invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property.
Recent Events Risk
. Events in the financial markets have caused, and may continue to cause, increased volatility and a significant decline in the value and liquidity of many securities. As a result,
identifying investment risks and opportunities may be especially difficult. There is no assurance that steps taken by governments, and their agencies and instrumentalities, to support financial markets will continue,
and the impact of regulatory changes on the markets may not be known for some time.
Regulatory Risk
. The Portfolio is subject to a variety of laws and regulations which govern its operations. The Portfolio is subject to regulation by the SEC. Similarly, the businesses and other issuers
of the securities and other instruments in which the Portfolio invests are also subject to considerable regulation. A change in laws and regulations may materially impact the Portfolio, a security, business, sector or
market.
Small Sized Company Risk
. The shares of small sized companies tend to be less liquid than those of larger, more established companies, which can have an adverse effect on the price of these securities and on the
Portfolio’s ability to sell these securities. The market price of such investments also may rise more in response to buying demand and fall more in response to selling pressure and be more volatile than
investments in larger companies.
Past Performance.
No performance history is presented for this Portfolio, because it does not yet have a full calendar year of performance.
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO
Investment Manager
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Title
|
Service Date
|
Prudential Investments LLC
|
Wellington Management Company LLP
|
Rick A. Wurster
|
Managing Director and Asset Allocation Portfolio Manager
|
July 2015
|
TAX INFORMATION
Contract owners should consult
their Contract prospectus for information on the federal tax consequences to them. In addition, Contract owners may wish to consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investments in the
Contracts and the Portfolio, including the application of state and local taxes. The Portfolio currently intends to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Portfolio's income,
gains, losses, deductions, and credits are “passed through” pro rata directly to the Participating Insurance Companies and retain the same character for federal income tax purposes.
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
COMPENSATION
If you purchase your Contract
through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Participating Insurance Company, the Portfolio or their related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Contract, the
selection of the Portfolio and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Contract over another
investment or insurance product, or to recommend the Portfolio over another investment option under the Contract. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
ABOUT THE TRUST
About the TRUST and its
Portfolios
This prospectus provides
information about the Trust and its separate portfolios. The Portfolios of the Trust which are discussed in this prospectus are identified on the front cover and in the table of contents. The AST AB Global Bond
Portfolio (the AB Portfolio), the AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio (the Wellington Global Portfolio), the AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio (the Ivy Portfolio), the AST Wellington Management Real Total
Return Portfolio (the Wellington Total Return Portfolio), the AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio (the Neuberger Berman Portfolio), the AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio (the Managed Portfolio), and the AST
Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio (the Emerging Managers Portfolio) are each a diversified investment company as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act). The AST Goldman Sachs Global Income
Portfolio (the Goldman Portfolio), the AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio (the Morgan Stanley Portfolio), and the AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio (the Columbia Portfolio) are each a
non-diversified investment company as defined by the 1940 Act.
Prudential Investments LLC (PI or
the Investment Manager), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. (Prudential Financial), serves as overall investment manager of each Portfolio covered by this prospectus. PI and AST Investment
Services, Inc. (ASTIS) serve as the co-investment managers of each of the portfolios of the Trust not covered by this prospectus, except for the AST Schroders Global Tactical Portfolio, AST AQR Emerging Markets Equity
Portfolio, AST BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio, AST FQ Absolute Return Currency Portfolio, AST Franklin Templeton K2 Global Absolute Return Portfolio, AST Goldman Sachs Global Growth Allocation Portfolio, AST
Goldman Sachs Strategic Income Portfolio, AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio, AST Prudential Flexible Multi-Strategy Portfolio, AST Bond Portfolio 2026, AST QMA International Equity Portfolio and AST T. Rowe
Price Diversified Real Growth for which PI serves as the sole investment manager.
Prudential Financial, which is
incorporated in the United States, has its principal place of business in the United States. Neither Prudential Financial nor any of its subsidiaries are affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, a company
incorporated in the United Kingdom. The Investment Manager has retained one or more subadvisers (each, a Subadviser), to manage the day-to-day investment of the assets of each Portfolio in a multi-manager structure
with the exception of the AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio.
More information about the
Investment Manager, each Subadviser and the multi-manager structure is included in “How the Trust is Managed” later in this Prospectus.
The Trust offers one class of
shares in each Portfolio. Shares of the Portfolios are sold only to separate accounts of Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Life Insurance Company,
Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Pramerica of Bermuda Life Assurance Company, Ltd. (collectively, Prudential), Kemper Investors Life Insurance Company,
Allstate Life Insurance Company and Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York as investment options under variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts. Shares of the Portfolio may be sold directly to
certain qualified retirement plans.
Additional information about each
Portfolio is set forth in the following sections, and is also provided in the Statement of Additional Information (the SAI).
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON HOW THE PORTFOLIOS
INVEST
Introduction
We describe each Portfolio's
investment objective and policies on the following pages. We describe certain investment instruments that appear below in the section entitled More Detailed Information About Other Investments and Strategies Used by
the Portfolios.
Although we make every effort to
achieve each Portfolio's objective, we can't guarantee success and it is possible that you could lose money.
Unless otherwise stated, each Portfolio's investment objective is a non-fundamental investment policy and, therefore, may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board) without
shareholder approval.
An investment in a Portfolio is
not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
The Portfolios have investment
strategies and policies that include percentage estimates and limitations. Those percentages are generally applied at the time the Portfolio makes an investment.
A Portfolio may have a policy to
invest 80% of its assets in a particular category of investments based on the name of the Portfolio. The 80% requirement is applied at the time the Portfolio makes an investment. Those 80% policies are non-fundamental
and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval. The Portfolio, however, will provide 60 days' prior written notice to shareholders of any change in an 80% policy based on the Portfolio's name if required
by applicable rules.
A change in the securities held by
a Portfolio is known as “portfolio turnover.” A Portfolio may engage in active and frequent trading to try to achieve its investment objective and may have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% annually.
Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage fees or other transaction costs, which can reduce performance. If a Portfolio realizes capital gains when it sells investments, it generally must pay those
gains to shareholders, increasing its taxable distributions.
In response to adverse market
conditions or when restructuring a Portfolio, we may temporarily invest up to 100% of the Portfolio's total assets in money market instruments. Investing heavily in money market securities limits our ability to
achieve our investment objective, but can help to preserve the value of the Portfolio's assets when markets are unstable.
AST AB GLOBAL BOND PORTFOLIO
Investment Objective: Seeks to
generate current income consistent with preservation of capital.
Principal Investment Policies
In pursuing its
investment objective, the Portfolio normally invests at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in fixed-income securities. The Portfolio invests in a broad range of
fixed-income securities in both developed and emerging markets (in at least three countries), with investments denominated in either local currency or the US dollar. The percentage of the Portfolio’s assets
invested in a particular country or denominated in a particular currency vary in accordance with assessments of the relative yield and appreciation potential of various securities and currencies relative to the US
dollar. The Portfolio invests at least 40% of its assets in non-US companies under normal circumstances. In determining whether a company is a non-US company, the subadviser will evaluate the issuer’s
“country of risk.” The issuer’s “country of risk” will be determined based on a number of criteria, including its country of domicile, the primary stock exchange on which it trades, the
location from which the majority of its revenue comes, and its reporting currency. The Portfolio can invest across all fixed-income sectors, including US and non-US government securities, and across a range of
maturities. The Portfolio may use borrowings or other leverage for investment purposes. The Portfolio is actively managed. The Portfolio takes into account various factors, including the credit quality and sensitivity
to interest rates of the securities under consideration and of the Portfolio’s other holdings.
Under normal circumstances, the
Portfolio invests at least 75% of its net assets in fixed income securities rated investment grade at the time of investment, and may invest up to 25% of its net assets in below investment grade fixed income
securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”).
The Subadviser selects securities
for purchase or sale based on its assessment of the securities’ risk and return characteristics as well as the securities’ impact on the overall risk and return characteristics of the Portfolio. In making
this assessment, the Subadviser takes into account various factors, including the credit quality and sensitivity to interest rates of the securities under consideration and of the Portfolio’s other holdings.
The Subadviser
actively manages the Portfolio’s assets in relation to market conditions and general economic conditions and adjusts the Portfolio’s investments in an effort to best enable the Portfolio to achieve its
investment objective. Thus, the percentage of the Portfolio’s assets invested in a particular country or denominated in a particular currency vary in accordance with assessment of the relative yield and
appreciation potential of such securities and the relationship of the country’s currency to the US dollar.
The Portfolio may invest in
mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, loan participations, inflation-protected securities, structured securities, variable, floating, and inverse floating-rate instruments and preferred stock, and may
use other investment techniques. The Portfolio intends, among other things, to enter into transactions such as reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls.
The Portfolio may invest, without
limit, in derivatives including, but not limited to futures (including bond, currency, equity, index and interest rate futures), currency forwards, options (swap options, options on currencies and options on
currencies) and swaps (including credit default, credit default swap index, interest rate and total return swaps). The Portfolio may invest in derivatives for both hedging and non-hedging purposes, including, for
example, seeking to enhance returns or as a substitute for a position in an underlying asset. The Portfolio may invest in derivatives to manage the Portfolio’s overall risk exposure. The Portfolio also uses
derivatives to obtain leverage (market exposure in excess of the Portfolio’s assets). In seeking to manage foreign currency exposure, the Portfolio may utilize forward contracts and option contracts, both
written and purchased, either to increase or decrease exposure to a given currency. In seeking to manage event risks, the Portfolio may utilize short futures on commodities, as well as on foreign and domestic equity
indexes and option contracts, both written and purchased, on individual equity securities owned by the Portfolio.
AST COLUMBIA ADAPTIVE RISK
ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
Investment Objective: Pursue
consistent total returns by allocating risks across multiple asset classes.
Principal Investment Policies
The Portfolio, under normal
circumstances, seeks to achieve its investment objective by allocating portfolio risk across multiple asset classes in US and non-US markets with the goal of generating consistent risk-adjusted returns. For these
purposes, risk is the expected volatility (i.e., dispersion of returns) of a security, market, index, or asset class, as determined by the Portfolio’s Subadviser.
The Portfolio employs quantitative
and fundamental methods to identify distinct market environments and creates a strategic risk allocation for each environment that is intended to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns in that environment.
Allocations of risk to asset classes may differ significantly across market environments. In addition to strategic risk allocations based on the market environment, the Subadviser may make tactical adjustments within
and among asset classes and pursue opportunistic strategies in response to changing market, economic, or other conditions.
The Portfolio may use a variety of
security and instrument types to gain exposure to equity securities, inflation-hedging assets, and fixed income securities (generally consisting of fixed income securities issued by governments, which are referred to
as interest rate assets, and other fixed income securities, which are referred to as spread assets). The equity securities in which the Portfolio may invest include direct or indirect investments in common stocks,
preferred stocks, and convertible securities. The inflation-hedging assets in which the Portfolio may
invest include direct or indirect investments in
commodity-related investments, including certain types of commodities-linked derivatives or notes, inflation-linked bonds and real estate investment trusts. The fixed income assets in which the Portfolio may invest
include direct and indirect investments in corporate bonds, structured securities (including asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities, and collateralized loan obligations), securities in the to-be-announced
market, dollar rolls, exchange-traded notes (including both leveraged and inverse notes), equity- or index-linked notes, sovereign debt obligations (including emerging market sovereign debt obligations), US Government
securities, repurchase agreements, and reverse repurchase agreements. The Subadviser determines, in its discretion, the categorization of any investment (or portion thereof) within one or more of the general asset
class categories.
The Portfolio may invest in
securities and instruments issued by both US and non-US entities, including issuers in emerging market countries. The Portfolio may also invest in currencies. The Portfolio may invest in companies that have market
capitalizations of any size. The Portfolio may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity (and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity) and of any credit quality, including
investments that are rated below investment-grade or are deemed to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
The Portfolio may invest in
derivatives, including futures (including bond, currency, equity, index and interest rate futures), currency forwards, options and swaps (including credit default, credit default swap index, interest rate and total
return swaps). The Portfolio may invest in derivatives for both hedging and non-hedging purposes, including, for example, seeking to enhance returns or as a substitute for a position in an underlying asset. The
Portfolio may invest in derivatives to manage the Portfolio’s overall risk exposure. The Portfolio also uses derivatives to obtain leverage (market exposure in excess of the Portfolio’s assets). The
Portfolio may utilize significant amounts of leverage within certain asset classes and during certain market environments in order to maintain attractive expected risk-adjusted returns while adhering to the
Portfolio’s risk allocation framework. The Subadviser anticipates that the Portfolio’s net notional investment exposure will be approximately 150% of the net assets of the Portfolio in the market
environment that the Subadviser expects to be the most frequent, although leverage may be significantly higher or lower in other market environments or when the Subadviser otherwise believes conditions so warrant.
The Portfolio may also take short
positions, for hedging or investment purposes. When the Portfolio takes a short position, it typically sells a currency, security or other asset that it has borrowed in anticipation of a decline in the price of the
asset. To close out a short position, the Portfolio buys back the same security or other asset in the market and returns it to the lender. If the price of the security or other asset falls sufficiently, the Portfolio
will make money. If it instead increases in price, the Portfolio will lose money.
The Portfolio may hold a
significant amount of cash, money market instruments (which may include investments in one or more affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or similar vehicles), other high-quality, short-term investments, or
other liquid assets for investment purposes or to meet its segregation obligations as a result of its investments in derivatives. In certain market conditions, the Portfolio may have no market positions (i.e., the
Portfolio may hold only cash and cash equivalents) when the Subadviser believes it is in the best interests of the Portfolio.
The Portfolio may invest in the
securities and instruments described herein directly or indirectly through investments in other mutual funds, real estate investment trusts, closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) (including both leveraged
and inverse ETFs) managed by third parties or the subadviser or its affiliates. In particular, the Portfolio invests significantly in Columbia Commodity Strategy Fund, Columbia Global Inflation-Linked Bond Plus Fund
and Columbia Real Estate Equity Fund but may also invest significantly in other underlying funds. Depending on current and expected market and economic conditions, the Portfolio may invest all of its assets in
underlying funds.
The Portfolio’s investment
strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Portfolio to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Portfolio’s performance) and may increase taxable
distributions for shareholders.
The Portfolio is
non-diversified under the 1940 Act and may invest a larger percentage of its assets in fewer issuers than a diversified mutual fund.
AST EMERGING MANAGERS
DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO
Investment Objective: Seek total
return.
Principal Investment Policies
In seeking to
achieve its investment objective, the Portfolio allocates its assets across various investment strategies to provide exposure to a mix of domestic and international equity and fixed income markets, as well as
alternative investments. Under normal circumstances, approximately 48% of the Portfolio’s net assets are allocated to equity market strategies and approximately 32% of the Portfolio’s net assets are
allocated to fixed income market strategies, with the remaining approximately 20% of the Portfolio’s net assets allocated to alternative strategies. The Portfolio is designed to provide access to institutional
investment strategies managed by emerging manager investment firms. In selecting subadvisers for the Portfolio, the Portfolio's Investment Manager focuses on smaller or mid-size subadvisers and/or those subadvisers
that are female or minority owned, but do not apply any quantitative limits on a subadviser’s total assets under management or on the subadviser’s assets under management within a specific investment
strategy. In determining whether to retain a subadviser after the subadviser’s assets under management have increased, either generally or within a specific investment strategy, the Investment Managers consider
a variety of factors, including transition costs and available options. The Investment Managers may recommend replacement of a subadviser due to an increase in assets under management, but is not required to do so.
At the Portfolio’s
inception, approximately 60-70% of the Portfolio’s assets will be allocated to two Subadvisers, each of which is an emerging manager and each of which provides a distinct investment strategy. The Investment
Manager manages the remaining 30-40% of the Portfolio’s assets.
At inception, the Portfolio will
have five strategies: a domestic large-cap core strategy, subadvised by Dana Investment Advisers, Inc. (Dana), a core plus fixed-income strategy, subadvised by Longfellow Investment Management Co. (Longfellow), an
international equity strategy, managed by the Investment Manager, a fixed-income credit strategy managed by the Investment Manager and an alternative strategy, also managed by the Investment Manager. When the
Portfolio’s asset size increases, it is expected to have four strategies that invest in equity securities (large cap core, large cap value, large cap growth and small cap core), two strategies that invest in
primarily international equities, two fixed income strategies (core plus fixed-income and fixed-income credit), and two alternative strategies.
The Investment Manager manages the
international equity strategy, the fixed-income credit strategy and an alternative strategy. The Investment Manager seeks to provide exposure to these strategies by investing in non-U.S. equity, fixed income credit,
and alternative exchange traded funds (ETFs) and other pooled vehicles in a manner consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions. Investments in ETFs and other pooled vehicles
will subject these Portfolio strategies to the risks associated with the ETFs and other pooled investment vehicles. As the Portfolio’s asset size increases, the Investment Manager will select subadvisers to
actively manage each of these investment strategies. It is expected that as the Portfolio’s assets grow the Portfolio will be nearly fully allocated to emerging subadvisers and the allocation to the Investment
Manager will be minimal. Depending on market conditions and the strategy of the selected subadviser, it is possible for the Portfolio to perform better or worse when it is actively managed versus managed by investing
in ETFs and other pooled investment vehicles.
The asset strategies of the
Portfolio at inception are described below:
1.
Domestic Large-Cap Core Strategy:
Dana manages this strategy for the Portfolio.
The domestic large-cap core strategy seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation and income with lower volatility than traditional equity portfolios, seeking to combine risk
management with upside return potential. Dana employs a hybrid investment approach consisting of sector-relative quantitative modeling and fundamental analysis. Dana’s investment process is a sector-neutral
relative-value approach that seeks to minimize volatility. Dana employs a risk-controlled relative-value equity strategy. The strategy is designed to resemble the broad market, add value above market returns
through superior stock selection, yet exhibit
lower volatility than the market. The starting universe used to select equity securities is the largest 700 companies listed on major U.S. exchanges, based on market capitalization. Large cap companies are defined as
companies having a market capitalization of over $5 billion at the time of purchase. Individual securities in the strategy are chosen after rigorous fundamental research to identify companies with attractive
valuations relative to peer companies, relative to the broader economic sector in which companies are members, and relative to the historical and forecasted growth the companies may exhibit.
2.
Core Plus Fixed-Income Strategy:
Longfellow’s overall objectives are to preserve capital, minimize volatility and earn attractive risk-adjusted returns. Longfellow’s
philosophy is based on the premise that upside is limited in fixed income. Downside risk, however, is substantial, so fixed income management should focus on evaluating risk. Longfellow seeks to produce incremental
return by investing in undervalued sectors of the fixed income market and mispriced securities within these sectors. Longfellow evaluates sectors and individual securities by attributing yield spread to the various
risk elements: credit risk, call risk, event risk and liquidity to identify “cheap” sectors and securities. The objective is to identify those investments that offer incremental return after all the risks
are identified. Cheap sectors and securities exist because several non-economic factors affect pricing, including supply/demand imbalances, analytical and/or administrative complexity, size constraints, and investor
biases.
3.
International Equity Strategy:
The Investment Manager is responsible for the Portfolio’s international equity strategy. The Investment Manager manages the international equity
strategy as a completion strategy to the Portfolio and, consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions, attains exposures to non-U.S. markets via investment in ETFs and other
pooled investments. The allocation to the international equity strategy is managed commensurate with the international equity allocation found in the Portfolio’s blended benchmark index and across moderate
allocation fund peers. The allocation among ETFs and other pooled investments within this segment is based on multiple factors, including index tracking, cost, liquidity, and relative market and country exposures
found among non-U.S. equity peers. As such, a portion of assets may be invested in other funds tracking emerging market equity indices or country-regional equity indices. It is expected that as the Portfolio grows and
additional subadvisers are identified and introduced onto the Portfolio that the Investment Manager’s role within the international component will diminish.
4.
Fixed-Income Credit Strategy:
The Investment Manager is responsible for the Portfolio’s fixed-income credit strategy. The Investment Manager manages the fixed-income credit
Sleeve as a completion sleeve to the Portfolio in conjunction with the Longfellow-managed core plus fixed-income strategy. In this capacity, the Investment Manager invests in fixed income pooled vehicles looking to
attain exposure to investment grade and high yield credit markets, assisting the Portfolio in gaining credit exposures commensurate with the Barclays Aggregate Bond Index and core bond manager peers. The allocation
among pooled investments within this strategy is based on multiple factors including index tracking, cost, liquidity, and relative market and sector exposures found among core bond peers. As such, a portion of the
assets may be invested in vehicles exposed to high yield fixed income markets. It is expected that as the Portfolio grows and additional exposures are attainable by subadvisers, the Investment Manager’s role
within the fixed income credit strategy will diminish.
5.
Alternative Strategy:
The Investment Manager, consistent with the Portfolio’s objectives, policies, and restrictions, is responsible for investing in alternative investments
through other pooled vehicles and ETFs. The Investment Manager identifies and invests in liquid alternative strategies that provide diversification and potential equity downside protection during extreme events.
Allocations among alternative ETFs and other pooled vehicles will change as a result of strategy allocation decisions by the Investment Manager or the addition of other emerging manager subadvisers. It is expected
that as the Portfolio grows and additional subadvisers are identified and introduced onto the Portfolio that the Investment Manager’s role within the alternative strategy will diminish.
AST Goldman sachs global INCOME
portfolio
Investment Objective: Seek high total
return, emphasizing current income and, to a lesser extent, providing opportunities for capital appreciation.
Principal Investment Policies
In pursuing its
investment objective, the Portfolio normally invests at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in a portfolio of fixed income instruments of U.S. and foreign issuers (measured
at the time of purchase). There is no limit on the extent to which countries, currencies, and non-investment grade credit securities may be included in the Portfolio.
The Portfolio also enters into
transactions in currencies (including foreign currencies), typically through the use of forward contracts and swap contracts to seek to enhance returns and to seek to hedge its portfolio against currency exchange rate
fluctuations. The Portfolio also may invest in other derivatives for both investment and hedging purposes. Derivatives are instruments that have a value based on another instrument, exchange rate, interest rate or
index. The Portfolio’s investments in derivatives may include futures, swaps (including credit default, index, basis, total return, volatility, interest rate and currency swaps), to-be-announced contracts
(TBAs), forward rate agreements (FRAs), repurchase agreements and options and currency forwards. The Portfolio may use derivatives instead of buying and selling bonds, to manage duration, to gain exposure or to short
individual securities or to gain exposure to a credit or asset backed index.
The fixed income instruments in
which the Portfolio may invest include:
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Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises and custodial receipts therefor
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Securities issued or guaranteed by a foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or by supranational entities
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Corporate debt securities
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Certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances issued or guaranteed by, or time deposits maintained at, U.S. or foreign banks (and their branches wherever located) having total assets of more than $1 billion;
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Commercial paper
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Privately issued adjustable rate and fixed rate mortgage loans or other mortgage-related securities and asset-backed securities
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Non-investment grade fixed income securities and unrated securities of comparable credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds”)
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Other mutual funds
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Collateralized Loan Obligations, Collateralized Debt Obligations, and Collateralized Bond Obligations;
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Covered Bonds
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Municipal securities, including both taxable and tax-exempt securities
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Mortgage-backed securities
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TBA’s
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Sovereign and corporate debt securities and other instruments of issuers in emerging market countries
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The Portfolio may also invest in
equity securities received as part of a conversion or restructuring.
Under normal market conditions,
the Portfolio invests at least 40% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of purchase) in foreign securities. Foreign securities include securities of issuers located
outside of the U.S. or securities quoted or denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar.
The Portfolio is non-diversified
under the 1940 Act and may invest a larger percentage of its assets in fewer issuers than a diversified mutual fund.
AST IVY ASSET STRATEGY
PORTFOLIO
Investment Objective: Seek total
return.
Principal Investment Policies
The Portfolio, under normal
circumstances, pursues its investment objective by allocating its assets primarily among stocks, bonds and short-term instruments of issuers in markets around the globe, as well as investments in derivative
instruments, precious metals and investments with exposure to various foreign currencies. The Portfolio may invest its
assets in any market that the Subadviser believes
can offer a high probability of return or, alternatively, can provide a high degree of relative safety in uncertain times. Dependent on its outlook for the U.S. and global economies, the Subadviser will identify
investment themes and then focuses its strategy on allocating the Portfolio’s assets among stocks, bonds, cash, precious metals, currency and derivative instruments, including derivatives traded over-the-counter
or on exchanges. After determining these allocations, the Subadviser will seek attractive opportunities within each market by focusing generally on issuers in countries, sectors and companies with strong cash flow
streams, the ability to return capital to shareholders, and low balance sheet leverage. The Portfolio, however, may also invest in issuers with higher balance sheet leverage if the Subadviser believes that the
Portfolio will be appropriately compensated for the increased risk.
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“Stocks” include equity securities of all types, although the Subadviser typically emphasizes growth potential in selecting stocks by focusing on what it believes are steady-growth companies that fit the
Subadviser’s criteria for sustainable competitive advantage and that the Subadviser believes are positioned to benefit from continued global rebalancing and the globally emerging middle class. Growth stocks are
those whose earnings the Subadviser believes are likely to grow faster than the economy. The Portfolio may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, but primarily focuses on securities issued by large
capitalization companies. The Subadviser generally focuses on companies that are growing, innovating, improving margins, returning capital through dividend growth or share buybacks and/or offering what the Subadviser
believes to be sustainable high free cash flow.
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“Bonds” include all varieties of fixed-income instruments, such as corporate debt securities or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (U.S.
government securities), with remaining maturities of more than one year. This investment type may include a significant amount, up to 35% of the Portfolio’s total assets, of high-yield/ high-risk bonds, or junk
bonds, which include bonds rated BB+ or below by Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw- Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P), or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating
organization (NRSRO) or, if unrated, determined by the Subadviser to be of comparable quality.
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“Short-term instruments” include all types of short-term securities with remaining maturities of one year or less, including higher-quality money market instruments.
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Within each of
these investment types, the Portfolio may invest in U.S. and foreign securities. The Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its total assets in foreign securities, including issuers located in and/or generating revenue
from emerging markets. Many companies have diverse operations, with products or services in foreign markets. Therefore, the Portfolio will have an indirect exposure to various foreign markets through investments in
these companies. The Subadviser may allocate the Portfolio’s investments among these different types of securities in different proportions at different times, including up to 100% in stocks, bonds, or
short-term instruments, respectively.
The Subadviser may exercise a
flexible strategy in the selection of securities, and the Portfolio is not required to allocate its investments among stocks and bonds in any fixed proportion, nor is it limited by investment style or by the
issuer’s location, size, market capitalization or industry sector. The Portfolio may have none, some or all of its assets invested in each asset class in relative proportions that change over time based upon
market and economic conditions. Subject to diversification limits, the Portfolio also may invest up to 25% of its total assets in precious metals.
Generally, in
determining whether to sell a security, the Subadviser considers many factors, which may include a deterioration in a company’s fundamentals caused by global-specific factors such as geo-political landscape
changes, regulatory or currency changes, or increased competition, as well as company-specific factors, such as reduced pricing power, diminished market opportunity, or increased competition. The Subadviser also may
sell a security if the price of the security reaches what the Subadviser believes is fair value, to reduce the Portfolio’s holding in that security, to take advantage of what it believes are more attractive
investment opportunities or to raise cash. The Subadviser may, when consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective, seek to hedge market risk on equity securities, manage and/or increase exposure to
certain securities, companies, sectors, markets, foreign currencies and/or precious metals and seek to hedge certain event risks on positions held by the Portfolio. In an effort to hedge market risk and manage and/or
increase exposure to companies, sectors or equity markets, the Subadviser may utilize various instruments including, but not limited to, the following: futures contracts; both long and short positions on foreign and
U.S. equity indexes; total return swaps; credit default swaps; and options contracts, both
written and
purchased, on foreign and U.S. equity indexes and/or on individual equity securities. In seeking to manage foreign currency exposure, the Subadviser may utilize forward contracts and option contracts, both written and
purchased, either to increase or decrease exposure to a given currency. In seeking to manage event risks, the Subadviser may utilize short futures on commodities, as well as on foreign and domestic equity indexes and
option contracts, both written and purchased, on individual equity securities owned by the Portfolio. In seeking to manage the Portfolio’s exposure to precious metals, the Subadviser may utilize long and short
futures contracts, both long and short positions, as well as options contracts, both written and purchased, on precious metals. The Subadviser also may utilize derivatives for income enhancement purposes.
The Subadviser may reduce the
Portfolio’s net equity exposure by selling, among other instruments, combined futures and option positions.
AST MANAGED ALTERNATIVES
PORTFOLIO
Investment Objective: Seek long-term
capital appreciation with a focus on downside protection
Principal Investment Policies
The Portfolio
operates as a “fund-of-funds.” That means that the Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets in a combination of underlying investment companies (the Underlying Portfolios). Under normal market
conditions, the Portfolio allocates its assets among Underlying Portfolios that employ liquid alternative investment strategies. Liquid alternative strategies are those that do not purely pursue long-only investing in
equities or debt instruments, and engages in techniques or asset classes that differentiate them from fully paid for long security investments. The Underlying Portfolios primarily include other portfolios of the
Trust, but may also include, to a lesser extent, other affiliated and unaffiliated open-end funds, closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
The Portfolio seeks to achieve its
investment objective by allocating its assets among asset classes and investment strategies that typically have had a low correlation to each other and to traditional equity and fixed-income asset classes. At
inception, the Portfolio will allocate its assets among Underlying Portfolios that employ the following liquid alternative investment strategies:
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Global macro strategies;
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Long/short equity strategies;
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Absolute return real asset strategies; and
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Unconstrained bond strategies.
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The Manager may change the
Underlying Portfolios – whether affiliated or unaffiliated – from time to time without notice to shareholders. The initial investment strategies, allocation ranges (expressed as a percentage of the
Portfolio’s assets), and Underlying Portfolios are as follows:
Underlying Fund Portfolio
|
Principal Investments
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Allocation
1
|
Traditional Investment Category
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AST FQ Absolute Return Currency
|
The investment objective of the AST FQ Absolute Return Currency Portfolio (the FQ
Portfolio) is to seek absolute returns not highly correlated with any traditional asset class. The FQ Portfolio seeks to implement a tactical currency allocation strategy that seeks to maximize returns by making
diversified investments in global currency-related investments in order to take advantage of market anomalies. The FQ Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in currency-related investments. The FQ Portfolio
invests primarily in currency-related investments of developed countries and may also invest in emerging market currency-related investments considered to be liquid.
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25%
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Long/Short Macro Currency
|
Underlying Fund Portfolio
|
Principal Investments
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Allocation
1
|
Traditional Investment Category
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AST Goldman Sachs Strategic Income
|
The investment objective of the AST Goldman Sachs Strategic Income Portfolio (the GS
Portfolio) is to seek total return. The GS Portfolio seeks both current income and capital appreciation as elements of total return. The GS Portfolio invests primarily in US and foreign investment grade and
non-investment grade fixed income investments. The GS Portfolio attempts to exploit pricing abnormalities throughout the global fixed income and currency markets. The GS Portfolio uses short positions and derivatives
for both investment and hedging purposes.
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10%
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Unconstrained Bond
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AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset
|
The investment objective of the AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio (the MS
Portfolio) is to seek total return. The MS Portfolio seeks to emphasize positive absolute return while actively controlling downside portfolio risk in order to seek total return. To implement this approach, Morgan
Stanley will take long and short positions in a range of securities, other instruments and asset classes to express its investment themes. The MS Portfolio may implement these positions either directly by purchasing
securities or through use of derivatives.
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15%
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Global Macro
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AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short
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The investment objective of the AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio (the NB
Portfolio) is to seek long term capital appreciation with a secondary objective of principal preservation. The NB Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by taking long and short positions in the global
securities markets. The NB Portfolio uses long or short positions in common and preferred equity securities, exchange traded funds, fixed income securities, futures contracts on stock indices, and call and put options
on securities including writing (selling) calls against positions in the portfolio or writing (selling) puts on securities.
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30%
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Long/Short Equity
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AST Wellington Management Real Total Return
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The investment objective of the AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio
(the Wellington Portfolio) is to seek long-term real total return. The Wellington Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective by actively allocating the Wellington Portfolio’s assets to multiple global asset
classes that Wellington believes provide attractive valuations and attractive technical characteristics, and, in the aggregate, create a portfolio designed to have low correlation to the equities as represented in the
S&P 500 Index.
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20%
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Real Asset Absolute Return
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Cash
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5%
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1
The allocation referenced in this table may change over time.
The allocation strategy for the
Portfolio is determined by the Investment Manager’s Strategic Investment Research Group (SIRG). SIRG may allocate the Portfolio’s assets among these various Underlying Portfolios in different proportions
at different times. SIRG, in its sole discretion, exercises a dynamic tactical allocation strategy in the investment of the various strategies and sub-strategies based upon the risk environment as well as market and
economic conditions. The day-to-day management of the Underlying Portfolios is the responsibility of the relevant subadviser.
SIRG’s Strategy Allocation
Process.
Using a risk-based investment approach, SIRG determines the use of liquid alternative investment strategies and establishes Underlying Portfolio allocation targets based on a collaborative
assessment of the risk environment and each alternative strategy’s exposures. The following summarizes this approach:
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SIRG Manager Research is focused on identifying asset managers skilled in liquid alternatives strategy investment. SIRG Manager Research also provides robust ongoing analysis and insights into portfolio manager
performance, positioning, trends and risks inherent with investing in each of the active asset managers.
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SIRG Investment Strategy analyzes the market environment to identify potential opportunities and highlight potential risks currently facing active investment managers and strategies.
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SIRG Portfolio Construction uses holdings and returns-based analysis and characteristics to identify core exposures of each investment. The group then applies a contribution to risk framework in setting target
manager/fund allocations. Using risk parity analysis, drawdown and scenario analysis helps inform the final portfolio allocations. Concurrently, the group overlays common sense diversification and comprehensive
analytics-based internal risk controls to ensure proper sizing and compliance with investment guidelines.
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Opportunistically, the Portfolio may invest in Underlying Funds or ETFs to help manage overall equity or bond beta, enhance diversification or take advantage of significant market
mispricings. This component is driven by both quantitative and qualitative analysis of market opportunities not adequately represented in Underlying Portfolios of the Trust.
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The Portfolio maintains a small
amount of cash to assist with daily fund activity and daily cash flows are used to assist with liquidity, rebalancing the Portfolio to allocation targets, and ensuring compliance with the Portfolio‘s investment
objective and policies. SIRG adjusts the percentage of the Portfolio assets in each strategy in accordance with its expectations regarding the different strategies, and as market conditions or strategy specific issues
warrant.
AST MORGAN STANLEY MULTI-ASSET
PORTFOLIO
Investment Objective: Seek total
return.
Principal Investment Policies
To pursue its
objective, the Portfolio seeks to emphasize positive absolute return while actively controlling downside portfolio risk. To implement this approach, the Subadviser takes long and short positions in a range of
securities, other instruments and asset classes to express its investment themes. The Subadviser may implement these positions either directly by purchasing securities or through the use of derivatives. There is no
guarantee that the Portfolio will achieve its goal of positive absolute return.
The Subadviser’s top-down
investment approach focuses on asset class, sector, region, country and currency selection as opposed to individual security selection. The Portfolio's allocations are the result of relative value and/or directional
views of the markets or individual asset classes taken by the Subadviser based on the results of its fundamental and quantitative research. The Portfolio may at times invest a substantial portion of its assets in one
or more countries (including emerging market countries) or regions. The Portfolio's investments may be U.S. and non-U.S. dollar denominated.
The Portfolio may invest in real
estate investment trusts (REITs) and similar entities established outside the United States. In addition, the Portfolio may invest in fixed income securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or
supranational organizations or any of their instrumentalities, including debt obligations of governmental issuers located in emerging market or developing countries and sovereign debt, as well as fixed income
securities that are rated below “investment grade” or are not rated, but are of equivalent quality. These fixed income securities are often referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk
bonds.” High yield securities are fixed income securities rated below Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (Moody's) or below BBB by Standard & Poor's Rating Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies,
Inc. (S&P), or if unrated considered by the Subadviser to be an appropriate investment for the Portfolio.
The Portfolio may invest in
asset-backed securities. The Portfolio may also invest in restricted securities. The mortgage-backed securities in which the Portfolio may invest include mortgage pass-through securities which represent a
participation interest in a pool of mortgage loans originated by U.S. governmental or private lenders such as banks. The Portfolio may also invest in other investment companies, including ETFs.
The Portfolio
uses derivative instruments for a variety of purposes, including as part of its investment strategies, hedging, risk management, portfolio management or to earn income. The Portfolio's use of derivatives may involve
the purchase and sale of derivative instruments such as futures, options, swaps (including primarily total return swaps, interest rate swaps, and credit default swaps), structured investments (including
commodity-linked notes) and other related instruments and techniques. The Portfolio may also invest in currency derivatives, including, but not limited to, foreign currency forward exchange contracts, and currency and
currency index futures and options contracts for hedging and non-hedging purposes. The use of these currency derivatives may allow the Portfolio to obtain net long or net negative (short) exposure to selected
currencies. At times, the Portfolio may enter into “cross-currency” transactions involving currencies other than those in which securities held or proposed to be purchased are denominated. Derivative
instruments used by the Portfolio will be counted toward the Portfolio's exposure in the types of securities listed above to the extent they have economic characteristics similar to such securities.
The Portfolio is non-diversified
under the 1940 Act and may invest a larger percentage of its assets in fewer issuers than a diversified mutual fund.
AST NEUBERGER BERMAN LONG/SHORT
PORTFOLIO
Investment Objectives: To primarily
seek long-term capital appreciation and secondarily seek principal preservation.
Principal Investment Policies
The Portfolio seeks to achieve its
investment objectives primarily by taking long and short positions in the global securities markets. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio uses long or short positions in common and preferred equity
securities, ETFs and fixed income securities. The Portfolio also uses derivatives, including long and short positions from futures contracts on stock indices, total return swaps on individual securities and indices,
foreign currency forward contracts and call and put options on individual securities and indices including writing (selling) calls against positions in the portfolio (covered calls) or writing (selling) puts on
securities. Short positions involve selling a security the Portfolio does not own or buying a derivative on a security in anticipation that the security’s price will decline. The Portfolio may invest in
securities of, and derivative contracts on, U.S. and non-U.S. companies. Futures, swaps, forwards or options may be used in an attempt to increase returns and/or reduce risks. The equity securities in which the
Portfolio invests are generally those of companies with market capitalizations of at least $250 million, measured at the time the Portfolio first invests in them. The Portfolio may continue to hold or add to a
position in a stock after the company’s market value has fallen below $250 million. The Portfolio’s typical investment exposure ranges from net long exposure of 150% of net asset value (NAV) to net short
exposure of 20% of NAV. For example, if the Portfolio’s long portfolio provides long investment exposure of 70% of its NAV and its short portfolio provides short investment exposure of 40% of its NAV, the
Portfolio would have a net long exposure of 30% of NAV. The Portfolio may sell short an instrument in which it can invest long.
With respect to any portion of the
Portfolio’s assets invested in long equity positions, the Subadviser invests in companies which it believes are undervalued and possess one or more of the following characteristics: (i) companies with strong
competitive positions in industries with attractive growth prospects; (ii) companies with the ability to generate sustainable cash flows which are growing at a modest rate over the long-term; (iii) companies whose
market price is below the Subadviser’s estimate of the company’s intrinsic value; and (iv) companies with the potential for a catalyst, such as a merger, liquidation, spin off, or management change. The
Subadviser’s estimate of a company’s intrinsic value represents its view of the company’s true, long-term economic value (the value of both its tangible and intangible assets), which may be currently
distorted by market inefficiencies. In establishing long equity positions, the Portfolio may utilize stock index futures and total return swaps and options on individual securities and indices.
With respect to any portion of the
Portfolio’s assets invested in short equity positions, the Subadviser employs short positions in an attempt to increase returns and/or to reduce risk. The Subadviser’s use of short positions to increase
returns and/or reduce certain risks may include, among others: (i) short sales of ETFs representing macro-economically challenged markets, industries or geographies; (ii) short sales of the equity securities of
companies that the Subadviser expects to decline
in price, lose economic value or generally underperform; or (iii) short positions designed to offset cyclical, currency, or country-specific risks, including, but not limited to, short positions in stock index
futures.
The Subadviser’s investment
process involves identifying companies for further analysis based on a variety of factors, including quantitative screens. Once a company is identified, in-depth research about the company is conducted, which may
include building financial models, conducting interviews with management or reviewing publicly available information, such as management’s compensation incentives. The Subadviser combines this research with
various valuation methodologies in selecting long and short positions for the Portfolio.
The Subadviser may make a decision
to sell a security, or with respect to a short position, a decision to exit a short position, based on changes at either a macro-economic or general market level or at a specific company. This may include changes in
global politics and economics, regulation or legislation by a country, or industry structure. The Subadviser may also sell a security or exit a short position when other opportunities appear more attractive in the
Subadviser’s opinion, when a company demonstrates an inability to execute a business plan, or when a company has poor capital allocation, poor earnings quality, or increased risks to the company’s cash
flows.
The Portfolio also typically
invests in long positions in fixed income securities of U.S. and non-U.S. companies, including below investment grade securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). The Portfolio does not generally take
short positions directly in fixed income securities; however, it may take a short position in an ETF investing in fixed income securities. In selecting fixed income securities, the Subadviser generally looks for
securities issued by companies that the Subadviser believes has strong management and compelling valuation. In doing so, the Subadviser analyzes such factors as: ability to generate free cash flow; a demonstrated
commitment to use that cash flow to pay down existing debt; and an improving credit profile. As such, the Subadviser focuses on securities issued by companies that the Subadviser believes have demonstrated
improvements in their leverage and asset coverage ratios, are not unreasonably constrained by their existing financing arrangements and have debt with manageable payment schedules.
The Subadviser allocates
investments to sectors without reference to any benchmark; rather, sector allocations are based on the Subadviser’s assessment of which sectors offer the most attractive risk-adjusted returns. Although the
Portfolio does not seek to be market neutral, depending on market conditions, the Portfolio’s long investment exposure may equal the Portfolio’s short investment exposure.
In an effort to achieve its goal,
the Portfolio may engage in active and frequent trading.
AST WELLINGTON Management
gLOBAL BOND Portfolio
Investment
Objective: Seek to provide consistent excess returns over the Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index (USD Hedged).
Principal Investment Policies:
In pursuing its investment
objective, the Portfolio normally invests at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in fixed income securities. The Portfolio seeks to generate excess returns relative to
the Barclays Global Aggregate Index (USD Hedged). The Portfolio invests, under normal circumstances, in fixed income securities of companies located in at least three countries. The Portfolio’s global aggregate
strategy seeks to generate excess returns through the combination of lowly correlated investment strategies developed by highly specialized investors. Each investor has a specialized area of focus which is sector,
region, or investment style based. The investment universe includes fixed income securities denominated in various currencies and issued by government, government-related, corporate, and securitized issuers from
around the world.
The Portfolio
invests in debt securities of issuers domiciled around the world. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio will invest its assets in securities of issuers located in the United States and at least three other
countries (based on country of domicile and inclusive of non-currency derivatives). The Portfolio may buy and sell bonds issued by government, agency, and supranational issuers; mortgage, commercial mortgage, and
asset-backed
securities; corporate and real estate investment
trust (REIT) debt; credit-linked, index-linked, and capital securities (securities that combine the features of bonds and preferred stock); loan participation securities that qualify as an eligible investment by the
Portfolio (including, but not limited to, trade finance loan participations) and, in addition, bank loan assignments that qualify as money market instruments; as well as other debt securities issued by public or
private issuers, both fixed and floating-rate, including forward contracts on such securities.
Currency exposure may be taken on
an opportunistic basis. Currency exposure, including cross-currency positions which are not related to the Portfolio’s bond and cash equivalent positions, may be assumed.
Investments
represent a broad credit spectrum, including issues rated below investment-grade. There is no minimum credit rating for individual securities or currencies. The Portfolio is generally diversified by country, currency,
and issuer relative to the global bond market.
The Portfolio makes use of
derivatives to implement active positions as well as hedge exposure. Derivative instruments may include, but are not limited, to futures (on asset classes or indices including volatility indices), forwards, options,
swaps (currency swaps, interest rate swaps, total rate of return swaps, and credit default swaps), to-be-announced securities (TBAs), structured notes and spot transactions for both active management and hedging
purposes. The high liquidity of derivative instruments assists the portfolio management team in quickly and efficiently managing portfolio exposure in the context of continually changing market environments.
Derivative instruments are
primarily used in the same way and with the same objectives as traditional securities:
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to hedge portfolio risk;
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to position the portfolio to profit from an expected change in market prices; and
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to manage portfolio liquidity.
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AST wellington management real
total return portfolio
Investment Objective: Seek long-term
real total return.
Principal Investment Policies
The Portfolio seeks to achieve its
objective by actively allocating the Portfolio’s assets to multiple global asset classes, including fixed income, currencies, commodities, and equities, that the Subadviser believes exhibit attractive valuations
and attractive technical characteristics. In addition, the Portfolio allocates a portion of its assets to specialized investment teams within the Subadviser that the Subadviser believes will generate attractive total
returns that are uncorrelated to one another. The Subadviser also seeks to actively manage the Portfolio’s overall risk in an effort to provide attractive real total returns with moderate volatility and low
correlation to equities as represented by the S&P 500 Index, over a full market cycle. There is no guarantee that the Portfolio will achieve its goal of positive total returns. As used herein, “real total
returns” means consistent total returns that outpace inflation over the long term.
The Portfolio may invest in fixed
income securities and cash and cash equivalents, including, but not limited to, sovereign debt, agency securities, supranational investments, mortgage-backed securities, “to-be-announced” securities,
corporate debt, asset-backed securities, bank loans, convertible bonds, and other fixed-income instruments, as well as derivatives related to interest rates and fixed-income securities. These fixed-income instruments
could include non-investment grade debt obligations (also known as “junk bonds”) and emerging market debt obligations. The Portfolio may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity or duration.
The Portfolio may also invest
directly in listed and unlisted equity and equity related securities, including, but not limited to, common stock, preferred stock, depositary receipts inclusive of commodity indexes (including American Depositary
Receipts (ADRs) and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs)), index-related securities (including ETFs) and exchange traded notes (“ETNs”), real estate investment structures (including REITs)), convertible
bonds, convertible preferred stock, rights, warrants, and similarly liquid equity equivalents. The Portfolio may invest in equity securities of issuers with any market capitalization.
The Portfolio may
make significant use of derivative transactions. The Portfolio uses derivatives in pursuit of its investment objective, to manage portfolio risk and/or to replicate securities the Portfolio could buy directly. The
Portfolio may actively manage market exposure through the use of derivatives, which may include futures (on asset classes or indices including volatility indices), forwards, options, swaps (total return swaps, credit
default swaps, interest rate swaps, and swap options), structured notes and spot transactions. Derivatives are used to obtain long or short exposure to a particular security, asset class, region, industry, currency,
commodity, or index, or to other securities, groups of securities, or events.
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER INVESTMENTS
& STRATEGIES USED BY THE PORTFOLIOS
Additional Investments &
Strategies
As indicated in the descriptions of
the Portfolios above, the Portfolios may invest in the following types of securities and/or use the following investment strategies to increase a Portfolio's return or protect its assets if market conditions
warrant.
American Depositary Receipts
(ADRs)
—Certificates representing the right to receive foreign securities that have been deposited with a US bank or a foreign branch of a US bank.
Asset-Backed Securities
—An asset-backed security is a type of pass-through instrument that pays interest based upon the cash flow of an underlying pool of assets, such as automobile loans or credit card
receivables. Asset-backed securities may also be collateralized by a portfolio of corporate bonds, including junk bonds, or other securities.
Collateralized Debt Obligations
(CDOs)
—A CDO is a security backed by an underlying portfolio of debt obligations, typically including one or more of the following types of investments: high yield securities, investment
grade securities, bank loans, futures or swaps. A CDO provides a single security that has the economic characteristics of a diversified portfolio. The cash flows generated by the collateral are used to pay interest
and principal to investors.
Collateralized Loan Obligations
(CLOs)—
This type of asset-backed security 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, as well as loans rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. The risks of an investment in a CLO depend largely on the quality of the underlying loans and may be
characterized by the Portfolio as illiquid securities.
Convertible Debt and Convertible
Preferred Stock
—A convertible security is a security—for example, a bond or preferred stock—that may be converted into common stock, the cash value of common stock or some other security
of the same or different issuer. The convertible security sets the price, quantity of shares and time period in which it may be so converted. Convertible stock is senior to a company's common stock but is usually
subordinated to debt obligations of the company. Convertible securities provide a steady stream of income which is generally at a higher rate than the income on the company's common stock but lower than the rate on
the company's debt obligations. At the same time, convertible securities offer—through their conversion mechanism—the chance to participate in the capital appreciation of the underlying common stock. The
price of a convertible security tends to increase and decrease with the market value of the underlying common stock.
Credit Default Swaps
—In a credit default swap, a Portfolio and another party agree to exchange payment of the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation in the event of a default on
that debt obligation in return for a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided no event of default has occurred. See also “Swaps” defined below.
Credit-Linked Securities
—Credit linked securities are securities that are collateralized by one or more credit default swaps on corporate credits. A Portfolio has the right to receive periodic interest
payments from the issuer of the credit-linked security at an agreed-upon interest rate, and a return of principal at the maturity date. See also “Credit Default Swaps” defined above.
Depositary Receipts
—A Portfolio may invest in the securities of foreign issuers in the form of Depositary Receipts or other securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers. Depositary Receipts
may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the underlying securities into which they may be converted. American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and American Depositary Shares (ADSs) are receipts or shares
typically issued by an American bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) are receipts issued in Europe that evidence a
similar ownership arrangement. Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) are receipts issued throughout the world that evidence a similar arrangement.
Generally, ADRs and ADSs, in registered form, are
designed for use in the US securities markets, and EDRs, in bearer form, are designed for use in European securities markets. GDRs are tradable both in the United States and in Europe and are designed for use
throughout the world. A Portfolio may invest in unsponsored Depositary Receipts. The issuers of unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States, and, therefore,
there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts. Depositary Receipts are generally subject to
the same risks as the foreign securities that they evidence or into or for which they may be converted or exchanged.
Derivatives
—A derivative is an instrument that derives its price, performance, value, or cash flow from one or more underlying securities or other interests. Derivatives involve costs and can be
volatile. With derivatives, the Subadviser tries to predict whether the underlying interest—a security, market index, currency, interest rate or some other benchmark—will go up or down at some future date.
A Portfolio may use derivatives to try to reduce risk or to increase return consistent with a Portfolio's overall investment objective. The adviser will consider other factors (such as cost) in deciding whether to
employ any particular strategy, or use any particular instrument. Any derivatives we use may not fully offset a Portfolio's underlying positions and this could result in losses to the Portfolio that would not
otherwise have occurred.
Dollar Rolls
—Dollar rolls involve the sale by a Portfolio of a security for delivery in the current month with a promise to repurchase from the buyer a substantially similar—but not
necessarily the same—security at a set price and date in the future. During the “roll period,” the Portfolio does not receive any principal or interest on the security. Instead, it is compensated by
the difference between the current sales price and the price of the future purchase, as well as any interest earned on the cash proceeds from the original sale.
Energy Companies
—Companies that are involved in oil or gas exploration, production, refining or marketing, or any combination of the above are greatly affected by the prices and supplies of raw
materials such as oil or gas. The earnings and dividends of energy companies can fluctuate significantly as a result of international economics, politics and regulation.
Equity Swaps
—In an equity swap, a Portfolio and another party agree to exchange cash flow payments that are based on the performance of equities or an equity index. See also “Swaps”
defined below.
Event-Linked Bonds
—Event-linked bonds are fixed income securities for which the return of principal and payment of interest is contingent on the non-occurrence of a specific “trigger”
event, such as a hurricane, earthquake, or other physical or weather-related phenomenon. If a trigger event occurs, a Portfolio may lose a portion or all of its principal invested in the bond. Event-linked bonds often
provide for an extension of maturity to process and audit loss claims where a trigger event has, or possibly has, occurred. An extension of maturity may increase volatility. Event-linked bonds may also expose the
Portfolio to certain unanticipated risks including credit risk, adverse regulatory or jurisdictional interpretations, and adverse tax consequences. Event-linked bonds may also be subject to liquidity risk.
Exchange Traded Funds
—An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional mutual fund (i.e., one that is not exchange traded) that has the same investment
objective, strategies and policies. The price of an ETF can fluctuate up or down, and a Portfolio could lose money investing in an ETF if the prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down. In addition, ETFs may be
subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional mutual funds: (i) the market price of an ETF's shares may trade above or below their net asset value; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF's shares
may not develop or be maintained; or (iii) trading of an ETF's shares may be halted if the listing exchange's officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are delisted from the exchange or the activation of
market-wide “circuit breakers'' (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally.
Financial Services Companies
—Financial services companies are subject to extensive government regulation that may affect their profitability in many ways, including by limiting the amount and types of loans and
other commitments they can make, and the interest rates and fees they can charge. A financial services company’s
profitability, and therefore its stock prices, is
especially sensitive to interest rate changes as well as the ability of borrowers to repay their loans. Changing regulations, continuing consolidations, and development of new products and structures all are likely to
have a significant impact on financial services companies.
Foreign Currency Forward
Contracts
—A foreign currency forward contract is an obligation to buy or sell a given currency on a future date at a set price. When a Portfolio enters into a contract for the purchase or sale
of a security denominated in a foreign currency, or when a Portfolio anticipates the receipt in a foreign currency of dividends or interest payments on a security which it holds, the Portfolio may desire to
”lock-in“ the US dollar price of the security or the US dollar equivalent of such dividend or interest payment, as the case may be. By entering into a forward contract for a fixed amount of dollars, for
the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying transactions, the Portfolio will be able to protect itself against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship
between the US dollar and the foreign currency during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold, or on which the dividend or interest payment is declared, and the date on which such
payments are made or received. At the maturity of a forward contract, a Portfolio may either sell the security and make delivery of the foreign currency or it may retain the security and terminate its contractual
obligation to deliver the foreign currency by purchasing an ”offsetting“ contract with the same currency trader obligating it to purchase, on the same maturity date, the same amount of the foreign
currency.
Futures Contracts
—A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a set quantity of an underlying product at a future date, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a securities
index. When a futures contract is entered into, each party deposits with a futures commission merchant (or in a segregated account) approximately 5% of the contract amount. This is known as the ”initial
margin.“ Every day during the futures contract, either the buyer or the futures commission merchant will make payments of ”variation margin.“ In other words, if the value of the underlying security,
index or interest rate increases, then the buyer will have to add to the margin account so that the account balance equals approximately 5% of the value of the contract on that day. The next day, the value of the
underlying security, index or interest rate may decrease, in which case the borrower would receive money from the account equal to the amount by which the account balance exceeds 5% of the value of the contract on
that day. A stock index futures contract is an agreement between the buyer and the seller of the contract to transfer an amount of cash equal to the daily variation margin of the contract. No physical delivery of the
underlying stocks in the index is made.
Global Depositary Receipts
(GDRs)
—GDRs are receipts issued by a non-US financial institution evidencing ownership of
underlying foreign securities and are usually denominated in foreign currencies. They may not be denominated in the same currency as the securities they represent. Generally, GDRs are
designed for use in the foreign securities markets. Investments in GDRs involve certain risks unique to foreign investments. These risks are set forth in the section entitled “Foreign and Emerging Markets
Risk” above.
Illiquid Securities
—An illiquid security is one that may not be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the price used to determine the Portfolio's net
asset value. Each Portfolio generally may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Each Portfolio may purchase certain restricted securities that can be resold to institutional investors and which
may be determined to be liquid pursuant to the procedures of the Portfolios. Those securities are not subject to the 15% limit. The 15% limit is applied as of the date the Portfolio purchases an illiquid security. In
the event the market value of a Portfolio's illiquid securities exceeds the 15% limit due to an increase in the aggregate value of its illiquid securities and/or a decline in the aggregate value of its other
securities, the Portfolio: (i) will not purchase additional illiquid securities and (ii) will take other appropriate steps to maintain adequate liquidity, including, without limitation, reducing its holdings of
illiquid securities in an orderly fashion.
Inflation-Indexed Securities
—Inflation-indexed securities have a tendency to react to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates represent nominal (stated) interest rates lowered by the anticipated
effect of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-indexed security can decrease when real interest rates increase, and can increase when real interest rates decrease. Interest payments on inflation indexed
securities will fluctuate as the principal and/or interest
is adjusted for inflation and can be
unpredictable. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-protected debt security will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though investors, such as the Portfolio, do not receive their principal
until maturity.
Interest Rate Swaps
—In an interest rate swap, the Portfolio and another party agree to exchange interest payments. For example, the Portfolio may wish to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed
rate. See also “Swaps” defined below.
Joint Repurchase Account
—In a joint repurchase transaction, uninvested cash balances of various Portfolios are added together and invested in one or more repurchase agreements. Each of the participating
Portfolios receives a portion of the income earned in the joint account based on the percentage of its investment.
Loans and Assignments
—Loans are privately negotiated between a corporate borrower and one or more financial institutions. The Portfolio acquires interests in loans directly (by way of assignment from the
selling institution) or indirectly (by way of the purchase of a participation interest from the selling institution. Purchasers of loans depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of
interest and repayment of principal. If scheduled interest or principal payments are not made, the value of the instrument may be adversely affected. Interests in loans are also subject to additional liquidity risks.
Loans are not generally traded in organized exchange markets but are traded by banks and other institutional investors engaged in loan syndications. Consequently, the liquidity of a loan will depend on the liquidity
of these trading markets at the time that the Portfolio sells the loan.
In assignments, the Portfolio will
have no recourse against the selling institution, and the selling institution generally makes no representations about the underlying loan, the borrowers, the documentation or the collateral. In addition, the rights
against the borrower that are acquired by the Portfolio may be more limited than those held by the assigning lender.
MLPs
– MLP investments may include, but are not limited to: MLPs structured as LPs or LLCs; MLPs that are taxed as “C” corporations; I-Units issued by MLP affiliates; parent
companies of MLPs; shares of companies owning MLP general partnership interests and other securities representing indirect beneficial ownership interests in MLP common units; “C” corporations that hold
significant interests in MLPs; and other equity and fixed income securities and derivative instruments, including pooled investment vehicles and ETPs, that provide exposure to MLP investments. MLPs generally own and
operate assets that are used in the energy sector, including assets used in exploring, developing, producing, generating, transporting (including marine), transmitting, terminal operation, storing, gathering,
processing, refining, distributing, mining or marketing of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, refined products, coal or electricity, or that provide energy related equipment or services. A Portfolio’s
MLP investments may be of any capitalization size.
Mortgage-Related
Securities
—Mortgage-related securities are usually pass-through instruments that pay investors a share of all interest and principal payments from an underlying pool of fixed or adjustable rate
mortgages. The Portfolios may invest in mortgage-related securities issued and guaranteed by the US Government or its agencies and mortgage-backed securities issued by government sponsored enterprises such as Fannie
Mae, Ginnie Mae and debt securities issued by Freddie Macs that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. The Portfolios may also invest in private mortgage-related securities that are not
guaranteed by US Governmental entities generally have one or more types of credit enhancement to ensure timely receipt of payments and to protect against default. The Portfolios may invest in mortgage-related
securities that are backed by a pool or pools of loans that are originated and/or serviced by an entity affiliated with the Investment Manager or
Subadviser.
Mortgage-related securities
include collateralized mortgage obligations, multi-class pass through securities and stripped mortgage-backed securities. A collateralized mortgage-backed obligation (CMO) is a security backed by an underlying
portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities that may be issued or guaranteed by entities such as banks, US Governmental entities or broker-dealers. A multi-class pass-through security is an equity interest in
a trust composed of underlying mortgage assets.
Payments of principal and interest
on the mortgage assets and any reinvestment income provide the money to pay debt service on the CMO or to make scheduled distributions on the multi-class pass-through security. A stripped mortgage-backed security (MBS
strip) may be issued by US Governmental entities or by private institutions. MBS strips take the pieces of a debt security (principal and interest) and break them apart. The resulting securities may be sold separately
and may perform differently. MBS strips are highly sensitive to changes in prepayment and interest rates.
Non-Voting Depositary Receipts
(NVDRs
)—NVDRs are listed securities on the Stock Exchange of Thailand through which investors receive the same financial benefits as those who invest directly in a company’s ordinary
shares; however, unlike ordinary shareholders, NVDR holders cannot be involved in company decision-making. NVDRs are designed for use in the Thailand securities market. Investments in NVDRs involve certain risks
unique to foreign investments. These risks are set forth in the section entitled “Foreign and Emerging Markets Risk” above.
Options
—A call option on stock is a short-term contract that gives the option purchaser or “holder” the right to acquire a particular equity security for a specified price at any
time during a specified period. For this right, the option purchaser pays the option seller a certain amount of money or “premium” which is set before the option contract is entered into. The seller or
“writer” of the option is obligated to deliver the particular security if the option purchaser exercises the option. A put option on stock is a similar contract. In a put option, the option purchaser has
the right to sell a particular security to the option seller for a specified price at any time during a specified period. In exchange for this right, the option purchaser pays the option seller a premium. Options on
debt securities are similar to stock options except that the option holder has the right to acquire or sell a debt security rather than an equity security. Options on stock indexes are similar to options on stocks,
except that instead of giving the option holder the right to receive or sell a stock, it gives the holder the right to receive an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock index is greater than (in the case of
a call) or less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option. The amount of cash the holder will receive is determined by multiplying the difference between the index's closing price and the option's
exercise price, expressed in dollars, by a specified “multiplier.” Unlike stock options, stock index options are always settled in cash, and gain or loss depends on price movements in the stock market
generally (or a particular market segment, depending on the index) rather than the price movement of an individual stock.
Participation Notes (P-Notes)
—P-Notes are a type of equity-linked derivative which generally are traded over-the-counter. Even though a P-Note is intended to reflect the performance of the underlying equity
securities, the performance of a P-Note will not replicate exactly the performance of the issuers or markets that the P-Note seeks to replicate due to transaction costs and other expenses. Investments in P-Notes
involve risks normally associated with a direct investment in the underlying securities. In addition, P-Notes are subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the broker-dealer or bank that issues the P-Notes
will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with a Portfolio.
Prepayment
—Debt securities are subject to prepayment risk when the issuer can “call” the security, or repay principal, in whole or in part, prior to the security’s maturity.
When the Portfolio reinvests the prepayments of principal it receives, it may receive a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on the existing security, potentially lowering the Portfolio’s income, yield
and its distributions to shareholders. Securities subject to prepayment may offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and have greater price volatility. Prepayment risk is greater in
periods of falling interest rates.
Private Investments in Public Equity
(PIPEs)
—A PIPE is an equity security in a private placement that are issued by issuers who have outstanding, publicly-traded equity securities of the same class. Shares in PIPEs generally
are not registered with the SEC until after a certain time period from the date the private sale is completed. This restricted period can last many months. Until the public registration process is completed, PIPEs are
restricted as to resale and a Portfolio cannot freely trade the securities. Generally, such restrictions cause the PIPEs to be illiquid during this time. PIPEs may contain provisions that the issuer will pay specified
financial penalties to the holder if the issuer does not publicly register the restricted equity securities within a specified period of time, but there is no assurance that the restricted equity securities will be
publicly registered, or that the registration will remain in effect.
Real Estate Investment Trusts
(REITs)
—A REIT is a company that manages a portfolio of real estate to earn profits for its shareholders. Some REITs acquire equity interests in real estate and then receive income from
rents and capital gains when the buildings are sold. Other REITs lend money to real estate developers and receive interest income from the mortgages. Some REITs invest in both types of interests.
Repurchase Agreements
—In a repurchase transaction, the Portfolio agrees to purchase certain securities and the seller agrees to repurchase the same securities at an agreed upon price on a specified date.
This creates a fixed return for the Portfolio.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
—In a reverse repurchase transaction, the Portfolio sells a security it owns and agrees to buy it back at a set price and date. During the period the security is held by the other
party, the Portfolio may continue to receive principal and interest payments on the security.
Short Sales
—In a short sale, we sell a security we do not own to take advantage of an anticipated decline in the stock's price. The Portfolio borrows the stock for delivery and if it can buy the
stock later at a lower price, a profit results. A Portfolio that sells a security short in effect borrows and then sells the security with the expectation that it will later repurchase the security at a lower price
and then return the amount borrowed with interest. In contrast, when a Portfolio buys a security long, it purchases the security with cash with the expectation that it later will sell the security at a higher price. A
Portfolio that enters into short sales exposes the Portfolio to the risk that it will be required to buy the security sold short (also known as “covering” the short position) at a time when the security
has appreciated in value, thus resulting in a loss to the Portfolio. Theoretically, the amount of these losses can be unlimited. Although a Portfolio may try to reduce risk by holding both long and short positions at
the same time, it is possible that the Portfolio's securities held long will decline in value at the same time that the value of the Portfolio's securities sold short increases, thereby increasing the potential for
loss.
Short Sales Against-the-Box
—A short sale against the box involves selling a security that the Portfolio owns, or has the right to obtain without additional costs, for delivery at a specified date in the future.
A Portfolio may make a short sale against the box to hedge against anticipated declines in the market price of a portfolio security. If the value of the security sold short increases instead, the Portfolio loses the
opportunity to participate in the gain.
Swap Options
—A swap option is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) to enter into a swap agreement or to shorten, extend cancel or otherwise modify an existing
swap agreement at some designated future time on specified terms. See also “Options” defined above.
Swaps
—Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard “swap”
transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor.
Credit Default Swaps, Equity Swaps, Interest Rate Swaps and Total Return Swaps are four types of swap agreements.
Temporary Defensive
Investments
—In response to adverse market, economic, or political conditions, a Portfolio may take a temporary defensive position and invest up to 100% of the Portfolio’s assets in money
market instruments, including short-term obligations of, or securities guaranteed by, the US Government, its agencies or instrumentalities or in high-quality obligations of banks and corporations, repurchase
agreements, or hold up to 100% of the Portfolio’s assets in cash, cash equivalents or shares of affiliated money market or short-term bond funds. Investing heavily in these securities will limit the
Subadviser’s ability to achieve the Portfolio’s investment objectives, but can help to preserve the Portfolio’s assets during adverse economic environments. The use of temporary defensive investments
is inconsistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives.
Total Return Swaps
—In a total return swap, payment (or receipt) of an index's (published or customized) total return is exchanged for the receipt (or payment) of a floating interest rate. See also
“Swaps” defined above.
Unrated Debt Securities
—Unrated debt securities determined by the investment manager to be of comparable quality to rated securities which the Portfolio may purchase may pay a higher interest rate than such
rated debt securities and be subject to a greater risk of illiquidity or price changes. Less public information is typically available about unrated securities or issuers.
Utilities Industry
—Utility company equity securities, which are generally purchased for their dividend yield, historically have been sensitive to interest rate movements: when interest rates have
risen, the stock prices of these companies have tended to fall. In some states, utility companies and their rates are regulated; other states have moved to deregulate such companies thereby causing non-regulated
companies’ returns to generally be more volatile and more sensitive to changes in revenue and earnings. Certain utilities companies face risks associated with the operation of nuclear facilities for electric
generation, including, among other considerations, litigation, the problems associated with the use of radioactive materials and the effects of natural or man-made disasters. In general, all utility companies may face
additional regulation and litigation regarding their power plant operations; increased costs from new or greater regulation of these operations; the need to purchase expensive emissions control equipment or new
operations due to regulations, and the availability and cost of fuel, all of which may lower their earnings.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery
Securities
—With when-issued or delayed delivery securities, the delivery and payment can take place a month or more after the date of the transaction. A Portfolio will make commitments for
when-issued transactions only with the intention of actually acquiring the securities. A Portfolio's custodian will maintain in a segregated account, liquid assets having a value equal to or greater than such
commitments. If the Portfolio chooses to dispose of the right to acquire a when-issued security prior to its acquisition, it could, as with the disposition of any other security, incur a gain or loss.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The risks identified below are the
principal risks of investing in the Portfolios. The Summary section for each Portfolio lists the principal risks applicable to that Portfolio. This section provides more detailed information about each risk.
All investments have risks to some
degree and it is possible that you could lose money by investing in the Portfolios. An investment in a Portfolio is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or any other government agency. While the Portfolios make every effort to achieve their objectives, the Portfolios cannot guarantee success.
Asset Allocation Risk.
A Portfolio’s overall allocations to stocks and bonds, and the allocations to the various asset classes and market sectors within those broad categories, could cause a Portfolio to
underperform other funds with a similar investment objective. Funds that have a larger allocation to equity securities relative to their fixed income allocation will tend to be more closely aligned with funds
investing a greater portion of assets in equity securities and notably more than funds investing primarily in fixed income securities. Additionally, both equity and fixed income securities may decline in
value.
Asset-Backed and/or Mortgage-Backed
Securities Risk
. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are fixed income securities that represent an interest in an underlying pool of assets, such as credit card receivables or, in the case of
mortgage-backed securities, mortgage loans on residential and/or commercial real estate. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk and liquidity risk, which are further
described under Fixed Income Securities Risk.
Asset-backed and mortgage-backed
securities may also be subject to prepayment and extension risks. In a period of declining interest rates, borrowers may repay principal on mortgages or other loan obligations underlying a security more quickly than
anticipated, which may require a Portfolio to reinvest the repayment proceeds in securities that pay lower interest rates (prepayment risk). In a period of rising interest rates, prepayments may occur at a slower rate
than expected, which may prevent a Portfolio from reinvesting repayment proceeds in securities that pay higher interest rates (extension risk). The more a Portfolio invests in longer-term securities, the more likely
it will be affected by changes in interest rates, which may result in lower than anticipated yield-to-maturity and expected returns as well as reduced market value of such securities.
The risks associated with
investments in asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, particularly credit risk, are heightened in connection with investments in loans to “subprime” borrowers or borrowers with blemished credit
histories. Some mortgage-backed securities receive government or private support, but there is no assurance that such support will remain in place.
Mortgage-backed securities are a
specific type of asset-backed security—one backed by mortgage loans on residential and/or commercial real estate. Therefore, they also have risks related to real estate, including significant sensitivity to
changes in real estate prices and interest rates and, in the case of commercial mortgages, office and factory occupancy rates. Moreover, securities backed by mortgages issued by private, non-government issuers may
experience higher rates of default on the underlying mortgages than government issued mortgages because private issuer mortgage loans often do not meet the underwriting standards of government-issued mortgages.
Private issuer mortgage-backed securities may include loans on commercial or residential properties.
A Portfolio may invest in
securities issued or guaranteed by the US government or its agencies and instrumentalities, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), or
the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac). Unlike Ginnie Mae securities, securities issued or guaranteed by US government-related organizations such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac are not backed by the
full faith and credit of the US government, and no assurance can be given that the US government would provide financial support to such securities.
Asset Transfer Program Risk.
The Portfolios may be used in connection with certain benefit programs under the Contracts. In order for the Participating Insurance Companies to manage the guarantees offered in connection
with these benefit programs, the Participating Insurance Companies generally require Contract owners to participate in certain specialized asset transfer programs under which the Participating Insurance Companies will
monitor each Contract owner’s account value and, if necessary, will systematically transfer amounts among investment options. The transfers are based on pre-determined, non-discretionary mathematical formulas
which generally focus on the amounts guaranteed at specific future dates or the present value of the estimated lifetime payments to be made.
As an example of
how the asset transfer formulas operate under certain market environments, a downturn in the equity markets (i.e., a reduction in a Contract owner’s account value within the selected investment options) and
certain market return scenarios involving “flat” returns over a period of time may cause the Participating Insurance Companies to transfer some or all of such Contract owner’s account value to a
fixed-income investment option. In general terms, such transfers are designed to ensure that an appropriate percentage of the projected guaranteed amounts are supported by fixed-income investments. The formulas may
also trigger transfers from a fixed-income investment option back to selected equity and asset allocation options. Under some benefits using bond investment options with specific maturities, the transfer formulas may
transfer account value among bond investment options with differing maturities based on guarantee calculations, not necessarily market movements. For more information on the benefit programs and asset transfer
formulas, please see your Contract prospectus.
These formulas may result in
large-scale asset flows into and out of the Portfolios, which, in certain instances, could adversely affect the Portfolios, including their risk profiles, expenses and performance. For example, the asset flows may
adversely affect performance by requiring a Portfolio to purchase or sell securities at inopportune times, by otherwise limiting a subadviser’s ability to fully implement a Portfolio’s investment
strategies, or by requiring a Portfolio to hold a larger portion of its assets in highly liquid securities than it otherwise would hold. The asset flows may cause high turnover, which can result in transaction costs.
The asset flows may also result in low asset levels and high operating expense ratios for a Portfolio. The asset flows could remove all or substantially all of the assets of the Portfolio. The efficient operation of
the asset flows depends on active and liquid markets. If market liquidity is strained, the assets flows may not operate as intended. For example, it is possible that illiquid markets or other market stress could cause
delays in the transfer of cash from one Portfolio to another Portfolio, which in turn could adversely affect performance.
Commodity Risk
. A commodity-linked derivative instrument is a financial instrument, the value of which is determined by the value of one or more commodities, such as precious metals and agricultural
products, or an index of various commodities. The prices of these instruments historically have been affected by, among other things, overall market movements or fluctuations, such as demand, supply disruptions and
speculation, and changes in interest and exchange rates. The prices of commodity-linked derivative instruments also may be more volatile than the prices of investments in traditional equity and debt
securities.
Derivatives Risk
. A derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends upon, or is derived from, the value of one or more underlying investments, such as an asset, reference rate, or index, and
may relate to stocks, bonds, interest rates, currencies, and currency exchange rates. Derivatives in which the Portfolios may invest include exchange-traded instruments as well as privately negotiated instruments,
also called over-the-counter instruments. Examples of derivatives include options, futures, forward agreements, interest rate swap agreements, credit default swap agreements, and credit-linked securities. A Portfolio
may, but is not required to, use derivatives to earn income or enhance returns, manage or adjust its risk profile, replace more traditional direct investments, or obtain exposure to certain markets. The use of
derivatives to seek to earn income or enhance returns may be considered speculative.
The use of derivatives involves a
variety of risks and costs that are different from, or possibly greater than, investing directly in traditional equity and debt securities, including:
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Counterparty credit risk
. There is a risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation to a Portfolio. This
risk is especially
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important in the context of privately negotiated instruments. For example, a Portfolio would be exposed to counterparty credit risk to the extent it enters into a credit default swap, that is, it purchases
protection against a default by a debt issuer, and the swap counterparty does not maintain adequate reserves to cover such a default.
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Leverage risk
. Certain derivatives and related trading strategies create debt obligations similar to borrowings, and therefore create, leverage. Leverage can result in losses to a Portfolio that exceed
the amount the Portfolio originally invested. To mitigate leverage risk, a Portfolio will segregate liquid assets or otherwise cover the transactions that may give rise to such risk. The use of leverage may cause a
Portfolio to liquidate Portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation or coverage requirements.
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Liquidity and valuation risk
. Certain exchange-traded derivatives may be difficult or impossible to buy or sell at the time that the seller would like, or at the price that the seller believes the derivative is
currently worth. Privately negotiated instruments may be difficult to terminate, and from time to time, a Portfolio may find it difficult to enter into a transaction that would offset the losses incurred by another
derivative that it holds. Derivatives, and especially privately negotiated instruments, also involve the risk of incorrect valuation (that is, the value assigned to the derivative may not always reflect its risks or
potential rewards).
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Hedging risk
. Hedging is a strategy in which a Portfolio uses a derivative to offset the risks associated with its other portfolio holdings. While hedging can reduce losses, it can also reduce or
eliminate gains or magnify losses if the market moves in a manner different from that anticipated by the Portfolio. Hedging also involves the risk that changes in the value of the derivative will not match the value
of the holdings being hedged, to the extent expected by the Portfolio, in which case any losses on the holdings being hedged may not be reduced and in fact may be increased. No assurance can be given that any hedging
strategy will reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be either available or cost effective. A Portfolio is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.
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Commodity risk
. A commodity-linked derivative instrument is a financial instrument, the value of which is determined by the value of one or more commodities, such as precious metals and agricultural
products, or an index of various commodities. The prices of these instruments historically have been affected by, among other things, overall market movements or fluctuations, such as demand, supply disruptions and
speculation, and changes in interest and exchange rates. Commodity-linked derivative instruments may be more volatile than investments in traditional equity and debt securities.
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Emerging Markets Risk
. The risks of non-US investments are greater for investments in emerging markets. Emerging market countries typically have economic and political systems that are less fully
developed, and can be expected to be less stable, than those of more developed countries. For example, the economies of such countries can be subject to rapid and unpredictable rates of inflation or deflation.
Low trading volumes may result in a lack of liquidity and price volatility. Emerging market countries may have policies that restrict investment by foreigners, or that prevent foreign investors from withdrawing
their money at will.
Equity Securities Risk.
There is a risk that the value of a particular stock or equity-related security held by a Portfolio could fluctuate, perhaps greatly, in response to a number of factors, such as changes in
the issuer’s financial condition. In addition to an individual stock losing value, the value of the equity markets or a sector of those markets in which a Portfolio invests could go down. A Portfolio’s
holdings can vary from broad market indexes, and the performance of a Portfolio can deviate from the performance of such indexes. Different parts of a market can react differently to adverse issuer, market,
regulatory, political and economic developments. Such events may result in losses to a Portfolio. Preferred stock generally pays dividends at a specified rate and has preference over common stock in the payment of
dividends and the liquidation of assets, but does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates,
experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include the risk of losses
attributable to adverse changes in interest rates, broader market conditions and the financial condition of the stock’s issuer.
Exchange-Traded Funds Risk
. The Portfolios may invest in ETFs as an efficient means of carrying out its investment strategies. As with mutual funds (i.e., funds that are not exchange-traded), ETFs charge asset-based
fees that a Portfolio will indirectly bear as a result of its investment in an ETF. ETFs are traded on stock exchanges or on the over-the-counter market. ETFs do not charge initial sales charges or redemption fees and
investors pay only customary brokerage fees to buy and sell ETF shares.
An investment in an ETF generally
presents the same primary risks as an investment in a mutual fund that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. In addition, ETFs may be subject to the following risks: (i) the market price of an
ETF’s shares may trade above or below their net asset value; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; or (iii) trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if
the listing exchange’s officials deem such an action appropriate, the shares are delisted from the exchange or the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in
stock prices) halts stock trading generally. The price of an ETF can fluctuate, and a Portfolio could lose money investing in an ETF if the prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down.
Exchange-Traded Notes Risk.
Exchange-traded notes (ETNs) are subject to the credit risk of the issuer, and the value of the ETN may drop due to a downgrade in the issuer’s credit rating, despite the underlying
market benchmark or assets remaining unchanged. The value of an ETN may also be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in the underlying market,
changes in the applicable interest rates, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced underlying market or assets. ETNs are also subject to the risk that the other party to the
contract will not fulfill its contractual obligations, which may cause losses or additional costs to the Portfolio. When the Portfolio invests in ETNs it will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses
borne by the ETN.
Expense Risk
. Your actual cost of investing in a Portfolio may be higher than the expenses shown in “Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses” for a variety of reasons. For example, portfolio
operating expense ratios may be higher than those shown if a Portfolio’s average net assets decrease, fee waivers or expense limitations change, or the Portfolio incurs more expenses than expected.
Fixed Income Securities Risk
. Investment in fixed income securities involves a variety of risks, including credit risk, liquidity risk and interest rate risk.
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Credit risk
. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer or guarantor of a security will be unable to pay principal and interest when due, or that the value of the security will suffer because investors
believe the issuer is less able to make required principal and interest payments. Credit ratings are intended to provide a measure of credit risk. However, credit ratings are only the opinions of the credit rating
agency issuing the ratings and are not guarantees as to quality. The lower the rating of a debt security held by a Portfolio, the greater the degree of credit risk that is perceived to exist by the credit rating
agency with respect to that security. Increasing the amount of Portfolio assets allocated lower-rated securities generally will increase the credit risk to which a Portfolio is subject. Information on the ratings
issued to debt securities by certain credit rating agencies is included in Appendix I to the Statement of Additional Information (SAI). Not all securities are rated. In the event that the relevant credit rating
agencies assign different ratings to the same security, a Portfolio’s subadviser may determine which rating it believes best reflects the security’s quality and risk at that time. Some but not all US
government securities are insured or guaranteed by the US government, while others are only insured or guaranteed by the issuing agency, which must rely on its own resources to repay the debt. Although credit risk may
be lower for US government securities than for other investment-grade securities, the return may be lower.
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Liquidity risk
. Liquidity risk is the risk that a Portfolio may not be able to sell some or all of the securities it holds, either at the price it values the security or at any price. Liquidity risk also
includes the risk that there may be delays in selling a security, if it can be sold at all.
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Interest rate risk.
Interest rate risk is the risk that the rates of interest income generated by the fixed income investments of a Portfolio may decline due to a decrease in market interest rates and that the
market prices of the fixed income investments of a Portfolio may decline due to an increase in market interest rates. Generally, the longer the maturity of a fixed income security, the greater is the decline in its
value when rates increase. As a result, portfolios with longer durations and longer weighted average maturities generally have more volatile share prices than portfolios with shorter durations and shorter weighted
average maturities. The prices of fixed
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income securities generally move in the opposite direction to that of market interest rates. Certain securities acquired by a Portfolio may pay interest at a variable rate or the principal amount of the security
periodically adjusts according to the rate of inflation or other measure. In either case, the interest rate at issuance is generally lower than the fixed interest rate of bonds of similar seniority from the same issuer;
however, variable interest rate securities generally are subject to a lower risk that their value will decrease during periods of increasing interest rates and increasing inflation. A Portfolio may be subject to a
greater risk of rising interest rates due to the current period of historically low interest rates. Changes in government policies, such as raising the federal funds rate and/or revising “quantitative
easing” measures aimed at stimulating the economy, may increase interest rates which are currently at or near historical lows.
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Foreign Investment Risk
. Investment in foreign securities generally involve more risk than investing in securities of US issuers. Foreign securities include investments in securities of foreign issuers
denominated in foreign currencies, as well as securities of foreign issuers denominated in US dollars and American Depositary Receipts.
Foreign investment risk includes
the following risks:
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Currency risk
. Changes in currency exchange rates may affect the value of foreign securities held by a Portfolio. Currency exchange rates can be volatile and affected by, among other factors, the general
economic conditions of a country, the actions of the US and non-US governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls, and speculation. A security may be denominated in a currency that is different from
the currency of the country where the issuer is domiciled. Changes in currency exchange rates may affect the value of foreign securities held by a Portfolio. If a foreign currency grows weaker relative to the US
dollar, the value of securities denominated in that foreign currency generally decreases in terms of US dollars. If a Portfolio does not correctly anticipate changes in exchange rates, its share price could decline as
a result. A Portfolio may from time to time attempt to hedge a portion of its currency risk using a variety of techniques, including currency futures, forwards, and options. However, these instruments may not always
work as intended, and in certain cases a Portfolio may be exposed to losses that are greater than the amount originally invested. For most emerging market currencies, suitable hedging instruments may not be
available.
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Emerging market risk
. Countries in emerging markets (e.g., South America, Eastern and Central Europe, Africa and the Pacific Basin countries) may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a
few industries and securities markets that trade a limited number of securities. Securities of issuers located in these countries tend to have volatile prices and offer the potential for substantial loss as well as
gain. In addition, these securities may be less liquid than investments in more established markets as a result of inadequate trading volume or restrictions on trading imposed by the governments of such countries.
Emerging markets may also have increased risks associated with clearance and settlement. Delays in settlement could result in periods of uninvested assets, missed investment opportunities or losses for a
Portfolio.
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Foreign market risk
. Foreign markets tend to be more volatile than US markets and are generally not subject to regulatory requirements comparable to those in the US. In addition, foreign markets are subject to
differing custody and settlement practices. Foreign markets are subject to bankruptcy laws different than those in the US, which may result in lower recoveries for investors.
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Information risk
. Financial reporting standards for companies based in foreign markets usually differ from those in the US.
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Liquidity and valuation risk
. Stocks that trade less frequently can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active stocks. This liquidity risk is a function of the trading volume of a
particular stock, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than US markets. This can make buying and selling certain securities more
difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell
a security in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches an estimate of its value.
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Political risk
. Political developments may adversely affect the value of a Portfolio’s foreign securities. In addition, some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors
abroad, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, and imposed high taxes on corporate profits. In addition, a Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities may be subject to the risk
of nationalization or expropriation of a foreign corporation’s assets, imposition of currency exchange controls, or restrictions on the repatriation of non-US currency, confiscatory taxation, political or
financial instability and adverse diplomatic developments. These risks are heightened in all respects with respect to investments in foreign securities issued by foreign corporations and governments located in
developing countries or emerging markets.
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Regulatory risk
. Some foreign governments regulate their exchanges less stringently than the US, and the rights of shareholders may not be as firmly established as in the US. In general, less information
is publicly available about foreign corporations than about US companies.
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Taxation risk
. Many foreign markets are not as open to foreign investors as US markets. A Portfolio may be required to pay special taxes on gains and distributions that are imposed on foreign investors.
Payment of these foreign taxes may reduce the investment performance of a Portfolio.
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Fund of Funds Risk
. A Portfolio that is structured as a “fund of funds” invests primarily in a combination of underlying investment companies which we refer to as “Underlying
Portfolios.” In addition to the risks associated with the investment in the Underlying Portfolios, these Portfolios are subject to the following risks:
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To the extent that a Portfolio concentrates its assets among Underlying Portfolios that invest principally in one or several asset classes, a Portfolio may from time to time underperform mutual funds exposed
primarily to other asset classes. For example, a Portfolio may be overweighed in the equity asset class when the stock market is falling and the fixed income market is rising. Likewise, a Portfolio may be overweighted
in the fixed income asset class when the fixed income market is falling and the stock market is rising.
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The ability of a Portfolio to achieve its investment objective depends on the ability of the selected Underlying Portfolios to achieve their investment objectives. There is a risk that the selected Underlying
Portfolios will underperform relevant markets, relevant indices, or other portfolios with similar investment objectives and strategies.
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The performance of a Portfolio may be affected by large purchases and redemptions of Underlying Portfolio shares. For example, large purchases and redemptions may cause an Underlying Portfolio to hold a greater
percentage of its assets in cash than other portfolios pursuing similar strategies, and large redemptions may cause an Underlying Portfolio to sell assets at inopportune times. Underlying Portfolios that have
experienced significant redemptions may, as a result, have higher expense ratios than other portfolios pursuing similar strategies. The Manager and a Portfolio’s subadviser(s) seek to minimize the impact of
large purchases and redemptions of Underlying Portfolio shares, but their abilities to do so may be limited.
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There is a potential conflict of interest between a Portfolio and its Manager and a Portfolio’s subadviser(s). Because the amount of the investment management fees to be
retained by the Manager and their affiliates may differ depending upon which Underlying Portfolios are used in connection with a Portfolio, there is a potential conflict of interest for the Manager and a
Portfolio’s subadviser(s) in selecting the Underlying Portfolios. In addition, the Manager and a Portfolio’s subadviser(s) may have an incentive to take into account the effect on an Underlying Portfolio
in which the Portfolio may invest in determining whether, and under what circumstances, to purchase or sell shares in that Underlying Portfolio. Although the Manager and a Portfolio’s subadviser(s) take steps to
address the potential conflicts of interest, it is possible that the potential conflicts could impact the Portfolios.
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Futures and Forward Contracts
Risk
. A Portfolio 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 a
Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 a Portfolio’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, a Portfolio 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 a Portfolio from having to pay more for securities as a consequence of increases in the market value for such securities during a period when the Portfolio was attempting to identify specific securities in
which to invest in a market the Portfolio believes to be attractive. In the event that such securities decline in value or a Portfolio determines not to complete an anticipatory hedge transaction relating to a futures
contract, however, the Portfolio may realize a loss relating to the futures position.
High-Yield Risk
. Investments in high-yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”) may be subject to
greater levels of interest rate, credit and liquidity risk than investments in investment grade securities. High-yield securities are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing
ability to make principal and interest payments. An economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for high-yield securities and reduce a Portfolio’s ability to sell its
high-yield securities. In addition, the market for lower-rated bonds may be thinner and less active than the market for higher-rated bonds, and the prices of lower-rated bonds may fluctuate more than the prices of
higher-rated bonds, particularly in times of market stress.
Investment Style Risk
. Securities of a particular investment style, such as growth or value, tend to perform differently and shift into and out of favor depending on market and economic conditions and investor
sentiment, and tend to go through cycles of performing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the overall stock market. As a result, a Portfolio’s performance may at times be
worse than the performance of other portfolios that employ different investment styles.
Due to their relatively high
valuations, growth stocks are typically more volatile than value stocks. Investors often expect growth companies to increase their earnings at a certain rate. If these expectations are not met, share prices may
decline significantly, even if earnings do increase. Further, growth stocks may not pay dividends or may pay lower dividends than value stocks. This means they depend more on price changes for returns and may be more
adversely affected in a down market compared to value stocks that pay higher dividends.
There is a risk that the value
investment style may be out of favor for a period of time, that the market will not recognize a security’s intrinsic value for a long time or that a stock judged to be undervalued may actually be appropriately
priced. Historically, value stocks have performed best during periods of economic recovery.
Large Company Risk.
Large-capitalization stocks as a group could fall out of favor with the market, causing a Portfolio to underperform investments that focus on small- or medium-capitalization stocks.
Larger, more established companies may be slow to respond to challenges, including changes to technology or consumer tastes, and may grow more slowly than smaller companies, especially during market cycles
corresponding to periods of economic expansion. Market capitalizations of companies change over time.
Leverage Risk.
Leverage is the investment of borrowed cash. When using leverage, a Portfolio receives any profit or loss on the amount borrowed and invested, but remains obligated to repay the amount
borrowed plus interest. The effect of using leverage is to amplify a Portfolio’s gains and losses in comparison to the amount of a Portfolio’s assets (that is, assets other than borrowed assets) at risk,
thus causing the Portfolio to be more volatile. Certain transactions may give rise to a form of leverage. Examples of such transactions include borrowing, reverse repurchase agreements, loans of portfolio securities,
and the use of when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment contracts. To mitigate leverage risk, a Portfolio may segregate liquid assets or otherwise cover the transactions that may give rise to such risk. The
use of leverage may cause a Portfolio to liquidate Portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation or coverage requirements.
Liquidity and Valuation Risk
. From time to time, a Portfolio may hold one or more securities for which there are no or few buyers and sellers or the securities are subject to limitations on transfer. In those cases, a
Portfolio may have difficulty determining the values of those securities for the purpose of determining a Portfolio’s net asset value. A Portfolio also may have difficulty disposing of those securities at the
values determined by the Portfolio for the purpose of determining the Portfolio’s net asset value, especially during periods of significant net redemptions of Portfolio shares. For example, private equity
investments and private real estate-related investments are generally
considered illiquid and generally cannot be
readily sold. As a result, private real estate-related investments owned by a Portfolio may be valued at fair value pursuant to guidelines established by the Portfolio’s Board of Trustees. No assurance can be
given that the fair value prices accurately reflect the price a Portfolio would receive upon the sale of the investment.
Portfolios with principal
investment strategies that involve foreign securities, private placement investments, derivatives or securities with substantial market and/or credit risk tend to have the greatest exposure to liquidity and valuation
risk.
Market and Management Risk
. Market risk is the risk that the markets in which the Portfolios invest will experience market volatility and go down in value, including the possibility that a market will go down
sharply and unpredictably. All markets go through cycles, and market risk involves being on the wrong side of a cycle. Factors affecting market risk include political events, broad economic and social changes, and the
mood of the investing public. If investor sentiment turns negative, the price of all securities may decline. Management risk is the risk that the investment strategy or PI or a subadviser will not work as intended.
All decisions by PI or a subadviser require judgment and are based on imperfect information. In addition, Portfolios managed using an investment model are subject to the risk that the investment model may not perform
as expected.
Market Capitalization Risk.
Investing in issuers within the same market capitalization category carries the risk that the category may be out of favor due to current market conditions or investor sentiment. Because a
Portfolio may invest of portion of its assets in securities issued by small-cap companies, it is likely to be more volatile than a Portfolio that focuses on securities issued by larger companies. Small-sized companies
often have less experienced management, narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, and less publicly available information than larger companies. In addition, smaller companies are typically more
sensitive to changes in overall economic conditions and their securities may be difficult to trade.
Mid-Sized Company Risk
. The shares of mid-sized companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger, more established companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and
on a Portfolio’s ability to sell the securities. Changes in the demand for these securities generally have a disproportionate effect on their market price, tending to make prices rise more in response to buying
demand and fall more in response to selling pressure. Such investments also may be more volatile than investments in larger companies, as mid-sized companies generally experience higher growth and failure rates, and
typically have less access to capital.
Non-Diversification Risk
. A Portfolio is considered “diversified” if, with respect to 75 percent of its total assets, it invests no more than 5 percent of its total assets in the securities of one
issuer, and its investments in such issuer represent no more than 10 percent of that issuer’s outstanding voting securities. To the extent that a Portfolio is not diversified, there is a risk that the Portfolio
may be adversely affected by the performance of relatively few securities or the securities of a single issuer. A non-diversified Portfolio is therefore more exposed to losses caused by a smaller group of portfolio
holdings than a diversified portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover Risk.
A subadviser generally does not consider the length of time a Portfolio has held a particular security in making investment decisions. In fact, a subadviser may engage in active trading on
behalf of a Portfolio—that is, frequent trading of its securities—in order to take advantage of new investment opportunities or yield differentials. A Portfolio’s turnover rate may be higher than
that of other mutual funds due to a subadviser’s investment strategies and the above-referenced asset transfer programs. Portfolio turnover generally involves some expense to a Portfolio, including brokerage
commissions or dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestment in other securities.
Quantitative Model Risk
. A Portfolio may use quantitative models as part of their investment process. Securities or other investments selected using quantitative methods may perform differently from the
market as a whole or from their expected performance for many reasons, including factors used in building the quantitative analytical framework, the weights placed on each factor, and changing sources of market
returns. Any errors or imperfections
in the subadviser’s quantitative analyses or
models, or in the data on which they are based, could adversely affect the subadviser’s effective use of such analyses or models, which in turn could adversely affect a Portfolio’s performance. There
can be no assurance that these methodologies will enable a Portfolio to achieve its objective.
Real Estate Risk
. Investments in REITs and real estate-linked derivative instruments will subject a Portfolio to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including losses
from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses. An
investment in a real estate-linked derivative instrument that is linked to the value of a REIT is subject to additional risks, such as poor performance by the manager of the REIT, adverse changes to the tax laws, or
failure by the REIT to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the tax laws. In addition, some REITs have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic
area, or a single type of property and, as a result, may be more exposed to events that adversely affect such properties or areas than REITs that invest more broadly.
Recent Events Risk
. The ongoing financial and debt crises have caused increased volatility and significant declines in the value and liquidity of many securities in US and foreign financial markets. This
environment could make identifying investment risks and opportunities especially difficult. These market conditions may continue or get worse. In response to these crises, the US and other governments, and their
agencies and instrumentalities such as the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks, have taken steps to support financial markets. The reduction or withdrawal of these measures could negatively affect the
overall economy and/or the value and liquidity of certain securities. In addition, the impact of legislation enacted in the United States calling for reform of many aspects of financial regulation, and the
corresponding regulatory changes on the markets and the practical implications for market participants, may not be known for some time.
Regulatory Risk
. Each Portfolio is subject to a variety of laws and regulations which govern its operations. Each Portfolio is subject to regulation by the SEC, and certain Portfolios are subject to
regulation by the CFTC. Similarly, the businesses and other issuers of the securities and other instruments in which a Portfolio invests are also subject to considerable regulation. These laws and regulations are
subject to change. A change in laws and regulations may materially impact a Portfolio, a security, business, sector or market. For example, a change in laws or regulations made by the government or a regulatory body
may impact the ability of a Portfolio to achieve its investment objective, or may impact a Portfolio’s investment policies and/or strategies, or may reduce the attractiveness of an investment.
Short Sale Risk
. A Portfolio that sells a security short in effect borrows and then sells the security with the expectation that it will later repurchase the security at a lower price and then return the
amount borrowed with interest. In contrast, when a Portfolio buys a security long, it purchases the security with cash with the expectation that it later will sell the security at a higher price. A Portfolio that
enters into short sales exposes the Portfolio to the risk that it will be required to buy the security sold short (also known as “covering” the short position) at a time when the security has appreciated
in value, thus resulting in a loss to the Portfolio. Theoretically, the amount of these losses can be unlimited, although for fixed income securities an interest rate of 0% forms an effective limit on how high a
security’s price would be expected to rise. Although a Portfolio may try to reduce risk by holding both long and short positions at the same time, it is possible that the Portfolio’s securities held long
will decline in value at the same time that the value of the Portfolio’s securities sold short increases, thereby increasing the potential for loss.
Small Sized Company Risk
. The shares of small sized companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger, more established companies, which can have an adverse effect on the price of these securities and
on a Portfolio’s ability to sell these securities. Changes in the demand for these securities generally have a disproportionate effect on their market price, tending to make prices rise more in response to
buying demand and fall more in response to selling pressure. Such investments also may be more volatile than investments in larger companies, as smaller companies generally experience higher growth and failure rates,
and typically have less diversified product lines, less experienced senior management, and less access to capital than larger companies. In the case of small sized technology companies, the risks associated with
technology company stocks, which tend to be more volatile than other sectors, are magnified.
Sovereign Debt Securities
Risk.
Investing in sovereign debt securities exposes a Portfolio to the direct or indirect consequences of political, social or economic changes in the countries that issue the securities. The
issuer or governmental authority that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be willing or able to repay the principal and/or pay interest when it becomes due, due to factors such as debt service burden,
political constraints, cash flow problems and other national economic factors. In addition, foreign governments may default on their debt securities, which may require holders of such securities to participate in debt
rescheduling or additional lending to defaulting governments. Moreover, there is no bankruptcy proceeding by which defaulted sovereign debt may be collected in whole or in part.
US Government Securities Risk
. US Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the US Government. Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and US
Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the US Government. For example, securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the
Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Banks are neither insured nor guaranteed by the US Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the US Treasury or only by
the credit of the issuing agency, authority, instrumentality or enterprise and, as a result, are subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the US Treasury.
HOW THE TRUST IS MANAGED
Board of Trustees
The Board oversees the actions of
the Investment Manager and the Subadvisers, and decides on general policies. The Board also oversees the Trust's officers who conduct and supervise the daily business operations of the Trust.
Investment Manager
Prudential Investments LLC
Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey, serves as investment manager of the Portfolios. PI and ASTIS serve as co-investment managers for each of the other portfolios
of the Trust not covered by this prospectus, except for the AST Schroders Global Tactical Portfolio, AST AQR Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio, AST BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio, AST FQ Absolute Return
Currency Portfolio, AST Franklin Templeton K2 Global Absolute Return Portfolio, AST Goldman Sachs Global Growth Allocation Portfolio, AST Goldman Sachs Strategic Income Portfolio, AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth
Portfolio, AST Prudential Flexible Multi-Strategy Portfolio, AST T. Rowe Price Diversified Real Growth, AST QMA International Core Equity Portfolio and the AST Bond Portfolio 2026 for which PI serves as the sole
investment manager.
ASTIS has been in business
providing advisory services since 1992. PI has been in business providing advisory services since 1996.
PI has registered
with the National Futures Association (NFA) as a “commodity pool operator” under the Commodities Exchange Act (CEA) with respect to the AST AQR Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio, the AST Schroders Global
Tactical Portfolio, the AST Franklin Templeton K2 Global Absolute Return Portfolio, the AST FQ Absolute Return Currency Portfolio, the AST Goldman Sachs Global Growth Allocation Portfolio, the AST Columbia Adaptive
Risk Allocation Portfolio, the AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio, the AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio and the AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio.
The Trust's Investment Management
Agreements with the Investment Manager on behalf of each Portfolio (the Management Agreements), provide that the Investment Manager will furnish each applicable Portfolio with investment advice and administrative
services subject to the supervision of the Board and in conformity with the stated policies of the applicable Portfolio. The Investment Manager must also provide, or obtain and supervise, the executive,
administrative, accounting, custody, transfer agent and shareholder servicing services that are deemed advisable by the Board.
The Investment Manager has engaged
the Subadvisers to conduct the investment programs of the Portfolios, including the purchase, retention and sale of portfolio securities and other financial instruments. The Investment Manager is responsible for
monitoring the activities of the Subadvisers and reporting on such activities to the Board. The Trust has obtained an exemption from the SEC that permits the Investment Manager, subject to approval by the Board, to
change Subadvisers for a Portfolio by entering into new subadvisory agreements with affiliated and non-affiliated subadvisers, without obtaining shareholder approval of such changes. This exemption (which is similar
to exemptions granted to other investment companies that are organized in a manner similar to the Trust) is intended to facilitate the efficient supervision and management of the Subadvisers by the Investment Manager
and the Board. PI also participates in the day-to-day management of several Portfolios, as noted both in the Summary section for the relevant Portfolios earlier in this Prospectus and the “Portfolio
Managers” section later in this Prospectus.
Once available, a discussion
regarding the basis for the Board's initial approval of the Management Agreements and subadvisory agreements will be available in the Trust's annual report for the period ended June 30, 2015.
Investment Subadvisers
The Portfolios each have one more
or more investment Subadvisers providing the day-to-day investment management of the Portfolio. PI also participates in the day-to-day management of several Portfolios, as noted in the “Portfolio Managers”
section later in this Prospectus. The Manager pays each investment Subadviser a subadvisory fee out of the fee that the Manager receives from the Trust. The investment Subadvisers for each Portfolio of the Trust are
described below:
AllianceBernstein, L.P.
(AllianceBernstein)
is a Delaware limited partnership of which AllianceBernstein Corporation, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of AXA Financial, Inc. (“AXA Financial”), is a general partner. AXA
Financial is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AXA S.A., one of the largest global financial services organizations. AllianceBernstein’s principal place of business is located at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New
York, New York 10105. As of December 31, 2014, AllianceBernstein’s assets under management totaled $474 billion.
Columbia Management Investment
Advisers. LLC (Columbia)
is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110 and serves as investment adviser to the Columbia Funds. Columbia is a registered investment adviser and a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Columbia's management experience covers all major asset classes, including equity securities, fixed-income securities and money market instruments. In addition to serving as an investment
adviser to traditional mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds, Columbia acts as an investment adviser for itself, its affiliates, individuals, corporations, retirement plans, private investment
companies and financial intermediaries. As of December 31, 2014, Columbia had approximately $336.27 billion in assets under management.
Dana Investment Advisors, Inc.
(Dana)
was founded in 1980 and is a SEC registered investment advisor under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Dana is headquartered in Brookfield, WI where all business functions are performed
including: Portfolio Management, Trading, Operations and Administration. Dana currently manages over $5.4 billion dollars for a broad range of clients located throughout the United States. The company is 100% employee
owned and does not maintain any other business affiliations.
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.
(GSAM)
has been registered as an investment adviser with the SEC since 1990 and is an affiliate of Goldman, Sachs & Co. As of December 31, 2014, GSAM, including its investment advisory
affiliates, had assets under supervision (AUS) of $1,023.92 billion. AUS includes assets under management and other client assets for which Goldman Sachs does not have full discretion. Goldman Sach's address is 200
West Street, New York, New York 10282-2198.
Ivy Investment Management (Ivy)
operates as a wholly owned, direct subsidiary of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (“Waddell & Reed”), and is located at 6300, Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66202.
Waddell & Reed traces its investment heritage back to 1937. The firm is focused on asset management and distribution of investment products. As of December 31, 2014, Ivy and its affiliates had approximately $123.7
billion in assets under management.
Longfellow Investment Management Co.
LLC. (Longfellow)
a registered investment adviser located at 20 Winthrop Square, Boston, MA 02110. As of December 31, 2014, Longfellow had approximately $6.5 billion in assets under management.
Morgan Stanley Investment
Management, Inc. (MSIM)
is a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley and conducts a worldwide portfolio management business providing a broad range of services to customers in the U.S. and abroad. MSIM is located at 522
Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036. As of December 31, 2014, MSIM together with its affiliated asset management companies had approximately $403 billion in assets under management.
Neuberger Berman Management LLC
(Neuberger Berman).
With a heritage dating to 1939, Neuberger Berman is an employee owned company. As of December 31, 2014, Neuberger Berman and its affiliates managed approximately $250 billion in assets.
Neuberger Berman's address is 605 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10158.
Wellington Management Company LLP
(Wellington Management)
is a Delaware limited liability partnership. Wellington Management is a professional investment counseling firm which provides investment services to investment companies, employee benefit
plans, endowments, foundations, and other institutions. Wellington Management and its predecessor organizations have provided investment advisory services for over 80 years. Wellington Management is owned by the
partners of Wellington Management Group LLP, a Massachusetts limited liability partnership. As of December 31, 2014, Wellington Management had investment management authority with respect to approximately $914 billion
in assets. The address of Wellington Management is 280 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio
managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the Portfolios is set forth below.
In addition to the information set
forth below, the SAI provides additional information about each portfolio manager's compensation, other accounts managed by each portfolio manager, and each portfolio manager's ownership of shares of the Trust's
Portfolios.
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
The portfolio managers from
AllianceBernstein that have primary responsibility for managing the AB Portfolio are Scott DiMaggio, Matthew Sheridan, Douglas J. Peebles, Paul DeNoon and Michael L. Mon. Biographies for Messrs. DiMaggio, Sheridan,
Peebles, DeNoon and Mon are provided below.
Scott DiMaggio, CFA.
Mr. DiMaggio serves as Director of both Global Fixed Income and Canada Fixed Income, and is a member of the Absolute Return portfolio management team. Prior to joining the Fixed Income
team, he performed quantitative investment analysis, including asset-liability, asset-allocation, return attribution and risk analysis. Before joining the firm in 1999, Mr. DiMaggio was a risk management market
analyst at Santander Investment Securities. He also held positions as a senior consultant at Ernst & Young and Andersen Consulting. Mr. DiMaggio holds a BS in business administration from the State University of
New York, Albany, and an MS in finance from Baruch College. He is a member of the Global Association of Risk Professionals and a CFA charterholder.
Matthew Sheridan, CFA.
Mr. Sheridan is a Portfolio Manager and member of the Absolute Return, Global Fixed Income, and Emerging Market Debt portfolio management teams. He primarily focuses on quantitative
reporting, duration maintenance, and short-term cash management. Mr. Sheridan joined Alliance Capital in 1998 and previously worked in the firm’s Structured Asset Securities Group. He holds a BS in finance from
Syracuse University and is a CFA charterholder.
Douglas J. Peebles.
Mr. Peebles joined the firm in 1987 and is the Chief Investment Officer and Head of AllianceBernstein Fixed Income. In this role, he supervises all of the Fixed Income portfolio management
research teams globally. In addition, Mr. Peebles is Chairman of the Interest Rates and Currencies Research Review team, which is responsible for setting interest rate and currency policy for all fixed income
portfolios. He has held several leadership positions within Fixed Income, including director of Global Fixed Income from 1997 to 2004 and co-head of AllianceBernstein Fixed Income from 2004 until 2008. He holds a BA
from Muhlenberg College and an MBA from Rutgers University.
Paul DeNoon.
Mr. DeNoon directs all of AllianceBernstein’s investment activities in emerging market fixed income and is a senior member of the Global Fixed Income and Absolute Return teams. He
oversees a variety of global fixed income assets and plays a key role in the firm’s multi-sector high-income strategies. Mr. DeNoon is also Portfolio Manager for the Next 50 Emerging Markets Fund and a member of
the Emerging Markets Multi-Asset Strategy Committee, the Dynamic Asset Allocation Committee, and a number of other management committees. Prior to joining the firm in 1992, he was a vice president in the Investment
Portfolio Group at Manufacturers Hanover Trust and an economist in the bank’s Financial Markets Research Group, where he was primarily responsible for the analysis of monetary and fiscal policy. Mr. DeNoon began
his career as a research analyst at Lehman Brothers. He holds a BA in economics from Union College and an MBA in finance from New York University.
Michael L. Mon, CFA.
Mr. Mon is a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, and serves as co-head of the Absolute Return Fixed Income team. He also leads the local currency strategies within the Emerging
Market Debt portfolio management team and is a member of the Global Fixed Income team. From 2006 to 2010, Mr. Mon was based in Hong Kong while he served as regional director of Asia ex Japan Fixed Income. Prior to
joining the firm in
1999, he was a portfolio manager at Brundage,
Story and Rose. Mr. Mon previously worked for three years as a vice president at OppenheimerFunds and for five years as an assistant vice president at Mitchell Hutchins Asset Management. He holds a BA in economics and
an MBA in finance from New York University. Mr. Mon is a CFA charterholder.
AST Columbia Adaptive Risk
Allocation Portfolio
The portfolio managers from
Columbia that have primary responsibility for managing the Portfolio are Jeffrey Knight, Orhan Imer, Toby Nangle and Beth Vanney. Biographies for Messrs. Knight, Imer and Nangle, and Ms. Vanney are provided below.
Mr. Knight
joined Columbia in February 2013 as Head of Global Asset Allocation. Prior to joining Columbia, Mr. Knight was at Putnam Investments. Mr. Knight began his investment career in 1987 and
earned a B.A. from Colgate University and an M.B.A. from Tuck School of Business.
Dr. Imer
joined Columbia in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 2009. From 2007 to
2009, Dr. Imer was a senior quantitative strategist for the Investment Strategies Group at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. Prior to joining Bank of America, Dr. Imer was a senior financial engineer at Algorithmics Inc.
and a researcher at General Electric’s Global Research Center. Dr. Imer began his investment career in 2005 and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Mr. Nangle
joined Threadneedle, an investment advisory affiliate of Columbia, as Head of Multi-Asset in 2012. Prior to joining Threadneedle, Mr. Nangle worked at Baring Asset Management, initially in
the fixed income team and subsequently as Director of the Multi-Asset Group. Mr. Nangle began his investment career in 1997 and earned a M.A. (Hons) in history, and a MPhil in international relations from Sidney
Sussex College, University of Cambridge.
Ms. Vanney
joined Columbia in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where she worked as an investment professional since 1999. Ms. Vanney
began her investment career in 1990 and earned a B.S. from the University of Minnesota.
AST Emerging Managers Diversified
Portfolio
Prudential Investments LLC
The portfolio managers from the
Investment Manager that have primary responsibility for managing the International Equity Sleeve, Fixed Income Credit Sleeve and the Alternative Sleeve of the Portfolio are Brian Ahrens and Andrei O. Marinich.
Biographies for Messrs. Ahrens and Marinich are provided below.
Brian Ahrens, Senior Vice President
and Head of the Strategic Investment Research Group of PI.
Mr. Ahrens focuses on portfolio risk oversight, manager fulfillment, and the allocation of assets among managers. Mr. Ahrens oversees a staff of 17 investment professionals who focus on
investment consulting, portfolio construction, and risk oversight activities. Mr. Ahrens has been with Prudential for over 15 years. Mr. Ahrens earned his MBA in Finance from the Stern School of Business at New York
University. He graduated from James Madison University with a double major in Finance and German. He is series 7, series 24 and series 63 certified, and CIMA certified.
Andrei Marinich, Vice President of
Strategic Investment Research Group of PI.
Mr. Marinich focuses on portfolio construction in the Strategic Investment Research Group. Mr. Marinich oversees a team focused on discretionary management of multi-manager investment
portfolios including risk budgeting and manager allocation within both traditional and alternative asset classes. Prior to joining Prudential in October 2000, Mr. Marinich worked for PaineWebber, Inc. (now known as
UBS Financial Services Inc) and its subsidiaries. While at PaineWebber he worked as an investment manager research analyst in the managed money area and as a senior portfolio analyst while at Mitchell Hutchins Asset
Management, the asset management arm of PaineWebber. A member of the New York
Society of Securities Analysts and the CFA
Institute, Mr. Marinich is a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Economics and holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
and the Investment Management Consultants Association. He also holds the CFA designation.
Dana Investment Advisors, Inc.
The portfolio managers from Dana
that have primary responsibility for managing the Domestic Large Cap Core Sleeve of the Portfolio are Duane R. Roberts, Greg Dahlman, David M. Stamm, Michael Honkamp, David Weinstein and J. Joseph Veranth. Biographies
for Messrs. Roberts, Dahlman, Stamm, Honkamp, Weinstein and Veranth are provided below.
Duane Roberts, CFA, Director of
Equities and Portfolio Manager.
Mr. Roberts joined Dana in June 1999 and is currently Director of Equities and an equity Portfolio Manager. Mr. Roberts graduated from Rice University with a BS in Electrical Engineering
and Mathematics in 1980. He earned an MS in Statistics from Stanford University in 1981 and an MBA in Finance from Southern Methodist University in 1999. Mr. Roberts is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of
the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Dallas-Fort Worth.
Greg Dahlman, CFA, Senior Vice
President and Portfolio Manager.
Mr. Dahlman joined Dana in March 2006 and is currently a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager. Mr. Dahlman graduated magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with
a BBA in Finance and Economics in 1985. Mr. Dahlman has been managing equity portfolios since 1990 and is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Milwaukee.
David M. Stamm, CFA, Senior Vice
President and Portfolio Manager.
Mr. Stamm joined Dana in August 2007 and is currently a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager. Mr. Stamm graduated from Valparaiso University with a BSBA in International Business in
1997. Mr. Stamm has been in the investment industry since 1997 and managing equity portfolios since 2000. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of
Milwaukee.
Michael Honkamp, CFA, Senior Vice
President and Portfolio Manager.
Mr. Honkamp joined Dana in June 1999 and is currently a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager. Mr. Honkamp graduated from Santa Clara University with a BS in Economics in 1991 and
earned an MBA from The American School of International Management (Thunderbird) in 1993. Mr. Honkamp has been in the investment industry since 1999 and managing equity portfolios since 2003. He is a Chartered
Financial Analyst and member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Milwaukee.
David Weinstein, Equity
Analyst.
Mr. Weinstein joined Dana in May 2013 and is currently an Equity Analyst. Mr. Weinstein graduated from the University of Notre Dame with an Honors Program degree in Political Science in
2005. He graduated cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2008 and served as Managing Editor of the Law Review. Mr. Weinstein returned to Notre Dame and received his MBA in Investments in 2012,
graduating magna cum laude.
J. Joseph Veranth, CFA, Chief
Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager.
Mr. Veranth joined Dana in December 1994 and is currently the Chief Investment Officer and a Portfolio Manager. Joe graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Humanities in 1984.
He earned an MBA in Finance and International Business from the Stern School of Business at New York University in 1991. Mr. Veranth is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA
Society of Milwaukee.
Longfellow Investment Management Co.
LLC
The portfolio managers from
Longfellow that have primary responsibility for managing the Core Plus Fixed-Income Sleeve of the Portfolio are Barbara J. McKenna and David C. Stuehr. Biographies for Ms. McKenna and Mr. Stuehr are provided below.
Barbara J. McKenna, CFA, Managing
Principal, Portfolio Manager.
Ms. McKenna serves as a Managing Principal and Portfolio Manager. Ms. McKenna leads Intermediate and Core portfolio management and heads credit strategy. Prior to joining Longfellow in
2005, she was a director and senior portfolio Manager at State Street Research (SSR), responsible for $14 billion of institutional fixed income accounts. As director of corporate bond strategy, she was responsible for
the development and implementation of corporate bond strategy across all fixed income mandates. Prior to joining SSR, Barbara was a director and portfolio manager at Standish, Ayer & Wood. She has also held
portfolio management and investment banking positions at BayBank and Massachusetts Capital Resource Company, a private capital firm. Ms. McKenna has over 25 years of experience and holds a MS and BS in Finance from
Boston College. Ms. McKenna is a CFA charterholder, a member of the CFA Institute and a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society. She is also a board trustee of the American Beacon Funds.
David C. Stuehr, CFA, Principal,
Portfolio Manager and Senior Analyst
. Mr. Stuehr is a Portfolio Manager and Senior Analyst. Mr. Stuehr leads the high yield management strategy for Longfellow and also serves on the portfolio management team for the Arbitrage
strategy. Prior to joining Longfellow in 2009, Mr. Stuehr was a hedge fund portfolio manager and analyst at Hanover Strategic Management. He also previously served as a portfolio manager at Seneca Capital Management.
At Seneca Capital, Mr. Stuehr was responsible for the firm’s high yield investment portfolios and served as the lead manager on the Pacific View Fund, LLC – a corporate bond-oriented hedge fund. Mr. Stuehr
also has significant experience in managing fixed income portfolios for an array of clients including high net worth individuals and insurance companies. Prior to joining Seneca, Mr. Stuehr was a partner with
Standish, Ayer & Wood. During his 12 years at the firm, he served as a portfolio manager and director of corporate bond research – leading a 10-member analyst team. Mr. Stuehr has over 25 years of investment
experience and received his MS in Finance from Boston College and MA in Economics from Bowling Green University. He also received his BS in Business Administration from Bowling Green University. Mr. Stuehr is a CFA
charterholder, a member of the CFA Institute and a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society.
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income
Portfolio
The portfolio
managers from GSAM International that have primary responsibility for managing the Goldman Portfolio are Iain Lindsay and Hugh Briscoe. Biographies for Messrs. Lindsay and Briscoe are provided below.
Iain Lindsay, PhD, CFA, Managing
Director, Co-Head of Global Portfolio Management.
Mr. Lindsay is the co-head of Global Portfolio Management within the Global Fixed Income and Liquidity Management team at Goldman Sachs. In this role, he is responsible for co-leading the
global team of portfolio managers that oversee multi-sector portfolios. Previously, he was a senior portfolio manager on the Global Fixed Income and Currency team. Mr. Lindsay joined Goldman Sachs in 2001 and was
named managing director in 2004. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Lindsay worked at J.P. Morgan Investment Management as a portfolio manager. Prior to that, he was head of the capital market strategy team at Bank of
Montreal in London and was a senior fixed income strategist at Credit Lyonnais in Paris. Mr. Lindsay earned a BSc in Physics from Heriot-Watt University in 1985, a PhD in Physics from Imperial College in 1988, an MBA
from City University in 1992, and became a CFA charterholder in 2001.
Hugh Briscoe, Vice President,
Multi-Sector Fixed Income Portfolio Manager.
Mr. Briscoe is a portfolio manager for multi-sector fixed income portfolios. Based on London, Mr. Briscoe manages client portfolios for Goldman Sachs clients globally, with a focus on
institutional clients, central banks, and sovereign wealth and state pension funds. Mr. Briscoe joined Goldman Sachs in October 2005 and was previously a portfolio manager for Goldman Sachs’ Global Liquidity
Management business throughout EMEA. Mr. Briscoe has nine years of investment experience and holds a Masters in Defence Studies from the College Interarmees De Defense, Paris and a BA (Hons) Philosophy from Bristol
University. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs in 2005, Mr. Briscoe served in the British Army for 12 years, achieving the rank of Major. Mr. Briscoe serves on the finance committee of the Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation, a
UK charity that provides rehabilitative support to vulnerable and disable ex-Service men and women and is a member-nominated trustee of the Goldman Sachs UK Defined Contribution Pension Plan.
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
The portfolio managers from Ivy
that have primary responsibility for managing the Portfolio are Michael Avery, Chace Brundige and Cynthia Prince-Fox. Biographies for Messrs. Avery and Brundige, and Ms. Prince-Fox are provided below.
Mr. Avery has been a portfolio
manager for the Portfolio since its inception. He is Executive Vice President of Ivy and Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company (“WRIMCO”), an affiliate of Ivy, Vice President of Ivy Funds and
Vice President of other investment companies for which WRIMCO serves as investment manager. Mr. Avery has served as portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO since February 1994, and has been an
employee of such since June 1981. Mr. Avery has served as President of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (WDR) since January 2010. He formerly served as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of WDR from June 2005 until
February 2011 and formerly served as CIO of WRIMCO and Ivy from June 2005 until August 2010.From August 1987 until June 2005, Mr. Avery had served as the Director of Equity Research for Ivy and for WRIMCO and its
predecessor. He holds a BS degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri, and an MBA with emphasis on finance from Saint Louis University.
Mr. Brundige has been a portfolio
manager for the Portfolio since its inception. In 2003, he joined WRIMCO as an assistant portfolio manager for the large cap growth team, and became a portfolio manager in February 2006. He is a Senior Vice President
of Ivy and WRIMCO, and Vice President of and portfolio manager for other investment companies for which Ivy or WRIMCO serves as investment manager. Mr. Brundige holds a BS degree in finance from Kansas State
University, and has earned an MBA with an emphasis in finance and accounting from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Mr. Brundige is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Ms. Prince-Fox has been a
portfolio manager for the Portfolio since its inception. She is a Senior Vice President of Ivy and WRIMCO, and Vice President and portfolio manager for other investment companies for which Ivy and WRIMCO serves as
investment manager. In addition, Ms. Prince Fox served as Chief Investment Officer of Austin, Calvert & Flavin, Inc., a former affiliate of WRIMCO, from November 2004 to July 2009 and, previously, as Co-Chief
Investment Officer for Austin, Calvert & Flavin, Inc., from February 2002 to November 2004. She has also served as portfolio manager for investment companies managed by WRIMCO since January 1993. Ms. Prince-Fox
earned a BBA degree in Finance from St. Mary’s University at San Antonio, Texas and has earned an MBA with an emphasis in Finance from Rockhurst College.
AST Managed Alternatives
Portfolio
The portfolio managers from the
Investment Manager that have primary responsibility for managing the Portfolio are Brian Ahrens and Andrei O. Marinich. Biographies for Messrs. Ahrens and Marinich are provided below.
Brian Ahrens, Senior Vice President
and Head of the Strategic Investment Research Group of PI.
Mr. Ahrens focuses on portfolio risk oversight, manager fulfillment, and the allocation of assets among managers. Mr. Ahrens oversees a staff of 17 investment professionals who focus on
investment consulting, portfolio construction, and risk oversight activities. Mr. Ahrens has been with Prudential for over 15 years. Mr. Ahrens earned his MBA in Finance from the Stern School of Business at New York
University. He graduated from James Madison University with a double major in Finance and German. He is series 7, series 24 and series 63 certified, and CIMA certified.
Andrei Marinich, Vice President of
Strategic Investment Research Group of PI.
Mr. Marinich focuses on portfolio construction in the Strategic Investment Research Group. Mr. Marinich oversees a team focused on discretionary management of multi-manager investment
portfolios including risk budgeting and manager allocation within both traditional and alternative asset classes. Prior to joining Prudential in October 2000, Mr. Marinich worked for PaineWebber, Inc. (now known as
UBS Financial Services Inc) and its subsidiaries. While at PaineWebber he worked as an investment manager research analyst in the managed money area and as a senior portfolio analyst while at Mitchell Hutchins Asset
Management, the asset management arm of PaineWebber. A member of the New York
Society of Securities Analysts and the CFA
Institute, Mr. Marinich is a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Economics and holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
and the Investment Management Consultants Association. He also holds the CFA designation.
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset
Portfolio
The portfolio managers from Morgan
Stanley that have primary responsibility for managing the Portfolio are Cyril Moullé-Berteaux, Mark Bavoso, and Sergei Parmenov. Biographies for Messrs. Moullé-Berteaux, Bavoso and Parmenov are provided
below.
Cyril Moulle-Berteaux, Managing
Director and Portfolio Manager.
Mr. Moullé-Berteaux is head of the Global Multi-Asset team at MSIM. He re-joined the firm in 2011 and has 24 years of financial industry experience. Before returning to Morgan Stanley,
Mr. Moullé-Berteaux was a founding partner and portfolio manager at Traxis Partners, a macro hedge fund firm. At Traxis Partners, Mr. Moullé-Berteaux managed absolute-return portfolios and was responsible
for running the firm’s fundamental and quantitative research effort. Prior to co-founding Traxis Partners, in 2003, he was a managing director at MSIM, initially running Asset Allocation Research and ultimately
heading the Global Asset Allocation team. Previously, Mr. Moullé-Berteaux was an associate at Bankers Trust and worked there from 1991 to 1995 in corporate finance and as a derivatives trader in the emerging
markets group. He received a B.A. in economics from Harvard University.
Mark Bavoso, Managing Director and
Portfolio Manager.
Mr. Bavoso is a senior portfolio manager on the Global Multi-Asset team. He joined Morgan Stanley in 1986 and has 33 years of investment experience. Previously, he was a senior vice
president and portfolio manager at Dean Witter InterCapital and a vice president in the Equity Marketing and Research departments of Dean Witter Reynolds. Prior to joining the firm, he was a vice president and equity
research analyst at Sutro & Co. Mr. Bavoso received a B.A. in both history and political science from the University of California, Davis. In 2008, under his leadership, the Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund was the
recipient of the Lipper Funds Award (presented to the top performing Flexible Portfolio for the trailing three years). Mr. Bavoso is also a member of the Economic Club of New York.
Sergei Parmenov, Managing Director
and Portfolio Manager.
Mr. Parmenov is a senior member of the Global Multi-Asset team at MSIM. He re-joined the firm in 2011 and has 19 years of investment experience. Before returning to Morgan Stanley, Mr.
Parmenov was a founder and manager of Lyncean Capital Management, a macro hedge fund. Between 2003 and 2008, Mr. Parmenov was an analyst and a portfolio manager at Traxis Partners, a multi-strategy hedge fund. From
2002 to 2003, Mr. Parmenov was an analyst at a European mid-cap equities hedge fund at J. Rothschild Capital Management in London. Prior to this, he was a vice president in the private equity department of Deutsche
Bank and from 1999 to 2001, Mr. Parmenov was an associate and subsequently vice president at Whitney & Co, focusing on European private equity investments. Mr. Parmenov started his career at MSIM in 1996. He
received a B.A. in economics from Columbia University.
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short
Portfolio
The portfolio manager from
Neuberger Berman that has primary responsibility for managing the Portfolio is Charles Kantor. Biography for Mr. Kantor is provided below.
Charles C. Kantor, is a Managing
Director of Neuberger Berman and Senior Portfolio Manager for the Neuberger Berman Long Short Strategy. He joined the firm in 2000. Prior to joining the firm, Charles was a managing director of Stern Stewart’s
Financial Institutions division. There he assisted clients with implementing EVA-based financial management systems. Charles is co-author of “EVA for Banks: Value Creation, Risk Management, and Profitability
Measurement,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Spring 1996, and a participant in “Roundtable on Corporate
Disclosure,” Journal of Applied Corporate
Finance, Fall 2004. In addition, Charles is a regular commentator on CNBC, as well as a contributor to Barron’s. He earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Economics from the University of Cape Town,
South Africa and an MBA (with honors) from Harvard University Graduate School of Business.
AST Wellington Management Global
Bond Portfolio
The portfolio managers from
Wellington Management that have primary responsibility for managing the Wellington Global Portfolio are Mark Sullivan, John Soukas and Edward Meyi. Biographies for Messrs. Sullivan, Soukas and Meyi are provided
below.
Mark Sullivan, CFA, CMT, Senior
Managing Director, Partner and Fixed Income Portfolio Manager.
As a member of the Global Bond Team, Mark focuses on alpha generation – specifically the discretionary macro alpha stream – and is responsible for the risk management
process. In this role, he is a member of the Global Bond Risk Committee, responsible for the risk allocations across portfolios and management of aggregate portfolio risk. In addition, he works closely
with the team’s Global Strategists to understand developments in the global cycle and identify trade opportunities to generate alpha within his risk allocation. Mr. Sullivan joined Wellington in 1999 as a
project analyst in Global Relationship Management before becoming a quantitative analyst in the Fixed Income Group. He has been a member of the Global Bond team since 2002. Mark received his BA from
Colgate University in1999. In addition, he holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Market Technician designations.
John Soukas, Senior Managing
Director, Partner and Fixed Income Portfolio Manager.
Mr. Soukas is a fixed income portfolio manager and a senior member of Wellington’s Global Fixed Income investment team. As part of this role, he is a member of the Global Risk
Committee, which is responsible for allocating capital to the investment team and managing risk across the entire business. He is an experienced investor with a proven track record in developing and implementing
quantitative investment strategies. Prior to joining the firm in 2006, Mr. Soukas was managing partner at Fairlane Asset Management in Toronto, where he was responsible for global fixed income (2003-2006).
Before that, he was a government bond portfolio manager focusing on relative value strategies at West End Capital Management (2002-2003), head of Canadian Government Bond Trading at Deutsche Bank Securities
(1997-2002), and a senior economist at RBC Capital Markets (1994-1997). Mr. Soukas earned his MA in economics with a focus on econometrics and international finance from the University of Toronto in 1993 and his
BA from the University of Western Ontario in 1991.
Edward Meyi, FRM, Managing Director
and Fixed Income Portfolio Manager.
Mr. Meyi is a fixed income portfolio manager and member of Wellington’s Global Bond Team. He manages global fixed income portfolios for clients worldwide, including central
bank, sovereign wealth fund, pension fund, and mutual fund clients of the firm. Prior to joining the firm in 2002, Mr. Meyi worked at Putnam, BlackRock, Scudder Kemper, and Investors Bank & Trust. Mr.
Meyi earned his BA in history from Middlebury College in 1996 and is certified by the Global Association of Risk Professionals as a Financial Risk Manager (FRM).
AST Wellington Management Real Total
Return Portfolio
The portfolio manager from
Wellington that has primary responsibility for managing the Portfolio is Rick A. Wurster. Biography for Mr. Wurster is provided below.
Rick A. Wurster, CFA, CMT, Managing
Director and Asset Allocation Portfolio Manager.
Mr. Wurster is a portfolio manager in the Asset Allocation Group. He built and manages several multi-asset strategies. These strategies include Wellington Management’s lifecycle
products, as well as unconstrained tactical asset allocation products that Mr. Wurster manages using both fundamental and technical analysis. Finally, he assists clients with long-term investment strategy. Prior to
joining the firm in 2006, Mr. Wurster was an associate principal with McKinsey & Company (2000 – 2006). At McKinsey, he led consulting projects for the senior management of plan sponsors, asset managers, and
other financial institutions. Mr. Wurster was a frequent speaker at asset management conferences and events, and published several articles on the asset management industry. Prior to McKinsey, he worked for the
private
equity practice of Bain & Company (1998) and
for a small economic consulting firm (1995 – 1998). Mr. Wurster Rick earned his MBA from Dartmouth College (Tuck, 2000) and his BS in economics, magna cum laude, from Villanova University (1995). Additionally,
he holds both the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Market Technician (CMT) designations. He is a member of CFA Institute, the Boston Security Analysts Society, and the Chartered Market Technician
Association.
HOW TO BUY AND SELL SHARES OF THE PORTFOLIOS
Purchasing and Redeeming
PORTFOLIO Shares
The way to invest in is through
certain variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts. Together with this prospectus, you should have received a prospectus for such a Contract. You should refer to that prospectus for further information on
investing in the Portfolios.
Shares are redeemed for cash
within seven days of receipt of a proper notice of redemption or sooner if required by law. There is no redemption charge. We may suspend the right to redeem shares or receive payment when the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) is closed (other than weekends or holidays), when trading on the NYSE is restricted, or as permitted by the SEC.
Redemption in Kind
The Trust may pay the redemption
price to shareholders of record (generally, the insurance company separate accounts holding Trust shares) in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of securities from the relevant investment portfolio of the
Trust, in lieu of cash, in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC and procedures adopted by the Board. Securities will be readily marketable and will be valued in the same manner as in a regular redemption.
If shares are redeemed in kind,
the recipient will incur transaction costs in converting such assets into cash. These procedures govern the redemption by the shareholder of record, generally an insurance company separate account. The procedures do
not affect payments by an insurance company to a contract owner under a variable contract.
Frequent Purchases or
Redemptions of Portfolio Shares
The Trust is part of the group of
investment companies advised by PI that seeks to prevent patterns of frequent purchases and redemptions of shares by its investors (the PI funds). Frequent purchases and redemptions may adversely affect the investment
performance and interests of long-term investors in the Portfolios. When an investor engages in frequent or short-term trading, the PI funds may have to sell portfolio securities to have the cash necessary to pay the
redemption amounts. This may cause the PI funds to sell Portfolio securities at inopportune times, hurting their investment performance. When large dollar amounts are involved, frequent trading can also make it
difficult for the PI funds to use long-term investment strategies because they cannot predict how much cash they will have to invest. In addition, if a PI fund is forced to liquidate investments due to short-term
trading activity, it may incur increased transaction and tax costs.
Similarly, the PI funds may bear
increased administrative costs as a result of the asset level and investment volatility that accompanies patterns of short-term trading. Moreover, frequent or short-term trading by certain investors may cause dilution
in the value of PI fund shares held by other investors. PI funds that invest in foreign securities may be particularly susceptible to frequent trading, because time zone differences among international stock markets
can allow an investor engaging in short-term trading to exploit fund share prices that may be based on closing prices of foreign securities established some time before the fund calculates its own share price. PI
funds that invest in certain fixed income securities, such as high-yield bonds or certain asset-backed securities, may also constitute effective vehicles for an investor's frequent trading strategies.
The Boards of Directors/Trustees
of the PI funds, including the Trust, have adopted policies and procedures designed to discourage or prevent frequent trading by investors. The policies and procedures for the Trust are limited, however, because the
Trust does not directly sell its shares directly to the public. Instead, Portfolio shares are sold only to insurance company separate accounts that fund variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies.
Therefore, Participating Insurance Companies, not the Trust, maintain the individual contract owner account records. Each Participating Insurance Company submits to the Trust's transfer agent daily aggregate orders
combining the transactions of many contract owners. Therefore, the Trust and its transfer agent do not monitor trading by individual contract owners.
Under the Trust's policies and
procedures, the Trust has notified each Participating Insurance Company that the Trust expects the insurance company to impose restrictions on transfers by contract owners. The current Participating Insurance
Companies are Prudential and two insurance companies not affiliated with Prudential. The Trust may add additional Participating Insurance Companies in the future. The Trust receives reports on the trading restrictions
imposed by Prudential on variable contract owners investing in the Portfolios, and the Trust monitors the aggregate cash flows received from unaffiliated insurance companies. In addition, the Trust has entered
shareholder information agreements with Participating Insurance Companies as required by Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act. Under these agreements, the Participating Insurance Companies have agreed to: (i) provide certain
information regarding contract owners who engage in transactions involving Portfolio shares and (ii) execute any instructions from the Trust to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of Portfolio shares
by contract owners who have been identified by the Trust as having engaged in transactions in Portfolio shares that violate the Trust's frequent trading policies and procedures. The Trust and its transfer agent also
reserve the right to reject all or a portion of a purchase order from a Participating Insurance Company. If a purchase order is rejected, the purchase amount will be returned to the insurance company.
The Trust also employs fair value
pricing procedures to deter frequent trading. Those procedures are described in more detail under “Net Asset Value,” below.
Each of the
Portfolios structured as a fund-of-funds (the Funds of Funds) invests primarily or exclusively in other Portfolios of the Trust that are not operated as Funds of Funds. These portfolios in which the Funds of Funds
invest are referred to as Underlying Fund Portfolios. The policies that have been implemented by the Participating Insurance Companies to discourage frequent trading apply to transactions in Funds of Funds shares.
Transactions by the Funds of Funds in Underlying Fund Portfolio shares, however, are not subject to any limitations and are not considered frequent or short-term trading. For example, the Funds of Funds may engage in
significant transactions in Underlying Fund Portfolio shares in order to: (i) change their investment focus, (ii) rebalance their investments to match the then-current asset allocation mix, (iii) respond to
significant purchases or redemptions of Fund of Funds shares, or (iv) respond to changes required by the underlying contracts. These transactions by the Funds of Funds in Underlying Fund Portfolio shares may be
disruptive to the management of an Underlying Fund Portfolio because such transactions may: (i) cause the Underlying Fund Portfolio to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times to have the cash necessary to pay
redemption requests, hurting their investment performance, (ii) make it difficult for the Subadvisers for the Underlying Fund Portfolios to fully implement their investment strategies, and (iii) lead to increased
transaction and tax costs.
Certain Portfolios may be used in
connection with certain living benefit programs, including, without limitation, certain “guaranteed minimum accumulation benefit” programs and certain “guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit”
programs. In order for the Participating Insurance Companies to manage the guarantees offered in connection with these benefit programs, the Participating Insurance Companies generally: (i) limit the number and types
of variable sub-accounts in which contract holders may allocate their account values (referred to in this Prospectus as the Permitted Sub-Accounts) and (ii) require contract holders to participate in certain
specialized asset transfer programs. Under these asset transfer programs, the Participating Insurance Companies will monitor each contract owner's account value from time to time and, if necessary, will systematically
transfer amounts among the Permitted Sub-Accounts as dictated by certain non-discretionary mathematical formulas. These mathematical formulas will generally focus on the amounts guaranteed at specific future dates or
the present value of the estimated lifetime payments to be made, as applicable.
As an example of how these asset
transfer programs will operate under certain market environments, a downturn in the equity markets (i.e., a reduction in a contract holder's account value within the Permitted Sub-Accounts) and certain market return
scenarios involving “flat” returns over a period of time may cause Participating Insurance Companies to transfer some or all of such contract owner's account value to different Portfolios of the Trust. In
general terms, such transfers are designed to ensure that an appropriate percentage of the projected guaranteed amounts are offset by assets in certain investments.
The
above-referenced asset transfer programs are an important part of the guarantees offered in connection with the applicable living benefit programs. Such asset transfers may, however, result in large-scale asset flows
into and out of certain Portfolios. Such asset transfers could adversely affect those Portfolios’ investment performance by requiring the relevant investment adviser or Subadvisers to purchase and sell
securities at inopportune times and by otherwise limiting the ability of the relevant investment adviser or Subadvisers to fully implement those Portfolio’s investment strategies. In addition, these asset
transfers may result in relatively small asset bases and relatively high transaction costs and operating expense ratios for those Portfolios compared to other similar funds.
Investors seeking to engage in
frequent trading activities may use a variety of strategies to avoid detection and, despite the efforts of the Trust and the Participating Insurance Companies to prevent such trading, there is no guarantee that the
Trust or the Participating Insurance Companies will be able to identify these investors or curtail their trading practices. Therefore, some Trust investors may be able to engage in frequent trading, and, if they do,
the other Trust investors would bear any harm caused by that frequent trading. The Trust does not have any arrangements intended to permit trading in contravention of the policies described above.
For information about the trading
limitations applicable to you, please see the prospectus for your contract or contact your insurance company.
Net Asset Value
Any purchase or sale of Portfolio
shares is made at the net asset value, or NAV, of such shares. The price at which a purchase or redemption is made is based on the next calculation of the NAV after the order is received in good order. The NAV of each
share class of each Portfolio is determined on each day the NYSE is open for trading as of the close of the exchange's regular trading session (which is generally 4:00 p.m. New York time). The NYSE is closed on most
national holidays and Good Friday. The Trust does not price, and shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem, the Trust's shares on days when the NYSE is closed but the primary markets for the Trust's foreign
securities are open, even though the value of these securities may have changed. Conversely, the Trust will ordinarily price its shares, and shareholders may purchase and redeem shares, on days that the NYSE is open
but foreign securities markets are closed.
The securities held by each of the
Trust's portfolios are valued based upon market quotations or, if not readily available, at fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by the Board. The Trust may use fair value pricing if it
determines that a market quotation is not reliable based, among other things, on market conditions that occur after the quotation is derived or after the closing of the primary market on which the security is traded,
but before the time that the NAV is determined. This use of fair value pricing commonly occurs with securities that are primarily traded outside of the US, because such securities present time-zone arbitrage
opportunities when events or conditions affecting the prices of specific securities or the prices of securities traded in such markets generally occur after the close of the foreign markets but prior to the time that
a Portfolio determines its NAV.
The Trust may also use fair value
pricing with respect to US traded securities if, for example, trading in a particular security is halted and does not resume before a Portfolio calculates its NAV or the exchange on which a security is traded closes
early. In addition, fair value pricing is used for securities where 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 PI (or Subadviser) does not represent fair value. Different valuation methods may result in differing values for the same security. The fair value of a portfolio security that a Portfolio uses to determine its NAV
may differ from the security's published or quoted price. If a Portfolio needs to implement fair value pricing after the NAV publishing deadline but before shares of the Portfolio are processed, the NAV you receive or
pay may differ from the published NAV price. For purposes of computing the Trust's NAV, we will value the Trust's futures contracts 15 minutes after the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Except when we fair value
securities, we normally value each foreign security held by the Trust as of the close of the security's primary market.
Fair value pricing procedures are
designed to result in prices for a Portfolio's securities and its NAV that are reasonable in light of the circumstances which make or have made market quotations unavailable or unreliable, and to reduce arbitrage
opportunities available to short-term traders. There is no assurance, however, that fair value pricing will more accurately reflect the market value of a security than the market price of such security on that day or
that it will prevent dilution of a Portfolio's NAV by short-term traders.
The NAV for each of the Portfolios
is determined by a simple calculation. It's the total value of a Portfolio (assets minus liabilities) divided by the total number of shares outstanding. Each business day, each Portfolio’s current NAV per share
is transmitted electronically to insurance companies that use the Portfolios as underlying investment options for Contracts.
To determine a Portfolio's NAV,
its holdings are valued as follows:
Equity Securities
for which the primary market is on an exchange (whether domestic or foreign) shall be valued at the last sale price on such exchange or market on the day of valuation or, if there was no
sale on such day, at the mean between the last bid and asked prices on such day or at the last bid price on such day in the absence of an asked price. Securities included within the NASDAQ market shall be valued at
the NASDAQ official closing price (NOCP) on the day of valuation, or if there was no NOCP issued, at the last sale price on such day. Securities included within the NASDAQ market for which there is no NOCP and no last
sale price on the day of valuation shall be valued at the mean between the last bid and asked prices on such day or at the last bid price on such day in the absence of an asked price. Equity securities that are not
sold on an exchange or NASDAQ are generally valued by an independent pricing agent or principal market maker.
A Portfolio may own securities
that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the Portfolios do not price their shares. Therefore, the value of a Portfolio's assets may change on days when shareholders
cannot purchase or redeem Portfolio shares.
Short-term debt securities
with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued at cost with interest accrued or discount amortized to the date of maturity, unless such valuation, in the judgment of PI or a
Subadviser, does not represent fair value.
Convertible debt securities
that are traded in the over-the-counter market, including listed convertible debt securities for which the primary market is believed by PI or a Subadviser to be over-the-counter, are
valued at the mean between the last bid and asked prices provided by a principal market maker (if available, otherwise a primary market dealer).
Other debt securities
—those that are not valued on an amortized cost basis—are valued using an independent pricing service.
Options on stock and stock
indexes
that are traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price on such exchange on the day of valuation or, if there was no such sale on such day, at the mean between
the most recently quoted bid and asked prices on such exchange.
Futures contracts and options on
futures contracts
are valued at the last sale price at the close of the commodities exchange or board of trade on which they are traded. If there has been no sale that day, the securities will be valued at
the mean between the most recently quoted bid and asked prices on that exchange or board of trade.
Forward currency exchange
contracts
are valued at the cost of covering or offsetting such contracts calculated on the day of valuation. Securities which are valued in accordance herewith in a currency other than US dollars
shall be converted to US dollar equivalents at a rate obtained from a recognized bank, dealer or independent service on the day of valuation.
Over-the-counter (OTC) options
are valued at the mean between bid and asked prices provided by a dealer (which may be the counterparty). A subadviser will monitor the market prices of the securities underlying the OTC
options with a view to determining the necessity of obtaining additional bid and ask quotations from other dealers to assess the validity of the prices received from the primary pricing dealer.
All short-term debt securities
held by the Portfolios, including bonds, notes, debentures and other debt securities, and money market instruments such as certificates of deposit, commercial paper, bankers' acceptances
and obligations of domestic and foreign banks, with remaining maturities of more than 60 days, for which market quotations are readily available, are valued by an independent pricing agent or principal market maker
(if available, otherwise a primary market dealer).
Distributor & DISTRIBUTION
ARRANGEMENTS
The Trust offers a single class of
shares on behalf of each Portfolio. Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc. (PAD) serves as the distributor for the shares of each Portfolio of the Trust. Each class of shares is offered and redeemed at its net asset
value without any sales load. PAD is an affiliate of the Manager. PAD is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (FINRA).
The Trust has adopted a
Shareholder Services and Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the 12b-1 Plan) for the shares of the Portfolios. Under the 12b-1Plan, the shares of each Portfolio are charged an annual fee to
compensate PAD and its affiliates for providing various administrative and distribution services to each Portfolio. The maximum annual shareholder services and distribution (12b-1) fee for each Portfolio’s
shares is 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each Portfolio. Because these fees are paid out of each Portfolio’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time, the fees will increase your cost of investing and may
cost you more than other types of charges.
PAD may receive payments from
certain Subadvisers of the Portfolios or their affiliates to help defray expenses for sales meetings or seminar sponsorships that may relate to the Contracts and/or the Subadvisers’ respective Portfolios. These
sales meetings or seminar sponsorships may provide the Subadvisers with increased access to persons involved in the distribution of the Contracts. PAD also may receive marketing support from the Subadvisers in
connection with the distribution of the Contracts.
OTHER INFORMATION
Federal Income Taxes
Each Portfolio currently intends to
be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As a result, each Portfolio's income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits are “passed through” pro rata directly to the Participating
Insurance Companies and retain the same character for federal income tax purposes. Distributions may be made to the various separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies in the form of additional shares
(not in cash).
Owners of variable annuity
contracts or variable life insurance policies should consult the prospectuses of their respective contracts or policies for information on the federal income tax consequences to such holders. In addition, variable
contract owners may wish to consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investments in the Trust, including the application of state and local taxes.
Monitoring for Possible
Conflicts
The Trust sells its shares to fund
variable life insurance contracts and variable annuity contracts and is authorized to offer its shares to qualified retirement plans. Because of differences in tax treatment and other considerations, it is possible
that the interest of variable life insurance contract owners, variable annuity contract owners and participants in qualified retirement plans could conflict. The Trust will monitor the situation and in the event that
a material conflict did develop, the Trust would determine what action, if any, to take in response.
Disclosure of Portfolio
Holdings
A description of the Trust's
policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of each Portfolio's portfolio securities is included in the SAI and on the Trust's website at www.prudential.com/variableinsuranceportfolios.
Payments to Affiliates
PI and ASTIS and their affiliates,
including a subadviser or PAD, may compensate affiliates of PI and ASTIS, including the insurance companies issuing variable annuity or variable life contracts by providing reimbursement, defraying the costs of, or
paying directly for, among other things, marketing and/or administrative services and/or other services they provide in connection with the variable annuity and/or variable life contracts which offer the Portfolios as
investment options. These services may include, but are not limited to: sponsoring or co-sponsoring various promotional, educational or marketing meetings and seminars attended by distributors, wholesalers, and/or
broker dealer firms' registered representatives, and creating marketing material discussing the contracts, available options, and the Portfolios.
The amounts paid depend on the
nature of the meetings, the number of meetings attended by PI or ASTIS, the subadviser, or PAD, the number of participants and attendees at the meetings, the costs expected to be incurred, and the level of PI's,
ASTIS’, subadviser's or PAD’s participation. These payments or reimbursements may not be offered by all advisers, subadvisers, or PAD and the amounts of such payments may vary between and among each
adviser, subadviser and PAD depending on their respective participation.
With respect to variable annuity
contracts, the amounts paid under these arrangements to Prudential-affiliated insurers are set forth in the prospectuses for the variable annuity contracts which offer the Portfolios as investment options.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Introduction
The Portfolios are expected to
commence operations on or around the date of this Prospectus, thus no financial highlights data is provided.
RELATED ACCOUNT PERFORMANCE
Because of the
nature of their investments, the AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio (the Columbia Portfolio), the AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio (the Managed Alternatives Portfolio), the AST Morgan Stanley
Multi-Asset Portfolio (the Morgan Stanley Portfolio), and the AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio (the Wellington Portfolio), and PI, as the sole investment manager to the Columbia Portfolio, the
Managed Alternatives Portfolio, the Morgan Stanley Portfolio, and the Wellington Portfolio, are subject to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA). Because the Columbia Portfolio, the Managed Alternatives
Portfolio, the Morgan Stanley Portfolio, and the Wellington Portfolio are each regulated by the CFTC and National Futures Association (NFA) as a commodity pool, and by the SEC as a registered investment company, they
are each subject to each organization’s disclosure requirements. The CFTC recently adopted rules that are designed to harmonize certain CEA disclosure requirements with SEC disclosure requirements, including
Rule 4.12(c)(3)(i) under the CEA that requires the pool operator of an offered pool that has less than three years of operating history to disclose the performance of all accounts and pools that are managed by the
pool operator and that have investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those of the offered pool.
PI does not manage any pool or account that has
investment objectives, policies and strategies that are substantially similar to either of the Columbia Portfolio, the Managed Alternatives Portfolio, the Morgan Stanley Portfolio or the Wellington Portfolio.
INVESTOR INFORMATION
SERVICES:
Shareholder inquiries should be
made by calling (800) 778-2255 or by writing to Advanced Series Trust at Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102. Additional information about the Portfolios is included in the SAI, which
is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. Additional information about the Portfolios' investments is available in the Trust's annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the annual reports, you will
find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected each Portfolio's performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI and additional copies of annual and semi-annual
reports are available without charge by calling the above number. The SAI and the annual and semi-annual reports are also available without charge on the Trust’s website at
www.prudential.com/variableinsuranceportfolios
.
Delivery of Prospectus and Other
Documents to Households
. To lower costs and eliminate duplicate documents sent to your address, the Trust, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, may begin mailing only one copy of the Trust's
prospectus, prospectus supplements, annual and semi-annual reports, proxy statements and information statements, or any other required documents to your address even if more than one shareholder lives there. If you
have previously consented to have any of these documents delivered to multiple investors at a shared address, as required by law, and you wish to revoke this consent or would otherwise prefer to continue to receive
your own copy, you should call the number above, or write to the Trust at the above address. The Trust will begin sending individual copies to you within thirty days of revocation.
The information in the Trust's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the SAI) is available from the SEC. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of duplicating fees, by electronic request to
publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-0102. The information can also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC.
Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. Finally, information about the Trust is available on the EDGAR database on the SEC's internet site at
www.sec.gov.
Investment Company File Act
No. 811-05186
Advanced Series Trust
STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • July 13, 2015
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) of
Advanced Series Trust (the Trust) is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of the Trust dated July 13, 2015, which can be obtained, without charge, by calling (800) 778-2255 or by
writing to the Trust at Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102. This SAI has been incorporated by reference into the Trust's Prospectus. The portfolios of the Trust which are discussed in
this SAI are noted on this front cover (each, a Portfolio and together, the Portfolios).
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation
Portfolio
AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
AST Wellington Management Global Bond
Portfolio
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio
PART I
INTRODUCTION
This SAI sets forth information
about the Trust and the Portfolios covered by the SAI. Part I provides additional information about the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the Board), certain investments restrictions that apply to the Portfolios, the
advisory services provided to and the management fees paid by the Trust, and information about other fees paid by and services provided to the Trust. Part II provides additional information about certain investments
and investment strategies that may be used by the Portfolios and explanations of various investments and strategies which may be used by the Portfolios and explanations of these investments and strategies, and should
be read in conjunction with Part I.
Before reading the SAI, you should
consult the Glossary below, which defines certain of the terms used in the SAI:
Glossary
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
ADR
|
American Depositary Receipt
|
ADS
|
American Depositary Share
|
ASTIS
|
AST Investment Services, Inc.
|
Board
|
Trust’s Board of Directors or Trustees
|
Board Member
|
A trustee or director of the Trust’s Board
|
CFTC
|
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
|
Code
|
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
|
EDR
|
European Depositary Receipt
|
ETF
|
Exchange-Traded Fund
|
Fannie Mae
|
Federal National Mortgage Association
|
Fitch
|
Fitch, Inc.
|
Freddie Mac
|
The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
|
Global Depositary Receipt
|
GDR
|
Ginnie Mae
|
Government National Mortgage Association
|
IPO
|
Initial Public Offering
|
IRS
|
Internal Revenue Service
|
1933 Act
|
Securities Act of 1933, as amended
|
1934 Act
|
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
|
1940 Act
|
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
|
LIBOR
|
London Interbank Offered Rate
|
Moody’s
|
Moody’s Investor Services, Inc.
|
NASDAQ
|
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System
|
NAV
|
Net Asset Value
|
NYSE
|
New York Stock Exchange
|
OTC
|
Over the Counter
|
PI
|
Prudential Investments LLC
|
PMFS
|
Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC
|
REIT
|
Real Estate Investment Trust
|
RIC
|
Regulated Investment Company, as the term is used in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
|
S&P
|
Standard & Poor’s Corporation
|
SEC
|
US Securities & Exchange Commission
|
World Bank
|
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
|
Trust PORTFOLIOS, INVESTMENT
POLICIES & STRATEGIES
The Trust is an open-end management
investment company (commonly known as a mutual fund) that is intended to provide a range of investment alternatives through its separate portfolios, each of which is, for investment purposes, in effect a separate
fund. The Portfolios offered by the Trust which are discussed in this SAI are set forth below:
■
|
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
|
■
|
AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio
|
■
|
AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
|
■
|
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
|
■
|
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
|
■
|
AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio
|
■
|
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
|
■
|
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
|
■
|
AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
|
■
|
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio
|
The Trust offers one class of
shares in each Portfolio. Shares of each Portfolio are sold only to separate accounts of Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Life Insurance Company,
Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Pramerica of Bermuda Life Assurance Company, Ltd. (collectively, Prudential), Kemper Investors Life Insurance Company,
Allstate Life Insurance Company and Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York as investment options under variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts (the Contracts) (A separate account keeps the assets
supporting certain insurance contracts separate from the general assets and liabilities of the insurance company).
Not every Portfolio is available
under each Contract. The prospectus for each Contract lists the Portfolios currently available under that particular Contract.
In order to sell shares to both
Prudential and non-Prudential insurance companies, the Trust has obtained an exemptive order (the Order) from the SEC. The Trust and its Portfolios are managed in compliance with the terms and conditions of that
Order.
Prudential Investments LLC (PI or
the Manager), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. (Prudential Financial), serves as overall investment manager of each Portfolio. Each of the Portfolios has a different investment objective. For
this reason, each Portfolio will have different investment results and be subject to different financial and market risks. As discussed in the Prospectus, a Portfolio may invest in money market instruments and
comparable securities as part of assuming a temporary defensive position. The investment objectives of the Portfolios are discussed in the Prospectus.
FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT
RESTRICTIONS
Set forth below are certain
investment restrictions applicable to the Portfolios. Fundamental restrictions may not be changed without a majority vote of shareholders as required by the 1940 Act. Non-fundamental restrictions may be changed by the
Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.
FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT
RESTRICTIONS:
Under their fundamental investment
restrictions, each of the Portfolios will not:
■
|
Issue senior securities or borrow money or pledge its assets, except as permitted by the 1940 Act and rules thereunder, exemptive order, US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) release, no-action letter or
similar relief or interpretations. 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, clearing listed options in a margin account, and transactions similar to any of the foregoing and
collateral arrangements with respect thereto, and obligations of either Portfolio to Trustees pursuant to any deferred compensation arrangements are not deemed to be a pledge of assets or the issuance of a senior
security.
|
■
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Underwrite securities issued by other persons, except to the extent that a Portfolio may be deemed to be an underwriter (within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933) in connection with the purchase and sale of
portfolio securities.
|
■
|
Purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of the ownership of securities or other instruments; provided that this restriction shall not prohibit either Portfolio from investing in securities or other
instruments backed by real estate or in securities of companies engaged in the real estate business.
|
■
|
Purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of the ownership of securities or instruments, except for the AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio; provided that this restriction shall not
prohibit either Portfolio from (i) engaging in permissible options and futures transactions and forward foreign currency contracts in accordance with its investment policies, or (ii) investing in securities
of any kind.
|
■
|
Make loans, except that each Portfolio may (i) lend portfolio securities in accordance with its investment policies in amounts up to 331/3 % of its total assets taken at market value, (ii) purchase
money market securities and enter into repurchase agreements, (iii) acquire publicly distributed or privately placed debt securities, and (iv) make loans of money to other investment companies to the extent
permitted by the 1940 Act or any exemption there from that may be granted by the SEC or any SEC releases, no-action letters or similar relief or interpretive guidance.
|
■
|
Purchase any security if, as a result, more than 25% of the value of a Portfolio’s assets would be invested in the securities of issuers having their principal business activities in the same industry;
provided that this restriction does not apply to investments in obligations issued or guaranteed by the US Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities or to municipal securities (or repurchase agreements
with respect thereto). For purposes of this limitation, investments in other investment companies shall not be considered an investment in any particular industry.
|
■
|
Other than the AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio, the AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio and the AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio, which are each non-diversified portfolios,
each Portfolio with respect to 75% of the value of its total assets, purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the US Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities)
if, as a result, (i) more than 5% of the value of a Portfolio’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or (ii) more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such
issuer would be held by that Portfolio.
|
If a restriction on a
Portfolio’s investments is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a subsequent change in the percentage of the Portfolio’s assets invested in certain securities or other instruments, or change in
average duration of its investment portfolio, resulting from changes in the value of its total assets, will not be considered a violation of the restriction; provided, however, that the asset coverage requirement
applicable to borrowings shall be maintained in the manner contemplated by applicable law.
With respect to investment
restriction (5), the restriction on making loans is not considered to limit a Portfolio’s investments in loan participations and assignments.
With respect to investment
restriction (6), a Portfolio will not consider a bank-issued guaranty or financial guaranty insurance as a separate security for purposes of determining the percentage of the Portfolio’s assets invested in the
securities of issuers in a particular industry.
With respect to investment
restrictions (1) and (5), a Portfolio will not borrow or lend to any other fund unless it applies for and receives an exemptive order from the SEC, if so required, or the SEC issues rules permitting such
transactions.
INFORMATION ABOUT TRUSTEES AND
OFFICERS
Information about the Trustees and
the Officers of the Trust is set forth below. Trustees who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.”
Trustees who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Trust are referred to as “Interested Trustees.” The Trustees are responsible for the overall supervision of the operations of the Trust
and perform the various duties imposed on the trustees of investment companies by the 1940 Act.
Independent Trustees
(1)
|
|
|
Name, Address, Age
No. of Portfolios Overseen
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
|
Other Directorships Held
|
Susan Davenport Austin (47)
No. of Portfolios Overseen: 111
|
Senior Managing Director of Brock Capital (Since 2014); Vice Chairman (Since 2013),
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (2007-2012) and Vice President of Strategic Planning and Treasurer (2002-2007) of Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation; Formerly President of Sheridan Gospel Network
(2004-2014); formerly Vice President, Goldman, Sachs & Co. (2000-2001); formerly Associate Director, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. (1997-2000); formerly Vice President, Salomon Brothers Inc. (1993-1997); President
of the Board, The MacDowell Colony (Since 2010); Presiding Director (Since 2014) and Chairman (2011-2014) of the Board of Directors, Broadcast Music, Inc.; Member of the Board of Directors, Hubbard Radio, LLC (Since
2011); President, Candide Business Advisors, Inc. (Since 2011); formerly Member of the Board of Directors, National Association of Broadcasters (2004-2010).
|
Director of NextEra Energy, LP (NYSE: NEP) (February 2015-Present).
|
Sherry S. Barrat (65)
No. of Portfolios Overseen: 111
|
Formerly, Vice Chairman of Northern Trust Corporation (financial services and banking
institution) (2011–June 2012); formerly President, Personal Financial Services, Northern Trust Corporation (2006-2010); formerly Chairman & CEO, Western US Region, Northern Trust Corporation (1999-2005);
formerly President & CEO, Palm Beach/Martin County Region, Northern Trust.
|
Director of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) (1998-Present); Director of Arthur J. Gallagher & Company
(Since July 2013).
|
Independent Trustees
(1)
|
|
|
Name, Address, Age
No. of Portfolios Overseen
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
|
Other Directorships Held
|
Jessica M. Bibliowicz (55)
No. of Portfolios Overseen: 111
|
Senior Adviser (Since 2013) of Bridge Growth Partners (private equity firm); formerly
Chief Executive Officer (1999-2013) of National Financial Partners (independent distributor of financial services products).
|
Director (since 2013) of Realogy Holdings Corp.(residential real estate services); the Asia-Pacific Fund,
Inc. (since 2006); Sotheby’s (since 2014) (auction house and art-related finance).
|
Kay Ryan Booth (64)
No. of Portfolios Overseen: 111
|
Partner, Trinity Private Equity Group (Since September 2014); formerly, Managing Director
of Cappello Waterfield & Co. LLC (2011-2014); formerly Vice Chair, Global Research, J.P. Morgan (financial services and investment banking institution) (June 2008 – January 2009); formerly Global Director of
Equity Research, Bear Stearns & Co., Inc. (financial services and investment banking institution) (1995-2008); formerly Associate Director of Equity Research, Bear Stearns & Co., Inc. (1987-1995).
|
None.
|
Delayne Dedrick Gold (76)
No. of Portfolios Overseen: 111
|
Marketing Consultant (1982-present); formerly Senior Vice President and Member of the
Board of Directors, Prudential Bache Securities, Inc.
|
None.
|
Robert F. Gunia (68)
No. of Portfolios Overseen: 111
|
Independent Consultant (Since October 2009); formerly Chief Administrative Officer
(September 1999-September 2009) and Executive Vice President (December 1996-September 2009) of Prudential Investments LLC; formerly Executive Vice President (March 1999-September 2009) and Treasurer (May
2000-September 2009) of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC; formerly President (April 1999-December 2008) and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (December 2008-December 2009) of Prudential
Investment Management Services LLC; formerly Chief Administrative Officer, Executive Vice President and Director (May 2003-September 2009) of AST Investment Services, Inc.
|
Director (Since May 1989) of The Asia Pacific Fund, Inc.
|
W. Scott McDonald, Jr., Ph.D. (78)
No. of Portfolios Overseen: 111
|
Formerly Management Consultant (1997-2004) and of Counsel (2004-2005) at Kaludis
Consulting Group, Inc. (company serving higher education); formerly principal (1995-1997), Scott McDonald Associates; Chief Operating Officer (1991-1995), Fairleigh Dickinson University; Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer (1975-1991), Drew University; interim President (1988-1990), Drew University; formerly Director of School, College and University Underwriters Ltd.
|
None.
|
Thomas T. Mooney (73)
No. of Portfolios Overseen: 111
|
Formerly Chief Executive Officer, Excell Partners, Inc. (2005-2007);founding partner of
High Technology of Rochester and the Lennox Technology Center; formerly President of the Greater Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce (1976-2004); formerly Rochester City Manager (1973); formerly Deputy Monroe County
Executive (1974-1976).
|
None.
|
Thomas M. O'Brien (64)
No. of Portfolios Overseen: 111
|
Director, President and CEO Sun Bancorp, Inc. N.A. (NASDAQ: SNBC) and Sun National Bank
(Since July 2014); formerly Consultant, Valley National Bancorp, Inc. and Valley National Bank (January 2012-June 2012); formerly President and COO (November 2006-December 2011) and CEO (April 2007-December 2011) of
State Bancorp, Inc. and State Bank; formerly Vice Chairman (January 1997-April 2000) of North Fork Bank; formerly President and Chief Executive Officer (December 1984-December 1996) of North Side Savings Bank;
formerly President and Chief Executive Officer (May 2000-June 2006) Atlantic Bank of New York.
|
Formerly Director, BankUnited, Inc. and BankUnited N.A. (NYSE: BKU) (May 2012-April 2014); formerly
Director (April 2008-January 2012) of Federal Home Loan Bank of New York; formerly Director (December 1996-May 2000) of North Fork Bancorporation, Inc.; formerly Director (May 2000-April 2006) of Atlantic Bank of New
York; Director (November 2006 – January 2012) of State Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: STBC) and State Bank of Long Island.
|
Interested Trustee
(1)
|
|
|
Timothy S. Cronin (49)
Number of Portfolios Overseen: 111
|
President of Prudential Annuities (Since June 2015); Chief Investment Officer and
Strategist of Prudential Annuities (Since January 2004); Director of Investment & Research Strategy (Since February 1998); President of AST Investment Services, Inc. (Since June 2005).
|
None.
|
(1)
The year that each Trustee joined the Board is as follows: Susan Davenport Austin, 2011; Sherry S. Barrat, 2013; Jessica Bibliowicz, 2014, Kay Ryan Booth, 2013; Timothy S.
Cronin, 2009; Delayne Dedrick Gold, 2003; Robert F. Gunia, 2003; W. Scott McDonald, Jr., 2003; Thomas T. Mooney, 2003; Thomas M. O'Brien, 1992.
Trust Officers
(a)(1)
|
|
Name, Address and Age
Position with the Trust
|
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years
|
Bradley C. Tobin (40)
Vice President
|
Vice President of Prudential Annuities (since March 2012), Vice President of AST Investment Services, Inc.
(since April 2011).
|
Raymond A. O’Hara (59)
Chief Legal Officer
|
Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since July 2010) of Prudential Insurance Company of America
(Prudential); Vice President (March 2011-Present) of Pruco Life Insurance Company and Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey; Vice President and Corporate Counsel (March 2011-Present) of Prudential Annuities Life
Assurance Corporation; Chief Legal Officer of Prudential Investments LLC (since June 2012); Chief Legal Officer of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since June 2012) and Corporate Counsel of AST Investment
Services, Inc. (since June 2012); formerly Assistant Vice President and Corporate Counsel (September 2008-July 2010) of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.; formerly Associate (September 1980-December 1987)
and Partner (January 1988–August 2008) of Blazzard & Hasenauer, P.C. (formerly, Blazzard, Grodd & Hasenauer, P.C.).
|
Deborah A. Docs (57)
Secretary
|
Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since January 2001) of Prudential; Vice President (since December
1996) and Assistant Secretary (since March 1999) of Prudential Investments LLC; formerly Vice President and Assistant Secretary (May 2003-June 2005) of AST Investment Services, Inc.
|
Jonathan D. Shain (56)
Assistant Secretary
|
Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since August 1998) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant
Secretary (since May 2001) of Prudential Investments LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since February 2001) of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC; formerly Vice President and Assistant Secretary (May
2003-June 2005) of AST Investment Services, Inc.
|
Claudia DiGiacomo (40)
Assistant Secretary
|
Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since January 2005) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant
Secretary of Prudential Investments LLC (since December 2005); Associate at Sidley Austin Brown Wood LLP (1999-2004).
|
Andrew R. French (52)
Assistant Secretary
|
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 Prudential Investments LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of Prudential Mutual Fund
Services LLC.
|
Amanda S. Ryan (36)
Assistant Secretary
|
Director and Corporate Counsel (since March 2012) of Prudential; Director and Assistant Secretary (since
June 2012) of Prudential Investments LLC; Associate at Ropes & Gray (2008-2012).
|
Kathleen DeNicholas (40)
Assistant Secretary
|
Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since May 2013) of Prudential; Managing Counsel at The Bank of New
York Mellon Corporation (2011-2013); formerly Senior Counsel (2007-2011) and Assistant General Counsel (2001-2007) of The Dreyfus Corporation; Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of MBSC Securities Corporation
(2011-2013); Vice President and Assistant Secretary of The Dreyfus Family of Funds (2010-2012).
|
Chad A. Earnst (39)
Chief Compliance Officer
|
Chief Compliance Officer (September 2014-Present) of Prudential Investments LLC; Chief Compliance Officer
(September 2014-Present) of the Prudential Investments Funds, Target Funds, Advanced Series Trust, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential's Gibraltar Fund, Inc., Prudential Global Short Duration High Yield Income
Fund, Inc., Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc. and Prudential Jennison MLP Income Fund, Inc.; formerly Assistant Director (March 2010-August 2014) of the Asset Management Unit, Division of Enforcement, US
Securities & Exchange Commission; Assistant Regional Director (January 2010-August 2014), Branch Chief (June 2006–December 2009) and Senior Counsel (April 2003-May 2006) of the Miami Regional Office,
Division of Enforcement, US Securities & Exchange Commission.
|
Theresa C. Thompson (52)
Deputy Chief Compliance Officer
|
Vice President, Compliance, Prudential Investments LLC (since April 2004); and Director, Compliance,
Prudential Investments LLC (2001-2004).
|
Richard W. Kinville (46)
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer
|
Vice President, Corporate Compliance, Anti-Money Laundering Unit (since January 2005) of Prudential;
committee member of the American Council of Life Insurers Anti-Money Laundering and Critical Infrastructure Committee (since January 2007); formerly Investigator and Supervisor in the Special Investigations Unit for
the New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance Company (August 1994-January 1999); Investigator in AXA Financial's Internal Audit Department and Manager in AXA's Anti-Money Laundering Office (January 1999-January 2005);
first chair of the American Council of Life Insurers Anti-Money Laundering and Critical Infrastructure Committee (June 2007-December 2009 ).
|
M. Sadiq Peshimam (50)
Treasurer and Principal Financial
and Accounting Officer
|
Vice President (since 2005) of Prudential Investments LLC; formerly Assistant Treasurer of funds in the
Prudential Mutual Fund Complex (2006-2014).
|
Peter Parrella (56)
Assistant Treasurer
|
Vice President (since 2007) and Director (2004-2007) within Prudential Mutual Fund Administration; formerly
Tax Manager at SSB Citi Fund Management LLC (1997-2004).
|
Lana Lomuti (47)
Assistant Treasurer
|
Vice President (since 2007) and Director (2005-2007), within Prudential Mutual Fund Administration;
formerly Assistant Treasurer (December 2007-February 2014) of The Greater China Fund, Inc.
|
Linda McMullin (53)
Assistant Treasurer
|
Vice President (since 2011) and Director (2008-2011) within Prudential Mutual Fund Administration.
|
Alan Fu (58)
Assistant Treasurer
|
Vice President and Corporate Counsel - Tax, Prudential Financial, Inc. (since October 2003).
|
(a)
Excludes Mr. Cronin, an interested Trustee who also serves as President.
(1)
The year in which each individual became an Officer is as follows: Robert F. O’Donnell, 2012; Bradley C. Tobin, 2014; Raymond A. O’Hara, 2012; Deborah A. Docs, 2005;
Jonathan D. Shain, 2005; Claudia DiGiacomo, 2005; Andrew R. French, 2006; Amanda S. Ryan, 2012; Kathleen DeNicholas, 2013; Chad A. Earnst, 2014; Theresa C. Thompson, 2008; Peter Parrella, 2007; M. Sadiq Peshimam, 2006;
Lana Lomuti, 2014; Linda McMullin, 2014; Alan Fu, 2006; Richard W. Kinville, 2011.
Explanatory Notes to Tables:
Trustees are deemed to be
“Interested”, as defined in the 1940 Act, by reason of their affiliation with PI and/or an affiliate of PI. Timothy S. Cronin is an Interested Trustee because he is employed by an affiliate of the
Manager.
Unless otherwise noted, the address of all
Trustees and Officers is c/o Prudential Investments LLC, Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102.
There is no set term of office for Trustees
or Officers. The Independent Trustees have adopted a retirement policy, which calls for the retirement of Trustees on December 31 of the year in which they reach the age of 78, provided that the Board may extend the
retirement age on a year-by-year basis for a Trustee.
“Other Directorships Held”
includes only directorships of companies required to register or file reports with the SEC under the 1934 Act (that is, “public companies”) or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.
“No. of Portfolios Overseen”
includes all investment companies managed by PI and/or ASTIS that are overseen by the Trustee. The investment companies for which PI and/or ASTIS serves as Manager include The Prudential Variable Contract Accounts,
The Prudential Series Fund, Advanced Series Trust, Prudential's Gibraltar Fund, Inc., the Prudential Investments Funds, the Target Funds, the Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc. and Prudential Global Short
Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.
COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEES AND
OFFICERS.
Pursuant to a Management Agreement with the Trust, the Investment Manager pays all compensation of Trustees, officers and employees of the Trust, other than the fees and expenses of
Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the Investment Manager or any subadviser. The Trust pays each of its Independent Trustees annual compensation in addition to certain out-of-pocket expenses. Trustees who
serve on Board Committees may receive additional compensation.
Independent Trustees may defer
receipt of their fees pursuant to a deferred fee agreement with the Trust. Under the terms of the agreement, the Trust accrues deferred Trustees' fees daily which, in turn, accrue interest at a rate equivalent to the
prevailing rate to 90-day US Treasury Bills at the beginning of each calendar quarter or, at the daily rate of return of one or more funds managed by PI chosen by the Trustee. Payment of the interest so accrued is
also deferred and becomes payable at the option of the Trustee. The Trust's obligation to make payments of deferred Trustees' fees, together with interest thereon, is a general obligation of the Trust. The Trust does
not have a retirement or pension plan for its Trustees.
The following table sets forth the
aggregate compensation paid by the Trust for the Trusts most recently completed fiscal year to the Independent Trustees for service on the Trust's Board, and the Board of any other investment company in the Fund
Complex for the most recently completed calendar year. Trustees and officers who are “interested persons” of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) do not receive compensation from the Fund Complex.
Name
|
Aggregate Fiscal Year
Compensation from Trust
(1)
|
Pension or Retirement Benefits
Accrued as Part of Trust
Expenses
|
Estimated Annual Benefits Upon
Retirement
|
Total Compensation from Trust
and Fund Complex for Most
Recent Calendar Year
|
Susan Davenport Austin
|
$258,700
|
None
|
None
|
$305,000 (3/111)*
|
Sherry S. Barrat
|
$241,340
|
None
|
None
|
$285,000 (3/111)*
|
Jessica M. Bibliowicz
†
|
$75,084
|
None
|
None
|
$75,084 (1/92)*
|
Kay Ryan Booth
|
$241,340
|
None
|
None
|
$285,000 (3/111)*
|
Timothy S. Cronin
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Delayne Dedrick Gold
|
$284,710
|
None
|
None
|
$335,000 (3/111)*
|
Robert F. Gunia**
|
$258,700
|
None
|
None
|
$305,000 (3/111)*
|
W. Scott McDonald, Jr.**
|
$284,710
|
None
|
None
|
$335,000 (3/111)*
|
Thomas T. Mooney**
|
$323,860
|
None
|
None
|
$380,000 (3/111)*
|
Thomas M. O'Brien**
|
$290,783
|
None
|
None
|
$342,000 (3/111)*
|
† Ms. Bibliowicz
joined the Board in September 2014.
Explanatory Notes to Compensation Table
(1)
Compensation relates to portfolios that were in existence during 2014.
* Number of funds and portfolios
represents those in existence as of December 31, 2014 and excludes funds that have merged or liquidated during the year. Additionally the number of portfolios includes those which were approved as of December 31,
2014, but which may not have commenced operations as of December 31, 2014. No compensation is paid to Trustees with respect to portfolios that have not yet commenced operations.
** Under the Trust’s deferred fee
arrangement, certain Trustees have elected to defer all or part of their total compensation. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued during the calendar year ended December 31, 2014, including investment
results during the year on cumulative deferred fees, amounted to $2,339, $50,467, $123,779, and $136,294 for Messrs. Gunia, McDonald, Mooney, and O'Brien, respectively.
BOARD COMMITTEES.
The Board of Trustees (the Board) has established four standing committees in connection with governance of the Trust—Audit, Compliance, Governance, and Investment Review and Risk.
Information on the membership of each standing committee and its functions is set forth below.
Audit Committee.
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 Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, accounting policies and procedures, and other areas relating to the Trust'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 Trust. 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 Investment Manager and (2) any entity in a control relationship with the Investment Manager
that provides ongoing services to the Trust, provided that the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm relates directly to the operation and financial reporting of the Trust. 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 Audit Committee Charter is available at
www.prudential.com/variableinsuranceportfolios
. The number of Audit Committee meetings held during the Trust's most recently completed fiscal year is set forth in the table below.
The membership of the Audit
Committee is set forth below:
Thomas M. O’Brien (Chair)
Susan Davenport Austin
Delayne Dedrick Gold
Robert F. Gunia
Thomas T. Mooney (ex-officio)
Compliance Committee.
The Compliance Committee serves as a liaison between the Board and the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO). The Compliance Committee is responsible for considering, in
consultation with the Board's Chair and outside counsel, any material compliance matters that are identified and reported by the CCO to the Compliance Committee between Board meetings. The Compliance Committee is also
responsible for considering, when requested by the CCO, the CCO's recommendations regarding the materiality of compliance matters to be reported to the Board. The Compliance Committee reviews compliance matters that
it determines warrant review between Board meetings. Further, when the CCO wishes to engage an independent third party to perform compliance-related work at the Trust’s expense, the Compliance Committee will
evaluate with the CCO which third party to recommend to the Board as well as the appropriate scope of the work. The number of Compliance Committee meetings held during the Trust's most recently completed fiscal year
is set forth in the table below. The Compliance Committee Charter is available on the Trust's website at
www.prudential.com/variableinsuranceportfolios
.
The membership of the Compliance
Committee is set forth below:
Robert F. Gunia (Chair)
Thomas M. O’Brien
W. Scott McDonald, Jr.
Sherry S. Barrat
Thomas T. Mooney (ex-officio)
Governance Committee.
The Governance Committee of the Board is responsible for nominating Trustees and making recommendations to the Board concerning Board composition, committee structure and governance,
director compensation and expenses, director education, and governance practices. The Board has determined that each member of the Governance Committee is not an “interested person” as defined in the 1940
Act. The number of Governance Committee meetings held during the Trust's most recently completed fiscal year is set forth in the table below. The Governance Committee Charter is available on the Trust's website at
www.prudential.com/variableinsuranceportfolios
.
The membership of the Governance
Committee is set forth below:
Delayne Dedrick Gold (Chair)
W. Scott McDonald, Jr.
Susan Davenport Austin
Kay Ryan Booth
Thomas T. Mooney (ex-officio)
Investment Review and Risk Committee
(IRRC).
The IRRC consists of all members of the Board and is chaired by Mr. Mooney, the Chairman of the Board. The Board created the IRRC to help the Board in reviewing certain types of risk,
especially those risks related to portfolio investments, the subadvisers for the Portfolios and other related risks. The responsibilities of the IRRC include, but are not limited to: reviewing written materials and
reports pertaining to Portfolio performance, investments and risk from subadvisers, the
Strategic Investment Review Group (SIRG) of PI and
others; considering presentations from subadvisers, the Investment Manager, SIRG or other service providers on matters relating to Portfolio performance, investments and risk; and periodically reviewing
management’s evaluation of various types of risks to the Portfolios.
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AND
QUALIFICATIONS OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
The Board is responsible for oversight of the Trust. The Trust has engaged the Investment Manager to manage the Trust on a day-to-day basis. The Board oversees the Investment Manager and
certain other principal service providers in the operations of the Trust. The Board is currently composed of ten members, nine of whom are Independent Trustees. The Board meets in-person at regularly scheduled
meetings twelve times throughout the year. In addition, the Board Members may meet in-person or by telephone at special meetings. As described above, the Board has established four standing committees—Audit,
Compliance, Governance, and Investment Review and Risk—and may establish ad hoc committees or working groups from time to time, to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities. The Independent
Trustees have also engaged independent legal counsel to assist them in fulfilling their responsibilities.
The Board is chaired by an
Independent Trustee. As Chair, this Independent Trustee leads the Board in its activities. Also, the Chair acts as a member or an ex-officio member of each standing committee and any ad hoc committee of the Board of
Trustees. The Trustees 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 Trust, on the one hand, and
the Investment 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 Trustee's experience, qualifications, attributes or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees, each Trustee should serve as a Trustee. Among other attributes common to
all Trustees are their ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the various service providers to the Trust, and to exercise reasonable
business judgment in the performance of their duties as Trustees. In addition, the Board has taken into account the actual service and commitment of the Trustees during their tenure in concluding that each should
continue to serve. A Trustee's ability to perform his or her duties effectively may have been attained through a Trustee's educational background or professional training; business, consulting, public service or
academic positions; experience from service as a Trustee of the Trust, 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 Trustee that led the Board to conclude that he or she should serve as a Trustee.
Ms. Gold and Messrs. McDonald,
Mooney and O'Brien have each served for more than 10 years as a Trustee of mutual funds advised by the Investment Manager or its predecessors, including some or all of the following funds: Advanced Series Trust, The
Prudential Series Fund, Prudential's Gibraltar Fund, Inc, and/or other mutual funds advised by the Investment Manager or its predecessors. In addition, Mr. McDonald has more than 20 years of experience in senior
leadership positions at institutions of higher learning. Ms. Gold has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Mr. Mooney has more than 30 years of experience in senior leadership positions
with municipal organizations and other companies and has experience serving on the boards of other entities. Mr. O'Brien has more than 25 years of experience in senior leadership positions in the banking industry, and
has experience serving on the boards of other entities. Mr. Gunia has served for more than 10 years as a Board Member of mutual funds advised by the Investment Manager or its predecessors. In addition, Mr. Gunia
served in senior leadership positions for more than 28 years with the Investment Manager and its affiliates and predecessors. Ms. Austin currently serves as Vice Chairman of Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation and
President of the Sheridan Gospel Network. In addition to her experience in senior leadership positions with private companies, Ms. Austin has more than 10 years of experience in the investment banking industry. Ms.
Barrat has more than 20 years of experience in senior leadership positions in the financial services and banking industries. In addition, Ms. Barrat has over 10 years experience serving on boards of other public
companies and non-profit entities. Ms. Bibliowicz has more than 25 years of experience in senior leadership positions in the financial services and investment management industries. In addition, Ms. Bibliowicz
also has experience in serving on the boards of other public companies, investment companies, and non-profit organizations. Ms. Booth has more than 35 years of experience in senior leadership positions in the
investment management and investment banking industries. Ms. Booth is currently a Partner of Trinity Private Equity Group. In addition to her experience in senior leadership positions with private companies, Ms. Booth
has experience serving on the boards of other entities. Mr. Cronin, an Interested Trustee of the Trust and other funds advised by the Investment Manager since 2009, has served as a Vice President of the Trust
and other funds advised by the Investment Manager since 2009 and has held senior positions with Prudential Financial (and American Skandia, which was purchased by Prudential Financial) since 1998.
Specific details about each
Trustee's professional experience is set forth 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 Trust. 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
Investment Manager, sub-advisers, the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer, the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, counsel, and internal auditors of the Investment Manager or its affiliates, as
appropriate, regarding risks faced by the Trust and the risk management programs of the Investment Manager and certain service providers. The actual day-to-day risk management with respect to the Trust resides with
the Investment Manager and other service providers to the Trust. Although the risk management policies of the Investment 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 Trust 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 Trust or the Investment Manager, its affiliates or other service providers.
Selection of Trustee Nominees.
The Governance Committee is responsible for considering trustee nominees for Trustees at such times as it considers electing new members to the Board. The 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
Governance Committee has not established specific, minimum qualifications that it believes must be met by a nominee. In evaluating nominees, the 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 SEC rules. The 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 Governance Committee evaluates nominees for the Board based on whether the nominee is recommended by a
shareholder.
A shareholder who wishes to
recommend a director for nomination should submit his or her recommendation in writing to the Chair of the Board (Thomas T. Mooney) or the Chair of the Governance Committee (Delayne D. Gold), in either case in care of
the Trust, 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 Trust 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 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 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 Trust'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 Trust's outside legal counsel may cause a person to be deemed an “interested person.” Before
the 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 SEC 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.
Shareholder Communications with the
Board of Trustees.
Shareholders of the Trust can communicate directly with the Board of Trustees by writing to the Chair of the Board, c/o the Trust, 1 Corporate Drive, Shelton, CT 06484. Shareholders can
communicate directly with an individual Trustee by writing to that Trustee, c/o the Trust, 1 Corporate Drive, Shelton, CT 06484. Such communications to the Board or individual Trustees are not screened before being
delivered to the addressee.
Board Committee Meetings (for most recently completed fiscal year)
|
|
Audit Committee
|
Governance Committee
|
Compliance Committee
|
Investment Review and Risk Committee
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
6
|
Share Ownership.
Information relating to each Trustee's share ownership in the Trust, other funds that are overseen by the respective Trustee as well as any other funds that are managed by the Manager as
of the most recently completed calendar year is set forth in the chart below.
Name
|
Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Trust
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities Owned
by Trustee in All
Registered Investment
Companies in Fund Complex*
|
Trustee Share Ownership
|
|
|
Susan Davenport Austin
|
None
|
over $100,000
|
Sherry S. Barrat
|
None
|
over $100,000
|
Jessica M. Bibiliowicz
|
None
|
None
|
Kay Ryan Booth
|
None
|
over $100,000
|
Timothy S. Cronin
|
None
|
over $100,000
|
Delayne Dedrick Gold
|
None
|
over $100,000
|
Robert F. Gunia
|
None
|
over $100,000
|
W. Scott McDonald, Jr.
|
None
|
over $100,000
|
Thomas T. Mooney
|
None
|
over $100,000
|
Thomas M. O'Brien
|
None
|
over $100,000
|
* “Fund Complex”
includes Advanced Series Trust, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc., the Prudential Investments Funds, Target Funds, and any other funds that are managed by the Investment Manager.
Because the Portfolios of the Trust
serve as investment options under variable annuity and life insurance contracts, federal tax law prohibits the sale of Portfolio shares directly to individuals, including the Trustees. Individuals, including a
Trustee, may, however, have an interest in a Portfolio if he or she purchases a variable contract and selects the Portfolio as an investment option.
Other than as set forth in the
following paragraph, none of the Independent Trustees, or any member of his/her immediate family, owned beneficially or of record any securities in an investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Trust 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 a Portfolio as of the most recently
completed calendar year.
As of December 31, 2014, Ms.
Bibliowicz was the beneficial owner of stock issued by BlackRock, Inc. (BlackRock), Franklin Resources, Inc. (Franklin), JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JP Morgan) and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (T. Rowe Price) due to the
ownership of such stock by trusts of which Ms. Bibliowicz is the grantor and of which her sons are the beneficiaries (the Bibliowicz Trusts). BlackRock, Franklin, JP Morgan and T. Rowe Price each directly or
indirectly control, are controlled by, or are under common control with a subadviser to one or more Portfolios of the Trust. The Bibliowicz Trusts sold all shares of stock of the subadviser affiliates as of January
28-29, 2015. The proceeds from the sales are as follows: BlackRock ($62,054.82); Franklin ($133,322.40); JP Morgan ($79,746.20); and T. Rowe Price ($39,186). Due to the ownership of such stock by the Bibliowicz
Trusts, Ms. Bibliowicz was an “interested person” as defined by the 1940 Act of the following Portfolios of the Trust for the periods identified: AST Franklin Templeton Founding Funds Allocation Portfolio,
AST Franklin Templeton Founding Funds Plus Portfolio, AST Franklin Templeton K2 Global Absolute Return Portfolio and AST Templeton Global Bond Portfolio (September 17, 2014 through January 28, 2015); AST Academic
Strategies Asset Allocation Portfolio, AST High Yield Portfolio, AST J.P. Morgan Global Thematic Portfolio, AST J.P. Morgan International Equity Portfolio, AST J.P. Morgan Strategic Opportunities Portfolio, AST Small
Cap Value Portfolio, AST BlackRock Global Strategies Portfolio, AST BlackRock iShares ETF Portfolio and AST BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio (September 17, 2014 through January 29, 2015); and AST Advanced
Strategies Portfolio, AST T. Rowe Price Asset Allocation Portfolio, AST T. Rowe Price Diversified Real Growth Portfolio, AST T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio, AST T. Rowe Price Growth Opportunities Portfolio, AST
T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Growth Portfolio and AST T. Rowe Price Natural Resources Portfolio (October 30, 2014 through January 28, 2015).
MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY
ARRANGEMENTS
TRUST MANAGEMENT
. PI, Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey, serves as the investment manager of the Portfolios covered by this Statement of Additional Information.
As of December 31, 2014, PI served
as the investment manager to all of the Prudential US and offshore open-end investment companies, and as administrator to closed-end investment companies, with aggregate assets of approximately $251.6 billion. PI is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of PIFM HoldCo LLC, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Asset Management Holding Company, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial. PI has been in the business of
providing advisory services since 1996.
Services Provided by the Investment
Manager
. Pursuant to a Management Agreements with the Trust (the Management Agreement), the Investment Manager, subject to the supervision of the Trust's Board and in conformity with the stated
policies of the Portfolios, manages both the investment operations and composition of each Portfolio, including the purchase, retention, disposition and loan of securities and other assets. In connection therewith,
the Investment Manager is obligated to keep certain books and records of the Portfolios. The Investment Manager is authorized to enter into subadvisory agreements for investment advisory services in connection with
the management of the Portfolios. The Investment Manager continues to have responsibility for all investment advisory services performed pursuant to any such subadvisory agreements.
The Investment Manager is
specifically responsible for overseeing and managing the Portfolios and the subadvisers. In this capacity, the Investment Manager reviews the performance of the Portfolios and the subadvisers and makes recommendations
to the Board with respect to the retention of investment subadvisers, the renewal of contracts, and the reorganization and merger of Portfolios, and other legal and compliance matters. The Investment Manager utilizes
the Strategic Investments Research Group (SIRG), a unit of PI, to assist the Investment Manager in regularly evaluating and supervising the Portfolios and the subadvisers, including with respect to investment
performance. SIRG is a centralized research department of PI that is comprised of a group of highly experienced analysts. SIRG utilizes proprietary processes to analyze large quantities of industry data, both on a
qualitative and quantitative level, in order to effectively oversee the Portfolios and the subadvisers. The Investment Manager utilizes this data in directly overseeing the Portfolios and the subadvisers. SIRG
provides reports to the Board and presents to the Board at special and regularly scheduled Board meetings. The Investment Manager bears the cost of the oversight program maintained by SIRG.
In addition, the Investment Manager
generally provides all of the administrative functions necessary for the organization, operation and management of the Trust and its Portfolios. The Investment Manager administers the Trust's corporate affairs and, in
connection therewith, furnish the Trust with office facilities, together with those ordinary clerical and bookkeeping services which are not being furnished by, the Trust's custodian (the Custodian), and the Trust's
transfer agent. The Investment Manager is also responsible for the staffing and management of dedicated groups of legal, marketing, compliance and related personnel necessary for the operation of the Trust. The legal,
marketing, compliance and related personnel are also responsible for the management and oversight of the various service providers to the Trust, including, but not limited to, the custodian, transfer agent, and
accounting agent. The management services of the Investment Manager to the Trust are not exclusive under the terms of the Management Agreement and the Investment Manager is free to, and do, render management services
to others.
The primary administrative services
furnished by the Investment Manager is more specifically detailed below:
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furnishing of office facilities;
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paying salaries of all officers and other employees of the Investment Manager who are responsible for managing the Trust and the Portfolios;
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monitoring financial and shareholder accounting services provided by the Trust’s custodian and transfer agent;
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providing assistance to the service providers of the Trust and the Portfolios, including, but not limited to, the custodian, transfer agent, and accounting agent;
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monitoring, together with each subadviser, each Portfolio’s compliance with its investment policies, restrictions, and with federal and state laws and regulations, including federal and state securities laws,
the Internal Revenue Code and other relevant federal and state laws and regulations;
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preparing and filing all required federal, state and local tax returns for the Trust and the Portfolios;
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preparing and filing with the SEC on Form N-CSR the Trust’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, including supervising financial printers who provide related support services;
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preparing and filing with the SEC required quarterly reports of portfolio holdings on Form N-Q;
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preparing and filing the Trust’s registration statement with the SEC on Form N-1A, as well as preparing and filing with the SEC supplements and other documents, as applicable;
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preparing compliance, operations and other reports required to be received by the Trust’s Board and/or its committees in support of the Board’s oversight of the Trust; and
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organizing the regular and any special meetings of the Board of the Trust, including the preparing Board materials and agendas, preparing minutes, and related functions.
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Expenses Borne by the Investment
Manager.
In connection with its management of the corporate affairs of the Trust, the Investment Manager bear certain expenses, including, but not limited to:
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the salaries and expenses of all of their and the Trust's personnel except the fees and expenses of Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the Investment Manager or any subadviser;
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all expenses incurred by the Investment Manager or the Trust in connection with managing the ordinary course of a Trust's business, other than those assumed by the Trust as described below;
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the fees, costs and expenses payable to any investment subadvisers pursuant to Subadvisory Agreements between the Investment Manager and such investment subadvisers; and
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with respect to the compliance services provided by the Investment Manager, the cost of the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Trust’s Deputy Chief Compliance Officer, and all personnel who provide
compliance services for the Trust, and all of the other costs associated with the Trust’s compliance program, which includes the management and operation of the compliance program responsible for compliance
oversight of the Portfolios and the subadvisers.
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Expenses Borne by the Trust.
Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Trust is responsible for the payment of Trust expenses not paid by the Investment Manager, including:
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the fees and expenses incurred by the Trust in connection with the management of the investment and reinvestment of the Trust's assets payable to the Investment Manager;
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the fees and expenses of Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the Investment Manager or any subadviser;
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the fees and certain expenses of the custodian and transfer and dividend disbursing agent, including the cost of providing records to the Investment Manager in connection with their obligation of maintaining
required records of the Trust and of pricing the Trust's shares;
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the charges and expenses of the Trust's legal counsel and independent auditors;
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brokerage commissions and any issue or transfer taxes chargeable to the Trust in connection with its securities (and futures, if applicable) transactions;
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all taxes and corporate fees payable by the Trust to governmental agencies;
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the fees of any trade associations of which the Trust may be a member;
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the cost of share certificates representing and/or non-negotiable share deposit receipts evidencing shares of the Trust;
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the cost of fidelity, directors and officers and errors and omissions insurance;
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the fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registration of the Trust and of its shares with the SEC and paying notice filing fees under state securities laws, including the preparation and
printing of the Trust's registration statements and prospectuses for such purposes;
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allocable communications expenses with respect to investor services and all expenses of shareholders' and Trustees' meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing reports and notices to shareholders; and
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litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Trust's business and distribution and service (12b-1) fees.
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Terms of the Management
Agreement
. The Management Agreement provides that the Investment Manager will not be liable for any error of judgment by PI or for any loss suffered by the Trust 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 the Investment Manager or the Trust by the Board or vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Trust, (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 Investment Manager 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 a Portfolio.
Management fee waivers and subsidies will increase a Portfolio's total return. These voluntary waivers may be terminated at any time without notice.
The manager-of-managers structure
operates under exemptive orders issued by the SEC. The orders permit us to hire subadvisers or amend subadvisory agreements, without shareholder approval.
The most recent order imposes the
following conditions:
1. Before a Portfolio may rely on
the order requested in the application, the operation of the Portfolio in the manner described in the application, including the hiring of wholly-owned subadvisers, will be, or has been, approved by a majority of the
Portfolio’s outstanding voting securities as defined in the 1940 Act, which in the case of a master fund will include voting instructions provided by shareholders of the feeder funds investing in such master
fund or other voting arrangements that comply with section 12(d)(1)(E)(iii)(aa) of the 1940 Act (or, in the case of an insurance-related Portfolio, pursuant to the voting instructions provided by contract owners with
assets allocated to any registered separate account for which the Portfolio serves as a funding medium), or, in the case of a new Portfolio whose public shareholders purchase shares on the basis of a prospectus
containing the disclosure contemplated by condition 2 below, by the sole initial shareholder before offering the Portfolio’s shares to the public.
2. The prospectus for each
Portfolio, and in the case of a master fund relying on the requested relief, the prospectus for each feeder fund investing in such master fund, will disclose the existence, substance and effect of any order granted
pursuant to the application. Each Portfolio (and any such feeder fund) will hold itself out to the public as employing the Multi-Manager Structure described in the application. Each prospectus will prominently
disclose that the Investment Manager have the ultimate responsibility, subject to oversight by the Board, to oversee the subadvisers and recommend their hiring, termination, and replacement.
3. The Investment Manager will
provide general management services to a Portfolio, including overall supervisory responsibility for the general management and investment of the Portfolio’s assets. Subject to review and approval of the Board,
the Investment Manager will (a) set a Portfolio’s overall investment strategies, (b) evaluate, select, and recommend subadvisers to manage all or a portion of a Portfolio’s assets, and (c) implement
procedures reasonably designed to ensure that subadvisers comply with a Portfolio’s investment objective, policies and restrictions. Subject to review by the Board, the Investment Manager will (a) when
appropriate, allocate and reallocate a Portfolio’s assets among subadvisers; and (b) monitor and evaluate the performance of subadvisers.
4. A Portfolio will not make any
ineligible subadviser changes without the approval of the shareholders of the applicable Portfolio, which in the case of a master fund will include voting instructions provided by shareholders of the feeder fund
investing in such master fund or other voting arrangements that comply with section 12(d)(1)(E)(iii)(aa) of the 1940 Act.
5. A Portfolio will inform
shareholders, and if the Portfolio is a master fund, shareholders of any feeder funds, of the hiring of a new subadviser within 90 days after the hiring of the new subadviser pursuant to the Modified Notice and Access
Procedures.
6. At all times, at least a
majority of the Board will be Independent Trustees, and the selection and nomination of new or additional Independent Trustees will be placed within the discretion of the then-existing Independent Trustees.
7. Independent legal counsel, as
defined in rule 0-1(a)(6) under the 1940 Act, will be engaged to represent the Independent Trustees. The selection of such counsel will be within the discretion of the then-existing Independent Trustees.
8. The Investment Manager will
provide the Board, no less frequently than quarterly, with information about the profitability of the Investment Manager on a per Portfolio basis. The information will reflect the impact on profitability of the hiring
or termination of any subadviser during the applicable quarter.
9. Whenever a subadviser is hired
or terminated, the Investment Manager will provide the Board with information showing the expected impact on the profitability of the Investment Manager.
10. Whenever a subadviser change is
proposed for a Portfolio with an affiliated subadviser or a wholly-owned subadviser, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, will make a separate finding, reflected in the Board minutes, that such
change is in the best interests of the Portfolio and its shareholders, and if the Portfolio is a master fund, the best interests of any applicable feeder funds and their respective shareholders, and does not involve a
conflict of interest from which the Investment Manager or the affiliated subadviser or wholly-owned subadviser derives an inappropriate advantage.
11. No Board member or officer of a
Prudential investment company, a Portfolio, or a feeder fund that invests in a Portfolio that is a master fund, or director, manager or officer of the Investment Manager, will own directly or indirectly (other than
through a pooled investment vehicle that is not controlled by such person) any interest in a subadviser except for (a) ownership of interests in the Investment Manager or any entity, other than a wholly-owned
subadviser, that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Investment Manager, or (b) ownership of less than 1% of the outstanding securities of any class of equity or debt of any publicly traded
company that is either a subadviser or an entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, a subadviser.
12. Each Portfolio and any feeder
fund that invests in a Portfolio that is a master fund will disclose an aggregate fee disclosure in its registration statement.
13. In the event the SEC adopts a
rule under the 1940 Act providing substantially similar relief to that requested in the application, the requested order will expire on the effective date of that rule.
14. Any new Subadvisory Agreement
or any amendment to a Portfolio’s existing Investment Management Agreement or Subadvisory Agreement that directly or indirectly results in an increase in the aggregate advisory fee rate payable by the Portfolio
will be submitted to the Portfolio’s shareholders for approval.
The tables below set forth the
applicable contractual management fee rate for each Portfolio and the management fees paid by the Investment Manager for each Portfolio for the indicated fiscal years.
Management Fee Rates (effective July 13, 2015 and thereafter)
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Portfolio
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Contractual Fee Rate
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AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
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0.64% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.63% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.62% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.61% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.60% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.57% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.55% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
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AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio
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0.94% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.93% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.92% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.91% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.90% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.87% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.85% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
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AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
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0.74% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.73% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.72% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.71% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.70% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.67% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.65% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
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AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
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0.64% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.63% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.62% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.61% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.60% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.57% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.55% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
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AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
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0.89% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.88% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.87% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.86% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.85% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.82% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.80% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
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AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio
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0.15% of average daily net assets
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AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
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1.04% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
1.03% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
1.02% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
1.01% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
1.00% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.97% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.95% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
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AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
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1.04% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
1.03% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
1.02% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
1.01% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
1.00% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.97% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.95% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
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AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
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0.64% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.63% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.62% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.61% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.60% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.57% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.55% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
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Management Fee Rates (effective July 13, 2015 and thereafter)
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Portfolio
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Contractual Fee Rate
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AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio
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1.04% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
1.03% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
1.02% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
1.01% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
1.00% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.97% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.95% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
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FEE WAIVERS/SUBSIDIES.
PI may from time to time waive all or a portion of its management fee and/or subsidize all or a portion of the operating expenses of the Portfolios. Fee waivers and subsidies will increase
a Portfolio's return.
PI has agreed to waive a portion of
its management fee and/or limit total expenses (expressed as an annual percentage of average daily net assets) for certain Portfolios of the Fund, as set forth in the table below. The expense limitations may be
discontinued or otherwise modified at any time.
Fee Waivers & Expense Limitations
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Portfolio
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Fee Waiver and/or Expense Limitation
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AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio
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limit Portfolio expenses to 1.28%
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AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
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limit Portfolio expenses to 1.07%
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AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
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limit Portfolio expenses to 1.21%
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AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio
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limit Portfolio expenses to 1.47%
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AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
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limit Portfolio expenses to 1.42%
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AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
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limit Portfolio expenses to 1.42%
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AST Wellington Management Real Total Return
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limit Portfolio expenses to 1.42%
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AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio:
The Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses so that the investment management fee plus other expenses
(exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) for the Portfolio does not exceed 1.28% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio
through June 30, 2016. This expense limitation may not be terminated prior to June 30, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio:
The Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses so that the investment management fee plus other expenses
(exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) for the Portfolio does not exceed 1.07% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio
through July 13, 2016. This expense limitation may not be terminated prior to July 13, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio:
The Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses so that the investment management fee plus other expenses
(exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) for the Portfolio does not exceed 1.21% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio
through June 30, 2016. This expense limitation may not be terminated prior to June 30, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio:
The Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fees and/or reimburse certain expenses for the Portfolio so that the Portfolio’s investment
management fee plus other expenses (exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses) plus acquired fund
fees and expenses (excluding dividends on securities sold short and brokers fees and expenses on short sales) does not exceed 1.47% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets
through July 13, 2016. This expense limitation may not be terminated prior to July 13, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio:
The Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses so that the investment management fee plus other expenses
(exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) for the Portfolio does not exceed 1.42% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio
through July 13, 2016. This expense limitation may not be terminated prior to July 13, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio:
The Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses so that the investment management fee plus other expenses
(exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest, short sale interest and dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) for the Portfolio does not exceed 1.42% of the
average daily net assets of the Portfolio through June 30, 2016. This expense limitation may not be terminated prior to June 30, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return:
The Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses so that the investment management fee plus other expenses
(exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) for the Portfolio does not exceed 1.42% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio
through July 13, 2016. This expense limitation may not be terminated prior to July 13, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
Management Fees Paid by the Portfolios
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Portfolio
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2014
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2013
|
2012
|
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio
|
N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
|
N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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Management Fees Paid by the Portfolios
|
|
|
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Portfolio
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2014
|
2013
|
2012
|
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
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N/A
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N/A
|
N/A
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AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
|
N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio
|
N/A
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N/A
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N/A
|
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
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N/A
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N/A
|
N/A
|
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
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AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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SUBADVISERS.
The Manager has entered into subadvisory agreements with each of the subadvisers named in the table appearing below. The subadvisory agreements provide that the subadvisers will furnish
investment advisory services in connection with the management of each Portfolio. In connection therewith, each subadviser is obligated to keep certain books and records of the Trust. Under each subadvisory agreement,
each subadviser, subject to the supervision of the Manager, is responsible for managing the assets of a Portfolio in accordance with the Portfolio's investment objectives, investment program and policies. The
subadvisers determine what securities and other instruments are purchased and sold for each Portfolio and are responsible for obtaining and evaluating financial data relevant to the Portfolio. The Manager continues to
have responsibility for all investment advisory services pursuant to the Management Agreement and supervise the subadvisers' performance of such services.
Pursuant to each subadvisory
agreement, the Manager pays each subadviser a fee. The tables below set forth the current fee rates and fees paid by the Manager to each subadviser for the three most recent fiscal years. The fee rates represent the
fees as a percentage of average daily net assets.
As discussed in the Prospectus, the
Manager employs each subadviser under a “manager of managers” structure that allows the Manager to replace the subadvisers or amend a subadvisory agreement without seeking shareholder approval. The Manager
is authorized to select (with approval of the Board's independent trustees) one or more subadvisers to handle the actual day-to-day investment management of each Portfolio. The Manager monitors each subadviser's
performance through quantitative and qualitative analysis and periodically report to the Board as to whether each subadviser's agreement should be renewed, terminated or modified. It is possible that the Manager will
continue to be satisfied with the performance record of the existing subadvisers and not recommend any additional subadvisers. The Manager is also responsible for allocating assets among the subadvisers if a Portfolio
has more than one subadviser. In those circumstances, the allocation for each subadviser can range from 0% to 100% of the Portfolio's assets, and the Manager can change the allocations without Board or shareholder
approval. The Manager will review the allocations periodically and may adjust them without prior notice. The annual update to the Trust's prospectus will reflect these adjustments. Shareholders will be notified of any
new subadvisers or materially amended subadvisory agreements.
Portfolio Subadvisers and Fee Rates
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Portfolio
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Subadviser
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Fee Rate
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AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
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AllianceBernstein L.P. (AllianceBernstein)
|
0.20% of average daily net assets to $500 million; and
0.19% over $500 million of average daily net assets
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AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio
|
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia)
|
0.45% of average daily net assets to $500 million;
0.40% on next $500 million of average daily net assets;
0.375% on next $1 billion of average daily net assets;
0.35% on next $1 billion; and
0.30% over $3 billion of average daily net assets
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AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
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Dana Investment Advisors, Inc. (Dana);
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0.30% of average daily net assets to $40 million;
0.25% on the next $40 million of average daily net assets; and
0.20% over $80 million of average daily net assets
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Longfellow Investment Management Co. (Longfellow)
|
0.20% of average daily net assets to $100 million;
0.18% on the next $100 million of average daily net assets; and
0.16% over $200 million of average daily net assets
|
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
|
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (Goldman Sachs)
|
0.20% of average daily net assets
|
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
|
Ivy Investment Management Company (Ivy)
|
0.55% of average daily net assets to $500 million;
0.47% on the next $1 billion of average daily net assets; and
0.43% over $1.5 billion of average daily net assets
|
Portfolio Subadvisers and Fee Rates
|
|
|
Portfolio
|
Subadviser
|
Fee Rate
|
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
|
Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. (Morgan Stanley)
|
0.65% of average daily net assets to $50 million;
0.625% on next $150 million of average daily net assets;
0.56% on next $300 million of average daily net assets;
0.50% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; and
0.475% over $750 million of average daily net assets
|
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
|
Neuberger Berman Management LLC (Neuberger Berman)
|
0.70% of average daily net assets to $100 million; and
0.60% over $100 million of average daily net assets
|
AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
|
Wellington Management Company LLP (Wellington)
|
0.23% of average daily net assets
|
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio
|
Wellington Management Company LLP
|
0.65% of average daily net assets
|
Goldman Sachs:
Goldman Sachs has agreed to a voluntary subadvisory fee waiver arrangement that will apply across each of the portfolios or sleeves of portfolios subadvised by Goldman Sachs that are
managed by the Investment Manager. As described below, this voluntary group fee waiver will be applied to the effective subadvisory fees paid by the Investment Manager to Goldman Sachs, and will be based upon the
combined average daily net assets of all of the portfolios (or sleeves thereof) subadvised by Goldman Sachs that are managed by the Investment Manager.
—Combined assets up to $1 billion:
2.5% fee reduction
—Combined assets between $1 billion and $2.5 billion: 5.0% fee reduction
—Combined assets between $2.5 billion and $5.0 billion: 7.5% fee reduction
—Combined assets above $5.0 billion: 10.0% fee reduction
Subadvisory Fees Paid by PI
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio
|
Subadviser
|
2014
|
2013
|
2012
|
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
|
AllianceBernstein
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio
|
Columbia
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
|
Dana
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Longfellow
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
|
Goldman Sachs
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
|
Ivy
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
|
Morgan Stanley
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
|
Neuberger Berman
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
|
Wellington
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio
|
Wellington
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS: OTHER
ACCOUNTS
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
—
Other Accounts and Portfolio Ownership.
The following tables set forth information about each Portfolio and accounts other than the Portfolio for which each Portfolio's portfolio managers (the Portfolio Managers) are primarily
responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management as of the Trust's most recently completed fiscal year. The table shows, for each portfolio manager, the number of accounts managed and the 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 tables also set forth the dollar range of equity securities of each Portfolio of the Trust beneficially owned by the Portfolio Managers as of
the Trust's most recently completed fiscal year.
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Registered Investment
Companies*
|
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles*
|
Other Accounts*
|
Ownership of Fund
Securities
|
AllianceBernstein, LP
|
Scott DiMaggio, CFA
|
96/$16,756,000,000
|
78/$32,078,000,000
|
56/$29,775,000,000
|
None
|
|
Matthew Sheridan, CFA
|
96/$16,756,000,000
|
78/$32,078,000,000
|
56/$29,775,000,000
|
None
|
|
Douglas J. Peebles
|
76/$10,484,000,000
|
74/$7,250,000,000
|
94/$36,499,000,000
|
None
|
|
Paul DeNoon
|
28/$10,416,000,000
|
62/$33,653,000,000
|
14/$11,219,000,000
|
None
|
|
Michael L. Mon, CFA
|
32/$4,928,000,000
|
102/$8,910,000,000
|
20/$12,352,000,000
|
None
|
*Information is as of April
30, 2015.
AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Registered Investment
Companies*
|
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles*
|
Other Accounts*
|
Ownership of Fund
Securities
|
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
|
Jeffrey Knight, CFA
|
25/$69,280,000,000
|
1/$12,800,000
|
4/$1,790,000
|
None
|
|
Orhan Imer, Ph.D, CFA
|
14/$1,830,000,000
|
2/$16,330,000
|
9/$1,000,000
|
None
|
|
Toby Nangle
|
8/$7,010,000,000
|
4/$194,600,000
|
1/$302,300,000
|
None
|
|
Beth Vanney, CFA
|
8/$7,090,000,000
|
1/$12,800,000
|
4/$474,453,600
|
None
|
*Information is as of May
31, 2015.
AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Registered Investment
Companies*
|
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles*
|
Other Accounts*
|
Ownership of Fund
Securities
|
|
Brian Ahrens
|
10/$50,370,000
|
0/$0
|
0/$0
|
None
|
|
Andrei O. Marinich, CFA
|
10/$50,370,000
|
0/$0
|
0/$0
|
None
|
Dana Investment Advisors, Inc.
|
Duane R. Roberts, CFA
|
1/$105,017,187
|
0/$0
|
671/$2,818,386,881
|
None
|
|
Greg Dahlman, CFA
|
1/$105,017,187
|
0/$0
|
187/$505,672,942
|
None
|
|
David M. Stamm, CFA
|
1/$105,017,187
|
0/$0
|
178/$377,262,610
|
None
|
|
Michael Honkamp, CFA
|
0/$0
|
0/$0
|
74/$217,784,124
|
None
|
|
David Weinstein
|
0/$0
|
0/$0
|
0/$0
|
None
|
|
J. Joseph Veranth, CFA
|
1/$20,470,923
|
0/$0
|
0/$0
|
None
|
Longfellow Investment Management Co.
|
Barbara J. McKenna
|
3/$552,000,000
|
1/$173,000,000
|
64/$4,070,000,000
|
None
|
|
David C. Stuehr
|
3/$552,000,000
|
2/$501,000,000
|
35/$481,000,000
|
None
|
*Information is as of April
30, 2015.
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Registered Investment
Companies*
|
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles*
|
Other Accounts*
|
Ownership of Fund
Securities
|
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International
|
Iain Lindsay, PhD, CFA
|
63/$198,417,000,000
|
329/$165,246,000,000
28/$5,214,000,000
|
3,473/$309,755,000,000
61/$19,401,000,000
|
None
|
|
Hugh Briscoe
|
12/$4,937,000,000
|
63/$16,134,000
1/$211,000,000
|
399/$67,291,000
7/$3,755,000,000
|
None
|
*Information is as of March
31, 2015.
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Registered Investment
Companies*
|
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles*
|
Other Accounts*
|
Ownership of Fund
Securities
|
Ivy Investment Management Company
|
Michael Avery
|
16/$36,593,248,270
|
3/$216,566,748
|
1/$198,457,210
|
None
|
|
Chace Brundige, CFA
|
4/$33,038,321,029
|
3/$216,566,748
|
1/$198,457,210
|
None
|
|
Cynthia Prince-Fox
|
4/$33,038,321,029
|
3/$216,566,748
|
1/$198,457,210
|
None
|
*Information is as of March
31, 2015
AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Registered Investment
Companies*
|
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles*
|
Other Accounts*
|
Ownership of Fund
Securities
|
|
Brian Ahrens
|
10/$50,370,000
|
0/$0
|
0/$0
|
None
|
|
Andrei O. Marinich, CFA
|
10/$50,370,000
|
0/$0
|
0/$0
|
None
|
*Information is as of April
30, 2015.
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Registered Investment
Companies*
|
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles*
|
Other Accounts*
|
Ownership of Fund
Securities
|
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
|
Cyril Moullé-Berteaux
|
4/$1,209,780,765
|
3/$8,991,127,292
|
10/$5,470,938,612
3/$2,313,697,038
|
None
|
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Registered Investment
Companies*
|
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles*
|
Other Accounts*
|
Ownership of Fund
Securities
|
|
Mark Bavoso
|
4/$1,209,780,765
|
0/$0
|
9/$5,352,513,318
3/$2,313,697,038
|
None
|
|
Sergei Parmenov
|
3/$765,768,158
|
3/$8,991,127,292
|
9/$5,352,516,318
3/$2,313,697,038
|
None
|
*Information is as of April
30, 2015.
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Registered Investment
Companies*
|
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles*
|
Other Accounts*
|
Ownership of Fund
Securities
|
Neuberger Berman Management LLC
|
Charles Kantor
|
1/$3,405,000,000
|
2/$344,000,000
1/$46,000,000
|
1,505/$1,857,000,000
|
None
|
*Information is as of April
30, 2015.
AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Registered Investment
Companies*
|
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles*
|
Other Accounts*
|
Ownership of Fund
Securities
|
Wellington Management Company LLP
|
Mark Sullivan, CFA
|
6/$4, 986,354,852
1/$25,156,346
|
32/$14,401,264,713
6/$6,294,020,388
|
76/$30,358,995,770
9/$3,296,519,202
|
None
|
|
John Soukas
|
6/$4,986,351,691
1/$25,156,346
|
43/$15,299,729,509
13/$7,441,113,496
|
84/$30,773,174,105
15/$4,200,372,894
|
None
|
|
Edward Meyi
|
1/$19,375,132
|
9/$518,172,695
|
40/$3,260,755,306
4/$98,377,996
|
None
|
*Information is as of April
30, 2015.
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio
|
Subadviser
|
Portfolio Managers
|
Registered Investment
Companies*
|
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles*
|
Other Accounts*
|
Ownership of Fund
Securities
|
Wellington Management Company LLP
|
Rick A. Wurster
|
3/$285,492,094
|
11/$4,679,548,404
1/$270,299,488
|
11/$270,299,488
|
None
|
*Information is as of April
30, 2015.
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS:
COMPENSATION & CONFLICTS POLICIES
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 method(s) used by each subadviser 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 a Portfolio's investments and investments in other accounts.
AllianceBernstein L.P.
COMPENSATION.
AllianceBernstein’s compensation program for portfolio managers and analysts is designed to be competitive and effective in order to attract and retain the highest caliber employees.
Portfolio managers receive base compensation, incentive compensation and contributions to AllianceBernstein’s 401(k) plan. Part of the annual incentive compensation is normally paid in the form of a cash bonus
and part through an award under the firm’s Incentive Compensation Award Plan (ICAP). The ICAP awards vest over a four-year period. Deferred awards are in the form of the firm’s publicly traded equity
units, although award recipients have the ability to receive a portion of their awards in deferred cash.
Total compensation is determined by
quantitative and qualitative factors. Quantitative factors, which are weighted more heavily, are driven by investment performance to align compensation with client investment returns. Qualitative factors are driven by
portfolio managers’ contributions to the investment process and client success.
The quantitative component includes
measures of absolute, relative and risk-adjusted investment performance. Relative and risk-adjusted returns are determined based on the benchmark in the fund’s prospectus and versus peers over one-, three- and
five-year calendar periods— with more weight given to longer time periods. Peer groups are chosen by investment CIOs, who consult with the Product Management team to identify products most similar to our
investment style and most relevant within the asset class.
The qualitative component
incorporates the manager’s contribution to the overall investment process and our clients’ success. Among the important aspects are: thought leadership, collaboration with other investment professionals at
the firm, contributions to risk-adjusted returns in other portfolios, building a strong talent pool, mentoring newer investment professionals, and being a good corporate citizen.
Other factors can play a part in
determining portfolio managers’ total compensation (including base compensation). This may include complexity of investment strategies managed, volume of assets managed, level of experience and level of
officership within the firm. Assessments of investment professionals are formalized in a year-end review process that includes 360-degree feedback from other professionals from across the investment teams and firm.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
As an investment adviser and fiduciary, AllianceBernstein owes its clients and shareholders an undivided duty of loyalty. AllianceBernstein recognizes that conflicts of interest are
inherent in its business and accordingly has developed policies and procedures (including oversight monitoring) reasonably designed to detect, manage and mitigate the effects of actual or potential conflicts of
interest in the area of employee personal trading, managing multiple accounts for multiple clients, and allocating investment opportunities. Investment professionals, including portfolio managers and research
analysts, are subject to the above-mentioned policies and oversight monitoring to ensure that all clients are treated equitably. AllianceBernstein places the interests of its clients first and expects all of its
employees to meet their fiduciary duties.
Employee Personal Trading
AllianceBernstein has adopted a
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that is designed to detect and prevent conflicts of interest when investment professionals and other personnel of AllianceBernstein own, buy or sell securities which may be owned
by, or bought or sold for, clients. Personal securities transactions by an employee may raise a potential conflict of interest when an employee owns or trades in a security that is owned or considered for purchase or
sale by a client, or recommended for purchase or sale by an employee to a client. Subject to the reporting requirements and other limitations of its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, AllianceBernstein permits its
employees to engage in personal securities transactions, and also allows them to acquire investments in the AllianceBernstein Mutual Funds. AllianceBernstein’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics requires
disclosure of all personal accounts and maintenance of brokerage accounts with designated broker-dealers approved by AllianceBernstein. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics also requires preclearance of all
securities transactions and imposes a 60-day holding period for securities purchased by employees to discourage short-term trading.
Managing Multiple Accounts for
Multiple Clients
AllianceBernstein has compliance
policies and oversight monitoring in place to address conflicts of interest relating to the management of multiple accounts for multiple clients. Conflicts of interest may arise when an investment professional has
responsibilities for the investments of more than one account because the investment professional may be unable to devote equal time and attention to each account. The investment professional or investment
professional teams for each client may have responsibilities for managing all or a portion of the investments of multiple accounts with a common investment strategy, including other registered investment companies,
unregistered investment vehicles, such as hedge funds, pension plans, separate accounts, collective trusts and charitable foundations. Among other things, AllianceBernstein’s policies and procedures provide for
the prompt dissemination to investment professionals of initial or changed investment recommendations by analysts so that investment professionals are better able to develop investment strategies for all accounts they
manage. In addition, investment decisions by investment professionals are reviewed for the purpose of maintaining uniformity among similar accounts and ensuring that accounts are treated equitably. No investment
professional that manages client accounts carrying performance fees is compensated directly or specifically for the performance of those accounts. Investment professional compensation reflects a broad contribution in
multiple dimensions to long-term investment success for our clients and is not tied specifically to the performance of any particular client’s account, nor is it directly tied to the level or change in the level
of assets under management.
Allocating Investment
Opportunities
AllianceBernstein has policies and
procedures intended to address conflicts of interest relating to the allocation of investment opportunities. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that information relevant to investment decisions is
disseminated promptly within its portfolio management teams and investment opportunities are allocated equitably among different clients. The investment professionals at AllianceBernstein routinely are required to
select and allocate investment opportunities among accounts. Portfolio holdings, position sizes, and industry and sector exposures tend to be similar across similar accounts which minimizes the potential for conflicts
of interest relating to the allocation of investment opportunities. Nevertheless, investment opportunities may be allocated differently among accounts due to the particular characteristics of an account, such as size
of the account, cash position, tax status, risk tolerance and investment restrictions or for other reasons.
AllianceBernstein’s
procedures are also designed to address potential conflicts of interest that may arise when AllianceBernstein has a particular financial incentive, such as a performance-based management fee, relating to an account.
An investment professional may perceive that he or she has an incentive to devote more time to developing and analyzing investment strategies and opportunities or allocating securities preferentially to accounts for
which AllianceBernstein could share in investment gains.
To address these conflicts of
interest, AllianceBernstein’s policies and procedures require, among other things, the prompt dissemination to investment professionals of any initial or changed investment recommendations by analysts; the
aggregation of orders to facilitate best execution for all accounts; price averaging for all aggregated orders; objective allocation for limited investment opportunities (e.g., on a rotational basis) to ensure fair
and equitable allocation among accounts; and limitations on short sales of securities. These procedures also require documentation and review of justifications for any decisions to make investments only for select
accounts or in a manner disproportionate to the size of the account.
Columbia Management Investment
Advisers, LLC
COMPENSATION
. Direct compensation is typically comprised of a base salary, and an annual incentive award that is paid either in the form of a cash bonus if the size of the award is under a specified
threshold, or, if the size of the award is over a specified threshold, the award is paid in a combination of a cash bonus, an equity incentive award, and deferred compensation. Equity incentive awards are made in the
form of Ameriprise Financial restricted stock, or for more senior employees both Ameriprise Financial restricted stock and stock options. The investment return credited on deferred compensation is based on the
performance of specified Columbia Funds, in most cases including the mutual funds the portfolio manager manages.
Base salary is typically determined
based on market data relevant to the employee’s position, as well as other factors including internal equity. Base salaries are reviewed annually, and increases are typically given as promotional increases,
internal equity adjustments, or market adjustments.
Annual incentive awards are
variable and are based on (1) an evaluation of the employee’s investment performance and (2) the results of a peer and/or management review of the employee, which takes into account skills and attributes such as
team participation, investment process, communication, and professionalism. Scorecards are used to measure performance of Columbia Funds and other accounts managed by the employee versus benchmarks and peer groups.
Performance versus benchmark and peer group is generally weighted for the rolling one, three, and five year periods. One year performance is weighted 10%, three year performance is weighted 60%, and five year
performance is weighted 30%. Relative asset size is a key determinant for fund weighting on a scorecard. Typically, weighting would be proportional to actual assets. Consideration may also be given to performance in
managing client assets in sectors and industries assigned to the employee as part of his/her investment team responsibilities, where applicable. For leaders who also have group management responsibilities, another
factor in their evaluation is an assessment of the group’s overall investment performance.
Equity incentive awards are
designed to align participants’ interests with those of the shareholders of Ameriprise Financial. Equity incentive awards vest over multiple years, so they help retain employees.
Deferred compensation awards are
designed to align participants’ interests with the investors in the Columbia Funds and other accounts they manage. The value of the deferral account is based on the performance of Columbia Funds. Employees have
the option of selecting from various Columbia Funds for their deferral account, however portfolio managers must allocate a minimum of 25% of their incentive awarded through the deferral program to the Columbia Fund(s)
they manage. Deferrals vest over multiple years, so they help retain employees.
In addition to the annual incentive
award described above, top performing portfolio managers may also receive additional equity awards with extended vesting terms.
Exceptions to this general approach
to bonuses exist for certain teams and individuals.
Funding for the bonus pool is
determined by management and depends on, among other factors, the levels of compensation generally in the investment management industry taking into account investment performance (based on market compensation data)
and both Ameriprise Financial and Columbia Management profitability for the year, which is largely determined by assets under management.
For all employees the benefit
programs generally are the same, and are competitive within the Financial Services Industry. Employees participate in a wide variety of plans, including options in Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Care and Dependent
Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, Long Term Disability Insurance, 401(k), and a cash balance pension plan.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
. Like other investment professionals with multiple clients, a Fund’s portfolio manager(s) may face certain potential conflicts of interest in connection with managing both the Fund
and other accounts at the same time. CMIA and the Funds have adopted compliance policies and procedures that attempt to address certain of the potential conflicts that portfolio managers face in this regard. Certain
of these conflicts of interest are summarized below.
The management of accounts with
different advisory fee rates and/or fee structures, including accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (performance fee accounts), may raise potential conflicts of interest for a portfolio manager
by creating an incentive to favor higher fee accounts.
Potential conflicts of interest
also may arise when a portfolio manager has personal investments in other accounts that may create an incentive to favor those accounts. As a general matter and subject to CMIA’s Code of Ethics and certain
limited exceptions, CMIA’s investment professionals do not have the opportunity to invest in client accounts, other than the funds.
A portfolio manager who is
responsible for managing multiple funds and/or accounts may devote unequal time and attention to the management of those Funds and/or accounts. The effects of this potential conflict may be more pronounced where Funds
and/or accounts managed by a particular portfolio manager have different investment strategies.
A portfolio manager may be able to
select or influence the selection of the broker/dealers that are used to execute securities transactions for the Funds. A portfolio manager’s decision as to the selection of broker/dealers could produce
disproportionate costs and benefits among the Funds and the other accounts the portfolio manager manages.
A potential conflict of interest
may arise when a portfolio manager buys or sells the same securities for a Fund and other accounts. On occasions when a portfolio manager considers the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of a
Fund as well as other accounts, CMIA’s trading desk may, to the extent consistent with applicable laws and regulations, aggregate the securities to be sold or bought in order to obtain the best execution and
lower brokerage commissions, if any. Aggregation of trades may create the potential for unfairness to a Fund or another account if a portfolio manager favors one account over another in allocating the securities
bought or sold. In addition, although CMIA has entered into a personnel sharing arrangement with Threadneedle, CMIA and Threadneedle maintain separate trading operations for their clients. By maintaining separate
trading operations in this manner, the Funds may forego certain opportunities including the aggregation of trades across certain accounts managed by Threadneedle. This could result in the Funds competing in the market
with one or more accounts managed by Threadneedle for similar trades. In addition, it is possible that the separate trading desks of CMIA and Threadneedle may be on opposite sides of a trade execution for a Fund at
the same time.
“Cross trades,” in
which a portfolio manager sells a particular security held by a Fund to another account (potentially saving transaction costs for both accounts), could involve a potential conflict of interest if, for example, a
portfolio manager is permitted to sell a security from one account to another account at a higher price than an independent third party would pay. CMIA and the Funds have adopted compliance procedures that provide
that any transactions between a Fund and another account managed by CMIA are to be made at a current market price, consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
Another potential conflict of
interest may arise based on the different investment objectives and strategies of a Fund and other accounts managed by its portfolio manager(s). Depending on another account’s objectives and other factors, a
portfolio manager may give advice to and make decisions for a Fund that may differ from advice given, or the timing or nature of decisions made, with respect to another account. A portfolio manager’s investment
decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular account involved. Thus, a portfolio manager may buy or sell a particular security for certain accounts, and not for a Fund,
even though it could have been bought or sold for the Fund at the same time. A portfolio manager also may buy a particular security for one or more accounts when one or more other accounts are selling the security
(including short sales). There may be circumstances when a portfolio manager’s purchases or sales of portfolio securities for one or more accounts may have an adverse effect on other accounts, including the
Funds.
A Fund’s portfolio manager(s)
also may have other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the description above is not a complete description of every conflict that could exist in managing the Fund and other accounts. Many of the
potential conflicts of interest to which CMIA’s portfolio managers are subject are essentially the same or similar to the potential conflicts of interest related to CMIA activities of CMIA and its affiliates.
Dana Investment Advisors, Inc.
COMPENSATION.
Dana’s portfolio managers receive a very competitive base salary that is commensurate with prior industry experience and overall assigned responsibilities. In addition to base salary,
portfolio managers are also eligible to receive annual bonus compensation. While all bonus compensation is discretionary in nature, approximately 50% of a portfolio manager’s bonus
compensation is directly based upon investment
performance versus client benchmarks and client retention. The remaining 50% of a portfolio manager’s bonus compensation is based upon non-investment performance criteria such as firm profitability and an
individual’s overall contribution to the firm’s marketing, client service, and other strategic initiatives.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
Dana portfolio managers oversee the investments for multiple client accounts. In such cases, a potential conflict of interest may arise when allocating investment opportunities across these
accounts. Dana has therefore implemented pre-trade investment allocation procedures as well as post trade settlement procedures that are designed to help ensure that all clients are treated fairly over time. In
addition, because portfolio managers may buy and sell the same security for different client accounts at the same time, Dana has also implemented procedures designed to ensure that a client’s own individual
investment considerations determine when transactions are affected for their account. Finally, in order to help further identify and address other potential conflicts of interest, Dana has incorporated a conflicts of
interest checklist in the firm’s written Code of Ethics.
GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
(including Goldman Sachs Asset Management International)
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS'
COMPENSATION.
Compensation for GSAM portfolio managers is comprised of a base salary and discretionary variable compensation. The base salary is fixed from year to year. Year-end discretionary variable
compensation is primarily a function of each portfolio manager's individual performance and his or her contribution to overall team performance; the performance of GSAM and Goldman Sachs & Co. (Goldman Sachs); the
team's net revenues for the past year which in part is derived from advisory fees, and for certain accounts, performance-based fees; and anticipated compensation levels among competitor firms. Portfolio managers are
rewarded, in part, for their delivery of investment performance, measured on a pre-tax basis, which is reasonably expected to meet or exceed the expectations of clients and fund shareholders in terms of: excess return
over an applicable benchmark, peer group ranking, risk management and factors specific to certain funds such as yield or regional focus. Performance is judged over 1-, 3- and 5-year time horizons.
The discretionary variable
compensation for portfolio managers is also significantly influenced by: (1) effective participation in team research discussions and process; and (2) management of risk in alignment with the targeted risk parameter
and investment objective of the fund. Other factors may also be considered including: (1) general client/shareholder orientation and (2) teamwork and leadership. Portfolio managers may receive equity-based awards as
part of their discretionary variable compensation.
Other Compensation.
In addition to base salary and discretionary variable compensation, the Investment Adviser has a number of additional benefits in place including (1) a 401k program that enables employees to
direct a percentage of their pretax salary and bonus income into a tax-qualified retirement plan; and (2) investment opportunity programs in which certain professionals may participate subject to certain eligibility
requirements.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
The involvement of the GSAM, Goldman Sachs and their affiliates in the management of, or their interest in, other accounts and other activities of Goldman Sachs may present conflicts of
interest with respect to one or more funds for which GSAM is a sub-adviser or adviser or limit such funds’ investment activities. Goldman Sachs is a worldwide, full service investment banking, broker dealer,
asset management and financial services organization and a major participant in global financial markets that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes
corporations, financial institutions, governments and high-net-worth individuals. As such, it acts as an investor, investment banker, research provider, investment manager, financier, advisor, market maker, trader,
prime broker, lender, agent and principal. In those and other capacities, Goldman Sachs advises clients in all markets and transactions and purchases, sells, holds and recommends a broad array of investments,
including securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps, indices, baskets and other financial instruments and products for its own account or for the accounts of its customers and has
other direct and indirect interests in the global fixed income, currency, commodity, equity and other markets and the securities and issuers in which the certain funds directly and indirectly invest. Thus, it is
likely that such funds may have multiple business relationships with and will invest in, engage in transactions with, make voting decisions with respect to, or obtain services from entities for which Goldman Sachs
performs or seeks to perform investment banking or other services. GSAM acts as sub-adviser to certain of the funds. The fees earned by GSAM in this capacity are generally based on asset levels, the fees are not
directly contingent on Portfolio performance, and GSAM would still receive significant compensation from a Portfolio even if shareholders lose money. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in proprietary trading and
advise accounts and funds which have investment objectives similar to those of the funds and/or which engage in and compete for transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and instruments as the funds.
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates will not have any obligation to make available any information regarding their proprietary activities or strategies, or the activities or strategies used for other accounts managed by
them, for the benefit of the management of the Portfolios. The results of a Portfolio’s investment activities, therefore, may differ from those of Goldman Sachs, its affiliates, and other accounts managed by
Goldman Sachs and it is possible that a Portfolio could sustain losses during periods in which Goldman Sachs and its affiliates and other accounts achieve significant profits on their trading for proprietary or other
accounts. In addition, a Portfolio may enter into transactions in which Goldman Sachs or its other clients have an adverse interest. For example, a Portfolio may take a long position in a security at the same time
that Goldman Sachs or other accounts managed by the GSAM take a short position in the same security (or vice versa). These and other
transactions undertaken by Goldman Sachs, its
affiliates or Goldman Sachs advised clients may, individually or in the aggregate, adversely impact a Portfolio. Transactions by one or more Goldman Sachs advised clients or the GSAM may have the effect of diluting or
otherwise disadvantaging the values, prices or investment strategies of a Portfolio. A Portfolio’s activities may be limited because of regulatory restrictions applicable to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates,
and/or their internal policies designed to comply with such restrictions. As a global financial services firm, Goldman Sachs also provides a wide range of investment banking and financial services to issuers of
securities and investors in securities. Goldman Sachs, its affiliates and others associated with it may create markets or specialize in, have positions in and effect transactions in, securities of issuers held by a
Portfolio, and may also perform or seek to perform investment banking and financial services for those issuers. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates may have business relationships with and purchase or distribute or sell
services or products from or to, distributors, consultants and others who recommend a Portfolio or who engage in transactions with or for a Portfolio.
A Portfolio may make brokerage and
other payments to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates in connection with a Portfolio’s portfolio investment transactions, in accordance with applicable law.
Ivy Investment Management Company
COMPENSATION.
Ivy believes that integral to the retention of investment professionals are: a) a competitive base salary, that is commensurate with the individual’s level of experience and
responsibility. In its consideration of an employee’s base salary, Ivy reviews industry specific information regarding compensation in the investment management industry, this information includes data regarding
years of experience, asset style managed, etc. Executive management of Ivy is responsible for setting the base salary and for its on-going review; b) an attractive bonus structure linked to investment performance,
described below; c) eligibility for a stock incentive plan in shares of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. that rewards teamwork (awards of equity-based compensation typically vest over time, so as to create an
incentive to retain key talent). All portfolio managers are eligible for restricted stock awards. If company stock is awarded, it will vest over a period of four years, with the first vesting to take place two years
after the date of the award; and d) to the extent a portfolio manager also manages institutional separate accounts, a percentage of the revenues earned, on behalf of such accounts, by Ivy.
Portfolio managers can receive
significant annual performance-based bonuses. The better the pre-tax performance of the portfolio relative to an appropriate benchmark, the more bonus compensation the manager receives. The primary benchmark is the
portfolio manager’s percentile ranking against the performance of managers of the same investment style at other firms. Half of a portfolio manager’s bonus is based upon a three-year period, and half is
based upon a one-year period. For truly exceptional results, bonuses can be multiples of base salary. In cases where portfolio managers have more than one portfolio to manage, all the portfolios of similar investment
style are taken into account in determining bonuses. With limited exceptions, 30% of annual performance-based bonuses is deferred for a three-year period. During that time, the deferred portion of bonuses is deemed
invested in one or more mutual funds managed by Ivy (or its affiliate), with a minimum of 50% of the deferred bonus required to be deemed invested in a mutual fund managed by the portfolio manager. In addition to the
deferred portion of bonuses being deemed invested in mutual funds managed by Ivy (or its affiliate), Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.’s 401(k) plan offers mutual funds managed by Ivy (or its affiliate) as
investment options. No compensation payable to portfolio managers is based upon the amount of the mutual fund assets under management.
Portfolio managers are eligible for
the standard retirement benefits and health and welfare benefits available to all Ivy employees.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one fund or account, such as the
following:
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The management of multiple funds and/or other accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each fund and/or other account. Ivy seeks to manage such competing
interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having a portfolio manager focus on a particular investment discipline. Most other accounts managed by a portfolio manager are managed using the same
investment models that are used in connection with the management of the funds.
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The portfolio manager might execute transactions for another fund or account that may adversely impact the value of securities held by the Fund. Securities selected for funds or accounts other than the
Fund might outperform the securities selected for the Fund. Ivy seeks to manage this potential conflict by requiring all portfolio transactions to be allocated pursuant to Ivy’s Allocation Procedures.
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Ivy and the Funds have adopted
certain compliance procedures, including the Code of Ethics, which are designed to address certain types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which
a conflict arises.
Longfellow Investment Management Co.
LLC
COMPENSATION
. Longfellow’s professionals receive a base salary that considers their responsibilities and their experience. They also are awarded a significant annual bonus based upon their
specific contributions to the success and profitability of the firm. Longfellow is 100% owned by 5 employees. Owners receive a portion of the firm’s profits in addition to base salary and bonus.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
. Actual or potential conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has management responsibilities to more than one account. This would include devotion of unequal time and
attention to the management of the accounts and the inability to allocate limited investment opportunities across a broad array of accounts. Longfellow has adopted policies and procedures to address such
conflicts.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management,
Inc.
COMPENSATION.
Morgan Stanley’s compensation structure is based on a total reward system of base salary and Incentive Compensation which is paid partially as a cash bonus and partially as mandatory
deferred compensation. Deferred compensation may be granted as deferred cash under the Adviser’s Investment Management Alignment Plan (“IMAP”), as an equity-based award or it may be granted under
other plans as determined annually by Morgan Stanley’s Compensation, Management Development and Succession Committee subject to vesting and other conditions.
Base salary compensation.
Generally, portfolio managers receive base salary compensation based on the level of their position with the Adviser.
Incentive compensation.
In addition to base compensation, portfolio managers may receive discretionary year-end compensation.
Incentive compensation may
include:
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Cash Bonus.
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Deferred Compensation:
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A
mandatory program that defers a portion of incentive compensation into restricted stock units or other awards based on Morgan Stanley common stock or other plans that are subject to vesting and other conditions.
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IMAP is a mandatory program that defers a portion of incentive compensation and notionally invests it in designated funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates. The award is subject to vesting and
other conditions. Portfolio managers must notionally invest a minimum of 25% to a maximum of 100% of their IMAP deferral account into a combination of the designated funds they manage that are included in the IMAP
fund menu, which may or may not include one of the Portfolios.
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All deferred compensation awards
are subject to clawback provisions where awards can be cancelled, in whole or in part, if an employee takes any action, or omits to take any action which; causes a restatement of Morgan Stanley’s consolidated
financial results; constitutes a violation by the portfolio manager of Morgan Stanley’s Global Risk Management Principles, Policies and Standards; or constitutes violation of internal risk and control policies
involving a subsequent loss.
Several factors determine incentive
compensation, which can vary by portfolio management team and circumstances. These factors include:
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Revenues generated by the investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager.
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The pre-tax investment performance of the funds/accounts managed by the portfolio manager (which is measured against the applicable benchmark(s) over one, three and five year periods).
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Contribution to the business objectives of the Adviser.
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The dollar amount of assets managed by the portfolio manager.
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Market compensation survey research by independent third parties.
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Other qualitative factors, such as contributions to client objectives.
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Performance of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Investment Management, and the overall performance of the investment team(s) of which the portfolio manager is a member.
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CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
Because the portfolio managers may manage assets for other investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, and/or other accounts (including institutional clients, pension plans and
certain high net worth individuals), there may be an incentive to favor one client over another resulting in conflicts of interest. For instance, the Sub-Adviser may receive fees from certain accounts that are higher
than the fee it receives from the Fund, or it may receive a performance-based fee on certain accounts. In those instances, the portfolio managers may have an incentive to favor the higher and/or performance-based fee
accounts over the Fund. In addition, a conflict of interest could exist to the extent the Sub-Adviser has proprietary investments in certain accounts, where portfolio managers have personal investments in certain
accounts or when certain accounts are investment options in the Sub-Adviser’s employee benefits and/or deferred compensation plans. The portfolio manager may have an incentive to favor these accounts over
others. If the Sub-Adviser manages accounts that engage in short sales of securities of the type in which the Fund invests, the Sub-Adviser could be seen as harming the performance of the Fund for the benefit of the
accounts engaging in short sales if the short sales cause the market value of the securities to fall. The Sub-Adviser has adopted trade allocation and other policies and procedures that it believes are reasonably
designed to address these and other conflicts of interest.
Neuberger Berman Management LLC.
Neuberger Berman’s
compensation philosophy is one that focuses on rewarding performance and incentivizing their employees. Neuberger Berman is also focused on creating a compensation process that they believe is fair, transparent, and
competitive with the market.
Compensation for Portfolio Managers
consists of fixed and variable compensation but is more heavily weighted on the variable portion of total compensation and reflects individual performance, overall contribution to the team, collaboration with
colleagues across Neuberger Berman and, most importantly, overall investment performance. In particular, the bonus for a Portfolio Manager is determined by using a formula. In addition, the bonus may or may not
contain a discretionary component. If applicable, the discretionary component is determined on the basis of a variety of criteria including investment performance (including the pre-tax three-year track record in
order to emphasize long-term performance), utilization of central resources (including research, sales and operations/support), business building to further the longer term sustainable success of the investment team,
effective team/people management, and overall contribution to the success of Neuberger Berman. In addition, compensation of portfolio managers at other comparable firms is considered, with an eye toward remaining
competitive with the market.
Incentive Structure
As a firm, Neuberger Berman
believes that providing its employees with appropriate incentives, a positive work environment and an inclusive and collaborative culture is critical to its success in retaining employees.
The terms of its long-term
retention incentives are as follows:
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Employee-Owned Equity. An integral part of the management buyout of Neuberger Berman was the implementation of an equity ownership structure which embodies the importance of incentivizing and retaining key
investment professionals. Investment professionals have received a majority of the common equity owned by all employees, and the same proportion of the preferred interests owned by employees.
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Employee equity and preferred stock
will be subject to vesting (generally 25% vests each year at the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th anniversaries of the grant). In addition, currently certain employees may elect to have a portion of the compensation delivered in
the form of profits units, which are vested upon issuance. In implementing this program, Neuberger Berman established additional ways to expand employee-owned equity.
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Contingent Compensation. Neuberger Berman established the Neuberger Berman Group Contingent Compensation Plan (the CCP) to serve as a means to further align the interests of our employees with the success of the
firm and the interests of our clients, and to reward continued employment. Under the CCP, a percentage of a participant's total compensation is contingent and tied to the performance of a portfolio of Neuberger
Berman’s investment strategies as specified by the firm on an employee-by-employee basis. By having a participant's contingent compensation be tied to Neuberger Berman investment strategies, each employee is
given further incentive to operate as a prudent risk manager and to collaborate with colleagues to maximize performance across all business areas. In the case of Portfolio Managers, the CCP is currently structured so
that such employees have exposure to the investment strategies of their respective teams as well as the broader Neuberger Berman portfolio. In addition, certain CCP participants may make an election to direct a
portion of future contingent amounts into a program involving cash, equity or other property subject to vesting provisions and other provisions generally consistent with those of the traditional CCP. Subject to
satisfaction of certain conditions of the CCP (including conditions relating to continued employment), contingent amounts will vest after three years. Neuberger Berman determines annually which employees participate
in the program based on total compensation for the applicable year.
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Restrictive Covenants. Select senior professionals who have received equity grants have agreed to restrictive covenants which may include non-compete and non-solicit restrictions depending on
participation.
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CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one fund or other
account. The management of multiple funds and accounts (including proprietary accounts) may give rise to actual or potential conflicts of interest if the funds and accounts have different or similar objectives,
benchmarks, time horizons, and fees, as the portfolio manager must allocate his or her time and investment ideas across multiple funds and accounts. The portfolio manager may execute transactions for another fund or
account that may adversely impact the value of securities held by the Fund, and which may include transactions that are directly contrary to the positions taken by the Fund. For example, a portfolio manager may engage
in short sales of securities for another account that are the same type of securities in which the Fund it manages also invests. In such a case, the portfolio manager could be seen as harming the performance of the
Fund for the benefit of the account engaging in short sales if the short sales cause the market value of the securities to fall. Additionally, if a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that
may be suitable for more than one fund or other account, the Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity. If one account were to buy or sell portfolio securities shortly before another account
bought or sold the same securities, it could affect the price paid or received by the second account. Securities selected for funds or accounts other than the Fund may outperform the securities selected for the Fund.
Finally, a
conflict of interest may arise if the Sub-Adviser
and a portfolio manager have a financial incentive to favor one account over another, such as a performance-based management fee that applies to one account but not the funds or accounts for which the portfolio
manager is responsible.
Neuberger Berman has adopted
certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.
Wellington Management Company LLP
Portfolio Manager Compensation
Wellington Management Company LLP
(Wellington Management) receives a fee based on the assets under management of a Portfolio as set forth in the Investment Subadvisory Agreement between Wellington Management and the Manager on behalf of a Portfolio.
Wellington Management pays its investment professionals out of its total revenues, including the advisory fees earned with respect to a Portfolio. The following information is as of December 31, 2014.
Wellington Management’s
compensation structure is designed to attract and retain high-caliber investment professionals necessary to deliver high quality investment management services to its clients. Wellington Management’s
compensation of the Fund’s managers listed in the prospectus who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of a Portfolio (the “Investment Professional”) includes a base salary and
incentive component. The base salary for each Investment Professional who is a partner (a “Partner”) of Wellington Management Group LLP, the ultimate holding company of Wellington Management, is generally
a fixed amount that is determined by the managing partners of Wellington Management Group LLP. The base salaries for the other Investment Professionals are determined by the Investment Professionals' experience and
performance in their role as an Investment Professional. Base salaries for Wellington Management's employees are reviewed annually and may be adjusted based on the recommendation of an Investment Professional's
manager, using guidelines established by Wellington Management's Compensation Committee, which has final oversight responsibility for base salaries of employees of the firm. Each Investment Professional is eligible to
receive an incentive payment based on the revenues earned by Wellington Management from the Fund managed by the Investment Professional and generally each other account managed by such Investment Professional. The
Investment Professional's incentive payment relating to the Fund is linked to the gross pre-tax performance of the Fund managed by the Investment Professional compared to the benchmark index and/or peer group
identified below over one and three year periods, with an emphasis on three year results. In 2012, Wellington Management began placing increased emphasis on long-term performance and is phasing in a five-year
performance comparison period, which will be fully implemented by December 31, 2016. Wellington Management applies similar incentive compensation structures (although the benchmarks or peer groups, time periods and
rates may differ) to other accounts managed by the Investment Professional, including accounts with performance fees.
Portfolio-based incentives across
all accounts managed by an investment professional can, and typically do, represent a significant portion of an investment professional's overall compensation; incentive compensation varies significantly by individual
and can vary significantly from year to year. The Investment Professionals may also be eligible for bonus payments based on their overall contribution to Wellington Management’s business operations. Senior
management at Wellington Management may reward individuals as it deems appropriate based on other factors. Each Partner is eligible to participate in a Partner-funded tax qualified retirement plan, the contributions
to which are made pursuant to an actuarial formula. Messrs. Soukas and Sullivan are Partners.
Fund
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Benchmark Index and/or Peer Group for Incentive Period
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AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
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Barclays Global Aggregate Hedged to USD
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AST Wellington Management Total Return Portfolio
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Barclays TIPS (1-10) Yr Index
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Potential Conflicts
Individual investment professionals
at Wellington Management manage multiple accounts for multiple clients. These accounts may include mutual funds, separate accounts (assets managed on behalf of institutions, such as pension funds, insurance companies,
foundations, or separately managed account programs sponsored by financial intermediaries), bank common trust accounts, and hedge funds. A Portfolio’s managers listed in the prospectus who are primarily
responsible for the day-to-day management of a Portfolio (“Investment Professionals”) generally manage accounts in several different investment styles. These accounts may have investment objectives,
strategies, time horizons, tax considerations and risk profiles that differ from those of a Portfolio. The Investment Professionals make investment decisions for each account, including a Portfolio, based on the
investment objectives, policies, practices, benchmarks, cash flows, tax and other relevant investment considerations applicable to that account. Consequently, the Investment Professionals may purchase or sell
securities, including IPOs, for one account and not another account, and the
performance of securities purchased for one account
may vary from the performance of securities purchased for other accounts. Alternatively, these accounts may be managed in a similar fashion to a Portfolio and thus the accounts may have similar, and in some cases
nearly identical, objectives, strategies and/or holdings to that of a Portfolio.
An Investment Professional or other
investment professionals at Wellington Management may place transactions on behalf of other accounts that are directly or indirectly contrary to investment decisions made on behalf of a Portfolio, or make investment
decisions that are similar to those made for a Portfolio, both of which have the potential to adversely impact a Portfolio depending on market conditions. For example, an investment professional may purchase a
security in one account while appropriately selling that same security in another account. Similarly, an Investment Professional may purchase the same security for a Portfolio and one or more other accounts at or
about the same time. In those instances the other accounts will have access to their respective holdings prior to the public disclosure of a Portfolio’s holdings. In addition, some of these accounts have fee
structures, including performance fees, which are or have the potential to be higher, in some cases significantly higher, than the fees Wellington Management receives for managing a Portfolio. Messrs. Meyi, Soukas,
Sullivan and Wurster also manage accounts which pay performance allocations to Wellington Management or its affiliates. Because incentive payments paid by Wellington Management to the Investment Professionals are tied
to revenues earned by Wellington Management and, where noted, to the performance achieved by the manager in each account, the incentives associated with any given account may be significantly higher or lower than
those associated with other accounts managed by a given Investment Professional. Finally, the Investment Professionals may hold shares or investments in the other pooled investment vehicles and/or other accounts
identified above.
Wellington Management’s goal
is to meet its fiduciary obligation to treat all clients fairly and provide high quality investment services to all of its clients. Wellington Management has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including
brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, which it believes address the conflicts associated with managing multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition, Wellington Management monitors a variety of
areas, including compliance with primary account guidelines, the allocation of IPOs, and compliance with the firm’s Code of Ethics, and places additional investment restrictions on investment professionals who
manage hedge funds and certain other accounts. Furthermore, senior investment and business personnel at Wellington Management periodically review the performance of Wellington Management’s investment
professionals. Although Wellington Management does not track the time an investment professional spends on a single account, Wellington Management does periodically assess whether an investment professional has
adequate time and resources to effectively manage the investment professional’s various client mandates.
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
CUSTODIAN.
The Bank of New York Mellon Corp., One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286 serves as Custodian for the Trusts portfolio securities and cash, and in that capacity, maintains certain
financial accounting books and records pursuant to an agreement with the Trust. Subcustodians provide custodial services for any foreign assets held outside the United States.
TRANSFER AGENT AND SHAREHOLDER
SERVICING 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 Trust. PMFS is
an affiliate of PI. PMFS provides customary transfer agency services to the Trust, 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 Trust 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.
BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (U.S.)
Inc. (BNYAS) serves as sub-transfer agent to the Trust. PMFS has contracted with BNYAS, 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, to provide certain administrative functions to the Transfer Agent. PMFS will
compensate BNYAS for such services.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM.
KPMG LLP, 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, served as the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm for the five fiscal years ended December 31, 2011, and in that
capacity will audit the annual financial statements for the Fund for the next fiscal year.
SECURITIES LENDING AGENT.
PIM serves as securities lending agent for the Portfolios of the Trust and in that role administers the Portfolios' securities lending program. For its services, PIM receives a portion of
the amount earned by lending securities. Because the Portfolios are new, they have not paid PIM any amounts as securities lending agent for the Portfolios.
The Trust currently sells its
shares only to insurance company separate accounts to fund the Contracts. The Trust has no principal underwriter or distributor. See the prospectus for your Contract for more information on distribution arrangements
related to your Contract.
DISTRIBUTOR.
The Trust has distribution arrangements with PAD, pursuant to which PAD serves as the distributor for the shares of each Portfolio. PAD is an affiliate of the Investment Managers.
The Trust’s distribution
agreement with respect to the Trust and the Portfolios (Distribution Agreement) has been approved by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, with respect to each Portfolio. The Distribution
Agreement will remain in effect from year to year provided that the Distribution Agreement’s continuance is approved annually by (i) a majority of the Independent Trustees who are not parties to the agreement
and, if applicable, who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Shareholder Services and Distribution Plan (the 12b-1 Plan) or any such related agreement, by a vote cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such Agreements and (ii) either by a vote of a majority of the Trustees or a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust, as
applicable.
The Trust has adopted the 12b-1
Plan in the manner prescribed under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the 12b-1 Plan, each Portfolio, except the AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio, is authorized to pay PAD an annual shareholder services and
distribution fee of 0.25% of each Portfolio’s average daily net assets.
The shareholder services and
distribution fee paid by each Portfolio to PAD is intended to compensate PAD and its affiliates for various administrative services, including but not limited to the filing, printing and delivery of the Trust’s
prospectus and statement of additional information, annual and semi-annual shareholder reports, and other required regulatory documents, responding to shareholder questions and inquiries relating to the Portfolios,
and related functions and services. In addition, pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan, the fee is intended to compensate PAD and its affiliates for various services rendered and expenses incurred in connection with activities
intended to result in the sale or servicing of the shares of the covered Portfolios. These activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
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printing and mailing of prospectuses, statements of additional information, supplements, proxy statement materials, and annual and semi-annual reports for current owners of variable life or variable annuity
contracts indirectly investing in the shares of each Portfolio;
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reconciling and balancing separate account investments in the Portfolios;
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reconciling and providing notice to the Trust of net cash flow and cash requirements for net redemption orders;
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confirming transactions;
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providing Contract owner services related to investments in the Portfolios, including assisting the Trust with proxy solicitations, including providing solicitation and tabulation services, and investigating and
responding to inquiries from Contract owners;
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providing periodic reports to the Trust and regarding the Portfolios to third-party reporting services;
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paying compensation to and expenses, including overhead, of employees of PAD and other broker-dealers that engage in the distribution of shares;
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printing and mailing of prospectuses, statements of additional information, supplements and annual and semi-annual reports for prospective Contract owners;
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paying expenses relating to the development, preparation, printing and mailing of advertisements, sales literature, and other promotional materials describing and/or relating to the Portfolios;
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paying expenses of holding seminars and sales meetings designed to promote the distribution of the shares;
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paying expenses of obtaining information and providing explanations to Contract owners regarding investment objectives, policies, performance and other information about the Trust and its Portfolios;
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paying expenses of training sales personnel regarding the Portfolios; and
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providing other services and bearing other expenses for the benefit of the Portfolios, including activities primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of the Portfolios of the Trust.
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The 12b-1Plan is of a type known as
a “compensation” plan because payments are made for services rendered to the covered Portfolios of the Trust regardless of the level of actual expenditures by PAD. However, as part of their oversight of
the operations of the Trust and the 12b-1Plan, the Trustees consider and examine all payments made to PAD and all expenditures by PAD for purposes of reviewing operations under the 12b-1 Plan. As required under Rule
12b-1, the 12b-1 Plan provides that PAD and any other person(s) authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid or payable by the Portfolios pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan or any related agreement will provide to the
Board, and the Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts so expended and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. Fees payable to PAD under the 12b-1 Plan are accrued daily
and paid bi-weekly.
The 12b-1 Plan and any related
agreement will continue in effect, with respect to each Portfolio, for a period of more than one year only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of (a) the Board and
(b) the Trust’s Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the 12b-1Plan or such agreement, as applicable. In addition, the 12b-1 Plan and any related agreement
may be terminated at any time with respect to any Portfolio by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities representing the shares of that Portfolio.
The 12b-1
Plan may not be amended to increase materially the
amount of distribution and shareholder service fees permissible with respect to any Portfolio until it has been approved by the Board and by a vote of at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities
representing the shares of that Portfolio.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS &
BROKERAGE
The Trust has adopted a policy
pursuant to which the Trust and its Investment Manager, Subadvisers, and principal underwriter are prohibited from directly or indirectly compensating a broker-dealer for promoting or selling Trust shares by directing
brokerage transactions to that broker. The Trust has adopted procedures for the purpose of deterring and detecting any violations of the policy. The policy permits the Trust, the Investment Manager, and the
Subadvisers 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 the Trust and is not influenced by considerations about the sale of Trust shares.
The Investment Manager is
responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities, futures contracts and options on such securities and futures for the Trust, 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 Trust 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. For purposes of this section,
the term “Investment Manager” includes the investment Subadvisers. Orders may be directed to any broker or futures commission merchant including, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable
laws, affiliates of the Investment Manager and/or Subadvisers (an affiliated broker). Brokerage commissions on US securities, options and futures exchanges or boards of trade are subject to negotiation between the
Investment Manager and the broker or futures commission merchant.
In the over-the-counter market,
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 US government agency securities may be purchased directly from the issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts are paid. The Trust 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 SEC.
In placing orders for portfolio
securities of the Trust, the Investment Manager's overriding objective is to obtain the best possible combination of favorable price and efficient execution. The Investment 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 Investment Manager may consider in selecting a particular broker, dealer
or futures commission merchant (firms) are the Investment 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 Investment Manager's knowledge of the financial stability of the firms; the Investment 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 Trust may pay transaction costs in excess of that which
another firm might have charged for effecting the same transaction.
When the Investment 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 data bases, quotation equipment and services, research-oriented computer software, hardware 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
Investment 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 Trust. The Investment 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 Investment Manager believes provide a benefit to the
Trust and its other clients. The Investment 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 Investment Manager deems
the purchase or sale of equities to be in the best interests of the Trust or its other clients, including Prudential, the Investment 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
Investment 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 Trust's Board. Portfolio securities may not be purchased from any underwriting or selling syndicate of which
any affiliated broker, during the existence of the syndicate, is a principal underwriter (as defined in the 1940 Act), except in accordance with rules of the SEC. This limitation, in the opinion of the Trust, will not
significantly affect the Trust's ability to pursue its present investment objective. However, in the future in other circumstances, the Trust may be at a disadvantage because of this limitation in comparison to other
Trusts with similar objectives but not subject to such limitations.
Subject to the above
considerations, an affiliated broker may act as a broker or futures commission merchant for the Trust. In order for an affiliated broker to effect any portfolio transactions for the Trust, 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 Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the non-interested 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 1934 Act, an affiliated broker may not retain compensation for effecting transactions on a national securities exchange for the Trust unless the Trust has expressly authorized the retention of such
compensation. The affiliated broker must furnish to the Trust at least annually a statement setting forth the total amount of all compensation retained by it from transactions effected for the Trust during the
applicable period. Brokerage transactions with an affiliated broker are also subject to such fiduciary standards as may be imposed upon the broker by applicable law. Transactions in options by the Trust 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 Trust may write or hold may be
affected by options written or held by the Investment Manager and other investment advisory clients of the Investment Manager. An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits,
and it may impose certain other sanctions.
Each Portfolio participates in a
voluntary commission recapture program available through Russell Implementation Services, Inc. (Russell). Subadvisers that choose to participate in the program retains the responsibility to seek best execution and are
under no obligation to place any specific trades with a broker available through the program (each, a designated broker). A portion of commissions on trades executed through designated brokers is rebated to a
Portfolio as a credit that can be used by the Portfolio to pay expenses of the Portfolio. Because none of the Portfolios had commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, no information concerning the brokerage
commission paid by the Portfolios is included herein.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
TRUST HISTORY.
The Trust is a managed, open-end investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust, the separate Portfolios of which are diversified, unless otherwise indicated. Formerly, the
Trust was known as the Henderson International Growth Fund, which consisted of only one Portfolio (The Henderson International Growth Fund is currently known as the AST J.P. Morgan International Equity Portfolio
(formerly known as the AST Strong International Equity Portfolio, the AST AIM International Equity Portfolio, the AST Putnam International Equity Portfolio and the Seligman Henderson International Equity
Portfolio)).The investment manager was Henderson International, Inc. Shareholders of what was, at the time, the Henderson International Growth Fund, approved certain changes in a meeting held April 17, 1992. These
changes included engagement of a new investment manager, engagement of a Subadviser and election of new Trustees. Subsequent to that meeting, the new Trustees adopted a number of resolutions, including, but not
limited to, resolutions renaming the Trust. Since that time the Trustees have adopted a number of resolutions, including, but not limited to, making new Portfolios available and adopting forms of Investment Management
Agreements and subadvisory Agreements between the Investment Managers and the Trust and the Investment Managers and each subadviser, respectively.
Effective as of May 1, 2007, the
Trust changed its name from American Skandia Trust to Advanced Series Trust.
If approved by the Trustees, the
Trust may add more Portfolios and may cease to offer any existing Portfolios in the future.
DESCRIPTION OF
SHARES AND ORGANIZATION.
As of the date of this SAI, the beneficial interest in the Trust is divided into 121 separate Portfolios, each offering one class of shares.
The Trust's Second Amended and
Restated Declaration of Trust, dated December 1, 2005, which governs certain Trust matters, permits the Trust's Board to issue multiple classes of shares, and within each class, an unlimited number of shares of
beneficial interest with a par value of $.001 per share. Each share entitles the holder to one vote for the election of Trustees and on all other matters that are not
specific to one class of shares, and to participate
equally in dividends, distributions of capital gains and net assets of each applicable Portfolio. Only shareholders of shares of a specific Portfolio may vote on matters specific to that Portfolio. Shares of one class
may not bear the same economic relationship to the Trust as shares of another class. In the event of dissolution or liquidation, holders of shares of a Portfolio will receive pro rata, subject to the rights of
creditors, the proceeds of the sale of the assets held in such Portfolio less the liabilities attributable to such Portfolio. Shareholders of a Portfolio will not be liable for the expenses, obligations or debts of
another Portfolio.
No preemptive or conversion rights
apply to any of the Trust's shares. The Trust's shares, when issued, will be fully paid, non-assessable and transferable. The Trustees may at any time create additional series of shares without shareholder
approval.
Generally, there will not be annual
meetings of shareholders of any Portfolio of the Trust. A Trustee may, in accordance with certain rules of the SEC, be removed from office when the holders of record of not less than two-thirds of the outstanding
shares either present a written declaration to the Trust's custodian or vote in person or by proxy at a meeting called for this purpose. In addition, the Trustees will promptly call a meeting of shareholders to remove
a Trustee(s) when requested to do so in writing by record holders of not less than 10% of the outstanding shares. Finally, the Trustees shall, in certain circumstances, give such shareholders access to a list of the
names and addresses of all other shareholders or inform them of the number of shareholders and the cost of mailing their request.
Under Massachusetts law,
shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held liable for the obligations of the Trust. However, the Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust and requires
that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Trust or the Trustees to all parties, and each party thereto must expressly waive all rights of
action directly against shareholders. The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the Trust's property for all loss and expense of any shareholder of the Trust held liable on account of being or
having been a shareholder. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Trust would be unable to meet its obligations wherein
the complaining party was held not to be bound by the disclaimer.
The Declaration of Trust further
provides that the Trustees will have no personal liability to any person in connection with the Trust property or affairs of the Trust except for that arising from his bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence
or reckless disregard of his duty to that person. All persons must look solely to the Trust property for satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with the Trust's affairs. In general, the Declaration
of Trust provides for indemnification by the Trust of the Trustees and officers of the Trust except with respect to any matter as to which the Trustee or officer acted in bad faith, or with willful misfeasance, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of his duties.
From time to time, Prudential
Financial, Inc. and/or its insurance company affiliates have purchased shares of the Trust to provide initial capital and to enable the Portfolios to avoid unrealistically poor investment performance that might
otherwise result because the amounts available for investment are too small. Prudential will not redeem any of its shares until a Portfolio is large enough so that redemption will not have an adverse effect upon
investment performance. Prudential will vote its shares in the same manner and in the same proportion as the shares held by the separate accounts that invest in the Trust, which in turn, are generally voted in
accordance with instructions from Contract owners.
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
To the knowledge
of the Trust, the following persons/entities owned beneficially or of record 5% or more of the Portfolios of the Trust as of July 1, 2015. As of July 1, 2015, the Trustees and Officers of the Trust, as a
group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Trust.
As of July 1, 2015, there were no
outstanding shares of the Portfolios. As a result, as of the date of this SAI, no person owned beneficially more than 5% of any class of any Portfolio’s outstanding shares.
The Participating Insurance
Companies are not obligated to continue to invest in shares of a Portfolio under all circumstances. Variable annuity and variable life insurance policy holders should refer to the prospectuses for such products for a
description of the circumstances in which such a change might occur.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Because the Portfolios have not yet
commenced operations, no financial information is available. When available, the Trust’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports will be available upon request and without charge
PART II
INVESTMENT RISKS &
CONSIDERATIONS
Set forth below are descriptions of
some of the types of investments and investment strategies that a Portfolio may use, and the risks and considerations associated with those investments and investment strategies. A Portfolio may invest in the types of
investments and investment strategies that are consistent with its investment objective, policies and any limitations described in the prospectus and in the SAI.
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES.
A Portfolio may invest in 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, also known as collateralized obligations, are generally issued as the debt of a special purpose entity organized solely for the purpose of owning such assets and issuing such debt. Such
assets are most often trade, credit card or automobile receivables. The assets collateralizing such asset-backed securities are pledged to a trustee or custodian for the benefit of the holders thereof. Such issuers
generally hold no assets other than those underlying the asset-backed securities and any credit support provided. As a result, although payments on such asset-backed securities are obligations of the issuers, in the
event of defaults on the underlying assets not covered by any credit support, the issuing entities are unlikely to have sufficient assets to satisfy their obligations on the related asset-backed securities.
Credit-Related Asset-Backed
Securities.
This type of asset-backed security is collateralized by a basket of corporate bonds or other securities, including junk bonds. Unlike the traditional asset-backed securities described
above, these asset-backed securities often do have the benefit of a security interest or ownership interest in the related collateral. With a credit-related asset-backed security, the underlying bonds have the risk of
being prepaid prior to maturity. Although generally not pre-payable at any time, some of the underlying bonds may have call options, while others may have maturity dates that are earlier than the asset-backed security
itself. As with traditional asset-backed securities described above, the Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the resulting increase or decrease in yield to maturity after a prepayment of an underlying bond. However,
the primary risk associated with credit-related asset-backed securities is the potential loss of principal associated with losses on the underlying bonds.
Collateralized Loan Obligations
(CLOs).
This type of asset-backed security 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, as well as loans rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. The risks of an investment in a CLO depend largely on the quality of the underlying loans and may be
characterized by the Portfolio as illiquid securities.
For credit-related asset-backed
securities 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 trust typically has higher ratings and lower yields than their underlying securities, and can be rated investment grade. Despite the protection from the equity tranche, other tranches can experience
substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as aversion to particular
underlying assets as a class.
BORROWING.
A Portfolio may borrow up to 33
1
⁄
3
% of the value of its total assets (calculated at the time of the borrowing). The Portfolio may pledge up to 33
1
⁄
3
% of its total assets to secure these borrowings. If the Portfolio's asset coverage for borrowings falls below 300%, the Portfolio will take prompt action to reduce its borrowings. If the
Portfolio 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 Portfolio, the net asset value of
the Portfolio's shares will decrease faster than would otherwise be the case. This is the speculative factor known as “leverage.”
A Portfolio may borrow from time to
time, at the investment subadviser'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
investment adviser's opinion, unusual market conditions otherwise make it advantageous for the Portfolio to increase its investment capacity. A Portfolio will only borrow when there is an expectation that it will
benefit a Portfolio after taking into account considerations such as interest income and possible losses upon liquidation. Borrowing by a Portfolio 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 Portfolio shares and in the yield on a Portfolio. A Portfolio may borrow through forward rolls, dollar rolls or
reverse repurchase agreements, although no Portfolio currently has any intention of doing so, except for portfolios managed by PIMCO and Wellington Management.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES.
Convertible securities entitle the holder to receive interest payments paid on corporate debt securities or the dividend preference on a preferred stock until such time as the convertible
security matures or is redeemed or until the holder elects to exercise the conversion privilege. The characteristics of convertible securities make them appropriate investments for an investment company seeking a high
total return from capital appreciation and investment income. These characteristics include the potential for capital appreciation as the value of the underlying common stock increases, the relatively high yield
received from dividend or interest payments as compared to common stock dividends and decreased risks of decline in value relative to the underlying common stock due to their fixed income nature. As a result of the
conversion feature, however, the interest rate or dividend preference on a convertible security is generally less than would be the case if the securities were issued in nonconvertible form.
In analyzing convertible
securities, the Investment Manager will consider both the yield on the convertible security relative to its credit quality and the potential capital appreciation that is offered by the underlying common stock, among
other things.
Convertible securities are issued
and traded in a number of securities markets. Even in cases where a substantial portion of the convertible securities held by a Portfolio are denominated in US dollars, the underlying equity securities may be quoted
in the currency of the country where the issuer is domiciled. With respect to convertible securities denominated in a currency different from that of the underlying equity securities, the conversion price may be based
on a fixed exchange rate established at the time the security is issued. As a result, fluctuations in the exchange rate between the currency in which the debt security is denominated and the currency in which the
share price is quoted will affect the value of the convertible security. As described below, a Portfolio is authorized to enter into foreign currency hedging transactions in which it may seek to reduce the effect of
such fluctuations.
Apart from currency considerations,
the value of convertible securities is influenced by both the yield of nonconvertible securities of comparable issuers and by the value of the underlying common stock. The value of a convertible security viewed
without regard to its conversion feature (i.e., strictly on the basis of its yield) is sometimes referred to as its “investment value.” To the extent interest rates change, the investment value of the
convertible security typically will fluctuate. However, at the same time, the value of the convertible security will be influenced by its “conversion value,” which is the market value of the underlying
common stock that would be obtained if the convertible security were converted. Conversion value fluctuates directly with the price of the underlying common stock. If, because of a low price of the common stock the
conversion value is substantially below the investment value of the convertible security, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value.
To the extent the conversion value
of a convertible security increases to a point that approximates or exceeds its investment value, the price of the convertible security will be influenced principally by its conversion value. A convertible security
will sell at a premium over the conversion value to the extent investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed income security. The yield and conversion premium of
convertible securities issued in Japan and the Euromarket are frequently determined at levels that cause the conversion value to affect their market value more than the securities' investment value.
Holders of convertible securities
generally have a claim on the assets of the issuer prior to the common stockholders but may be subordinated to other debt securities of the same issuer. A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the
option of the issuer at a price established in the charter provision, indenture or other governing instrument pursuant to which the convertible security was issued. If a convertible security held by a Portfolio is
called for redemption, the Portfolio will be required to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party. Certain convertible debt securities may provide a put option to
the holder, which entitles the holder to cause the security to be redeemed by the issuer at a premium over the stated principal amount of the debt security under certain circumstances.
Synthetic convertible securities
may be either (i) a debt security or preferred stock that may be convertible only under certain contingent circumstances or that may pay the holder a cash amount based on the value of shares of underlying common stock
partly or wholly in lieu of a conversion right (a Cash-Settled Convertible), (ii) a combination of separate securities chosen by the Investment Manager in order to create the economic characteristics of a convertible
security, i.e., a fixed income security paired with a security with equity conversion features, such as an option or warrant (a Manufactured Convertible) or (iii) a synthetic security manufactured by another party.
Synthetic convertible securities
may include either Cash-Settled Convertibles or Manufactured Convertibles. Cash-Settled Convertibles are instruments that are created by the issuer and have the economic characteristics of traditional convertible
securities but may not actually permit conversion into the underlying equity securities in all circumstances. As an example, a private company may issue a Cash-Settled Convertible that is convertible into common stock
only if the company successfully completes a public offering of its common stock prior to maturity and otherwise pays a cash amount to reflect any equity appreciation. Manufactured Convertibles are created by the
Investment Manager by combining separate securities that possess one of the two principal characteristics of a convertible security, i.e., fixed income (fixed income component) or a right to acquire equity securities
(convertibility component). The fixed income component is achieved by investing in nonconvertible fixed income securities, such as nonconvertible bonds, preferred stocks and money market instruments. The
convertibility component is achieved by investing in call options, warrants, or other securities with equity conversion features (equity features) granting the holder the right to purchase a specified quantity of the
underlying stocks within a specified period of time at a specified price or, in the case of a stock index option, the right to receive a cash payment based on the value of the underlying stock index.
A Manufactured Convertible differs
from traditional convertible securities in several respects. Unlike a traditional convertible security, which is a single security having a unitary market value, a Manufactured Convertible is comprised of two or more
separate securities, each with its own market value. Therefore, the total “market value” of such a Manufactured Convertible is the sum of the values of its fixed income component and its convertibility
component.
More flexibility is possible in the
creation of a Manufactured Convertible than in the purchase of a traditional convertible security. Because many corporations have not issued convertible securities, the Investment Manager may combine a fixed income
instrument and an equity feature with respect to the stock of the issuer of the fixed income instrument to create a synthetic convertible security otherwise unavailable in the market. The Investment Manager may also
combine a fixed income instrument of an issuer with an equity feature with respect to the stock of a different issuer when the Investment Manager believes such a Manufactured Convertible would better promote a
Portfolio's objective than alternate investments. For example, the Investment Manager may combine an equity feature with respect to an issuer's stock with a fixed income security of a different issuer in the same
industry to diversify the Portfolio's credit exposure, or with a US Treasury instrument to create a Manufactured Convertible with a higher credit profile than a traditional convertible security issued by that issuer.
A Manufactured Convertible also is a more flexible investment in that its two components may be purchased separately and, upon purchasing the separate securities, “combined” to create a Manufactured
Convertible. For example, a Portfolio may purchase a warrant for eventual inclusion in a Manufactured Convertible while postponing the purchase of a suitable bond to pair with the warrant pending development of more
favorable market conditions.
The value of a Manufactured
Convertible may respond differently to certain market fluctuations than would a traditional convertible security with similar characteristics. For example, in the event a Portfolio created a Manufactured Convertible
by combining a short-term US Treasury instrument and a call option on a stock, the Manufactured Convertible would likely outperform a traditional convertible of similar maturity that is convertible into that stock
during periods when Treasury instruments outperform corporate fixed income securities and underperform during periods when corporate fixed income securities outperform Treasury instruments.
CORPORATE LOANS.
Commercial banks and other financial institutions make corporate loans to companies that need capital to grow or restructure. Borrowers generally pay interest on corporate loans at rates
that change in response to changes in market interest rates such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or the prime rate of US banks. As a result, the value of corporate loan investments is generally less
responsive to shifts in market interest rates. Because the trading market for corporate loans is less developed than the secondary market for bonds and notes, a Portfolio may experience difficulties from time to time
in selling its corporate loans. Borrowers frequently provide collateral to secure repayment of these obligations. Leading financial institutions often act as agent for a broader group of lenders, generally referred to
as a “syndicate.” The syndicate's agent arranges the corporate loans, holds collateral and accepts payments of principal and interest. If the agent develops financial problems, a Portfolio may not recover
its investment, or there might be a delay in the Portfolio's recovery. By investing in a corporate loan, a Portfolio becomes a member of the syndicate.
As in the case of junk bonds, the
Corporate Loans in which a Portfolio may invest can be expected to provide higher yields than higher-rated fixed income securities but may be subject to greater risk of loss of principal and income. There are,
however, some significant differences between Corporate Loans and junk bonds. Corporate Loans are frequently secured by pledges of liens and
security interests in the assets of the borrower,
and the holders of Corporate Loans are frequently the beneficiaries of debt service subordination provisions imposed on the borrower's bondholders. These arrangements are designed to give Corporate Loan investors
preferential treatment over junk bond investors in the event of a deterioration in the credit quality of the issuer. Even when these arrangements exist, however, there can be no assurance that the principal and
interest owed on the Corporate Loans will be repaid in full. Corporate Loans generally bear interest at rates set at a margin above a generally recognized base lending rate that may fluctuate on a day-to-day basis, in
the case of the Prime Rate of a US bank, or that may be adjusted on set dates, typically 30 days but generally not more than one year, in the case of LIBOR. Consequently, the value of Corporate Loans held by a
Portfolio may be expected to fluctuate significantly less than the value of fixed rate junk bond instruments as a result of changes in the interest rate environment. On the other hand, the secondary dealer market for
Corporate Loans is not as well developed as the secondary dealer market for junk bonds, and therefore presents increased market risk relating to liquidity and pricing concerns.
A Portfolio may acquire interests
in Corporate Loans by means of a novation, assignment or participation. In a novation, a Portfolio would succeed to all the rights and obligations of the assigning institution and become a contracting party under the
credit agreement with respect to the debt obligation. As an alternative, a Portfolio may purchase an assignment, in which case the Portfolio may be required to rely on the assigning institution to demand payment and
enforce its rights against the borrower but would otherwise typically be entitled to all of such assigning institution's rights under the credit agreement. Participation interests in a portion of a debt obligation
typically result in a contractual relationship only with the institution selling the participation interest and not with the borrower. In purchasing a loan participation, a Portfolio generally will have no right to
enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower, and the Portfolio may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the debt obligation in
which it has purchased the participation. As a result, a Portfolio will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the institution selling the participation to the Portfolio.
CYBER SECURITY RISK.
With the increasing use of technology and computer systems in general and, in particular, the Internet to conduct necessary business functions, each Portfolio is susceptible to
operational, information security and related risks. These risks, which are often collectively referred to as “cyber security” risks, may include deliberate or malicious attacks, as well as unintentional
events and occurrences. Cyber security is generally defined as the technology, operations and related protocol surrounding and protecting a user’s computer hardware, network, systems and applications and the
data transmitted and stored therewith. These measures ensure the reliability of a user’s systems, as well as the security, availability, integrity, and confidentiality of data assets.
Deliberate cyber attacks can
include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to computer systems in order to misappropriate and/or disclose sensitive or confidential information; deleting, corrupting or modifying data; and causing
operational disruptions. Cyber attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on websites (in order to prevent access to
computer networks). In addition to deliberate breaches engineered by external actors, cyber security risks can also result from the conduct of malicious, exploited or careless insiders, whose actions may result in the
destruction, release or disclosure of confidential or proprietary information stored on an organization’s systems.
Cyber security failures or
breaches, whether deliberate or unintentional, arising from a Portfolio’s third-party service providers (e.g., custodians, financial intermediaries, transfer agents), subadvisers, shareholder usage of unsecure
systems to access personal accounts, as well as breaches suffered by the issuers of securities in which the Portfolio invests, may cause significant disruptions in the business operations of the Portfolio. Potential
impacts may include, but are not limited to, potential financial losses for the Portfolio and the issuers’ securities, the inability of shareholders to conduct transactions with the Portfolio, an inability of
the Portfolio to calculate net asset value (NAV), and disclosures of personal or confidential shareholder information.
In addition to direct impacts on
Portfolio shareholders, cyber security failures by a Portfolio and/or its service providers and others may result in regulatory inquiries, regulatory proceedings, regulatory and/or legal and litigation costs to the
Portfolio, and reputational damage. The Portfolio may incur reimbursement and other expenses, including the costs of litigation and litigation settlements and additional compliance costs. The Portfolio may also incur
considerable expenses in enhancing and upgrading computer systems and systems security following a cyber security failure.
The rapid proliferation of
technologies, as well as the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, hackers, terrorists, and others continue to pose new and significant cyber security threats. Although the Portfolio and its
service providers and subadvisers may have established business continuity plans and risk management systems to mitigate cyber security risks, there can be no guarantee or assurance that such plans or systems will be
effective, or that all risks that exist, or may develop in the future, have been completely anticipated and identified or can be protected against. Furthermore, the Portfolio cannot control or assure the efficacy of
the cyber security plans and systems implemented by third-party service providers, the subadvisers, and the issuers in which a Portfolio invests.
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 a Portfolio's investment in that
issuer. Credit risk is reduced to the extent a Portfolio limits its debt investments to US 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.
DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS.
A Portfolio may invest in the securities of foreign issuers in the form of Depositary Receipts or other securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers. Depositary Receipts may
not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the underlying securities into which they may be converted. American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and American Depositary Shares (ADSs) are receipts or shares
typically issued by an American bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) are receipts issued in Europe that evidence a
similar ownership arrangement. Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) are receipts issued throughout the world that evidence a similar arrangement. Generally, ADRs and ADSs, in registered form, are designed for use in the
US securities markets, and EDRs, in bearer form, are designed for use in European securities markets. GDRs are tradable both in the United States and in Europe and are designed for use throughout the world. A
Portfolio may invest in unsponsored Depositary Receipts. The issuers of unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States, and, therefore, there may be less
information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts. Depositary Receipts are generally subject to the same risks as
the foreign securities that they evidence or into or for which they may be converted or exchanged.
DERIVATIVES.
A Portfolio 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 a Portfolio to increase or decrease the level of risk to which the Portfolio is exposed
more quickly and efficiently than transactions in other types of instruments. Each Portfolio may use Derivatives for hedging purposes. A Portfolio may also use derivatives to seek to enhance returns. The use of a
Derivative is speculative if the Portfolio is primarily seeking to achieve gains, rather than offset the risk of other positions. When the Portfolio invests in a Derivative for speculative purposes, the Portfolio will
be fully exposed to the risks of loss of that Derivative, which may sometimes be greater than the Derivative's cost. No Portfolio 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.
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS.
Each Portfolio may invest in Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). ETFs, which may be unit investment trusts or mutual funds, typically hold portfolios of securities designed to track the
performance of various broad securities indexes or sectors of such indexes. ETFs provide another means, in addition to futures and options on indexes, of including stock index exposure in these Portfolios' investment
strategies. A Portfolio will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by such ETF. In addition, an investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an
investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies, and policies.
HEDGING.
Hedging is a strategy in which a Derivative or security is used to offset the risks associated with other Portfolio holdings. Losses on the other investment may be substantially reduced by
gains on a Derivative that reacts in an opposite manner to market movements. While hedging can reduce losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains or cause losses if the market moves in a different manner than
anticipated by the Portfolio or if the cost of the Derivative outweighs the benefit of the hedge. Hedging also involves the risk that changes in the value of the Derivative will not match those of the holdings being
hedged as expected by a Portfolio, in which case any losses on the holdings being hedged may not be reduced or may be increased. The inability to close options and futures positions also could have an adverse impact
on a Portfolio's ability to hedge effectively its portfolio. There is also a risk of loss by the Portfolio of margin deposits or collateral in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with whom the Portfolio has an open
position in an option, a futures contract or a related option. There can be no assurance that a Portfolio's hedging strategies will be effective or that hedging transactions will be available to a Portfolio. No
Portfolio is required to engage in hedging transactions and each Portfolio may choose not to do so.
INDEXED AND INVERSE SECURITIES.
A Portfolio may invest in securities the potential return of which is based on an index or interest rate. As an illustration, a Portfolio 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. A Portfolio 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, a Portfolio 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, a Portfolio 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 a Portfolio 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. A Portfolio 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, a Portfolio may be required to pay substantial additional margin to maintain the position.)
The Investment 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 Portfolio sells a municipal bond to a special purpose trust in order to create an inverse floater which the
Portfolio receives from such trust in a financing transaction. The trust also issues floating rate notes to third parties. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio to leverage
risk, they do not constitute borrowings for purposes of the Portfolio's restrictions on borrowings. The application of the provisions of FAS 140 with respect to inverse floaters otherwise acquired by the Portfolio is
not currently subject to this reevaluation.
Future financial statements for a
Portfolio will reflect the application of the provisions of FAS 140, regardless of materiality. Pursuant to FAS 140, the Portfolio will record interest on the full amount of the municipal bonds held in the special
purpose trusts as interest income and the Portfolio 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 Portfolio's expense ratio to increase. However, neither the Portfolio's net income nor its distributions to shareholders is 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 Portfolio (instead of only the interest the Portfolio received on the inverse floater certificates it held directly).
To the extent that a Portfolio owns
such inverse floaters as of the financial reporting period end, another important change pursuant to FAS 140 is that the Portfolio'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 Portfolio's liabilities. The Portfolio'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.
INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS.
Each Portfolio may invest in initial public offerings (IPOs). An IPO is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public. IPOs are often issued by smaller, younger companies
seeking capital to expand, but can also be done by large privately owned companies looking to become publicly traded.
In an IPO, the issuer obtains the
assistance of an underwriting firm, which helps it determine what type of security to issue (common or preferred), best offering price and time to bring it to market. The volume of IPOs and the levels at which the
newly issued stocks trade in the secondary market are affected by the performance of the stock market overall. If IPOs are brought to the market, availability may be limited and a Portfolio may not be able to buy any
shares at the offering price, or if it is able to buy shares, it may not be able to buy as many shares at the offering price as it would like.
Investing in IPOs entails risks.
Importantly, the prices of securities involved in IPOs are often subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than more established stocks. It is difficult to predict what the stock will do on its initial
day of trading and in the near future since there is often little historical data with which to analyze the company. Also, most IPOs are of companies going through a transitory growth period, and they are therefore
subject to additional uncertainty regarding their future value.
PARTICIPATION NOTES
. Participation Notes (P-Notes) are a type of equity-linked derivative which generally are traded over-the-counter. Even though a P-Note is intended to reflect the performance of the
underlying equity securities, the performance of a P-Note will not replicate exactly the performance of the issuers or markets that the P-Note seeks to replicate due to transaction costs and other expenses.
Investments in P-Notes involve risks normally associated with a direct investment in the underlying securities. In addition, P-Notes are subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the broker-dealer or bank
that issues the P-Notes will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with a Portfolio.
SWAP AGREEMENTS.
A Portfolio may enter into swap transactions, including but not limited to, 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, a Portfolio 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 Portfolio than if the Portfolio had invested directly in an instrument that yielded that desired return.
Swap agreements are two party
contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods typically ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns
(or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on 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 a Portfolio would calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.” Consequently the Portfolio'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 Portfolio's current obligations under a swap
agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owed to the Portfolio) 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 a Portfolio
enters into swaps on other than a net basis, the amount maintained in a segregated account will be the full amount of the Portfolio'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 investment adviser and the Portfolio 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 Portfolio will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreement related to the transaction. Since
swaps are individually negotiated, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio will enter into swaps only with parties meeting creditworthiness standards of the investment subadviser. The investment subadviser will monitor the creditworthiness of
such parties.
CREDIT DEFAULT SWAP AGREEMENTS AND
SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS.
A Portfolio 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 a Portfolio. 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. A Portfolio may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If a Portfolio is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the
Portfolio 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, a Portfolio 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 a Portfolio 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. A Portfolio will enter into credit default swap agreements and similar instruments only with counterparties who are rated investment grade quality by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating
organization at the time of entering into such transaction or whose creditworthiness is believed by the Investment 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 Portfolio. When a Portfolio 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 a Portfolio 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 a credit default swaps, interest rate swaps and other securities, in order to provide exposure to certain fixed income markets. For instance, a Portfolio
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 a Portfolio would receive. A Portfolio'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 of 1933. Accordingly, there may be no established trading market for the securities and they may constitute illiquid investments.
TOTAL RETURN SWAP AGREEMENTS.
A Portfolio 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 Portfolio's portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio thereunder. Swap agreements also bear the risk that the Portfolio will not be able to meet its obligation to
the counterparty. Generally, the Portfolio will enter into total return swaps on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted out with the Portfolio 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 Portfolio'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 Portfolio. If the total return swap transaction is entered into on other than a net basis, the full
amount of the Portfolio's obligations will be accrued on a daily basis, and the full amount of the Portfolio's obligations will be segregated by the Portfolio 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 Portfolio initially to make an equivalent direct investment, plus or minus any amount the Portfolio is obligated to pay or is
to receive under the total return swap agreement.
Unless otherwise noted, a
Portfolio's net obligations in respect of all swap agreements (i.e., the aggregate net amount owed by the Portfolio) is limited to 15% of its net assets.
NON-STANDARD WARRANTS
. From time to time, a Portfolio may use synthetic foreign equity securities derivatives in the form non-standard warrants, often referred to as low exercise price warrants or participatory
notes or low exercise price options (LEPOs), to gain indirect exposure to issuers in certain countries, such as India. These securities are issued by banks and other financial institutions. The buyer of a low exercise
price warrant effectively pays the full value of the underlying common stock at the outset. LEPOs are different from standard warrants in that they do not give their holders the right to receive a security of the
issuer upon exercise. Rather, LEPOs pay the holder the difference in price of the underlying security between the date the LEPO was purchased and the date it is sold. LEPOs entail the same risks as other over-the
counter derivatives. These include the risk that the counterparty or issuer of the LEPO may not be able to fulfill its obligations, that the holder and counterparty or issuer may disagree as to the meaning or
application of contractual terms, or that the instrument may not perform as expected. Additionally, while LEPOs may be listed on an exchange, there is no guaranty that a liquid market will exist or that the
counterparty or issuer of a LEPO will be willing to repurchase the LEPO when the Portfolio wishes to sell it. A discussion of the risk factors relating to derivatives is set out in the sub-section entitled “Risk
Factors In Derivatives”.
OPTIONS ON SECURITIES AND SECURITIES
INDEXES.
A Portfolio may invest in options on individual securities, baskets of securities 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.
Types of Options.
A Portfolio 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 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” below.
A Portfolio will write only
“covered” options. A written option is covered if, so long as a Portfolio is obligated the option, it (1) owns an offsetting position in the underlying security or currency or (2) segregates cash or other
liquid assets, in an amount equal to or greater than its obligation under the option.
CALL OPTIONS.
A Portfolio may purchase call options on any of the types of securities or instruments in which it may invest. A call option gives a Portfolio the right to buy, and obligates the seller to
sell, the underlying security at the exercise price at any time during the option period. A Portfolio 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.
Each Portfolio 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 a Portfolio either owns an offsetting position in the underlying security or currency, or the Portfolio segregates cash or other liquid assets in an amount equal to or greater than its obligation under the
option. 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, a
Portfolio 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, a Portfolio's ability to sell the
underlying security will be limited while the option is in effect unless the Portfolio enters into a closing purchase transaction. A closing purchase transaction cancels out a Portfolio'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.
PUT OPTIONS.
A Portfolio 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, a Portfolio acquires a right to sell
such underlying securities or instruments at the exercise price, thus limiting the Portfolio'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 a Portfolio'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. A Portfolio also may purchase uncovered put options.
Each Portfolio may write (i.e.,
sell) put options on the types of securities or instruments that may be held by the Portfolio, provided that such put options are covered, meaning that such options are secured by segregated, liquid instruments. A
Portfolio will receive a premium for writing a put option, which increases the Portfolio's return. A Portfolio will not sell puts if, as a result, more than 25% of the Portfolio's net assets would be required to cover
its potential obligations under its hedging and other investment transactions.
FUTURES.
A Portfolio 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 a Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 a Portfolio'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, a Portfolio 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 a Portfolio from having to pay more for securities as a consequence of increases in the market value for such securities during a period when the Portfolio was attempting to identify specific securities in
which to invest in a market the Portfolio believes to be attractive. In the event that such securities decline in value or a Portfolio determines not to complete an anticipatory hedge transaction relating to a futures
contract, however, the Portfolio may realize a loss relating to the futures position.
A Portfolio 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 Portfolio entered into futures transactions. A Portfolio 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, a Portfolio 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
Portfolio intends to purchase.
A Portfolio may only write
“covered” put and call options on futures contracts. A Portfolio will be considered “covered” with respect to a call option it writes on a futures contract if the Portfolio 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. A Portfolio
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
Portfolio with its custodian with respect to such option). There is no limitation on the amount of a Portfolio's assets that can be segregated.
With respect to futures contracts
that are not legally required to “cash settle,” a Portfolio may cover the open position by setting aside or earmarking liquid assets in an amount equal to the market value of the futures contact. With
respect to futures that are required to “cash settle,” however, a Portfolio is permitted to set aside or earmark liquid assets in an amount equal to the Portfolio's daily marked to market (net) obligation,
if any, (in other words, the Portfolio's daily net liability, if any) rather than the market value of the futures contract. By setting aside assets equal to only its net obligation under cash-settled futures, a
Portfolio will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if the Portfolio were required to segregate assets equal to the full market value of the futures contract.
Each Portfolio,
except the AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio, the AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio, the Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio, and the AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio, has filed a
notice of exemption from regulation as a “commodity pool,” and the Investment Manager has filed a notice of exemption from registration as a “commodity pool operator” with respect to each
Portfolio, under applicable rules issued by the CFTC under the Commodity Exchange Act (the CEA). In order to continue to claim the “commodity pool” exemption, a Portfolio is limited in its ability to use
futures, options and swaps subject to regulation under the CEA for purposes other than bona fide hedging, which is narrowly defined. With respect to transactions other than for bona fide hedging purposes, either: (1)
the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish a Portfolio’s positions in such investments may not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the Portfolio’s assets, or (2) the aggregate net
notional value of such instruments may not exceed 100% of the liquidation value of the Portfolio’s assets. In addition to meeting one of the foregoing trading limitations, a Portfolio may not market itself as a
commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the futures, options or swaps markets.
Based on the trading strategies for
the AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio, the AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio, the Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio, and the AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio, each shall be
considered a “commodity pool” and the Investment Managers shall be considered a “commodity pool operator” with respect to the Portfolio under the CEA. Compliance with applicable CFTC
disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping regulations may increase the Portfolios’ gross expenses.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS.
A Portfolio may engage in spot and forward foreign exchange transactions and currency swaps, purchase and sell options on currencies and purchase and sell currency futures and related
options thereon (collectively, Currency Instruments) for purposes of hedging against the decline in the value of currencies in which its portfolio holdings are denominated against the US dollar or to seek to enhance
returns. Such transactions could be effected with respect to hedges on non-US dollar denominated securities owned by a Portfolio, sold by a Portfolio but not yet delivered, or committed or anticipated to be purchased
by a Portfolio. As an illustration, a Portfolio may use such techniques to hedge the stated value in US dollars of an investment in a yen-denominated security. In such circumstances, for example, the Portfolio may
purchase a foreign currency put option enabling it to sell a specified amount of yen for dollars at a specified price by a future date. To the extent the hedge is successful, a loss in the value of the yen relative to
the dollar will tend to be offset by an increase in the value of the put option. To
offset, in whole or in part, the cost of acquiring
such a put option, the Portfolio may also sell a call option which, if exercised, requires it to sell a specified amount of yen for dollars at a specified price by a future date (a technique called a straddle). By
selling such a call option in this illustration, the Portfolio gives up the opportunity to profit without limit from increases in the relative value of the yen to the dollar. “Straddles” of the type that
may be used by a Portfolio are considered to constitute hedging transactions and are consistent with the policies described above.
FORWARD FOREIGN EXCHANGE
TRANSACTIONS.
Forward foreign exchange transactions are OTC contracts to purchase or sell a specified amount of a specified currency or multinational currency unit at a price and future date set at the
time of the contract. Spot foreign exchange transactions are similar but require current, rather than future, settlement. A Portfolio will enter into foreign exchange transactions for purposes of hedging either a
specific transaction or a portfolio position to seek to enhance returns. A Portfolio may enter into a foreign exchange transaction for purposes of hedging a specific transaction by, for example, purchasing a currency
needed to settle a security transaction or selling a currency in which the Portfolio has received or anticipates receiving a dividend or distribution. A Portfolio may enter into a foreign exchange transaction for
purposes of hedging a portfolio position by selling forward a currency in which a portfolio position of the Portfolio is denominated or by purchasing a currency in which the Portfolio anticipates acquiring a portfolio
position in the near future. A Portfolio may also hedge portfolio positions through currency swaps, which are transactions in which one currency is simultaneously bought for a second currency on a spot basis and sold
for the second currency on a forward basis. Forward foreign exchange transactions involve substantial currency risk, and also involve credit and liquidity risk.
CURRENCY FUTURES.
A Portfolio may also seek to enhance returns or hedge against the decline in the value of a currency against the US dollar through use of currency futures or options thereon. Currency
futures are similar to forward foreign exchange transactions except that futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts. See “Futures” above. Currency futures involve substantial currency risk, and
also involve leverage risk.
CURRENCY OPTIONS.
A Portfolio may also seek to enhance returns or hedge against the decline in the value of a currency against the US dollar through the use of currency options. Currency options are similar
to options on securities, but in consideration for an option premium the writer of a currency option is obligated to sell (in the case of a call option) or purchase (in the case of a put option) a specified amount of
a specified currency on or before the expiration date for a specified amount of another currency. A Portfolio may engage in transactions in options on currencies either on exchanges or OTC markets. See “Types of
Options” above and “Additional Risk Factors of OTC Transactions; Limitations on the Use of OTC Derivatives” below. Currency options involve substantial currency risk, and may also involve credit,
leverage or liquidity risk.
LIMITATIONS ON CURRENCY
HEDGING.
Most Portfolios will not speculate in Currency Instruments although a Portfolio may use such instruments to seek to enhance returns. Accordingly, except for portfolios managed by PIMCO, a
Portfolio will not hedge a currency in excess of the aggregate market value of the securities that it owns (including receivables for unsettled securities sales), or has committed to or anticipates purchasing, which
are denominated in such currency. A Portfolio may, however, hedge a currency by entering into a transaction in a Currency Instrument denominated in a currency other than the currency being hedged (a
“cross-hedge”). A Portfolio will only enter into a cross-hedge if the Investment Manager believes that (i) there is a demonstrable high correlation between the currency in which the cross-hedge is
denominated and the currency being hedged, and (ii) executing a cross-hedge through the currency in which the cross-hedge is denominated will be significantly more cost-effective or provide substantially greater
liquidity than executing a similar hedging transaction by means of the currency being hedged.
RISK FACTORS IN HEDGING FOREIGN
CURRENCY RISKS.
Hedging transactions involving Currency Instruments involve substantial risks, including correlation risk. While a Portfolio's use of Currency Instruments to effect hedging strategies is
intended to reduce the volatility of the net asset value of the Portfolio's shares, the net asset value of the Portfolio's shares will fluctuate. Moreover, although Currency Instruments will be used with the intention
of hedging against adverse currency movements, transactions in Currency Instruments involve the risk that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted and that the Portfolio's hedging strategies
will be ineffective. To the extent that a Portfolio hedges against anticipated currency movements that do not occur, the Portfolio may realize losses and decrease its total return as the result of its hedging
transactions. Furthermore, a Portfolio may only engage in hedging activities from time to time and may not be engaging in hedging activities when movements in currency exchange rates occur.
In connection with its trading in
forward foreign currency contracts, a Portfolio will contract with a foreign or domestic bank, or foreign or domestic securities dealer, to make or take future delivery of a specified amount of a particular currency.
There are no limitations on daily price moves in such forward contracts, and banks and dealers are not required to continue to make markets in such contracts. There have been periods during which certain banks or
dealers have refused to quote prices for such forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread between the price at which the bank or dealer is prepared to buy and that at which it is prepared to
sell. Governmental imposition of credit controls might limit any such forward contract trading. With respect to
its trading of forward contracts, if any, a
Portfolio will be subject to the risk of bank or dealer failure and the inability of, or refusal by, a bank or dealer to perform with respect to such contracts. Any such default would deprive the Portfolio of any
profit potential or force the Portfolio to cover its commitments for resale, if any, at the then market price and could result in a loss to the Portfolio.
It may not be possible for a
Portfolio to hedge against currency exchange rate movements, even if correctly anticipated, in the event that (i) the currency exchange rate movement is so generally anticipated that the Portfolio is not able to enter
into a hedging transaction at an effective price, or (ii) the currency exchange rate movement relates to a market with respect to which Currency Instruments are not available and it is not possible to engage in
effective foreign currency hedging. The cost to a Portfolio of engaging in foreign currency transactions varies with such factors as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period and the market conditions
then prevailing. Since transactions in foreign currency exchange usually are conducted on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved.
RISK FACTORS IN DERIVATIVES.
Derivatives are volatile and involve significant risks, including:
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.
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, a Portfolio will experience a gain or loss that will not be completely offset by
movements in the value of the hedged instruments.
A Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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.
FOREIGN INVESTMENT RISKS.
A Portfolio may invest in foreign equity and/or debt securities. Foreign debt securities include certain foreign bank obligations and US dollar or foreign currency-denominated obligations
of foreign governments or their subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities, international agencies and supranational entities.
Foreign Market Risk.
Portfolios that may invest in foreign securities offer the potential for more diversification than a Portfolio that invests only in the United States because securities traded on foreign
markets have often (though not always) performed differently than securities in the United States. However, such investments involve special risks not present in US investments that can increase the chances that a
Portfolio will lose money. In particular, a Portfolio is subject to the risk that, because there are generally fewer investors on foreign exchanges and a smaller number of shares traded each day, it may be difficult
for the Portfolio to buy and sell securities on those exchanges. In addition, prices of foreign securities may fluctuate more than prices of securities traded in the United States.
Foreign Economy Risk.
The economies of certain foreign markets often do not compare favorably with that of the United States with respect to such issues as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of
capital, resources, and balance of payments position. Certain such economies may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic
sanctions against a particular country or countries, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely
affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets, or the imposition of punitive taxes. In addition, the governments of
certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain industries. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair a
Portfolio's ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer the Portfolio's assets or income back into the United States, or otherwise adversely affect a Portfolio's operations. Other foreign market risks
include foreign exchange controls, difficulties in pricing securities, defaults on foreign government securities, difficulties in enforcing favorable legal judgments in foreign courts, and political and social
instability. Legal remedies available to investors in certain foreign countries may be less extensive than those available to investors in the United States or other foreign countries.
Currency Risk and Exchange
Risk.
Securities in which a Portfolio invests may be denominated or quoted in currencies other than the US dollar. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates will affect the value of a
Portfolio's portfolio. Generally, when the US dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency loses value because the currency is worth fewer US dollars. Conversely, when the
US dollar decreases in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency gains value because the currency is worth more US dollars. This risk, generally known as “currency risk,”
means that a stronger US dollar will reduce returns for US investors while a weak US dollar will increase those returns.
Governmental Supervision and
Regulation/Accounting Standards.
Many foreign governments supervise and regulate stock exchanges, brokers and the sale of securities less than does the United States. Some countries may not have laws to protect investors
comparable to the US securities laws. For example, some foreign countries may have no laws or rules against insider trading. Insider trading occurs when a person buys or sells a company's securities based on nonpublic
information about that company. Accounting standards in other countries are not necessarily the same as in the United States. If the accounting standards in another country do not require as much detail as US
accounting standards, it may be harder for Portfolio management to completely and accurately determine a company's financial condition.
Certain Risks of Holding Portfolio
Assets Outside the United States.
A Portfolio generally holds its foreign securities and cash in foreign banks and securities depositories. Some foreign banks and securities depositories may be recently organized or new to
the foreign custody business. In addition, there may be limited or no regulatory oversight over their operations. Also, the laws of certain countries may put limits on a Portfolio's ability to recover its assets if a
foreign bank or depository or issuer of a security or any of their agents goes bankrupt. In addition, it is often more expensive for a Portfolio to buy, sell and hold securities in certain foreign markets than in the
United States. The increased expense of investing in foreign markets reduces the amount a Portfolio can earn on its investments and typically results in a higher operating expense ratio for the Portfolio as compared
to investment companies that invest only in the United States.
Settlement Risk.
Settlement and clearance procedures in certain foreign markets differ significantly from those in the United States. Foreign settlement procedures and trade regulations also may involve
certain risks (such as delays in payment for or delivery of securities) not typically generated by the settlement of US investments. Communications between the United States and emerging market countries may be
unreliable, increasing the risk of delayed settlements or losses of security certificates. Settlements in certain foreign countries at times have not kept pace with the number of securities transactions; these
problems may make it difficult for a Portfolio to carry out transactions. If a Portfolio cannot settle or is delayed in settling a purchase of securities, it may miss attractive investment opportunities and certain of
its assets may be uninvested with no return earned thereon for some period. If a Portfolio cannot settle or is delayed in settling a sale of securities, it may lose money if the value of the security then declines or,
if it has contracted to sell the security to another party, the Portfolio could be liable to that party for any losses incurred.
Dividends or interest on, or
proceeds from the sale of, foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, thereby reducing the amount available for distribution to shareholders.
Certain transactions in Derivatives
(such as futures transactions or sales of put options) involve substantial leverage risk and may expose a Portfolio to potential losses, which exceed the amount originally invested by the Portfolio. When a Portfolio
engages in such a transaction, the Portfolio will deposit in a segregated account at its custodian liquid securities with a value at least equal to the Portfolio's exposure, on a mark-to-market basis, to the
transaction (as calculated pursuant to requirements of the Commission). Such segregation will ensure that a Portfolio has assets available to satisfy its obligations with respect to the transaction, but will not limit
the Portfolio'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 a Portfolio to sell such instruments promptly at an acceptable price. The absence of liquidity may also make it more difficult for a Portfolio to ascertain a market value for such instruments. A
Portfolio 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 Investment Manager anticipates the Portfolio 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 a Portfolio has unrealized gains in such instruments or has deposited collateral
with its counterparty the Portfolio is at risk that its counterparty will become bankrupt or otherwise fail to honor its obligations. A Portfolio 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
Portfolio with a third-party guaranty or other credit enhancement.
RECENT EVENTS IN EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES
. A number of countries in Europe have experienced severe economic and financial difficulties. Many non-governmental issuers, and even certain governments, have defaulted on, or been forced
to restructure, their debts; many other issuers have faced difficulties obtaining credit or refinancing existing obligations; financial institutions have in many cases required government or central bank support, have
needed to raise capital, and/or have been impaired in their ability to extend credit; and financial markets in Europe and elsewhere have experienced extreme volatility and declines in asset values and liquidity. These
difficulties may continue, worsen or spread within and without Europe. Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may
result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and others of their debt could have additional adverse
effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro, the common currency of the European Union, and/or withdraw from the European
Union. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear but could be significant and far-reaching. Whether or not the Portfolios invest in securities of issuers located in
Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Portfolios' investments.
DISTRESSED SECURITIES.
A Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Investment Managerof equivalent quality (Distressed Securities). Investment in Distressed Securities is speculative and involves significant risks. Distressed Securities frequently do not produce
income while they are outstanding and may require a Portfolio to bear certain extraordinary expenses in order to protect and recover its investment.
A Portfolio will generally make
such investments only when the Investment 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 Portfolio 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 a Portfolio 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 Portfolio will receive any interest payments on the Distressed Securities, the Portfolio will be subject to significant uncertainty as to whether or not the exchange offer or plan of reorganization will be
completed and the Portfolio 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 a Portfolio, there can be no assurance that the securities or other assets received by a Portfolio 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 a Portfolio upon completion of an exchange offer or plan of reorganization may be restricted
as to resale. As a result of a Portfolio's participation in negotiations with respect to any exchange offer or plan of reorganization with respect to an issuer of Distressed Securities, the Portfolio may be restricted
from disposing of such securities.
ILLIQUID OR RESTRICTED
SECURITIES.
Each Portfolio generally may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. An illiquid security is one that may not be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business
within seven days at approximately the price used to determine the Portfolio's net asset value. Illiquid securities include, but are not limited to, certain securities sold in private placements with restrictions on
resale and not traded, repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, and other investment determined not to be readily marketable. The 15% limit is applied as of the date the Portfolio purchases an illiquid
security. It is possible that a Portfolio's holding of illiquid securities could exceed the 15% limit, for example as a result of market developments or redemptions.
Each Portfolio may purchase certain
restricted securities that can be resold to institutional investors and which may be determined to be liquid pursuant to the procedures of the Portfolios. In many cases, those securities are traded in the
institutional market under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and are called Rule 144A securities. Securities determined to be liquid under these procedures are not subject to the 15% and 5% limits.
Investments in illiquid securities
involve more risks than investments in similar securities that are readily marketable. Illiquid securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid securities. Investment of a Portfolio's assets in
illiquid securities may restrict the ability of the Portfolio 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 a Portfolio's operations require cash, such as when a Portfolio has net redemptions, and could result in the Portfolio borrowing to meet short-term cash
requirements or incurring losses on the sale of illiquid investments.
Illiquid securities are often
restricted securities 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, the privately placed
securities may not be freely transferable under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction or due to contractual restrictions on resale. To the extent privately placed securities may be resold in privately negotiated
transactions, the prices realized from the sales could be less than those originally paid by the Portfolio or less than the fair value of the securities. 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 a Portfolio are required to
be registered under the securities laws of one or more jurisdictions before being resold, the Portfolio may be required to bear the expenses of registration. Private placement investments may involve investments in
smaller, less seasoned issuers, which may involve greater risks than investments in more established companies. 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 private placement securities, a Portfolio may obtain access to material non-public information, which may restrict the Portfolio's ability to conduct transactions
in those securities.
INVESTMENT IN EMERGING MARKETS.
A Portfolio may invest in the securities of issuers domiciled in various countries with emerging capital markets. Specifically, a country with an emerging capital market is any country
that the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the United Nations or its authorities has determined to have a low or middle income economy. Countries with emerging markets can be found in regions such as
Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Africa.
Investments in the securities of
issuers domiciled in countries with emerging capital markets involve certain additional risks not involved in investments in securities of issuers in more developed capital markets, such as (i) low or non-existent
trading volume, resulting in a lack of liquidity and increased volatility in prices for such securities, as compared to securities of comparable issuers in more developed capital markets, (ii) uncertain national
policies and social, political and economic instability, increasing the potential for expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, high rates of inflation or unfavorable diplomatic developments, (iii) possible
fluctuations in exchange rates, differing legal systems and the existence or possible imposition of exchange controls, custodial restrictions or other foreign or US governmental laws or restrictions applicable to such
investments, (iv) national policies that may limit a Portfolio's investment opportunities such as restrictions on investment in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to national interests, and (v) the lack or
relatively early development of legal structures governing private and foreign investments and private property. In addition to withholding taxes on investment income, some countries with emerging markets may impose
differential capital gains taxes on foreign investors.
Such capital markets are emerging
in a dynamic political and economic environment brought about by events over recent years that have reshaped political boundaries and traditional ideologies. In such a dynamic environment, there can be no assurance
that these capital markets will continue to present viable investment opportunities for a Portfolio. In the past, governments of such nations have expropriated substantial amounts of private property, and most claims
of the property owners have never been fully settled. There is no assurance that such expropriations will not reoccur. In such an event, it is possible that a Portfolio could lose the entire value of its investments
in the affected markets.
Also, there may be less publicly
available information about issuers in emerging markets than would be available about issuers in more developed capital markets, and such issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting
standards and requirements comparable to those to which US companies are subject. In certain countries with emerging capital markets, reporting standards vary widely. As a result, traditional investment measurements
used in the United States, such as price/earnings ratios, may not be applicable. Emerging market securities may be substantially less liquid and more volatile than those of mature markets, and companies may be held by
a limited number of persons. This may adversely affect the timing and pricing of the Portfolio's acquisition or disposal of securities.
Practices in relation to settlement
of securities transactions in emerging markets involve higher risks than those in developed markets, in part because a Portfolio will need to use brokers and counterparties that are less well capitalized, and custody
and registration of assets in some countries may be unreliable. The possibility of fraud, negligence, undue influence being exerted by the issuer or refusal to recognize ownership exists in some emerging markets, and,
along with other factors, could result in ownership registration being completely lost. A Portfolio would absorb any loss resulting from such registration problems and may have no successful claim for compensation.
Restrictions on Certain
Investments.
A number of publicly traded closed-end investment companies have been organized to facilitate indirect foreign investment in developing countries, and certain of such countries, such as
Thailand, South Korea, Chile and Brazil have specifically authorized such Portfolios. There also are investment opportunities in certain of such countries in pooled vehicles that resemble open-end investment
companies. In accordance with the 1940 Act, a Portfolio may invest up to 10% of its total assets in securities of other investment companies, not more than 5% of which may be invested in any one such company. In
addition, under the 1940 Act, a Portfolio may not own more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of any investment company. These
restrictions on investments in securities of
investment companies may limit opportunities for a Portfolio to invest indirectly in certain developing countries. New shares of certain investment companies may at times be acquired only at market prices representing
premiums to their net asset values. If a Portfolio acquires shares of other investment companies, shareholders would bear both their proportionate share of expenses of the Portfolio (including management and advisory
fees) and, indirectly, the expenses of such other investment companies. SEE ALSO “INVESTMENTS IN OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES.”
Restrictions on Foreign Investments
in Asia-Pacific Countries.
Some developing Asia-Pacific countries prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on investments in their capital markets, particularly their equity markets, by foreign entities such as a
Portfolio. As illustrations, certain countries may require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons or limit the amount of investment by foreign persons in a particular company or limit the
investment by foreign persons to only a specific class of securities of a company which may have less advantageous terms (including price) than securities of the company available for purchase by nationals. There can
be no assurance that a Portfolio will be able to obtain required governmental approvals in a timely manner. In addition, changes to restrictions on foreign ownership of securities subsequent to a Portfolio's purchase
of such securities may have an adverse effect on the value of such shares. Certain countries may restrict investment opportunities in issuers or industries deemed important to national interests.
The manner in which foreign
investors may invest in companies in certain developing Asia-Pacific countries, as well as limitations on such investments, also may have an adverse impact on the operations of a Portfolio. For example, a Portfolio
may be required in certain of such countries to invest initially through a local broker or other entity and then have the shares purchased re-registered in the name of the Portfolio. Re-registration may in some
instances not be able to occur on a timely basis, resulting in a delay during which a Portfolio may be denied certain of its rights as an investor, including rights as to dividends or to be made aware of certain
corporate actions. There also may be instances where a Portfolio places a purchase order but is subsequently informed, at the time of re-registration, that the permissible allocation of the investment to foreign
investors has been filled, depriving the Portfolio of the ability to make its desired investment at that time.
Substantial limitations may exist
in certain countries with respect to a Portfolio's ability to repatriate investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. A Portfolio could be adversely affected by delays in, or
a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the application to the Portfolio of any restrictions on investments. For example, in September 1998, Malaysia imposed
currency controls that limited a Portfolio's ability to repatriate proceeds of Malaysian investments. It is possible that Malaysia, or certain other countries may impose similar restrictions or other restrictions
relating to their currencies or to securities of issuers in those countries. To the extent that such restrictions have the effect of making certain investments illiquid, securities may not be available to meet
redemptions. Depending on a variety of financial factors, the percentage of a Portfolio's portfolio subject to currency controls may increase. In the event other countries impose similar controls, the portion of the
Portfolio's assets that may be used to meet redemptions may be further decreased. Even where there is no outright restriction on repatriation of capital, the mechanics of repatriation may affect certain aspects of the
operations of a Portfolio. For example, Portfolios may be withdrawn from the People's Republic of China only in US or Hong Kong dollars and only at an exchange rate established by the government once each week. In
certain countries, banks or other financial institutions may be among the leading companies or have actively traded securities. The 1940 Act restricts a Portfolio's investments in any equity securities of an issuer
that, in its most recent fiscal year, derived more than 15% of its revenues from “securities related activities,” as defined by the rules thereunder. These provisions may restrict a Portfolio's investments
in certain foreign banks and other financial institutions.
INVESTMENT IN OTHER INVESTMENT
COMPANIES.
Each Portfolio may invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds. In accordance with the 1940 Act, a Portfolio may invest up to 10% of its total assets in
securities of other investment companies. In addition, under the 1940 Act, a Portfolio 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
Portfolio'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, a Portfolio may invest in other investment companies without regard to the limits set forth above, provided that the Portfolio complies with Rules 12d1-1, 12d1-2 and 12d1-3 promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the 1940 Act or otherwise permitted by exemptive order, SEC releases, no-action letters or similar interpretation. As with other investments, investments in other investment
companies are subject to market and selection risk. In addition, if the Portfolio acquires shares in investment companies, shareholders would bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Portfolio (including
management and advisory fees) and, indirectly, the expenses of such investment companies (including management and advisory fees). Investments in a Portfolio in wholly-owned investment companies 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 Investment 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 a Portfolio. The major risks in junk bond
investments include the following:
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Junk bonds are issued by less credit worthy 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.
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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.
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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.
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Junk bonds frequently have redemption features that permit an issuer to repurchase the security from a Portfolio before it matures. If an issuer redeems the junk bonds, a Portfolio may have to invest the proceeds in
bonds with lower yields and may lose income.
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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.
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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 a Portfolio's portfolio securities than in the case of securities trading in a more liquid
market.
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A Portfolio may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms with a defaulting issuer.
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MONEY MARKET INSTRUMENTS.
A Portfolio may invest in money market instruments. Money market instruments include cash equivalents and short-term obligations of US banks, certificates of deposit, short-term
obligations issued or guaranteed by the US 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 US, 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 similar agreements issued by, US and foreign corporations.
MONEY MARKET FUND REFORM.
In July 2014, the SEC adopted amendments to Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-7 imposes quality, liquidity and other requirements on any registered mutual fund that holds itself out to
the public as a money market fund. Compliance with the various provisions of the amendments will take effect over the course of 2015 and 2016. The new regulations will impact money market funds differently depending
upon the types of investors that will be permitted to invest in a fund, and the types of securities in which a fund may invest.
“Retail” money market
funds will have policies and procedures reasonably designed to limit their beneficial owners to natural persons. All other money market funds will be considered to be “institutional” money market funds.
Retail and institutional money market funds will be further classified by their investments. “Prime” money market funds will be permitted to invest primarily in corporate or other non-government
securities, “US government” money market funds will be required to invest a very high percentage of their assets in US government securities and “municipal” money market funds will be required
to invest significantly in municipal securities.
Under the revised rule,
institutional prime money market funds and institutional municipal money market funds will be required to value their portfolio securities using market-based factors, and sell and redeem shares at prices based on a
floating net asset value. A floating net asset value will be calculated by rounding to the fourth decimal place in the case of a money market fund with a $1.0000 share price. Retail money market funds and
institutional US government money market funds will not be subject to the floating net asset value requirement.
Under the revised rule, any type of
money market fund will be permitted to impose a discretionary liquidity fee of up to 2% on redemptions or temporarily suspend redemptions (also known as “gate”) if the money market fund’s weekly
liquid assets (as defined in Rule 2a-7) fall below 30% of the fund’s total assets and the money market fund’s board of trustees determines that the fee or gate is in the fund’s best interests. Once
imposed, a discretionary liquidity fee or redemption gate will remain in effect until the fund’s board of trustees determines that the fee or gate is no longer in the fund’s best interests or the next
business day after the fund’s weekly liquid assets return to 30% of the fund’s total assets, whichever occurs first. Regardless, the redemption gate will be required to be lifted no later than the 10th
business day after the gate is imposed, and a money market fund may not impose a redemption gate for more than 10 business days in any rolling 90-calendar day period.
Under the revised rule, any type of
money market fund (except for US government money market funds) will be required to impose a liquidity fee of 1% on all redemptions if the money market fund’s weekly liquid assets (as defined in Rule 2a-7) fall
below 10% of the fund’s total assets, unless the fund’s board of trustees determines that the fee is not in the fund’s best interests, or that a lower or higher (up to 2%) liquidity fee is in the
fund’s best interests.
Other requirements of the revised
rule include enhanced website disclosure obligations, the adoption of a new form for disclosure of certain material events (such as the imposition of liquidity fees or redemption gates), stronger diversification
requirements and enhanced stress testing.
As a result of the revised rule,
money market funds will be required to implement changes that will impact and may adversely affect the money market funds and their investors. The extent of any future changes to the management or operation of money
market funds resulting from the requirements of the revised rule are under evaluation and consideration by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and by PI, but have not yet been determined.
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 a Portfolio. 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 a Portfolio for its mortgage-backed securities, the yield the Portfolio 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 a Portfolio reinvests the proceeds of a
prepayment in these circumstances, it will likely receive a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on the security that was prepaid.
To the extent that a Portfolio
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 a Portfolio 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 Portfolio. Under certain interest rate and prepayment scenarios, a Portfolio 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, such as Freddie
Mac or Fannie Mae, 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. While certain mortgage-related securities receive
government or private support, there is no assurance that such support will remain in place in the future. Additionally, mortgage-backed securities issued by government agencies or sponsored enterprises like Freddie
Mac or Fannie Mae 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.
In September 2008, the US Treasury
placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under conservatorship and appointed the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to manage their daily operations. In addition, the US Treasury entered into purchase agreements with
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to provide them with capital in exchange for senior preferred stock. Pass-through securities issued by Fannie Mae are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by Fannie Mae.
Participation certificates representing interests in mortgages from Freddie Mac’s national portfolio are guaranteed as to the timely payment of interest and principal by Freddie Mac. Private, government, or
government-related entities may create mortgage loan pools offering pass-through investments in addition to those described above. The mortgages underlying these securities may be alternative mortgage instruments
(that is, mortgage instruments whose principal or interest payments may vary or whose terms to maturity may be shorter than customary).
MUNICIPAL SECURITIES.
A Portfolio may, from time to time, invest in municipal bonds including general obligation and 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. A Portfolio may also invest in municipal notes including tax, revenue and bond anticipation notes which are issued to obtain Portfolios for various public
purposes.
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 over-the-counter 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 a Portfolio 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 a Portfolio to maintain a stable NAV per share and to sell an obligation prior to maturity at a price approximating the full principal amount of the obligation.
Variable or floating rate
securities include participation interests therein and inverse floaters. Floating rate securities normally have a rate of interest that is set as a specific percentage of a designated base rate, such as the rate on
Treasury Bonds or Bills. The interest rate on floating rate securities changes whenever there is a change in the designated base interest rate. Variable rate securities provide for a specific periodic adjustment in
the interest rate based on prevailing market rates and generally would allow a Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 a degree of 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. For
additional information relating to inverse floaters, please see “Indexed and Inverse Securities.”
REAL ESTATE RELATED SECURITIES.
Although no Portfolio may invest directly in real estate, a Portfolio may invest in equity securities of issuers that are principally engaged in the real estate industry. Therefore, an
investment in such a Portfolio is subject to certain risks associated with the ownership of real estate and with the real estate industry in general. These risks include, among others: possible declines in the value
of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions; possible lack of availability of mortgage Portfolios or other limitations on access to capital; overbuilding; risks associated with leverage;
market illiquidity; extended vacancies of properties; increase in competition, property taxes, capital expenditures and operating expenses; changes in zoning laws or other governmental regulation; costs resulting from
the clean-up of, and liability to third parties for damages resulting from, environmental problems; tenant bankruptcies or other credit problems; casualty or condemnation losses; uninsured damages from floods,
earthquakes or other natural disasters; limitations on and variations in rents, including decreases in market rates for rents; investment in developments that are not completed or that are subject to delays in
completion; and changes in interest rates. To the extent that assets underlying a Portfolio's investments are concentrated geographically, by property type or in certain other respects, the Portfolio may be subject to
certain of the foregoing risks to a greater extent. Investments by a Portfolio in securities of companies providing mortgage servicing will be subject to the risks associated with refinancings and their impact on
servicing rights. In addition, if a Portfolio receives rental income or income from the disposition of real property acquired as a result of a default on securities the Portfolio owns, the receipt of such income may
adversely affect the Portfolio's ability to retain its tax status as a regulated investment company because of certain income source requirements applicable to regulated investment companies under the Code.
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS
(REITS).
Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the
value of the underlying property owned by the REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills, may not be diversified geographically or by
property type, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers and self-liquidation. REITs must also meet certain requirements under the Code to avoid entity level tax and be eligible to
pass-through certain tax attributes of their income to shareholders. REITs are consequently subject to the risk of failing to meet these requirements for favorable tax treatment and of failing to maintain their
exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act. REITs are also subject to the risks of changes in the Code, affecting their tax status.
REITs (especially mortgage REITs)
are also subject to interest rate risks. When interest rates decline, the value of a REIT's investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REIT's
investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. In contrast, as interest rates on adjustable rate mortgage loans are reset periodically, yields on a REIT's investments in such loans will gradually
align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates, causing the value of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate
obligations.
Investing in certain REITs involves
risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. These REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt
or erratic price movements than larger company securities. Historically, small capitalization stocks, such as these REITs, have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P
500 Index. The management of a REIT may be subject to conflicts of interest with respect to the operation of the business of the REIT and may be involved in real estate activities competitive with the REIT. REITs may
own properties through joint ventures or in other circumstances in which the REIT may not have control over its investments. REITs may incur significant amounts of leverage.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS.
A Portfolio may invest in securities pursuant to repurchase agreements. A Portfolio will enter into repurchase agreements only with parties meeting creditworthiness standards as set forth
in the Portfolio's repurchase agreement procedures.
Under such agreements, the other
party agrees, upon entering into the contract with a Portfolio, 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, a Portfolio 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 Portfolio but only constitute collateral for the seller's obligation to pay the repurchase price. Therefore,
the Portfolio may suffer time delays and incur costs or possible losses in connection with disposition of the collateral.
A Portfolio may participate in a
joint repurchase agreement account with other investment companies managed by PI pursuant to an order of the Commission. On a daily basis, any uninvested cash balances of the Portfolio may be aggregated with those of
such investment companies and invested in one or more repurchase agreements. Each Portfolio participates in the income earned or accrued in the joint account based on the percentage of its investment.
DOLLAR ROLLS.
A Portfolio may enter into dollar rolls. In a dollar roll, a Portfolio sells securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar
(same type and coupon) securities on a specified future date from the same party. During the roll period, a Portfolio foregoes principal and interest paid on the securities. A Portfolio is compensated by the
difference between the current sale price and the forward price for the future purchase (often referred to as the drop) as well as by the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. The Portfolio will
establish a segregated account in which it will maintain cash or other liquid assets, marked to market daily, having a value equal to its obligations in respect of dollar rolls.
Dollar rolls involve the risk that
the market value of the securities retained by the Portfolio may decline below the price of the securities, the Portfolio has sold but is obligated to repurchase under the agreement. In the event the buyer of
securities under a dollar roll files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the Portfolio's use of the proceeds of the agreement may be restricted pending a determination by the other party, or its trustee or receiver,
whether to enforce the Portfolio's obligation to repurchase the securities. Cash proceeds from dollar rolls may be invested in cash or other liquid assets.
SECURITIES LENDING.
Unless otherwise noted, a Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions subject to applicable regulatory requirements and guidance,
including the requirements that: (1) the aggregate market value of securities loaned will not at any time exceed 33 1/3% of the total assets of the Portfolio; (2) the borrower pledge and maintain with the Portfolio
collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government having at all times a value of not less than 100% of the value of the securities lent; and (3)
the loan be made subject to termination by the Portfolio at any time. Prudential Investment Management, Inc. (PIM), an affiliate of the Investment Manager, serves as securities lending agent for each Portfolio, and in
that role administers each Portfolio’s securities lending program. As compensation for these services, PIM receives a portion of any amounts earned by the Portfolio through lending securities.
A Portfolio may invest the cash
collateral and/or it may receive a fee from the borrower. To the extent that cash collateral is invested, it will be invested in an affiliated money market fund and be subject to market depreciation or appreciation.
The Portfolio will be responsible for any loss that results from this investment of collateral.
On termination of the loan, the
borrower is required to return the securities to the Portfolio, and any gain or loss in the market price during the loan would inure to the Portfolio. If the borrower defaults on its obligation to return the
securities lent because of insolvency or other reasons, the Portfolio could experience delays and costs in recovering the securities lent or in gaining access to the collateral. In such situations, the Portfolio may
sell the collateral and purchase a replacement investment in the market. There is a risk that the value of the collateral could decrease below the value of the replacement investment by the time the replacement
investment is purchased.
During the time portfolio
securities are on loan, the borrower will pay the Portfolio an amount equivalent to any dividend or interest paid on such securities. Voting or consent rights which accompany loaned securities pass to the borrower.
However, all loans may be terminated at any time to facilitate the exercise of voting or other consent rights with respect to matters considered to be material. The Portfolio bears the risk that there may be a delay
in the return of the securities which may impair the Portfolio’s ability to exercise such rights.
SECURITIES OF SMALLER OR EMERGING
GROWTH COMPANIES.
Investment in smaller or emerging growth companies involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investments in more established companies. The securities of smaller or
emerging growth companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than larger, more established companies or the market average in general. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or
financial resources, or they may be dependent on a limited management group.
While smaller or emerging growth
company issuers may offer greater opportunities for capital appreciation than large cap issuers, investments in smaller or emerging growth companies may involve greater risks and thus may be considered speculative.
The Investment Manager believes that properly selected companies of this type have the potential to increase their earnings or market valuation at a rate substantially in excess of the general growth of the economy.
Full development of these companies and trends frequently takes time.
Small cap and emerging growth
securities will often be traded only in the over-the-counter market or on a regional securities exchange and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of trading on a national securities exchange. As a
result, the disposition by a Portfolio of portfolio securities to meet redemptions or otherwise may require a Portfolio to make many small sales over a lengthy period of time, or to sell these securities at a discount
from market prices or during periods when, in the Investment Manager’s judgment, such disposition is not desirable.
While the process of selection and
continuous supervision by the Investment Manager does not, of course, guarantee successful investment results, it does provide access to an asset class not available to the average individual due to the time and cost
involved. Careful initial selection is particularly important in this area as many new enterprises have promise but lack certain of the factors necessary to prosper. Investing in small cap and emerging growth
companies requires specialized research and analysis. In addition, many investors cannot invest sufficient assets in such companies to provide wide diversification.
Small companies are generally
little known to most individual investors although some may be dominant in their respective industries. The Investment Manager believes that relatively small companies will continue to have the opportunity to develop
into significant business enterprises. A Portfolio may invest in securities of small issuers in the relatively early stages of business development that have a new technology, a unique or proprietary product or
service, or a favorable market position. Such companies may not be counted upon to develop into major industrial companies, but Portfolio management believes that eventual recognition of their special value
characteristics by the investment community can provide above-average long-term growth to the portfolio.
Equity securities of specific small
cap issuers may present different opportunities for long-term capital appreciation during varying portions of economic or securities markets cycles, as well as during varying stages of their business development. The
market valuation of small cap issuers tends to fluctuate during economic or market cycles, presenting attractive investment opportunities at various points during these cycles.
Smaller companies, due to the size
and kinds of markets that they serve, may be less susceptible than large companies to intervention from the Federal government by means of price controls, regulations or litigation.
SHORT SALES AND SHORT SALES
AGAINST-THE-BOX.
A Portfolio 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 Portfolio
does not own declines in value. When a Portfolio makes a short sale, it borrows the security sold short and delivers it to the broker-dealer through which it made the short sale. A Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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.
A Portfolio secures its obligation
to replace the borrowed security by depositing collateral with the broker-dealer, usually in cash, US Government securities or other liquid securities similar to those borrowed. With respect to the uncovered short
positions, a Portfolio is required to (1) 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) a Portfolio must otherwise cover its short position. Depending on arrangements made with the broker-dealer from which the Portfolio
borrowed the security, regarding payment over of any payments received by a Portfolio on such security, a Portfolio 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 a Portfolio to the risks associated with those securities, such short sales involve speculative exposure risk. As a result, if a
Portfolio makes short sales in securities that increase in value, it will likely underperform similar mutual Portfolios that do not make short sales in securities they do not own. A Portfolio 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 Portfolio replaces the borrowed security. A Portfolio will realize a gain if the security
declines in price between those dates. There can be no assurance that a Portfolio will be able to close out a short sale position at any particular time or at an acceptable price. Although a Portfolio'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.
A Portfolio may also make short
sales against-the-box. A short sale against-the-box is a short sale in which the Portfolio 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 a Portfolio's records or with its Custodian.
SOVEREIGN DEBT.
Investment in sovereign debt can involve a high degree of risk. The governmental entity that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be able or willing to repay the principal
and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt. A governmental entity's willingness or ability to repay principal and interest due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its
cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the
government entity's policy towards the International Monetary Portfolio and the political constraints to which a government entity may be subject. Governmental entities may also be dependent on expected disbursements
from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and others abroad to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies and others to make such
disbursements may be conditioned on the implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor's obligations. Failure to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of
economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of such third parties' commitments to lend Portfolios to the governmental entity, which may further impair such debtor's
ability or willingness to timely service its debts. Consequently, governmental entities may default on their sovereign debt. Holders of sovereign debt may be requested to participate in the rescheduling of such debt
and to extend further loans to government entities. In the event of a default by a governmental entity, there may be few or no effective legal remedies for collecting on such debt.
STANDBY COMMITMENT AGREEMENTS.
A Portfolio may enter into standby commitment agreements. These agreements commit a Portfolio, for a stated period of time, to purchase a stated amount of securities that may be issued and
sold to that Portfolio at the option of the issuer. The price of the security is fixed at the time of the commitment. At the time of entering into the agreement the Portfolio is paid a commitment fee, regardless of
whether or not the security is ultimately issued. A Portfolio will enter into such agreements for the purpose of investing in the security underlying the commitment at a price that is considered advantageous to the
Portfolio. A Portfolio will limit its investment in such commitments so that the aggregate purchase price of securities subject to such
commitments, together with the value of portfolio
securities subject to legal restrictions on resale that affect their marketability, will not exceed 15% of its net assets taken at the time of the commitment. A Portfolio segregates liquid assets in an aggregate
amount equal to the purchase price of the securities underlying the commitment. There can be no assurance that the securities subject to a standby commitment will be issued, and the value of the security, if issued,
on the delivery date may be more or less than its purchase price. Since the issuance of the security underlying the commitment is at the option of the issuer, the Portfolio may bear the risk of a decline in the value
of such security and may not benefit from any appreciation in the value of the security during the commitment period. The purchase of a security subject to a standby commitment agreement and the related commitment fee
will be recorded on the date on which the security can reasonably be expected to be issued, and the value of the security thereafter will be reflected in the calculation of a Portfolio's net asset value. The cost
basis of the security will be adjusted by the amount of the commitment fee. In the event the security is not issued, the commitment fee will be recorded as income on the expiration date of the standby commitment.
STRIPPED SECURITIES.
Stripped securities are created when the issuer separates the interest and principal components of an instrument and sells them as separate securities. In general, one security is entitled
to receive the interest payments on the underlying assets (the interest only or “IO” security) and the other to receive the principal payments (the principal only or “PO” security). Some
stripped securities may receive a combination of interest and principal payments. The yields to maturity on IOs and POs are sensitive to the expected or anticipated rate of principal payments (including prepayments)
on the related underlying assets, and principal payments may have a material effect on yield to maturity. If the underlying assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, a Portfolio may not
fully recoup its initial investment in IOs. Conversely, if the underlying assets experience less than anticipated prepayments of principal, the yield on POs could be adversely affected. Stripped securities may be
highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and rates of prepayment.
STRUCTURED NOTES.
A Portfolio may invest in structured notes. The values of the structured notes in which a Portfolio will invest may be linked to equity securities or equity indices or other instruments or
indices(reference instruments). These notes differ from other types of debt securities in several respects. The interest rate or principal amount payable at maturity may vary based on changes in the value of the
equity security, instrument, or index. A structured note may be positively or negatively indexed; that is, its value or interest rate may increase or decrease if the value of the reference instrument increases.
Similarly, its value may increase or decrease if the value of the reference instrument decreases. Further, the change in the principal amount payable with respect to, or the interest rate of, a structured note may be
a multiple of the percentage change (positive or negative) in the value of the underlying reference instrument(s).
Investments in structured notes
involve certain risks, including the credit risk of the issuer and the normal risks of price changes in response to changes in interest rates. Further, in the case of certain structured notes, a decline or increase in
the value of the reference instrument may cause the interest rate to be reduced to zero, and any further declines or increases in the reference instrument may then reduce the principal amount payable on maturity. The
percentage by which the value of the structured note decreases may be far greater than the percentage by which the value of the reference instrument increases or decreases. Finally, these securities may be less liquid
than other types of securities, and may be more volatile than their underlying reference instruments.
SUPRANATIONAL ENTITIES.
A Portfolio may invest in debt securities of supranational entities . Examples include the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), the European Steel and
Coal Community, the Asian Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. The government members, or “stockholders,” usually make initial capital contributions to the supranational entity and in
many cases are committed to make additional capital contributions if the supranational entity is unable to repay its borrowings.
TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE STRATEGY AND
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS.
Each Portfolio may temporarily invest without limit in money market instruments, including commercial paper of US corporations, certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and other
obligations of domestic banks, and obligations issued or guaranteed by the US government, its agencies or its instrumentalities, as part of a temporary defensive strategy or to maintain liquidity to meet redemptions.
Money market instruments typically have a maturity of one year or less as measured from the date of purchase.
A Portfolio also may temporarily
hold cash or invest in money market instruments pending investment of proceeds from new sales of Portfolio shares or during periods of portfolio restructuring.
TRACERS AND TRAINS.
Tradable Custodial Receipts or TRACERS represent an interest in a basket of investment grade corporate credits. Targeted Return Index Securities or TRAINS represent an interest in a basket
of high yield securities of varying credit quality. Interests in TRACERS and TRAINS provide a cost-effective alternative to purchasing individual issues.
WARRANTS AND RIGHTS.
Warrants and rights are securities permitting, but not obligating, the warrant holder to subscribe for other securities. Buying a warrant does not make a Portfolio a shareholder of the
underlying stock. The warrant holder has no right to dividends or votes on the underlying stock. A warrant does not carry any right to assets of the issuer, and for this reason investment in warrants may be more
speculative than other equity-based investments.
WHEN ISSUED SECURITIES, DELAYED
DELIVERY SECURITIES AND FORWARD COMMITMENTS.
A Portfolio may purchase or sell securities that it is entitled to receive on a when issued basis. A Portfolio 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 a Portfolio at an established price with payment and delivery taking place in the future. A Portfolio enters into these transactions
to obtain what is considered an advantageous price to the Portfolio at the time of entering into the transaction. No Portfolio has established any limit on the percentage of its assets that may be committed in
connection with these transactions. When a Portfolio purchases securities in these transactions, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio's purchase price. The Portfolio 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.
US GOVERNMENT SECURITIES.
A Portfolio may invest in adjustable rate and fixed rate US Government securities. US Government securities are instruments issued or guaranteed by the US Treasury or by an agency or
instrumentality of the US Government. US Government guarantees do not extend to the yield or value of the securities or a Portfolio's shares. Not all US 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.
US Treasury securities include
bills, notes, bonds and other debt securities issued by the US Treasury. These instruments are direct obligations of the US 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. US Government guarantees do not extend to the yield or value of the securities or a Portfolio's shares.
Securities issued by agencies of
the US Government or instrumentalities of the US 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 the Ginnie Mae, the Farmers Home Administration and the Small Business Administration 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, a Portfolio 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.
A Portfolio may also invest in
component parts of US 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 US Government obligations that have not actually been stripped. Such receipts evidence ownership of component parts of US 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. A Portfolio may also invest in custodial receipts held by a third party that are not US Government securities.
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES, PAY-IN-KIND
SECURITIES AND DEFERRED PAYMENT SECURITIES.
A Portfolio 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.
A Portfolio accrues income with
respect to these securities for Federal income tax and accounting purposes prior to the receipt of cash payments. Zero coupon 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
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, a Portfolio's investment exposure to
these securities and their risks, including credit risk, will increase during the time these securities are held in the Portfolio's portfolio. Further, to maintain its qualification for pass-through treatment under
the Federal tax laws, a Portfolio 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 income accrued but not yet received. The required distributions will result in an increase in a Portfolio's
exposure to such securities.
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. Holders of these types of securities are deemed to
have received income (phantom income) annually, notwithstanding that cash may not be received currently. The effect of owning instruments which 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 which 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.
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 Portfolio's investment exposure to these securities and their risks, including credit risk, will increase during the time these securities are
held in the Portfolio's portfolio. Further, to maintain its qualification for pass-through treatment under the federal tax laws, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio's exposure to such securities.
NET ASSET VALUES
Any purchase or sale of Portfolio
shares is made at the net asset value, or NAV, of such shares. The price at which a purchase or redemption is made is based on the next calculation of the NAV after the order is received in good order. The NAV of each
share class of each Portfolio is determined on each day the NYSE is open for trading as of the close of the exchange's regular trading session (which is generally 4:00p.m. New York time). The NYSE is closed on most
national holidays and Good Friday. The Trust does not price, and shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem, the Trust's shares on days when the NYSE is closed but the primary markets for the Trust's foreign
securities are open, even though the value of these securities may have changed. Conversely, the Trust will ordinarily price its shares, and shareholders may purchase and redeem shares, on days that the NYSE is open
but foreign securities markets are closed.
The securities held by each of the
Trust's portfolios are valued based upon market quotations or, if not readily available, at fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by the Board. The Trust may use fair value pricing if it
determines that a market quotation is not reliable based, among other things, on market conditions that occur after the quotation is derived or after the closing of the primary market on which the security is traded,
but before the time that the NAV is determined. This use of fair value pricing commonly occurs with securities that are primarily traded outside of the US because such securities present time-zone arbitrage
opportunities when events or conditions affecting the prices of specific securities or the prices of securities traded in such markets generally occur after the close of the foreign markets but prior to the time that
a Portfolio determines its NAV.
The Trust may also use fair value
pricing with respect to US traded securities if, for example, trading in a particular security is halted and does not resume before a Portfolio calculates its NAV or the exchange on which a security is traded closes
early. In addition, fair value pricing is used for securities where 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 Investment Manager (or Subadviser) does not represent fair value. Different valuation methods may result in differing values for the same security. The fair value of a portfolio security that a Portfolio uses
to determine its NAV may differ from the security's published or quoted price. If a Portfolio needs to implement fair value pricing after the NAV publishing deadline but before shares of the Portfolio are processed,
the NAV you receive or pay may differ from the published NAV price. For purposes of computing the Trust's NAV, we will value the Trust's futures contracts 15 minutes after the close of regular trading on the NYSE.
Except when we fair value securities, we normally value each foreign security held by the Trust as of the close of the security's primary market.
Fair value pricing procedures are
designed to result in prices for a Portfolio's securities and its NAV that are reasonable in light of the circumstances which make or have made market quotations unavailable or unreliable, and to reduce arbitrage
opportunities available to short-term traders. There is no assurance, however, that fair value pricing will more accurately reflect the market value of a security than the market price of such security on that day or
that it will prevent dilution of a Portfolio's NAV by short-term traders. In the event that the fair valuation of a security results in a change of $0.01 or more to a Portfolio’s NAV per share and/or in the
aggregate results in a change of one half of one percent or more of a Portfolio’s daily NAV, the Board of Trustees shall promptly be notified, in detail, of the fair valuation, and the fair valuation will be
reported on at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. Also, the Board of Trustees receives, on an interim basis, minutes of the meetings of the Fund’s Valuation Committee that occur between regularly
scheduled Board meetings.
The NAV for each of the Portfolios
is determined by a simple calculation. It's the total value of a Portfolio (assets minus liabilities) divided by the total number of shares outstanding.
To determine a Portfolio's NAV, its
holdings are valued as follows:
Equity securities for which the
primary market is on an exchange (whether domestic or foreign) shall be valued at the last sale price on such exchange or market on the day of valuation or, if there was no sale on such day, at the mean between the
last bid and asked prices on such day or at the last bid price on such day in the absence of an asked price. Securities included within the NASDAQ market shall be valued at the NASDAQ official closing price (NOCP) on
the day of valuation, or if there was no NOCP issued, at the last sale price on such day. Securities included within the NASDAQ market for which there is no NOCP and no last sale price on the day of valuation shall be
valued at the mean between the last bid and asked prices on such day or at the last bid price on such day in the absence of an asked price. Equity securities that are not sold on an exchange or NASDAQ are generally
valued by an independent pricing agent or principal market maker.
A Portfolio may own securities that
are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the Portfolios do not price their shares. Therefore, the value of a Portfolio's assets may change on days when shareholders cannot
purchase or redeem Portfolio shares..
Short-term debt securities with
remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued at cost with interest accrued or discount amortized to the date of maturity, unless such valuation, in the judgment of PI or a subadviser, does not represent fair
value.
Convertible debt securities that
are traded in the over-the-counter market, including listed convertible debt securities for which the primary market is believed by PI or a subadviser to be over-the-counter, are valued on the day of valuation at an
evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing agent or, in the absence of a valuation provided by an independent pricing agent, at the bid price provided by a principal market maker or primary market
dealer.
Other debt securities—those
that are not valued on an amortized cost basis—are valued using an independent pricing service. Options on stock and stock indexes that are traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale
price on such exchange on the day of valuation or, if there was no such sale on such day, at the mean between the most recently quoted bid and asked prices on such exchange.
Futures contracts and options on
futures contracts are valued at the last sale price at the close of the commodities exchange or board of trade on which they are traded. If there has been no sale that day, the securities will be valued at the mean
between the most recently quoted bid and asked prices on that exchange or board of trade.
Forward currency exchange contracts
are valued at the cost of covering or offsetting such contracts calculated on the day of valuation. Securities which are valued in accordance herewith in a currency other than US dollars shall be converted to US
dollar equivalents at a rate obtained from a recognized bank, dealer or independent service on the day of valuation.
Over-the-counter (OTC) options are
valued at the mean between bid and asked prices provided by a dealer (which may be the counterparty). A subadviser will monitor the market prices of the securities underlying the OTC options with a view to determining
the necessity of obtaining additional bid and ask quotations from other dealers to assess the validity of the prices received from the primary pricing dealer.
All short-term debt securities,
including bonds, notes, debentures and other debt securities, and money market instruments such as certificates of deposit, commercial paper, bankers' acceptances and obligations of domestic and foreign banks, with
remaining maturities of more than 60 days, for which market quotations are readily available, are valued by an independent pricing agent or principal market maker (if available, otherwise a primary market dealer).
TAXATION
This discussion of federal income
tax consequences applies to the Participating Insurance Companies because they are the direct shareholders of the Trust. Contract owners should consult their Contract prospectus for information relating to the tax
matters applicable to their Contracts. In addition, variable contract owners may wish to consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investments in the Trust, including the application of state
and local taxes.
Each Portfolio currently intends to
be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As a result, each Portfolio's income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits will be “passed through” pro rata directly to the Participating
Insurance Companies and retain the same character for federal income tax purposes. Distributions may be made to the various separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies in the form of additional shares
(not in cash).
Under Code Section 817(h), a
segregated asset account upon which a variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy is based must be “adequately diversified.” A segregated asset account will be adequately diversified if it
satisfies one of two alternative tests set forth in Treasury regulations. For purposes of these alternative diversification tests, a segregated asset account investing in shares of a regulated investment company will
be entitled to “look-through” the regulated investment company to its pro rata portion of the regulated investment company's assets, provided the regulated investment company satisfies certain conditions
relating to the ownership of its shares. The Trust intends to satisfy these ownership conditions. Further, the Trust intends that each Portfolio separately will be adequately diversified. Accordingly, a segregated
asset account investing solely in shares of a Portfolio will be adequately diversified, and a segregated asset account investing in shares of one or more Portfolios and shares of other adequately diversified funds
generally will be adequately diversified.
The foregoing discussion of federal
income tax consequences is based on tax laws and regulations in effect on the date of this SAI, and is subject to change by legislative or administrative action. A description of other tax considerations generally
affecting the Trust and its shareholders is found in the section of the Prospectus entitled “Federal Income Taxes.” No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Trust or
its shareholders. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of state or local tax matters. The discussion herein and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO
HOLDINGS
Each Portfolio's portfolio holdings
as of the end of the second and fourth fiscal quarters are made public, as required by law, in the Trust's annual and semi-annual reports. These reports are filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR and mailed to shareholders
within 60 days after the end of the second and fourth fiscal quarters. The Trust's annual and semi-annual reports are posted on the Trust's website. Each Portfolio's portfolio holdings as of the end of the first and
third fiscal quarters are made public and filed with the SEC on Form N-Q within 60 days after the end of the Portfolio's first and third fiscal quarters. In addition, the Trust may provide a full list of each
Portfolio's portfolio holdings as of the end of each month on its website no sooner than approximately three business days prior to the end of the following month. The Trust may also release, at a sleeve level and/or
the composite level, each Portfolio's top ten holdings (or in the case of a fund of funds the complete list of portfolio funds and/or the top ten holdings of the portfolio funds), and summary statistics regarding
sectors, countries and/or industries and other characteristics, as of each month end, with all such information posted to the Trust’s website approximately 15 days after the end of the month, unless noted
otherwise herein.
When authorized by the Trust's
Chief Compliance Officer and another officer of the Trust, portfolio holdings information may be disseminated more frequently or at different periods than as described above. The Trust has entered into ongoing
arrangements to make available information about the Trust's portfolio holdings. Parties receiving this information may include intermediaries that distribute the Trust's shares, third party providers of auditing,
custody, proxy voting and other services for the Trust, rating and ranking organizations, and certain affiliated persons of the Trust, 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
Portfolio holdings shall be provided by such third party setting forth a legitimate business purpose for such release which shall specify the Portfolio, 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio.
2. The request shall be forwarded
to the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust, or his delegate, for review and approval.
3. A confidentiality agreement in
the form approved by an officer of the Trust must be executed with the recipient of the Portfolio holdings information.
4. An officer of the Portfolio
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 Portfolio holdings information.
6. PI's Fund Administration
Department shall arrange for the release of Portfolio holdings information by the Portfolio's custodian bank(s).
As of the date of this Statement of
Additional Information, the Trust will provide:
1. Traditional External
Recipients/Vendors
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Full holdings on a daily basis to RiskMetrics Group, Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc., Broadridge and Glass, Lewis & Co (proxy voting administrator/agents) at the end of each day;
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Full holdings on a daily basis to RickMetrics Group (securities class action claims services administrator) at the end of each day;
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Full holdings on a daily basis to each Portfolio's subadviser(s) (as identified in the Trust's prospectus), Custodian Bank (Bank of New York and/or PNC, as applicable), sub-custodian (Citibank, NA (foreign
sub-custodian)) 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 Portfolio has more than one subadviser, each subadviser
receives holdings information only with respect to the “sleeve” or segment of the Portfolio for which the subadviser has responsibility;
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Full holdings to a Portfolio's independent registered public accounting firm (KPMG LLP) as soon as practicable following the Portfolio's fiscal year-end or on an as-needed basis; and
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Full holdings to financial printers (RR Donnelly and/or VG Reed, as applicable) as soon as practicable following the end of a Portfolio's quarterly, semi-annual and annual period ends.
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2. Analytical Service Providers
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Portfolio trades on a quarterly basis to Abel/Noser Corp. (an agency-only broker and transaction cost analysis company) as soon as practicable following a Portfolio's fiscal quarter-end;
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Full holdings on a daily basis to FT Interactive Data (a fair value information service) at the end of each day;
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Full holdings on a daily basis to FactSet Research Systems, Inc. and Lipper, Inc. (analytical services/investment research providers) at the end of each day;
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Full holdings on a daily basis to Vestek (for preparation of fact sheets) at the end of each day (Target Funds and selected Prudential Investments Funds only);
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Full holdings on a quarterly basis to Plexus (review of brokerage transactions) as soon as practicable following a Portfolio's fiscal quarter-end;
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Full holdings on a monthly basis to Advanced Quantitative Consulting (AQC) (attribution analysis) (AST Academic Strategies Asset Allocation Portfolio only) as soon as practicable following the close of each calendar
month;
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Full holdings on a daily basis to Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (certain operational functions) (AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity Portfolio only) at the end of each day;
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Full holdings on a daily basis to Investment Technology Group, Inc. (analytical services) (AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio (QS Batterymarch-managed segments) and AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity
Portfolio only) at the end of each day;
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Full holdings on a daily basis to Markit WSO Corporation (certain operational functions) (AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity Portfolio only) at the end of each day;
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Full holdings on a daily basis to State Street Bank and Trust Company (certain operational functions) (AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity Portfolio only) at the end of each day.
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Full holdings on a daily basis to Glass, Lewis & Co. (certain operational functions) (AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity Portfolio only) at the end of each day.
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Full holdings on a daily basis to Thomson Reuters (analytical services) (AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio (QS Batterymarch-managed segments only) at the end of each day.
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Full holdings on a daily basis to SunGard (compliance services) (AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio (QS Batterymarch-managed segments only) at the end of each day.
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Full holdings on an intraday basis to StarCompliance (compliance services) (AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio only) at the end of each day.
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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 the Trust’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.
In no instance may the Investment
Adviser or the Trust receive any compensation or consideration in exchange for the portfolio holdings information.
The Board of Trustees of the Trust
has approved PI's Policy for the Dissemination of Portfolio Holdings. The Board shall, on a quarterly basis, be advised of any revisions to the list of recipients of the portfolio holdings information and the reason
for such disclosure. The Board has delegated oversight of the Trust's disclosure of portfolio holdings to the Chief Compliance Officer.
Arrangements pursuant to which the
Trust discloses non-public information with respect to its portfolio holdings do not provide for any compensation in return for the disclosure of the information.
There can be no assurance that the
Trust's policies and procedures on portfolio holdings information will protect the Trust from the potential misuse of such information by individuals or entities that come into possession of the information.
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 the Trust'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.
In no instance may the Investment
Manager or the Trust receive any compensation or consideration in exchange for the portfolio holdings information.
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 the Trust's disclosure of portfolio holdings to the Chief Compliance Officer.
There can be no assurance that the
Trust's policies and procedures on portfolio holdings information will protect a Portfolio from the potential misuse of such information by individuals or entities that come into possession of the information.
PROXY VOTING
The Board has delegated to the
Trust's investment manager, PI, the responsibility for voting any proxies and maintaining proxy recordkeeping with respect to each Portfolio. The Trust authorizes the Investment 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 Investment 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 each Portfolio.
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 Investment Manager and the Board
maintain a policy of seeking to protect the best interests of each Portfolio should a proxy issue potentially implicate a conflict of interest between a Portfolio and the Investment Manager or its affiliates.
The Investment Manager delegates to
each Portfolio's subadviser(s) the responsibility for voting each Portfolio's proxies. The subadviser is expected to identify and seek to obtain the optimal benefit for the Portfolio 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 a Portfolio and delineate procedures to be followed when a proxy vote presents a
conflict between the interests of the Portfolio and the interests of the subadviser or its affiliates.
The Investment Manager and the
Board expect that the subadviser will notify the Investment Manager and the Board at least annually of any such conflicts identified and confirm how the issue was resolved. In addition, the Investment Manager expect
that the subadviser will deliver to the Investment Manager, or their appointed vendor, information required for filing the Form N-PX with the SEC. Information regarding how each Portfolio of the Trust voted proxies
relating to its portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available on the Trust’s website and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
CODES OF ETHICS
The Board of the Trust has adopted a
Code of Ethics. In addition, the Investment 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 a Portfolio's investment program) and permit personnel subject to the Codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by a Portfolio. However, the protective
provisions of the Codes prohibit certain investments and limit such personnel from making investments during periods when the Portfolio is making such investments. The Codes are on public file with, and are available
from, the SEC.
APPENDIX I: DESCRIPTION OF BOND
RATINGS
STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS
SERVICES (S&P)
Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings
AAA:
An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
AA:
An obligation rated AA differs from the highest rated obligations only in small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
A:
An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the
obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
BBB:
An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the
obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
BB:
An obligation rated BB is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic
conditions which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B:
An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor's capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CCC:
An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment
on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CC:
An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
C:
The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed or similar action has been taken, but payments on this obligation are being continued.
Plus (+) or Minus (–):
The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories
Commercial Paper Ratings
A-1:
This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus
sign (+) designation.
A-2:
Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1.
Notes Ratings
An S&P notes rating reflects the
liquidity factors and market risks unique to notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a notes rating. Notes maturing beyond three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. The
following criteria will be used in making that assessment.
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Amortization schedule-the longer the final maturity relative to other maturities the more likely it will be treated as a note.
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Source of payment-the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.
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Note rating symbols are as
follows:
SP-1:
Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2:
Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.
(MOODY'S)
Debt Ratings
Aaa:
Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as “gilt edged.” Interest
payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair
the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa:
Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds. They are rated lower
than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the
long-term risks appear somewhat larger than the Aaa securities.
A:
Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper-medium-grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are
considered adequate, but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment some time in the future.
Baa:
Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium-grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate
for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative
characteristics as well.
Ba:
Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very
moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B:
Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any
long period of time may be small.
Caa:
Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca:
Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C:
Bonds which are rated C are the lowest-rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment
standing.
Moody's applies numerical modifiers
1, 2, and 3 in each generic rating category from Aa to Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the issuer is in the higher end of its letter rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; the modifier 3
indicates that the issuer is in the lower end of the letter ranking category.
Short-Term Ratings
Moody's short-term debt ratings are
opinions of the ability of issuers to honor senior financial obligations and contracts. Such obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding one year, unless explicitly noted.
PRIME-1:
Issuers rated Prime-1 (or supporting institutions) have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. Prime-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of
the following characteristics:
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Leading market positions in well-established industries.
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High rates of return on Portfolios employed.
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Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection.
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Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation.
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Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.
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PRIME-2:
Issuers rated Prime-2 (or supporting institutions) have a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This normally will be evidenced by many of the characteristics
cited above but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external
conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
MIG 1:
This designation denotes best quality. There is strong protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for
refinancing.
MIG 2:
This designation denotes high quality. Margins of protection are ample although not so large as in the proceeding group.
FITCH, INC.
International Long-Term Credit
Ratings
AAA:
Highest Credit Quality. AAA ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial
commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA:
Very High Credit Quality. AA ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not
significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A:
High Credit Quality. A ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be
more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB:
Good Credit Quality. BBB ratings indicate that there is currently a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but
adverse changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment-grade category.
BB:
Speculative. BB ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial
alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met. Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.
B:
Highly Speculative. B ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for
continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
CCC, CC, C:
High Default Risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic developments. A CC rating
indicates that default of some kind appears probable. C ratings signal imminent default.
International Short-Term Credit
Ratings
F1:
Highest Credit Quality. Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit
feature.
F2:
Good Credit Quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.
F3:
Fair Credit Quality. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.
B:
Speculative. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C:
High Default Risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic investment.
Plus (+) or Minus (–):
Plus or minus signs may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the AAA long-term rating category, to categories
below CCC, or to short-term ratings other than F1.
APPENDIX II: PROXY VOTING
POLICIES OF THE SUBADVISERS
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN, L.P.
Proxy Voting Policy Statement
Introduction
As an investment adviser, we are
shareholder advocates and have a fiduciary duty to make investment decisions that are in our clients’ best interests by maximizing the value of their shares. Proxy voting is an integral part of this process,
through which we support strong corporate governance structures, shareholder rights, and transparency.
We have an obligation to vote
proxies in a timely manner and we apply the principles in this policy to our proxy decisions. We believe a company’s environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) practices may have a significant
effect on the value of the company, and we take these factors into consideration when voting. For additional information regarding our ESG policies and practices, please refer to our firm’s Statement of Policy
Regarding Responsible Investment.
Our Proxy Voting Policy
(“Proxy Voting Policy” or “Policy”), which outlines our policies for proxy voting and includes a wide range of issues that often appear on proxies, applies to all of AB’s investment
management subsidiaries and investment services groups investing on behalf of clients globally. Both this Statement and the Policy are intended for use by those involved in the proxy voting decision-making process and
those responsible for the administration of proxy voting (“Proxy Managers”), in order to ensure that our proxy voting policies and procedures are implemented consistently. Copies of the Policy, our voting
records, as noted below in “Voting Transparency”, and other related documents can be found on our Internet site (www.abglobal.com).
We sometimes manage accounts where
proxy voting is directed by clients or newly-acquired subsidiary companies. In these cases, voting decisions may deviate from the Policy.
Research Underpins Decision Making
As a research-driven firm, we
approach our proxy voting responsibilities with the same commitment to rigorous research and engagement that we apply to all of our investment activities. The different investment philosophies utilized by our
investment teams may occasionally result in different conclusions being drawn regarding certain proposals and, in turn, may result in the Proxy Manager making different voting decisions on the same proposal.
Nevertheless, the Proxy Manager votes proxies with the goal of maximizing the value of the securities in client portfolios.
In addition to our firm-wide proxy
voting policies, we have a Proxy Committee, which provides oversight and includes senior investment professionals from Equities, Legal personnel and Operations personnel. It is the responsibility of the Proxy
Committee to evaluate and maintain proxy voting procedures and guidelines, to evaluate proposals and issues not covered by these guidelines, to consider changes in policy, and to review this Statement and the Policy
no less frequently than annually. In addition, the Proxy Committee meets as necessary to address special situations.
Research Services
We subscribe to the corporate
governance and proxy research services of Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”). All our investment professionals can access these materials via the Proxy Manager and/or Proxy Committee.
Engagement
In evaluating proxy issues and
determining our votes, we welcome and seek out the points of view of various parties. Internally, the Proxy Manager may consult the Proxy Committee, Chief Investment Officers, Directors of Research, and/or Research
Analysts across our equities platforms, and Portfolio Managers in whose managed accounts a stock is held. Externally, the Proxy Manager may engage with company management, company directors, interest groups,
shareholder activists, other shareholders and research providers.
Proxy Voting Guidelines
Our proxy voting guidelines are
principles-based rather than rules-based. We adhere to a core set of principles that are described in the Proxy Voting Policy. We assess each proxy proposal in light of these principles. Our proxy voting “litmus
test” will always be what we view as most likely to maximize long-term shareholder value. We believe that authority and accountability for setting and executing corporate policies, goals and compensation
generally should rest with the board of directors and senior management. In return, we support strong investor rights that allow shareholders to hold directors and management accountable if they fail to act in the
best interests of shareholders.
Our proxy voting guidelines
pertaining to specific issues are set forth in the Policy and include guidelines relating to board and director proposals, compensation proposals, capital changes and anti-takeover proposals, auditor proposals,
shareholder access and voting proposals, and environmental, social and disclosure proposals. We generally vote proposals in accordance with these guidelines but, consistent with our “principles-based”
approach to proxy voting, we may deviate from the guidelines if warranted by the specific facts and circumstances of the situation (i.e., if, under the circumstances, we believe that deviating from our stated policy
is necessary to help maximize long-term shareholder value). In addition, these guidelines are not intended to address all issues that may appear on all proxy ballots. Proposals not specifically addressed by these
guidelines, whether submitted by management or shareholders, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, always keeping in mind our fiduciary duty to make voting decisions that, by maximizing long-term shareholder
value, are in our clients’ best interests.
Conflicts of Interest
As a fiduciary, we always must act
in our clients’ best interests. We strive to avoid even the appearance of a conflict that may compromise the trust our clients have placed in us, and we insist on strict adherence to fiduciary standards and
compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws. We have adopted a comprehensive Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (“Code”) to help us meet these obligations. As part of this
responsibility and as expressed throughout the Code, we place the interests of our clients first and attempt to avoid any perceived or actual conflicts of interest.
We recognize that there may be a
potential material conflict of interest when we vote a proxy solicited by an issuer whose retirement plan we manage, or we administer, who distributes AB-sponsored mutual funds, or with whom we or an employee has
another business or personal relationship that may affect how we vote on the issuer’s proxy. Similarly, we may have a potential material conflict of interest when deciding how to vote on a proposal sponsored or
supported by a shareholder group that is a client. In order to avoid any perceived or actual conflict of interest, we have established procedures for use when we encounter a potential conflict to ensure that our
voting decisions are based on our clients’ best interests and are not the product of a conflict. These procedures include compiling a list of companies and organizations whose proxies may pose potential
conflicts of interest (e.g., if such company is our client) and reviewing our proposed votes for these companies and organizations in light of the Policy and ISS’s recommendations. If our proposed vote is
contrary to, or not contemplated in, the Policy, is consistent with a client’s position and is contrary to ISS’s recommendation, we refer to proposed vote to our Independent Compliance Officer for his
determination.
In addition, our Proxy Committee
takes reasonable steps to verify that ISS continues to be independent, including an annual review of ISS’s conflict management procedures. When reviewing these conflict management procedures, we consider, among
other things, whether ISS (i) has the capacity and competency to adequately analyze proxy issues; and (ii) can offer research in an impartial manner and in the best interests of our clients.
Voting Transparency
We publish our voting records on
our Internet site () quarterly, 30 days after the end of the previous quarter. Many clients have requested that we provide them with periodic reports on how we voted their proxies. Clients may obtain information about
how we voted proxies on their behalf by contacting their Advisor. Alternatively, clients may make a written request to the Chief Compliance Officer.
Recordkeeping
All of the records referenced in
our Policy will be kept in an easily accessible place for at least the length of time required by local regulation and custom, and, if such local regulation requires that records are kept for less than five years from
the end of the fiscal year during which the last entry was made on such record, we will follow the U.S. rule of five years. We maintain the vast majority of these records electronically. We will keep paper records, if
any, in one of our offices for at least two years.
COLUMBIA MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT
ADVISERS, LLC.
PROXY VOTING POLICY
(SUMMARY)
DECEMBER 2013
Columbia Management Investment
Advisers, LLC (CMIA) has adopted and implemented the Proxy
POLICY SUMMARY
Voting Policy (the
“Policy”), which it believes is reasonably designed to:
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Ensure that proxies are voted in the best economic interest of clients;
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Address material conflicts of interest that may arise; and
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Comply with disclosure and other requirements in connection with its proxy voting responsibilities.
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POLICY
As a fiduciary, CMIA owes its
clients the duties of care and loyalty with respect to all services undertaken on the client's behalf. This Policy memorializes how CMIA meets these requirements in voting its clients’ proxies.
Vested Discretionary Voting
Authority.
Proxies regarding client securities for which CMIA has authority to vote will, unless CMIA determines in accordance with policies stated below to refrain from voting, be
voted in a manner considered by CMIA to be in the best economic interests of its clients without regard to any resulting benefit or detriment to CMIA, its employees or its affiliates. In addition, with respect to
ERISA accounts, CMIA has an affirmative obligation to vote proxies for an ERISA account, unless the client expressly retains proxy voting authority. The best economic interests of clients is defined for this purpose
as the interest of enhancing or protecting the value of client accounts, considered as a group rather than individually, as CMIA determines in its sole and absolute discretion. In the event a client believes that its
interests require a different vote, CMIA will vote as the client clearly instructs, provided CMIA receives such instructions in time to act accordingly. CMIA endeavors to vote all proxies of which it becomes aware
prior to the vote deadline; however, in certain limited circumstances, CMIA may determine to refrain from voting (see Foreign Securities and Securities on Loan below).
No Discretionary Voting Authority.
In certain limited circumstances when CMIA is not vested with discretionary authority to vote a client’s proxies (i.e., when the client retains voting discretion),
CMIA will administer proxy voting on behalf of the client in accordance with the client’s voting guidelines, or the client will vote its own proxies, or the client’s agent will vote its proxies on behalf
of the client.
Proxy Voting Guidelines.
CMIA has adopted proxy voting guidelines covering certain types of proposals. The guidelines indicate whether to vote for,
against or abstain from a particular proposal, or whether the matter should be considered on a case-by-case basis. CMIA may also consider the voting recommendations of
analysts, portfolio managers and information obtained from outside resources, including from one and/or more third party research providers in situations when the guidelines do not contemplate a particular proposal;
however, CMIA reserves the right to consider each proxy vote,
whether covered by the guidelines or a third-party
recommendation, based on the facts and
circumstances of the proposal presented, and submit a vote that it believes is in the best economic interests of clients. CMIA may from time to time vote a proposal in a manner contrary to one or more other
affiliates. CMIA regularly reviews and may amend the guidelines based on, among other things, industry trends and proposal frequency.
Portfolio Managers, Research
Analysts, and Corporate Governance Analysts (collectively, “Investment Professionals”).
In circumstances where proposals are not covered by the guidelines or a voting determination must be made on a case-by-case basis (“Proxy Referrals”) an
Investment Professional will make the voting determination. Investment Professionals may include both CMIA portfolio managers, research analyst or corporate governance analyst personnel as well as personnel employed
by other investment advisers that provide sub-advisory services to one of more CMIA advisory client(s). CMIA follows a hierarchy in terms of the Investment Professional sources it leverages for proxy voting
discretion. In each of these circumstances, the Investment Professional must vote in the clients’
best economic interest and must comply with the conflict of interest practices (described
below).
Proxy Referrals for Passive Index
Accounts.
Proxy Referrals for a security that is held only within a passive index account managed by CMIA’s Quantitative Strategies Group or CMIA’s Tax Efficient
Structured Equity Group and not in any other account within CMIA, will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of a third party research provider selected by CMIA or as specified by the
client.
Conflicts of Interest.
For purpose of this Policy,
a conflict of interest is a relationship or activity engaged in by CMIA or a CMIA employee that creates an incentive (or appearance thereof) to favor the interests of
CMIA, or the employee, rather than the clients’ interests. For example, CMIA may have a conflict of interest if either CMIA has a significant business relationship with a company that is soliciting a proxy, or
if a CMIA employee who is involved in the proxy voting decision-making process has a significant personal or family relationship with the particular company.
A conflict of interest is considered to be “material” to the extent that a reasonable person could expect the conflict to influence CMIA’s decision on
the particular vote at issue. CMIA seeks to avoid the occurrence of actual or apparent material conflicts of interest in the proxy voting process by voting in accordance with predetermined voting guidelines, and by
observing procedures that are intended to prevent when practicable and manage material conflicts of interest. In all cases in which there is deemed to be a material conflict of interest, CMIA will seek to resolve the
conflict in the clients’ best interests. CMIA considers:
(1) proxies solicited by open-end and closed-end investment companies for which CMIA serves as an investment adviser or principal underwriter; and (2) proxies solicited
by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. to present a material conflict of interest for CMIA. Consequently, these proxies will be voted following one of the conflict of interest management practices discussed
below.
In the case of Proxy Referrals, or
when a CMIA Investment Professional believes that voting contrary to the guidelines may be in the best economic interest of CMIA’s clients, CMIA may use its discretion to vote the proxy, provided that: (1) the
proxy does not involve companies with which CMIA has a significant business relationship; and (2) the relevant CMIA investment personnel (i.e. Investment Professionals or Members of the CMIA Proxy Voting
Sub-Committee) who have disclosed any personal conflict of interest circumstances to CMIA’s Conflicts Officer do not vote on the matter. If an Investment Professional or Member of the Proxy Voting Sub-Committee
has a personal conflict of interest, he will be recused from participating in the proxy vote at issue.
If the Conflicts Officer, Proxy
Voting Sub-Committee, or the Chairperson of the Proxy Voting Sub- Committee determines that a proxy matter presents a material conflict of interest, or a material conflict of interest is otherwise determined to exist
through the application of this Policy, CMIA will invoke one or more of the following conflict management practices:
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Causing the proxies to be voted in accordance with the recommendations of an independent third party (which generally will be CMIA’s proxy voting agent);
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Causing the proxies to be delegated to an independent third party, which may include CMIA’s proxy voting agent; or
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In
unusual cases, with the client’s consent and upon ample notice, forwarding the proxies to CMIA’s clients so that they may vote the proxies directly.
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Proxy Voting Agent.
In providing proxy voting administration services to clients, CMIA relies on the services of a designated third-party service
provider.
Disclosures.
CMIA's Proxy Voting Policy and procedures are summarized in its Form ADV,
which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”)
and furnished to clients. In addition, CMIA will provide clients with a copy of its policies upon request.
Advisory clients may obtain information on how their proxies were voted by CMIA. However, CMIA will not selectively disclose its investment company clients' proxy voting
records to third parties. CMIA will provide proxy voting records of its registered investment company clients to such clients as their agents for disclosure on Form
N-PX.
Foreign Securities.
While CMIA will make reasonable efforts to vote foreign securities on behalf of clients, voting proxies of
companies not domiciled in the United States may involve greater effort and cost due to the variety of regulatory schemes and corporate practices.
Certain non-U.S.
countries require securities to be blocked prior to a vote. CMIA typically will not vote securities in shareblocking countries as the need for liquidity outweighs the
benefit of voting. There may also be additional costs associated with voting in non-U.S.
countries such that CMIA may determine that the cost of voting outweighs the potential
benefit.
Securities on
Loan.
Some of CMIA’s clients may participate in securities lending programs. In these situations, in which CMIA is responsible for voting a client’s proxies, CMIA
will work with the client to determine whether there will be situations in which securities loaned out under these lending arrangements will be recalled for the purpose of exercising voting rights. In certain
circumstances securities on loan may not be recalled due to clients’
preferences or due to circumstances beyond the control of
CMIA.
DANA INVESTMENT ADVISORS, INC.
Proxy Voting Policy and Disclosure
Overview
Proxy statements deserve careful
review and consideration. Increasingly, they contain controversial issues involving shareholder rights and corporate governance. Therefore, it is Dana’s policy to review these issues and make decisions
exclusively on the judgment of what will best serve the financial interest(s) of our clients.
In order to provide on going
professional analysis and recommendations regarding each proxy statement, Dana has retained the services of Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), a leader in providing proxy
voting services to the investment advisor community. The partnership with Broadridge allows for the seamless delivery of proxies from the client’s custodial institution to Broadridge. Once at Broadridge, each
proxy statement is analyzed according to the Glass Lewis & Co. Proxy Paper Guidelines (Glass Lewis Guidelines). A number of recurring issues can be identified with respect to the governance of a company and
actions proposed by that company’s board. Following a standard proxy voting guideline such as the Glass Lewis Guidelines allows votes to be cast in a uniform manner. All non-routine matters are also addressed in
the Glass Lewis Guidelines. In addition, the following key points apply to related proxy issues:
Procedures used to address any
potential conflicts of interest.
Dana bases its votes on a
pre-established set of policy guidelines and on the recommendations of an independent third party; namely, Broadridge. Using Glass Lewis Guidelines, Broadridge makes recommendations based on its independent, objective
analysis of the economic interests of shareholders. This process helps to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of client shareholders, further insulating the voting decisions from any potential
conflicts of interest.
The extent to which Dana delegates
proxy voting authority to or relies on recommendations of a third party.
As noted above, Dana relies on the
recommendations of Broadridge. However, Dana retains ultimate responsibility for the votes, and has the ability to override any Broadridge vote recommendation. Dana will only do so if it is believed that a different
vote is in the best interests of client shareholders. In addition, Dana periodically receives specific instructions from certain client shareholders to vote their shares in a particular manner. In certain cases such
as this, it is possible that Dana may vote in more than one way on the same issue for various clients.
The extent to which Dana will support
or give weight to the views of management of a portfolio company.
Dana bases all voting decisions on
the Glass Lewis Guidelines and on Broadridge recommendations, both of which are driven by considerations believed to be in the best interests of client shareholders.
Policies and procedures relating to
matters substantially affecting the rights of the holders of the security being voted.
Glass Lewis Guidelines include a
section devoted specifically to shareholder rights. Dana generally supports shareholder voting rights and opposes efforts to restrict them.
Obtaining additional information
relating to Dana’s proxy voting procedures.
Dana will provide complete copies
of its proxy voting guidelines to any client (or prospective client) shareholder upon request. Requests should be made by contacting Dana’s Chief Compliance Officer, Michael Stewart, at either (262) 782-8658 or
via e-mail at michaels@danainvestment.com.
GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT
(“GSAM”)
April 2014
POLICY ON PROXY VOTING FOR INVESTMENT
ADVISORY CLIENTS
A. Objective
GSAM has adopted the policies and
procedures set out below regarding the voting of proxies on securities held in client accounts (the “Policy”). These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that where GSAM has the authority to vote
proxies, GSAM complies with its legal, fiduciary and contractual obligations.
B. Guiding Principles
Proxy voting and the analysis of
corporate governance issues in general are important elements of the portfolio management services we provide to our advisory clients who have authorized us to address these matters on their behalf. Our guiding
principles in performing proxy voting are to make decisions that favor proposals that in GSAM’s view tend to maximize a company’s shareholder value and are not influenced by conflicts of interest. These
principles reflect GSAM’s belief that sound corporate governance will create a framework within which a company can be managed in the interests of its shareholders.
GSAM periodically reviews this
Policy, including our use of the GSAM Guidelines (as defined below), to ensure it continues to be consistent with our guiding principles.
C. Implementation and the Proxy
Voting Process
Public Equity Investments
To implement these guiding
principles for investments in publicly-traded equities for which we have voting power on any record date, we follow customized proxy voting guidelines that have been developed by GSAM portfolio management (the
“GSAM Guidelines”). The GSAM Guidelines embody the positions and factors GSAM generally considers important in casting proxy votes. They address a wide variety of individual topics, including, among other
matters, shareholder voting rights, anti-takeover defenses, board structures, the election of directors, executive and director compensation, reorganizations, mergers, issues of corporate social responsibility and
various shareholder proposals. Recognizing the complexity and fact-specific nature of many corporate governance issues, the GSAM Guidelines identify factors we consider in determining how the vote should be cast. A
summary of the GSAM Guidelines is attached as Part II.
The principles and positions
reflected in this Policy are designed to guide us in voting proxies, and not necessarily in making investment decisions. Portfolio management teams base their determinations of whether to invest in a particular
company on a variety of factors, and while corporate governance may be one such factor, it may not be the primary consideration.
Implementation by GSAM Portfolio
Management Teams
General Overview
GSAM seeks to fulfill its proxy
voting obligations through the implementation of this Policy and the oversight and maintenance of the GSAM Guidelines. In this connection, GSAM has retained a third-party proxy voting service (“Proxy
Service”)
1
to assist in the implementation of certain proxy voting-related functions, including, without limitation, operational, recordkeeping and
reporting services. Among its responsibilities, the Proxy Service prepares a written analysis and recommendation (a “Recommendation”) of each proxy vote that reflects the Proxy Service’s application
of the GSAM Guidelines to the particular proxy issues. GSAM retains the responsibility for proxy voting decisions.
GSAM’s portfolio management
teams (each, a “Portfolio Management Team”) generally cast proxy votes consistently with the GSAM Guidelines and the Recommendations. Each Portfolio Management Team, however, may on certain proxy votes
seek approval to diverge from the GSAM Guidelines or a Recommendation by following an “override” process. The override process requires: (i) the requesting Portfolio Management Team to set forth the
reasons for their decision; (ii) the approval of the Chief Investment Officer for the requesting Portfolio Management Team; (iii) notification to senior management of GSAM and/or other appropriate GSAM personnel; (iv)
an attestation that the decision is not influenced by any conflict of interest; and (v) the creation of a written record reflecting the process.
A Portfolio Management Team that
receives approval through the override process to cast a proxy vote that diverges from the GSAM Guidelines and/or a Recommendation may vote differently than other Portfolio Management Teams that did not seek an
override for that particular vote for that particular company.
Fundamental Equity and GS Investment Strategies Portfolio Management Teams
The Fundamental Equity and GS
Investment Strategies Portfolio Management Teams view the analysis of corporate governance practices as an integral part of the investment research and stock valuation process. On a case-by-case basis, and subject to
the approval process described above, each Fundamental Equity Portfolio Management Team and the GS Investment Strategies Portfolio Management Team may vote differently than the GSAM Guidelines or a particular
Recommendation. In forming their views on particular matters, these Portfolio Management Teams may consider applicable regional rules and practices, including codes of conduct and other guides, regarding proxy voting,
in addition to the GSAM Guidelines and Recommendations.
Quantitative Investment Strategies Portfolio Management Teams
The Quantitative Investment
Strategies Portfolio Management Teams have decided to follow the GSAM Guidelines and Recommendations exclusively, based on such Portfolio Management Teams’ investment philosophy and approach to portfolio
construction, as well as their participation in the creation of the GSAM Guidelines and their evaluation of the Proxy Service’s process of preparing Recommendations. The Quantitative Investment Strategies
Portfolio Management Teams may from time to time, however, review and individually assess any specific shareholder vote.
Potential Limitations on GSAM’s
Ability to Vote Proxies
In certain circumstances, such as
if a security is on loan through a securities lending program or held by a prime broker, the Portfolio Management Teams may not be able to participate in certain proxy votes unless the shares of the particular issuer
are recalled in time to cast a vote. A determination of whether to seek a recall will be based on whether the applicable Portfolio Management Team determines that the benefit of voting outweighs the costs, lost
revenue, and/or other detriments of retrieving the securities, recognizing that the handling of such recall requests is beyond GSAM’s control and may not be satisfied in time for GSAM to vote the shares in
question.
From time to time, GSAM may
face regulatory, compliance, legal or logistical limits with respect to voting securities that it may purchase or hold for client accounts which can affect GSAM’s ability to vote such proxies, as well as the
desirability of voting such proxies. As a result, GSAM, from time to time, may determine that it is not desirable to vote proxies in certain circumstances. Among other limits, federal, state, foreign regulatory
restrictions, or company-specific ownership limits, as well as legal matters related to consolidated groups, may restrict the total percentage of an issuer’s voting securities that GSAM can hold for clients
and the nature of GSAM’s voting in such securities. GSAM’s ability to vote proxies may also be affected by, among other things: (i) meeting notices received too late; (ii) requirements to vote proxies in
person; (iii) restrictions on a foreigner’s ability to exercise votes; (iv) potential difficulties in translating the proxy; (v) requirements to provide local agents with unrestricted powers of attorney to
facilitate voting instructions; and (vi) requirements that investors who exercise their voting rights surrender the right to dispose of their holdings for some specified period in proximity to the shareholder
meeting.
GSAM clients who have delegated
voting responsibility to GSAM with respect to their account may from time to time contact their client representative if they would like to direct GSAM to vote in a particular manner for a particular
solicitation. GSAM will use commercially reasonable efforts to vote according to the client’s request in these circumstances, however, GSAM’s ability to implement such voting instruction will be
dependent on operational matters such as the timing of the request.
Use of a Proxy Service
As discussed above, GSAM utilizes a
Proxy Service to assist in the implementation and administration of GSAM’s proxy voting function. The Proxy Service assists GSAM in the proxy voting process by providing operational, recordkeeping and reporting
services. In addition, the Proxy Service produces Recommendations as previously discussed under this Policy and provides assistance in the development and maintenance of the GSAM Guidelines.
GSAM conducts periodic due
diligence meetings with the Proxy Service which include, but are not limited to, a review of the Proxy Service’s general organizational structure, new developments with respect to research and technology, work
flow improvements and internal due diligence with respect to conflicts of interest.
GSAM may hire other service
providers to replace or supplement the Proxy Service with respect to any of the services GSAM currently receives from the Proxy Service. In addition, individual Portfolio Management Teams may supplement the
information and analyses the Proxy Service provides from other sources.
Fixed Income and Private
Investments
Voting decisions with respect to
client investments in fixed income securities and the securities of privately-held issuers generally will be made by the relevant Portfolio Management Teams based on their assessment of the particular transactions or
other matters at issue. Such Portfolio Management Teams may also adopt policies related to the fixed income or private investments they make that supplement this Policy.
Alternative Investment and Manager
Selection (“AIMS”) and Externally Managed Strategies
Where GSAM places client assets
with managers outside of GSAM, which function occurs primarily within GSAM’s AIMS business unit, such external managers generally will be responsible for voting proxies in accordance with the managers’ own
policies. AIMS may, however, retain proxy voting responsibilities where it deems appropriate or necessary under prevailing circumstances. To the extent AIMS portfolio managers assume proxy voting responsibility with
respect to publicly-traded equity securities they will follow the GSAM Guidelines and Recommendations as discussed above unless an override is requested. Any other voting decision will be conducted in accordance with
AIMS’ policies governing voting decisions with respect to non-publicly traded equity securities held by their clients.
D. Conflicts of Interest
Pursuant to this Policy, GSAM has
implemented processes designed to prevent conflicts of interest from influencing its proxy voting decisions. These processes include the use of the GSAM Guidelines and Recommendations and the override process
described above in instances when a Portfolio Management Team is interested in voting in a manner that diverges from the GSAM Guidelines and/or a Recommendation.
__________________
* For purposes of this Policy,
“GSAM” refers, collectively, to the following legal entities: Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.; Goldman Sachs Asset Management International; Goldman Sachs Hedge Fund Strategies LLC; GS Investment
Strategies, LLC; GSAM Stable Value, LLC; Goldman Sachs (Singapore) Pte.; Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C.; Goldman Sachs Asset Management Korea Co., Ltd.; Goldman Sachs Asset Management Co. Ltd.; Beijing Gao Hua Securities
Company Limited; Goldman Sachs (China) L.L.C.; Goldman Sachs (India) Securities Private Limited; Goldman Sachs Asset Management (India) Private Limited; Goldman Sachs Representacoes Ltda.; Goldman Sachs Asset
Management Brasil LTDA; GS Investment Strategies Canada Inc.; Goldman Sachs Management (Ireland) Ltd.; Goldman Sachs Asset Management Company Private Limited; Goldman Sachs Asset Management Australia Pty Ltd.; Goldman
Sachs Australia Managed Funds Limited; Goldman Sachs Trustee Company (India) Private Limited; Goldman Sachs Global Advisory Products LLC..
1
The third-party proxy voting service currently retained by GSAM is Institutional Shareholder Services.
PART II
GSAM Proxy Voting Guidelines
Summary
The following is a summary of the
material GSAM Proxy Voting Guidelines (the “Guidelines”), which form the substantive basis of GSAM’s Policy on Proxy Voting for Client Accounts (“Policy”). As described in the main body
of the Policy, one or more GSAM portfolio management teams may diverge from the Guidelines and a related Recommendation on any particular proxy vote or in connection with any individual investment decision in
accordance with the Policy.
U.S. Proxy Items
The following section is a summary
of the Guidelines, which form the substantive basis of the Policy with respect to U.S. public equity investments.
Auditor Ratification
Vote FOR proposals to ratify
auditors, unless any of the following apply within the last year:
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An
auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;
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There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;
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Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a serious level of concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; or material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures; or
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Fees for non-audit services are excessive (generally over 50% or more of the audit fees).
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Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder
proposals asking companies to prohibit or limit their auditors from engaging in non-audit services or asking for audit firm rotation.
The Board of Directors should
promote the interests of shareholders by acting in an oversight and/or advisory role; the board should consist of a majority of independent directors and should be held accountable for actions and results related to
their responsibilities. When evaluating board composition, GSAM believes a diversity of ethnicity, gender and experience is an important consideration.
Classification of Directors
Where applicable, the New York
Stock Exchange or NASDAQ Listing Standards definition is to be used to classify directors as insiders or affiliated outsiders. General definitions are as follows:
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Employee of the company or one of its affiliates
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■
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Among the five most highly paid individuals (excluding interim CEO)
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Listed as an officer as defined under Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
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Current interim CEO
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■
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Beneficial owner of more than 50 percent of the company's voting power (this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than one member of a defined group)
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Affiliated Outside Director
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Board attestation that an outside director is not independent
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Former CEO or other executive of the company within the last 3 years
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Former CEO or other executive of an acquired company within the past three years
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Independent Outside Director
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■
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No
material connection to the company other than a board seat
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Additionally, GSAM will consider
compensation committee interlocking directors to be affiliated (defined as CEOs who sit on each other’s compensation committees).
Voting on Director Nominees in
Uncontested Elections
Vote on director nominees should be
determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from
individual directors who:
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Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings without a disclosed valid excuse for each of the last two years;
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Sit on more than six public operating and/or holding company boards;
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Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own—withhold only at their outside boards.
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Other items considered for an
AGAINST vote include specific concerns about the individual or the company, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities, sanctions from government or authority, violations of laws and
regulations, or other issues related to improper business practice.
Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from
Inside Directors and Affiliated Outside Directors (per the Classification of Directors above) in the case of operating and/or holding companies when:
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The Inside Director or Affiliated Outside Director serves on the Audit, Compensation, or Nominating Committees (vote against Affiliated Outside Directors only for nominating committee);
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The company lacks an Audit or Compensation Committee so that the full board functions as such committees and Insider Directors are participating in voting on matters that independent committees should be voting on;
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The full board is less than majority independent (in this case withhold from Affiliated Outside Directors); at controlled companies, GSAM will first vote against the election of an Inside Director,
other than the CEO or chairperson or second, against a nominee that is affiliated with the controlling shareholder or third, vote against a nominee affiliated with the company for any other reason.
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Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from
members of the appropriate committee for the following reasons (or independent chairman or lead director in cases of a classified board and members of appropriate committee are not up for reelection). Extreme cases
may warrant a vote against the entire board.
■
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Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;
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■
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Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any
company;
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At
the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the underlying issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against
vote (members of the Nominating or Governance Committees);
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The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval of the majority of shares cast for the previous two consecutive years (a management proposal with other than a FOR recommendation
by management will not be considered as sufficient action taken); an adopted proposal that is substantially similar to the original shareholder proposal will be deemed sufficient; (vote against members of the
committee of the board that is responsible for the issue under consideration). If GSAM did not support the shareholder proposal in both years, GSAM will still vote against the committee member(s).
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Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the
members of the Audit Committee if:
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The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (generally over 50% or more of the audit fees);
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The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor and there is not clear evidence that the situation has been remedied; or
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There is persuasive evidence that the Audit Committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue
legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.
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Vote CASE-BY-CASE on members of the
Audit Committee and/or the full board if poor accounting practices, which rise to a level of serious concern are identified, such as fraud, misapplication of GAAP and material weaknesses identified in Section 404
disclosures.
Examine the severity, breadth,
chronological sequence and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether negative vote recommendations are warranted against the members of the Audit
Committee who are responsible for the poor accounting practices, or the entire board.
See section 3 on executive and
director compensation for reasons to withhold from members of the Compensation Committee.
In limited circumstances, GSAM may
vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from all nominees of the board of directors (except from new nominees who should be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis and except as discussed below) if:
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The company’s poison pill has a dead-hand or modified dead-hand feature for two or more years. Vote against/withhold every year until this feature is removed; however, vote against the poison pill if there is
one on the ballot with this feature rather than the director;
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The board adopts or renews a poison pill without shareholder approval, does not commit to putting it to shareholder vote within 12 months of adoption (or in the case of an newly public company, does not commit to
put the pill to a shareholder vote within 12 months following the IPO), or reneges on a commitment to put the pill to a vote, and has not yet received a withhold/against recommendation for this issue;
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The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares;
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If in an extreme situation the board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers.
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Shareholder proposal regarding
Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)
Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
GSAM will generally recommend a
vote AGAINST shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, if the company satisfies 3 of the 4 following criteria:
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Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties;
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Two-thirds independent board;
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All independent “key” committees (audit, compensation and nominating committees); or
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Established, disclosed governance guidelines.
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Shareholder proposal regarding board
declassification
GSAM will generally vote FOR
proposals requesting that the board adopt a declassified structure in the case of operating and holding companies.
Majority Vote Shareholder
Proposals
GSAM will vote FOR proposals
requesting that the board adopt majority voting in the election of directors provided it does not conflict with the state law where the company is incorporated.
GSAM also looks for companies to
adopt a post-election policy outlining how the company will address the situation of a holdover director.
Cumulative Vote Shareholder
Proposals
GSAM will generally support
shareholder proposals to restore or provide cumulative voting in the case of operating and holding companies unless:
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The company has adopted (i) majority vote standard with a carve-out for plurality voting in situations where there are more nominees than seats and (ii) a director resignation policy to address failed elections.
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3.
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Executive Compensation
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Pay Practices
Good pay practices should align
management’s interests with long-term shareholder value creation. Detailed disclosure of compensation criteria is preferred; proof that companies follow the criteria should be evident and retroactive performance
target changes without proper disclosure is not viewed favorably. Compensation practices should allow a company to attract and retain proven talent. Some examples of poor pay practices include: abnormally large bonus
payouts without justifiable performance linkage or proper disclosure, egregious employment contracts, excessive severance and/or change in control provisions, repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/stock
appreciation rights without prior shareholder approval, and excessive perquisites. A company should also have an appropriate balance of short-term vs. long-term metrics and the metrics should be aligned with business
goals and objectives.
If the company maintains
problematic or poor pay practices, generally vote:
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AGAINST Management Say on Pay (MSOP) Proposals; or
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AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributor to a pay-for-performance misalignment.
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If no MSOP or equity-based incentive plan proposal item is on the ballot, vote AGAINST/WITHHOLD from compensation committee members.
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Equity Compensation Plans
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based
compensation plans. Reasons to vote AGAINST the equity plan could include the following factors:
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The plan permits the repricing of stock options/stock appreciation rights (SARs) without prior shareholder approval;
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The plan is a vehicle for poor pay practices; or
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There is more than one problematic feature of the plan, which could include one of the following calculations materially exceeding industry group metrics (i) the company’s three year burn rate or
(ii) Shareholder Value Transfer (SVT).
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Advisory Vote on Executive
Compensation (Say-on-Pay, MSOP) Management Proposals
Vote FOR annual frequency and
AGAINST shareholder or management proposals asking for any frequency less than annual.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management
proposals for an advisory vote on executive compensation. For U.S. companies, consider the following factors in the context of each company’s specific circumstances and the board’s disclosed rationale for
its practices. In general more than one factor will need to be present in order to warrant a vote AGAINST.
Pay-for-Performance Disconnect:
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GSAM will consider there to be a disconnect based on a quantitative assessment of the following: CEO pay vs. TSR and peers, CEO pay as a percentage of the median peer group or CEO pay vs. shareholder return over
time.
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Additional Factors Considered Include:
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Boards responsiveness if company received 70% or less shareholder support in the previous year’s MSOP vote;
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Abnormally large bonus payouts without justifiable performance linkage or proper disclosure;
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Egregious employment contracts;
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Excessive perquisites or excessive severance and/or change in control provisions;
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Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options without prior shareholder approval;
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Excessive pledging or hedging of stock by executives;
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Egregious pension/SERP (supplemental executive retirement plan) payouts;
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Extraordinary relocation benefits;
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Internal pay disparity;
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Lack of transparent disclosure of compensation philosophy and goals and targets, including details on short-term and long-term performance incentives; and
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Long-term equity-based compensation is 100% time-based.
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Other Compensation Proposals and
Policies
Employee Stock Purchase Plans —
Non-Qualified Plans
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on nonqualified
employee stock purchase plans taking into account the following factors:
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Broad-based participation;
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Limits on employee contributions;
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Company matching contributions; and
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Presence of a discount on the stock price on the date of purchase.
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Option Exchange Programs/Repricing
Options
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management
proposals seeking approval to exchange/reprice options, taking into consideration:
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Historic trading patterns—the stock price should not be so volatile that the options are likely to be back “in-the-money” over the near term;
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Rationale for the re-pricing;
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If
it is a value-for-value exchange;
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If
surrendered stock options are added back to the plan reserve;
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Option vesting;
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Term of the option—the term should remain the same as that of the replaced option;
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Exercise price—should be set at fair market or a premium to market;
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Participants—executive officers and directors should be excluded.
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Vote FOR shareholder proposals to
put option repricings to a shareholder vote.
Other Shareholder Proposals on
Compensation
Advisory Vote on Executive
Compensation (Frequency on Pay)
Vote FOR annual frequency.
Stock retention holding period
Vote FOR shareholder proposals
asking for a policy requiring that senior executives retain a significant percentage of shares acquired through equity compensation programs if the policy requests retention for two years or less following the
termination of their employment (through retirement or otherwise) and a holding threshold percentage of 50% or less.
Also consider:
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Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place and the terms/provisions of awards already granted.
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Elimination of accelerated vesting in
the event of a change in control
Vote AGAINST shareholder proposals
seeking a policy eliminating the accelerated vesting of time-based equity awards in the event of a change-in-control.
Performance-based equity awards and
pay-for-superior-performance proposals
Generally support unless there is
sufficient evidence that the current compensation structure is already substantially performance-based. GSAM considers performance-based awards to include awards that are tied to shareholder return or other metrics
that are relevant to the business.
Say on Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plans (SERP)
Generally vote AGAINST proposals
asking for shareholder votes on SERP.
4.
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Proxy Contests and Access
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Voting for Director Nominees in
Contested Elections
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election
of directors of operating and holding companies in contested elections, considering the following factors:
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Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;
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Management’s track record;
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Background to the proxy contest;
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Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);
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Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against management;
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Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates);
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Likelihood that the Board will be productive as a result;
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Stock ownership positions.
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Proxy Access
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder or
management proposals asking for proxy access.
GSAM may support proxy access as an
important right for shareholders of operating and holding companies and as an alternative to costly proxy contests and as a method for GSAM to vote for directors on an individual basis, as appropriate, rather than
voting on one slate or the other. While this could be an important shareholder right, the following will be taken into account when evaluating the shareholder proposals:
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The ownership thresholds, percentage and duration proposed (GSAM will not support if the ownership threshold is less than 3%);
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The maximum proportion of directors that shareholders may nominate each year (GSAM will not support if the proportion of directors is greater than 25%);
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The method of determining which nominations should appear on the ballot if multiple shareholders submit nominations; and
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The governance of the company in question.
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Reimbursing Proxy Solicitation
Expenses
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to
reimburse proxy solicitation expenses. When voting in conjunction with support of a dissident slate, vote FOR the reimbursement of all appropriate proxy solicitation expenses associated with the election.
5.
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Shareholders Rights & Defenses
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Shareholder Ability to Act by Written
Consent
In the case of operating and
holding companies, generally vote FOR shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to act by written consent, unless:
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The company already gives shareholders the right to call special meetings at a threshold of 25% or lower; and
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The company has a history of strong governance practices.
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Shareholder Ability to Call Special
Meetings
In the case of operating and
holding companies, generally vote FOR management proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings.
In the case of operating and
holding companies, generally vote FOR shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings at a threshold of 25% or lower if the company currently does not give shareholders the
right to call special meetings. However, if a company already gives shareholders the right to call special meetings at a threshold of at least 25%, do not support shareholder proposals to further reduce the
threshold.
Advance Notice Requirements for
Shareholder Proposals/Nominations
In the case of operating and
holding companies, vote CASE-BY-CASE on advance notice proposals, giving support to proposals that allow shareholders to submit proposals/nominations reasonably close to the meeting date and within the broadest window
possible, recognizing the need to allow sufficient notice for company, regulatory and shareholder review.
Poison Pills
Vote FOR shareholder proposals
requesting that the company submit its poison pill to a shareholder vote or redeem it UNLESS the company has: (1) A shareholder-approved poison pill in place; or (2) the company has adopted a policy concerning the
adoption of a pill in the future specifying certain shareholder friendly provisions.
Vote FOR shareholder proposals
calling for poison pills to be put to a vote within a time period of less than one year after adoption.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management
proposals on poison pill ratification, focusing on the features of the shareholder rights plan.
In addition, the rationale for
adopting the pill should be thoroughly explained by the company. In examining the request for the pill, take into consideration the company’s existing governance structure, including: board independence,
existing takeover defenses, and any problematic governance concerns.
6.
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Mergers and Corporate Restructurings
|
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and
acquisitions taking into account the following based on publicly available information:
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Valuation;
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Market reaction;
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Strategic rationale;
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Management’s track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions;
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■
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Presence of conflicts of interest; and
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Governance profile of the combined company.
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7.
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State of Incorporation
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Reincorporation Proposals
GSAM may support management
proposals to reincorporate as long as the reincorporation would not substantially diminish shareholder rights. GSAM may not support shareholder proposals for reincorporation unless the current state of incorporation
is substantially less shareholder friendly than the proposed reincorporation, there is a strong economic case to reincorporate or the company has a history of making decisions that are not shareholder friendly.
Exclusive venue for shareholder
lawsuits
Generally vote FOR on exclusive
venue proposals, taking into account:
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Whether the company has been materially harmed by shareholder litigation outside its jurisdiction of incorporation, based on disclosure in the company's proxy statement;
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■
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Whether the company has the following good governance features:
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Majority independent board;
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Independent key committees;
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An
annually elected board;
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A
majority vote standard in uncontested director elections;
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■
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The absence of a poison pill, unless the pill was approved by shareholder; and/or
|
■
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Separate Chairman CEO role or, if combined, an independent chairman with clearly delineated duties.
|
Common Stock Authorization
Votes on proposals to increase the
number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis. We consider company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:
■
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Past Board performance;
|
■
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The company's use of authorized shares during the last three years;
|
■
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One- and three-year total shareholder return;
|
■
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The board's governance structure and practices;
|
■
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The current request;
|
■
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Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific reasons for the proposed increase;
|
■
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The dilutive impact of the request as determined through an allowable increase, which examines the company's need for shares and total shareholder returns; and
|
■
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Risks to shareholders of not approving the request.
|
9.
|
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)/Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Issues
|
Overall Approach
GSAM recognizes that Environmental,
Social and Governance (ESG) factors can affect investment performance, expose potential investment risks and provide an indication of management excellence and leadership. When evaluating ESG proxy issues, GSAM
balances the purpose of a proposal with the overall benefit to shareholders.
Shareholder proposals considered
under this category could include, among others, reports asking for details on 1) employee labor and safety policies; 2) impact on the environment of the company’s oil sands or fracturing operations; 3)
water-related risks or 4) societal impact of products manufactured.
When evaluating social and
environmental shareholder proposals the following factors are generally considered:
■
|
Whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value;
|
■
|
Whether the information requested concerns business issues that relate to a meaningful percentage of the company’s business;
|
■
|
The degree to which the company’s stated position on the issues raised in the proposal could affect its reputation or sales, or leave it vulnerable to a boycott or selective purchasing;
|
■
|
Whether the company has already responded in some appropriate manner to the request embodied in the proposal;
|
■
|
What other companies in the relevant industry have done in response to the issue addressed in the proposal;
|
■
|
Whether the proposal itself is well framed and the cost of preparing the report is reasonable;
|
■
|
Whether the subject of the proposal is best left to the discretion of the board;
|
■
|
Whether the company has material fines or violations in the area and if so, if appropriate actions have already been taken to remedy going forward;
|
■
|
Whether the requested information is available to shareholders either from the company or from a publicly available source; and
|
■
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Whether providing this information would reveal proprietary or confidential information that would place the company at a competitive disadvantage.
|
Sustainability, climate change
reporting
Generally vote FOR proposals
requesting the company to report on its policies, initiatives and oversight mechanisms related to social, economic, and environmental sustainability, or how the company may be impacted by climate change. The following
factors will be considered:
■
|
The company’s current level of publicly-available disclosure including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies
|
■
|
If
the company has formally committed to the implementation of a reporting program based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines or a similar standard within a specified time frame;
|
■
|
If
the company’s current level of disclosure is comparable to that of its industry peers; and
|
■
|
If there are significant controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company’s environmental performance.
|
Establishing goals or targets for
emissions reduction
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals that
call for the adoption of Greenhouse Gas (“GHG”) reduction goals from products and operations, taking into account:
■
|
Overly prescriptive requests for the reduction in GHG emissions by specific amounts or within a specific time frame;
|
■
|
Whether company disclosure lags behind industry peers;
|
■
|
Whether the company has been the subject of recent, significant violations, fines, litigation, or controversy related to GHG emissions;
|
■
|
The feasibility of reduction of GHGs given the company’s product line and current technology and;
|
■
|
Whether the company already provides meaningful disclosure on GHG emissions from its products and operations.
|
Political Contributions and Trade
Association Spending/Lobbying Expenditures and Initiatives
Generally vote AGAINST proposals
asking the company to affirm political nonpartisanship in the workplace so long as:
■
|
There are no recent, significant controversies, fines or litigation regarding the company’s political contributions or trade association spending; and
|
■
|
The company has procedures in place to ensure that employee contributions to company-sponsored political action committees (PACs) are strictly voluntary and prohibits coercion.
|
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to
improve the disclosure of a company’s political contributions and trade association spending, considering:
■
|
Recent significant controversy or litigation related to the company’s political contributions or governmental affairs;
|
■
|
The public availability of a company policy on political contributions and trade association spending including information on the types of organizations supported, the business rationale for supporting
these organizations, and the oversight and compliance procedures related to such expenditures of corporate assets.
|
GSAM will not necessarily vote for
the proposal merely to encourage further disclosure of trade association or lobbying spending.
Vote AGAINST proposals barring the
company from making political contributions. Businesses are affected by legislation at the federal, state, and local level and barring political contributions can put the company at a competitive disadvantage.
Gender Identity and Sexual
Orientation
A company should have a clear,
public Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) statement and/or diversity policy. Generally vote FOR proposals seeking to amend a company’s EEO statement or diversity policies to additionally prohibit discrimination
based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Labor and Human Rights Standards
Generally vote FOR proposals
requesting a report or implementation of a policy on company or company supplier labor and/or human rights standards and policies unless such information is already publicly disclosed considering:
■
|
The degree to which existing relevant policies and practices are disclosed;
|
■
|
Whether or not existing relevant policies are consistent with internationally recognized standards;
|
■
|
Whether company facilities and those of its suppliers are monitored and how;
|
■
|
Company participation in fair labor organizations or other internationally recognized human rights initiatives;
|
■
|
Scope and nature of business conducted in markets known to have higher risk of workplace labor/human rights abuse;
|
■
|
Recent, significant company controversies, fines, or litigation regarding human rights at the company or its suppliers;
|
■
|
The scope of the request; and
|
■
|
Deviation from industry sector peer company standards and practices.
|
Non-U.S. Proxy Items
The following section is a broad
summary of the Guidelines, which form the basis of the Policy with respect to non-U.S. public equity investments. Applying these guidelines is subject to certain regional and country-specific exceptions and
modifications and is not inclusive of all considerations in each market.
Financial Results/Director and
Auditor Reports
Vote FOR approval of financial
statements and director and auditor reports, unless:
■
|
There are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or
|
■
|
The company is not responsive to shareholder questions about specific items that should be publicly disclosed.
|
Appointment of Auditors and Auditor
Fees
Vote FOR the re-election of
auditors and proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees, unless:
■
|
There are serious concerns about the accounts presented, audit procedures used or audit opinion rendered;
|
■
|
There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion, which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;
|
■
|
Name of the proposed auditor has not been published;
|
■
|
The auditors are being changed without explanation; non-audit-related fees are substantial or are in excess of standard annual audit-related fees; or the appointment of external auditors if they have
previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.
|
Appointment of Statutory Auditors
Vote FOR the appointment or
reelection of statutory auditors, unless:
■
|
There are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;
|
■
|
Questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or
|
■
|
The auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.
|
Allocation of Income
Vote FOR approval of the allocation
of income, unless:
■
|
The dividend payout ratio has been consistently low without adequate explanation; or
|
■
|
The payout is excessive given the company's financial position.
|
Stock (Scrip) Dividend Alternative
Vote FOR most stock (scrip)
dividend proposals.
Vote AGAINST proposals that do not
allow for a cash option unless management demonstrates that the cash option is harmful to shareholder value.
Amendments to Articles of
Association
Vote amendments to the articles of
association on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Change in Company Fiscal Term
Vote FOR resolutions to change a
company's fiscal term unless a company's motivation for the change is to postpone its AGM.
Lower Disclosure Threshold for Stock
Ownership
Vote AGAINST resolutions to lower
the stock ownership disclosure threshold below 5 percent unless specific reasons exist to implement a lower threshold.
Amend Quorum Requirements
Vote proposals to amend quorum
requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Transact Other Business
Vote AGAINST other business when it
appears as a voting item.
Director Elections
Vote FOR management nominees taking
into consideration the following:
■
|
Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner; or
|
■
|
There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements; or
|
■
|
There have been questionable transactions or conflicts of interest; or
|
■
|
There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or
|
■
|
The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards. or
|
■
|
There are reservations about:
|
■
|
Director terms
|
■
|
Bundling of proposals to elect directors
|
■
|
Board independence
|
■
|
Disclosure of named nominees
|
■
|
Combined Chairman/CEO
|
■
|
Election of former CEO as Chairman of the Board
|
■
|
Overboarded directors
|
■
|
Composition of committees
|
■
|
Director independence
|
■
|
Specific concerns about the individual or company, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities; or
|
■
|
Repeated absences at board meetings have not been explained (in countries where this information is disclosed); or
|
■
|
Unless there are other considerations which may include sanctions from government or authority, violations of laws and regulations, or other issues related to improper business practice, failure to replace
management, or egregious actions related to service on other boards.
|
Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis in
contested elections of directors, e.g., the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.
The analysis will generally be
based on, but not limited to, the following major decision factors:
■
|
Company performance relative to its peers;
|
■
|
Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;
|
■
|
Independence of board candidates;
|
■
|
Experience and skills of board candidates;
|
■
|
Governance profile of the company;
|
■
|
Evidence of management entrenchment;
|
■
|
Responsiveness to shareholders;
|
■
|
Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed;
|
■
|
Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.
|
Vote FOR employee and/or labor
representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee and are required by law to be on those committees.
Vote AGAINST employee and/or labor
representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee, if they are not required to be on those committees.
Classification of directors
Executive Director
■
|
Employee or executive of the company;
|
■
|
Any director who is classified as a non-executive, but receives salary, fees, bonus, and/or other benefits that are in line with the highest-paid executives of the company.
|
Non-Independent Non-Executive
Director (NED)
■
|
Any director who is attested by the board to be a non-independent NED;
|
■
|
Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;
|
■
|
Any director who is also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;
|
■
|
Beneficial owner (direct or indirect) of at least 10% of the company’s stock, either in economic terms or in voting rights (this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than one member of a
defined group, e.g., family members who beneficially own less than 10% individually, but collectively own more than 10%), unless market best practice dictates a lower ownership and/or disclosure threshold (and in
other special market-specific circumstances);
|
■
|
Government representative;
|
■
|
Currently provides (or a relative provides) professional services to the company, to an affiliate of the company, or to an individual officer of the company or of one of its affiliates in excess of $10,000 per year;
|
■
|
Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains
|
■
|
transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test);
|
■
|
Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;
|
■
|
Relative of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;
|
■
|
Relative of a former executive of the company or its affiliates;
|
■
|
A
new appointee elected other than by a formal process through the General Meeting (such as a contractual appointment by a substantial shareholder);
|
■
|
Founder/co-founder/member of founding family but not currently an employee;
|
■
|
Former executive (5 year cooling off period);
|
■
|
Years of service is generally not a determining factor unless it is recommended best practice in a market and/or in extreme circumstances, in which case it may be considered; and
|
■
|
Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate governance best practice guidance.
|
Independent NED
■
|
No
material connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company other than a board seat.
|
Employee Representative
■
|
Represents employees or employee shareholders of the company (classified as “employee representative” but considered a non-independent NED).
|
Discharge of Directors
Generally vote FOR the discharge of
directors, including members of the management board and/or supervisory board, unless there is reliable information about significant and compelling controversies that the board is not fulfilling its fiduciary duties
warranted by:
■
|
A
lack of oversight or actions by board members which invoke shareholder distrust related to malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in shareholder interest; or
|
■
|
Any legal issues (e.g., civil/criminal) aiming to hold the board responsible for breach of trust in the past or related to currently alleged actions yet to be confirmed (and not only the fiscal year in question),
such as price fixing, insider trading, bribery, fraud, and other illegal actions; or
|
■
|
Other egregious governance issues where shareholders may bring legal action against the company or its directors; or
|
■
|
Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis where a vote against other agenda items are deemed inappropriate.
|
Good pay practices should align
management’s interests with long-term shareholder value creation. Detailed disclosure of compensation criteria is preferred; proof that companies follow the criteria should be evident and retroactive performance
target changes without proper disclosure is not viewed favorably. Compensation practices should allow a company to attract and retain proven talent. Some examples of poor pay practices include: abnormally large bonus
payouts without justifiable performance linkage or proper disclosure, egregious employment contracts, excessive severance and/or change in control provisions, repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/stock
appreciation rights without prior shareholder approval, and excessive perquisites. A company should also have an appropriate balance of short-term vs. long-term metrics and the metrics should be aligned with business
goals and objectives.
Director Compensation
Vote FOR proposals to award cash
fees to non-executive directors unless the amounts are excessive relative to other companies in the country or industry.
Vote non-executive director
compensation proposals that include both cash and share-based components on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote proposals that bundle
compensation for both non-executive and executive directors into a single resolution on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote AGAINST proposals to introduce
retirement benefits for non-executive directors.
Compensation Plans
Vote compensation plans on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Director, Officer, and Auditor
Indemnification and Liability Provisions
Vote proposals seeking
indemnification and liability protection for directors and officers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify
auditors.
Vote AGAINST the introduction of
classified boards and mandatory retirement ages for directors.
Vote AGAINST proposals to alter
board structure or size in the context of a fight for control of the company or the board.
Chairman CEO combined role
(for applicable markets)
GSAM will generally recommend a
vote AGAINST shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, if the company satisfies 3 of the 4 following criteria:
■
|
2/3 independent board, or majority in countries where employee representation is common practice;
|
■
|
A
designated, or a rotating, lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties;
|
■
|
Fully independent key committees; and/or
|
■
|
Established, publicly disclosed, governance guidelines and director biographies/profiles.
|
Share Issuance Requests
General Issuances:
Vote FOR issuance requests with
preemptive rights to a maximum of 100 percent over currently issued capital.
Vote FOR issuance requests without
preemptive rights to a maximum of 20 percent of currently issued capital.
Specific Issuances:
Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on all
requests, with or without preemptive rights.
Increases in Authorized Capital
Vote FOR non-specific proposals to
increase authorized capital up to 100 percent over the current authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding.
Vote FOR specific proposals to
increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:
■
|
The specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or
|
■
|
The increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances.
|
Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt
unlimited capital authorizations.
Reduction of Capital
Vote FOR proposals to reduce
capital for routine accounting purposes unless the terms are unfavorable to shareholders.
Vote proposals to reduce capital in
connection with corporate restructuring on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Capital Structures
Vote FOR resolutions that seek to
maintain or convert to a one-share, one-vote capital structure.
Vote AGAINST requests for the
creation or continuation of dual-class capital structures or the creation of new or additional super voting shares.
Preferred Stock
Vote FOR the creation of a new
class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50 percent of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders.
Vote FOR the creation/issuance of
convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets guidelines on equity issuance requests.
Vote AGAINST the creation of a new
class of preference shares that would carry superior voting rights to the common shares.
Vote AGAINST the creation of blank
check preferred stock unless the board clearly states that the authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.
Vote proposals to increase blank
check preferred authorizations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Debt Issuance Requests
Vote non-convertible debt issuance
requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with or without preemptive rights.
Vote FOR the creation/issuance of
convertible debt instruments as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets guidelines on equity issuance requests.
Vote FOR proposals to restructure
existing debt arrangements unless the terms of the restructuring would adversely affect the rights of shareholders.
Increase in Borrowing Powers
Vote proposals to approve increases
in a company's borrowing powers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Share Repurchase Plans
GSAM will generally recommend FOR
share repurchase programs taking into account whether:
■
|
The share repurchase program can be used as a takeover defense;
|
■
|
There is clear evidence of historical abuse;
|
■
|
There is no safeguard in the share repurchase program against selective buybacks;
|
■
|
Pricing provisions and safeguards in the share repurchase program are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.
|
Reissuance of Repurchased Shares
Vote FOR requests to reissue any
repurchased shares unless there is clear evidence of abuse of this authority in the past.
Capitalization of Reserves for
Bonus Issues/Increase in Par Value
Vote FOR requests to capitalize
reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.
6.
|
Mergers and Corporate Restructuring & Other
|
Reorganizations/Restructurings
Vote reorganizations and
restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and
acquisitions taking into account the following based on publicly available information:
■
|
Valuation;
|
■
|
Market reaction;
|
■
|
Strategic rationale;
|
■
|
Management’s track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions;
|
■
|
Presence of conflicts of interest; and
|
■
|
Governance profile of the combined company.
|
Antitakeover Mechanisms
Generally vote AGAINST all
antitakeover proposals, unless they are structured in such a way that they give shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.
Reincorporation Proposals
Vote reincorporation proposals on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Related-Party Transactions
Vote related-party transactions on
a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering factors including, but not limited to, the following:
■
|
The parties on either side of the transaction;
|
■
|
The nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;
|
■
|
The pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);
|
■
|
The views of independent directors (where provided);
|
■
|
The views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);
|
■
|
Whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and
|
■
|
The stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing.
|
Shareholder Proposals
Vote all shareholder proposals on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote FOR proposals that would
improve the company’s corporate governance or business profile at a reasonable cost.
Vote AGAINST proposals that limit
the company’s business activities or capabilities or result in significant costs being incurred with little or not benefit.
7.
|
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)/Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Issues
|
Please refer to section 9 for our
current approach to these important topics.
IVY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY
For each Fund that has delegated
all proxy voting responsibilities to Ivy, Ivy has established guidelines that reflect what it believes are desirable principles of corporate governance.
Listed below are several
reoccurring issues and Ivy’s corresponding positions.
Board of Directors Issues:
Ivy generally supports proposals
requiring that a majority of the board of directors consist of outside, or independent, directors.
Ivy generally votes against
proposals to limit or eliminate liability for monetary damages for violating the duty of care.
Ivy generally votes against
indemnification proposals that would expand coverage to more serious acts such as negligence, willful or intentional misconduct, derivation of improper personal benefit, absence of good faith, reckless disregard for
duty, and unexcused pattern of inattention. The success of a corporation in attracting and retaining qualified directors and officers, in the best interest of shareholders, is partially dependent on its ability to
provide some satisfactory level of protection from personal financial risk. IVY will support such protection so long as it does not exceed reasonable standards.
Ivy generally votes against
proposals requiring the provision for cumulative voting in the election of directors as cumulative voting may allow a minority group of shareholders to cause the election of one or more directors.
Corporate Governance Issues:
Ivy generally supports proposals to
ratify the appointment of independent accountants/auditors unless reasons exist which cause it to vote against the appointment.
Ivy generally votes against
proposals to restrict or prohibit the right of shareholders to call special meetings.
Ivy generally votes against
proposals which include a provision to require a supermajority vote to amend any charter or bylaw provision, or to approve mergers or other significant business combinations.
Ivy generally votes for proposals
to authorize an increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock.
Ivy generally votes against
proposals for the adoption of a Shareholder Rights Plan (sometimes referred to as “Purchase Rights Plan”). It believes that anti-takeover proposals are generally not in the best interest of shareholders.
Such a Plan gives the board of directors virtual veto power over acquisition offers which may well offer material benefits to shareholders.
Executive/Employee Issues:
Ivy will generally vote for
proposals to establish an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) as long as the size of the ESOP is reasonably limited.
Political Activity:
Ivy will generally vote against
proposals relating to corporate political activity or contributions, or requiring the publication of reports on political activity or contributions made by political action committees (PACs) sponsored or supported by
the corporation. PAC contributions are generally made with funds contributed voluntarily by employees, and provide positive individual participation in the political process of a democratic society. In addition,
Federal law and most state laws require full disclosure of political contributions made by PACs. This is public information and available to all interested parties. Requiring reports in newspaper publications results
in added expense without commensurate benefit to shareholders.
Conflicts of Interest Between Ivy and
its Clients:
Ivy will use the following
three-step process to address conflicts of interest: (1) Ivy will attempt to identify any potential conflicts of interest; (2) Ivy will then determine if the conflict as identified is material; and (3) Ivy will follow
established procedures, as described generally below, to ensure that its proxy voting decisions are based on the best interests of the Funds and are not the product of a material conflict.
(1)
Identifying Conflicts of Interest: Ivy will evaluate the nature of its relationships to assess which, if any, might place its interests, as well as those of its affiliates, in conflict
with those of the Fund’s shareholders on a proxy voting matter. Ivy will review any potential conflicts that involve the following three general categories to determine if there is a conflict and if so, if the
conflict is material:
■
|
Business Relationships
– Ivy will review any situation for a material conflict where Ivy provides investment advisory services for a company or an employee group, manages pension assets, administers
employee benefit plans, leases office space from a company, or provides brokerage, underwriting, insurance, banking or consulting services to a company or if it is determined that Ivy (or an affiliate) otherwise has a
similar significant relationship with a third party such that the third party might have an incentive to encourage Ivy to vote in favor of management.
|
■
|
Personal Relationships
– Ivy will review any situation where it (or an affiliate) has a personal relationship with other proponents of proxy proposals, participants in proxy contests, corporate directors,
or candidates for directorships to determine if a material conflict exists.
|
■
|
Familial Relationships
– Ivy will review any situation where it (or an affiliate) has a known familial relationship relating to a company (for example, a spouse or other relative who serves as a director of
a public company or is employed by the company) to determine if a material conflict exists.
|
Ivy will designate an individual or
committee to review and identify proxies for potential conflicts of interest on an ongoing basis.
(2) “Material
Conflicts”:
Ivy will review each relationship identified as having a potential conflict based on the individual facts and circumstances. For purposes of this review, Ivy will attempt to detect those
relationships deemed material based on the reasonable likelihood that they would be viewed as important by the average shareholder.
(3) Procedures to Address Material
Conflicts:
Ivy will use the following techniques to vote proxies that have been determined to present a “Material Conflict.”
■
|
Use
a Proxy Voting Service for Specific Proposals
– As a primary means of voting material conflicts, Ivy will vote in accordance with the recommendation of an independent proxy voting service (Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS)
or another independent third party if a recommendation from ISS is unavailable).
|
■
|
Client directed
– If the Material Conflict arises from Ivy’s management of a third party account and the client provides voting instructions on a particular vote, Ivy will vote according to the
directions provided by the client.
|
■
|
Use
a Predetermined Voting Policy
– If no directives are provided by either ISS or the client, Ivy may vote material conflicts pursuant to the pre-determined Proxy Voting Policies, established herein, should such
subject matter fall sufficiently within the identified subject matter. If the issue involves a material conflict and Ivy chooses to use a predetermined voting policy, Ivy will not be permitted to vary from the
established voting policies established herein.
|
■
|
Seek Board Guidance
– If the Material Conflict does not fall within one of the situations referenced above, Ivy may seek guidance from the Board on matters involving a conflict. Under this method, Ivy
will disclose the nature of the conflict to the Board and obtain the Board’s consent or direction to vote the proxies. Ivy may use the Board guidance to vote proxies for its non-mutual fund clients.
|
LONGFELLOW INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CO.
LLC.
PROXY VOTING POLICY
Where the power to vote proxies has
been delegated to Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC. (LIM), LIM has the responsibility for voting in a manner that is in the best economic interests of the client. LIM shall consider only those factors that
relate to the client’s investment or dictated by the client’s written instructions, including how its vote will economically impact and affect the value of the client’s investment. In some instances
LIM may abstain from voting a client proxy, particularly when the effect on the client’s economic interest is insignificant or the cost of voting the proxy outweighs the benefit to the client’s portfolio.
In voting on each and
every issue, LIM shall vote in a prudent and timely
fashion and only after a careful evaluation of the issue(s) presented on the ballot. Proxy votes will generally be cast in support of management on routine corporate matters and in support of any management proposal
that is plainly in the interest of all shareholders. LIM would generally vote for proposals that increase shareholder value and maintain or increase shareholder rights. LIM will generally vote for management proposals
for merger or reorganization. LIM will generally vote for the selection of independent auditors. Where LIM perceives that the proposal, if approved, would tend to limit or reduce the economic value of the
client’s investment, LIM will generally vote against it. There may be instances where the interests of LIM may conflict or appear to conflict with the interests of its clients. For example: a situation where a
portfolio holding is a client or an affiliate of a client of LIM. In such situations LIM, consistent with its duty of care and duty of loyalty, may engage an independent third party to determine how the proxy should
be voted.
MORGAN STANLEY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT,
INC.
Morgan Stanley Investment
Management’s (“MSIM”) policy and procedures for voting proxies (“Policy”) with respect to securities held in the accounts of clients applies to those MSIM entities that provide
discretionary investment management services and for which an MSIM entity has authority to vote proxies. This Policy is reviewed and updated as necessary to address new and evolving proxy voting issues and
standards.
The MSIM entities covered by this
Policy currently include the following: Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company, Morgan Stanley
Investment Management (Japan) Co., Limited, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Private Limited and Private Investment Partners Inc. (each an “MSIM Affiliate” and collectively referred to as the
“MSIM Affiliates” or as “we” below).
Each MSIM Affiliate will use its
best efforts to vote proxies as part of its authority to manage, acquire and dispose of account assets. With respect to the MSIM registered management investment companies (“MSIM Funds”), each MSIM
Affiliate will vote proxies under this Policy pursuant to authority granted under its applicable investment advisory agreement or, in the absence of such authority, as authorized by the Board of Directors/Trustees of
the MSIM Funds. An MSIM Affiliate will not vote proxies unless the investment management or investment advisory agreement explicitly authorizes the MSIM Affiliate to vote proxies.
MSIM Affiliates will vote proxies
in a prudent and diligent manner and in the best interests of clients, including beneficiaries of and participants in a client’s benefit plan(s) for which the MSIM Affiliates manage assets, consistent with the
objective of maximizing long-term investment returns (“Client Proxy Standard”). In addition to voting proxies at portfolio companies, MSIM routinely engages with the management and may also engage with the
board, of companies in which we invest on a range of governance issues. Governance is a window into or proxy for management and board quality. MSIM engages with companies where we have larger positions, voting issues
are material or where we believe we can make a positive impact on the governance structure. MSIM’s engagement process, through private communication with companies, allows us to understand the governance
structures at investee companies and better inform our voting decisions. In certain situations, a client or its fiduciary may provide an MSIM Affiliate with a proxy voting policy. In these situations, the MSIM
Affiliate will comply with the client’s policy.
Proxy Research Services - ISS and
Glass Lewis (together with other proxy research providers as we may retain from time to time, the “Research Providers”) are independent advisers that specialize in providing a variety of fiduciary-level
proxy-related services to institutional investment managers, plan sponsors, custodians, consultants, and other institutional investors. The services provided include in-depth research, global issuer analysis, and
voting recommendations. While we may review and utilize the recommendations of one or more Research Providers in making proxy voting decisions, we are in no way obligated to follow such recommendations. In addition to
research, ISS provides vote execution, reporting, and recordkeeping services.
Voting Proxies for Certain Non-U.S.
Companies - Voting proxies of companies located in some jurisdictions may involve several problems that can restrict or prevent the ability to vote such proxies or entail significant costs. These problems include, but
are not limited to: (i) proxy statements and ballots being written in a language other than English; (ii) untimely and/or inadequate notice of shareholder meetings; (iii) restrictions on the ability of holders outside
the issuer’s jurisdiction of organization to exercise votes; (iv) requirements to vote proxies in person; (v) the imposition of restrictions on the sale of the securities for a period of time in proximity to the
shareholder meeting; and (vi) requirements to provide local agents with power of attorney to facilitate our voting instructions. As a result, we vote clients’ non-U.S. proxies on a best efforts basis only, after
weighing the costs and benefits of voting such proxies, consistent with the Client Proxy Standard. ISS has been retained to provide assistance in connection with voting non-U.S. proxies.
II.
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GENERAL PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
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To promote consistency in voting
proxies on behalf of its clients, we follow this Policy (subject to any exception set forth herein). The Policy addresses a broad range of issues, and provides general voting parameters on proposals that arise most
frequently. However, details of specific proposals vary, and those details affect particular voting decisions, as do factors specific to a given company. Pursuant to the procedures set forth herein, we may vote in a
manner that is not in accordance with the following general guidelines, provided the vote is approved by the Proxy Review Committee (see Section III for description) and is consistent with the Client Proxy Standard.
Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP will follow the procedures as described in Appendix A.
We endeavor to integrate governance
and proxy voting policy with investment goals, using the vote to encourage portfolio companies to enhance long-term shareholder value and to provide a high standard of transparency such that equity markets can value
corporate assets appropriately.
We seek to follow the Client Proxy
Standard for each client. At times, this may result in split votes, for example when different clients have varying economic interests in the outcome of a particular voting matter (such as a case in which varied
ownership interests in two companies involved in a merger result in different stakes in the outcome). We also may split votes at times based on differing views of portfolio managers.
We may abstain on matters for which
disclosure is inadequate.
We generally support routine
management proposals. The following are examples of routine management proposals:
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Approval of financial statements and auditor reports if delivered with an unqualified auditor’s opinion.
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■
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General updating/corrective amendments to the charter, articles of association or bylaws, unless we believe that such amendments would diminish shareholder rights.
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Most proposals related to the conduct of the annual meeting, with the following exceptions. We generally oppose proposals that relate to “the transaction of such other business which may come
before the meeting,” and open-ended requests for adjournment. However, where management specifically states the reason for requesting an adjournment and the requested adjournment would facilitate passage
of a proposal that would otherwise be supported under this Policy (i.e. an uncontested corporate transaction), the adjournment request will be supported. Also, we do not support proposals that allow companies to call
a special meeting with a short-time frame for review.
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We generally support shareholder
proposals advocating confidential voting procedures and independent tabulation of voting results.
Election of directors
: Votes on board nominees can involve balancing a variety of considerations. In vote decisions, we may take into consideration whether the company has a
majority voting policy in place that we believe makes the director vote more meaningful. In the absence of a proxy contest, we generally support the board’s nominees for director except as follows:
We consider withholding support
from or voting against a nominee if we believe a direct conflict exists between the interests of the nominee and the public shareholders, including failure to meet fiduciary standards of care and/or loyalty. We may
oppose directors where we conclude that actions of directors are unlawful, unethical or negligent. We consider opposing individual board members or an entire slate if we believe the board is entrenched and/or dealing
inadequately with performance problems; if we believe the board is acting with insufficient independence between the board and management; or if we believe the board has not been sufficiently forthcoming with
information on key governance or other material matters.
We consider withholding support
from or voting against interested directors if the company’s board does not meet market standards for director independence, or if otherwise we believe board independence is insufficient. We refer to prevalent
market standards as promulgated by a stock exchange or other authority within a given market (e.g., New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq rules for most U.S. companies, and The Combined Code on Corporate Governance in the
United Kingdom). Thus, for an NYSE company with no controlling shareholder, we would expect that at a minimum a majority of directors should be independent as defined by NYSE. Where we view market standards as
inadequate, we may withhold votes based on stronger independence standards. Market standards notwithstanding, we generally do not view long board tenure alone as a basis to classify a director as non-independent.
At a company with a shareholder or
group that controls the company by virtue of a majority economic interest in the company, we have a reduced expectation for board independence, although we believe the presence of independent directors can be helpful,
particularly in staffing the audit committee, and at times we may withhold support from or vote against a nominee on the view the
board or its committees are not sufficiently
independent. In markets where board independence is not the norm (e.g. Japan), however, we consider factors including whether a board of a controlled company includes independent members who can be expected to look
out for interests of minority holders.
We consider withholding support
from or voting against a nominee if he or she is affiliated with a major shareholder that has representation on a board disproportionate to its economic interest.
Depending on market standards, we
consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee who is interested and who is standing for election as a member of the company’s compensation/remuneration, nominating/governance or audit
committee.
We consider withholding support
from or voting against nominees if the term for which they are nominated is excessive. We consider this issue on a market-specific basis.
We consider withholding support
from or voting against nominees if in our view there has been insufficient board renewal (turnover), particularly in the context of extended poor company performance.
We consider withholding support
from or voting against a nominee standing for election if the board has not taken action to implement generally accepted governance practices for which there is a “bright line” test. For example, in the
context of the U.S. market, failure to eliminate a dead hand or slow hand poison pill would be seen as a basis for opposing one or more incumbent nominees.
In markets that encourage
designated audit committee financial experts, we consider voting against members of an audit committee if no members are designated as such. We also consider voting against the audit committee members if the company
has faced financial reporting issues and/or does not put the auditor up for ratification by shareholders.
We believe investors should have
the ability to vote on individual nominees, and may abstain or vote against a slate of nominees where we are not given the opportunity to vote on individual nominees.
We consider withholding support
from or voting against a nominee who has failed to attend at least 75% of the nominee’s board and board committee meetings within a given year without a reasonable excuse. We also consider opposing nominees if
the company does not meet market standards for disclosure on attendance.
We consider withholding support
from or voting against a nominee who appears overcommitted, particularly through service on an excessive number of boards. Market expectations are incorporated into this analysis; for U.S. boards, we generally oppose
election of a nominee who serves on more than six public company boards (excluding investment companies), although we also may reference National Association of Corporate Directors guidance suggesting that public
company CEOs, for example, should serve on no more than two outside boards given level of time commitment required in their primary job.
We consider withholding support
from or voting against a nominee where we believe executive remuneration practices are poor, particularly if the company does not offer shareholders a separate “say-on-pay” advisory vote on pay.
Discharge of directors’ duties
: In markets where an annual discharge of directors' responsibility is a routine agenda item, we generally support such discharge.
However, we may vote against discharge or abstain from voting where there are serious findings of fraud or other unethical behavior for which the individual bears responsibility. The annual discharge of responsibility
represents shareholder approval of disclosed actions taken by the board during the year and may make future shareholder action against the board difficult to pursue.
Board independence
: We generally support U.S. shareholder proposals requiring that a certain percentage (up to 66⅔%) of the company’s board members be independent
directors, and promoting all-independent audit, compensation and nominating/governance committees.
Board diversity
: We consider on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals urging diversity of board membership with respect to gender, race or other factors.
Majority voting
: We generally support proposals requesting or requiring majority voting policies in election of directors, so long as there is a carve-out for plurality voting
in the case of contested elections.
Proxy access
: We consider on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals on particular procedures for inclusion of shareholder nominees in company proxy statements.
Reimbursement for dissident nominees
: We generally support well-crafted U.S. shareholder proposals that would provide for reimbursement of dissident nominees elected to a
board, as the cost to shareholders in electing such nominees can be factored into the voting decision on those nominees.
Proposals to elect directors more frequently
: In the U.S. public company context, we usually support shareholder and management proposals to elect all directors annually (to
“declassify” the board), although we make an exception to this policy where we believe that long-term shareholder value may be harmed by this change given particular circumstances at the company at the
time of the vote on such proposal. As indicated above, outside the United States we generally support greater accountability to shareholders that comes through more frequent director elections, but recognize that many
markets embrace longer term lengths, sometimes for valid reasons given other aspects of the legal context in electing boards.
Cumulative voting
: We generally support proposals to eliminate cumulative voting in the U.S. market context. (Cumulative voting provides that shareholders may concentrate
their votes for one or a handful of candidates, a system that can enable a minority bloc to place representation on a board.) U.S. proposals to establish cumulative voting in the election of directors generally will
not be supported.
Separation of Chairman and CEO positions
: We vote on shareholder proposals to separate the Chairman and CEO positions and/or to appoint an independent Chairman based in part
on prevailing practice in particular markets, since the context for such a practice varies. In many non-U.S. markets, we view separation of the roles as a market standard practice, and support division of the roles in
that context. In the United States, we consider such proposals on a case-by-case basis, considering, among other things, the existing board leadership structure, company performance, and any evidence of entrenchment
or perceived risk that power is overly concentrated in a single individual.
Director retirement age and term limits
: Proposals setting or recommending director retirement ages or director term limits are voted on a case-by-case basis that includes
consideration of company performance, the rate of board renewal, evidence of effective individual director evaluation processes, and any indications of entrenchment.
Proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or broaden indemnification of officers and directors
: Generally, we will support such proposals provided that an
individual is eligible only if he or she has not acted in bad faith, with gross negligence or with reckless disregard of their duties.
C.
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Statutory auditor boards.
The statutory auditor board, which is separate from the main board of directors, plays a role in corporate governance in several markets. These boards are elected by shareholders to
provide assurance on compliance with legal and accounting standards and the company’s articles of association. We generally vote for statutory auditor nominees if they meet independence standards. In markets
that require disclosure on attendance by internal statutory auditors, however, we consider voting against nominees for these positions who failed to attend at least 75% of meetings in the previous year. We also
consider opposing nominees if the company does not meet market standards for disclosure on attendance.
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D.
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Corporate transactions and proxy fights.
We examine proposals relating to mergers, acquisitions and other special corporate transactions (i.e., takeovers, spin-offs, sales of assets, reorganizations, restructurings and
recapitalizations) on a case-by-case basis in the interests of each fund or other account. Proposals for mergers or other significant transactions that are friendly and approved by the Research Providers usually are
supported if there is no portfolio manager objection. We also analyze proxy contests on a case-by-case basis.
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E.
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Changes in capital structure.
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We generally support the
following:
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Management and shareholder proposals aimed at eliminating unequal voting rights, assuming fair economic treatment of classes of shares we hold.
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U.S. management proposals to increase the authorization of existing classes of common stock (or securities convertible into common stock) if: (i) a clear business purpose is stated that we can support and the number
of shares requested is reasonable in relation to the purpose for which authorization is requested; and/or (ii) the authorization does not exceed 100% of shares currently authorized and at least 30% of the total new
authorization will be outstanding. (We consider proposals that do not meet these criteria on a case-by-case basis.)
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U.S. management proposals to create a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50% of issued capital, unless we have concerns about use of the authority for anti-takeover purposes.
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Proposals in non-U.S. markets that in our view appropriately limit potential dilution of existing shareholders. A major consideration is whether existing shareholders would have preemptive rights for
any issuance under a proposal for standing share
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issuance authority. We generally consider market-specific guidance in making these decisions; for example, in the U.K. market we usually follow Association of British Insurers’ (“ABI”) guidance,
although company-specific factors may be considered and for example, may sometimes lead us to voting against share authorization proposals even if they meet ABI guidance.
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Management proposals to authorize share repurchase plans, except in some cases in which we believe there are insufficient protections against use of an authorization for anti-takeover purposes.
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Management proposals to reduce the number of authorized shares of common or preferred stock, or to eliminate classes of preferred stock.
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Management proposals to effect stock splits.
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Management proposals to effect reverse stock splits if management proportionately reduces the authorized share amount set forth in the corporate charter. Reverse stock splits that do not adjust proportionately to
the authorized share amount generally will be approved if the resulting increase in authorized shares coincides with the proxy guidelines set forth above for common stock increases.
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Management dividend payout proposals, except where we perceive company payouts to shareholders as inadequate.
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We generally oppose the following
(notwithstanding management support):
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Proposals to add classes of stock that would substantially dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders.
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Proposals to increase the authorized or issued number of shares of existing classes of stock that are unreasonably dilutive, particularly if there are no preemptive rights for existing shareholders. However,
depending on market practices, we consider voting for proposals giving general authorization for issuance of shares not subject to pre-emptive rights if the authority is limited.
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Proposals that authorize share issuance at a discount to market rates, except where authority for such issuance is de minimis, or if there is a special situation that we believe justifies such authorization (as may
be the case, for example, at a company under severe stress and risk of bankruptcy).
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Proposals relating to changes in capitalization by 100% or more.
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We consider on a case-by-case basis
shareholder proposals to increase dividend payout ratios, in light of market practice and perceived market weaknesses, as well as individual company payout history and current circumstances. For example, currently we
perceive low payouts to shareholders as a concern at some Japanese companies, but may deem a low payout ratio as appropriate for a growth company making good use of its cash, notwithstanding the broader market
concern.
F.
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Takeover Defenses and Shareholder Rights.
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Shareholder rights plans
: We generally support proposals to require shareholder approval or ratification of shareholder rights plans (poison pills). In voting on rights plans
or similar takeover defenses, we consider on a case-by-case basis whether the company has demonstrated a need for the defense in the context of promoting long-term share value; whether provisions of the defense are in
line with generally accepted governance principles in the market (and specifically the presence of an adequate qualified offer provision that would exempt offers meeting certain conditions from the pill); and the
specific context if the proposal is made in the midst of a takeover bid or contest for control.
Supermajority voting requirements
: We generally oppose requirements for supermajority votes to amend the charter or bylaws, unless the provisions protect minority shareholders
where there is a large shareholder. In line with this view, in the absence of a large shareholder we support reasonable shareholder proposals to limit such supermajority voting requirements.
Shareholders right to call a special meeting
: We consider proposals to enhance a shareholder’s rights to call meetings on a case-by-case basis. At large-cap U.S.
companies, we generally support efforts to establish the right of holders of 10% or more of shares to call special meetings, unless the board or state law has set a policy or law establishing such rights at a
threshold that we believe to be acceptable.
Written consent rights
: In the U.S. context, we examine proposals for shareholder written consent rights on a case-by-case basis.
Reincorporation
: We consider management and shareholder proposals to reincorporate to a different jurisdiction on a case-by-case basis. We oppose such proposals if we believe
the main purpose is to take advantage of laws or judicial precedents that reduce shareholder rights.
Anti-greenmail provisions
: Proposals relating to the adoption of anti-greenmail provisions will be supported, provided that the proposal: (i) defines greenmail; (ii) prohibits
buyback offers to large block holders (holders of at least 1% of the outstanding shares and in certain cases, a greater amount) not made to all shareholders or not approved by disinterested shareholders; and (iii)
contains no anti-takeover measures or other provisions restricting the rights of shareholders.
Bundled proposals
: We may consider opposing or abstaining on proposals if disparate issues are “bundled” and presented for a single vote.
G.
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Auditors.
We generally support management proposals for selection or ratification of independent auditors. However, we may consider opposing such proposals with reference to incumbent audit firms if
the company has suffered from serious accounting irregularities and we believe rotation of the audit firm is appropriate, or if fees paid to the auditor for non-audit-related services are excessive. Generally, to
determine if non-audit fees are excessive, a 50% test will be applied (i.e., non-audit-related fees should be less than 50% of the total fees paid to the auditor). We generally vote against proposals to indemnify
auditors.
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H.
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Executive and Director Remuneration.
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We generally support the
following:
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Proposals for employee equity compensation plans and other employee ownership plans, provided that our research does not indicate that approval of the plan would be against shareholder interest. Such approval may be
against shareholder interest if it authorizes excessive dilution and shareholder cost, particularly in the context of high usage (“run rate”) of equity compensation in the recent past; or if there are
objectionable plan design and provisions.
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Proposals relating to fees to outside directors, provided the amounts are not excessive relative to other companies in the country or industry, and provided that the structure is appropriate within the market
context. While stock-based compensation to outside directors is positive if moderate and appropriately structured, we are wary of significant stock option awards or other performance-based awards for outside
directors, as well as provisions that could result in significant forfeiture of value on a director’s decision to resign from a board (such forfeiture can undercut director independence).
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Proposals for employee stock purchase plans that permit discounts, but only for grants that are part of a broad-based employee plan, including all non-executive employees, and only if the discounts are limited to a
reasonable market standard or less.
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Proposals for the establishment of employee retirement and severance plans, provided that our research does not indicate that approval of the plan would be against shareholder interest.
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We generally oppose retirement
plans and bonuses for non-executive directors and independent statutory auditors.
In the U.S. context, we generally
vote against shareholder proposals requiring shareholder approval of all severance agreements, but we generally support proposals that require shareholder approval for agreements in excess of three times the annual
compensation (salary and bonus) or proposals that require companies to add a double-trigger change-in-control provision. We generally oppose shareholder proposals that would establish arbitrary caps on pay. We
consider on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals that seek to limit Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (SERPs), but support such shareholder proposals where we consider SERPs excessive.
Shareholder proposals advocating
stronger and/or particular pay-for-performance models will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with consideration of the merits of the individual proposal within the context of the particular company and its labor
markets, and the company’s current and past practices. While we generally support emphasis on long-term components of senior executive pay and strong linkage of pay to performance, we consider factors including
whether a proposal may be overly prescriptive, and the impact of the proposal, if implemented as written, on recruitment and retention.
We generally support proposals
advocating reasonable senior executive and director stock ownership guidelines and holding requirements for shares gained in executive equity compensation programs.
We generally support shareholder
proposals for reasonable “claw-back” provisions that provide for company recovery of senior executive bonuses to the extent they were based on achieving financial benchmarks that were not actually met in
light of subsequent restatements.
Management proposals effectively to
re-price stock options are considered on a case-by-case basis. Considerations include the company’s reasons and justifications for a re-pricing, the company’s competitive position, whether senior
executives and outside directors are excluded, potential cost to shareholders, whether the re-pricing or share exchange is on a value-for-value basis, and whether vesting requirements are extended.
Say-on-Pay: We consider proposals
relating to an advisory vote on remuneration on a case-by-case basis. Considerations include a review of the relationship between executive remuneration and performance based on operating trends and total shareholder
return over multiple performance periods. In addition, we review remuneration structures and potential poor pay practices, including relative magnitude of pay, discretionary bonus awards, tax gross ups,
change-in-control features, internal pay equity and peer group construction. As long-term investors, we support remuneration policies that align with long-term shareholder returns.
I.
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Social, Political and Environmental Issues.
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Shareholders in the United States
and certain other markets submit proposals encouraging changes in company disclosure and practices related to particular corporate social, political and environmental matters. We consider how to vote on the proposals
on a case-by-case basis to determine likely impacts on shareholder value. We seek to balance concerns on reputational and other risks that lie behind a proposal against costs of implementation, while considering
appropriate shareholder and management prerogatives. We may abstain from voting on proposals that do not have a readily determinable financial impact on shareholder value. We support proposals that if implemented
would enhance useful disclosure, but we generally vote against proposals requesting reports that we believe are duplicative, related to matters not material to the business, or that would impose unnecessary or
excessive costs. We believe that certain social and environmental shareholder proposals may intrude excessively on management prerogatives, which can lead us to oppose them.
J.
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Funds of Funds
.
Certain MSIM Funds advised by an MSIM Affiliate invest only in other MSIM Funds. If an underlying fund has a shareholder meeting, in order to avoid any potential conflict of interest, such
proposals will be voted in the same proportion as the votes of the other shareholders of the underlying fund, unless otherwise determined by the Proxy Review Committee. Other MSIM Funds invest in unaffiliated
funds. If an unaffiliated underlying fund has a shareholder meeting and the MSIM Fund owns more than 25% of the voting shares of the underlying fund, the MSIM Fund will vote its shares in the unaffiliated
underlying fund in the same proportion as the votes of the other shareholders of the underlying fund to the extent possible.
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III.
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ADMINISTRATION OF POLICY
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The MSIM Proxy Review Committee
(the “Committee”) has overall responsibility for the Policy. The Committee, which is appointed by MSIM’s Long-Only Executive Committee, consists of investment professionals who represent the
different investment disciplines and geographic locations of the firm, and is chaired by the director of the Corporate Governance Team (“CGT”). Because proxy voting is an investment responsibility and
impacts shareholder value, and because of their knowledge of companies and markets, portfolio managers and other members of investment staff play a key role in proxy voting, although the Committee has final authority
over proxy votes.
The CGT Director is responsible for
identifying issues that require Committee deliberation or ratification. The CGT, working with advice of investment teams and the Committee, is responsible for voting on routine items and on matters that can be
addressed in line with these Policy guidelines. The CGT has responsibility for voting case-by-case where guidelines and precedent provide adequate guidance.
The Committee will periodically
review and have the authority to amend, as necessary, the Policy and establish and direct voting positions consistent with the Client Proxy Standard.
CGT and members of the Committee
may take into account Research Providers’ recommendations and research as well as any other relevant information they may request or receive, including portfolio manager and/or analyst comments and research, as
applicable. Generally, proxies related to securities held in accounts that are managed pursuant to quantitative, index or index-like strategies (“Index Strategies”) will be voted in the same manner
as those held in actively managed accounts, unless economic interests of the accounts differ. Because accounts managed using Index Strategies are passively managed accounts, research from portfolio managers
and/or analysts related to securities held in these accounts may not be available. If the affected securities are held only in accounts that are managed pursuant to Index Strategies, and the proxy relates
to a matter that is not described in this Policy, the CGT will consider all available information from the Research Providers, and to the extent that the holdings are significant, from the portfolio managers and/or
analysts.
The Committee meets at least
quarterly, and reviews and considers changes to the Policy at least annually. Through meetings and/or written communications, the Committee is responsible for monitoring and ratifying “split votes” (i.e.,
allowing certain shares of the same issuer that are the subject of the same proxy solicitation and held by one or more MSIM portfolios to be voted differently than other shares) and/or “override voting”
(i.e., voting all MSIM portfolio shares in a manner contrary to the Policy). The Committee will review developing issues and approve upcoming votes, as appropriate, for matters as requested by CGT.
The Committee reserves the right to
review voting decisions at any time and to make voting decisions as necessary to ensure the independence and integrity of the votes.
B.
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Material Conflicts of Interest
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In addition to the procedures
discussed above, if the CGT Director determines that an issue raises a material conflict of interest, the CGT Director may request a special committee to review, and recommend a course of action with respect to, the
conflict(s) in question (“Special Committee”).
A potential material conflict of
interest could exist in the following situations, among others:
The issuer soliciting the vote is a
client of MSIM or an affiliate of MSIM and the vote is on a matter that materially affects the issuer.
The proxy relates to Morgan Stanley
common stock or any other security issued by Morgan Stanley or its affiliates except if echo voting is used, as with MSIM Funds, as described herein.
Morgan Stanley has a material
pecuniary interest in the matter submitted for a vote (e.g., acting as a financial advisor to a party to a merger or acquisition for which Morgan Stanley will be paid a success fee if completed).
If the CGT Director determines that
an issue raises a potential material conflict of interest, depending on the facts and circumstances, the issue will be addressed as follows:
If the matter relates to a topic
that is discussed in this Policy, the proposal will be voted as per the Policy.
If the matter is not discussed in
this Policy or the Policy indicates that the issue is to be decided case-by-case, the proposal will be voted in a manner consistent with the Research Providers, provided that all the Research Providers consulted have
the same recommendation, no portfolio manager objects to that vote, and the vote is consistent with MSIM’s Client Proxy Standard.
If the Research Providers’
recommendations differ, the CGT Director will refer the matter to a Special Committee to vote on the proposal, as appropriate.
Any Special Committee shall be
comprised of the CGT Director, and at least two portfolio managers (preferably members of the Committee), as approved by the Committee. The CGT Director may request non-voting participation by MSIM’s General
Counsel or his/her designee and the Chief Compliance Officer or his/her designee. In addition to the research provided by Research Providers, the Special Committee may request analysis from MSIM Affiliate investment
professionals and outside sources to the extent it deems appropriate.
C.
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Proxy Voting Reporting
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The CGT will document in writing
all Committee and Special Committee decisions and actions, which documentation will be maintained by the CGT for a period of at least six years. To the extent these decisions relate to a security held by an MSIM Fund,
the CGT will report the decisions to each applicable Board of Trustees/Directors of those Funds at each Board’s next regularly scheduled Board meeting. The report will contain information concerning decisions
made during the most recently ended calendar quarter immediately preceding the Board meeting.
MSIM will promptly provide a copy
of this Policy to any client requesting it. MSIM will also, upon client request, promptly provide a report indicating how each proxy was voted with respect to securities held in that client’s account.
MSIM’s Legal Department is
responsible for filing an annual Form N-PX on behalf of each MSIM Fund for which such filing is required, indicating how all proxies were voted with respect to such Fund’s holdings.
NEUBERGER BERMAN MANAGEMENT LLC
and
NEUBERGER BERMAN FIXED INCOME LLC
Proxy Summary.
Neuberger Berman has implemented written Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (Proxy Voting Policy) that are designed to reasonably ensure that Neuberger Berman votes proxies prudently and
in the best interest of its advisory clients for whom Neuberger Berman has voting authority. The Proxy Voting Policy also describes how Neuberger Berman addresses any conflicts that may arise between its interests and
those of its clients with respect to proxy voting.
Neuberger Berman's Proxy Committee
is responsible for developing, authorizing, implementing and updating the Proxy Voting Policy, overseeing the proxy voting process, and engaging and overseeing any independent third-party vendors as voting delegate to
review, monitor and/or vote proxies. In order to apply the Proxy Voting Policy noted above in a timely and consistent manner, Neuberger Berman utilizes Glass, Lewis Co. LLC (Glass Lewis) to vote proxies in accordance
with Neuberger Berman's voting guidelines.
For socially responsive clients,
Neuberger Berman has adopted socially responsive voting guidelines. For non-socially responsive clients, Neuberger Berman's guidelines adopt the voting recommendations of Glass Lewis. Neuberger Berman retains final
authority and fiduciary responsibility for proxy voting. Neuberger Berman believes that this process is reasonably designed to address material conflicts of interest that may arise between Neuberger Berman and a
client as to how proxies are voted.
In the event that an investment
professional at Neuberger Berman believes that it is in the best interest of a client or clients to vote proxies in a manner inconsistent with Neuberger Berman's proxy voting guidelines or in a manner inconsistent
with Glass Lewis recommendations, the Proxy Committee will review information submitted by the investment professional to determine that there is no material conflict of interest between Neuberger Berman and the
client with respect to the voting of the proxy in that manner.
If the Proxy Committee determines
that the voting of a proxy as recommended by the investment professional presents a material conflict of interest between Neuberger Berman and the client or clients with respect to the voting of the proxy, the proxy
Committee shall: (i) take no further action, in which case Glass Lewis shall vote such proxy in accordance with the proxy voting guidelines or as Glass Lewis recommends; (ii) disclose such conflict to the client or
clients and obtain written direction from the client as to how to vote the proxy; (iii) suggest that the client or clients engage another party to determine how to vote the proxy; or (iv) engage another independent
third party to determine how to vote the proxy.
WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLP
Global Proxy Voting Guidelines.
INTRODUCTION.
Wellington Management has adopted
and implemented policies and procedures that it believes are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best economic interests of clients for whom it exercises proxy-voting discretion.
Wellington Management’s Proxy
Voting Guidelines (the “Guidelines”) set forth broad guidelines and positions on common proxy issues that Wellington Management uses in voting on proxies. In addition, Wellington Management also considers
each proposal in the context of the issuer, industry and country or countries in which the issuer’s business is conducted. The Guidelines are not rigid rules and the merits of a particular proposal may cause
Wellington Management to enter a vote that differs from the Guidelines.
STATEMENT OF POLICY.
Wellington Management
:
1) Votes client proxies for which
clients have affirmatively delegated proxy-voting authority, in writing, unless it determines that it is in the best interest of one or more clients to refrain from voting a given proxy.
2) Votes all proxies in the best
interests of the client for whom it is voting, i.e., to maximize economic value.
3) Identifies and resolves all
material proxy-related conflicts of interest between the firm and its clients in the best interests of the client.
RESPONSIBILITY AND OVERSIGHT.
Investor and Counterparty Services
(“ICS”) monitors regulatory requirements with respect to proxy voting and works with the firm’s Legal and Compliance Group and the Corporate Governance Committee to develop practices that implement
those requirements. Day-to-day administration of the proxy voting process is the responsibility of ICS, which also acts as a resource for portfolio managers and research analysts on proxy matters, as needed. The
Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for oversight of the implementation of the Global Proxy Policy and Procedures, review and approval of the Guidelines and for providing advice and guidance on specific
proxy votes for individual issuers.
PROCEDURES.
Use of Third-Party Voting Agent.
Wellington Management uses the services of a third-party voting agent to manage the administrative aspects of proxy voting. The voting agent processes proxies for client accounts, casts
votes based on the Guidelines and maintains records of proxies voted.
Receipt of Proxy.
If a client requests that Wellington Management votes proxies on its behalf, the client must instruct its custodian bank to deliver all relevant voting material to Wellington Management or
its voting agent.
Reconciliation.
Each public security proxy received by electronic means is matched to the securities eligible to be voted and a reminder is sent to any custodian or trustee that has not forwarded the
proxies as due. Although proxies received for private securities, as well as those received in non-electronic format, are voted as received, Wellington Management is not able to reconcile these proxies to holdings,
nor does it notify custodians of non-receipt.
Research
. In addition to proprietary investment research undertaken by Wellington Management investment professionals, ICS conducts proxy research internally, and uses the resources of a number of
external sources to keep abreast of developments in corporate governance and of current practices of specific companies.
Proxy Voting.
Following the reconciliation
process, each proxy is compared against the Guidelines, and handled as follows:
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Generally, issues for which explicit proxy voting guidance is provided in the Guidelines (i.e., “For”, “Against”, “Abstain”) are reviewed by ICS and voted in accordance with the
Guidelines.
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Issues identified as “case-by-case” in the Guidelines are further reviewed by ICS. In certain circumstances, further
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input is needed, so the issues are forwarded to the relevant research analyst and/or portfolio manager(s) for their input.
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Absent a material conflict of interest, the portfolio manager has the authority to decide the final vote. Different
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portfolio managers holding the same securities may arrive at different voting conclusions for their clients’ proxies.
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Wellington Management reviews
regularly the voting record to ensure that proxies are voted in accordance with these
Global Proxy Policy and Procedures
and the Guidelines; and ensures that documentation and reports, for clients and for internal purposes, relating to the voting of proxies are
promptly and properly prepared and disseminated.
Material Conflict of Interest
Identification and Resolution Processes.
Wellington Management’s broadly diversified client base and functional lines of responsibility serve to minimize the number of, but not prevent, material conflicts of interest it faces
in voting proxies. Annually, the Corporate Governance Committee sets standards for identifying material conflicts based on client, vendor, and lender relationships, and publishes those standards to individuals
involved in the proxy voting process. In addition, the Corporate Governance Committee encourages all personnel to contact ICS about apparent conflicts of interest, even if the apparent conflict does not meet the
published materiality criteria. Apparent conflicts are reviewed by designated members of the Corporate Governance Committee to determine if there is a conflict and if so whether the conflict is material.
If a proxy is identified as
presenting a material conflict of interest, the matter must be reviewed by designated members of the Corporate Governance Committee, who will resolve the conflict and direct the vote. In certain circumstances, the
designated members may determine that the full Corporate Governance Committee should convene.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.
In certain instances, Wellington
Management may be unable to vote or may determine not to vote a proxy on behalf of one or more clients. While not exhaustive, the following are potential instances in which a proxy vote might not be entered.
Securities Lending.
In general, Wellington Management does not know when securities have been lent out pursuant to a client’s securities lending program and are therefore unavailable to be voted. Efforts
to recall loaned securities are not always effective, but, in rare circumstances, Wellington Management may recommend that a client attempt to have its custodian recall the security to permit voting of related
proxies.
Share Blocking and
Re-registration.
Certain countries impose trading restrictions or requirements regarding re-registration of securities held in omnibus accounts in order for shareholders to vote a proxy. The potential impact
of such requirements is evaluated when determining whether to vote such proxies.
Lack of Adequate Information,
Untimely Receipt of Proxy Materials, or Excessive Costs.
Wellington Management may abstain from voting a proxy when the proxy statement or other available information is inadequate to allow for an informed vote, when the proxy materials are not
delivered in a timely fashion or when, in Wellington Management’s judgment, the costs exceed the expected benefits to clients (such as when powers of attorney or consularization are required).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Wellington Management maintains
records related to proxies pursuant to Rule 204-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and
other applicable laws.
Wellington Management provides
clients with a copy of its
Global Proxy Policy and Procedures
, including the Guidelines, upon written request. In addition, Wellington Management will make specific client information relating to proxy voting
available to a client upon reasonable written request.
Dated: 1 January 2015
Global Proxy Voting Guidelines.
INTRODUCTION.
Upon a client’s written request, Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington Management”) votes securities that are held in the client’s account in response to
proxies solicited by the issuers of such securities. Wellington Management established these Global Proxy Voting Guidelines to document positions generally taken on common proxy issues voted on behalf of
clients.
These guidelines are based on
Wellington Management’s fiduciary obligation to act in the best economic interest of its clients as shareholders. Hence, Wellington Management examines and votes each proposal so that the long-term effect of the
vote will ultimately increase shareholder value for our clients. Because ethical considerations can have an impact on the long-term value of assets, our voting practices are also attentive to these issues, and votes
will be cast against unlawful and unethical activity. Further, Wellington Management’s experience in voting proposals has shown that similar proposals often have different consequences for different companies.
Moreover, while these Global Proxy Voting Guidelines are written to apply globally, differences in local practice and law make universal application impractical. Therefore, each proposal is evaluated on its merits,
taking into account its effects on the specific company in question and on the company within its industry. It should be noted that the following are guidelines, and not rigid rules, and Wellington Management reserves
the right in all cases to vote contrary to guidelines where doing so is judged to represent the best economic interest of its clients.
Following is a list of common
proposals and the guidelines on how Wellington Management anticipates voting on these proposals. The “(SP)” after a proposal indicates that the proposal is usually presented as a shareholder proposal.
VOTING GUIDELINES.
Composition and Role of the Board
of Directors.
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Election of Directors: Case-by-Case. We believe that shareholders' ability to elect directors annually is the most important right shareholders have. We generally support management nominees, but will withhold votes
from any director who is demonstrated to have acted contrary to the best economic interest of shareholders. We may also withhold votes from directors who failed to implement shareholder proposals that received
majority support, implemented dead-hand or no-hand poison pills, or failed to attend at least 75% of scheduled board meetings.
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Classify Board of Directors: Against. We will also vote in favor of shareholder proposals seeking to declassify boards.
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Adopt Director Tenure/Retirement Age (SP): Against
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Adopt Director & Officer Indemnification: For. We generally support director and officer indemnification as critical to the attraction and retention of qualified candidates to the board. Such proposals must
incorporate the duty of care.
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Allow Special Interest Representation to Board (SP): Against
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Require Board Independence: For. We believe that, in the absence of a compelling counter-argument or prevailing market norms, at least 65% of a board should be composed of independent directors, with independence
defined by the local market regulatory authority. Our support for this level of independence may include withholding approval for non-independent directors, as well as votes in support of shareholder proposals calling
for independence.
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Require Key Board Committees to be Independent. For. Key board committees are the Nominating, Audit, and Compensation Committees. Exceptions will be made, as above, in respect of local market conventions.
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Require a Separation of Chair and CEO or Require a For Lead Director: Case-by-Case. We will generally support management proposals to separate the chair and CEO or establish a lead director.
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Approve Directors' Fees: For
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Approve Bonuses for Retiring Directors: Case-by-Case
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Elect Supervisory Board/Corporate Assembly: For
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Elect/Establish Board Committee: For
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Adopt Shareholder Access/Majority Vote on Election of Directors (SP): Case-by-Case. We believe that the election of directors by a majority of votes cast is the appropriate standard for companies to
adopt and therefore generally will support those proposals that seek to adopt such a standard. Our support for such proposals will extend typically to situations where the relevant company has an existing resignation
policy in place for directors that receive a majority of “withhold” votes. We believe that it is important for majority voting to be defined within the company's charter and not simply within the company's
corporate governance policy.
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Generally we will not support
proposals that fail to provide for the exceptional use of a plurality standard in the case of contested elections. Further, we will not support proposals that seek to adopt a majority of votes outstanding (i.e., total
votes eligible to be cast as opposed to actually cast) standard.
Management Compensation.
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Adopt/Amend Stock Option Plans: Case-by-Case
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Adopt/Amend Employee Stock Purchase Plans: For
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Approve/Amend Bonus plans: Case-by-Case. In the US, Bonus Plans are customarily presented for shareholder approval pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1992 (“OBRA”).
OBRA stipulates that certain forms of compensation are not tax-deductible unless approved by shareholders and subject to performance criteria. Because OBRA does not prevent the payment of subject compensation, we
generally vote “for” these proposals. Nevertheless, occasionally these proposals are presented in a bundled form seeking 162 (m) approval and approval of a stock option plan. In such cases, failure of the
proposal prevents the awards from being granted. We will vote against these proposals where the grant portion of the proposal fails our guidelines for the evaluation of stock option plans.
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Approve Remuneration Policy: Case-by-Case
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Approve compensation packages for named executive officers: Case-by-Case
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Determine whether the compensation vote will occur every one, two or three years: One year
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Exchange Underwater Options: Case-by-Case. We may support value-neutral exchanges in which senior management is ineligible to participate.
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Eliminate or Limit Severance Agreements (Golden Parachutes): Case-by-Case. We will oppose excessively generous arrangements, but may support agreements structured to encourage management to negotiate in
shareholders' best economic interest.
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Approve golden parachute arrangements in connection with certain corporate transactions: Case-by-Case
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Shareholder Approval of Future Severance Agreements Covering Senior Executives (SP): Case-by-Case. We believe that severance arrangements require special scrutiny, and are generally supportive of proposals that call
for shareholder ratification thereof. But, we are also mindful of the board's need for flexibility in recruitment and retention and will therefore oppose limitations on board compensation policy where respect for
industry practice and reasonable overall levels of compensation have been demonstrated.
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Expense Future Stock Options (SP): For
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Shareholder Approval of All Stock Option Plans (SP): For
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Disclose All Executive Compensation (SP): For
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Reporting of Results.
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Approve Financial Statements: For
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Set Dividends and Allocate Profits: For
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Limit Non-Audit Services Provided by Auditors (SP): Case-by-Case. We follow the guidelines established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding permissible levels of non-audit fees payable to
auditors.
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Ratify Selection of Auditors and Set Their Fees: Case-by-Case. We will generally support management's choice of auditors, unless the auditors have demonstrated failure to act in shareholders' best economic interest.
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Elect Statutory Auditors: Case-by-Case
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Shareholder Approval of Auditors (SP): For
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Shareholder Voting Rights.
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Adopt Cumulative Voting (SP): Against. We are likely to support cumulative voting proposals at “controlled” companies (i.e., companies with a single majority shareholder), or at companies with two-tiered
voting rights.
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Shareholder Rights Plans: Case-by-Case. Also known as Poison Pills, these plans can enable boards of directors to negotiate higher takeover prices on behalf of shareholders. However, these plans also
may be misused to entrench management. The following criteria are used to evaluate both management and shareholder proposals regarding shareholder rights plans.
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We generally support plans that
include:
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Shareholder approval requirement
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Sunset provision
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Permitted bid feature (i.e., bids that are made for all shares and demonstrate evidence of financing must be submitted to a shareholder vote).
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Because boards generally have the
authority to adopt shareholder rights plans without shareholder approval, we are equally vigilant in our assessment of requests for authorization of blank check preferred shares (see below).
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Authorize Blank Check Preferred Stock: Case-by-Case. We may support authorization requests that specifically proscribe the use of such shares for anti-takeover purposes.
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Eliminate Right to Call a Special Meeting: Against
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Establish Right to Call a Special Meeting or Lower Ownership Threshold to Call a Special Meeting (SP): Case-by-Case
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Increase Supermajority Vote Requirement: Against. We likely will support shareholder and management proposals to remove existing supermajority vote requirements.
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Adopt Anti-Greenmail Provision: For
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Adopt Confidential Voting (SP): Case-by-Case. We require such proposals to include a provision to suspend confidential voting during contested elections so that management is not subject to constraints that do not
apply to dissidents.
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Remove Right to Act by Written Consent: Against
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Capital Structure.
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Increase Authorized Common Stock: Case-by-Case. We generally support requests for increases up to 100% of the shares currently authorized. Exceptions will be made when the company has clearly articulated a
reasonable need for a greater increase. Conversely, at companies trading in less liquid markets, we may impose a lower threshold.
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Approve Merger or Acquisition: Case-by-Case
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Approve Technical Amendments to Charter: Case-by-Case
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Opt Out of State Takeover Statutes: For
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Authorize Share Repurchase: For
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Authorize Trade in Company Stock: For
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Approve Stock Splits: Case-by-Case. We approve stock splits and reverse stock splits that preserve the level of authorized, but unissued shares.
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Approve Recapitalization/Restructuring: Case-by-Case
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Issue Stock with or without Preemptive Rights: Case-by-Case
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Issue Debt Instruments: Case-by-Case
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Environmental and Social Issues.
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We
expect portfolio companies to comply with applicable laws and regulations with regards to environmental and social standards. We evaluate shareholder proposals related to environmental and social issues on a
case-by-case basis: Case-by-Case
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Disclose Political and PAC Gifts (SP): Case-by-Case.
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Report on Sustainability (SP): Case-by-Case
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Miscellaneous.
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Approve Other Business: Against
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Approve Reincorporation: Case-by-Case
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Approve Third-Party Transactions: Case-by-Case
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Dated: March 8, 2012
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits.
(a)(1) Second Amended and
Restated Declaration of Trust of Registrant. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registrant’s Registration Statement for Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-24962 and 811-5186) (the
“Registration Statement”), which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 27, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(a)(2) Amendment to
Declaration of Trust of Registrant. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 26, 2007, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(b) By-laws of Registrant.
Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 18, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(c) None
(d)(1)(a) Investment
Management Agreement among the Registrant, American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated) and Prudential Investments LLC for the various portfolios of the
Registrant (except AST AQR Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio). Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2004, and is
incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(1)(b) Amendment to Investment
Management Agreement. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 1, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(1)(c) Amended Fee
Schedule to Investment Management Agreement. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on December 30, 2013, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(d)(1)(c)(1) Amended Fee
Schedule to Investment Management Agreement among the Registrant, American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated) and Prudential Investments LLC. Filed as an
exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 134 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on June 25, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(1)(d) Contractual
investment management fee waivers and/or contractual expense caps for selected AST portfolios. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on
April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(1)(e) Contractual
investment management fee waivers and/or contractual expense caps for selected AST portfolios.
Filed herewith.
(d)(2) Investment Management
Agreement among the Registrant and Prudential Investments LLC with respect to the AST AQR Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to Registration Statement, which
Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(2)(a) Amended Fee Schedule to
Investment Management Agreement among the Registrant and Prudential Investments LLC adding AST AB Global Bond Portfolio, AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio, AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio,
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio, AST Ivy Asset Strategy
Portfolio, AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio, AST
Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio, AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio, AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio and AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio.
Filed herewith.
(d)(2)(b) Contractual
investment management fee waivers and/or contractual expense caps for selected AST portfolios.
Filed herewith.
(d)(3) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST Money Market
Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 58 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 28, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(4)(i) Subadvisory
Agreement among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST Bond Portfolio 2015, AST Bond Portfolio 2018, AST Bond Portfolio 2019,
and the AST Investment Grade Bond Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated
herein by reference.
(d)(4)(ii) Subadvisory
Agreement among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST Bond Portfolio 2016 and AST Bond Portfolio 2020. Filed as an exhibit to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on December 18, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(4)(iii) Subadvisory
Agreement among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST Bond Portfolio 2017 and AST Bond Portfolio 2021. Filed as an exhibit
to Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 to Registration Statement which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on December 28, 2009, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(4)(iv) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST Bond Portfolio 2022. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 83 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on December 22, 2010, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(4)(v) Subadvisory
Agreement among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST Prudential Core Bond Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 90 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on October 5, 2011, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(4)(vi) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST Bond Portfolio 2023. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to the
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on December 23, 2011, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(4)(vii) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST Bond Portfolio 2024. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 107 to
Registration Statement, which was filed via EDGAR on November 13, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(4)(viii) Amended Fee Schedule
for each of the AST Bond Portfolio 2015, AST Bond Portfolio 2016, AST Bond Portfolio 2017, AST Bond Portfolio 2018, AST Bond Portfolio 2019, AST Bond Portfolio 2020, AST Bond Portfolio 2021, AST Bond Portfolio 2022,
AST Bond Portfolio 2023, AST Bond Portfolio 2024 and the AST Investment Grade Bond Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on
April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(4)(ix) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST Bond Portfolio 2025. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on December 30, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(5) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. for the AST T. Rowe Price Asset
Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2004, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(6) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. for the AST T. Rowe Price
Natural Resources Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2004, and is incorporated herein by
reference
(d)(7) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and Pacific Investment Management Company for the AST PIMCO Limited
Maturity Bond Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2004, and is incorporated herein by reference
(d)(8) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and William Blair & Company LLC for the AST International Growth
Portfolio (formerly known as the AST William Blair International Growth Portfolio). Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on
April 30, 2004, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(9) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and LSV Asset Management for the AST International Value Portfolio
(formerly known as the AST LSV International Value Portfolio). Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 18, 2005, and
is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(10) Amendment to Subadvisory
Agreement among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and LSV Asset Management for the AST International Value
Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 26, 2007, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(11) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and J. P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. for the AST J.P. Morgan
International Equity Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2004, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(d)(12) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management LLC for the AST Large-Cap Value
Portfolio (formerly known as the AST Hotchkis and Wiley Large-Cap Value Portfolio). Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on
April 30, 2004, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(13) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and Goldman Sachs Asset Management for the AST Goldman Sachs Small-Cap
Value Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2004, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(13)(a) Amendment to
Subadvisory Agreement, by and among AST Investment Services, Inc., Prudential Investments LLC, and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, pursuant to which Subadviser has been retained to provide investment advisory services
to the AST Goldman Sachs Small Cap Value Portfolio of Advanced Series Trust., AST Goldman Sachs Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio of Advanced Series Trust., AST Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Portfolio of Advanced Series Trust,
AST Goldman Sachs Multi—Asset Portfolio of Advanced Series Trust. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is
incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(14) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. for the AST
Cohen & Steers Realty Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2004, and is incorporated herein
by reference.
(d)(15) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and Neuberger Berman Management, Incorporated for the AST Neuberger
Berman Mid-Cap Value Portfolio (now known as the AST Neuberger Berman/LSV Mid-Cap Value Portfolio). Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via
EDGAR on April 30, 2004, and is incorporated herein by reference
(d)(16) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and Neuberger Berman Management, Incorporated for the AST Neuberger
Berman Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2004, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(d)(16)(a) Amendment to
Subadvisory Agreements among AST Investment Services, Inc., Prudential Investments LLC and Neuberger Berman Management, Inc. for each of the AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Value Portfolio (now known as the AST
Neuberger Berman /LSV Mid-Cap Value Portfolio) and the Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via
EDGAR on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(16)(b) Amendment to
Subadvisory Agreements among AST Investment Services, Inc., Prudential Investments LLC and Neuberger Berman Management, Inc. for each of the AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Value Portfolio (now known as the AST
Neuberger Berman /LSV Mid-Cap Value Portfolio), the Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio and the AST International Growth Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registration
Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(17) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and Eagle Asset Management, Inc. for the AST Small-Cap Growth Portfolio.
Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 to the Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 29, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference
(d)(18) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and Massachusetts Financial Services Company for the AST MFS Global Equity
Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2004, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(19) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and Massachusetts Financial Services Company for the AST MFS Growth
Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2004, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(20) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and Goldman Sachs Asset Management for the AST Goldman Sachs Mid-Cap
Growth Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2004, and is incorporated herein by reference
(d)(21) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and Lee Munder Investments, Ltd. for the AST Small-Cap Value Portfolio.
Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 18, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(22) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. for the AST Small-Cap Value
Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 18, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(23) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and Lord Abbett & Co. for the AST Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture Portfolio
(now known as the AST Lord Abbett Core Fixed Income Portfolio). Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2004, and is
incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(24) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and LSV Asset Management for the AST Advanced Strategies Portfolio. Filed
as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 27, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(24)(a) Amendment to
Sub-advisory Agreement among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and LSV Asset Management for the AST Advanced
Strategies Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 26, 2007, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(25) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and William Blair & Company LLC for the AST Advanced Strategies
Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 27, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(26) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. for the AST Advanced Strategies
Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 27, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(27) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and Marsico Capital Management, LLC for the AST Advanced Strategies
Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 27, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(28) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC for the AST Advanced
Strategies Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 27, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(28)(a) Amendment to
SubAdvisory Agreement among AST Investment Services, Inc., Prudential Investments LLC and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC for the AST Advanced Strategies Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 69 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(29) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services Inc., Prudential Investments LLC, Quantitative Management Associates, LLC, Prudential Investment Management, Inc., and Jennison Associates, LLC for the AST Advanced Strategies
Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 23, 2009, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(30) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Inc., Prudential Investments LLC and J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. for the AST J.P. Morgan Strategic Opportunities Portfolio (formerly the AST UBS Dynamic Alpha
Portfolio). Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 19, 2010, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(31) Amended and Restated
Subadvisory Agreement among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated, (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated) Prudential Investments LLC, Salomon Brothers Asset Management, and ClearBridge
Advisors, LLC, for the AST Small-Cap Value Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 26, 2007, and is incorporated
herein by reference.
(d)(32) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc., for the AST Large-Cap
Value Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 26, 2007, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(33) Subadvisory Agreement
among American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now known as AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., for the AST T. Rowe Price
Large-Cap Growth Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 26, 2007, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(d)(34) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. for the AST Schroders Global Tactical Portfolio (formerly AST CLS Growth Asset
Allocation Portfolio). Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on March 23, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(35) Sub-Subadvisory
Agreement among Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. and Schroder Investment Management North America Ltd., AST Investment Services, Incorporated , and Prudential Investments LLC for the AST
Schroders Global Tactical Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on March 23, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(36) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Inc., Prudential Investments LLC and Western Asset Management Company Limited for the AST Western Asset Core Plus Bond Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 69 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(37) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Inc., Prudential Investments LLC and Western Asset Management Company for the AST Western Asset Core Plus Bond Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69
to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(38) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Inc., Prudential Investments LLC and Prudential Real Estate Investors for the AST Global Real Estate Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(39) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Inc., Prudential Investments LLC and Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC for the AST Parametric Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 69 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(40) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Inc., Prudential Investments LLC and Quantitative Management Associates LLC for the AST QMA US Equity Alpha Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(41) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services Inc., Prudential Investments LLC and LSV Asset Management for the AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Value Portfolio (re-named as the AST Neuberger Berman / LSV Mid-Cap Value Portfolio). Filed
as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on July 15, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(42) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Inc., Prudential Investments LLC and EARNEST Partners LLC for the AST Mid-Cap Value Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to Registration Statement,
which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(43) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated , Prudential Investments LLC and Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. for the AST Schroders Multi-Asset World Strategies Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on July 15, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(44) Sub-Subadvisory
Agreement among Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. and Schroder Investment Management North America Ltd., AST Investment Services, Incorporated , and Prudential Investments LLC for the AST
Schroders Multi-Asset World Strategies Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on July 15, 2008, and is
incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(45) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and each of Prudential Investment Management, Inc., Jennison Associates LLC, Prudential Bache Asset Management, and Prudential Investment
Management, Inc. for the AST Academic Strategies Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on
April 23, 2009, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(46) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated , Prudential Investments LLC, and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC for the AST Academic Strategies Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on July 15, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(47) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and AlphaSimplex Group for the AST Academic Strategies Asset Allocation Portfolio Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 74 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 23, 2009, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(48) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and First Quadrant, L.P. for the AST Academic Strategies Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 74 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 23, 2009, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(49) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and each of Prudential Investment Management, Inc., Jennison Associates LLC, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST
Balanced Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 23, 2009, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(d)(50) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and each of Prudential Investment Management, Inc., Jennison Associates LLC, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST
Aggressive Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 23, 2009, and is incorporated
herein by reference.
(d)(51) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and each of Prudential Investment Management, Inc., Jennison Associates LLC, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST
Preservation Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 23, 2009, and is incorporated
herein by reference.
(d)(52) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and each of Prudential Investment Management, Inc., Jennison Associates LLC, and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST
Capital Growth Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 23, 2009, and is incorporated
herein by reference.
(d)(53) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and Jennison Associates LLC, for AST Jennison Large-Cap Growth Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on September 10, 2009, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(54) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC, for AST FI Pyramis® Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 81 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 19, 2010, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(55) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and Neuberger Berman Fixed Income LLC, for AST Neuberger Berman Core Bond Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 90 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on October 5, 2011, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(56) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and Quantitative Management Associates, for AST Quantitative Modeling Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 88 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2011, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(57) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and Wellington Management Company, LLP, for AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 88 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2011, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(58) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and C.S. McKee, LP, for AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(59) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and EARNEST Partners, LLC, for AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(60) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and Epoch Investment Partners, Inc., for AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No.
116 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(61) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and Security Investors, LLC, for AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(62) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC, for AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 99 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(63) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and Franklin Advisers, Inc., for AST Franklin Templeton Founding Funds Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 105 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on August 30, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(64) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC, for AST Franklin Templeton Founding Funds Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 105 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on August 30, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(65) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and Templeton Global Advisors Limited, for AST Franklin Templeton Founding Funds Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 105 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on August 30, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(66) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust, for AST Small-Cap Growth Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(67) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., for AST T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(68) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and Jennison Associates LLC, for AST International Growth Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to Registration
Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(69) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and Jefferies Asset Management, LLC (now known as CoreCommodity Management LLC) for AST Academic Strategies Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(70) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, and J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. for the AST J.P. Morgan Global Thematic Portfolio. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 103 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on July 25, 2012, as is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(71) Sub-subadvisory Agreement
among J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. and Security Capital Research & Management Incorporated for the AST J.P. Morgan Global Thematic Portfolio. Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No.
106 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on October 31, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(72) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Western Asset Management Company for the AST Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 103 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on July 24, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(73) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Western Asset Management Company Limited for the AST Western Asset Emerging Market Debts Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No.103 to Registration Statement which was filed via EDGAR on July 24, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(74) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Massachusetts Financial Services Company for the AST MFS Large-Cap Value Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 103
to Registration Statement which was filed via EDGAR on July 24, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(75) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Western Asset Management Company for the AST Academic Strategies Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 111 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 1, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(76) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Western Asset Management Company Limited for the AST Academic Strategies Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 111 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 1, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(77) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and ClearBridge Investments, LLC for the AST ClearBridge Dividend Growth Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 6, 2013,and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(78) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and AQR Capital Management, LLC for the AST AQR Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 6, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(79) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Quantitative Management Associates LLC (QMA) for the AST QMA Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 113 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 6, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(80) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST Long Duration Bond Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 6, 2013 and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(81) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. for the AST Goldman Sachs Multi-Asset Portfolio (formerly known as the AST Horizon Moderate Asset
Allocation Portfolio). Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(82) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC for the AST RCM World Trends Portfolio (formerly known as the AST Moderate Asset Allocation Portfolio).
Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(83) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and each of Prudential Investment Management, Inc. and Quantitative Management Associates LLC for the Prudential Growth Allocation Portfolio
(formerly known as the AST First Trust Capital Appreciation Target Portfolio). Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2013,
and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(84) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Franklin Advisers, Inc. for the AST Templeton Global Bond Portfolio (formerly known as the AST T. Rowe Price Global Bond Portfolio). Filed as
an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(85) Form of subadvisory
Agreement among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. for the AST BlackRock iShares ETF Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 116 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(85)(i) Form of contractual
Subadvisory Fee Waiver among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. for the AST BlackRock iShares ETF Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(86) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and AQR Capital Management, LLC for the AST AQR Large-Cap Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to Registration
Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(87) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Quantitative Management Associates LLC for the AST QMA Large-Cap Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(88) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Quantitative Management Associates LLC for the AST Defensive Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No.
116 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(89) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST T. Rowe Price Growth Opportunities Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on December 30, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(90) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. for the AST BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 123 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(91) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and First Quadrant, L.P. for the AST FQ Absolute Return Currency Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(92) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, K2/D&S management Co., LLC, Templeton Global Advisers Limited and Franklin Advisers, Inc. for the AST Franklin Templeton K2 Global
Absolute Return Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(93)Subadvisory Agreement among
AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. for the AST Goldman Sachs Global Growth Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 123 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(94) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. for the AST Goldman Sachs Strategic Income Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 123 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(95) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Jennison Associates, LLC for the AST Jennison Global Infrastructure Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 123
to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(96) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services; Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Legg Mason Global Asset Allocation; LLC, Batterymarch Financial Management, Inc.; Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC;
ClearBridge Investments, LLC and Western Asset Management Company for the AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registration Statement, which Amendment
was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(97) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Quantitative Management Associates, LLC for the AST Managed Equity Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(98) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC and Quantitative Management Associates, LLC for the AST Managed Fixed-Income Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No.
123 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(99) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, Quantitative Management Associates, LLC, Jennison Associates, LLC and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for the AST Prudential
Flexible Multi Strategy Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(100) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., T. Rowe Price International Ltd, T. Rowe Price International Ltd. – Tokyo and T. Rowe Price Hong
Kong Limited for the AST T. Rowe Price Diversified Real Growth Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and
is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(101) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC for the AST FI Pyramis Quantitative Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(102) Subadvisory Agreement
among AST Investment Services, Incorporated, Prudential Investments LLC, Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC for the AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 123 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(103) Subadvisory Agreement
between AST Investment Services, Inc., Prudential Investments LLC and Lazard Asset Management LLC for AST International Value Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form N-14,
which was filed via EDGAR on December 2, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(104) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC and Prudential Investment Management, Inc. for AST Bond Portfolio 2026. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed
via EDGAR on December 15, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(105) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC and Quantitative Management Associates, LLC for AST QMA International Core Equity Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 to Registration Statement, which
Amendment was filed via EDGAR on December 15, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(106) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments, LLC, AST Investment Services, and Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. for the AST BlackRock/Loomis Sayles Bond Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(107) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments, LLC, AST Investment Services, and BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. for the AST BlackRock/Loomis Sayles Bond Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(108) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments, LLC, AST Investment Services, and BlackRock International Limited for the AST BlackRock/Loomis Sayles Bond Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(109) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments, LLC, AST Investment Services, and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited for the AST BlackRock/Loomis Sayles Bond Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(110) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC, AST Investment Services, and BlackRock International Limited for the AST BlackRock Global Strategies Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(111) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC, AST Investment Services, and Robeco Investment Management, Inc. (d/b/a Boston Partners) for the AST Boston Partners Large-Cap Value Portfolio (formerly the AST Jennison Large-Cap
Value Portfolio). Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(112) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC, AST Investment Services, and Longfellow Investment Management Co., LLC for the AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130
to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(113) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC, AST Investment Services, and Vision Capital Management, Inc. for the AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to
Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(114) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC, AST Investment Services, and RS Investment Management Co., LLC for the AST Small-Cap Growth Opportunities Portfolio (formerly the AST Federated Aggressive Growth Portfolio). Filed
as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(115) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC, AST Investment Services, and Wellington Management Company LLP for the AST Small-Cap Growth Opportunities Portfolio (formerly the AST Federated Aggressive Growth Portfolio). Filed
as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(116) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC and AllianceBernstein L.P. for the AST AB Global Bond Portfolio.
Filed herewith.
(d)(117) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC and BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. for the AST BlackRock Low Duration Bond Portfolio.
Filed herewith.
(d)(118) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC, and Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC for the AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio.
Filed herewith.
(d)(119) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC and Dana Investment Advisors, Inc. for the AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio.
Filed herewith.
(d)(120) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC and Goldman Sachs Asset Management International for the AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio.
Filed herewith.
(d)(121) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC and Ivy Investment Management Company for the AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio.
Filed herewith.
(d)(122) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC and Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC for the AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio.
Filed herewith.
(d)(123) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC and Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. for the AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio.
Filed herewith.
(d)(124) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC and Neuberger Berman Management LLC for the AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio.
Filed herewith.
(d)(125) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC and Wellington Management Company LLP for the AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio.
Filed herewith.
(d)(126) Subadvisory Agreement
between Prudential Investments LLC and Wellington Management Company LLP for the AST Wellington Real Total Return Portfolio.
Filed herewith.
(e)(1) Sales Agreement
between Registrant and American Skandia Life Assurance Corporation. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on March 2,
1998, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(e)(2) Sales Agreement
between Registrant and Kemper Investors Life Insurance Company. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on December 24,
1996, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(e)(3) Distribution Agreement for
the shares of each Portfolio of the Registrant, between Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc. (PAD) and the Registrant.
Filed herewith.
(f) None.
(g)(1) Custodian Agreement
dated July 1, 2005 between the Registrant and PFPC Trust Company. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 58 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 28,
2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(g)(2)(i) Custody Agreement
between the Registrant and The Bank of New York dated November 7, 2002, as amended, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A of Dryden Municipal Bond Fund filed via EDGAR on July 1, 2005 (File No. 33-10649).
(g)(2)(i)(1) Precious Metals
Supplement dated June 30, 2015 to the Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon.
Filed herewith.
(g)(2)(ii) Amendment dated July 1,
2015 to the Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon.
Filed herewith.
(g)(3) Accounting and Services
Agreement among the Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. for the various portfolios of the Registrant.
Filed herewith.
(g)(3)(i) Addition of Portfolios
to Accounting Services Agreement dated July 1, 2015 among the Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
Filed herewith.
(h)(1) Amended and Restated
Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Registrant and Prudential Mutual Fund Services, Inc., dated May 29, 2007. Incorporated by reference to the Dryden Municipal Bond Fund Post-Effective Amendment
No. 29 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed via EDGAR on July 1, 2007 (File No. 33-10649).
(h)(1)(i) Amendment dated
July 1, 2015 to the Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated May 29, 2007.
Filed herewith.
(h)(2) Service Agreement
between American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated and Kemper Investors Life Insurance Company. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed
via EDGAR on February 28, 1997, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(h)(3)(i) Amended and
Restated Participation Agreement dated June 8, 2005 among American Skandia Life Assurance Corporation (now Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation), American Skandia Trust (now Advanced Series Trust),
American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now AST Investment Services, Incorporated), Prudential Investments LLC, American Skandia Marketing, Inc. (now Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc.), and
Prudential Investment Management Services LLC. Filed as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form N-14, which was filed via EDGAR on July 12, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(h)(3)(ii) Amendment dated
February 25, 2013 to the Amended and Restated Participation Agreement dated June 8, 2005 among Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, Advanced Series Trust, AST Investment Services, Inc., Prudential
Investments LLC, Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc. and Prudential Investment Management Services LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed
via EDGAR on April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(h)(4)(i) Amended and
Restated Participation Agreement dated June 8, 2005 among Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, American Skandia Trust (now Advanced Series Trust), American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now
AST Investment Services, Incorporated)., Prudential Investments LLC, American Skandia Marketing, Inc. (now Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc.), and Prudential Investment Management Services LLC. Filed as an
Exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form N-14, which was filed via EDGAR on July 12, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(h)(4)(ii) Amendment dated
February 25, 2013 to the Amended and Restated Participation Agreement dated June 8, 2005 among Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, Advanced Series Trust, AST Investment Services, Inc., Prudential
Investments LLC, Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc., and Prudential Investment Management Services LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed
via EDGAR on April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(h)(5)(i) Amended and
Restated Participation Agreement dated June 8, 2005 among Pruco Life Insurance Company, American Skandia Trust (now Advanced Series Trust), American Skandia Investment Services, Incorporated (now AST Investment
Services, Inc.), Prudential Investments LLC, American Skandia Marketing, Inc. (now Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc.), and Prudential Investment Management Services LLC. Filed as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement on Form N-14, which was filed via EDGAR on July 12, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(h)(5)(ii) Amendment dated
February 25, 2013 to the Amended and Restated Participation Agreement dated June 8, 2005 among Pruco Life Insurance Company, Advanced Series Trust, AST Investment Services, Inc., Prudential Investments LLC,
Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc., and Prudential Investment Management Services LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on
April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(h)(6) Participation
Agreement among Pramerica of Bermuda Insurance Company, American Skandia Trust (now Advanced Series Trust), American Skandia Investment Services, Inc. (now AST Investment Services, Inc.), Prudential Investments
LLC, American Skandia Marketing, Inc. (now Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc.), and Prudential Investment Management Services LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to Registration
Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 23, 2009, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(h)(7) Participation Agreement
among Prudential Retirement Insurance & Annuity Company, Advanced Series Trust, Prudential Investments LLC and AST Investment Services, Inc. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to Registration
Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(h)(8) Participation Agreement
among the Prudential Insurance Company of America, Advanced Series Trust, Prudential Investments LLC and AST Investment Services, Inc. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to Registration Statement,
which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(i)(i) Opinion of Counsel for
the Registrant. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 to the Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 29, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(i)(ii) Consent of Counsel for the
Registrant. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to the Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on March 23, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(i)(iii) Consent of Counsel for
the Registrant. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to the Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on July 25, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(i)(iv) Consent of Counsel for the
Registrant. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 107 to Registration Statement, which was filed via EDGAR on November 13, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(i)(v) Consent of Counsel for the
Registrant. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to Registration Statement, which was filed via EDGAR on February 6, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(i)(vi) Consent of Counsel for the
Registrant. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on December 30, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(i)(vii) Consent of Counsel for
the Registrant. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(i)(viii) Consent of Counsel for
the Registrant. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on December 15, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(i)(viiii) Consent of Counsel for
the Registrant.
Filed herewith.
(j) Consent of Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 134 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on June 25, 2015, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(k) None.
(l) Certificate re: initial
$100,000 capital. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on March 2, 1998, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(m)(1) Shareholder Services
and Distribution Plan. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 134 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on June 25, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(m)(2) Shareholder Services and
Distribution Fee (12b-1 Fee) contractual waiver for the following Portfolios of the Registrant: AST Bond Portfolio 2015, AST Bond Portfolio 2016, AST Bond Portfolio 2017, AST Bond Portfolio 2018, AST Bond Portfolio
2019, AST Bond Portfolio 2020, AST Bond Portfolio 2021, AST Bond Portfolio 2022, AST Bond Portfolio 2023, AST Bond Portfolio 2024, AST Bond Portfolio 2025, AST Bond Portfolio 2026, and AST Investment Grade Bond
Portfolio. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 134 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on June 25, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(n) None.
(o) None.
(p)(1) Code of Ethics of the
Registrant dated January 15, 2010. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A for Prudential Investment Portfolios 5, filed via EDGAR on
September 27, 2010 (File No. 333-82621).
(p)(2) Code of Ethics and Personal
Securities Trading Policy of Prudential, including the Manager and Distributor, dated January 10, 2011, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of
Prudential Investment Portfolios 12, filed via EDGAR on June 1, 2011 (File No. 333-42705).
(p)(3) Code of Ethics of
Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 15, 2001, and is
incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(4) Code of Ethics of
Federated Investment Counseling. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 15, 2001, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(p)(5) Code of Ethics of
Federated Global Investment Management Corp. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 28, 2003, and is
incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(6) Code of Ethics of
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2001, and is incorporated herein
by reference.
(p)(7) Code of Ethics of
Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2004, and is incorporated herein
by reference.
(p)(8) Code of Ethics of J. P.
Morgan Investment Management, Inc. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2004, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(p)(9) Code of Ethics of Lord,
Abbett & Co. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 15, 2001, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(p)(10) Code of Ethics of Marsico
Capital Management, LLC. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on May 1, 2002, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(11) Code of Ethics of
Massachusetts Financial Services Company. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 15, 2001, and is incorporated
herein by reference.
(p)(12) Code of Ethics of
Neuberger Berman Management, Inc. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 15, 2001, and is incorporated
herein by reference.
(p)(13) Code of Ethics of Pacific
Investment Management Company LLC. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 30, 2001, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(p)(14) Code of Ethics of T. Rowe
Price Associates, Inc. dated March 1, 2008. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2008, and is
incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(15) Code of Ethics of LSV
Asset Management. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 18, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(16) Code of Ethics of Lee
Munder Investments, Ltd. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 18, 2005, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(p)(17) Code of Ethics of Eagle
Asset Management. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 to the Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 29, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(18) Code of Ethics of William
Blair & Company, LLC. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 to the Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 29, 2005, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(p)(19) Code of Ethics of First
Trust Advisors, L.P. Filed as an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 58 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 28, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(20) Code of Ethics of
Thornburg Investment Management, Inc. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 26, 2007, and is incorporated herein
by reference.
(p)(21) Code of Ethics of
ClearBridge Advisors, LLC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(10) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to the Registration Statement of The Prudential Series Fund on Form N-1A (File
No.2-80896) filed via EDGAR on April 27, 2007.
(p)(22) Code of Ethics of Horizon
Investments, LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(23) Code of Ethics of Western
Asset Management Company and Western Asset Management Company Limited. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 23, 2009,
and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(24) Code of Ethics of
Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(p)(25) Code of Ethics of
Prudential Investment Management, Inc. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(p)(26) Code of Ethics of WEDGE
Capital Management LLP. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 23, 2009, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(27) Code of Ethics of EARNEST
Partners LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(28) Code of Ethics of
AlphaSimplex Group, LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 23, 2009, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(29) Code of Ethics of First
Quadrant, L.P. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 23, 2009, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(30) Code of Ethics of Pyramis
Global Advisors, LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(31) Code of Ethics of
Wellington Management Company LLP. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 to the Registration Statement of Prudential Sector Funds, Inc. on Form N-1A (File No. 2-72097 filed via EDGAR on January 26,
2011.
(p)(32) Code of Ethics of Bradford
& Marzec LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(33) Code of Ethics of Brown
Advisory, LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(34) Code of Ethics of C.S.
McKee, LP. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(35) Code of Ethics of Epoch
Investment Partners, Inc. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(36) Code of Ethics of Security
Investors, LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(37) Code of Ethics of
Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(38) Code of Ethics of Franklin
Advisers, Inc., Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC, and Templeton Global Advisors Limited. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17,
2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(39) Code of Ethics of Emerald
Advisers Inc. and Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to the Registration Statement of The Target Portfolio Trust on Form N-1A (File No. 33-50476) filed via EDGAR
on February 23, 2012.
(p)(40) Code of Ethics of
CoreCommodity Management, LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(41) Code of Ethics of AQR
Capital Management, LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 6, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(42) Code of Ethics of
Quantitative Management Associates LLC (QMA). Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on February 6, 2013, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(p)(43) Code of Ethics of
BlackRock, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(p)(44) Code of Ethics of
Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(p)(45) Code of Ethics of Code of
Ethics of QS Legg Mason Global Asset Allocation, LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated
herein by reference.
(p)(46) Code of Ethics of QS
Batterymarch Financial Management, Inc. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 17, 2014, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(p)(47) Code of Ethics of Robeco
Investment Management, Inc. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(48) Code of Ethics of
Longfellow Investment Management Co., LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
(p)(49) Code of Ethics of
Wellington Management Company, LLP. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(50) Code of Ethics of RS
Investment Management Co. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(51) Code of Ethics of Lazard
Asset Management LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(52) Code of Ethics of Vision
Capital Management, Inc. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(53) Code of Ethics of Loomis,
Sayles & Company, L.P. Filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registration Statement, which Amendment was filed via EDGAR on April 15, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(p)(54) Code of Ethics of
AllianceBernstein L.P.
Filed herewith.
(p)(55) Code of Ethics of Columbia
Management Investment Advisers, LLC.
Filed herewith.
(p)(56) Code of Ethics of Dana
Investment Advisors, Inc.
Filed herewith.
(p)(57) Code of Ethics of Ivy
Investment Management Company.
Filed herewith.
(p)(58) Code of Ethics of Morgan
Stanley Investment Management, Inc.
Filed herewith.
Item 29. Persons Controlled by or
under Common Control with the Registrant.
Registrant does not control any
person within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Registrant may be deemed to be under common control with its investment manager and its affiliates because a controlling interest in Registrant is held
of record by Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation. See Registrant’s Statement of Additional Information under “Management and Advisory Arrangements” and “Other Information.”
Item 30. Indemnification.
Section 5.2 of the
Registrant’s Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust provides as follows:
The Trust shall indemnify each of
its Trustees, Trustee Emeritus, officers, employees, and agents (including persons who serve at its request as directors, officers, employees, agents or trustees of another organization in which it has any interest as
a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) against all liabilities and expenses (including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise, as fines and penalties, and as counsel fees) reasonably incurred by him
in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, in which he may be involved or with which he may be threatened, while in office or thereafter, by
reason of his being or having been such a trustee, trustee emeritus, officer, employee or agent, except with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been adjudicated to be liable to the Trust or its
Shareholders by reason of having acted in bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his duties; provided, however, that as to any matter disposed of by a compromise payment by such
person, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no indemnification either for said payment or for any other expenses shall be provided unless approved as in the best interests of the Trust, after notice that it
involves such indemnification, by at least a majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter) upon a determination,
based upon a review of readily available facts, that (i) such person acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in the best interests of the Trust and (ii) is not liable to the
Trust or the Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties; or the trust shall have received a written opinion from independent legal counsel approved by
the Trustees to the effect that (x) if the matter of good faith and reasonable belief as to the best interests of the Trust, had been adjudicated, it would have been adjudicated in favor of such person, and
(y) based upon a review of readily available facts such trustee, officer, employee or agent did not engage in willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty. The rights accruing to any Person
under these provisions shall not exclude any other right to which he may be lawfully entitled; provided that no Person may satisfy any right of indemnity or reimbursement granted herein or in Section 5.1 or to
which he may be otherwise entitled except out of the property of the Trust, and no Shareholder shall be personally liable to any Person with respect to any claim for indemnity or reimbursement or otherwise.
The Trustees may make advance
payments in connection with indemnification under this Section 5.2, provided that the indemnified person shall have given a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust in the event it is subsequently determined
that he is not entitled to such indemnification and, provided further, that the Trust shall have obtained protection, satisfactory in the sole judgment of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that
a majority of the disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter), against losses arising out of such advance payments or such Trustees, or independent legal counsel, in a written opinion, shall have
determined, based upon a review of readily available facts that there is reason to believe that such person will be found to be entitled to such indemnification.
With respect to liability of the
Investment Manager to Registrant or to shareholders of Registrant’s Portfolios under the Investment Management Agreements, reference is made to Section 13 or 14 of each Investment Management Agreement filed
herewith or incorporated by reference herein.
With respect to the
Sub-Advisors’ indemnification of the Investment Manager and its affiliated and controlling persons, and the Investment Manager’s indemnification of each Sub-advisor and its affiliated and controlling
persons, reference is made to Section 14 of each Sub-Advisory Agreement filed herewith or incorporated by
reference herein. Insofar as indemnification
for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant or expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense
of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the
final adjudication of such issue.
Item 31. Business and other
Connections of the Investment Adviser.
AST Investment
Services, Incorporated (“ASTI”), One Corporate Drive, Shelton, Connecticut 06484, and Prudential Investments LLC (“PI”), Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey
07102, serve as the co- investment managers to the Registrant. Information as to the business and other connections of the officers and directors of ASTI is included in ASTI’s Form ADV (File No. 801-40532),
including the amendments to such Form ADV filed with the Commission, and is incorporated herein by reference. Information as to the business and other connections of the officers and directors of PI is included
in PI’s Form ADV (File No. 801-3110), including the amendments to such Form ADV filed with the Commission, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 32. Principal Underwriters.
(a) Prudential Annuities
Distributors, Inc. (PAD), One Corporate Drive, Shelton, Connecticut 06484 serves as the principal underwriter and distributor for shares of each Portfolio of Advanced Series Trust. PAD is a registered
broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The shares of each Portfolio of Advanced Series Trust are currently offered only to insurance company separate accounts as an investment
option for variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts.
PAD also serves, along with
Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (PIMS) as the co-distributor for certain classes of shares of certain of the Prudential Investments retail mutual funds.
(b) The following table sets forth
certain information regarding the directors and officers of PAD.
Name and Principal Business Address
|
Positions and Offices with Underwriter
|
Timothy S. Cronin
One Corporate Drive
Shelton, Connecticut 06484-6208
|
Senior Vice President
|
Bruce Ferris
One Corporate Drive
Shelton, Connecticut 06484-6208
|
Executive Vice President & Director
|
Christopher J. Hagan
2101 Welsh Road
Dresher, Pennsylvania 19025-5000
|
Chief Operating Officer & Vice President
|
Yanela C. Frias
213 Washington Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102-2917
|
Senior Vice President & Director
|
Rodney R. Allain
One Corporate Drive
Shelton, Connecticut 06484-6208
|
Senior Vice President & Director
|
Dawn M. LeBlanc
One Corporate Drive
Shelton, Connecticut
|
Senior Vice President & Director
|
Patricia L. Kelley
One Corporate Drive
Shelton, Connecticut 06484-6208
|
Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer & Director
|
Name and Principal Business Address
|
Positions and Offices with Underwriter
|
Steven P. Marenakos
One Corporate Drive
Shelton, Connecticut 06484-6208
|
Senior Vice President & Director
|
Yvonne Rocco
751 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102-3714
|
Senior Vice President
|
Mark Livesay
One Corporate Drive
Shelton, Connecticut 06484-6208
|
Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
|
John D. Rosero
213 Washington Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102-2917
|
Vice President, Secretary & Chief Legal Officer
|
Elizabeth Marin
751 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102-2917
|
Treasurer
|
Steven Weinreb
3 Gateway Center
Newark, New Jersey 07102-4061
|
Chief Financial Officer & Controller
|
Andrew A. Morawiec
One Corporate Drive
Shelton, Connecticut 06484-6208
|
Vice President
|
Michael B. McCauley
One Corporate Drive
Shelton, Connecticut 06484-6208
|
Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer
|
Robert R. Costello
2101 Welsh Road
Dresher, Pennsylvania 19025-5000
|
Vice President
|
William D. Wilcox
280 Trumbull Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06103-3509
|
Vice President
|
Richard W. Kinville
751 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102-2917
|
AML Officer
|
Item 33. Location of Accounts and
Records.
All accounts, books and other
documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the Rules thereunder are maintained at the offices of The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (BNY), One Wall Street, New York, New York
10286, Prudential Investment Management, Inc., Gateway Center Two, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, the Registrant, Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, and Prudential
Mutual Fund Services LLC (PMFS), 100 Mulberry Street, Gateway Center Three, Newark, New Jersey 07102.
Documents required by
Rules 31a-1(b) (4), (5), (6), (7), (9), (10) and (11) and 31a-1 (d) and (f) will be kept at Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, and the remaining
accounts, books and other documents required by such other pertinent provisions of Section 31(a) and the Rules promulgated thereunder will be kept by BNY and PMFS.
Item 34. Management Services.
Other than as set forth under the
caption “How the Trust is Managed-Investment Managers” in the Prospectus and the caption “Management and Advisory Arrangements” in the SAI, constituting Parts A and B, respectively, of this
Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement, Registrant is not a party to any management-related service contract.
Item 35. Undertakings.
Not applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of
the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act, the Fund certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under
the Securities Act and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Newark, and State of New Jersey, on the
6th day of July, 2015.
ADVANCED SERIES
TRUST
Timothy
Cronin
*Timothy Cronin
President
Pursuant to the requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
Timothy Cronin*
Timothy Cronin
|
|
President and Principal Executive Officer
|
|
|
Susan Davenport Austin*
Susan Davenport Austin
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
Sherry S. Barrat*
Sherry S. Barrat
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
Kay Ryan Booth*
Kay Ryan Booth
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
Delayne Dedrick Gold*
Delayne Dedrick Gold
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
Robert F. Gunia*
Robert F. Gunia
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
W. Scott McDonald, Jr.*
W. Scott McDonald, Jr.
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
Thomas T. Mooney *
Thomas T. Mooney
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
Thomas M. O’Brien*
Thomas M. O’Brien
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
Jessica Bibliowicz*
Jessica Bibliowicz
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
M. Sadiq Peshimam*
M. Sadiq Peshimam
|
|
Treasurer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
|
|
|
*By: /s/ Kathleen DeNicholas
Kathleen DeNicholas
|
|
Attorney-in-Fact
|
|
July 6, 2015
|
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned Directors,
Trustees and Officers of the Advanced Series Trust, The Prudential Series Fund and Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. (collectively, the “Funds”), hereby constitute, appoint and authorize each of,
Andrew French, Claudia DiGiacomo, Deborah A. Docs, Kathleen DeNicholas, Raymond A. O’Hara, Amanda Ryan, Jonathan D. Shain and Melissa Gonzalez, as true and lawful agents and attorneys-in-fact, to sign, execute
and deliver on his or her behalf in the appropriate capacities indicated, any Registration Statements of the Funds on the appropriate forms, any and all amendments thereto (including pre- and post-effective
amendments), and any and all supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, including Form N-PX, Forms 3, 4 and 5, as appropriate, to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the securities regulators of appropriate states and territories, and generally to do all such things in his or her name and behalf in connection therewith as said
attorney-in-fact deems necessary or appropriate to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, all related
requirements of the SEC and all requirements of appropriate states and territories. The undersigned do hereby give to said agents and attorneys-in-fact full power and authority to act in these premises, including, but
not limited to, the power to appoint a substitute or substitutes to act hereunder with the same power and authority as said agents and attorneys-in-fact would have if personally acting. The undersigned do hereby
approve, ratify and confirm all that said agents and attorneys-in-fact, or any substitute or substitutes, may do by virtue hereof.
|
|
|
/s/ Susan Davenport Austin
Susan Davenport Austin
|
|
|
/s/ Sherry S. Barrat
Sherry S. Barrat
|
|
|
/s/ Jessica Bibliowicz
Jessica Bibliowicz
|
|
|
/s/ Kay Ryan Booth
Kay Ryan Booth
|
|
|
/s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Timothy S. Cronin
|
|
|
/s/ Delayne Dedrick Gold
Delayne Dedrick Gold
|
|
|
/s/ Robert F. Gunia
Robert F. Gunia
|
|
|
/s/ W. Scott McDonald, Jr.
W. Scott McDonald, Jr.
|
|
|
/s/ Thomas T. Mooney
Thomas T. Mooney
|
|
|
/s/ Thomas M. O’Brien
Thomas M. O’Brien
|
|
|
/s/ M. Sadiq Peshimam
M. Sadiq Peshimam
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dated: March 18, 2015
|
|
|
Advanced Series Trust
Exhibit Index
Item 28
Exhibit No.
|
|
Description
|
(d)(1)(e)
|
|
Contractual investment management fee waivers and/or contractual expense caps for selected AST portfolios.
|
(d)(2)(a)
|
|
Amended Fee Schedule to Investment Management Agreement among the Registrant and Prudential Investments LLC adding AST AB Global Bond Portfolio, AST Columbia
Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio, AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio, AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio, AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio, AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio, AST Morgan Stanley
Multi-Asset Portfolio, AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio, AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio and AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio.
|
(d)(2)(b)
|
|
Contractual investment management fee waivers and/or contractual expense caps for selected AST portfolios.
|
(d)(116)
|
|
Subadvisory Agreement between Prudential Investments LLC and AllianceBernstein L.P. for the AST AB Global Bond Portfolio.
|
(d)(117)
|
|
Subadvisory Agreement between Prudential Investments LLC and BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. for the AST BlackRock Low Duration Bond Portfolio.
|
(d)(118)
|
|
Subadvisory Agreement between Prudential Investments LLC, and Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC for the AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio.
|
(d)(119)
|
|
Subadvisory Agreement between Prudential Investments LLC and Dana Investment Advisors, Inc. for the AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio.
|
(d)(120)
|
|
Subadvisory Agreement between Prudential Investments LLC and Goldman Sachs Asset Management International for the AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio.
|
(d)(121)
|
|
Subadvisory Agreement between Prudential Investments LLC and Ivy Investment Management Company for the AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio.
|
(d)(122)
|
|
Subadvisory Agreement between Prudential Investments LLC and Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC for the AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio.
|
(d)(123)
|
|
Subadvisory Agreement between Prudential Investments LLC and Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. for the AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio.
|
(d)(124)
|
|
Subadvisory Agreement between Prudential Investments LLC and Neuberger Berman Management LLC for the AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio.
|
(d)(125)
|
|
Subadvisory Agreement between Prudential Investments LLC and Wellington Management Company LLP for the AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio.
|
(d)(126)
|
|
Subadvisory Agreement between Prudential Investments LLC and Wellington Management Company LLP for the AST Wellington Real Total Return Portfolio.
|
(e)(3)
|
|
Distribution Agreement for the shares of each Portfolio of the Registrant, between Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc. and the Registrant.
|
(g)(2)(i)(1)
|
|
Precious Metals Supplement dated June 30, 2015 to the Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon.
|
(g)(2)(ii)
|
|
Amendment dated July 1, 2015 to the Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon.
|
(g)(3)
|
|
Accounting and Services Agreement among the Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. for the various portfolios of the Registrant.
|
(g)(3)(i)
|
|
Addition of Portfolios to Accounting Services Agreement dated July 1, 2015 among the Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
|
(h)(1)(i)
|
|
Amendment dated July 1, 2015 to the Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated May 29, 2007.
|
(i)(viiii)
|
|
Consent of Counsel for the Registrant.
|
(p)(54)
|
|
Code of Ethics of AllianceBernstein L.P.
|
(p)(55)
|
|
Code of Ethics of Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC.
|
(p)(56)
|
|
Code of Ethics of Dana Investment Advisors, Inc.
|
(p)(57)
|
|
Code of Ethics of Ivy Investment Management Company.
|
Item 28
Exhibit No.
|
|
Description
|
(p)(58)
|
|
Code of Ethics of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc.
|
Prudential Investments LLC
Gateway Center Three
100 Mulberry Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
AST Investment Services, Inc.
One Corporate Drive
Shelton, Connecticut 06484
The Board of Trustees of Advanced Series Trust
Gateway Center Three
100 Mulberry Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Re:
Contractual Fee Waivers
Effective as of the dates indicated below, Prudential Investments
LLC and AST Investment Services, Inc. (collectively, the "Investment Managers") hereby agree to cap expenses / reimburse
certain expenses and/or waive a portion of their investment management fees as more particularly described and set forth for each
Portfolio listed on Exhibit A hereto.
Very truly yours,
Prudential Investments LLC
By:
/s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: Senior Vice President
AST Investment Services, Inc.
By:
/s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: President
Exhibit A
AST Bond Portfolio 2015
AST Bond Portfolio 2016
AST Bond Portfolio 2017
AST Bond Portfolio 2018
AST Bond Portfolio 2019
AST Bond Portfolio 2020
AST Bond Portfolio 2021
AST Bond Portfolio 2022
AST Bond Portfolio 2023
AST Bond Portfolio 2024
AST Bond Portfolio 2025
(
each a “Bond Portfolio” and collectively, the “Bond Portfolios”)
With respect to each of the Bond Portfolios,
the Investment Managers have contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee and/or reimburse certain
expenses for each Bond Portfolio so that each Portfolio’s investment management fee plus other expenses (exclusive in all
cases of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) for each Bond Portfolio
does not exceed 0.93% of each Bond Portfolio’s average daily net assets through June 30, 2017. This waiver may not be terminated
prior to June 30, 2017 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
ADVANCED
SERIES TRUST
Amended Schedule “A”
|
|
Portfolio
|
Contractual
Fee Rate
|
AST
AQR Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
|
0.9325% of average daily net
assets to $300 million;
0.9225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.9125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.9025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.8925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.8625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.8425% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST Prudential Flexible Multi-Strategy Portfolio
|
0.9825% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.9725% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.9625% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.9525% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.9425% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.9125% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.8925% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST Goldman Sachs Global Growth Allocation Portfolio
|
0.7825% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.7725% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.7625% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.7525% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.7425% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.7125% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.6925% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST Goldman Sachs Strategic Income Portfolio
|
0.7125% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.7025% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.6925% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.6825% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.6725% on next $2.7 billion of average daily net assets;
0.6425% on next $4.0 billion of average daily net assets;
0.6225% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio
|
0.7325% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.7225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.7125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.7025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.6925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.6625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.6425% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
|
|
|
AST T. Rowe Price Diversified Real Growth Portfolio
|
0.7325% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.7225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.7125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.7025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.6925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.6625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.6425% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST FQ Absolute Return Currency Portfolio
|
0.8325% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.8225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.8125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.8025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.7925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.7625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.7425% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST Franklin Templeton K2 Global Absolute Return Portfolio
|
0.7825% of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.7725% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.7625% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.7525% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.7425% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.7125% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.6925% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio
|
0.7825%
of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.7725% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.7625% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.7525% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.7425% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.7125% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.6925% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST
Bond Portfolio 2026*
|
0.4925% of average daily net
assets to $500 million;
0.4725% on next $4.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.4625% on next $5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.4525% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST
QMA International Equity Portfolio
|
0.7325% of average daily net
assets to $300 million;
0.7225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.7125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.7025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.6925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.6625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.6425% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST
AB Global Bond Portfolio
|
0.64%
of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.63% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.62% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.61% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.60% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.57% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.55% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST
Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio
|
0.94% of average daily net assets
to $300 million;
0.93% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.92% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.91% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.90% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.87% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.85% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
|
0.74% of average daily net assets
to $300 million;
0.73% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.72% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.71% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.70% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.67% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.65% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST
Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
|
0.64%
of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.63% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.62% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.61% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.60% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.57% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.55% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST
Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
|
0.89%
of average daily net assets to $300 million;
0.88% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.87% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.86% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.85% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.82% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.80% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST
Managed Alternatives Portfolio
|
0.15% of average daily
net assets
|
AST
Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
|
1.04%
of average daily net assets to $300 million;
1.03% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
1.02% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
1.01% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
1.00% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.97% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.95% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST
Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
|
1.04%
of average daily net assets to $300 million;
1.03% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
1.02% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
1.01% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
1.00% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.97% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.95% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST
Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
|
0.64% of average daily net assets
to $300 million;
0.63% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.62% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
0.61% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
0.60% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.57% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.55% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio
|
1.04% of average daily net assets
to $300 million;
1.03% on next $200 million of average daily net assets;
1.02% on next $250 million of average daily net assets;
1.01% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets;
1.00% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets;
0.97% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets;
0.95% over $10 billion of average daily net assets
|
*The current contractual investment management fee for the AST Bond Portfolio 2026 is subject to certain breakpoints. The assets
of the Portfolio will be aggregated for purposes of determining the fee rate applicable to the Portfolio.
Fee Schedule revised and restated as of April 15, 2014, as
further revised as of December 1, 2014 and July 1, 2015.
Prudential Investments LLC
Gateway Center Three
100 Mulberry Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
The Board of Trustees of Advanced Series Trust
Gateway Center Three
100 Mulberry Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Re:
Contractual Fee Waiver
Effective as of the dates indicated below, Prudential Investments
(the "Manager”) hereby agree to cap expenses / reimburse certain expenses and/or waive a portion of their investment
management fees as more particularly described and set forth for each Portfolio listed on Exhibit A hereto.
Very truly yours,
Prudential Investments LLC
By:
/s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: Senior Vice President
Exhibit A
AST Bond Portfolio 2026:
The Manager has contractually
agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fees and/or reimburse certain expenses for the Portfolio's investment management
fees plus other expenses (exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and
extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.93% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets through June 30, 2017. This waiver may
not be terminated prior to June 30, 2017 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation
Portfolio:
The Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee and/or reimburse
certain expenses so that the investment management fee plus other expenses (exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest,
brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) for the Portfolio does not exceed 1.28%
of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio through June 30, 2016. This expense limitation may not be terminated
prior to June 30, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
AST Emerging Managers
Diversified Portfolio:
The Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee
and/or reimburse certain expenses so that the investment management fee plus other expenses (exclusive in all cases of taxes,
interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) for the Portfolio does not
exceed 1.07% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio through July 13, 2016. This expense limitation may not be
terminated prior to July 13, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio:
The Manager
has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses so that the investment
management fee plus other expenses (exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions,
acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) for the Portfolio does not exceed 1.21% of the
average daily net assets of the Portfolio through June 30, 2016. This expense limitation may not be terminated prior to June
30, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio:
The
Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fees and/or reimburse certain expenses for
the Portfolio so that the Portfolio’s investment management fee plus other expenses (exclusive in all cases of taxes,
interest, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses) plus acquired fund fees and expenses (excluding dividends
on securities sold short and brokers fees and expenses on short sales) does not exceed 1.47% of the Portfolio’s average
daily net assets through July 13, 2016. This expense limitation may not be terminated prior to July 13, 2016 without
the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio:
The Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses so
that the investment management fee plus other expenses (exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions,
acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) for the Portfolio does not exceed 1.42% of the average daily net
assets of the Portfolio through July 13, 2016. This expense limitation may not be terminated prior to July 13, 2016
without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio:
The
Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses so that
the investment management fee plus other expenses (exclusive in all cases of taxes, short sale interest and dividend expenses,
brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) for the Portfolio does
not exceed 1.42% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio through June 30, 2016. This expense limitation may not
be terminated prior to June 30, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return:
The Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses so that
the investment management fee plus other expenses (exclusive in all cases of taxes, interest,
brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) for the Portfolio does
not exceed 1.42% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio through July 13, 2016. This expense limitation may not
be terminated prior to July 13, 2016 without the prior approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 20
th
day of April, 2015 between
Prudential Investments LLC (PI or the Manager), a New York limited liability company and AllianceBernstein L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (AllianceBernstein or the Subadviser),
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into a Management Agreement (the
Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business
trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PI acts as Manager of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Manager, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement,
desires to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified
in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion
of the Trust as the Manager shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Manager and the Board
of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the
Manager, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives, policies
and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and statement
of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the "Prospectus"),
and subject to the following understandings:
(i) The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion of the Trust's investments as the Manager shall direct, and shall
determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what
portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
(ii) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this
Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust,
the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, and the Trust's valuation procedures as provided to it by the Manager (the
Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Manager and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, co-operate
with the Manager's (or its designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust's compliance and will conform to, and comply
with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall,
among other things, prepare and file such reports as are, or may in the future be, required by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the Commission). The Manager shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents.
(iii) The Subadviser shall determine the securities, futures contracts
and other instruments to be purchased or sold by such portion of the Trust's portfolio, as applicable, and may place orders with
or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants, including any person or entity affiliated with the Subadviser
(collectively, Brokers), to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the Trust's Prospectus or as the Board
of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time. In providing the Trust with investment supervision, it is recognized that
the Subadviser will give primary consideration to securing the most favorable price and efficient execution. Within the framework
of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment information and other services
provided by Brokers who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser's other
clients may be a party. The Manager (or Subadviser) to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for
the Trust through Brokers (including, to the extent legally permissible, Brokers affiliated with the Subadviser) qualified to obtain
best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to cause the Trust to pay any such Brokers an amount of
commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another Broker would have charged for effecting
that transaction, if the brokerage or research
services provided by such Broker, viewed in light of either that
particular investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Manager (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Trust
and other accounts as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the
1934 Act), are reasonable in relation to the amount of commission. On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale
of a security, futures contract or other instrument to be in the best interest of the Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser,
the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate
the securities, futures contracts or other instruments to be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation of the securities, futures
contracts or other instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser
in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and
to such other clients. Furthermore, in accordance with the Trust's procedures, to the extent consistent with its duty to seek best
execution, the Subadviser may cause the delegated portion of the Trust’s portfolio to participate in cross transactions with
other fund accounts managed by the Subadviser.
(iv) The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect
to the Trust's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust's
Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably
available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect
to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust's securities.
(v) The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's Custodian
on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Trust's assets it manages, and
shall provide the Manager with such information upon request of the Manager.
(vi) The investment management services provided by the Subadviser
hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely, the
Subadviser and Manager understand and agree that if the Manager manage the Trust in a "manager-of-managers" style, the
Manager will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative
analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract
with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding
the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified
pursuant to this process.
(vii) The Subadviser acknowledges that the Manager and the Trust
intend to rely on Rule 17a-l0, Rule l0f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-l under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that
it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust's portfolio
or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(b) The Subadviser shall authorize and permit any of its directors,
officers and employees who may be elected as Trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in the capacities in which they are elected.
Services to be furnished by the Subadviser under this Agreement may be furnished through the medium of any of such directors, officers
or employees.
(c) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's books and records required
to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Manager all information relating
to the Subadviser's services hereunder needed by the Manager to keep the other books and records of the Trust required by Rule
31a-I under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust are
the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will tender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's request, provided,
however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed
by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained
by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(d) The Subadviser is a commodity trading
advisor duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and is a member in good standing of the National
Futures Association (the NFA). The Subadviser shall maintain such registration and membership in good standing during the term
of this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser agrees to notify the Manager promptly upon (i) a statutory disqualification of
the Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of the Subadviser’s
commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) the institution of an action or proceeding that could lead
to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any governmental agency or self-regulatory organization of
which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target.
(e) In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser
agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the CEA, the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable state and federal regulations, and applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization.
(f) The Subadviser shall furnish to the Manager copies of all records
prepared in connection with (i) the performance of this Agreement and (ii) the maintenance of compliance procedures pursuant to
paragraph 1(d) hereof as the Manager may reasonably request.
(g) The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder
proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Trust's portfolio, subject to such reasonable reporting and
other requirements as shall be established by the Manager
.
(h) The Subadviser acknowledges that it is responsible for evaluating
whether market quotations are readily available for the Trust's portfolio investments and whether those market quotations are reliable
for purposes of valuing the Trust's portfolio investments and determining the Trust's net asset value per share and promptly notifying
the Manager upon the occurrence of any significant event with respect to any of the Trust's portfolio investments in accordance
with the requirements of the 1940 Act and any related written guidance from the Commission and the Commission staff. Upon reasonable
request from the Manager, the Subadviser (through a qualified person) will assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Manager
in valuing investments of the Trust as
may be required from time to time, including making available
information of which the
Subadviser
has knowledge
related
to the
investments
being valued.
2.
The
Manager
shall continue to have
responsibility
for
all
services
to
be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review
the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this
Agreement. The
Manager
shall
provide (or cause the
Trust's
custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding
such
matters
as
the composition
of assets in the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in such portion
of the Trust,
and
all other information as may
be
reasonably necessary for the Subadviser
to perform
its duties hereunder (including any excerpts
of
minutes
of meetings of the Board of Trustees
of
the Trust that
affect
the duties of the Subadviser).
3. For
the
services provided
pursuant
to this
Agreement,
the
Manager
shall pay
the
Subadviser
as
full
compensation
therefor, a fee equal to
the
percentage
of
the Trust's
average
daily net
assets
of
the portion of the Trust managed by
the
Subadviser
as
described in the attached Schedule A.
Liability
for
payment of compensation by the Manager to the Subadviser
under
this
Agreement is contingent upon the Manager' receipt of payment from
the
Trust
for management
services
described under the Management
Agreement between the Fund
and
the Manager. Expense caps
or fee
waivers
for the
Trust
that
may be
agreed
to
by the Manager, but not agreed to by the Subadviser,
shall
not
cause a reduction in the amount of the payment
to
the Subadviser
by the Manager.
4
.
The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error
of
judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Manager in
connection with
the
matters to
which
this Agreement relates, except
a
loss resulting from
willful
misfeasance,
bad
faith
or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part
in the performance of its duties or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement,
provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to waive any rights the
Manager
or the Trust may have
against
the
Subadviser under federal or state securities laws.
The
Manager
shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons,
its
officers,
directors and
employees,
for any liability and expenses,
including
attorneys'
fees,
which
may be sustained as
a
result
of
the
Manager'
willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation
of applicable
law, including, without limitation, the 1940
Act
and federal
and
state securities laws.
The Subadviser shall indemnify
the
Manager, their affiliated persons, their officers, directors
and
employees,
for any liability
and
expenses, including attorneys' fees,
which
may be sustained as
a
result of the Subadviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence,
or
reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of
applicable
law, including, without limitation
,
the
1940
Act and
federal
and
state
securities laws.
5. This Agreement
shall
continue
in effect
for a
period
of more than two years from the date hereof only
so
long
as such
continuance
is
specifically
approved at least
annually
in
conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act;
provided,
however,
that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees
of
the Trust
or
by vote
of
a
majority of the outstanding voting securities
(as
defined in the 1940 Act)
of the
Fund,
or by the Manager or the Subadviser at any time
,
without
the payment of
any
penalty
,
on not more than
60
days'
nor less
than
30 days
'
written notice
to
the
other party. This
Agreement shall
terminate automatically
in the event of its
assignment
(as defined in the
1940
Act) or upon the
termination
of
the Management Agreement. The Subadviser
agrees
that it
will
promptly notify the Trust
and
the Manager of the occurrence of any
event
that
would result in the
assignment
(as defined in the 1940
Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to,
a change
of
control (as
defined
in the 1940
Act) of the Subadviser.
To the extent that the Manager delegates to the Subadviser management
of all or a portion of a portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Manager, the Subadviser agrees
that its duties and obligations under this Agreement with respect to that delegated portfolio or portion thereof shall commence
as of the date the Manager begins the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser.
Any notice or other communication
required to be given pursuant to this Agreement
shall
be
deemed duly
given
if delivered or mailed by registered
mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager at Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street,
4th
Floor
,
Newark, NJ 07102-4077
,
Attention: Secretary
(for PI); (2) to the
Trust
at
Gateway
Center
Three,
100 Mulberry
Street,
4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077,
Attention: Secretary; or (3) to the
Subadviser at
AllianceBernstein L.P.
,
1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105, Attention: Chief Compliance Officer
.
6. Nothing
in
this
Agreement
shall
limit
or
restrict
the right of
any
of the
Subadviser's
directors,
officers or employees who may also
be
a Trustee,
o
f
ficer
or employee of the Trust to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention
in
part to the management
or
other aspects of any business, whether of a similar or a dissimilar nature,
nor
limit or
restrict
the
Subadviser's right to
engage
in
any
other
business or to render
services
of
any kind
to any other
corporation,
firm, individual
or association.
7. During the
term
of this
Agreement,
the
Manager agrees
to furnish the Subadviser
at
its principal office all prospectuses, proxy
statements,
and
reports to shareholders which
refer
to
the Subadviser in
any
way, prior to use thereof and not
to use material if the
Subadviser
reasonably objects in
writing
five
business days
(or
such other time as may be
mutually
agreed)
after
receipt
thereof.
During the term of this Agreement, the Manager also agrees to furnish the
Subadviser
,
upon request,
representative
samples
of marketing and sales literature or
other
material prepared
for distribution to
shareholders
of the Trust or the public
,
which make
reference to the
Subadviser
.
The
Manager further
agrees
to prospectively make reasonable changes
to
such
materials upon the Subadviser's written request,
and
to
implement those changes in the next
regularly
scheduled
production
of
those materials. All such
prospectuses,
proxy statements,
replies
to
shareholders,
marketing and
sales
literature
or other material prepared
for distribution
to shareholders
of the Trust
or
the public which make reference to the
Subadviser may be
furnished
to the Subadviser hereunder
by
electronic
mail, first-class
or
overnight mail,
facsimile
transmission
equipment or hand delivery.
8
.
This Agreement may be
amended
by
mutual
consent,
but the consent of the
Trust
must be obtained
in
conformity
with
the
requirements
of
the
1940
Act.
9. This Agreement shall be
governed
by the laws of the
State of
New
York.
10. Any question
of interpretation of
any term
or
provision of this Agreement having
a counterpart
or otherwise derived from
a
term or provision of the 1940
Act
,
shall
be resolved by
reference
to
such term
or
provision of the
1940 Act
and
to interpretations
thereof,
if any,
by
the
United
States courts
or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such
court,
by
rules,
regulations or orders
of
the Commission issued pursuant
to
the
1940
Act.
In
addition,
where the effect of a requirement of the 1940
Act,
reflected
in any
provision of
this
Agreement,
is
related
by
rules,
regulation or order
of
the Commission,
such
provision
shall
be
deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule,
regulation
or
order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument
to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS LLC
By:
/s/ Bradley Tobin
Name: Bradley Tobin
Title: V.P. Investment Management
AllianceBernstein L.P.
By:
/s/ Louis T. Mangan
Name: Louis T. Mangan
Title: Assistant Secretary
SCHEDULE A
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
As compensation
for services provided by
AllianceBernstein L.P.
, Prudential Investments LLC will
pay
AllianceBernstein L.P.
an advisory fee on the net
a
ssets
managed by
AllianceBernstein L.P.
that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
Portfolio Name
|
Subadvisory Fee Rate
|
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
|
0.20% of average daily net assets to $500 million;
0.19% of average daily net assets over $500
million
|
Dated as of: April 20, 2015
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST BlackRock Low Duration Bond Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 30
th
day of April, 2015 between
Prudential Investments LLC (PI or the Manager), a New York limited liability company and BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. (BlackRock
or the Subadviser),
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into a Management Agreement
(the Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts
business trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PI acts as the Manager of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Manager, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement,
desires to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified
in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion
of the Trust as the Manager shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Manager and the Board
of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust’s portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser
by the Manager, including the purchase, retention and disposition of securities, exchange traded funds, repurchase and reverse
repurchase agreements, derivatives contracts, options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and swap agreements and
other financial instruments, all in accordance with the Trust’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated
in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time and previously provided to Subadviser, being herein called
the “Prospectus”). The Manager hereby authorizes the Subadviser , as agent on behalf of the Trust, to negotiate, enter
into, amend, and perform any and all obligations and exercise any and all rights under: (x) any affirmation platform and middleware
provider agreements, trading platform and exchange agreements, clearinghouse agreements or similar types of agreements,: (y) brokerage
agreements and other documents to establish, operate and conduct all brokerage or other trading accounts and (z) International
Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) Master Agreements, including any schedules and annexes to such agreements,
releases, consents, elections and confirmations, limited partnership agreements, repurchase agreements, and such agreements and
other documentation as may be required for the purchase or sale, assignment, transfer, and ownership of any permitted investment;
provided, however, that upon request the Subadviser will supply the Manager with copies of any ISDA Master Agreements and the related
schedules and annexes. The Manager acknowledges and understands that the Trust and the Manager, as applicable, will be bound by
any such trading accounts established, and agreements and other documentation executed, by the Subadviser for such investment purposes
as permitted hereunder. The Subadviser is permitted to open and maintain accounts in the name of the Trust, and complete all account
opening forms and agreements and provide relevant “know your customer” and other information regarding the Trust. The
assets the Trust has provided to BlackRock for management may be transferred by BlackRock as collateral or margin free and clear
of any lien, pledge, claim, charge or encumbrance granted directly by the Trust, consistent with the Prospectus and applicable
law. The Subadviser’s management of such portion of the Trust’s portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the Manager
shall be subject to the following additional understandings:
(i) The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion
of the Trust's investments as the Manager shall direct, and shall determine from time to time what investments and securities will
be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
The Subadviser may delegate the performance of services and functions under this Agreement to an “affiliated person”
(as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser so long as: (w) such delegation and the resulting performance of services and functions
hereunder by any such “affiliated person” is not prohibited by, or inconsistent with the requirements of, applicable
law, including the 1940 Act; (x) BlackRock retains ultimate discretionary authority over any portfolio management services provided
by any such “affiliated person”; (y) BlackRock exercises appropriate oversight of the performance of services and functions
hereunder by any such “affiliated person”; and (z) BlackRock does not pay any portion of the subadvisory fee paid received
from the Manager hereunder to such “affiliated person”. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Subadviser's
liability to the Manager under this Agreement shall not be affected in any way whatsoever by any delegation of services by the
Subadviser to any “affiliated person” of the Subadviser. In addition, notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement,
the Subadviser: (xx) may provide information about the Manager and the Trust to any “affiliated person” of the Subadviser
to which the performance of services and functions has been delegated hereunder; (yy) will act in good faith and with due diligence
in the selection, use, and monitoring of any “affiliated person” of the Subadviser to which the performance of services
and functions has been delegated hereunder; and (zz) shall ensure that any “affiliated person” of the Subadviser to
which the performance of services and
functions has been delegated hereunder is subject to confidentiality
and non-disclosure obligations that are substantially similar to the confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations to which the
Subadviser is subject with respect to the Trust.
(ii) In the performance of its duties and obligations under
this Agreement with respect to such portion of the Trusts’ investments as the Manager shall direct, the Subadviser shall
act in conformity with the copies of the Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as of December 1,
2005 and as amended and supplemented to date (the Declaration of Trust), the By-laws of the Trust, as amended and supplemented
to date (the By-Laws), the Trust’s policies and procedures as adopted by its Board of Trustees, including the Trust’s
valuation policies and procedures, and the Prospectus of the Trust, each as provided to Subadviser by the Manager from time to
time (collectively, the Trust Documents) and with the reasonable written instructions and directions of the Manager and of the
Board of Trustees of the Trust, co-operate with the Manager's (or their designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust’s
compliance and will conform to, and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, The Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended
(the CEA), the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), each as applicable, and all other applicable federal and state
laws and regulations; provided that compliance with the Code shall be solely with respect to the assets of the Trust under its
management and based solely upon information provided by the Trust’s administrator, custodian and other service providers.
In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall, among other things, provide reasonable assistance to the Manager in preparing and
filing such reports as are, or may in the future be, required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). To the
extent reasonably practicable, the Manager shall supply Subadviser in advance with written copies of such policies and procedures
of the Trust applicable to Subadviser’s performance of its duties and obligations in managing the Trust’s portfolio
(or allocated portion thereof, as applicable), as well as any amendments, supplements or modifications thereto within a reasonable
time before they become effective. The Manager agrees that Subadviser shall not be responsible for compliance with the policies
and procedures of the Trust not provided to Subadviser in advance in accordance with this paragraph.
(iii) The Subadviser shall determine the securities and
futures contracts and other financial instruments to be purchased or sold by such portion of the Trust's portfolio, as applicable,
and may place orders with or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants (including but not limited
to any broker or dealer affiliated with the Manager or the Subadviser) to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set
forth in the Trust's Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees may direct to the Subadviser in advance in writing from time to time.
In providing the Trust with investment supervision, it is recognized that the Subadviser will give consideration to securing the
most favorable price and efficient execution. Within the framework of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the size of trade,
financial responsibility, reputation, financial condition, research and investment information and other services provided by brokers,
dealers or futures commission merchants who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the
Subadviser’s other clients may be a party. The Manager (or Subadviser) to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect
investment transactions for the Trust through broker-dealers (including, to the extent legally permissible, broker-dealers affiliated
with the Subadviser(s)) qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services,
as such services are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to cause
the Trust to pay any such broker-dealers an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount
of commission another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided
by such broker-dealer, viewed in light of either that particular investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the
Manager (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Trust and other accounts as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion
(as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act), are reasonable in relation to the amount of commission.
On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale
of a security or futures contract or other financial instruments to be in the best interest of the Trust as well as other clients
of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation
to, aggregate the securities or futures contracts or other financial instruments to be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation
of the securities or futures contracts so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made
by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations
to the Trust and to such other clients.
In accordance with Section 11(a) of the 1934 Act and Rule 11a2-2(T)
thereunder, and subject to any other applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including, without limitation, Section 17(e) of the
1940 Act and Rule 17e-1 promulgated thereunder, the Subadviser may engage its affiliated persons, the affiliated persons of the
Manager, or any other subadviser to the Trust and such Subadviser’s affiliated persons, as broker-dealers to effect portfolio
transactions in securities and other investments for the Trust.
From time to time, when determined by Subadviser in its capacity
of a fiduciary to the Trust to be in the best interests of the Trust, the Subadviser may purchase securities from, or sell securities
on behalf of the Trust to, another account for which the Subadviser serves as investment Manager or subadviser at the current market
price for the relevant securities in accordance with the Trust’s policies and procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under
the 1940 Act (the Trust’s 17a-7 Procedures) and other applicable law. Notwithstanding the forgoing, Subadviser shall provide
to the Manager: (i) quarterly reports on the 17a-7 transactions entered into on behalf of the Trust pursuant to the Trust’s
17a-7 Procedures and (ii) all information necessary for the Board of Trustees of the Trust to review
such transactions as required by the Trust’s 17a-7 Procedures.
(iv) The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records
with respect to the Trust’s portfolio transactions effected by it as required by subparagraphs (b)(5), (6), (7), (9),
(10) and (11) and paragraph (f) of Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust’s Board of Trustees
such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably
available during Subadviser’s normal business hours its
employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect to any matter
discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust’s securities managed by Subadviser.
(v) The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's
Custodian on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Trust’s assets
it manages, and shall provide the Manager with such information upon reasonable request of the Manager.
(vi) The investment management services provided by the
Subadviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely,
the Subadviser and the Manager understand and agree that if the Manager manages the Trust in a “manager-of-managers”
style, the Manager will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative
and qualitative analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust’s
Board as to whether the contract with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically
report to the Trust's Board regarding the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its
services may be terminated or modified pursuant to this process.
(vii) The Subadviser acknowledges that the Manager and
the Trust intend to rely on Rule 17a-10, Rule 10f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby
agrees that it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust’s
portfolio or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(b) With respect to the portion of the Trust’s assets
the Subadviser manages, the Subadviser shall keep the Trust’s books and records required to be maintained by the Subadviser
pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Manager all information relating to the Subadviser’s services
hereunder needed by the Manager to keep the other books and records of the Trust required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act
or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust are the property of the Trust,
and the Subadviser will surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust’s request, provided, however,
that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by
Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained
by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(c) In connection with its duties under this Agreement,
the Subadviser agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures reasonably designed to prevent violations of the 1940 Act, the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the Advisers Act), and other applicable state and federal laws and federal regulations.
(d) The Subadviser is a commodity trading advisor duly registered
with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and is a member in good standing of the National Futures Association (the
NFA). The Subadviser shall maintain such registration and membership in good standing during the term of this Agreement. Further,
the Subadviser agrees to notify the Manager within a commercially reasonable time upon (i) a statutory disqualification of
the Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of the Subadviser’s
commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) the institution of an action or proceeding that could lead
to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any governmental agency or self-regulatory organization of
which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target.
(e) The Subadviser shall furnish to the Manager copies
of all records prepared in connection with (i) the performance of this Agreement and (ii) the maintenance of compliance
procedures pursuant to paragraph 1(c) hereof as the Manager may reasonably request, subject to applicable law, attorney-client
privilege and confidentiality restrictions.
(f) The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting
or the abstaining from voting, of all shareholder proxies with respect to the investments and securities, managed by Subadviser
and held in the Trust’s portfolio, in accordance with its standard proxy voting guidelines, and subject to such reasonable
reporting and other requirements as shall be established by the Manager.
(g) Upon reasonable request from the Manager, the Subadviser
will reasonably assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Manager in valuing securities of the Trust managed by Subadviser
as may be required from time to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser has knowledge related to the
securities being valued; provided that the Subadviser shall not be deemed a substitute for any independent pricing agent and/or
valuation committee of the Trust pursuant to the Trust’s Fair Valuation Policies and Procedures.
(h) The Manager has or will furnish Subadviser with properly
certified or authenticated copies of, each of the following prior to the date hereof:
(i) the Declaration of Trust;
(ii) the By-Laws;
(iii) resolutions of the Board of Trustees of the
Trust authorizing the appointment of Subadviser and approving the execution of this Agreement by the Manager;
(iv) the Prospectus; and
(v) any applicable
written instructions and directions of the Manager.
During the term of this Agreement, the Manager agrees to furnish
the Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, sales literature or other material
prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public, which refer to the Subadviser in any way, prior to use thereof
and not to use material if the Subadviser reasonably objects in writing: (i) ten (10) business days (or such other time as may
be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof with respect to prospectuses and proxy statements which refer to the Subadviser in any
way and (ii) five (5) business days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof with respect to reports
to shareholders, sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public which
refer to the Subadviser in any way. Sales literature may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder by electronic mail, first-class
or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment or hand delivery. The Manager agree to use commercially reasonable efforts
to ensure that materials prepared by their employees or agents or their affiliates that refer to the Subadviser are consistent
with those materials previously approved by the Subadviser as referenced in the first sentence of this paragraph. It is understood
that “BlackRock” is the name of the Subadviser’s parent company, BlackRock, Inc., and any derivative names or
logos associated with such name are the valuable property of the Subadviser, that the Trust has the right to include such phrase
as a part of the name of the series of the Trust managed by the Subadviser or for any other purpose only so long as this Agreement
shall continue, and that BlackRock does, in fact, consent to the use of such name as a part of the name of the series of the Trust
identified herein. Upon a termination or expiration of this Agreement, the Manager shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable
after a termination or expiration of this Agreement: (i) supplement or otherwise amend the Prospectus to indicate that “BlackRock
Financial Management, Inc.” no longer serves as a subadviser to the Trust; (ii) discontinue any new production or publication
of sales literature bearing the name “BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.” or any related name, mark, or logo; and
(iii) “buckslip” or otherwise supplement sales literature in the possession of the Manager or its affiliates bearing
the name “BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.” or any related name, mark, or logo to indicate that such firm no longer
serves as a subadviser to the Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager may, after any termination or expiration of this
Agreement, retain copies of sales literature bearing the name “BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.” or any related
name, mark or logo only to fulfill applicable legal, compliance, and regulatory requirements, and for their document retention
purposes.
The Manager will furnish the Subadviser with copies of all amendments
of or supplements to the foregoing that impact the management of the Trust within a reasonable time before they become effective
to the extent reasonably practicable. Any amendments or supplements that impact the management of the Trust will not be deemed
effective with respect to the Subadviser until the Subadviser’s receipt thereof, notice of which will be provided to the
Subadviser, to the extent reasonably practicable, within a reasonable time before such amendments or supplements become effective.
(i) Each Manager and the Subadviser represents
and warrants that: (i) it is registered with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act; (ii) such registration
is current and complete and complies with all material applicable provisions of the Advisers Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder; (iii) it has all requisite authority to enter into, execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement;
and (iv) its performance under this Agreement does not conflict with any law, regulation or order to which it is subject.
2. The Manager shall continue to have responsibility for all
services to be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee
and review the Subadviser’s performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Manager shall provide (or cause the Trust’s
custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the portion of
the Trust managed by the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in such portion of the Trust, and all
other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of
minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust that affect the duties of the Subadviser).
3. For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the
Manager shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Trust’s average daily
net assets of the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser as described in the attached Schedule A. Expense caps or fee waivers
for the Trust that may be agreed to by the Manager, but not agreed to by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction in the amount
of the payment to the Subadviser by the Manager.
4. The Manager acknowledges that Subadviser does not guarantee
investment results. The Manager further recognizes and agrees that the Subadviser may provide advice to or take action with respect
to other clients, which advice or action, including the timing and nature of such action, may differ from or be identical to advice
given or action taken with respect to the Trust. The Subadviser shall for all purposes hereof be deemed to be an independent contractor
and shall, unless otherwise provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust or the Manager in any way
or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust or the Manager except in connection with the investment management services provided
by the Subadviser under this Agreement. The Subadviser and its affiliates shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for
any loss suffered by the Trust or the Manager or their respective affiliates in connection with the matters to which this Agreement
relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser’s part in the
performance of its duties or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, provided, however,
that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to waive any rights the Manager or the Trust may have against the Subadviser under
federal or state securities laws. The Subadviser and its affiliates shall not be liable or responsible for any loss incurred in
connection with any act or omission of any of the Trust’s trustees, administrators, custodian, or any broker-dealer or other
third party (including any other subadviser to the Trust) in the absence of Subadviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence. The Manager, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, officers,
directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys’ fees, which may be caused by or arise from the Manager's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence,
reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal
and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Manager, its affiliated persons, officers, directors and employees,
for any liability and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, which may be caused by or arise from the Subadviser’s
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law,
including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws.
5. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more
than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with
the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the
payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, or by the Manager or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not
more than 60 days’ nor less than 30 days’ written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically
in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser
agrees that it will promptly notify the Trust and the Manager of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment
(as defined in the 1940 Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the 1940 Act)
of the Subadviser.
Subject to section 4, to the extent that the Manager delegates
to the Subadviser management of all or a portion of a portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the
Manager, the Subadviser agrees that its duties and obligations under this Agreement with respect to that delegated portfolio or
portion thereof shall commence as of the date the Manager begins the transition process to allocate management responsibility to
the Subadviser.
Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant
to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager
at Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077, Attention: Secretary; (2) to the Trust at
Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077, Attention: Secretary; or (3) to BlackRock at
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., 55 East 52
nd
Street, New York, NY 10055, Attention: Mike Saliba; with a copy to
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., 1 University Square Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540-6455, Attention: Rachel Ricci, email:blk-sa-serviceteam@blackrock.com.
6. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of
any of the Subadviser’s directors, officers or employees who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to engage
in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any business, whether
of a similar or a dissimilar nature, nor limit or restrict the Subadviser’s right to engage in any other business or to render
services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.
7. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the
consent of the Trust must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
8. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State
of New York.
9. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of
this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference
to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence
of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act.
In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is affected by rules,
regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left
Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument
to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS LLC
By:
/s/ Bradley Tobin
Name: Bradley Tobin
Title: V.P. Investment Management
BLACKROCK FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
By:
/s/ Frank Porcelli
Name: Frank Porcelli
Title: Managing Director
SCHEDULE A
ADVANCED
SERIES TRUST
As compensation for services provided to
this Portfolio by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. (BlackRock), Prudential Investments LLC will pay BlackRock an advisory fee
on the net assets managed by BlackRock that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
Portfolio Name
|
Advisory Fee
|
AST BlackRock Low Duration Bond Portfolio
|
0.20% of average daily net assets to $250 million;
and
0.15% of average daily net assets over $250
million
|
*
BlackRock
has agreed to a fee waiver arrangement that applies to the AST BlackRock Low Duration Bond Portfolio (Portfolio). Under this arrangement,
BlackRock will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the acquired fund subadvisory fee paid to BlackRock
for any portfolio affiliated with the Manager. In addition, BlackRock will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount
equal to the management or subadvisory fee it receives for acquired funds that are not affiliated with the Manager. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the subadvisory fee waivers will not exceed 100% of the subadvisory fee.
Dated as of April 30, 2015.
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 30
th
day of April, 2015 between
Prudential Investments LLC (PI or the Manager), a New York limited liability company and Columbia Management Investment Advisers,
LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (Columbia or the Subadviser).
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into a Management Agreement (the
Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business
trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PI acts as Manager of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Manager, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement,
desires to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified
in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion
of the Trust as the Manager shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Manager and the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the
Manager, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives, policies
and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and statement
of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the "Prospectus"),
and subject to the following understandings:
(i) The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion of the Trust's investments as the Manager shall direct, and shall
determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what
portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
(ii) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this
Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust,
the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, and the Trust's valuation procedures as provided to it by the Manager (the
Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Manager and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, co-operate
with the Manager's (or its designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust's compliance and will conform to, and comply
with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall,
among other things, prepare and file such reports as are, or may in the future be, required by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the Commission). The Manager shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents.
(iii) The Subadviser shall determine the securities, futures contracts
and other instruments to be purchased or sold by such portion of the Trust's portfolio, as applicable, and may place orders with
or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants, including any person or entity affiliated with the Subadviser
(collectively, Brokers), to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the Trust's Prospectus or as the Board
of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time. In providing the Trust with investment supervision, it is recognized that
the Subadviser will give primary consideration to securing the most favorable price and efficient execution. Within the framework
of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment information and other services
provided by Brokers who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser's other
clients may be a party. The Manager (or Subadviser) to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for
the Trust through Brokers (including, to the
extent legally permissible, Brokers affiliated with the Subadviser)
qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined
in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to cause the Trust to pay any such Brokers
an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another Broker would have charged
for effecting that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided by such Broker, viewed in light of either that particular
investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Manager (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Trust and other accounts
as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act), are reasonable
in relation to the amount of commission. On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security, futures contract
or other instrument to be in the best interest of the Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the
extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities, futures
contracts or other instruments to be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation of the securities, futures contracts or other
instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner
the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and to such other
clients.
(iv) The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect
to the Trust's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust's
Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably
available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect
to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust's securities.
(v) The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's Custodian
on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Trust's assets it manages, and
shall provide the Manager with such information upon request of the Manager.
(vi) The investment management services provided by the Subadviser
hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely, the
Subadviser and Manager understand and agree that if the Manager manages the Trust in a "manager-of-managers" style, the
Manager will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative
analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract
with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding
the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified
pursuant to this process.
(vii) The Subadviser acknowledges that the Manager and the Trust
intend to rely on Rule 17a-l0, Rule l0f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-l under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that
it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust's portfolio
or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(viii)(a) The Subadviser is authorized on behalf of the Trust, consistent
with the investment discretion delegated to Subadviser herein, and is hereby appointed as the Trust’s agent and attorney
in fact with authority to: (i) enter into agreements and execute any documents on behalf of the Trust (e.g. any futures or derivatives
documentation such as exchange traded and over-the-counter transaction documentation, as applicable) required with respect to any
investments made for the Trust (such documentation includes but is not limited to any market and/or industry standard documentation
and the standard representations contained therein); (ii) acknowledge the receipt of brokers’ risk disclosure statements,
electronic trading disclosure statements and similar disclosures; and (iii) open, continue and terminate brokerage accounts and
other brokerage arrangements with respect to the portfolio transactions entered into by Subadviser on behalf of the Trust. The
Subadviser further shall have the authority to instruct the custodian to: (i) pay cash for securities and other property delivered
for the Trust; (ii) deliver or accept delivery of, upon receipt of payment or payment upon receipt of, securities, commodities
or other property underlying any futures or options contracts, and other property purchased or sold for the Trust; and (iii) deposit
margin or collateral which shall include the transfer of money, securities or other property to the extent permitted by the 1940
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and necessary to meet the obligations of the Trust with respect to any investments
made in accordance with the Prospectus. Subadviser shall not have the authority to cause the Manager
to deliver securities or other property, or pay cash to Subadviser
other than payment of the management fee provided for in this Agreement.
(b) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's books and records required
to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Manager all information relating
to the Subadviser's services hereunder needed by the Manager to keep the other books and records of the Trust required by Rule
31a-I under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust are
the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will tender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's request, provided,
however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed
by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained
by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(c) The Subadviser is a commodity trading advisor
duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and is a member in good standing of the National Futures
Association (the NFA). The Subadviser shall maintain such registration and membership in good standing during the term of this
Agreement. Further, the Subadviser agrees to notify the Manager promptly upon (i) a statutory disqualification of the Subadviser
under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of the Subadviser’s commodity
trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) the institution of an action or proceeding that could lead to a statutory
disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any governmental agency or self-regulatory organization of which the Subadviser
is subject or has been advised it is a target.
(d) In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser
agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the CEA, the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable state and federal regulations, and applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization.
(e) The Subadviser shall furnish to the Manager copies of all records
prepared in connection with (i) the performance of this Agreement and (ii) the maintenance of compliance procedures pursuant to
paragraph 1(d) hereof as the Manager may reasonably request.
(f) The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder
proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Trust's portfolio, subject to such reasonable reporting and
other requirements as shall be established by the Manager. The Subadviser shall not be responsible for filing claims in class action
settlements related to securities currently or previously held by that portion of the Trust assets allocated to it by the Manager,
provided that the Subadviser provide the Manager with any notifications of information the Subadviser receives pertaining to possible
claims in class actions.
(g) The Subadviser acknowledges that it is responsible for evaluating
whether market quotations are readily available for the Trust's portfolio investments and whether those market quotations are reliable
for purposes of valuing the Trust's portfolio investments and determining the Trust's net asset value per share and promptly notifying
the Manager upon the occurrence of any significant event with respect to any of the Trust's portfolio investments in accordance
with the requirements of the 1940 Act and any related written guidance from the Commission and the Commission staff. Upon reasonable
request from the Manager, the Subadviser (through a qualified person) will assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Manager
in valuing investments of the Trust as may be required from time to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser
has knowledge related to the investments being valued.
2. The Manager shall continue to have responsibility for all services
to be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review
the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Manager shall provide (or cause the Trust's custodian to provide)
timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the portion of the Trust managed by
the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in such portion of the Trust, and all other information as
may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of minutes of meetings of
the Board of Trustees of the Trust that affect the duties of the Subadviser).
3. For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Manager shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation
therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Trust's average daily
net assets of the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser as described in the attached Schedule A. Liability for payment
of compensation by the Manager to the Subadviser under this Agreement is contingent upon the Manager' receipt of payment from the
Trust for management services described under the Management Agreement between the Fund and the Manager. Expense caps or fee waivers
for the Trust that may be agreed to by the Manager, but not agreed to by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction in the amount
of the payment to the Subadviser by the Manager.
4. The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment
or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Manager in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss
resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part in the performance of its duties or
from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement
shall be deemed to waive any rights the Manager or the Trust may have against the Subadviser under federal or state securities
laws. The Manager shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, its officers, directors and employees, for any liability
and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Manager' willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation,
the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Manager, their affiliated persons, their
officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, which may be sustained
as a result of the Subadviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder
or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws.
5. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more
than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with
the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the
payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, or by the Manager or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not
more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the
event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser agrees
that it will promptly notify the Trust and the Manager of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser.
To the extent that the Manager delegates to the Subadviser management
of all or a portion of a portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Manager, the Subadviser agrees
that its duties and obligations under this Agreement with respect to that delegated portfolio or portion thereof shall commence
as of the date the Manager begins the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser; provided, however
that if the Manager engages a transition manager or other third party to facilitate the transfer of securities to the Subadviser,
the Subadviser’s sole obligation during this period will be to provide the transition manager with a list of securities for
purchase or sale, as the case may be, that complies with the terms of this Agreement and to monitor such list for continued compliance,
including providing certifications required by the Manager (Compliance, Fund Administration and/or Legal).
Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant
to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager at
Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077, Attention: Secretary (for PI); (2) to the Trust at
Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077, Attention: Secretary; or (3) to the Subadviser at
Columbia Management Investment Advisers LLC, 225 Franklin Street, BX28-09518, Boston, MA 02110.
6. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of
any of the Subadviser's directors, officers or employees who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to engage
in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any business, whether
of a similar or a dissimilar nature, nor limit or restrict the Subadviser's right to engage in any other business or to render
services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.
7. During the term of this Agreement, the Manager agrees to furnish
the Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, and reports to shareholders which refer to the Subadviser
in any way, prior to use
thereof and not to use material if the Subadviser reasonably objects
to the inclusion or use of its name in writing five business days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt
thereof. During the term of this Agreement, the Manager also agrees to furnish the Subadviser, upon request, representative samples
of marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public, which
make reference to the Subadviser. The Manager further agrees to prospectively make reasonable changes to such materials upon the
Subadviser's written request, and to implement those changes in the next regularly scheduled production of those materials. All
such prospectuses, proxy statements, replies to shareholders, marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution
to shareholders of the Trust or the public which make reference to the Subadviser may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder
by electronic mail, first-class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment or hand delivery.
8. Each of the parties hereto agrees that it shall exercise the
same standard of care that it uses to protect its own confidential and proprietary information (“Confidential Information”),
but no less than reasonable care, to protect the Confidential Information of the other party. As used herein, Confidential Information,
includes, but is not limited, to “Trust Portfolio Information,” which refers to confidential and proprietary information
with regard to (i) the portfolio holdings and characteristics of the portion of the Trust allocated to Subadviser that Subadviser
manages under the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) any copies of any agreements between the Manager and its various counterparties
and all the terms and provisions contained therein, which the Manager (which term shall include the Manager’s directors,
officers, employees, agents, advisors, proposed financing sources, attorneys and accountants) may furnish, disclose or reveal to
Subadviser (which term shall include Subadviser’s directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors, proposed financing sources,
attorneys and accountants). Each party hereby agrees to restrict access to the other party’s Confidential Information to
its employees who will use it only for the purpose of providing services under this Agreement. The foregoing shall not prevent
a party from disclosing Confidential Information (1) that is publicly known or becomes publicly known through no unauthorized act;
(2) that is rightfully received from a third party without obligation of confidentiality; (3)(a) that, in the case of the Manager’s
Confidential Information, is approved in writing by the Manager for disclosure, (3)(b) that, in the case of Subadviser’s
Confidential Information, is approved in writing by Subadviser for disclosure; (4) that is disclosed in the course of a regulatory
examination or that is required to be disclosed pursuant to a requirement of a governmental or regulatory agency or law, so long
as the non-disclosing party provides (to the extent permitted under applicable law) the disclosing party (i.e., the party whose
Confidential Information would be disclosed) with prompt written notice of such requirement prior to any such disclosure; however,
Subadviser is not required to provide such notice if information is provided on an aggregate basis without specific attribution
to the Trust; (5) to affiliates that have a reason to know such information; (6) to the custodian of the Trust; (7) to brokers
and dealers that are counterparties for trades for the Trust; (8) to futures commission merchants executing or clearing transactions
in connection with the Fund, if applicable; and (9) to third party service providers to Subadviser subject to confidentiality agreements
or duties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent Trust Portfolio Information is similar to investments for other clients
of Subadviser, the Subadviser may disclose such investments without direct reference to the Trust.
9. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent
of the Trust must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
10. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
New York.
11. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this
Agreement having a counterpart
or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference
to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence
of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act.
In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is related by rules,
regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
12.
(a) The Subadviser represents and warrants as follows: (i) it is registered as an investment
adviser under the Advisers Act and will continue to be so registered for so long as this Agreement remains in effect; (ii) it is
not prohibited by the 1940 Act or the Advisers Act from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) it has appointed
a Chief Compliance Officer under Rule 206(4)-7 of the Advisers Act; (iv) it has adopted written policies and procedures that are
reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Advisers Act from occurring, detect
violations that have occurred, correct promptly any violations that
have occurred, and will provide prompt notice of any material violations relating to the Trust to the other party; (v) it has met
and will seek to continue to meet for so long as this Agreement remains in effect, any other applicable federal or state requirements,
or the applicable requirements of any regulatory or industry self-regulatory agency necessary to be met in order to perform the
services contemplated by this Agreement; (vi) it has the authority to enter into and perform the services contemplated by this
Agreement; (vii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action by such party and when so executed and delivered, this Agreement will be
the valid and binding obligation of such party in accordance with its terms; and (viii) it will promptly notify the other party
(1) of the occurrence of any event that would disqualify it from serving as an investment adviser of an investment company pursuant
to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act, (2) in the event the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or other governmental
authority has: censured it; placed limitations upon the activities, functions or operations of it; or has commenced proceedings
or an investigation that may result in any of these actions, (3) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Trust has
ceased to qualify or might not qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.
(b)
The Manager represents and warrants as follows: (i) the Trust is and will continue to be the
owner of all assets for which Manager delegates investment discretion to Subadviser from time to time, and there are and will continue
to be no restrictions on the pledge, hypothecation, transfer, sale or public distribution of such assets; (ii) it is establishing
and will be maintaining the Trust’s account with Subadviser solely for the purpose of investing the relevant assets and not
with a view to obtaining information regarding portfolio holdings or investment decisions in order to effect securities transactions
based upon such information or to provide such information to another party, and that the Manager and its employees, officers and
directors shall not use account holdings information for any of the foregoing purposes; and (iii) the Board has approved the appointment
of Subadviser pursuant to this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument
to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS LLC
By:
s/ Bradley Tobin
Name: Bradley Tobin
Title: Vice President Investment Management
COLUMBIA MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC
By:
/s/ Erik Saarinen
Name: Erik Saarinen
Title: Head of Global Institutional Relationship Management
SCHEDULE A
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
As compensation for services provided by Columbia
Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia or the Subadviser), Prudential Investments LLC (PI or the Manager) will pay Columbia
an advisory fee on the net assets managed by Columbia that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
Portfolio Name
|
Subadvisory Fee Rate
|
AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Portfolio
|
0.45% of average daily net assets to $500 million;
0.40% on next $500 million of average daily
net assets;
0.375% on next $1 billion of average daily net
assets;
0.35% on next $1 billion of average daily net
assets; and
0.30% over $3 billion of average daily net assets
|
If applicable, Columbia has agreed to a fee waiver arrangement that
applies to the AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Portfolio (Portfolio). Under this arrangement, Columbia will waive its subadvisory fee
for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the acquired fund subadvisory fee paid to Columbia for any portfolio affiliated with the
Manager. In addition, Columbia will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the management or subadvisory
fee it receives for acquired funds that are not affiliated with the Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subadvisory fee
waivers will not exceed 100% of the subadvisory fee.
Dated as of: April 30, 2015
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 31
st
day of March, 2015 between
Prudential Investments LLC (PI or the Manager), a New York limited liability company and Dana Investment Advisors, Inc., a Wisconsin
S-Corporation (Dana or the Subadviser),
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into a Management Agreement (the
Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business
trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PI acts as Manager of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Manager, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement,
desires to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified
in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion
of the Trust as the Manager shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Manager and the Board
of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the
Manager, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives, policies
and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and statement
of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the "Prospectus"),
and subject to the following understandings:
(i) The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion of the Trust's investments as the Manager shall direct, and shall
determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what
portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
(ii) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this
Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust,
the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, and the Trust's valuation procedures as provided to it by the Manager (the
Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Manager and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, co-operate
with the Manager's (or its designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust's compliance and will conform to, and comply
with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall,
among other things, prepare and file such reports as are, or may in the future be, required by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the Commission). The Manager shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents.
(iii) The Subadviser shall determine the securities, futures contracts
and other instruments to be purchased or sold by such portion of the Trust's portfolio, as applicable, and may place orders with
or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants, including any person or entity affiliated with the Subadviser
(collectively, Brokers), to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the Trust's Prospectus or as the Board
of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time. In providing the Trust with investment supervision, it is recognized that
the Subadviser will give primary consideration to securing the most favorable price and efficient execution. Within the framework
of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment information and other services
provided by Brokers who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser's other
clients may be a party. The Manager (or Subadviser) to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for
the Trust through Brokers (including, to the extent legally permissible, Brokers affiliated with the Subadviser) qualified to obtain
best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to cause the Trust to pay any such Brokers an amount of
commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another Broker would have charged for effecting
that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided by such Broker, viewed in light of either that particular investment
transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Manager (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Trust and other accounts as
to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act), are reasonable
in relation to
the amount of commission. On occasions
when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security, futures contract or other instrument to be
in
the best interest of the Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser,
to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities,
futures contracts or other instruments to be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation of the securities, futures contracts
or other instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser
in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and
to such other clients.
(iv) The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect
to the Trust's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust's
Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably
available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect
to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust's securities.
(v) The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's Custodian
on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Trust's assets it manages, and
shall provide the Manager with such information upon request of the Manager.
(vi) The investment management services provided by the Subadviser
hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely, the
Subadviser and Manager understand and agree that if the Manager manage the Trust in a "manager-of-managers" style, the
Manager will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative
analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract
with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding
the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Sub adviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified
pursuant to this process.
(vii) The Subadviser acknowledges that the Manager and the Trust
intend to rely on Rule 17a-l0, Rule l0f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-l under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that
it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust's portfolio
or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(b) The Subadviser shall authorize and permit any of its directors,
officers and employees who may be elected as Trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in the capacities in which they are elected.
Services to be furnished by the Subadviser under this Agreement may be furnished through the medium of any of such directors, officers
or employees.
(c) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's books and records required
to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Manager all information relating
to the Subadviser's services hereunder needed by the Manager to keep the other books and records of the Trust required by Rule
31a-I under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust are
the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will tender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's request, provided,
however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed
by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained
by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(d) The Subadviser is a commodity trading
advisor duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and is a member in good standing of the National
Futures Association (the NFA). The Subadviser shall maintain such registration and membership in good standing during the term
of this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser agrees to notify the Manager promptly upon (i) a statutory disqualification of
the Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of the Subadviser’s
commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) the institution of an action or proceeding that could lead
to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any governmental agency or self-regulatory organization of
which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target.
(e) In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser
agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the CEA, the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable state and federal regulations, and applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization.
(f) The Subadviser shall furnish to the Manager copies of all records
prepared in connection with (i) the performance of this Agreement and (ii) the maintenance of compliance procedures pursuant to
paragraph 1(d) hereof as the Manager may reasonably request.
(g) The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder
proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Trust's portfolio, subject to such reasonable reporting and
other requirements as shall be established by the Manager.
(h) The Subadviser acknowledges that it is responsible for evaluating
whether market quotations are readily available for the Trust's portfolio investments and whether those market quotations are reliable
for purposes of valuing the Trust's portfolio investments and determining the Trust's net asset value per share and promptly notifying
the Manager upon the occurrence of any significant event with respect to any of the Trust's portfolio investments in accordance
with the requirements of the 1940 Act and any related written guidance from the Commission and the Commission staff. Upon reasonable
request from the Manager, the Subadviser (through a qualified person) will assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Manager
in valuing investments of the Trust as may be required from time to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser
has knowledge related to the investments being valued.
2. The Manager shall continue to have responsibility for all services
to be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review
the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Manager shall provide (or cause the Trust's custodian to provide)
timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the portion of the Trust managed by
the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in such portion of the Trust, and all other information as
may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of minutes of meetings of
the Board of Trustees of the Trust that affect the duties of the Subadviser).
3. For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Manager
shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Trust's average daily net assets of
the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser as described in the attached Schedule A. Liability for payment of compensation
by the Manager to the Subadviser under this Agreement is contingent upon the Manager' receipt of payment from the Trust for management
services described under the Management Agreement between the Fund and the Manager. Expense caps or fee waivers for the Trust that
may be agreed to by the Manager, but not agreed to by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction in the amount of the payment
to the Subadviser by the Manager.
4. The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment
or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Manager in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss
resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part in the performance of its duties or
from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement
shall be deemed to waive any rights the Manager or the Trust may have against the Subadviser under federal or state securities
laws. The Manager shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, its officers, directors and employees, for any liability
and expenses, including attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Manager' willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940
Act and federal and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Manager, their affiliated persons, their officers,
directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Subadviser's
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law,
including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws.
5. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more
than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with
the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the
payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, or by the Manager or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not
more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the
event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser agrees
that it will promptly notify the Trust and the Manager of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser.
To the extent that the Manager delegates to the Subadviser management
of all or a portion of a portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Manager, the Subadviser agrees
that its duties and obligations under
this Agreement with respect to that delegated portfolio or portion
thereof shall commence as of the date the Manager begins the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser.
Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant
to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager at
Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077, Attention: Secretary (for PI); (2) to the Trust at
Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077, Attention: Secretary; or (3) to the Subadviser at
Dana Investment Advisors, Inc., P.O. Box 1067, Brookfield WI 53008-1067, Attention: Chief Executive Officer.
6. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right
of any of the Subadviser's directors, officers or employees who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to engage
in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any business, whether
of a similar or a dissimilar nature, nor limit or restrict the Subadviser's right to engage in any other business or to render
services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.
7. During the term of this Agreement, the Manager agrees to furnish
the Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, and reports to shareholders which refer to the Subadviser
in any way, prior to use thereof and not to use material if the Subadviser reasonably objects in writing five business days (or
such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. During the term of this Agreement, the Manager also agrees to
furnish the Subadviser, upon request, representative samples of marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution
to shareholders of the Trust or the public, which make reference to the Subadviser. The Manager further agrees to prospectively
make reasonable changes to such materials upon the Subadviser's written request, and to implement those changes in the next regularly
scheduled production of those materials. All such prospectuses, proxy statements, replies to shareholders, marketing and sales
literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public which make reference to the Subadviser
may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder by electronic mail, first-class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment
or hand delivery.
8. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent
of the Trust must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
New York.
10. Any question of interpretation
of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart
or
otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940
Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such
court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act.
In
addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of
this Agreement, is related by rules, regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect
of such rule, regulation or order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument
to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS LLC
By:
/s/ Bradley Tobin
Name: Bradley Tobin
Title: V.P. Investment Management
Dana Investment Advisors,
Inc.
By:
/s/ Michael C. Stewart
Name: Michael C. Stewart
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer
SCHEDULE A
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
As compensation for services provided by Dana
Investment Advisors, Inc., Prudential Investments LLC will pay Dana Investment Advisors, Inc. an advisory fee on the net assets
managed by Dana Investment Advisors, Inc. that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
Portfolio Name
|
Subadvisory Fee Rate
|
AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
|
0.30% of average daily net assets to $40 million;
0.25% of average daily net assets on next $40
million; and
0.20% of average daily net assets over $80 million
|
Dated as of: March 31, 2015
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 26
th
day of May, 2015 between
Prudential Investments LLC (PI or the Manager), a New York limited liability company and Goldman Sachs Asset Management International,
a private unlimited liability company (GSAM or the Subadviser),
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into a Management Agreement (the
Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business
trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PI acts as Manager of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Manager, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement,
desires to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified
in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion
of the Trust as the Manager shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Manager and the Board
of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the
Manager, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives, policies
and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and statement
of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the "Prospectus"),
and subject to the following understandings:
(i) The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion of the Trust's investments as the Manager shall direct, and shall
determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what
portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
(ii) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this
Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust,
the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, and the Trust's valuation procedures as provided to it by the Manager (the
Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Manager and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, co-operate
with the Manager's (or its designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust's compliance and will conform to, and comply
with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations; provided that, in connection with the Trust’s
compliance with the Code, any obligations of the Subadviser under this sentence shall be limited to those relating to the Trust’s
compliance with Subchapter M of the Code and the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code. In connection therewith,
the Subadviser shall, among other things, prepare and file such reports as are, or may in the future be, required by the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the Commission) that relate to the investment advisory services being provided by the Subadviser to the
extent the Subadviser is required by law or regulation to be preparer and filer of such reports. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Subadviser shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance limitations or restrictions specifically applicable to such portion
of the Trust’s portfolio delegated to the Subadviser unless such limitations or restrictions are provided to the Subadviser
either in writing or in the Prospectus and the Subadviser has consented to monitor such limitations or restrictions in the Prospectus
upon execution of this Agreement or the Subadviser has consented to monitor such limitations or restrictions in a separate writing.
The Manager shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents.
(iii) The Subadviser shall determine the securities, futures contracts
and other instruments to be purchased or sold by such portion of the Trust's portfolio, as applicable, and may place orders with
or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants, including any person or entity affiliated with the Subadviser
(collectively, Brokers), to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the Trust's Prospectus or as the Board
of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time. In providing the Trust with investment supervision, it is recognized that
the Subadviser will give primary consideration to securing the most favorable price and efficient execution. Within the framework
of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment information and other services
provided by Brokers who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser's other
clients may be a party. The Manager (or Subadviser) to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for
the Trust through Brokers (including, to the extent legally permissible, Brokers affiliated with the Subadviser) qualified to obtain
best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to cause the Trust to pay any such Brokers an amount of
commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another Broker would have charged for effecting
that transaction, if the brokerage or
research services provided by such Broker, viewed in light of either
that particular investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Manager (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Trust
and other accounts as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the
1934 Act), are reasonable in relation to the amount of commission. On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale
of a security, futures contract or other instrument to be in the best interest of the Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser,
the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate
the securities, futures contracts or other instruments to be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation of the securities, futures
contracts or other instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser
in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and
to such other clients.
(iv) The Subadviser may delegate certain of its investment advisory and other responsibilities and duties hereunder to one or more
sub-subadvisers; subject to: (i) the prior written approval of the Manager, (ii) the execution of a written Subadvisory Agreement
between the Subadviser and its delegate, and (iii) the approval of such agreement by the Board of Trustees; provided however that
the Subadviser may rely upon any of its advisory affiliates in connection with portfolio decisions and management without the approvals
described in this paragraph; however under such circumstances the Subadviser (and not the affiliate) shall be fully accountable
to the Fund and/or the Manager for any decisions provided by such affiliate to the Subadviser. Under the terms of such sub-advisory
agreement, the Subadviser shall remain responsible for ensuring that the investment program of the Trust is maintained.
(v) The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect
to the Trust's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust's
Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably
available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect
to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust's securities.
(vi) The Manager will direct the Trust’s Custodian to honor
orders and instructions by employees of the Subadviser designated by the Subadviser to settle transactions in respect of the Portfolio.
(vii) The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's
Custodian on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Trust's assets it manages,
and shall provide the Manager with such information upon request of the Manager.
(viii) The investment management services provided by the Subadviser
hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely, the
Subadviser and Manager understand and agree that if the Manager manage the Trust in a "manager-of-managers" style, the
Manager will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative
analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract
with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding
the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Sub adviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified
pursuant to this process.
(ix) The Subadviser acknowledges that the Manager and the Trust
intend to rely on Rule 17a-l0, Rule l0f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-l under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that
it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust's portfolio
or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(b) The Subadviser shall authorize and permit any of its directors,
officers and employees who may be elected as Trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in the capacities in which they are elected.
Services to be furnished by the Subadviser under this Agreement may be furnished through the medium of any of such directors, officers
or employees.
(c) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's books and records required
to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Manager all information relating
to the Subadviser's services hereunder needed by the Manager to keep the other books and records of the Trust required by Rule
31a-I under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust are
the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will tender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's request, provided,
however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed
by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained
by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(d) The Subadviser is a commodity trading
advisor duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and is a member in good standing of the National
Futures Association (the NFA). The Subadviser shall maintain such registration and membership in good standing during the term
of this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser agrees to notify the Manager promptly upon (i) a statutory disqualification of
the Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of the Subadviser’s
commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) the institution of an action or proceeding that could lead
to a statutory disqualification under the CEA.
In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and
not otherwise prohibited by any confidentiality obligation imposed by a legal, regulatory, judicial, administrative or other authority,
the Subadviser shall notify Client of any Legal Action involving the Investment Manager the outcome of which, in the Subadviser’s
reasonable judgment has or would have a material effect on the Subadviser’s ability to provide services pursuant to this
Agreement.
“Legal Action” means (i) an enforcement action
or prosecution brought by any governmental, regulatory or law enforcement authority relating to a material alleged violation of
securities, fiduciary or criminal laws, or (ii) the filing of a lawsuit by a client in a court of competent jurisdiction relating
to the Investment Manager’s portfolio management services, which claims or alleges a material breach of fiduciary duty, fraud,
misrepresentation or willful misconduct.
(e) In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser
agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the CEA, the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable state and federal regulations, and applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization.
(f) The Subadviser shall furnish to the Manager copies of all records
prepared in connection with the maintenance of compliance procedures pursuant to paragraph 1(d) hereof as the Manager may reasonably
request.
(g) The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder
proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Trust's portfolio pursuant to the Subadviser’s proxy voting
policy, subject to such reasonable reporting and other requirements as shall be established by the Manager. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Trust and not the Subadviser shall be responsible for any and all filings in connection with class action lawsuits
and securities litigations.
(h) The Subadviser agrees to use reasonable efforts (i) to monitor
whether market quotations are readily available for the Trust’s portfolio securities and whether those market quotations
are reliable for purposes of internally valuing the Trust’s portfolio securities and determining the Trust’s net asset
value per share, and (ii) with respect to any security or instrument held both by the Trust the Subadviser further agrees to make reasonable
efforts to: (i) notify the Manager and its designated Accounting Agent within a reasonable timeframe (prior to 5 p.m.
on such day) if the Subadviser believes the market price does not reflect the security’s or instrument’s fair value;
and (ii) provide the Manager that value assigned to such security or instrument within such GS Proprietary Fund, pursuant to the
Subadviser’s procedures for determining the fair value of a security or instrument. Upon reasonable request from the Manager,
the Subadviser (through a qualified person) will assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Manager in valuing securities
of the Trust as may be required from time to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser has knowledge
related to the securities being valued. The Manager and the Trust acknowledge and agree that (i) the Subadviser shall not be deemed
a substitute for any independent pricing agent and/or valuation committee of the Trust pursuant to the Trust’s Fair Valuation
Policies and Procedures; and (ii) none of the information which the Subadviser provides the Manager hereunder shall be deemed to
be the official books and records of the Fund for tax, accounting or any other purposes.
Valuation levels for the assets listed in the monthly account statements
delivered to the Manager by the Subadviser will reflect the Subadviser's good faith effort to ascertain fair market levels for
the securities and other assets in the portion of the Trust’s portfolio delegated to the Subadviser based on pricing and
valuation information believed by the Subadviser to be reliable for round lot sizes. These valuation levels may not be realized
by the Trust upon liquidation of the assets delegated to the Subadviser under this Agreement. Upon reasonable request from the
Manager, the Subadviser will assist the manager and/or their custodian in obtaining reliable market quotations for purposes of
valuing the Trust’s portfolio securities. Upon reasonable request from the Manager, the Subadviser (through a qualified person)
will assist the valuation committee of the Trust in valuing securities of the Trust as may be required from time to time. The Manager
and the Trust acknowledge and agree that (i) the Subadviser shall not be deemed a substitute for any independent pricing agent
and/or valuation committee of the Trust pursuant to the Trust’s Fair Valuation Policies and Procedures; and (ii) none of
the information which the Subadviser provides the Manager hereunder shall be deemed to be the official books and records of the
Fund for tax, accounting or any other purposes. In addition, the Subadviser will use its reasonable efforts to promptly notify
the Manager in the event that the Subadviser becomes aware that the Trust is carrying a security at a value that the Subadviser
believes does not fairly represent the price that could be obtained for the security in a current market transaction.
2.
The
Manager
shall continue to have
responsibility
for
all
services
to
be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review
the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this
Agreement. The
Manager
shall
provide (or cause the
Trust's
custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding
such
matters
as
the composition
of assets in the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in such portion
of the Trust,
and
all other information as may
be
reasonably necessary for the Subadviser
to perform
its duties hereunder (including any excerpts
of
minutes
of meetings of the Board of Trustees
of
the Trust that
affect
the duties of the Subadviser).
3. For
the
services provided
pursuant
to this
Agreement,
the
Manager
shall pay
the
Subadviser
as
full
compensation
therefor, a fee equal to
the
percentage
of
the Trust's
average
daily net
assets
of
the portion of the Trust managed by
the
Subadviser
as
described in the attached Schedule A. Expense caps or fee
waivers
for the
Trust that
may
be
agreed
to by the Manager, but not agreed to by the Subadviser,
shall
not cause a reduction in the amount of the payment
to
the Subadviser by the Manager.
4
.
The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error
of
judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Manager in
connection with
the
matters to
which
this Agreement relates, except
a
loss resulting from
willful
misfeasance,
bad
faith
or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part
in the performance of its duties or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement,
provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to waive any rights the
Manager
or the Trust may have
against
the
Subadviser under federal or state securities laws.
The
Manager
shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons,
its
officers,
directors and
employees,
for any liability and expenses,
including
attorneys'
fees,
which
may be sustained as
a
result
of
the
Manager'
willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence,
reckless disregard of its duties hereunder
or violation
of applicable
law, including, without limitation,
the 1940
Act
and federal
and
state securities laws.
The Subadviser shall indemnify
the
Manager, their affiliated persons, their officers, directors
and
employees,
for any liability
and
expenses, including attorneys' fees,
which
may be sustained as
a
result of the Subadviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence,
or
reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of
applicable
law, including, without limitation
,
the
1940
Act and
federal
and
state
securities laws.
5. This Agreement
shall
continue
in effect
for a
period
of more than two years from the date hereof only
so
long
as such
continuance
is
specifically
approved at least
annually
in
conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act;
provided,
however,
that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees
of
the Trust
or
by vote
of
a
majority of the outstanding voting securities
(as
defined in the 1940 Act)
of the
Fund,
or by the Manager or the Subadviser at any time
,
without
the payment of
any
penalty
,
on not more than
60
days'
nor less
than
30 days
'
written notice
to
the
other party. This
Agreement shall
terminate automatically
in the event of its
assignment
(as defined in the
1940
Act) or upon the
termination
of
the Management Agreement. The Subadviser
agrees
that it
will
promptly notify the Trust
and
the Manager of the occurrence of any
event
that
would result in the
assignment
(as defined in the 1940
Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to,
a change
of
control (as
defined
in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser.
To the extent that the Manager delegates to the Subadviser management
of all or a portion of a portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Manager, the Subadviser agrees
that its duties and obligations under this Agreement with respect to that delegated portfolio or portion thereof shall commence
as of the date the Manager begins the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser.
Any notice or other communication
required to be given pursuant to this Agreement
shall
be
deemed duly
given
if delivered or mailed by registered
mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager at Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street,
4th
Floor
,
Newark, NJ 07102-4077
,
Attention: Secretary
; (2) to the
Trust
at
Gateway
Center
Three,
100 Mulberry
Street,
4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077,
Attention: Secretary; or (3) to the
Subadviser at
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International
,
Attention: Chief Executive Officer, River Court, 120 Fleet Street, London, UK EC4A 2BE, with a copy to Goldman Sachs Asset Management,
200 West Street, 15
th
floor, New York, NY 10282 Attn: Legal Department
.
6. Nothing
in
this
Agreement
shall
limit
or
restrict
the right of
any
of the
Subadviser's
directors,
officers or employees who may also
be
a Trustee,
o
f
ficer
or employee of the Trust to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention
in
part to the management
or
other aspects of any business, whether of a similar or a dissimilar nature,
nor
limit or
restrict
the
Subadviser's right to
engage
in
any
other
business or to render
services
of
any kind
to any other
corporation,
firm, individual
or association.
7. During the
term
of this
Agreement,
the
Manager agrees
to furnish the Subadviser
at
its principal office all prospectuses, proxy
statements,
and
reports to shareholders which
refer
to
the Subadviser in
any
way, prior to use thereof and not
to use material if the
Subadviser
reasonably objects in
writing
five
business days
(or
such other time as may be
mutually
agreed)
after
receipt
thereof
.
During the term of this Agreement, the Manager also agrees to (i) furnish the Subadviser, upon Subadviser’s request, representative
samples of marketing and sales literature and other materials that expressly reference the Subadviser prior to final production
and use or distribution of such literature and materials and (ii) not to use or distribute any such literature or materials if
the Subadviser reasonably objects in writing within four (4) business days (or such other period as may be mutually agreed) after
Subadviser’s receipt thereof. The Subadviser’s right to object to such literature and materials and provide proposed
revisions is limited solely to the portions of such literature and materials that expressly relate to the Subadviser. Notwithstanding
the forgoing, advance review and approval shall not be required from the Subadviser with respect to: (i) sales literature, applications,
confirmation statements, account statements, or forms in which the Subadviser is only referenced in a listing of advisors to the
Trust or the name of the specific series of the Trust subadvised by GSAM is only referenced in a listing or short description of
relevant variable insurance product investment options; (ii) web pages that solely refer to the name of the specific series of
the Trust subadvised by GSAM and such series’ investment performance and/or portfolio holdings and that do not provide additional
information relating to such series or GSAM; (iii) literature or materials that are based upon literature or materials that were
previously approved by Subadviser where no material changes have been made to such previously approved literature or materials;
or (iv) other materials as agreed upon mutually by the Manager and the Subadviser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any literature
or materials that are submitted to GSAM for its advance review and written approval in accordance with this Section 7, if GSAM
does not, within four (4) business days of its receipt thereof, (or, with respect to Prospectuses, proxy statements, and reports
to shareholders, within five (5) business days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof), expressly
disapprove in writing or request in writing that specific changes be made to specific pieces of literature or other materials,
then such pieces of literature or other materials shall be deemed approved by GSAM. If the Manager or their affiliates agree in
writing to incorporate into such literature or materials the specific changes requested by Subadviser, the Manager and its affiliates
shall not be required to re-submit such literature or materials to Subadviser for its review or approval. The Manager further agrees
to use their reasonable best efforts to ensure that materials prepared by their employees or agents or their affiliates that refer
to the Subadviser in any way are consistent with those materials previously approved by the Subadviser as referenced in the first
sentence of this paragraph. All such prospectuses, proxy statements, reports
to
shareholders,
marketing and
sales
literature
or other material prepared
for distribution
to shareholders
of the Trust
or
the public which make reference to the
Subadviser may be
furnished
to the Subadviser hereunder
by
electronic
mail, first-class
or
overnight mail,
facsimile
transmission
equipment or hand delivery.
It is understood that “Goldman, Sachs & Co." or
"Goldman Sachs" or any derivative names or logos associated with such name are the valuable property of the Subadviser,
that the Trust has the right to include such phrase as a part of the name of the series of the Trust managed by the Subadviser
or for any other purpose only so long as this Agreement shall continue, and that GSAM does, in fact, consent to the use of such
name as a part of the name of the series of the Trust identified herein. Subadviser represents and warrants that the inclusion
of “Goldman, Sachs & Co.” or "Goldman Sachs" in the name of the series of the Trust identified herein
shall not: (i) infringe the title or any patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark, service mark, or other proprietary right of
any third party; and (ii) violate the terms of any agreement or other instrument to which Subadviser or any of its affiliates is
a party.
8
.
This Agreement may be
amended
by
mutual
consent,
but the consent of the
Trust
must be obtained
in
conformity
with
the
requirements
of
the
1940
Act.
9. Each of the parties acknowledges that it may be provided or
come into contact with Confidential Information of the other party. In recognition of the foregoing, each party covenants and agrees
that: (i) it will treat as confidential the other party's Confidential Information; (ii) it will use and disclose the other party’s
Confidential Information solely for the purposes for which such information, or access to it, is provided ( which in the case where
the Subadviser is the receiving party, will be deemed to include disclosures required in connection with the investment and reinvestment
of Trust assets, including to counterparties and other service providers) and the receiving party will not use or disclose such
Confidential Information for its own purposes or for the benefit of anyone other than the disclosing party, including for purposes
of replicating transactions in any assets other than Trust assets; (iii) it will not directly or indirectly disclose any Confidential
Information of the other party to any third party, except with the disclosing party's prior written consent or as otherwise provided
herein; and (iv) upon the termination of the Agreement, the receiving party shall, upon request of the disclosing party, promptly
destroy or return Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the receiving party is permitted to disclose Confidential
Information (i) to its counsel, accountants and other advisors, provided that the receiving party makes such recipient aware of
the terms of this Section 9, (ii) to third parties who are under a duty of confidentiality to the receiving party; (iii) where
the Subadviser is the receiving party, to counterparties and other third parties in connection with the Subadviser’s obligations
under the Agreement , and (iv) if disclosure is required by law; provided that the receiving party shall notify the disclosing
party in writing in advance of such disclosure, and provide the disclosing party with copies of any related information so that
it may take appropriate action to protect the Confidential Information. “Confidential Information” shall be construed
broadly and shall mean any written or oral information provided by the disclosing party to the receiving party pursuant to this
Agreement.
10. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
New York.
11. Any question of interpretation
of
any term
or provision of this Agreement having
a
counterpart
or otherwise derived from
a
term
or provision of the 1940
Act
,
shall
be resolved by reference
to
such
term
or
provision of the 1940 Act
and
to interpretations thereof,
if any,
by
the
United
States courts or, in the absence of any controlling
decision of any such
court,
by rules,
regulations
or orders
of the Commission issued pursuant
to
the
1940
Act.
In addition, where the effect of a requirement
of the 1940
Act,
reflected
in
any
provision of this
Agreement,
is
related
by
rules,
regulation
or order
of
the Commission,
such
provision
shall
be
deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule,
regulation
or
order.
IN
WITNESS
WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused
this instrument
to
be
executed by their officers designated
below
as of the day and year first
above
written.
PRUDENTIAL
INVESTMENTS
LLC
By:
/s/ Bradley Tobin
Name:
Bradley
Tobin
Title: V.P. Investment Management
Goldman Sachs Asset Management
International
By:
/s/ Iain Lindsay
Name: Iain Lindsay
Title
:
Managing Director
SCHEDULE A
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
As compensation for services provided by Goldman
Sachs Asset Management International (Goldman Sachs), Prudential Investments LLC will pay Goldman Sachs an advisory fee on the
net assets managed by Goldman Sachs that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
Portfolio Name
|
Subadvisory Fee Rate*
|
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio**
|
0.20% of average daily net assets
|
* Goldman Sachs has also agreed to waive the compensation due to
it under this agreement to the extent necessary to reduce its effective monthly subadvisory fees for the AST Goldman Sachs Global
Income Portfolio by the following percentages based on the combined average daily net assets of the portfolios or sleeves of portfolios
for which Goldman Sachs acts as subadviser and are managed by Prudential Investments LLC and/or AST Investment Services, Inc.:
Combined Asset Levels
Percentage
Fee Waiver
Assets up to $1 billion 2.5% Fee Reduction
Assets between $1 billion and $2.5 billion 5.0%
Fee Reduction
Assets between $2.5 billion and $5 billion 7.5%
Fee Reduction
Assets above $5 billion 10% Fee Reduction
** Goldman Sachs has agreed to a fee waiver arrangement that applies
to the Portfolio. Under this arrangement, Goldman Sachs will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to
the acquired fund subadvisory fee paid to Goldman Sachs for any portfolio affiliated with the Manager. In addition, Goldman Sachs
will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the management or subadvisory fee it receives for acquired
funds that are not affiliated with the Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subadvisory fee waivers will not exceed 100%
of the subadvisory fee.
|
1.
|
Fixed Fee will be calculated monthly in arrears for each calendar month by the Manager and forwarded
to the Subadviser.
|
2. The Manager generally
will attempt to pay in good faith the Fixed Fee through electronic method in USD within 30 business days following the end of each
month.
3. The Sub-Adviser
will not be required to send an invoice to the Manager for the Fixed Fee.
4. Annual Fixed Fee
Rate will be as follows:
5. Fixed Fee will be
rounded to the nearest penny.
Fixed Fee will be prorated as appropriate for the initial
calendar month and upon termination.
6. Monthly
Fixed Fee = (Year to Date Average of Daily Net Assets thru Current Month End * Annual Fee Structure / Number of Days in Year *
Year to Date Number of Days thru Current Month End) LESS (Year to Date Average of Daily Net Assets thru Prior Month End * Annual
Fee Structure / Number of Days in Year * Year to Date Number of Days thru Prior Month End)
Dated as of: May 26, 2015
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this29
th
day of April, 2015 between
Prudential Investments LLC (PI or the Manager), a New York limited liability company and Ivy Investment Management Company, a Delaware
Corporation (Ivy or the Subadviser),
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into a Management Agreement (the
Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business
trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PI acts as Manager of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Manager, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement,
is authorized to and desires to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its
series as specified in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to
manage such portion of the Trust as the Manager shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment
advisory services; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Manager and the Board
of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the
Manager, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives, policies
and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and statement
of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the "Prospectus"),
and subject to the following understandings:
(i) The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion of the Trust's investments as the Manager shall direct, and shall
determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what
portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
(ii) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this
Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust,
the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, and the Trust's valuation procedures as provided to it by the Manager (the
Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Manager and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, co-operate
with the Manager's (or its designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust's compliance and will conform to, and comply
with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall,
among other things, prepare and file such reports as are, or may in the future be, required by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the Commission). The Manager shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents.
(iii) The
Subadviser shall determine the securities, futures contracts and other instruments to be purchased or sold by such portion of the
Trust's portfolio, as applicable, and may place orders with or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants,
including any person or entity affiliated with the Subadviser (collectively, Brokers), to carry out the policy with respect to
brokerage as set forth in the Trust's Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time.
Any
direction to effect transactions through a selected broker (Directed Broker), shall be in writing. The Trust agrees that the Subadviser
will not be required to effect any transaction through the Directed Broker if it reasonably believes that to do so may result in
a breach of any fiduciary duties it may have, including, without limitation, best execution.
In providing the Trust with investment supervision,
it is recognized that the Subadviser will give primary consideration to securing the most favorable price and efficient execution.
Within the framework of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment information
and other services provided by Brokers who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the
Subadviser's other clients may be a party. The Manager (or Subadviser) to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect investment
transactions for the Trust
through Brokers (including, to the extent legally permissible,
Brokers affiliated with the Subadviser) qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research
services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and
to cause the Trust to pay any such Brokers an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount
of commission another Broker would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided
by such Broker, viewed in light of either that particular investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Manager
(or the Subadviser) with respect to the Trust and other accounts as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as
such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act), are reasonable in relation to the amount of commission. On occasions
when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security, futures contract or other instrument to be in the best interest of
the Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations,
may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities, futures contracts or other instruments to be sold or purchased.
In such event, allocation of the securities, futures contracts or other instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses
incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and
consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and to such other clients.
(iv) The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect
to the Trust's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust's
Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably
available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect
to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust's securities.
(v) The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's Custodian
on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Trust's assets it manages, and
shall provide the Manager with such information upon request of the Manager.
(vi) The investment management services provided by the Subadviser
hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely, the
Subadviser and Manager understand and agree that if the Manager manage the Trust in a "manager-of-managers" style, the
Manager will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative
analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract
with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding
the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Sub adviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified
pursuant to this process.
(vii)(a) The Subadviser acknowledges that the Manager and the Trust
intend to rely on Rule 17a-l0, Rule l0f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-l under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that
it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust's portfolio
or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(b) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's books and records required
to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Manager all information relating
to the Subadviser's services hereunder needed by the Manager to keep the other books and records of the Trust required by Rule
31a-I under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust are
the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will tender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's request, provided,
however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed
by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained
by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(c) To the extent applicable, the Subadviser
is a commodity trading advisor duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and is a member in good
standing of the National Futures Association (the NFA). To the extent applicable, the Subadviser shall maintain such registration
and membership in good standing during the term of this Agreement. Further, to the extent applicable, the Subadviser agrees to
notify the Manager promptly upon (i) a statutory disqualification of the Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA,
(ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of the Subadviser’s commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership,
or (iii) the institution of an action or proceeding that could lead to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation
by any governmental agency or self-regulatory organization of which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target.
(d) In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser
agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the CEA, the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable state and federal regulations, and applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization.
(e) The Subadviser shall furnish to the Manager copies of all records
prepared in connection with (i) the performance of this Agreement and (ii) the maintenance of compliance procedures pursuant to
paragraph 1(c) hereof as the Manager may reasonably request.
(f) The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder
proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Trust's portfolio, subject to such reasonable reporting and
other requirements as shall be established by the Manager.
(g) The Subadviser acknowledges that it is responsible for evaluating
whether market quotations are readily available for the Trust's portfolio investments and whether those market quotations are reliable
for purposes of valuing the Trust's portfolio investments and determining the Trust's net asset value per share and promptly notifying
the Manager upon the occurrence of any significant event with respect to any of the Trust's portfolio investments in accordance
with the requirements of the 1940 Act and any related written guidance from the Commission and the Commission staff. Upon reasonable
request from the Manager, the Subadviser (through a qualified person) will assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Manager
in valuing investments of the Trust as
may be required from time to time, including making available
information of which the
Subadviser
has knowledge
related
to the
investments
being valued.
2.
The
Manager
shall continue to have
responsibility
for
all
services
to
be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review
the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this
Agreement. The
Manager
shall
provide (or cause the
Trust's
custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding
such
matters
as
the composition
of assets in the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in such portion
of the Trust,
and
all other information as may
be
reasonably necessary for the Subadviser
to perform
its duties hereunder (including any excerpts
of
minutes
of meetings of the Board of Trustees
of
the Trust that
affect
the duties of the Subadviser).
3. For
the
services provided
pursuant
to this
Agreement,
the
Manager
shall pay
the
Subadviser
as
full
compensation
therefor, a fee equal to
the
percentage
of
the Trust's
average
daily net
assets
of
the portion of the Trust managed by
the
Subadviser
as
described in the attached Schedule A.
Liability
for
payment of compensation by the Manager to the Subadviser
under
this
Agreement is contingent upon the Manager' receipt of payment from
the
Trust
for management
services
described under the Management
Agreement between the Fund
and
the Manager. Expense caps
or fee
waivers
for the
Trust
that
may be
agreed
to
by the Manager, but not agreed to by the Subadviser,
shall
not
cause a reduction in the amount of the payment
to
the Subadviser
by the Manager.
4
.
The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error
of
judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Manager in
connection with
the
matters to
which
this Agreement relates, except
a
loss resulting from
willful
misfeasance,
bad
faith
or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part
in the performance of its duties or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement,
provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to waive any rights the
Manager
or the Trust may have
against
the
Subadviser under federal or state securities laws.
The
Manager
shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons,
its
officers,
directors and
employees,
for any liability and expenses,
including
attorneys'
fees,
which
may be sustained as
a
result
of
the
Manager'
willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation
of applicable
law, including, without limitation, the 1940
Act
and federal
and
state securities laws.
The Subadviser shall indemnify
the
Manager, their affiliated persons, their officers, directors
and
employees,
for any liability
and
expenses, including attorneys' fees,
which
may be sustained as
a
result of the Subadviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence,
or
reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of
applicable
law, including, without limitation
,
the
1940
Act and
federal
and
state
securities laws.
5. This Agreement
shall
continue
in effect
for a
period
of more than two years from the date hereof only
so
long
as such
continuance
is
specifically
approved at least
annually
in
conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act;
provided,
however,
that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees
of
the Trust
or
by vote
of
a
majority of the outstanding voting securities
(as
defined in the 1940 Act)
of the
Fund,
or by the Manager or the Subadviser at any time
,
without
the payment of
any
penalty
,
on not more than
60
days'
nor less
than
30 days
'
written notice
to
the
other party. This
Agreement shall
terminate automatically
in the event of its
assignment
(as defined in the
1940
Act) or upon the
termination
of
the Management Agreement. The Subadviser
agrees
that it
will
promptly notify the Trust
and
the Manager of the occurrence of any
event
that
would result in the
assignment
(as defined in the 1940
Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to,
a change
of
control (as
defined
in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser.
To the extent that the Manager delegates to the Subadviser management
of all or a portion of a portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Manager, the Subadviser agrees
that its duties and obligations under this Agreement with respect to that delegated portfolio or portion thereof shall commence
as of the date the Manager begins the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser.
Any notice or other communication
required to be given pursuant to this Agreement
shall
be
deemed duly
given
if delivered or mailed by registered
mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager at Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street,
4th
Floor
,
Newark, NJ 07102-4077
,
Attention: Secretary
(for PI); (2) to the
Trust
at
Gateway
Center
Three,
100 Mulberry
Street,
4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077,
Attention: Secretary; or (3) to the
Subadviser at
Ivy Investment Management Company
,
6300 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66202, Attention: Global Director of Institutional Marketing,
with a copy to the Investment Management Department at the same address.
6. Nothing
in
this
Agreement
shall
limit
or
restrict
the right of
any
of the
Subadviser's
directors,
officers or employees who may also
be
a Trustee,
o
f
ficer
or employee of the Trust to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention
in
part to the management
or
other aspects of any business, whether of a similar or a dissimilar nature,
nor
limit or
restrict
the
Subadviser's right to
engage
in
any
other
business or to render
services
of
any kind
to any other
corporation,
firm, individual
or association.
7. During the
term
of this
Agreement,
the
Manager agrees
to furnish the Subadviser
at
its principal office all prospectuses, proxy
statements,
and
reports to shareholders which
refer
to
the Subadviser in
any
way, prior to use thereof and not
to use material if the
Subadviser
reasonably objects in
writing
five
business days
(or
such other time as may be
mutually
agreed)
after
receipt
thereof.
During the term of this Agreement, the Manager also agrees to furnish the
Subadviser
,
upon request,
representative
samples
of marketing and sales literature or
other
material prepared
for distribution to
shareholders
of the Trust or the public
,
which make
reference to the
Subadviser
.
The
Manager further
agrees
to prospectively make reasonable changes
to
such
materials upon the Subadviser's written request,
and
to
implement those changes in the next
regularly
scheduled
production
of
those materials. All such
prospectuses,
proxy statements,
replies
to
shareholders,
marketing and
sales
literature
or other material prepared
for distribution
to shareholders
of the Trust
or
the public which make reference to the
Subadviser may be
furnished
to the Subadviser hereunder
by
electronic
mail, first-class
or
overnight mail,
facsimile
transmission
equipment or hand delivery.
8.
The parties agree that non-public portfolio holdings and other business information are confidential
(“Confidential Information”). Neither party shall, without the prior written approval of the other party, disseminate
to any third party, except otherwise provided for herein, all or any portion of such other party’s Confidential Information,
for any purpose other than performance under this Agreement, any fiduciary obligations with respect to the Trust, or if required
by law or regulatory action. The Manager agrees that the Subadviser’s Confidential Information may not be used as the basis
to trade in any of the mutual funds managed by the Subadviser and/or its affiliates, nor to purchase or sell shares of any security
contained in the Confidential Information, unless such Confidential Information has been made publicly available.
9.
The Manager acknowledges and agrees that the Subadviser shall have no responsibility for filing claims on behalf of the Manager
or the Trust or for providing advice with respect to any class action, bankruptcy proceeding or any other action or proceeding
in which the Funds or the Trust may be entitled to participate as a result of its securities, commodities, swaps or other financial
instrument or other holdings
.
The Subadviser's responsibility,
with respect thereto, shall be limited to reasonable cooperation with the custodian and the Manager. The Manager acknowledges that
the Subadviser is not the official recordkeeper with respect to the managed assets.
10
.
This Agreement may be
amended
by
mutual
consent,
but the consent of the
Trust
must be obtained
in
conformity
with
the
requirements
of
the
1940
Act.
11. This Agreement shall be
governed
by the laws of the
State of
New
York.
12. Any question
of interpretation of
any term
or
provision of this Agreement having
a counterpart
or otherwise derived from
a
term or provision of the 1940
Act
,
shall
be resolved by
reference
to
such term
or
provision of the
1940 Act
and
to interpretations
thereof,
if any,
by
the
United
States courts
or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such
court,
by
rules,
regulations or orders
of
the Commission issued pursuant
to
the
1940
Act.
In
addition,
where the effect of a requirement of the 1940
Act,
reflected
in any
provision of
this
Agreement,
is
related
by
rules,
regulation or order
of
the Commission,
such
provision
shall
be
deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule,
regulation
or
order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument
to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS LLC
By:
/s/ Bradley Tobin
Name: Bradley Tobin
Title: V.P. Investment Management
Ivy Investment Management
Company
By:
/s/ John E. Sundeen Jr., CFA
Name: John E. Sundeen Jr., CFA
Title: Chief Administrative Officer
SCHEDULE A
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
As compensation
for services provided by
Ivy Investment Management Company (Ivy)
, Prudential Investments LLC
will
pay Ivy
an advisory fee on the net
a
ssets
managed by
Ivy
that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
Portfolio Name
|
Subadvisory Fee Rate*
|
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
|
0.55% of average daily net assets to $500 million;
0.47% of average daily net assets on next $1
billion; and
0.43% of average daily net assets over $1.5
billion
|
*
Ivy has agreed to a fee waiver
arrangement that applies to the AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio (Portfolio). If applicable, under this arrangement, Ivy will waive
its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the acquired fund subadvisory fee paid to Ivy for any portfolio affiliated
with the Manager. In addition, Ivy will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the management or subadvisory
fee it receives for acquired funds that are not affiliated with the Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subadvisory fee
waivers will not exceed 100% of the subadvisory fee.
Dated as of: April 29, 2015
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 29 day of April, 2015 between Prudential
Investments LLC (PI or the Manager), a New York limited liability company and Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC, a Massachusetts
Limited Liability Company(Longfellow or the Subadviser),
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into a Management Agreement (the
Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business
trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PI acts as the Manager of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Manager, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement,
desires to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified
in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion
of the Trust as the Manager shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Manager and the Board
of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the
Manager, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives, policies
and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and statement
of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the "Prospectus"),
and subject to the following understandings:
(i) The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion of the Trust's investments as the Manager shall direct, and shall
determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what
portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
(ii) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this
Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust,
the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, and the Trust's valuation procedures as provided to it by the Manager (the
Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Manager and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, co-operate
with the Manager’s (or their designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust's compliance and will conform to,
and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In connection therewith, the Subadviser
shall, among other things, prepare and file such reports as are, or may in the future be, required by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the Commission). The Manager shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents.
(iii) The Subadviser shall determine the securities, futures contracts
and other instruments to be purchased or sold by such portion of the Trust's portfolio, as applicable, and may place orders with
or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants, including any person or entity affiliated with the Subadviser
(collectively, Brokers), to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the Trust's Prospectus or as the Board
of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time. In providing the Trust with investment supervision, it is recognized that
the Subadviser will give primary consideration to securing the most favorable price and efficient execution. Within the framework
of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment information and other services
provided by Brokers who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser's other
clients may be a party. The Manager (or Subadviser) to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for
the Trust through Brokers (including, to the extent legally permissible, Brokers affiliated with the Subadviser) qualified to obtain
best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to cause the Trust to pay any such Brokers an amount of
commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another Broker would have charged for effecting
that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided by such Broker, viewed in light of either that particular investment
transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Manager (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Trust and other accounts as
to which they or it may
exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section
3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act), are reasonable in relation to the amount of commission. On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase
or sale of a security, futures contract or other instrument to be in the best interest of the Trust as well as other clients of
the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation
to, aggregate the securities, futures contracts or other instruments to be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation of the
securities, futures contracts or other instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will
be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations
to the Trust and to such other clients.
(iv) The Subadviser is, to the extent required by applicable law,
a commodity trading advisor duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and is a member in good standing
of the National Futures Association (the NFA). The Subadviser shall maintain such registration and membership in good standing
during the term of this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser agrees to notify the Manager promptly upon (i) a statutory disqualification
of such Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of such Subadviser’s
commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) the institution of an action or proceeding that could lead
to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any governmental agency or self-regulatory organization of
which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target.
(v) The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect
to the Trust's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust's
Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably
available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect
to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust's securities.
(vi) The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's Custodian
on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Trust's assets it manages, and
shall provide the Manager with such information upon request of the Manager.
(vii) The investment management services provided by the Subadviser
hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely, the
Subadviser and Manager understand and agree that if the Manager manages the Trust in a "manager-of-managers" style, the
Manager will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative
analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract
with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding
the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified
pursuant to this process.
(viii) The Subadviser acknowledges that the Manager and the Trust
intend to rely on Rule 17a-l0, Rule l0f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-l under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that
it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust's portfolio
or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(b) The Subadviser shall authorize and permit any of its directors,
officers and employees who may be elected as Trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in the capacities in which they are elected.
Services to be furnished by the Subadviser under this Agreement may be furnished through the medium of any of such directors, officers
or employees.
(c) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's books and records required
to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Manager all information relating
to the Subadviser's services hereunder needed by the Manager to keep the other books and records of the Trust required by Rule
31a-I under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust are
the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will tender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's request, provided,
however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed
by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained
by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(d) In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser
agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the CEA, the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable state and federal regulations, and applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization.
(e) The Subadviser shall furnish to the Manager copies of all records
prepared in connection with (i) the performance of this Agreement and (ii) the maintenance of compliance procedures pursuant to
paragraph 1(d) hereof as the Manager may reasonably request.
(f) The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder
proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Trust's portfolio, subject to such reasonable reporting and
other requirements as shall be established by the Manager.
(g) The Subadviser acknowledges that it is responsible for evaluating
whether market quotations are readily available for the Trust's portfolio investments and whether those market quotations are reliable
for purposes of valuing the Trust's portfolio investments and determining the Trust's net asset value per share and promptly notifying
the Manager upon the occurrence of any significant event with respect to any of the Trust's portfolio investments in accordance
with the requirements of the 1940 Act and any related written guidance from the Commission and the Commission staff. Upon reasonable
request from the Manager, the Subadviser (through a qualified person) will assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Manager
in valuing investments of the Trust as
may be required from time to time, including making available
information of which the
Subadviser
has knowledge
related
to the
investments
being valued.
2.
The
Manager
shall continue to have
responsibility
for
all
services
to
be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review
the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this
Agreement. The
Manager
shall
provide (or cause the
Trust's
custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding
such
matters
as
the composition
of assets in the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in such portion
of the Trust,
and
all other information as may
be
reasonably necessary for the Subadviser
to perform
its duties hereunder (including any excerpts
of
minutes
of meetings of the Board of Trustees
of
the Trust that
affect
the duties of the Subadviser).
3. For
the
services provided
pursuant
to this
Agreement,
the
Manager
shall pay
the
Subadviser
as
full
compensation
therefor, a fee equal to
the
percentage
of
the Trust's
average
daily net
assets
of
the portion of the Trust managed by
the
Subadviser
as
described in the attached Schedule A.
Liability
for
payment of compensation by the Manager to the Subadviser
under
this
Agreement is contingent upon the Manager’s receipt of payment from
the
Trust
for management
services
described under the Management
Agreement between the Fund
and
the Manager. Expense caps
or fee
waivers
for the
Trust
that
may be
agreed
to
by the Manager, but not agreed to by the Subadviser,
shall
not
cause a reduction in the amount of the payment
to
the Subadviser
by the Manager.
4
.
The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error
of
judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Manager in
connection with
the
matters to
which
this Agreement relates, except
a
loss resulting from
willful
misfeasance,
bad
faith
or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part
in the performance of its duties or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement,
provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to waive any rights the
Manager
or the Trust may have
against
the
Subadviser under federal or state securities laws.
The
Manager
shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons,
its
officers,
directors and
employees,
for any liability and expenses,
including
attorneys'
fees,
which
may be sustained as
a
result
of
the
Manager’s
willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation
of applicable
law, including, without limitation, the 1940
Act
and federal
and
state securities laws.
The Subadviser shall indemnify
the
Manager, their affiliated persons, their officers, directors
and
employees,
for any liability
and
expenses, including attorneys' fees,
which
may be sustained as
a
result of the Subadviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence,
or
reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of
applicable
law, including, without limitation
,
the
1940
Act and
federal
and
state
securities laws.
5. This Agreement
shall
continue
in effect
for a
period
of more than two years from the date hereof only
so
long
as such
continuance
is
specifically
approved at least
annually
in
conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act;
provided,
however,
that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees
of
the Trust
or
by vote
of
a
majority of the outstanding voting securities
(as
defined in the 1940 Act)
of the
Fund,
or by the Manager or the Subadviser at any time
,
without
the payment of
any
penalty
,
on not more than
60
days'
nor less
than
30 days
'
written notice
to
the
other party. This
Agreement shall
terminate automatically
in the event of its
assignment
(as defined in the
1940
Act) or upon the
termination
of
the Management Agreement. The Subadviser
agrees
that it
will
promptly notify the Trust
and
the Manager of the occurrence of any
event
that
would result in the
assignment
(as defined in the 1940
Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to,
a change
of
control (as
defined
in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser.
To the extent that the Manager delegates to the Subadviser management
of all or a portion of a portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Manager, the Subadviser agrees
that its duties and obligations under
this Agreement with respect to that delegated portfolio or portion
thereof shall commence as of the date the Manager begins the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser.
Any notice or other communication
required to be given pursuant to this Agreement
shall
be
deemed duly
given
if delivered or mailed by registered
mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager at Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street,
4th
Floor
,
Newark, NJ 07102-4077
,
Attention: Secretary
; (2) to the
Trust
at
Gateway
Center
Three,
100 Mulberry
Street,
4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077,
Attention: Secretary; or (3) to the
Subadviser at 20 Winthrop Square, Boston, Massachusetts,
02110,
Attention: Michelle Martin
.
6. Nothing
in
this
Agreement
shall
limit
or
restrict
the right of
any
of the
Subadviser's
directors,
officers or employees who may also
be
a Trustee,
o
f
ficer
or employee of the Trust to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention
in
part to the management
or
other aspects of any business, whether of a similar or a dissimilar nature,
nor
limit or
restrict
the
Subadviser's right to
engage
in
any
other
business or to render
services
of
any kind
to any other
corporation,
firm, individual
or association.
7. During the
term
of this
Agreement,
the
Manager agrees
to furnish the Subadviser
at
its
principal office all prospectuses, proxy
statements, and
reports
to shareholders which
refer
to the Subadviser in
any
way, prior to use thereof and not to use material if the
Subadviser
reasonably objects in writing
five
business
days
(or
such other time as may be
mutually
agreed)
after
receipt
thereof.
During the term of this Agreement, the Manager
also agrees to furnish the
Subadviser
,
upon
request,
representative
samples of marketing and sales
literature or
other
material prepared for distribution
to
shareholders
of the Trust or the public
,
which make
reference to the
Subadviser
.
The
Manager further
agrees
to prospectively make reasonable changes
to
such
materials upon the Subadviser's written request,
and
to
implement those changes in the next
regularly
scheduled
production
of
those materials. All such
prospectuses,
proxy statements,
replies
to
shareholders,
marketing and
sales
literature
or other material prepared
for distribution
to shareholders
of the Trust
or
the public which make reference to the
Subadviser may be
furnished
to the Subadviser hereunder
by
electronic
mail, first-class
or
overnight mail,
facsimile
transmission
equipment or hand delivery.
8
.
This Agreement may be
amended
by
mutual
consent,
but the consent of the
Trust
must be obtained
in
conformity
with
the
requirements
of
the
1940
Act.
9. This Agreement shall be
governed
by the laws of the
State of
New
York.
10. Any question
of interpretation of
any term
or
provision of this Agreement having
a counterpart
or otherwise derived from
a
term or provision of the 1940
Act
,
shall
be resolved by
reference
to
such term
or
provision of the
1940 Act
and
to interpretations
thereof,
if any,
by
the
United
States courts
or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such
court,
by
rules,
regulations or orders
of
the Commission issued pursuant
to
the
1940
Act.
In
addition,
where the effect of a requirement of the 1940
Act,
reflected
in any
provision of
this
Agreement,
is
related
by
rules,
regulation or order
of
the Commission,
such
provision
shall
be
deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule,
regulation
or
order.
IN
WITNESS
WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused
this instrument
to
be
executed by their officers designated
below
as of the day and year first
above
written.
PRUDENTIAL
INVESTMENTS
LLC
By:
/s/ Bradley Tobin
Name: Bradley Tobin
Title: V.P. Investment Management
Longfellow Investment Management
Co. LLC
By:
/s/ Barbara McKenna
Name: Barbara McKenna
Title: President
SCHEDULE A
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
As compensation for services provided
by
Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC
(Longfellow) Prudential Investments LLC and AST
Investment Services, Inc. will pay
Longfellow
an advisory fee on the net
a
ssets
managed by
Longfellow
that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
Portfolio Advisory Fee* AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio 0.20% of average daily net assets to $100 million; 0.18% of average daily net assets over $100 million to $200 million; and 0.16% of average daily net assets exceeding $200 million.
|
|
* If applicable,
Longfellow
has agreed to a fee waiver arrangement that applies to the AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio (Portfolio). Under this
arrangement, Longfellow will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the acquired fund subadvisory fee
paid to Longfellow for any portfolio affiliated with the Manager. In addition, Longfellow will waive its subadvisory fee for the
Portfolio in an amount equal to the management or subadvisory fee it receives for acquired funds that are not affiliated with the
Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subadvisory fee waivers will not exceed 100% of the subadvisory fee.
Dated as of April 29, 2015.
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 30
th
day of April, 2015 between
Prudential Investments LLC (PI or the Manager), a New York limited liability company and Morgan Stanley Investment Management,
Inc., a Delaware Corporation (Morgan Stanley or the Subadviser).
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into a Management Agreement (the
Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business
trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PI acts as Manager of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Manager, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement,
desires to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified
in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion
of the Trust as the Manager shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Manager and the Board
of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the
Manager, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives, policies
and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and statement
of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the "Prospectus"),
and subject to the following understandings:
(i) The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion of the Trust's investments as the Manager shall direct, and shall
determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what
portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
(ii) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this
Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust,
the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, and the Trust's valuation procedures as provided to it by the Manager (the
Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Manager and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, co-operate
with the Manager's (or its designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust's compliance and will conform to, and comply
with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall,
among other things, prepare and file such reports as are, or may in the future be, required by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the Commission). The Manager shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents.
(iii) The Subadviser shall determine the securities, futures contracts
and other instruments to be purchased or sold by such portion of the Trust's portfolio, as applicable, and may place orders with
or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants, including any person or entity affiliated with the Subadviser
(collectively, Brokers), to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the Trust's Prospectus or as the Board
of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time. In connection with such trades and with effecting other trades pursuant to
this Subadvisory Agreement, the Subadviser may open accounts and execute agreements in the name of, on behalf of, or for the benefit
of, the Trust’s portfolio. In providing the Trust with investment supervision, it is recognized that the Subadviser will
give primary consideration to securing the most favorable price and efficient execution. Within the framework of this policy, the
Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment information and other services provided by Brokers
who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser's other clients may be a party.
The Manager (or Subadviser) to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for the Trust through Brokers
(including, to the extent legally permissible, Brokers affiliated with the Subadviser) qualified to obtain best execution of such
transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to
cause the Trust to pay any such Brokers
an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another Broker would have charged
for effecting that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided by such Broker, viewed in light of either that particular
investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Manager (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Trust and other accounts
as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act), are reasonable
in relation to the amount of commission. On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security, futures contract
or other instrument to be
in
the best interest of the
Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may,
but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities, futures contracts or other instruments to be sold or purchased.
In such event, allocation of the securities, futures contracts or other instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses
incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and
consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and to such other clients.
(iv) The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect
to the Trust's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust's
Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably
available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect
to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust's securities.
(v) The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's Custodian
on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Trust's assets it manages, and
shall provide the Manager with such information upon request of the Manager.
(vi) The investment management services provided by the Subadviser
hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely, the
Subadviser and Manager understand and agree that if the Manager manage the Trust in a "manager-of-managers" style, the
Manager will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative
analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract
with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding
the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified
pursuant to this process.
(vii)(a) The Subadviser acknowledges that the Manager and the Trust
intend to rely on Rule 17a-l0, Rule l0f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-l under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that
it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust's portfolio
or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(b) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's books and records required
to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Manager all information relating
to the Subadviser's services hereunder needed by the Manager to keep the other books and records of the Trust required by Rule
31a-I under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust are
the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will tender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's request, provided,
however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed
by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained
by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(c) The Subadviser is a commodity trading
advisor duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and is a member in good standing of the National
Futures Association (the NFA). The Subadviser shall maintain such registration and membership in good standing during the term
of this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser agrees to notify the Manager promptly upon (i) a statutory disqualification of
the Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of the Subadviser’s
commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) the institution of an action or proceeding that could lead
to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any governmental agency or self-regulatory organization of
which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target.
(d) In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser
agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the CEA, the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable state and federal regulations, and applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization.
(e) The Subadviser shall furnish to the Manager (i) copies of all
records prepared in connection with the performance of this Agreement and (ii) a summary of the policies and procedures established
in connection with paragraph 1(d).
(f) The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder
proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Trust's portfolio, subject to such reasonable reporting and
other requirements as shall be established by the Manager.
(g) Upon reasonable request from the Manager, the Subadviser (through
a qualified person) will assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Manager in valuing investments of the Trust as may
be required from time to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser has knowledge related to the investments
being valued.
2. The Manager shall continue to have responsibility for all services
to be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review
the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Manager shall provide (or cause the Trust's custodian to provide)
timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the portion of the Trust managed by
the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in such portion of the Trust, and all other information as
may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of minutes of meetings of
the Board of Trustees of the Trust that affect the duties of the Subadviser).
3. For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Manager
shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Trust's average daily net assets of
the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser as described in the attached Schedule A. Liability for payment of compensation
by the Manager to the Subadviser under this Agreement is contingent upon the Manager' receipt of payment from the Trust for management
services described under the Management Agreement between the Fund and the Manager. Expense caps or fee waivers for the Trust that
may be agreed to by the Manager, but not agreed to by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction in the amount of the payment
to the Subadviser by the Manager.
4. The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment
or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Manager in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss
resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part in the performance of its duties or
from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement
shall be deemed to waive any rights the Manager or the Trust may have against the Subadviser under federal or state securities
laws. The Manager shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, its officers, directors and employees, for any liability
and expenses, including attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Manager' willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940
Act and federal and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Manager, their affiliated persons, their officers,
directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Subadviser's
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law,
including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws.
5. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more
than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with
the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the
payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, or by the Manager or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not
more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the
event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser agrees
that it will promptly notify the Trust and the Manager of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser.
To the extent that the Manager delegates to the Subadviser management
of all or a portion of a portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Manager, the Subadviser agrees
that its duties and obligations under this Agreement with respect to that delegated portfolio or portion thereof shall commence
as of the date the Manager begins the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser.
Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant
to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager at
Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077, Attention: Secretary (for PI); (2) to the Trust at
Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry
Street, 4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077, Attention: Secretary;
or (3) to the Subadviser at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc., 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, 10036, Attention:
General Counsel.
6. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right
of any of the Subadviser's directors, officers or employees who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to engage
in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any business, whether
of a similar or a dissimilar nature, nor limit or restrict the Subadviser's right to engage in any other business or to render
services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.
7. During the term of this Agreement, the Manager agrees to furnish
the Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, and reports to shareholders which refer to the Subadviser
in any way, prior to use thereof and not to use material if the Subadviser reasonably objects in writing five business days (or
such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. During the term of this Agreement, the Manager also agrees to
furnish the Subadviser, upon request, representative samples of marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution
to shareholders of the Trust or the public, which make reference to the Subadviser. The Manager further agrees to prospectively
make reasonable changes to such materials upon the Subadviser's written request, and to implement those changes in the next regularly
scheduled production of those materials. All such prospectuses, proxy statements, replies to shareholders, marketing and sales
literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public which make reference to the Subadviser
may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder by electronic mail, first-class or overnight mail or hand delivery.
8. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent
of the Trust must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
New York.
10. Any question of interpretation
of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart
or
otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940
Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such
court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act.
In
addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of
this Agreement, is related by rules, regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect
of such rule, regulation or order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument
to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS LLC
By:
/s/ Bradley Tobin
Name: Bradley Tobin
Title: V.P. Investment Management
Morgan Stanley Investment
Management, Inc.
By:
/s/ Mark Bavoso
Name: Mark Bavoso
Title: Managing Director
SCHEDULE A
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
As compensation for services provided by Morgan
Stanley Investment Management, Inc. (Morgan Stanley), Prudential Investments LLC will pay Morgan Stanley an advisory fee on the
net assets managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc., on a monthly basis, that is equal, on an annualized basis, to
the following:
Portfolio Name
|
Subadvisory Fee Rate*
|
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
|
0.65% of average daily net assets to $50 million;
0.625% of average daily net assets on next
$150 million;
0.56% of average daily net assets on next $300
million;
0.50% of average daily net assets on next $250
million; and
0.475% of average daily net assets over $750
million
|
* Morgan Stanley has agreed to a fee waiver arrangement that applies
to the AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio (Portfolio). Under this arrangement, Morgan Stanley will waive its subadvisory
fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the acquired fund subadvisory fee paid to Morgan Stanley for any portfolio affiliated
with the Manager. In addition, Morgan Stanley will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the management
or subadvisory fee it receives for acquired funds that are not affiliated with the Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
subadvisory fee waivers will not exceed 100% of the subadvisory fee.
Dated as of: April 30, 2015
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 30
th
day of April, 2015 between
Prudential Investments LLC (PI or the Manager), a New York limited liability company and Neuberger Berman Management LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (Neuberger Berman or the Subadviser),
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into a Management Agreement (the
Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business
trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PI acts as Manager of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Manager, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement,
desires to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified
in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion
of the Trust as the Manager shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Manager
and the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser
by the Manager, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives,
policies and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and
statement of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called
the "Prospectus").
The Manager hereby authorizes and directs
the Subadviser, as agent on behalf of the Trust, to enter into: (y) brokerage agreements and other documents to establish, operate
and conduct all brokerage, collateral or other trading accounts; (z) agreements and other documentation as may be required for
the purchase or sale, assignment, transfer and ownership of any permitted investment, including but not limited to International
Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA) Master Agreements, futures agreements, master securities forward transaction agreements,
prime brokerage agreements, limited partnership agreements, repurchase agreements, including and any amendments, protocols (including
ISDA protocols), credit support annexes, schedules, master confirmation agreements, confirmations, addenda (including cleared derivatives
addenda), supplements, releases, consents, elections, accounting opening and maintenance documents, questionnaires and other documents
related to such arrangements. The Subadviser also is hereby authorized to instruct the Trust’s custodian with respect to
any collateral management activities in connection with any derivatives transactions. The Manager acknowledges and understands
that the Trust and the Manager, as applicable, will be bound by any such trading accounts established, and agreements and other
documentation executed, by the Subadviser for such investment purposes and agree to provide the Subadviser with tax information,
governing documents, legal opinions and other information concerning the Trust necessary to complete such agreements and other
documentation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, except as otherwise specified by notice from the Trust
to the Subadviser, the Subadviser may place orders for the execution of transactions hereunder with or through any broker-dealer,
futures commission merchant, bank, or any other agent or counterparty that the Subadviser may select in its own discretion.
In performing its obligations under this Agreement,
the Manager authorizes Subadviser, at its own discretion and without the consent of the Manager, to delegate any non-investment
advisory services to any third party service provider. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Subadviser's liability
to the Manager and the Trust at all times under this Agreement shall not be affected in any way whatsoever by any use of a third
party service provider and the Subadviser (and not the Manager) shall be solely responsible for any fees, charges, or expenses
owed to any such third party service provider. In addition, notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement, the Subadviser:
(x) may provide information about the Manager and the Trust to any such third party service provider; (y) will act in good faith
and with due diligence in the selection, use, and monitoring of any such third party service provider; and (z) shall ensure that
any such third party service provider is subject to confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations that are substantially similar
to the confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations to which the Subadviser is subject with respect to the Trust.
The Subadviser’s management of such portion of the Trust’s
portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the Manager shall be subject to the following additional understandings:
(i) The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion of the Trust's investments as the Manager shall direct, and shall
determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what
portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash. The subadviser may use persons employed by an “affiliated
person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser, each of whom shall be treated as an “associated person”
of the Subadviser (as defined in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act)) to assist in the performance of any or
all of the services or functions provided by the Subadviser under this Agreement to the extend not prohibited by, or inconsistent
with, applicable law, including the requirements of the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder and any relevant positions of Securities
and Exchange Commission (the Commission) and its staff. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Subadviser’s
liability to the Manager and the Trust at all times under this Agreement shall not be affected in any way whatsoever by any use
of such associated persons and the Subadviser (and not the Manager) shall be solely responsible for any fees, charges or expenses
owed to such affiliated person and such associated persons. In addition, notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement,
the Subadviser: (x) may provide information about the Manager and the Trust to any such affiliated person and any such associated
persons providing services hereunder; (y) will act in good faith and with due diligence in the selection, use and monitoring of
any such affiliated person and any such associated person providing services hereunder; and (z) shall ensure that any affiliated
person and any such associated person providing services hereunder is subject to confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations
that are substantially similar to the confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations to which the Subadviser is subject with respect
to the Trust.
(ii) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this
Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust,
the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, and the Trust's valuation procedures as provided to it by the Manager (the
Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Manager and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, co-operate
with the Manager's (or its designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust's compliance and will conform to, and comply
with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall,
among other things, prepare and file such reports as are, or may in the future be, required by the Commission. The Manager shall
provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents.
(iii) The Subadviser shall determine
the securities, futures contracts and other instruments to be purchased or sold by such portion of the Trust's portfolio, as applicable,
and may place orders with or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants, including any person or entity
affiliated with the Subadviser (collectively, Brokers), to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the Trust's
Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time. In providing the Trust with investment supervision,
it is recognized that the Subadviser will give primary consideration to securing the most favorable price and efficient execution.
Within the framework of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment information
and other services provided by Brokers who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the
Subadviser's other clients may be a party. The Manager (or Subadviser) to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect investment
transactions for the Trust through Brokers (including, to the extent legally permissible, Brokers affiliated with the Subadviser)
qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined
in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to cause the Trust to pay any such Brokers
an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another Broker would have charged
for effecting that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided by such Broker, viewed in light of either that particular
investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Manager (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Trust and other accounts
as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act), are reasonable
in relation to the amount of commission. On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security, futures contract
or other instrument to be
in
the best interest of the
Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may,
but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities, futures contracts or other instruments to be sold or purchased.
In such event, allocation of the securities, futures contracts or other instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses
incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and
consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and to such other clients.
(iv) The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect
to the Trust's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust's
Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably
available its employees and officers
for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees
of the Trust with respect to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust's securities.
(v) The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's Custodian
on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Trust's assets it manages, and
shall provide the Manager with such information upon request of the Manager.
(vi) The investment management services provided by the Subadviser
hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely, the
Subadviser and Manager understand and agree that if the Manager manage the Trust in a "manager-of-managers" style, the
Manager will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative
analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract
with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding
the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Sub adviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified
pursuant to this process.
(vii) The Subadviser acknowledges that the Manager and the Trust
intend to rely on Rule 17a-l0, Rule l0f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-l under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that
it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust's portfolio
or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(b) The Subadviser shall authorize and permit any of its directors,
officers and employees who may be elected as Trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in the capacities in which they are elected.
Services to be furnished by the Subadviser under this Agreement may be furnished through the medium of any of such directors, officers
or employees.
(c) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's books and records required
to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Manager all information relating
to the Subadviser's services hereunder needed by the Manager to keep the other books and records of the Trust required by Rule
31a-I under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust are
the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will tender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's request, provided,
however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed
by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained
by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(d) To the extent required under applicable
law, the Subadviser is a commodity trading advisor duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and
is a member in good standing of the National Futures Association (the NFA) or meets an applicable exemption from such registration.
To the extent applicable, the Subadviser shall maintain such registration and membership, or any applicable exemption from registration,
in good standing during the term of this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser agrees to notify the Manager promptly upon (i) a
statutory disqualification of the Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation
of the Subadviser’s commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) the institution of an action
or proceeding that could lead to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any governmental agency or self-regulatory
organization of which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target.
(e) In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser
agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the CEA, the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable state and federal regulations, and applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization.
(f) The Subadviser shall furnish to the Manager copies of all records
prepared in connection with (i) the performance of this Agreement and (ii) the maintenance of compliance procedures pursuant to
paragraph 1(d) hereof as the Manager may reasonably request.
(g) The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder
proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Trust's portfolio, subject to such reasonable reporting and
other requirements as shall be established by the Manager.
(h) Upon reasonable request from the Manager, the Subadviser (through
a qualified person) will assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Manager in valuing investments of the Trust as may
be required from time to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser has knowledge related to the investments
being valued.
2. The Manager shall continue to have responsibility for all services
to be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review
the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Manager shall provide (or cause the Trust's custodian to provide)
timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the portion of the Trust managed by
the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in such portion of the Trust, and all other information as
may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of minutes of meetings of
the Board of Trustees of the Trust that affect the duties of the Subadviser).
3. For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Manager
shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Trust's average daily net assets of
the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser as described in the attached Schedule A. Liability for payment of compensation
by the Manager to the Subadviser under this Agreement is contingent upon the Manager' receipt of payment from the Trust for management
services described under the Management Agreement between the Fund and the Manager. Expense caps or fee waivers for the Trust that
may be agreed to by the Manager, but not agreed to by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction in the amount of the payment
to the Subadviser by the Manager.
4. The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment
or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Manager in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss
resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part in the performance of its duties or
from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement
shall be deemed to waive any rights the Manager or the Trust may have against the Subadviser under federal or state securities
laws. The Manager shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, its officers, directors and employees, for any liability
and expenses, including attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Manager' willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940
Act and federal and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Manager, their affiliated persons, their officers,
directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Subadviser's
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law,
including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws.
5. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more
than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with
the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the
payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, or by the Manager or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not
more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the
event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser agrees
that it will promptly notify the Trust and the Manager of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser.
To the extent that the Manager delegates to the Subadviser management
of all or a portion of a portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Manager, the Subadviser agrees
that its duties and obligations under this Agreement with respect to that delegated portfolio or portion thereof shall commence
as of the date the Manager begins the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser unless the Subadviser
and Manager have agreed, in writing, that the duties shall commence on a later date.
Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant
to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager at
Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077, Attention: Secretary (for PI); (2) to the Trust at
Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077, Attention: Secretary; or (3) to the Subadviser at
Neuberger Berman Management LLC, 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158, Attention: General Counsel
6. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right
of any of the Subadviser's directors, officers or employees who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to engage
in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any business, whether
of a similar or a dissimilar nature, nor limit or restrict the Subadviser's right to engage in any other business or to render
services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.
7. During the term of this Agreement, the Manager agrees to furnish
the Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, and reports to shareholders which refer to the Subadviser
in any way, prior to use thereof and not to use material if the Subadviser reasonably objects in writing five business days (or
such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. During the term of this Agreement, the Manager also agrees to
furnish the Subadviser, upon request, representative samples of marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution
to shareholders of the Trust or the public, which make reference to the Subadviser. The Manager further agrees to prospectively
make reasonable changes to such materials upon the Subadviser's written request, and to implement those changes in the next regularly
scheduled production of those materials. All such prospectuses, proxy statements, replies to shareholders, marketing and sales
literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public which make reference to the Subadviser
may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder by electronic mail, first-class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment
or hand delivery.
8. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent
of the Trust must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
New York.
10. Any question of interpretation
of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart
or
otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940
Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such
court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act.
In
addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of
this Agreement, is related by rules, regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect
of such rule, regulation or order.
IN
WITNESS
WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused
this instrument
to
be
executed by their officers designated
below
as of the day and year first
above
written.
PRUDENTIAL
INVESTMENTS
LLC
By:
/s/ Bradley Tobin
Name:
Bradley
Tobin
Title: V.P. Investment Management
Neuberger Berman Management
LLC
By:
/s/ Robert Conti
Name: Robert Conti
Title
:
President
SCHEDULE A
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
As compensation
for services provided by
Neuberger Berman Management LLC (Neuberger Berman)
, Prudential Investments
LLC will
pay Neuberger Berman
an advisory fee on the net
a
ssets
managed by
Neuberger Berman
that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
Portfolio Name
|
Subadvisory Fee Rate
|
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
|
0.70% of average daily net assets to $100 million;
0.60% of average daily net assets over $100
million
|
*
Neuberger
Berman has agreed to a fee waiver arrangement that applies to the AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio (Portfolio). If applicable,
under this arrangement, Neuberger Berman will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the acquired fund
subadvisory fee paid to Neuberger Berman for any portfolio affiliated with the Manager. In addition, Neuberger Berman will waive
its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the management or subadvisory fee it receives for acquired funds that
are not affiliated with the Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subadvisory fee waivers will not exceed 100% of the subadvisory
fee.
Dated as of: April 30, 2015
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 6 day of May, 2015 between Prudential
Investments LLC (PI or the Manager), a New York limited liability company and Wellington Management Company LLP, a Delaware limited
liability partnership (Wellington Management or the Subadviser),
WHEREAS, the Manager have entered into a Management Agreement
(the Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business
trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PI and AST act as Manager of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Manager, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement,
desire to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified
in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion
of the Trust as the Manager shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Manager and the Board
of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust’s portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser
by the Manager, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust’s investment objectives,
policies and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called
the “Prospectus”), and subject to the following understandings:
(i) The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion
of the Trust's investments as the Manager shall direct, and shall determine from time to time what investments and securities will
be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
) The Subadviser may use persons employed by an “affiliated person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser,
each of whom shall be treated as an “associated person” of the Subadviser (as defined in the Advisers Act) to assist
in the performance of any or all of the services or functions provided by the Subadviser under this Agreement to the extent not
prohibited by, or inconsistent with, applicable law, including the requirements of the 1940 Act. Notwithstanding anything herein
to the contrary, the Subadviser's liability to the Manager and the Trust at all times under this Agreement shall not be affected
in any way whatsoever by any use of such associated persons and the Subadviser (and not the Manager) shall be solely responsible
for any fees, charges, or expenses owed to such “affiliated person” or associated persons. In addition, notwithstanding
any other provision of the Agreement, the Subadviser: (x) may provide information about the Manager and the Trust to any such “affiliated
person” or associated person providing services hereunder; (y) will act in good faith and with due diligence in the selection,
use, and monitoring of any such “affiliated person” or associated person providing services hereunder; and (z) shall
ensure that any such “affiliated person” or associated person providing services hereunder is subject to confidentiality
and non-disclosure obligations that are substantially similar to the confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations to which the
Subadviser is subject with respect to the Trust.
(ii) In the performance of its duties and obligations under
this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the
Trust, the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, and the Trust’s valuation procedures as provided to it by the
Manager (the Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Manager and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust,
co-operate with the Manager' (or their designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust’s compliance and will conform
to, and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all other applicable
federal and state laws and regulations. In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall, among other things, prepare and file such
reports as are, or may in the future be, required of it by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). The Manager
shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents.
(iii) The Subadviser shall determine the securities and futures
contracts to be purchased or sold by such portion of the Trust's portfolio, as applicable, and may place orders with or through
such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants (including but not limited to Prudential Securities Incorporated
(or any broker or dealer affiliated with the Subadviser) to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the
Trust's Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time. In providing the Trust with investment
supervision, it is recognized that the Subadviser will give primary consideration to securing the most favorable price and efficient
execution. Within the framework of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment
information and other services provided by brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants who may effect or be a party to any
such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser’s other clients may be a party. The Manager (or Subadviser)
to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for the Trust through broker-dealers (including, to the
extent legally permissible, broker-dealers affiliated with the Subadviser(s)) qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions
who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and to cause the Trust to pay any such broker-dealers an amount of commission for
effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting
that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in light of either that particular
investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Manager (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Trust and other accounts
as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act), are reasonable
in relation to the amount of commission.
On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale
of a security or futures contract to be in the best interest of the Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser,
to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities
or futures contracts to be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation of the securities or futures contracts so purchased or
sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers
to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and to such other clients.
(iv) The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with
respect to the Trust’s portfolio transactions effected by it as required by subparagraphs (b)(5), (6), (7), (9), (10) and
(11) and paragraph (f) of Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust’s Board of Trustees such periodic
and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably available its employees and officers
for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect to any matter discussed herein, including,
without limitation, the valuation of the Trust’s securities.
(v) The Subadviser is, to the extent
required by applicable law, a commodity trading advisor duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC)
and is a member in good standing of the National Futures Association (the NFA). The Subadviser shall maintain such registration
and membership in good standing during the term of this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser agrees to notify the Manager promptly
upon (i) a statutory disqualification of such Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation
or limitation of such Subadviser’s commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) the institution of
an action or proceeding that could lead to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any governmental agency
or self-regulatory organization of which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target.
(vi) The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's
Custodian on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Trust’s assets
it manages, and shall provide the Manager with such information upon request of the Manager.
(vii) The investment management services provided by the Subadviser
hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely, the
Subadviser and Manager understand and agree that if the Manager manage the Trust in a “manager-of-managers” style,
the Manager will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative
analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust’s Board as to whether
the contract with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's
Board regarding the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its services may be terminated
or modified pursuant to this process.
(viii) The Subadviser acknowledges that the Manager and the
Trust intend to rely on Rule 17a-10, Rule 10f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees
that it shall not consult with any other
subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities
for the Trust’s portfolio or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(b) [Reserved.]
(c) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust’s books and records
required to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Manager all information
relating to the Subadviser’s services hereunder needed by the Manager to keep the other books and records of the Trust required
by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the
Trust are the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust’s
request, provided, however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for
the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required
to be maintained by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(d) In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the
Subadviser agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable state and federal regulations. Subadviser further agrees to provide to the Manager
written copies of such procedures and any amendments thereto on a timely basis.
(e) The Subadviser shall furnish to the Manager with a certification
regarding (i) the performance of this Agreement and (ii) the maintenance of compliance procedures pursuant to paragraph 1(d) hereof
as the Manager may reasonably request.
(f) The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all
shareholder proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Trust’s portfolio, subject to such reasonable
reporting and other requirements as shall be established by the Manager.
(g) In the event that market quotations are not readily available
or, in the Subadviser’s view, are not reliable for purposes of valuing the Trust’s portfolio securities that the Subadviser
manages, and the Subadviser will promptly notify the Manager and will recommend a fair value methodology (and indicate a price
using that methodology) for use by the Trust in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act and any related written guidance
from the Commission and the Commission staff. Upon reasonable request from the Manager, the Subadviser (through a qualified person)
will assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Manager in valuing securities of the Trust as may be required from time
to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser has knowledge related to the securities being valued.
2. The Manager shall continue to have responsibility for all
services to be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee
and review the Subadviser’s performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Manager shall provide (or cause the Trust’s
custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the portion of
the Trust managed by the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in such portion of the Trust, and all
other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of
minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust that affect the duties of the Subadviser).
3. For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the
Manager shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Trust’s average daily
net assets of the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser as described in the attached Schedule A. Liability for payment
of compensation by the Manager to the Subadviser under this Agreement is contingent upon the Manager’ receipt of payment
from the Trust for management services described under the Management Agreement between the Fund and the Manager. Expense caps
or fee waivers for the Trust that may be agreed to by the Manager, but not agreed to by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction
in the amount of the payment to the Subadviser by the Manager.
4. The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment
or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Manager in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss
resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser’s part in the performance of its duties
or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement
shall be deemed to waive any rights the Manager or the Trust may have against the Subadviser under federal or state securities
laws. The Manager shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, its officers, directors and employees, for any liability
and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Manager' willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the
1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Manager, their
affiliated persons, their officers, directors and employees,
for any liability and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Subadviser’s willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including,
without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws.
5. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more
than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with
the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the
payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, or by the Manager or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not
more than 60 days’ nor less than 30 days’ written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically
in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser
agrees that it will promptly notify the Trust and the Manager of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment
(as defined in the 1940 Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the 1940 Act)
of the Subadviser.
To the extent that the Manager delegates to the Subadviser management
of all or a portion of a portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Manager, the Subadviser agrees
that its duties and obligations under this Agreement with respect to that delegated portfolio or portion thereof shall commence
as of the date the Manager begins the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser.
Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant
to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager at
Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077, Attention: Secretary; (2) to the Trust at Gateway
Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077, Attention: Secretary; or (3) to the Subadviser at 280 Congress
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, Attention: Legal and Compliance.
6. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right
of any of the Subadviser’s directors, officers or employees who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to
engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any business,
whether of a similar or a dissimilar nature, nor limit or restrict the Subadviser’s right to engage in any other business
or to render services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.
7. During the term of this Agreement and subject to satisfaction
of applicable regulatory requirements, the Manager agrees to furnish the Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy
statements, and reports to shareholders which refer to the Subadviser in any way, prior to use thereof and not to use material
if the Subadviser reasonably objects to such reference to the Subadviser in writing five business days (or such other time as may
be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. During the term of this Agreement, the Manager also agrees to (i) furnish the Subadviser,
upon Subadviser’s request, representative samples of marketing and sales literature and other materials that expressly reference
the Subadviser prior to final production and use or distribution of such literature and materials and (ii) not to use or distribute
any such literature or materials if the Subadviser reasonably objects in writing within four (4) business days (or such other period
as may be mutually agreed) after Subadviser’s receipt thereof. The Subadviser’s right to object to such literature
and materials and provide proposed revisions is limited solely to the portions of such literature and materials that expressly
relate to the Subadviser. Notwithstanding the forgoing, advance review and approval shall not be required from the Subadviser with
respect to: (i) sales literature, applications, confirmation statements, account statements, or forms in which the Subadviser is
only referenced in a listing of advisors to the Trust or the name of the specific series of the Trust subadvised by Wellington
Management is only referenced in a listing or short description of relevant variable insurance product investment options; (ii)
web pages that solely refer to the name of the specific series of the Trust subadvised by Wellington Management and such series’
investment performance and/or portfolio holdings and that do not provide additional information relating to such series or Wellington
Management; (iii) literature or materials that are based upon literature or materials that were previously approved by Subadviser
where no material changes have been made to such previously approved literature or materials; or (iv) other materials as agreed
upon mutually by the Manager and the Subadviser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any literature or materials that are submitted
to Wellington Management for its advance review and written approval in accordance with this Section 7, if Wellington Management
does not, within four (4) business days of its receipt thereof, expressly disapprove in writing or request in writing that specific
changes be made to specific pieces of literature or other materials, then such pieces of literature or other materials shall be
deemed approved by
Wellington Management. If the Manager or their affiliates agree
in writing to incorporate into such literature or materials the specific changes requested by Subadviser, the Manager and their
affiliates shall not be required to re-submit such literature or materials to Subadviser for its review or approval. The Manager
further agrees to use their reasonable best efforts to ensure that materials prepared by their employees or agents or their affiliates
that refer to the Subadviser in any way are consistent with those materials previously approved by the Subadviser as referenced
in the first sentence of this paragraph. All such prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, marketing and sales
literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public which make reference to the Subadviser
may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder by electronic mail, first-class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment
or hand delivery.
It is understood that “Wellington Management” and any
derivative names or logos associated with such name are the valuable property of the Subadviser, that the Trust has the right to
include such phrase as a part of the name of the series of the Trust managed by the Subadviser or for any other purpose only so
long as this Agreement shall continue, and that Wellington Management does, in fact, consent to the use of such name as a part
of the name of the series of the Trust identified herein. Subadviser represents and warrants that the inclusion of “Wellington
Management” in the name of the series of the Trust identified herein shall not: (i) infringe the title or any patent, copyright,
trade secret, trademark, service mark, or other proprietary right of any third party and (ii) violate the terms of any agreement
or other instrument to which Subadviser or any of its affiliates is a party.
8. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the
consent of the Trust must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State
of New York.
10. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision
of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference
to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence
of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act.
In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is related by rules,
regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument
to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS LLC
By:
/s/ Bradley Tobin
Name: Bradley Tobin
Title: V. P. Investment Management
WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLP
By:
/s/ Margaret W. Adams
Name: Margaret W. Adams
Title: Senior Managing Director
SCHEDULE A
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
As compensation for services provided by Wellington Management,
Prudential Investments LLC will pay Wellington Management an advisory fee on the net assets managed by Wellington Management that
is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
Portfolio Advisory Fee* AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio 0.23% of average daily net assets
|
|
* In the event Wellington Management invests Portfolio assets
in other pooled investment vehicles it manages or subadvises, Wellington Management will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio
in an amount equal to the acquired fund fee paid to Wellington Management with respect to the Portfolio assets invested in such
acquired fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subadvisory fee waivers will not exceed 100% of the subadvisory fee.
Dated as of May 6, 2015.
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 6 day of May, 2015 between Prudential
Investments LLC (PI or the Manager), a New York limited liability company and Wellington Management Company LLP, a Delaware limited
liability partnership (Wellington Management or the Subadviser),
WHEREAS, the Manager have entered into a Management Agreement
(the Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business
trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PI and AST act as Manager of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Manager, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement,
desire to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified
in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion
of the Trust as the Manager shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Manager and the Board
of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust’s portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser
by the Manager, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust’s investment objectives,
policies and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called
the “Prospectus”), and subject to the following understandings:
(i) The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion
of the Trust's investments as the Manager shall direct, and shall determine from time to time what investments and securities will
be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
) The Subadviser may use persons employed by an “affiliated person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser,
each of whom shall be treated as an “associated person” of the Subadviser (as defined in the Advisers Act) to assist
in the performance of any or all of the services or functions provided by the Subadviser under this Agreement to the extent not
prohibited by, or inconsistent with, applicable law, including the requirements of the 1940 Act. Notwithstanding anything herein
to the contrary, the Subadviser's liability to the Manager and the Trust at all times under this Agreement shall not be affected
in any way whatsoever by any use of such associated persons and the Subadviser (and not the Manager) shall be solely responsible
for any fees, charges, or expenses owed to such “affiliated person” or associated persons. In addition, notwithstanding
any other provision of the Agreement, the Subadviser: (x) may provide information about the Manager and the Trust to any such “affiliated
person” or associated person providing services hereunder; (y) will act in good faith and with due diligence in the selection,
use, and monitoring of any such “affiliated person” or associated person providing services hereunder; and (z) shall
ensure that any such “affiliated person” or associated person providing services hereunder is subject to confidentiality
and non-disclosure obligations that are substantially similar to the confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations to which the
Subadviser is subject with respect to the Trust.
(ii) In the performance of its duties and obligations under
this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the
Trust, the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, and the Trust’s valuation procedures as provided to it by the
Manager (the Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Manager and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust,
co-operate with the Manager' (or their designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust’s compliance and will conform
to, and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all other applicable
federal and state laws and regulations. In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall, among other things, prepare and file such
reports as are, or may in the future be, required of it by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). The Manager
shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents.
(iii) The Subadviser shall determine the securities and futures
contracts to be purchased or sold by such portion of the Trust's portfolio, as applicable, and may place orders with or through
such persons, brokers, dealers or futures
commission merchants (including but not limited to Prudential
Securities Incorporated (or any broker or dealer affiliated with the Subadviser) to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage
as set forth in the Trust's Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time. In providing the Trust
with investment supervision, it is recognized that the Subadviser will give primary consideration to securing the most favorable
price and efficient execution. Within the framework of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research
and investment information and other services provided by brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants who may effect or be
a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser’s other clients may be a party. The Manager
(or Subadviser) to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for the Trust through broker-dealers
(including, to the extent legally permissible, broker-dealers affiliated with the Subadviser(s)) qualified to obtain best execution
of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and to cause the Trust to pay any such broker-dealers an amount
of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker-dealer would have charged
for effecting that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in light of either
that particular investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Manager (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Trust
and other accounts as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the
1934 Act), are reasonable in relation to the amount of commission.
On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale
of a security or futures contract to be in the best interest of the Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser,
to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities
or futures contracts to be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation of the securities or futures contracts so purchased or
sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers
to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and to such other clients.
(iv) The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with
respect to the Trust’s portfolio transactions effected by it as required by subparagraphs (b)(5), (6), (7), (9), (10) and
(11) and paragraph (f) of Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust’s Board of Trustees such periodic
and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably available its employees and officers
for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect to any matter discussed herein, including,
without limitation, the valuation of the Trust’s securities.
(v) The Subadviser is, to the extent
required by applicable law, a commodity trading advisor duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC)
and is a member in good standing of the National Futures Association (the NFA). The Subadviser shall maintain such registration
and membership in good standing during the term of this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser agrees to notify the Manager promptly
upon (i) a statutory disqualification of such Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation
or limitation of such Subadviser’s commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) the institution of
an action or proceeding that could lead to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any governmental agency
or self-regulatory organization of which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target.
(vi) The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's
Custodian on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Trust’s assets
it manages, and shall provide the Manager with such information upon request of the Manager.
(vii) The investment management services provided by the Subadviser
hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely, the
Subadviser and Manager understand and agree that if the Manager manage the Trust in a “manager-of-managers” style,
the Manager will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative
analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust’s Board as to whether
the contract with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's
Board regarding the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its services may be terminated
or modified pursuant to this process.
(viii) The Subadviser acknowledges that the Manager and the
Trust intend to rely on Rule 17a-10, Rule 10f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees
that it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust’s
portfolio or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(b) [Reserved.]
(c) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust’s books and records
required to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Manager all information
relating to the Subadviser’s services hereunder needed by the Manager to keep the other books and records of the Trust required
by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the
Trust are the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust’s
request, provided, however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for
the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required
to be maintained by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(d) In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the
Subadviser agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable state and federal regulations. Subadviser further agrees to provide to the Manager
written copies of such procedures and any amendments thereto on a timely basis.
(e) The Subadviser shall furnish to the Manager with a certification
regarding (i) the performance of this Agreement and (ii) the maintenance of compliance procedures pursuant to paragraph 1(d) hereof
as the Manager may reasonably request.
(f) The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all
shareholder proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Trust’s portfolio, subject to such reasonable
reporting and other requirements as shall be established by the Manager.
(g) In the event that market quotations are not readily available
or, in the Subadviser’s view, are not reliable for purposes of valuing the Trust’s portfolio securities that the Subadviser
manages, and the Subadviser will promptly notify the Manager and will recommend a fair value methodology (and indicate a price
using that methodology) for use by the Trust in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act and any related written guidance
from the Commission and the Commission staff. Upon reasonable request from the Manager, the Subadviser (through a qualified person)
will assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Manager in valuing securities of the Trust as may be required from time
to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser has knowledge related to the securities being valued.
2. The Manager shall continue to have responsibility for all
services to be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee
and review the Subadviser’s performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Manager shall provide (or cause the Trust’s
custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the portion of
the Trust managed by the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in such portion of the Trust, and all
other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of
minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust that affect the duties of the Subadviser).
3. For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the
Manager shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Trust’s average daily
net assets of the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser as described in the attached Schedule A. Liability for payment
of compensation by the Manager to the Subadviser under this Agreement is contingent upon the Manager’ receipt of payment
from the Trust for management services described under the Management Agreement between the Fund and the Manager. Expense caps
or fee waivers for the Trust that may be agreed to by the Manager, but not agreed to by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction
in the amount of the payment to the Subadviser by the Manager.
4. The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment
or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Manager in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss
resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser’s part in the performance of its duties
or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement
shall be deemed to waive any rights the Manager or the Trust may have against the Subadviser under federal or state securities
laws. The Manager shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, its officers, directors and employees, for any liability
and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Manager' willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the
1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Manager, their affiliated persons, their officers,
directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, which may be sustained as a result of
the Subadviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless
disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable
law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws.
5. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more
than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with
the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the
payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, or by the Manager or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not
more than 60 days’ nor less than 30 days’ written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically
in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser
agrees that it will promptly notify the Trust and the Manager of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment
(as defined in the 1940 Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the 1940 Act)
of the Subadviser.
To the extent that the Manager delegates to the Subadviser management
of all or a portion of a portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Manager, the Subadviser agrees
that its duties and obligations under this Agreement with respect to that delegated portfolio or portion thereof shall commence
as of the date the Manager begins the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser.
Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant
to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager at
Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077, Attention: Secretary; (2) to the Trust at Gateway
Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077, Attention: Secretary; or (3) to the Subadviser at 280 Congress
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, Attention: Legal and Compliance.
6. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right
of any of the Subadviser’s directors, officers or employees who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to
engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any business,
whether of a similar or a dissimilar nature, nor limit or restrict the Subadviser’s right to engage in any other business
or to render services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.
7. During the term of this Agreement and subject to satisfaction
of applicable regulatory requirements, the Manager agrees to furnish the Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy
statements, and reports to shareholders which refer to the Subadviser in any way, prior to use thereof and not to use material
if the Subadviser reasonably objects to such reference to the Subadviser in writing five business days (or such other time as may
be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. During the term of this Agreement, the Manager also agrees to (i) furnish the Subadviser,
upon Subadviser’s request, representative samples of marketing and sales literature and other materials that expressly reference
the Subadviser prior to final production and use or distribution of such literature and materials and (ii) not to use or distribute
any such literature or materials if the Subadviser reasonably objects in writing within four (4) business days (or such other period
as may be mutually agreed) after Subadviser’s receipt thereof. The Subadviser’s right to object to such literature
and materials and provide proposed revisions is limited solely to the portions of such literature and materials that expressly
relate to the Subadviser. Notwithstanding the forgoing, advance review and approval shall not be required from the Subadviser with
respect to: (i) sales literature, applications, confirmation statements, account statements, or forms in which the Subadviser is
only referenced in a listing of advisors to the Trust or the name of the specific series of the Trust subadvised by Wellington
Management is only referenced in a listing or short description of relevant variable insurance product investment options; (ii)
web pages that solely refer to the name of the specific series of the Trust subadvised by Wellington Management and such series’
investment performance and/or portfolio holdings and that do not provide additional information relating to such series or Wellington
Management; (iii) literature or materials that are based upon literature or materials that were previously approved by Subadviser
where no material changes have been made to such previously approved literature or materials; or (iv) other materials as agreed
upon mutually by the Manager and the Subadviser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any literature or materials that are submitted
to Wellington Management for its advance review and written approval in accordance with this Section 7, if Wellington Management
does not, within four (4) business days of its receipt thereof, expressly disapprove in writing or request in writing that specific
changes be made to specific pieces of literature or other materials, then such pieces of literature or other materials shall be
deemed approved by Wellington Management. If the Manager or their affiliates agree in writing to incorporate into such literature
or materials the specific changes requested by Subadviser, the Manager and their affiliates shall not be required to
re-submit such literature or materials to Subadviser for its
review or approval. The Manager further agrees to use their reasonable best efforts to ensure that materials prepared by their
employees or agents or their affiliates that refer to the Subadviser in any way are consistent with those materials previously
approved by the Subadviser as referenced in the first sentence of this paragraph. All such prospectuses, proxy statements, reports
to shareholders, marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the
public which make reference to the Subadviser may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder by electronic mail, first-class or overnight
mail, facsimile transmission equipment or hand delivery.
It is understood that “Wellington Management” and any
derivative names or logos associated with such name are the valuable property of the Subadviser, that the Trust has the right to
include such phrase as a part of the name of the series of the Trust managed by the Subadviser or for any other purpose only so
long as this Agreement shall continue, and that Wellington Management does, in fact, consent to the use of such name as a part
of the name of the series of the Trust identified herein. Subadviser represents and warrants that the inclusion of “Wellington
Management” in the name of the series of the Trust identified herein shall not: (i) infringe the title or any patent, copyright,
trade secret, trademark, service mark, or other proprietary right of any third party and (ii) violate the terms of any agreement
or other instrument to which Subadviser or any of its affiliates is a party.
8. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the
consent of the Trust must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State
of New York.
10. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision
of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference
to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence
of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act.
In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is related by rules,
regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument
to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS LLC
By:
/s/ Bradley Tobin
Name: Bradley Tobin
Title: V. P. Investment Management
WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLP
By:
/s/ Margaret W. Adams
Name: Margaret W. Adams
Title: Senior Managing Director
SCHEDULE A
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
As compensation for services provided by Wellington Management,
Prudential Investments LLC will pay Wellington Management an advisory fee on the net assets managed by Wellington Management that
is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
Portfolio Advisory Fee* AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio 0.65% of average daily net assets
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* In the event Wellington Management invests Portfolio assets in
other pooled investment vehicles it manages or subadvises, Wellington Management will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio
in an amount equal to the acquired fund fee paid to Wellington Management with respect to the Portfolio assets invested in such
acquired fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subadvisory fee waivers will not exceed 100% of the subadvisory fee.
Dated as of May 6, 2015.
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
Distribution Agreement
THIS DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”)
is made as of February 25, 2013, between the Advanced Series Trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of the portfolios set forth
on attached Exhibit A (each, a “Portfolio” and, collectively, the “Portfolios”), and Prudential Annuities
Distributors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Distributor”).
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), as an open-end, management investment
company and it is in the interest of the Trust to offer the shares of each Portfolio (the “Shares”) for sale continuously;
WHEREAS, the Distributor
is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”);
WHEREAS, the Trust and
the Distributor wish to enter into this Agreement, under which the Distributor shall act as principal underwriter for the Trust
and each Portfolio and shall act as the agent for the Trust and each Portfolio with respect to the continuous offering of the Shares
from and after the date hereof in order to facilitate the distribution of the Shares; and
WHEREAS, the Trust has
adopted a Shareholder Services and Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act with respect to the
Shares of some or all of the Portfolios (the “Plan”) authorizing payments by the Portfolios to the Distributor with
respect to certain shareholder services and distribution services as set forth in the Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties
agree as follows:
Section 1.
Appointment of the Distributor
The Trust hereby appoints
the Distributor as principal underwriter for the Trust and the Portfolios and agent for the Trust and the Portfolios for the sale
of the Shares. The Shares shall be sold only to insurance companies and their separate accounts that have entered into participation
agreements with the Trust (“Participating Insurance Companies”), qualified plans and other purchasers permitted by
Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and associated regulations (collectively,
“Permissible Shareholders”). The Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees that it will use commercially
reasonable efforts to sell the Shares. The Distributor, as agent, does not undertake to sell any specific amount of the Shares.
The parties hereby agree during the term of this Agreement that the Portfolios will sell the Shares through the Distributor on
the terms and conditions set forth below and in the participation agreements with the Participating Insurance Companies and any
other Permissible Shareholders (the “Participation Agreements”).
Section 2.
Exclusive Nature of Duties
The Distributor shall be
the exclusive representative of the Trust to act as principal underwriter and agent of the Trust and the Portfolios for the sale
of the Shares, except that:
2.1 The exclusive rights
granted to the Distributor to sell the Shares shall not apply to any Shares issued in connection with the merger or consolidation
of any other investment company with a Portfolio or the acquisition by purchase or otherwise of all (or substantially all) the
assets or the outstanding shares of any such company by a Portfolio.
Section 3.
Purchase of Shares from the Trust
3.1 The Shares shall be
sold by the Distributor as the agent of the Trust to Permissible Shareholders at the net asset value next determined as set forth
in the Prospectus after an order to purchase Shares is properly received. The term “Prospectus” shall mean the Summary
Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the applicable Portfolio that is included as part of the Trust’s
Registration Statement, as such Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information may be amended or supplemented
from time to time, and the term “Registration Statement” shall mean the Registration Statement filed by the Trust with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”),
and the Investment Company Act, as such Registration Statement is amended from time to time.
3.2 The Trust shall have
the right to suspend the sale of any or all of the Shares at times when redemption is suspended pursuant to the conditions in Section
4.3 hereof or at such other times as may be determined by the Trust’s Board of Trustees in its sole discretion (the “Board”).
3.3 The Shares shall be
sold in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Participation Agreements.
Section 4.
Redemption of Shares by the Trust
4.1 Any of the outstanding
Shares may be tendered for redemption at any time, and the Trust (or the Distributor acting as the Trust’s agent) agrees
to redeem the Shares so tendered in accordance with the Trust’s Declaration of Trust as amended from time to time, and in
accordance with the applicable provisions of the Prospectus. The price to be paid to redeem the Shares shall be equal to the net
asset value next determined as set forth in the Prospectus after an order to redeem the Shares is properly received (the “Redemption
Price”).
4.2 The Shares shall be
redeemed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Participation Agreements.
4.3 Redemption of any Shares
or payment may be suspended at times when the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is closed for other than customary
weekends and holidays, when trading on the NYSE is restricted, when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Trust
of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Trust fairly to determine the
value of its net assets, or during any other period when the Securities and Exchange Commission, by order, so permits.
Section 5.
Duties of the Trust
5.1 Subject to the possible
suspension of the sale of the Shares as provided herein, the Trust agrees to sell the Shares so long as it has Shares of the respective
Portfolio available.
5.2 The Trust shall furnish
the Distributor copies of all information, financial statements and other papers which the Distributor may reasonably request for
use in connection with the distribution of the Shares. The Trust shall make available to the Distributor copies of its Prospectus
and annual and semi-annual reports upon request.
5.3 The Trust shall take,
from time to time, but subject to the necessary approval of the Board, all necessary action to register the Shares under the Securities
Act, to the end that there will be available for sale such number of Shares as the Distributor reasonably may expect to sell. The
Trust agrees to file from time to time such amendments, reports and other documents as may be necessary in order that there will
be no untrue statement of a material fact in the Registration Statement, or necessary in order that there will be no omission to
state a material fact in the Registration Statement which omission would make the statements therein misleading.
Section 6.
Duties of the Distributor
6.1 The Distributor shall
be responsible for preparing all sales literature (
e.g
., advertisements, brochures and shareholder communications) with
respect to each of the Portfolios, and shall file with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or the
appropriate regulators all such materials as are required to be filed under applicable laws and regulations.
6.2 Sales of the Shares
shall be on the terms described in the Prospectus. The Distributor may enter into similar arrangements with other investment companies.
The Distributor shall not be obligated to sell any specific number of Shares.
6.3 The Distributor shall
provide or arrange for the provision of the services set forth in the Plan.
6.4 The Distributor shall
use reasonable efforts in all respects duly to conform with the requirements of all federal and state laws relating to the sale
of the Shares, including, without limitation, all rules and regulations made or adopted pursuant to the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, the Investment Company Act, the regulations of FINRA, or its predecessor, the National Association of Securities Dealers,
and all other applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations. Specifically, the Distributor shall adopt and follow procedures
for the confirmation of transactions as may be necessary to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b-10 under the Securities Exchange
Act and the rules of FINRA.
6.5 The Distributor shall
act as agent of the Trust in connection with the sale and redemption of the Shares. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
the Distributor shall act as principal with respect to all other matters relating to the promotion or the sale of the Shares.
6.6 The Distributor shall
prepare reports for the Board regarding its activities under this Agreement as from time to time shall be reasonably requested
by the Board, including reports regarding the use of payments received by the Distributor under the Plan.
6.7 The Distributor agrees
on behalf of itself and its employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust all records and other
information relative to the Portfolios and/or the Trust and its prior, present or potential shareholders, and not to use such records
and information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except when so requested by
the Trust or after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld
and may not be withheld where the Distributor may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, when
requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities.
Section 7.
Payments to the Distributor
The Trust shall pay to
the Distributor, as compensation for services under the Plan, any fee set forth in the Plan. Any such fee is subject to the terms
of the Plan. No additional compensation or reimbursement for expenses shall be provided by the Trust with respect to services under
the Plan or services under this Agreement.
Section 8.
Allocation of Expenses
The Trust shall bear all
costs and expenses of the continuous offering of the Shares (except for those costs and expenses borne by the Distributor pursuant
to the Plan and subject to the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act), including fees and disbursements of
the Trust’s counsel and auditors, in connection with the preparation and filing of any required Registration Statements and/or
Prospectuses under the Investment Company Act or the Securities Act, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and preparing
and mailing annual and periodic reports and proxy materials to shareholders (including but not limited to the expense of setting
in type any such Registration Statements, Prospectuses, annual or periodic reports or proxy materials). The Trust shall also bear
the expenses it assumes pursuant to the Plan, so long as the Plan is in effect.
Section 9.
Indemnification
9.1 The Trust agrees to
indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor, and its officers and any person who controls the Distributor within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act, free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including
the cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection
therewith) which the Distributor, its officers or any such controlling person may incur under the Securities Act, or under common
law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
or Prospectus or arising out of or based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in either thereof
or necessary to make the statements in either thereof not misleading, except insofar as such claims, demands, liabilities or expenses
arise out of or are based upon any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon
and in conformity with information furnished by the Distributor to the Trust for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not inure to the benefit of any such officer or controlling person unless
a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine in a final decision on the merits, that the person to be indemnified was not
liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless
disregard of its obligations under this Agreement (“disabling conduct”), or, in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable
determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnified person was not liable by reason of disabling conduct, by
(a) a vote of a majority of a quorum of Trustees, including a majority of Trustees who are neither “interested persons”
of the Trust as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act nor parties to the proceeding, or (b) an independent
legal counsel in a written opinion. The Trust’s agreement to indemnify the Distributor or its officers and any such controlling
person as aforesaid is expressly conditioned upon the Trust’s being promptly notified of any action brought against the Distributor
or its officers, or any such controlling person, such notification to be given by letter or telegram addressed to the Trust at
its principal business office. The Trust agrees to promptly notify the Distributor of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings
against the Trust or any of its officers or directors in connection with the issue and sale of any Shares.
9.2 The Distributor agrees
to indemnify, defend and hold the Trust, its officers and Trustees and any person who controls the Trust, if any, within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act, free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including
the cost of investigating or defending against such claims, demands or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in
connection therewith) which the Trust, its officers and Trustees or any such controlling person may incur under the Securities
Act or under common law or otherwise, but only to the extent that such liability or expense incurred by the Trust, its Trustees
or officers or such controlling person resulting from such claims or demands shall arise out of or be based upon any alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in information furnished by the Distributor to the Trust for use in the Registration Statement
or Prospectus or shall arise out of or be based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact in connection with such information
required to be stated in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or necessary to make such information not misleading. The Distributor’s
agreement to indemnify the Trust, its officers and Trustees and any such controlling person as aforesaid, is expressly conditioned
upon the Distributor’s being promptly notified of any action brought against the Trust, its officers and directors or any
such controlling person, such notification being given to the Distributor at its principal business office.
9.3 Except as provided
in Section 9.1, the Distributor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the
Trust or any Portfolio in connection with matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance,
bad faith or negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under
this Agreement.
Section 10.
Duration and Termination of
this Agreement
10.1 This Agreement shall
become effective as of the date first above written and shall remain in force only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by (a) the Board of the Trust, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the applicable Portfolio, and (b) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested
persons of any such parties and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in this Agreement or in the operation of the
Plan or in any agreement related
thereto (the “Independent Trustees”),
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting upon such approval.
10.2 This Agreement may
be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable Portfolio, or by the Distributor, on sixty (60) days’ written notice
to the other party. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.
10.3 The terms “affiliated
person,” “assignment,” “interested person” and “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities,” when used in this Agreement, shall have the respective meanings specified in the Investment Company Act.
Section 11.
Amendments to this Agreement
This Agreement may be amended
by the parties only if such amendment is specifically approved by (a) the Board of the Trust, or by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the applicable Portfolio, and (b) by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such amendment.
Section 12.
Separate Agreement as to Portfolios
The amendment or termination
of this Agreement with respect to any Portfolio shall not result in the amendment or termination of this Agreement with respect
to any other Portfolio unless explicitly so provided.
Section 13.
Governing Law
The provisions of this
Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey as at the time in effect, without
regard to its conflicts of laws principles, and the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. To the extent that the
applicable law of the State of New Jersey, or any of the provisions herein, conflicts with the applicable provisions of the Investment
Company Act, the latter shall control.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year above written.
Prudential Annuities
Distributors, Inc.
By:
/s/ George
Gannon
Name: George
Gannon
Title: President
Advanced Series Trust (on behalf
of its portfolios as
listed on Exhibit A).
By:
/s/ Robert
F. O’Donnell
Name: Robert
F. O’Donnell
Title: President
Exhibit A
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
AST Academic Strategies Asset
Allocation Portfolio
AST Advanced Strategies Portfolio
AST AQR Emerging Markets Equity
Portfolio
AST AQR Large-Cap Portfolio
AST Balanced Asset Allocation
Portfolio
AST BlackRock Global Strategies
Portfolio
AST BlackRock iShares ETF
Portfolio
AST BlackRock Low Duration
Bond Portfolio
(formerly, AST PIMCO Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio)
AST BlackRock/Loomis Sayles
Bond Portfolio
(formerly, AST PIMCO Total Return Bond Portfolio)
AST BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio
AST Bond Portfolio 2015
AST Bond Portfolio 2016
AST Bond Portfolio 2017
AST Bond Portfolio 2018
AST Bond Portfolio 2019
AST Bond Portfolio 2020
AST Bond Portfolio 2021
AST Bond Portfolio 2022
AST Bond Portfolio 2023
AST Bond Portfolio 2024
AST Bond Portfolio 2025
AST Bond Portfolio 2026
AST Boston Partners Large
Cap-Value Portfolio
(formerly, AST Jennison Large-Cap Value Portfolio)
AST Capital Growth Asset Allocation
Portfolio
AST ClearBridge Dividend Growth
Portfolio
AST Cohen & Steers Realty
Portfolio
AST Columbia Adaptive Risk
Allocation Portfolio
AST Defensive Asset Allocation
Portfolio
AST Emerging Managers Diversified
Portfolio
AST FI Pyramis
®
Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST FI Pyramis
®
Quantitative Portfolio
(formerly, AST First Trust Balanced Target Portfolio)
AST FQ Absolute Return Currency Portfolio
AST Franklin Templeton Founding
Funds Allocation Portfolio
AST Franklin Templeton Founding
Funds Plus Portfolio
AST Franklin Templeton K2 Global Absolute Return Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Global Growth Allocation Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income
Portfolio
AST Global Real Estate Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Large-Cap
Value Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Mid-Cap
Growth Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Multi-Asset
Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Small-Cap
Value Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Strategic Income Portfolio
AST Herndon Large-Cap Value Portfolio
(formerly,
AST BlackRock Value Portfolio)
AST High Yield Portfolio
AST International Growth Portfolio
AST International Value Portfolio
AST Investment Grade Bond
Portfolio
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
AST J.P. Morgan Global Thematic
Portfolio
AST J.P. Morgan International
Equity Portfolio
AST J.P. Morgan Strategic
Opportunities Portfolio
AST Jennison Global Infrastructure Portfolio
AST Jennison Large-Cap Growth
Portfolio
AST Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio
AST Loomis Sayles Large-Cap
Growth Portfolio
(formerly, AST Marsico Capital Growth Portfolio)
AST Lord Abbett Core Fixed
Income Portfolio
AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio
AST Managed Equity Portfolio
AST Managed Fixed Income Portfolio
AST MFS Global Equity Portfolio
AST MFS Growth Portfolio
AST MFS Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Mid-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Multi-Sector Fixed Income
Portfolio
(formerly, AST Long Duration Bond Portfolio)
AST Money Market Portfolio
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset
Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman Core
Bond Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap
Growth Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short
Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman/LSV Mid-Cap
Value Portfolio
AST New Discovery Asset Allocation
Portfolio
AST Parametric Emerging Markets
Equity Portfolio
AST Preservation Asset Allocation
Portfolio
AST Prudential Core Bond Portfolio
AST Prudential Flexible Multi-Strategy Portfolio
AST Prudential Growth Allocation
Portfolio
AST QMA Emerging Markets Equity
Portfolio
AST QMA Large-Cap Portfolio
AST QMA US Equity Alpha Portfolio
AST Quantitative Modeling
Portfolio
AST RCM World Trends Portfolio
AST Schroders Global Tactical
Portfolio
AST Schroders Multi-Asset
World Strategies Portfolio
AST Small-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Small Cap Growth Opportunities
Portfolio
(formerly, AST Federated Aggressive Growth Portfolio)
AST Small-Cap Value Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Asset Allocation
Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Diversified
Real Growth
AST T. Rowe Price Equity Income
Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Growth Opportunities
Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap
Growth Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Natural
Resources Portfolio
AST Templeton Global Bond
Portfolio
AST Wellington Management
Global Bond Portfolio
AST Wellington Management
Hedged Equity Portfolio
(formerly, AST Aggressive Asset Allocation Portfolio)
AST Wellington Management
Real Total Return Portfolio
AST Western Asset Core Plus
Bond Portfolio
AST Western Asset Emerging
Markets Debt Portfolio
Dated February 25, 2013, as amended effective
as of April 29, 2013. As further amended effective as of December 31, 2013. As further amended as of April 15, 2014 and July 1,
2015.
PRECIOUS METALS SUPPLEMENT
In addition to the provisions
of that certain Custody Agreement dated as of November 7, 2002, as amended, pursuant to which each Prudential-sponsored Fund listed
on the Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof (each, a “Client”) has appointed The Bank of New York Mellon
as custodian (the “Custodian”) to, among other things, hold securities and cash and to perform related services (the
“Agreement”), the following provisions of this Precious Metals Supplement (this “Supplement”) shall apply
with respect to each Client to the custody of assets consisting of precious metals.
ARTICLE I
APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN; CUSTODIAL SERVICES
TO BE PROVIDED BY SUBCUSTODIAN
1. The Client hereby appoints the Custodian
as custodian to hold and maintain certain property consisting of the metals described in the attached Addendum A (the “Precious
Metals”) and which are specified in each authenticated trade instruction sent by the Client or by an Authorized Person to
the Custodian.
2. The Custodian hereby accepts appointment
as
such custodian of the Precious Metals and agrees to perform its duties in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions
of this Supplement. The Client acknowledges that the Custodian shall utilize the services of one or more subcustodians identified
to the Client from time to time (each, for purposes of this Supplement, a “Subcustodian”), to serve as warehouseman
of the Precious Metals held hereunder. Precious Metals held through a Subcustodian shall be held subject to the terms and conditions
of the Custodian’s agreement with such Subcustodian. The Custodian at any time may cease utilizing any Subcustodian and/or
may replace a Subcustodian with a different Subcustodian, provided that (i) Custodian shall give Client sixty (60) days
prior written notice of its intention to appoint or replace a Subcustodian, or (ii) in the event of a material breach of the
subcustodian agreement between the Custodian and the Subcustodian, Custodian shall give Client written notice of the nature of
that breach, subject to confidentiality obligations, as explanation for the need to replace the Subcustodian upon less than sixty
(60) days notice; provided, however, that the fees associated with the new subcustodian shall be mutually agreed upon by Custodian
and Client prior to the transfer of Precious Metals to the new subcustodian. In the event the Custodian selects a replacement Subcustodian,
the Custodian shall not utilize such replacement Subcustodian until after Client’s board or foreign custody manager has determined
that utilization of such replacement Subcustodian satisfies the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
and the rules promulgated thereunder.
ARTICLE II
RESPONSIBILITIES OF CUSTODIAN AND SUBCUSTODIANS
1. The Custodian shall receive, hold
and keep the Precious Metals at a secure facility maintained by a Subcustodian which shall be identified to the Client from time
to time (the “Secure Facility”).
2. The Custodian shall be responsible
for the safekeeping of the Precious Metals in the form and condition in which they are delivered to its Subcustodian acting as
its warehouseman. The Custodian shall cause the Subcustodian to keep the Precious Metals held for the Client hereunder separately
identified and segregated and to maintain records identifying the Precious Metals belonging to the Client.
3. The Custodian shall provide the Client
with reporting by a means agreed between the parties detailing the Precious Metals received, delivered and held at a Subcustodian.
The Client agrees that it shall promptly review all such statements and shall advise the Custodian of any error, omission or inaccuracy
therein. Unless the Client delivers a written notice of any such error, omission or inaccuracy to the Custodian within five business
days after receipt of such statement by the Client, such statement shall be deemed to be conclusive and binding on the Client.
With respect to any Losses incurred by Client as a result of the acts or failures to act by a Subcustodian acting as warehouseman
hereunder, Custodian shall take all reasonable and appropriate actions to recover such Losses and Custodian’s liability shall
be limited to the amount recovered net of Custodian’s reasonable costs and expenses. Except as expressly provided herein,
with respect to any Losses incurred by the Client as the result of the acts or the failures to act by the Subcustodian, the Custodian
shall be fully responsible as provided hereunder as if it had performed the acts or failure to act itself except to the extent
any such Losses are due to (i) the fraud of such Subcustodian and the Custodian exercised reasonable care in the
selection and monitoring of such Subcustodian
or (ii) the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Subcustodian and the Custodian exercised reasonable care in the selection and monitoring
of such Subcustodian.
4. The Custodian shall cause the Subcustodian
it designates to take delivery of the Precious Metals from the Client to acknowledge receipt from the Client of the Precious Metals.
The Subcustodian shall record certain specifications indicated on the Precious Metals and Custodian shall maintain a record of
such specifications. It is understood and agreed that neither the Custodian nor its Subcustodians are responsible for the authenticity
of markings on or for the weight, fineness or contents of any of the Precious Metals, delivered to them by the Client or a third
party for the account of the Client.
5. The Custodian shall maintain insurance
protection, and shall require the Subcustodian to maintain insurance protection (provided the Custodian is not responsible for
and does not guarantee the insurance protection maintained by a Subcustodian), covering the Custodian’s duties and activities
hereunder in such amounts and insuring against such risks as the Custodian deems reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances;
provided however, that the insurance coverage shall be in an amount that is at least the amount of the Precious Metals held in
custody under this Supplement. Upon request, Custodian shall provide Client with proof of insurance required by this section.
ARTICLE III
DELIVERY AND WITHDRAWAL OF PRECIOUS METALS
1. Each delivery of Precious Metals
to be held in custody in accordance with this Supplement shall be made pursuant to an authenticated trade instruction sent by the
Client or by an Authorized Person to the Custodian. Such instruction must be received at the published trade instruction deadlines
and by the agreed communication method. Such instruction shall be acknowledged by the Custodian. The authorized trade instruction
shall identify the Precious Metal to be delivered, in such customary manner as specified by the Custodian, and the delivery date,
and the Custodian’s acknowledgment shall identify the Subcustodian and Secure Facility to which the Client shall deliver
the Precious Metal. Delivery shall be made only to the Secure Facility of the Subcustodian designated by the Custodian. The Client
acknowledges and agrees that neither the Custodian nor the designated Subcustodian has any responsibility or liability for any
loss, damage or destruction of any Precious Metals prior to the time the Subcustodian accepts the care, custody and control of
the Precious Metals at the specified Subcustodian’s Secure Facility, and the Client hereby releases the Custodian and each
Subcustodian from any such responsibility or liability. In the event the Precious Metal delivered to the Subcustodian differs from
the identification provided by the Client, the Custodian shall endeavor promptly to notify the Client. Neither the Custodian nor
any Subcustodian shall be liable for any loss resulting from the failure of the Precious Metal actually delivered to conform to
the identification provided by the Client in the authorized trade instruction.
2. Each withdrawal of Precious
Metals from custody in accordance with this Supplement shall be made pursuant to an authenticated trade instruction sent by the
Client or by an Authorized Person to the Custodian. Such instruction must be received at the published trade instruction deadlines
and by the agreed communication method. Such instruction shall be acknowledged by the Custodian. The authorized trade instruction
shall identify the Precious Metal to be withdrawn, in such customary manner as specified by the Custodian, and the delivery date
and the Custodian’s acknowledgment shall identify the Subcustodian and Secure Facility from which the Client shall take delivery
of the Precious Metal. The Client must collect or arrange for the collection of the Precious Metal being withdrawn from the Subcustodian
having physical possession thereof. All risk in and to the Precious Metal withdrawn shall pass from the Custodian at the specified
Secure Facility at the time the carrier arranged by Subcustodian to transport such Precious Metal acknowledges receipt.
3. The Client shall be responsible for
all expenses associated with the delivery and withdrawal of Precious Metals to and from the Secure Facility, as well as all insurance,
safekeeping, security and secure transport arrangements for the Precious Metals while either in storage outside the terms of this
Supplement or in transit to or from the Custodian’s appointed Subcustodian. The Client shall pay or reimburse the Custodian
from time to time for any taxes or other governmental charges payable, and actually paid, by the Custodian upon storage or transfer
of the Precious Metals made hereunder.
4. If, in the Custodian’s opinion,
any authenticated trade instruction is unclear or ambiguous, the Custodian shall endeavor to obtain clarification from the Client.
In the absence of such clarification the
Custodian may, in its absolute discretion,
either (i) decline to take action until clarification is received, or (ii) act on what if believes, in good faith, to be such instruction.
ARTICLE IV
CONCERNING CUSTODIAN
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
the Custodian shall not be liable for any costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims, including attorneys’ and accountants’
fees (collectively, “Losses”), incurred by or asserted against the Client, except those Losses arising out of the Custodian’s
own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Custodian shall have no liability whatsoever for the action or inaction of any
commodities exchange. In no event shall the Custodian be liable to the Client or any third party for special, indirect or consequential
damages, or lost profits or loss of business, arising in connection with this Supplement.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
.
The provisions of this Supplement shall apply
solely with respect to the custody of Precious Metals. All provisions of the Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force
and effect with respect to assets held pursuant to this Supplement, and all capitalized terms and provisions contained in the Agreement
shall be read so as to apply fully to the services and activities contemplated by this Supplement;
provided
, that in the
event of any conflict between the provisions of the Agreement and the provisions of this Supplement, the provisions of this Supplement
shall control.
Dated: June
30, 2015
EACH FUND LISTED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO
By:
/s/ M. Sadiq Peshimam
Name: M. Sadiq Peshimam
Title: Treasurer
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
By:
/s/ Shalini O’Suilleabhain
Name: Shalini O’Suilleabhain
Title: VP
ADDENDUM A
Gold Bullion
SCHEDULE A
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio of the Advanced
Series Trust
AMENDMENT
Amendment
made as of July 1, 2015 to that certain Custody Agreement dated as of November 7, 2002, as amended from time to time, between each
Fund listed on the attached Schedule A thereto, including any series thereof (the “Fund”) and The Bank of New York
Mellon (formerly, The Bank of New York) (“Custodian”) (such Custody Agreement hereinafter referred to as the “Custody
Agreement”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them pursuant to the Custody
Agreement.
WHEREAS, the parties wish to amend the Custody
Agreement to add AST AB Global Bond Portfolio, AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio, AST Emerging Managers Diversified
Portfolio, AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio, AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio, AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio, AST
Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio, AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio, AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio,
and AST Wellington Real Total Return Portfolio, each a series of Advanced Series Trust, as parties to the Custody Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of
the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Schedule A of the
Custody Agreement shall be amended as set forth in Exhibit I to this Amendment, attached hereto and made a part hereof.
2. Each party represents
to the other that this Amendment has been duly executed.
3. This Amendment may
be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts, shall, together,
constitute only one amendment.
4. This Amendment shall become effective for
each Fund as of the date of first service as listed in Exhibit I hereto upon execution by the parties hereto. From and after the
execution hereof, any reference to the Custody Agreement shall be a reference to the Custody Agreement as amended hereby. Except
as amended hereby, the Custody Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, each Fund and Custodian have caused this
Amendment to be executed by their duly authorized representatives, as of the day and year first above written.
EACH FUND LISTED ON
EXHIBIT I HERETO
By:
/s/ M. Sadiq Peshimam
Name: M. Sadiq Peshimam
Title: Treasurer
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
By:
/s/ Shalini O’Suilleabhain
Name: Shalini O’Suilleabhain
Title: VP
Exhibit I
SCHEDULE A TO THE CUSTODY AGREEMENT
INSURANCE FUNDS
RIC/Fund Name
|
Former Name
|
Date of First Service
|
Advanced Series Trust
|
|
|
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
|
|
7/8/15
|
AST AQR Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
|
|
2/25/13
|
AST AQR Large-Cap Portfolio
|
|
4/29/13
|
AST BlackRock Global Strategies Portfolio
|
|
5/1/11
|
AST BlackRock iShares ETF Portfolio
|
|
4/29/13
|
AST BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio
|
|
4/15/14
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2015
|
|
1/28/08
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2016
|
|
1/1/09
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2017
|
|
12/31/09
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2018
|
|
1/28/08
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2019
|
|
1/28/08
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2020
|
|
1/1/09
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2021
|
|
12/31/09
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2022
|
|
12/31/10
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2023
|
|
12/28/11
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2024
|
|
11/14/12
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2025
|
|
12/5/13
|
AST Bond Portfolio 2026
|
|
1/2/15
|
AST Boston Partners Large-Cap Value Portfolio
|
AST Jennison Large Cap Value Portfolio
|
9/25/09
|
AST Clearbridge Dividend Growth Portfolio
|
|
2/25/13
|
AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio
|
|
7/8/15
|
AST Defensive Asset Allocation Portfolio
|
|
4/29/13
|
AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
|
|
7/8/15
|
AST FQ Absolute Return Currency Portfolio
|
|
4/15/14
|
AST Franklin Templeton Founding Funds Allocation Portfolio
|
|
3/25/12
|
AST Franklin Templeton Founding Funds Plus Portfolio
|
|
4/29/13
|
AST Franklin Templeton K2 Global Absolute Return Portfolio
|
|
4/15/14
|
AST Goldman Sachs Global Growth Allocation Portfolio
|
|
4/15/14
|
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
|
|
7/8/15
|
AST Goldman Sachs Strategic Income Portfolio
|
|
4/15/14
|
AST Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
|
|
1/28/08
|
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
|
|
7/8/15
|
AST Jennison Global Infrastructure Portfolio
|
|
4/15/14
|
AST Jennison Large Cap Growth Portfolio
|
|
9/25/09
|
AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio
|
|
7/1/14
|
AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio
|
|
7/8/15
|
AST Managed Equity Portfolio
|
|
4/15/14
|
AST Managed Fixed Income Portfolio
|
|
4/15/14
|
AST MFS Large-Cap Value Portfolio
|
|
8/20/12
|
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
|
|
7/8/15
|
AST Multi-Sector Fixed-Income Portfolio
|
AST Long Duration Bond Portfolio
|
2/25/13
|
AST Neuberger Berman Core Bond Portfolio
|
|
10/5/11
|
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
|
|
7/8/15
|
AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio
|
|
3/25/12
|
AST Prudential Core Bond Portfolio
|
|
10/5/11
|
AST Prudential Flexible Multi-Strategy Portfolio
|
|
4/15/14
|
AST QMA Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
|
|
2/25/13
|
AST QMA International Core Equity Portfolio
|
|
1/5/15
|
AST QMA Large-Cap Portfolio
|
|
4/29/13
|
AST Quantitative Modeling Portfolio
|
|
5/1/11
|
AST T. Rowe Price Diversified Real Growth Portfolio
|
|
4/15/14
|
AST T. Rowe Price Growth Opportunities Portfolio
|
|
12/5/13
|
AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
|
|
7/8/15
|
AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity Portfolio
|
AST Aggressive Asset Allocation Portfolio
|
5/1/11
|
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio
|
|
7/8/15
|
AST Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio
|
|
8/20/12
|
Prudential Series Fund
|
|
|
Conservative Balanced Portfolio
|
|
7/25/05
|
Diversified Bond Portfolio
|
|
7/25/05
|
Flexible Managed Portfolio
|
|
7/25/05
|
Global Portfolio
|
|
7/25/05
|
Government Income Portfolio
|
|
7/25/05
|
High Yield Bond Portfolio
|
|
7/25/05
|
Jennison Portfolio
|
|
7/25/05
|
Jennison 20/20 Focus Portfolio
|
|
7/25/05
|
Money Market Portfolio
|
|
9/12/05
|
Natural Resources Portfolio
|
|
7/25/05
|
Small Capitalization Stock Portfolio
|
|
7/25/05
|
Stock Index Portfolio
|
|
7/25/05
|
Value Portfolio
|
|
7/25/05
|
SP Prudential U.S. Emerging Growth Portfolio
|
|
7/25/05
|
Prudential Gibraltar Fund
|
|
7/25/05
|
RETAIL FUNDS
RIC/Fund Name
|
Former Name
|
Date of First Service
|
Prudential Global Total Return Fund, Inc.
|
Dryden Global Total Return Fund, Inc.
|
6/6/05
|
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc.
|
|
|
Prudential Balanced Fund
|
Prudential Asset Allocation Fund, Dryden Asset Allocation Fund, Dryden Active Allocation Fund
|
6/6/05
|
Prudential Jennison Equity Opportunity Fund
|
Jennison Equity Opportunity Fund
|
6/27/05
|
Prudential Jennison Growth Fund
|
Jennison Growth Fund
|
6/27/05
|
Prudential Conservative Allocation Fund
|
JennisonDryden Conservative Allocation Fund
|
7/25/05
|
Prudential Growth Allocation Fund
|
JennisonDryden Growth Allocation Fund
|
7/25/05
|
Prudential Moderate Allocation Fund
|
JennisonDryden Allocation Fund
|
7/25/05
|
Prudential Investment Portfolios 2
|
Dryden Core Investment Fund
|
|
Prudential Core Short Term Bond Fund
|
Short Term Bond Series
|
6/6/05
|
Prudential Core Taxable Money Market Fund
|
Taxable Money Market Series
|
6/6/05
|
Prudential Investment Portfolios 3
|
Jennison Dryden Opportunity Funds, Strategic Partners Opportunity Funds
|
|
Prudential Jennison Market Neutral Fund
|
|
4/23/10
|
Prudential Jennison Select Growth Fund
|
Jennison Select Growth Fund, Strategic Partners Focused Growth Fund
|
12/9/02
|
Prudential Real Assets Fund
|
|
12/30/10
|
Prudential Real Assets Subsidiary, Ltd.
|
|
12/30/10
|
Prudential Global Tactical Allocation Fund
|
|
4/1/15
|
Prudential Global Tactical Allocation Subsidiary, Ltd.
|
|
4/1/15
|
Prudential Unconstrained Bond Fund
|
|
6/1/15
|
Prudential Investment Portfolios 4
|
Dryden Municipal Bond Fund
|
|
Prudential Muni High Income Fund
|
High Income Series
|
6/6/05
|
Prudential Investment Portfolios 5
|
Strategic Partners Style Specific Funds
|
|
Prudential Jennison Conservative Growth Fund
|
|
11/18/02
|
Prudential Jennison Rising Dividend Fund
|
|
3/5/14
|
Prudential Investment Portfolios 6
|
Dryden California Municipal Fund
|
|
Prudential California Muni Income Fund
|
|
9/12/05
|
Prudential Investment Portfolios 7
|
JennisonDryden Portfolios
|
|
Prudential Jennison Value Fund
|
|
6/27/05
|
Prudential Investment Portfolios 8
|
Dryden Index Series Fund
|
|
Prudential Stock Index Fund
|
|
6/27/05
|
Prudential Investment Portfolios 9
|
Dryden Tax-Managed Funds
|
|
Prudential Absolute Return Bond Fund
|
|
3/30/11
|
Prudential International Real Estate Fund
|
|
12/21/10
|
Prudential Large-Cap Core Equity Fund
|
Dryden Large-Cap Core Equity Fund
|
6/27/05
|
Prudential Select Real Estate Fund
|
|
7/7/14
|
Prudential Real Estate Income Fund
|
|
6/1/15
|
Prudential Investment Portfolios 12
|
Prudential Global Real Estate Fund
|
|
Prudential Long-Short Equity Fund
|
|
5/28/14
|
Prudential Short Duration Muni High Income Fund
|
|
5/28/14
|
Prudential US Real Estate Fund
|
|
12/21/10
|
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 14
|
Prudential Government Income Fund, Inc.
|
|
Prudential Government Income Fund
|
Dryden Government Income Fund, Inc.
|
7/25/05
|
Prudential Floating Rate Income Fund
|
|
3/30/11
|
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15
|
Prudential High Yield Fund, Inc., Dryden High Yield Fund, Inc.
|
|
Prudential Short Duration High Yield Income Fund
|
|
9/24/12
|
Prudential High Yield Fund
|
|
7/25/05
|
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 17
|
Prudential Total Return Bond Fund, Inc.,
Dryden Total Return Bond Fund, Inc.
|
|
Prudential Total Return Bond Fund
|
|
7/25/05
|
Prudential Short Duration Multi-Sector Bond Fund
|
|
12/5/13
|
Prudential Investment Portfolios 18
|
Prudential Jennison 20/20 Focus Fund, Jennison 20/20 Focus Fund
|
6/27/05
|
Prudential Jennison 20/20 Focus Fund
|
|
6/27/05
|
Prudential Jennison MLP Fund
|
|
12/5/13
|
Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc
|
Jennison Blend Fund, Inc., Strategic Partners Equity Fund, Inc.
|
9/12/05
|
Prudential Jennison Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Inc.
|
Jennison Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Inc., Jennison U.S. Emerging Growth Fund, Inc.
|
6/27/05
|
Prudential Jennison Natural Resources Fund, Inc.
|
Jennison Natural Resources Fund, Inc.
|
6/27/05
|
Prudential Jennison Small Company Fund, Inc.
|
Jennison Small Company Fund, Inc.
|
6/27/05
|
Prudential MoneyMart Assets, Inc.
|
MoneyMart Assets, Inc.
|
6/6/05
|
Prudential National Muni Fund, Inc.
|
Dryden National Municipals Fund, Inc.
|
9/12/05
|
Prudential Sector Funds
|
Jennison Sector Funds, Inc.
|
|
Prudential Financial Services Fund
|
Jennison Financial Services
|
6/27/05
|
Prudential Health Sciences Fund d/b/a Prudential Jennison Health Sciences Fund
|
Jennison Health Sciences Fund
|
6/27/05
|
Prudential Utility Fund d/b/a Prudential Jennison Utility Fund
|
Jennison Utility Fund
|
6/27/05
|
Prudential Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund, Inc.
|
Dryden Short-Term Bond Fund, Inc.
|
6/6/05
|
Prudential World Fund, Inc.
|
|
|
Prudential Emerging Markets Debt Local Currency Fund
|
|
3/30/11
|
Prudential International Equity Fund
|
|
6/6/05
|
Prudential Jennison Emerging Markets Equity Fund
|
|
9/3/14
|
Prudential Jennison Global Infrastructure Fund
|
|
8/12/13
|
Prudential Jennison Global Opportunities Fund
|
|
3/14/12
|
Prudential Jennison International Opportunities Fund
|
|
6/5/12
|
CLOSED END FUNDS
RIC/Fund Name
|
Former Name
|
Date of First Service
|
The Asia Pacific Fund
|
|
10/17/05
|
Prudential Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.
|
|
3/8/12
|
Prudential Global Short Duration High Yield Fund, Inc.
|
|
9/24/12
|
Prudential Real Estate Income Fund, Inc.
|
|
8/12/13
|
ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is
made, as of July 1, 2005, separately by and between each separate registered investment company set forth on Exhibit A dated July
1, 2005 attached hereto (each a "Fund") and PFPC INC. (“PFPC”). As used herein, the term “Agreement”
shall mean this Accounting Services Agreement and any and all exhibits and schedules attached hereto and any amendments to any
of the foregoing executed in accordance with the terms of this Accounting Services Agreement.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, each Fund
is registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act");
WHEREAS, each Fund
wishes to retain PFPC to provide services set forth in this Agreement to its investment portfolios listed on Exhibit A attached
hereto as such Exhibit A may be amended from time to time (each a "Portfolio"), and PFPC wishes to furnish such services;
and
WHEREAS, additional
registered investment companies may be added to this Agreement pursuant to written agreement of such registered investment company
and PFPC, and upon the effective date of such written agreement such registered investment company shall be a “Fund”
for all purposes under this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, each separate
Fund and PFPC agree as follows:
1.
Definitions. As Used in this
Agreement:
|
(a)
|
"1933 Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
|
|
(b)
|
"1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
|
|
(c)
|
"Authorized Person" means, with respect to a particular Fund, any officer of the Fund
and any other person duly authorized by the Fund's Board of Trustees, Board of Directors or similar governing entity to give Oral
Instructions or Written Instructions on behalf of that Fund. An Authorized Person's scope of authority may be limited by setting
forth such limitation in a written document signed by the relevant Fund and PFPC.
|
|
(d)
|
"CEA" means the Commodities Exchange Act, as amended.
|
|
(e)
|
"Oral Instructions" mean oral instructions received by PFPC from an Authorized Person
or from a person reasonably believed by PFPC to be an Authorized Person. PFPC may, in its sole discretion in each separate instance,
consider and rely upon instructions it receives from an Authorized Person via electronic mail as Oral Instructions.
|
|
(f)
|
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
|
|
(g)
|
"Securities Laws" means the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act and the CEA.
|
|
(h)
|
"Shares" means the shares of beneficial interest of any series or class of a Portfolio.
|
|
(i)
|
"Written Instructions" mean (i) written instructions signed by an Authorized Person (or
a person reasonably believed by PFPC to be an Authorized Person) and received by PFPC or (ii) trade instructions with respect to
a particular Portfolio transmitted (and received by PFPC) by means of an electronic
|
transaction reporting system access
to which requires use of a password or other authorized identifier. The instructions may be delivered electronically (with respect
to sub-item (ii) above) or by hand, mail, tested telegram, cable, telex or facsimile sending device.
|
2.
|
Appointment
.
Each Fund hereby appoints PFPC to provide services set forth in this
Agreement to each of its Portfolios, in accordance with the terms set forth in this Agreement. PFPC accepts such appointment and
agrees to furnish such services. For clarity, PFPC shall have no obligations or responsibilities with respect to a particular investment
portfolio of a Fund until such investment portfolio is listed or deemed to be listed (pursuant to a written agreement between PFPC
and such Fund) on Exhibit A attached hereto.
|
|
3.
|
Compliance with Rules and Regulations
.
|
With respect to each respective
Fund, PFPC undertakes to comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Laws and any laws, rules and regulations of
governmental authorities having jurisdiction with respect to the duties to be performed by PFPC hereunder with respect to such
Fund. Except as specifically set forth herein, PFPC assumes no responsibility for compliance by any Fund or other entity.
4.
Instructions
.
|
(a)
|
Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, PFPC shall act only upon Oral Instructions or Written
Instructions.
|
|
(b)
|
PFPC shall be entitled to rely upon any Oral Instruction or Written Instruction it receives from
an Authorized Person (or from a person reasonably believed by PFPC to be an Authorized Person) pursuant to this Agreement. PFPC
may
|
assume that any Oral Instruction
or Written Instruction received hereunder is not in any way inconsistent with the provisions of organizational documents of any
Fund or this Agreement or with any vote, resolution or proceeding of any Fund's Board of Trustees, Board of Directors or similar
governing entity or of any Fund's shareholders, unless and until PFPC receives Written Instructions relating to a particular Fund
to the contrary.
|
(c)
|
Each Fund agrees to forward to PFPC Written Instructions confirming Oral Instructions (except where
such Oral Instructions are given by PFPC or its affiliates) so that PFPC receives the Written Instructions by the close of business
on the New York Stock Exchange business day (i.e., a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading) immediately
following the day on which the Oral Instructions are received. The fact that such confirming Written Instructions are not received
by PFPC or differ from the Oral Instructions shall in no way invalidate the transactions or enforceability of the transactions
authorized by the Oral Instructions or PFPC's ability to rely upon such Oral Instructions.
|
5.
Right to Receive Advice
.
|
(a)
|
Advice of a Fund
. If PFPC is in doubt as to any action it should or should not take, PFPC
may request directions or advice, including Oral Instructions or Written Instructions, from a Fund.
|
|
(b)
|
Advice of Counsel
. If PFPC shall be in doubt as to any question of law pertaining to any
action it should or should not take, PFPC may request advice from counsel of its own choosing (who may be counsel for a Fund, a
Fund's investment adviser or PFPC, at the option of PFPC). The Fund to which such advice relates shall
|
reimburse PFPC for the cost of
obtaining such advice so long as the Fund has approved the seeking of such advice (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld
or delayed).
|
(c)
|
Conflicting Advice
. In the event of a conflict between directions or advice or Oral Instructions
or Written Instructions PFPC receives from a Fund and the advice PFPC receives from counsel, PFPC may rely upon and follow the
advice of counsel.
|
|
(d)
|
Protection of PFPC
. PFPC shall be indemnified by a Fund and without liability for any action
PFPC takes or does not take in reliance upon directions or advice or Oral Instructions or Written Instructions PFPC receives from
or on behalf of such Fund, or in reliance upon advice from counsel with respect to any matter relating to such Fund, and which
PFPC believes, in good faith, to be consistent with those directions or advice or Oral Instructions or Written Instructions. Nothing
in this section shall be construed so as to impose an obligation upon PFPC (i) to seek directions or advice or Oral Instructions
or Written Instructions, or (ii) to act in accordance with directions or advice or Oral Instructions or Written Instructions.
|
6.
Records; Visits
.
|
(a)
|
The books and records pertaining to a Fund and its Portfolios which are in the possession or under
the control of PFPC shall be the property of that Fund. Such books and records shall be prepared and maintained as required by
the 1940 Act and other applicable securities laws, rules and regulations. Each Fund and the Fund’s Authorized Persons shall
have access to the books and records pertaining
|
to such Fund (provided the same
are in the possession or under the control of PFPC) at all times during PFPC's normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request
of a Fund, copies of any books and records pertaining to such Fund (provided the same are in the possession or under the control
of PFPC) shall be provided by PFPC to the Fund or to an Authorized Person of the Fund, at the Fund's expense.
|
(b)
|
PFPC shall keep the following records with respect to each Portfolio of a Fund:
|
|
(i)
|
all books and records with respect to the Portfolio's books of account;
|
|
(ii)
|
records of the Portfolio's securities transactions; and
|
|
(iii)
|
all other books and records as PFPC is required to maintain pursuant to Rule 31a-1 of the 1940
Act in connection with the services provided to such Portfolio hereunder.
|
|
7.
|
Confidentiality
.
PFPC shall keep confidential any information relating to a Fund’s
business and each Fund shall keep confidential any information relating to PFPC’s business. As between PFPC and a particular
Fund, information to be kept confidential shall include (a) any data or information that is competitively sensitive material, and
not generally known to the public, including, but not limited to, information about product plans, marketing strategies, finances,
operations, customer relationships, customer profiles, customer lists, sales estimates, business plans, and internal performance
results relating to the past, present or future business activities of the Fund or PFPC, their respective subsidiaries and affiliated
companies and the customers, clients and suppliers of any of them; (b) any scientific or technical information, design, process,
procedure, formula, or improvement that is commercially valuable and secret in the sense that its confidentiality affords the Fund
or PFPC a competitive advantage over its competitors;
|
(c) all confidential or proprietary
concepts, documentation, reports, data, specifications, computer software, source code, object code, flow charts, databases, inventions,
know-how, and trade secrets, whether or not patentable or copyrightable; and (d) anything designated as confidential. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the party receiving information shall not be subject to confidentiality obligations with respect to such information
to the extent: (a) such information is already known to the receiving party at the time it is obtained by the receiving party;
(b) such information is or becomes publicly known or available through no wrongful act of the receiving party; (c) such information
is rightfully received by the receiving party from a third party who, to the best of the receiving party’s knowledge, is
not under a duty of confidentiality; (d) such information is released by the protected party to a third party without restriction;
(e) such information is requested or required to be disclosed by the receiving party pursuant to a court order, subpoena, governmental
or regulatory agency request or law (provided the receiving party will provide the protected party written notice of the same,
to the extent such notice is permitted); (f) release of such information is necessary or desirable in connection with the provision
of services under this Agreement; (g) such information is relevant to the defense of any claim or cause of action asserted against
the receiving party; or (h) such information has been or is independently developed or obtained by the receiving party.
|
8.
|
Liaison with Accountants
.
PFPC shall act as liaison with each Fund's independent
public accountants and shall provide account analyses, fiscal year summaries, and other audit-related schedules with respect
to a Fund’s Portfolios to that Fund’s independent public accountants. PFPC shall take all reasonable action in the
performance of its duties under this Agreement with respect to a particular Fund to assure that the necessary
|
information is made available
to such Fund’s independent public accountants for the expression of their opinion with respect to such Fund, as required
by such Fund.
|
9.
|
PFPC System
.
PFPC shall retain title to and ownership of any and all data bases,
computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, derivative works, inventions, discoveries, patentable
or copyrightable matters, concepts, expertise, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, and other related legal rights utilized by PFPC
in connection with the services provided by PFPC to any Fund.
|
10.
Disaster Recovery
.
PFPC shall enter into and shall maintain in effect with appropriate
|
|
parties one or more agreements making reasonable provisions for emergency use of electronic data
processing equipment to the extent appropriate equipment is available. In the event of equipment failures, PFPC shall, at no additional
expense to a Fund, take reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions with respect to such Fund. PFPC shall have no liability
to a Fund with respect to the loss of data or service interruptions caused by equipment failure, provided such loss or interruption
is not caused by PFPC's own willful misfeasance with respect to such Fund, bad faith with respect to such Fund, negligence with
respect to such Fund or reckless disregard of its duties or obligations under this Agreement with respect to such Fund.
|
|
(a)
|
As compensation for services rendered by PFPC with respect to a particular Fund during the term
of this Agreement, such Fund, on behalf of each of its Portfolios, will pay to PFPC a fee or fees as may be agreed to in writing
by the Fund and PFPC.
|
(b) Each
Fund hereby represents and warrants to PFPC that (i) the terms of this
Agreement, (ii) the fees and expenses
associated with this Agreement, and (iii) any benefits accruing to PFPC or to the adviser or sponsor of any Fund in connection
with this Agreement have been fully disclosed to the Board of Trustees, Board of Directors or similar governing entity of the Fund
and that, if required by applicable law, such Board of Trustees, Board of Directors or similar governing entity has approved or
will approve the terms of this Agreement, any such fees and expenses, and any such benefits.
|
12.
|
Indemnification
.
Each Fund, on behalf of each of its Portfolios, agrees to indemnify,
defend and hold harmless PFPC and its affiliates (including their respective officers, directors and employees) from all taxes,
charges, expenses, assessments, claims and liabilities (including, without limitation, liabilities arising under the Securities
Laws and any state and foreign securities and blue sky laws and reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) arising directly
or indirectly from any action or omission to act which PFPC takes in connection with the provision of services to the Fund. Neither
PFPC, nor any of its affiliates, shall be indemnified by a Fund against any liability (or any expenses incident to such liability)
caused by PFPC's or its affiliates' (including their respective officers, directors and employees) own willful misfeasance with
respect to such Fund, bad faith with respect to such Fund, negligence with respect to such Fund, reckless disregard in the performance
of PFPC’s activities with respect to such Fund under this Agreement, fraud with respect to such Fund, or violation with respect
to such Fund (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order of such court) of a criminal statute
or material violation with respect to such Fund (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order
of such court) of any
|
other statute which statute
is materially applicable to the duties PFPC is obligated to perform with respect to such Fund under this Agreement. Any amounts
payable by a Fund hereunder shall be satisfied only against the relevant Portfolio's assets and not against the assets of any other
investment portfolio of the Fund. The provisions of this Section 12 shall survive termination of this Agreement.
|
13.
|
Responsibility of PFPC
.
|
|
(a)
|
PFPC shall be under no duty to take any action hereunder on behalf of a Fund or any of its Portfolios
except as specifically set forth herein or as may be specifically agreed to by PFPC and such Fund in a written amendment hereto.
PFPC shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence in the performance of its duties hereunder with respect to a particular
Fund and to act in good faith in performing services with respect to a particular Fund provided for under this Agreement. PFPC
shall be liable to a Fund only for any damages arising out of PFPC's failure to perform its duties under this Agreement with respect
to such Fund to the extent such damages arise out of PFPC's own willful misfeasance with respect to such Fund, bad faith with respect
to such Fund, negligence with respect to such Fund, reckless disregard of PFPC’s duties under this Agreement with respect
to such Fund, fraud with respect to such Fund, or violation with respect to such Fund (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction
in a final non-appealable order of such court) of a criminal statute or material violation with respect to such Fund (as determined
by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order of such court) of any other statute which statute is materially
applicable to the duties PFPC is obligated to perform with respect to
|
such Fund under this Agreement.
|
(b)
|
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) PFPC shall not be liable for losses,
delays, failure, errors, interruption or loss of data occurring directly or indirectly by reason of circumstances beyond its reasonable
control, including without limitation acts of God; action or inaction of civil or military authority; public enemy; war; terrorism;
riot; fire; flood; sabotage; epidemics; labor disputes; civil commotion; interruption, loss or malfunction of utilities, transportation,
computer or communications capabilities; insurrection; elements of nature; or non-performance by a third party; and (ii) PFPC shall
not be under any duty or obligation to inquire into and shall not be liable for the validity or invalidity, authority or lack thereof,
or truthfulness or accuracy or lack thereof, of any instruction, direction, notice, instrument or other information which PFPC
reasonably believes to be genuine.
|
|
(c)
|
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither PFPC nor its affiliates shall
be liable for any consequential, special or indirect losses or damages, whether or not the likelihood of such losses or damages
was known by PFPC or its affiliates.
|
|
(d)
|
Each Fund shall have a duty to mitigate damages for which PFPC may become responsible hereunder
and PFPC shall have a duty to mitigate damages for which a Fund may become responsible hereunder.
|
|
(e)
|
The provisions of this Section 13 shall survive termination of this
Agreement.
|
|
(f)
|
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, PFPC shall have no liability either for any error or omission of any of its predecessors as servicer on behalf of
any Fund or for any failure to discover any such error or omission.
|
14.
Description of Services on
a Continuous Basis
.
PFPC will perform
the following services with respect to each Portfolio of a Fund:
|
(i)
|
Journalize investment, capital share and income and expense activities;
|
|
(ii)
|
Verify investment buy/sell trade tickets when received from the investment adviser for the Portfolio
(the "Adviser") and transmit trades (if so agreed with the Adviser) to the Portfolio's custodian (the "Custodian")
for proper settlement;
|
(iii) Maintain individual
ledgers for investment securities;
|
(iv)
|
Maintain historical tax lots for each security;
|
|
(v)
|
Reconcile cash and investment balances of the Portfolio with the Custodian and seek to resolve
outstanding differences, and provide the Adviser with the beginning cash balance available for investment purposes;
|
|
(vi)
|
Update the cash availability throughout the day as required by the Adviser;
|
|
(vii)
|
Post to and prepare the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and the Statement of Operations;
|
|
(viii)
|
Calculate various contractual and other expenses (
e.g.
, advisory and custody fees);
|
|
(ix)
|
Monitor the expense accruals, including the preparation of the expense budget accrual analysis
with expense flux summary, and notify an officer of the Fund of any proposed adjustments to the expense accruals;
|
|
(x)
|
Control all disbursements and authorize such disbursements upon Written Instructions;
|
|
(xi)
|
Calculate capital gains and losses;
|
|
(xii)
|
Determine net income;
|
|
(xiii)
|
Obtain security market quotes from independent pricing sources approved by the Fund, or if such
quotes are unavailable, then obtain such prices from the Adviser or such entity as approved by the Adviser, and in either case
calculate the market
|
value of the Portfolio's investments;
|
(xiv)
|
Transmit or make available (via PFPC’s data repository and analytics suite or otherwise)
a copy of the daily portfolio valuation to the Adviser;
|
|
(xv)
|
Compute net asset value;
|
|
(xvi)
|
As appropriate, compute yields (including SEC yields), total returns,
expense ratios, portfolio turnover rate, and, if required, portfolio average dollar-weighted maturity;
|
|
(xvii)
|
Prepare quarterly broker security transactions summaries;
|
|
(xviii)
|
Prepare monthly security transaction listings;
|
|
(xix)
|
Supply various normal and customary portfolio statistical data as requested on an ongoing basis;
|
|
(xx)
|
Prepare for execution and file the Fund's Semi-Annual Reports with the SEC on Form N-SAR (to the
extent the same relates to the Fund’s Portfolios);
|
|
(xxi)
|
Prepare and file with the SEC the Fund's annual and semi-annual shareholder reports (to the extent
the same relates to the Fund’s Portfolios);
|
|
(xxii)
|
Assist in the preparation of registration statements and other filings relating to the registration
of Shares;
|
|
(xxiii)
|
Monitor the Portfolio's status as a regulated investment company under Sub-chapter M and Sub-chapter
L (if required) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
|
|
(xxiv)
|
Coordinate contractual relationships and communications between the Fund and its contractual service
providers (to the extent the same relates to the Fund’s Portfolios);
|
|
(xxv)
|
Monitor the Portfolio’s compliance with the amounts and conditions
of each state qualification;
|
|
(xxvi)
|
Calculate the distribution amounts necessary for the Portfolio to
comply with the “investment company taxable income” and “net capital gain” distribution requirements set
out in (A) Sub-chapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended) and (B) the excise tax provisions of Section 4982 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended);
|
|
(xxvii)
|
Prepare for execution and file the Portfolio’s Federal and
state tax returns;
|
(xxviii)Provide
standard reporting information agreed to between the Fund and PFPC from time to time for inclusion in the meeting materials for
the periodic meetings of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, Board of Directors or similar governing entity (in such format as
agreed to between the Fund and PFPC from time to time);
|
(xxix)
|
Monitor overdraft positions of the Portfolio and upon Written Instructions
assist in the coordination of the execution of loan documentation relating to any loan which the Portfolio determines to obtain
in order to cover any such overdraft position;
|
|
(xxx)
|
Prepare for execution and file the Fund’s Form 24F-2 with the
SEC (to the extent the same relates to the Fund’s Portfolios);
|
|
(xxxi)
|
Prepare mutually agreed upon statistical reports and complete mutually
agreed upon surveys for outside information services daily, monthly and/or quarterly (as applicable) (e.g., iMoneyNet, Investment
Company Institute, Lipper Analytical Services, Morningstar and Prudential Generic);
|
|
(xxxii)
|
Calculate the amount of income earned by the Portfolio subject to
alternative minimum tax, the amount of income earned by the Portfolio that relates to U.S. Government securities, and the amount
of income earned by the Portfolio that relates to state municipal securities (on a state-by-state basis);
|
(xxxiii)Calculate
the Portfolio’s qualified dividend income (“QDI”), dividends received deduction (“DRD”), and qualified
interest income (“QII”);
|
(xxxiv)
|
Prepare for execution the Fund’s Semi-Annual Reports with the
SEC on Form N-CSR (to the extent the same relates to the Fund’s Portfolios) and provide to such entity as the Fund directs;
|
|
(xxxv)
|
Prepare for execution the Fund’s quarterly portfolio holdings
with the SEC on Form N-Q (to the extent the same relates to the Fund’s Portfolios) and provide to such entity as the Fund
directs;
|
|
(xxxvi)
|
Subject to PFPC receiving such information as PFPC requests, prepare
the Investment Company Institute broker matrix and provide to such entity as the Fund directs;
|
(xxxvii)If the
Portfolio (“Acquiring Portfolio”) merges or has merged with another portfolio (“Target Portfolio”), for
a period of 18 months after such merger (and subject to PFPC receiving adequate information from the Fund to which such Acquiring
Portfolio relates) monitor the portfolio of assets of the Acquiring Portfolio to confirm (on a post trade basis) that at least
33 1/3% of the Target Portfolio’s portfolio of assets at the time of the merger remains a part of the Acquiring Portfolio’s
portfolio of assets (provided that PFPC is not responsible for any compliance or non-compliance with such 33 1/3% requirement);
and
(xxxviii)Such
additional services as shall be agreed in writing between PFPC and the Fund.
|
15.
|
Data Repository and Analytics Suite.
PFPC shall provide
to each Fund PFPC data repository and analytics suite services as set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto and made a part hereof
(as such Exhibit B may be amended with respect to a particular Fund from time to time), subject to the terms of this Agreement
and the terms set forth in such Exhibit B. “Authorized Users” with respect to a particular Fund shall mean such persons
as are authorized by PFPC from time to time to access the data repository and analytics suite with respect to that Fund.
|
|
16.
|
Duration and Termination
.
|
|
(a)
|
This Agreement shall be effective and shall continue with respect to a particular Fund for an initial
period of three (3) years from the date the Fund becomes a party to this Agreement (the “Initial Term”).
|
|
(b)
|
Upon the expiration of the Initial Term with respect to a particular Fund, this Agreement shall
automatically renew with respect to such Fund for successive terms of one (1) year (“Renewal Terms”) each, unless such
Fund or PFPC provides written notice to the other of its intent not to renew this Agreement with respect to such Fund. Such notice
must be received not less than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or the then current Renewal Term applicable
to the Fund to which the termination relates.
|
|
(c)
|
In the event a termination notice is given by a Fund, all expenses associated with movement of
records and materials and conversion thereof to a successor service provider relating to such Fund will be borne by such Fund.
|
|
(d)
|
If PFPC is guilty of a material failure to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement
with respect to a particular Fund that Fund may give written notice thereof to PFPC, and if such material breach shall not have
been remedied by PFPC within thirty (30) days after such written notice is given, then that particular Fund may terminate this
Agreement with respect to that Fund by giving thirty (30) days written notice of such termination to PFPC. If a Fund is guilty
of a material failure to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement PFPC may give written notice thereof to such Fund,
and if such material breach shall not have been remedied by the Fund within thirty (30) days after such written notice is given,
then PFPC may terminate this Agreement with respect to that Fund by giving thirty (30) days written notice of such termination
to such Fund. In all cases relating to a termination of this Agreement pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 16(d),
termination by the non-defaulting party shall not constitute a waiver by the non-defaulting party of any other rights it
might have under this Agreement or otherwise against the defaulting party.
|
|
17.
|
Notices
.
Notices shall be addressed (a) if to PFPC,
at 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, Attention: President (or such other address as PFPC may inform the Funds in
writing from time to time); (b) if to a Fund, at Gateway Center Three, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, NJ 07102, Attention: Grace
C. Torres (or such other address as a particular Fund may inform PFPC in writing from time to time); or (c) if to neither a Fund
nor PFPC, at such other address as shall have been given to the sender of any such notice or other communication. If notice is
sent by confirming telegram, cable, telex or facsimile sending device, it shall be deemed to have been given
|
immediately. If notice is sent
by first-class mail, it shall be deemed to have been given three days after it has been mailed. If notice is sent by messenger,
it shall be deemed to have been given on the day it is delivered.
|
18.
|
Amendments
.
This Agreement, or any term thereof, may
be changed or waived only by written amendment, signed by the party against whom enforcement of such change or waiver is sought.
|
|
19.
|
Assignment
.
PFPC may assign its rights hereunder with
respect to a particular Fund to any majority-owned direct or indirect subsidiary of PFPC or of The PNC Financial Services Group,
Inc., provided that PFPC gives such Fund thirty (30) days prior written notice of such assignment.
|
|
20.
|
Counterparts
.
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
|
|
21.
|
Further Actions
.
Each party agrees to perform such further acts and execute such
further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof.
|
|
(a)
|
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each Fund agrees not to make any modifications
to its registration statement or adopt any policies which would affect materially the obligations or responsibilities of PFPC hereunder
without the prior written approval of PFPC, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
|
|
(b)
|
Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, PFPC hereby disclaims all representations and warranties,
express or implied, made to any Fund or any other
|
person, including, without limitation,
any warranties regarding quality, suitability, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or otherwise (irrespective of
any course of dealing, custom or usage of trade), of any services or any goods provided incidental to services provided under this
Agreement. PFPC disclaims any warranty of title or non-infringement except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement.
|
(c)
|
As between each separate Fund and PFPC, this Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding
between such Fund and PFPC and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between such Fund and PFPC relating to the subject
matter hereof, provided that such Fund and PFPC may embody in one or more separate documents their agreement, if any, with respect
to delegated duties. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit
any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. Notwithstanding any provision hereof, the services
of PFPC are not, nor shall they be construed as constituting, legal advice or the provision of legal services for or on behalf
of any Fund or any other person.
|
|
(d)
|
This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made in Delaware and governed by Delaware law,
without regard to principles of conflicts of law.
|
|
(e)
|
Each Fund will provide such information and documentation as PFPC Trust may reasonably request
in connection with services provided by PFPC Trust to the Fund.
|
|
(f)
|
If any provision of this Agreement as it relates to a particular Fund shall be held or made invalid
by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of
|
this Agreement shall not be affected
thereby. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
and permitted assigns.
|
(g)
|
The facsimile signature of any party to this Agreement shall constitute the valid and binding execution
hereof by such party.
|
|
(h)
|
To help the U.S. government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, U.S.
Federal law requires each financial institution to obtain, verify, and record certain information that identifies each person who
initially opens an account with that financial institution on or after October 1, 2003. Certain of PFPC’s affiliates are
financial institutions, and PFPC may, as a matter of policy, request (or may have already requested) each Fund’s name, address
and taxpayer identification number or other government-issued identification number, and, if such party is a natural person, that
party’s date of birth. PFPC may also ask (and may have already asked) for additional identifying information, and PFPC may
take steps (and may have already taken steps) to verify the authenticity and accuracy of these data elements.
|
|
(i)
|
As between PFPC and American Skandia Trust, this Agreement shall supercede and replace the Administration
and Accounting Services Agreement between American Skandia Trust and PFPC dated May 1, 1992. As between PFPC and Strategic Partners
Mutual Funds, Inc., this Agreement shall supercede and replace the Administration and Accounting Services Agreement between Strategic
Partners Mutual Funds, Inc. (formerly American Skandia Advisor Funds, Inc.) and PFPC dated June 1, 1997.
|
|
(j)
|
PFPC is entering into this Agreement with each of the Funds separately, and any duty, obligation
or liability owed or incurred by PFPC with respect to a particular Fund shall be owed or incurred solely with respect to that Fund,
and shall not in any way create any duty, obligation or liability with respect to any other Fund. This Agreement shall be interpreted
to carry out the intent of the parties hereto that PFPC is entering into a separate arrangement with each separate Fund.
|
Agreed:
PFPC INC.
By:
/s/ Neal J. Andrews
Name: Neal J. Andrews
Title: Senior Vice President
EACH OF THE ENTITIES LISTED
ON
EXHIBIT A
By:
/s/
Robert F. Gunia
Name: Robert
F. Gunia
Title: Vice
President and Director
EXHIBIT A
Dated: July 1, 2005
PORTFOLIOS
American Skandia Trust
AST JPMorgan International Equity Portfolio
AST William Blair International Growth Portfolio
AST LSV International Value Portfolio
AST MFS Global Equity Portfolio
AST Small-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST DeAM Small-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Federated Aggressive Growth Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Small-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Small-Cap Value Portfolio
AST DeAM Small-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Alger All-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Gabelli All-Cap Value Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Natural Resources Portfolio
AST AllianceBernstein Large-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST MFS Growth Portfolio
AST Marsico Capital Growth Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Concentrated Growth Portfolio
AST DeAM Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Hotchkis & Wiley Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST AllianceBernstein Growth + Value Portfolio
AST AllianceBernstein Core Value Portfolio
AST Cohen & Steers Realty Portfolio
AST AllainceBernstein Managed Index 500 Portfolio
AST American Century Income & Growth Portfolio
AST AllianceBernstein Growth and Income Portfolio
AST Global Allocation Portfolio
AST American Century Strategic Balanced Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Global Bond Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs High Yield Bond Portfolio
AST Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture Portfolio
AST PIMCO Total Return Bond Portfolio
AST PIMCO Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio
AST Money Market Portfolio
Strategic Partners Mutual Funds, Inc.
Strategic Partners International Growth Fund
Strategic Partners Small Cap Growth Opportunity
Fund
Strategic Partners Managed Small Cap Growth
Fund
Strategic Partners Small Company Fund
Strategic Partners Mid Cap Growth Fund
Strategic Partners Relative Value Fund
Strategic Partners Technology Fund
Strategic Partners Health Sciences Fund
Strategic Partners Managed OTC Fund
Strategic Partners Capital Growth Fund
Strategic Partners Concentrated Growth Fund
Strategic Partners Core Value Fund
Strategic Partners Managed Index 500 Fund
Strategic Partners Equity Income Fund
Strategic Partners Growth with Income Fund
Strategic Partners Capital Income Fund
Strategic Partners Balanced Fund
Strategic Partners High Yield Bond Fund
Strategic Partners Bond Fund
Strategic Partners Money Market Fund
EXHIBIT B
Data Repository and Analytics Suite
|
1.
|
PFPC Services
.
With respect to each Fund, PFPC will:
|
|
(a)
|
Provide Internet access to PFPC’s data repository and analytics
suite at
www.pfpcdatapath.com
or other site operated by PFPC (the “Site”)
for Fund portfolio data otherwise supplied by PFPC to the Fund or its service providers via other electronic or manual methods.
Types of information to be provided on the Site include: (i) data relating to portfolio securities (other than Compliance Reporting
Services, as defined below), (ii) general ledger balances and (iii) net asset value-related data, including NAV and net asset,
distribution and yield detail (collectively, the “Accounting Services”). Types of information to be provided on the
Site also include: data relating to portfolio securities relative to certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, securities
laws or the Fund's offering documents as they relate to the Fund’s Portfolios (collectively, the "Compliance Reporting
Services") (the Accounting Services and the Compliance Reporting Services are together referred to in Exhibits B and C as
the "Services"). Each Fund hereby agrees that the Compliance Reporting Services are back-end reports only and that PFPC
(i) makes no representation or warranty about the accuracy of the Compliance Reporting Services, or how complete such information
is, at any time and (ii) shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to the accuracy or inaccuracy or complete or incomplete
nature of the Compliance Reporting Services or reliance thereon by any party;
|
|
(b)
|
Supply each of the Authorized Users (as defined in Section 15 of
the Agreement) (the “Users”) with a logon ID and Password;
|
|
(c)
|
Provide to Users access to the information listed in (a) above using
standard inquiry tools and reports. With respect to the Accounting Services, Users will be able to modify standard inquiries to
develop user-defined inquiry tools; however, PFPC will review computer costs for running user-defined inquiries and may assess
surcharges for those requiring excessive hardware resources (in addition to any fees otherwise agreed in writing between the Fund
and PFPC). In addition, costs for developing custom reports or enhancements are not included in any fees otherwise agreed in writing
between the Fund and PFPC and will be billed separately to the Fund;
|
|
(d)
|
Utilize a form of encryption that is generally available to the public
in the U.S. for standard Internet browsers and establish, monitor and verify firewalls and other security features (commercially
reasonable for this type of information and these types of users) and exercise commercially reasonable efforts to attempt to maintain
the security and integrity of the Site; and
|
|
(e)
|
Monitor the telephone lines involved in providing the Services relating
to the Fund and inform the Fund promptly of any malfunctions or service interruptions relating to the Fund.
|
|
2.
|
Duties of each Fund and its Users
.
Each Fund and its
Users (to the extent applicable) will:
|
|
(a)
|
Provide and maintain a web browser supporting Secure Sockets Layer
128-bit encryption; and
|
|
(b)
|
Keep logon IDs and passwords confidential and notify PFPC immediately
in the event that a logon ID or password is lost, stolen or if the Fund or one of its User s has reason to believe that a logon
ID or password is or was being used by an unauthorized person.
|
|
3.
|
Standard of Care; Limitations of Liability
|
|
(a)
|
Nothing in this Section 3 shall in any way serve to limit any limitation
of liability provision otherwise applicable to PFPC under the Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the specific terms
of this Exhibit B as they relate to a particular Fund and the balance of the Agreement as it relates to such Fund, this Exhibit
B shall control as to the Services with respect to such Fund.
|
|
(b)
|
Each Fund acknowledges that the Internet is an “open,”
publicly accessible network and not under the control of any party. PFPC’s provision of Services is dependent upon the proper
functioning of the Internet and services provided by telecommunications carriers, firewall providers, encryption system developers
and others. Each Fund agrees that PFPC shall not be liable in any respect for the actions or omissions of any third party wrongdoers
(i.e., hackers not employed by PFPC or its affiliates) or of any third parties involved in the Services and shall not be liable
in any respect for the selection of any such third party, unless that selection constitutes willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence
on the part of PFPC.
|
|
(c)
|
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or any other provisions
of this Exhibit B or the Agreement, PFPC shall not be liable for delays or failures to perform any of the Services or errors or
loss of data occurring directly or indirectly by reason of circumstances beyond PFPC’s reasonable control, including without
limitation the items referenced in Section 13(b)(i) of the Agreement and including without limitation, functions or malfunctions
of the Internet or telecommunications services, firewalls, encryption systems or security devices occurring directly or indirectly
by reason of circumstances beyond PFPC’s reasonable control or by reason of laws or regulations imposed after July 1, 2005.
|
ADDITION OF PORTFOLIOS TO ACCOUNTING SERVICES
AGREEMENT
This document relates to the addition by
each registered investment company listed on Attachment A to this document (each an “Additional Fund”) to the Agreement
(as defined below) of its investment portfolios listed on Attachment A to this document.
WHEREAS, each Additional Fund wishes to
retain BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) (“BNY Mellon”) to provide the services set forth
in the Agreement (as defined below) to its investment portfolios listed on Attachment A to this document (each an “Additional
Portfolio”), and BNY Mellon wishes to furnish such services;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, each Additional Fund and BNY Mellon
agree as follows:
|
1.
|
For purposes of this document:
|
|
A.
|
“Agreement” means the Accounting
Services Agreement initially made as of July 1, 2005 separately by and between each of Advanced Series Trust (f/k/a American Skandia
Trust) and Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 10 (f/k/a Strategic Partners Mutual Funds, Inc.) (each of which is a “Fund”
under such Accounting Services Agreement) and BNY Mellon, as such Accounting Services Agreement may be amended or amended and restated
from time to time.
|
|
B.
|
“Effective Date” means, with
respect to a particular Additional Portfolio, the effective date listed for such Additional Portfolio on Attachment A to
|
this document (or such other date
as agreed in writing between BNY Mellon and the Additional Fund to which such Additional Portfolio relates).
|
2.
|
Each Additional Fund hereby appoints BNY
Mellon to provide the services set forth in the Agreement, in accordance with the terms set forth in the Agreement, to each of
its Additional Portfolios as of the Effective Date for each such respective Additional Portfolio. BNY Mellon accepts such appointment
and agrees to furnish such services as of the relevant Effective Date.
|
|
4.
|
An Additional Portfolio shall be deemed to
be listed on Exhibit A attached to the Agreement as of the Effective Date for such Additional Portfolio, and as of the Effective
Date for a particular Additional Portfolio (but not before such Effective Date) such Additional Portfolio shall be a “Portfolio”
for all purposes under the Agreement.
|
|
5.
|
For clarity and notwithstanding the provisions
of the first sentence of Section 22(c) of the Agreement, this document embodies a portion of the agreement and understanding between
each Additional Fund and BNY Mellon relating to the subject matter of the Agreement and the Agreement shall not supersede the terms
and provisions of this document.
|
|
6.
|
BNY Mellon is entering into this document
with each of the Additional Funds separately, and any duty, obligation or liability owed or incurred by BNY Mellon with respect
to a particular Additional Fund shall be owed or incurred solely with respect to that Additional Fund, and shall not in any way
create any duty, obligation or liability with respect to any other Additional Fund. This document shall be interpreted to carry
out the intent of the parties hereto that
|
BNY Mellon is entering into
a separate arrangement with each separate Additional Fund.
Agreed:
BNY Mellon
Investment
Servicing
(US) Inc.
By:
_/s/ Shalini O’Suilleabhain
Name: Shalini O’Suilleabhain
Title: VP
Each Registered
Investment Company set
Forth on Attachment A attached hereto
By:
/s/ M. Sadiq Peshimam
Name:
M. Sadiq Peshimam
Title:
Treasurer
Dated: July 1, 2015
ATTACHMENT A
additional fund
|
additional portfolio
|
effective date
|
Advanced Series Trust
|
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
|
7/8/15
|
|
AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio
|
7/8/15
|
|
AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
|
7/8/15
|
|
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
|
7/8/15
|
|
AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio
|
7/8/15
|
|
AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio
|
7/8/15
|
|
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
|
7/8/15
|
|
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
|
7/8/15
|
|
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio
|
7/8/15
|
|
AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
|
7/8/15
|
AMENDMENT
AMENDMENT made as of July 1, 2015 to that certain Amended and Restated
Transfer Agency and Service Agreement made as of May 29, 2007 (the "TA Agreement"), between each of the investment companies
listed in Exhibit A hereto including any series thereof (the "Fund") and Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC ("PMFS").
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them pursuant to the TA Agreement.
WHEREAS, the parties wish to amend the TA Agreement to add AST AB
Global Bond Portfolio, AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio, AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio, AST Goldman
Sachs Global Income Portfolio, AST Ivy Asset Strategy Portfolio, AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio, AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset
Portfolio, AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio, AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio, and AST Wellington Real
Total Return Portfolio, each a series of Advanced Series Trust, as a parties to the TA Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual promises
hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Exhibit A of the TA Agreement shall be amended as set forth in
this Amendment, attached hereto and made a part hereof.
2. Each party represents to the other that this Amendment has been
duly executed.
3
.
This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts, shall, together, constitute only one amendment.
4. This Amendment shall become effective for each Fund as of the
date of first service as listed in Exhibit A hereto upon execution by the parties hereto. From and after the execution hereof,
any reference to the TA Agreement shall be a reference to the TA Agreement as amended hereby. Except as amended hereby, the TA
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund and PMFS have caused this Amendment
to be executed by their duly authorized representatives, as of the day and year first above written.
EACH FUND LISTED ON EXHIBIT A HERETO
By:
/s/ Scott E. Benjamin
Scott E. Benjamin
Title: Executive Vice President
PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND SERVICES LLC
By:
/s/ Hansjerg P. Schlenker
Hansjerg P. Schlenker
Title: Senior Vice President
EXHIBIT A
FUNDS AND PORTFOLIOS
Retail Funds
Prudential Global Total Return Fund, Inc.
Prudential Investment Portfolios 2
Prudential
Core Short-Term Bond Fund
Prudential
Core Taxable Money Market Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 3
Prudential
Global Tactical Allocation Fund
Prudential Jennison Select Growth
Fund
Prudential
Real Assets Fund
Prudential
Strategic Value Fund
Prudential Unconstrained Bond Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 4
Prudential
Muni High Income Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 5
Prudential
Jennison Conservative Growth Fund
Prudential Jennison Rising Dividend
Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 6
Prudential
California Muni Income Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 7
Prudential
Jennison Value Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 8
Prudential
Stock Index Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios 9
Prudential
Absolute Return Bond Fund
Prudential
International Real Estate Fund
Prudential
Large-Cap Core Equity Fund
Prudential Real Estate Income Fund
Prudential Select Real Estate Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios
12
Prudential
Global Real Estate Fund
Prudential Long-Short Equity Fund
Prudential Short Duration Muni High
Income Fund
Prudential
U.S. Real Estate Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios
16
Prudential
Defensive Equity Fund
Prudential
Income Builder Fund (
formerly, Target Conservative Allocation Fund
)
Prudential Investment Portfolios 18
Prudential Jennison 20/20 Focus Fund
Prudential Jennison MLP Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc.
Prudential
Balanced Fund (
formerly, Prudential Asset Allocation Fund
)
Prudential
Conservative Allocation Fund
Prudential
Growth Allocation Fund
Prudential
Jennison Equity Opportunity Fund
Prudential
Jennison Growth Fund
Prudential
Moderate Allocation Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 10
Prudential
Jennison Equity Income Fund
Prudential
Mid-Cap Value Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 14
Prudential
Floating Rate Income Fund
Prudential
Government Income Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios,
Inc. 15
Prudential
High Yield Fund
Prudential
Short Duration High Yield Income Fund
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 17
Prudential Short Duration Multi-Sector
Bond Fund
Prudential Total Return Bond Fund
Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc.
Prudential Jennison Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Inc.
Prudential Jennison Natural
Resources Fund, Inc.
Prudential Jennison Small
Company Fund, Inc.
Prudential MoneyMart Assets, Inc.
Prudential National Muni
Fund, Inc.
Prudential Sector Funds, Inc.
Prudential
Financial Services Fund
Prudential
Health Sciences Fund d/b/a Prudential Jennison Health Sciences Fund
Prudential
Utility Fund d/b/a Prudential Jennison Utility Fund
Prudential Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund, Inc.
Prudential World Fund, Inc.
Prudential
Emerging Markets Debt Local Currency Fund
Prudential International Equity Fund
Prudential
Jennison Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Prudential
Jennison Global Infrastructure Fund
Prudential
Jennison Global Opportunities Fund
Prudential
Jennison International Opportunities Fund
The Target Portfolio Trust
International
Equity Portfolio
Prudential Core Bond Fund
(formerly,
Intermediate-Term Bond Portfolio)
Prudential Corporate Bond Fund
(formerly,
Mortgage Backed Securities Portfolio)
Prudential
Small Cap Value Fund
(formerly, Small Capitalization Value Portfolio)
Insurance Funds
Advanced Series Trust
AST AB Global Bond Portfolio
AST Academic Strategies Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST Advanced Strategies Portfolio
AST AQR Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
AST AQR Large-Cap Portfolio
AST Balanced Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST BlackRock Global Strategies Portfolio
AST BlackRock iShares ETF Portfolio
AST BlackRock/Loomis Sayles Bond Portfolio
AST BlackRock Low Duration Bond Portfolio
(formerly, AST PIMCO
Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio)
AST BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio
AST Bond Portfolio 2015
AST Bond Portfolio 2016
AST Bond Portfolio 2017
AST Bond Portfolio 2018
AST Bond Portfolio 2019
AST Bond Portfolio 2020
AST Bond Portfolio 2021
AST Bond Portfolio 2022
AST Bond Portfolio 2023
AST Bond Portfolio 2024
AST Bond Portfolio 2025
AST Bond Portfolio 2026
AST Boston Partners Large-Cap Value Portfolio (
formerly, AST
Jennison Large Cap Value Portfolio
)
AST Capital Growth Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST ClearBridge Dividend Growth Portfolio
AST Cohen & Steers Realty Portfolio
AST Columbia Adaptive Risk Allocation Portfolio
AST Defensive Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST Emerging Managers Diversified Portfolio
AST FI Pyramis
®
Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST FI Pyramis
®
Quantitative Portfolio
AST FQ Absolute Return Currency Portfolio
AST Franklin Templeton Founding Funds Allocation Portfolio
AST Franklin Templeton Founding Funds Plus Portfolio
AST Franklin Templeton K2 Global Absolute Return Portfolio
AST Global Real Estate Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Global Growth Allocation Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Global Income Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Multi-Asset Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Small-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Goldman Sachs Strategic Income Portfolio
AST Herndon Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST High Yield Portfolio
AST International Growth Portfolio
AST International Value Portfolio
AST Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
AST J.P. Morgan Global Thematic Portfolio
AST J.P. Morgan International Equity Portfolio
AST J.P. Morgan Strategic Opportunities Portfolio
AST Jennison Global Infrastructure Portfolio
AST Jennison Large Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Legg Mason Diversified Growth Portfolio
AST Loomis Sayles Large-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Lord Abbett Core Fixed-Income Portfolio
AST Managed Alternatives Portfolio
AST Managed Equity Portfolio
AST Managed Fixed-Income Portfolio
AST MFS Global Equity Portfolio
AST MFS Growth Portfolio
AST MFS Large-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Mid-Cap Value Portfolio
AST Money Market Portfolio
AST Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Portfolio
AST Multi-Sector Fixed-Income Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman Core Bond Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman Long/Short Portfolio
AST Neuberger Berman/LSV Mid-Cap Value Portfolio
AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST Parametric Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
AST Preservation Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST Prudential Core Bond Portfolio
AST Prudential Flexible Multi-Strategy Portfolio
AST Prudential Growth Allocation Portfolio
AST QMA Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
AST QMA International Core Equity Portfolio
AST QMA Large-Cap Portfolio
AST QMA US Equity Alpha Portfolio
AST Quantitative Modeling Portfolio
AST RCM World Trends Portfolio
AST Schroders Global Tactical Portfolio
AST Schroders Multi-Asset World Strategies Portfolio
AST Small-Cap Growth Opportunities Portfolio (
formally, AST Federated
Aggressive Growth Portfolio
)
AST Small-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST Small-Cap Value Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Asset Allocation Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Diversified Real Growth Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Growth Opportunities Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Growth Portfolio
AST T. Rowe Price Natural Resources Portfolio
AST Templeton Global Bond Portfolio
AST Wellington Management Global Bond Portfolio
AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity Portfolio
AST Wellington Management Real Total Return Portfolio
AST Western Asset Core Plus Bond Portfolio
AST Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio
The Prudential Series Fund
Conservative Balanced Portfolio
Diversified Bond Portfolio
Equity Portfolio
Flexible Managed Portfolio
Global Portfolio
Government Income Portfolio
High Yield Bond Portfolio
Jennison 20/20 Focus Portfolio
Jennison Portfolio
Money Market Portfolio
Natural Resources Portfolio
Small Capitalization Stock Portfolio
Stock Index Portfolio
Value Portfolio
SP International Growth Portfolio
SP International Value Portfolio
SP Prudential U.S. Emerging Growth Portfolio
SP Small Cap Value Portfolio
End of Exhibit A
June 30, 2015
Advanced Series Trust
100 Mulberry Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
|
Re:
|
Advanced Series Trust (“Registrant”) Form N-1A; Post-Effective Amendment No. 136 to
the Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and Amendment No. 138 to the Registration Statement under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the “Amendment”)
|
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We provided an opinion
to the Registrant dated April 25, 2005 (the “Opinion”), which the Registrant filed as an exhibit to its Registration
Statement filed April 29, 2005.
We consent to the filing
of this letter with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Amendment and the incorporation by reference of
the Opinion as an exhibit to the Amendment. We also consent to the reference in the Registration Statement to the Trust to the
fact that Goodwin Procter LLP serves as counsel to the Trust and has provided the Opinion.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Goodwin Procter LLP
Goodwin Procter LLP
A
LLIANCE
B
ERNSTEIN
L.P.
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
Updated January 2015
AllianceBernstein L.P
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
1. Introduction
|
1
|
2. The AB Fiduciary Culture
|
2
|
3. Compliance with Laws, Rules and Regulations
|
2
|
4. Conflicts of Interest / Unlawful Actions
|
3
|
5. Insider Trading
|
4
|
6. Personal Trading: Summary of Restrictions
|
5
|
7. Outside Directorships and Other Outside Activities and Interests
|
6
|
(a) Board Member or Trustee
|
6
|
(b) Other Affiliations
|
7
|
(c) Outside Financial or Business Interests
|
8
|
8. Gifts, Entertainment and Inducements
|
8
|
9. Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws
|
9
|
10. Political Contributions/Activities
|
10
|
11. “Ethical Wall” Policy
|
11
|
12. Use of Client Relationships
|
11
|
13. Corporate Opportunities and Resources
|
12
|
14. Antitrust and Fair Dealing
|
12
|
15. Recordkeeping and Retention
|
13
|
16. Improper Influence on Conduct of Audits
|
13
|
17. Accuracy of Disclosure
|
13
|
18. Confidentiality
|
14
|
19. Protection and Proper Use of AB Assets
|
15
|
20. Policy on Intellectual Property
|
15
|
(a) Overview
|
15
|
(b) Employee Responsibilities
|
15
|
(c) Company Policies and Practices
|
15
|
21. Compliance Practices and Policies of Group Subsidiaries
|
16
|
22. Exceptions from the Code
|
16
|
23. Regulatory Inquiries, Investigations and Litigation
|
17
|
(a) Requests for Information
|
17
|
(b) Types of Inquiries
|
17
|
(c) Responding to Information Requests
|
18
|
(d) Use of Outside Counsel
|
18
|
(e) Regulatory Investigation
|
18
|
(f) Litigation
|
18
|
24. Compliance and Reporting of Misconduct / “Whistleblower” Protection
|
18
|
25. Company Ombudsman
|
19
|
26. Sanctions
|
19
|
27. Annual Certifications
|
19
|
PERSONAL TRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
|
Appendix A
|
|
1. Overview
|
A-1
|
(a) Introduction
|
A-1
|
(b) Definitions
|
A-1
|
2. Requirements and Restrictions – All Employees
|
A-5
|
(a) General Standards
|
A-5
|
(b) Disclosure of Personal Accounts
|
A-6
|
(c) Designated Brokerage Accounts
|
A-6
|
(d) Pre-Clearance Requirement
|
A-7
|
(e) Limitation on the Number of Trades
|
A-9
|
(f) Short-Term Trading
|
A-9
|
(g) Short Sales
|
A-10
|
(h) Trading in AB Units and AB Closed-End Mutual Funds
|
A-10
|
(i) Securities Being Considered for Purchase or Sale
|
A-11
|
(j) Restricted List
|
A-12
|
(k) Dissemination of Research Information
|
A-13
|
(l) Initial Public Offerings
|
A-15
|
(m) Limited Offerings/Private Placements
|
A-15
|
3. Additional Restrictions –Portfolio Managers
|
A-15
|
(a) Blackout Periods (if exception applies)
|
A-16
|
(b) Actions During Blackout Periods
|
A-16
|
(c) Transactions Contrary to Client Positions
|
A-16
|
4. Additional Restrictions – Research Analysts
|
A-16
|
(a) Blackout Periods (if exception applies)
|
A-17
|
(b) Actions During Blackout Periods
|
A-17
|
(c) Actions Contrary to Ratings
|
A-17
|
5. Additional Restrictions – Buy-Side Equity Traders
|
A-17
|
6. Additional Restrictions – Alternate Investment Strategies Groups
|
A-18
|
7. Reporting Requirements
|
A-18
|
(a) Duplicate Confirmations and Account Statements
|
A-18
|
(b) Initial Holdings Reports by Employees
|
A-18
|
(c) Quarterly Reports by Employees
|
A-19
|
(d) Annual Holdings Reports by Employees
|
A-19
|
(e) Report and Certification of Adequacy to the Board of Directors of Fund Clients
|
A-20
|
(f) Report Representations
|
A-20
|
(g) Maintenance of Reports
|
A-20
|
8. Reporting Requirements for Directors who are not Employees
|
A-21
|
(a) Outside Directors / Affiliated Outside Directors
|
A-21
|
CODE CERTIFICATION FORM
Annual Certification FormLast Page
1.
Introduction
This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”)
summarizes the values, principles and business practices that guide our business conduct. The Code establishes a set of basic principles
to guide all AB employees (including AB directors and consultants where applicable) regarding the minimum requirements which we
are expected to meet. The Code applies to all of our offices worldwide. It is
not
, however, intended to provide an exhaustive
list of all the detailed internal policies and procedures, regulations and legal requirements that may apply to you as an AB employee
and/or a representative of one of our regulated subsidiaries. The Compliance Manual, available on the Legal and Compliance Department
intranet site, contains the Firm’s policies covering various legal and regulatory requirements. All AB employees are required
to be read the Compliance Manual, understand its content as it relates to their job function and duty to clients, and to abide
by the policies contained therein.
All individuals subject to the provisions of this
Code must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the requirements and procedures set forth herein. Adherence to the Code
is a fundamental condition of service with us, any of our subsidiaries or joint venture entities, or our general partner (the “AB
Group”).
AllianceBernstein L.P. (“AB,” “we”
or “us”) is a registered investment adviser and acts as investment manager or adviser to registered investment companies,
institutional investment clients, employee benefit trusts, high net worth individuals and other types of investment advisory clients.
In this capacity, we serve as fiduciaries. The fiduciary relationship mandates adherence to the highest standards of conduct and
integrity.
Personnel acting in a fiduciary capacity must carry
out their duties for the
exclusive benefit
of our clients. Consistent with this fiduciary duty, the interests of clients
take priority over the personal investment objectives and other personal interests of AB personnel. Accordingly:
|
·
|
Employees must work to mitigate or eliminate any conflict, or appearance of conflict, between the self-interest of any individual
covered under the Code and his or her responsibility to our clients, or to AB and its unitholders.
|
|
·
|
Employees must never improperly use their position with AB for personal gain to themselves, their family or any other person.
|
The Code is intended to comply with Rule 17j-1 under
the (U.S.) Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) which applies to us because we serve as an investment adviser
to registered investment companies. Rule 17j-1 specifically requires us to adopt a code of ethics that contains provisions reasonably
necessary to prevent our “access persons” (as defined herein) from engaging in fraudulent conduct, including insider
trading. In addition, the Code is intended to comply with the provisions of the (U.S.) Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers
Act”), including Rule 204A-1, which requires registered investment advisers to adopt and enforce codes of ethics applicable
to their supervised persons. Finally, the Code is intended to comply with Section 303A.10 of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”)
Listed Company Manual, which applies to us because the units of AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (“AllianceBernstein Holding”)
are traded on the NYSE.
Additionally, certain entities within the AB Group,
such as Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, have adopted supplemental codes of ethics to address
specific regulatory requirements applicable to them. All employees are obligated to determine if any of these codes are applicable
to them, and abide by such codes as appropriate.
2.
The AB Fiduciary Culture
The primary objective of AB’s business is to
provide value, through investment advisory and other financial services, to a wide range of clients, including governments, corporations,
financial institutions, high net worth individuals and pension funds.
AB requires that all dealings with, and on behalf
of existing and prospective clients be handled with honesty, integrity and high ethical standards, and that such dealings adhere
to the letter and the spirit of applicable laws, regulations and contractual guidelines. As a general matter, AB is a fiduciary
that owes its clients a duty of undivided loyalty, and each employee has a responsibility to act in a manner consistent with this
duty.
When dealing with or on behalf of a client, every
employee must act solely in the best interests of that client. In addition, various comprehensive statutory and regulatory structures
such as the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act and ERISA, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, all impose specific responsibilities
governing the behavior of personnel in carrying out their responsibilities. AB and its employees must comply fully with these rules
and regulations. Legal and Compliance Department personnel are available to assist employees in meeting these requirements.
All employees are expected to adhere to the high standards
associated with our fiduciary duty, including care and loyalty to clients, competency, diligence and thoroughness, and trust and
accountability. Further, all employees must actively work to avoid the possibility that the advice or services we provide to clients
is, or gives the appearance of being, based on the self-interests of AB or its employees and not the clients’ best interests.
Our fiduciary responsibilities apply to a broad range
of investment and related activities, including sales and marketing, portfolio management, securities trading, allocation of investment
opportunities, client service, operations support, performance measurement and reporting, new product development as well as your
personal investing activities. These obligations include the duty to avoid material conflicts of interest (and, if this is not
possible, to provide full and fair disclosure to clients in communications), to keep accurate books and records, and to supervise
personnel appropriately. These concepts are further described in the Sections that follow.
3.
Compliance with Laws, Rules and Regulations
AB has a long-standing commitment to conduct its business
in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and in accordance with the highest ethical principles. This commitment helps
ensure our reputation for honesty, quality and integrity. All individuals subject to the Code are required to comply with all such
laws and regulations. All U.S. employees, as well as non-U.S. employees who act on behalf of U.S. clients or funds, are required
to comply with the U.S. federal securities laws. These laws include, but are not limited to, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, ERISA,
the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, any rules adopted
by the SEC under any of these statutes, the Bank Secrecy
Act as it applies to our activities, and any rules adopted thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”),
Department of the Treasury or the Department of Justice. As mentioned above, as a listed company, we are also subject to specific
rules promulgated by the NYSE. Similarly, our non-US affiliates are subject to additional laws and regulatory mandates in their
respective jurisdictions, which must be fully complied with.
4.
Conflicts of Interest / Unlawful Actions
A “conflict of interest” exists when a
person’s private interests may be contrary to the interests of AB’s clients or to the interests of AB or its unitholders.
A conflict situation can arise when an AB employee
takes actions or has interests (business, financial or otherwise) that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively
and effectively. Conflicts of interest may arise, for example, when an AB employee, or a member of his or her family,
[1]
receives improper personal benefits (including personal loans, services, or payment for services that the AB employee performs
in the course of AB business) as a result of his or her position at AB, or gains personal enrichment or benefits through access
to confidential information. Conflicts may also arise when an AB employee, or a member of his or her family, holds a significant
financial interest in a company that does an important amount of business with AB or has outside business interests that may result
in divided loyalties or compromise independent judgment. Moreover, conflicts may arise when making securities investments for personal
accounts or when determining how to allocate trading opportunities. Additional conflicts of interest are highlighted in the AB
Policy and Procedures for Giving and Receiving Gifts and Entertainment
, a copy of which can be found on the Legal and Compliance
Department intranet site.
Conflicts of interest can arise in many common situations,
despite one’s best efforts to avoid them. This Code does not attempt to identify all possible conflicts of interest. Literal
compliance with each of the specific procedures will not shield you from liability for personal trading or other conduct that violates
your fiduciary duties to our clients. AB employees are encouraged to seek clarification of, and discuss questions about, potential
conflicts of interest. If you have questions about a particular situation or become aware of a conflict or potential conflict,
you should bring it to the attention of your supervisor, the General Counsel, the Conflicts Officer, the Chief Compliance Officer
or a representative of the Legal and Compliance Department or Human Capital.
In addition to the specific prohibitions contained
in the Code, you are, of course, subject to a general requirement not to engage in any act or practice that would defraud our clients.
This general prohibition (which also applies specifically in connection with the purchase and sale of a Security held or to be
acquired or sold, as this phrase is defined in the Appendix) includes:
|
·
|
Making any untrue statement of a material fact or employing any device, scheme or artifice to defraud a client;
|
|
·
|
Omitting to state (or failing to provide any information necessary to properly clarify any statements made, in light of the
circumstances) a material fact, thereby creating a materially misleading impression;
|
|
·
|
Making investment decisions, changes in research ratings and trading decisions other than exclusively for the benefit of, and
in the best interest of, our clients;
|
|
·
|
Using information about investment or trading decisions or changes in research ratings (whether considered, proposed or made)
to benefit or avoid economic injury to you or anyone other than our clients;
|
|
·
|
Taking, delaying or omitting to take any action with respect to any research recommendation, report or rating or any investment
or trading decision for a client in order to avoid economic injury to you or anyone other than our clients;
|
|
·
|
Purchasing or selling a security on the basis of knowledge of a possible trade by or for a client with the intent of personally
profiting from personal holdings in the same or related securities (“front-running” or “scalping”);
|
|
·
|
Revealing to any other person (except in the normal course of your duties on behalf of a client) any information regarding
securities transactions by any client or the consideration by any client of any such securities transactions; or
|
|
·
|
Engaging in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit on a client or engaging
in any manipulative practice with respect to any client.
|
5.
Insider Trading
There are instances where AB employees may have confidential
“inside” information about AB or its affiliates, or about a company with which we do business, or about a company in
which we may invest on behalf of clients that is not known to the investing public. AB employees must maintain the confidentiality
of such information. If a reasonable investor would consider this information important in reaching an investment decision, the
AB employee with this information must not buy or sell securities of any of the companies in question or give this information
to another person who trades in such securities. This rule is very important, and AB has adopted the following three specific policies
that address it:
Policy and Procedures Concerning Purchases and Sales of AllianceBernstein Units, Policy and Procedures Concerning
Purchases and Sales of AllianceBernstein Closed-End Mutual Funds,
and
Policy and Procedures Regarding Insider Trading and
Control of Material Nonpublic Information
(collectively, the “AB Insider Trading Policies”). A copy of the AB
Insider Trading Policies may be found on the Legal and Compliance Department intranet site. All AB employees are required to be
familiar with these policies
[2]
and to abide by them.
6.
Personal Trading: Summary of Restrictions
AB recognizes the importance to its employees of being
able to manage and develop their own and their dependents’ financial resources through long-term investments and strategies.
However, because of the potential conflicts of interest inherent in our business, our industry and AB have implemented certain
standards and limitations designed to minimize these conflicts and help ensure that we focus on meeting our duties as a fiduciary
for our clients. As a general matter, AB discourages personal investments by employees in individual securities and encourages
personal investments in managed collective vehicles, such as mutual funds.
AB senior management believes it is important for
employees to align their own personal interests with the interests of our clients.
Consequently, employees are encouraged to
invest in the mutual fund products and services offered by AB, where available and appropriate.
The policies and procedures for personal trading are
set forth in full detail in the AB
Personal Trading Policies and Procedures
, included in the Code as Appendix A. The following
is a summary of the major requirements and restrictions that apply to personal trading by employees, their immediate family members
and other financial dependents:
|
·
|
Employees must disclose all of their securities accounts to the Legal and Compliance Department;
|
|
·
|
Employees may maintain securities accounts only at specified designated broker-dealers;
|
|
·
|
Employees must pre-clear all securities trades with the Legal and Compliance Department (via the StarCompliance Code of Ethics
application) prior to placing trades with their broker-dealer (prior supervisory approval is required for portfolio managers, research
analysts, traders, persons with access to AB research, and others designated by the Legal and Compliance Department);
|
|
·
|
Employees may only make twenty trades in individual securities during any rolling thirty calendar-day period;
|
|
·
|
Employee purchases of individual securities, ETFs, ETNs, and closed-end mutual funds (as well as AB managed open-end funds)
are subject to a 60-day holding period (6 months for AB Japan Ltd.);
|
|
·
|
Employees may not engage in short-term trading of a mutual fund in violation of that fund’s short-term trading policies;
|
|
·
|
Employees may not participate in initial public offerings;
|
|
·
|
Employees must get written approval, and make certain representations, in order to participate in limited or private offerings;
|
|
·
|
Employees must submit initial and annual holding reports, disclosing all securities and holdings in mutual funds managed by
AB held in personal accounts;
|
|
·
|
Employees must, on a quarterly basis, submit or confirm reports identifying all transactions in securities (and mutual funds
managed by AB) in personal accounts;
|
|
·
|
The Legal and Compliance Department has the authority to deny:
|
|
a.
|
Any personal trade by an employee if the security is being considered for purchase or sale in a client account, there are open
orders for the security on a trading desk, or the security appears on any AB restricted list;
|
|
b.
|
Any short sale by an employee for a personal account if the security is being held long in AB - managed portfolios; and
|
|
c.
|
Any personal trade by a portfolio manager or research analyst in a security that is subject to a blackout period as a result
of client portfolio trading or recommendations to clients.
|
|
·
|
Separate requirements and restrictions apply to Directors who are not employees of AB, as explained in further detail in the
AB
Personal Trading Policies and Procedures
, Appendix A of this document.
|
This summary should not be considered a substitute
for reading, understanding and complying with the detailed restrictions and requirements that appear in the AB
Personal Trading
Policies and Procedures
, included as Appendix A to the Code.
7.
Outside Directorships and Other Outside Activities and Interests
Although activities outside of AB are not necessarily
a conflict of interest, a conflict may exist depending upon your position within AB and AB’s relationship with the particular
activity in question. Outside activities may also create a potential conflict of interest if they cause an AB employee to choose
between that interest and the interests of AB or any client of AB. AB recognizes that the guidelines in this Section are not applicable
to directors of AB who do not also serve in management positions within AB.
Important Note for Research Analysts:
Notwithstanding the standards and prohibitions that follow in this section, any Employee who acts in the capacity of a research
analyst is prohibited from serving on any board of directors or trustees or in any other capacity with respect to any company,
public or private, whose business is directly or indirectly related to the industry covered by that research analyst.
(a)
Board Member or Trustee
|
i.
|
No AB employee shall serve on any board of directors or trustees or in any other management capacity of any unaffiliated
public
company.
|
|
ii.
|
No AB employee shall serve on any board of directors or trustees or in any other management capacity of any private company
without prior written approval (other than not-for-profit organizations) from the employee’s supervisor.
[3]
After obtaining supervisory
|
approval, the employee must obtain written authorization
from AB’s Chief Compliance Officer who will provide final approval. This approval is also subject to review by, and may require
the approval of, AB’s Chief Executive Officer. The decision as to whether to grant such authorization will be based on a
determination that such service would not be inconsistent with the interests of any client, as well as an analysis of the time
commitment and potential personal liabilities and responsibilities associated with the outside affiliation.
[4]
Any AB employee who serves as a director, trustee or in any other management capacity of any private company must resign that
position prior to the company becoming a publicly traded company.
|
iii.
|
This approval requirement applies regardless of whether an AB employee plans to serve as a director of an outside business
organization (1) in a personal capacity or (2) as a representative of AB or of an entity within the AB Group holding a corporate
board seat on the outside organization (e.g., where AB or its clients may have a significant but non-controlling equity interest
in the outside company).
|
|
iv.
|
New employees with pre-existing relationships are required to resign from the boards of public companies and seek and obtain
the required approvals to continue to serve on the boards of private companies.
|
(b)
Other Affiliations
AB discourages employees from committing to secondary
employment, particularly if it poses any conflict in meeting the employee’s ability to satisfactorily meet all job requirements
and business needs. Before an AB employee accepts a second job, that employee must:
|
·
|
Immediately inform his or her Department Head and Human Capital in writing of the secondary employment;
|
|
·
|
Ensure that AB’s business takes priority over the secondary employment;
|
|
·
|
Ensure that no conflict of interest exists between AB’s business and the secondary employment (
see also, footnote
4
); and
|
|
·
|
Require no special accommodation for late arrivals, early departures, or other special requests associated with the secondary
employment.
|
For employees associated with any of AB’s registered
broker-dealer subsidiaries, written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer for the subsidiary is also required.
[5]
New employees with pre-existing relationships are required to ensure that their affiliations conform to these restrictions, and
must obtain the requisite approvals.
(c)
Outside Financial or Business Interests
AB employees should be cautious with respect to personal
investments that may lead to conflicts of interest or raise the appearance of a conflict. Conflicts of interest in this context
may arise in cases where an AB employee, a member of his or her family, or a close personal acquaintance, holds a substantial interest
in a company that has significant dealings with AB or any of its subsidiaries either on a recurring or “one-off” basis.
For example, holding a substantial interest in a family-controlled or other privately-held company that does business with, or
competes against, AB or any of its subsidiaries may give rise to a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict. In contrast,
holding shares in a widely-held public company that does business with AB from time to time may not raise the same types of concerns.
Prior to making any such personal investments, AB employees must pre-clear the transaction, in accordance with the Personal Trading
Policies and Procedures, attached as Appendix A of this Code, and should consult as appropriate with their supervisor, the Conflicts
Officer, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer or other representative of the Legal and Compliance Department.
AB employees should also be cautious with respect to
outside business interests that may create divided loyalties, divert substantial amounts of their time and/or compromise their
independent judgment. If a conflict of interest situation arises, you should report it to your supervisor, the Conflicts Officer,
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and/or other representative of AB’s Human Capital or Legal and Compliance Department.
Business transactions that benefit relatives or close personal friends, such as awarding a service contract to them or a company
in which they have a controlling or other significant interest, may also create a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict.
AB employees must consult their supervisor and/or the Conflicts Officer, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer or other representative
of AB’s Human Capital or Legal and Compliance Department before entering into any such transaction. New employees that have
outside financial or business interests (as described herein) should report them as required and bring them to the attention of
their supervisor immediately.
8.
Gifts, Entertainment and Inducements
Business gifts and entertainment are designed to build
goodwill and sound working relationships among business partners. However, under certain circumstances, gifts, entertainment, favors,
benefits, and/or job offers may be attempts to “purchase” favorable treatment. Accepting or offering such inducements
could raise doubts about an AB employee’s ability to make independent business judgments in our clients’ or AB’s
best interests. For example, a problem would arise if (i) the receipt by an AB employee of a gift, entertainment or other inducement
would compromise, or could be reasonably viewed as compromising, that individual’s ability to make objective and fair business
decisions on behalf of AB or its clients, or (ii) the offering by an AB employee of a gift, entertainment or other inducement appears
to be an attempt to obtain business through improper means or to gain any special advantage in our business relationships through
improper means.
These situations can arise in many different circumstances
(including with current or prospective suppliers and clients) and AB employees should keep in mind that certain types of inducements
may constitute illegal bribes, pay-offs or kickbacks. In particular, the rules of various securities regulators place specific
constraints on the activities of persons involved in the sales and marketing of securities. AB has adopted the
Policy and Procedures
for Giving and Receiving Gifts and
Entertainment to address these and other matters.
AB Employees must familiarize themselves with this policy and comply with its requirements, which include reporting the acceptance
of most business meals, gifts and entertainment to the Compliance Department. A copy of this policy can be found on the Legal and
Compliance Department intranet site, and will be supplied by the Compliance Department upon request.
Each AB employee must use good judgment to ensure
there is no violation of these principles. If you have any question or uncertainty about whether any gifts, entertainment or other
type of inducements are appropriate, please contact your supervisor or a representative of AB’s Legal and Compliance Department
and/or the Conflicts Officer, as appropriate. If you feel uncomfortable utilizing the normal channels, issues may be brought to
the attention of the Company Ombudsman, who is an independent, informal and confidential resource for concerns about AB business
matters that may implicate issues of ethics or questionable practices. Please see Section 25 for additional information on the
Company Ombudsman.
9.
Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws
AB
employees should be aware that AB strictly prohibits the acceptance, offer, payment or authorization, whether directly or via a
third party, of any bribe, and any other form of corruption, whether involving a government official or an employee of a public
or private commercial entity. Therefore, it is the responsibility of all AB employees to adhere to all applicable anti-corruption
laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which they do business, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”),
the U.K. Bribery Act, and similar international laws regulating payments to public and private sector individuals (collectively,
the “Anti-Corruption Laws”).
We
expect all AB employees to refuse to make or accept questionable and/or improper payments. As a component of this commitment, no
AB employee may give money, gifts, or anything else of value to any official or any employee of a governmental or commercial entity
if doing so could reasonably be construed as an attempt to provide AB with an improper business advantage. In addition, any proposed
payment or gift to a government official, including employees of government-owned or controlled enterprises (e.g. sovereign wealth
and pension funds, public utilities, and national banks), must be reviewed in advance by a representative of the Legal and Compliance
Department, even if such payment is common in the country of payment (see discussion of the Anti-Corruption Laws below and in the
firm’s
Anti-Corruption Policy
). AB employees should be aware that they do not actually have to make the payment to
violate AB’s policy and the law — merely offering, promising or authorizing it will be considered a violation.
In
order to ensure that AB fully complies with the requirements of the Anti-Corruption Laws, employees must be familiar with the firm’s
Anti-Corruption Policy
. Generally, the Anti-Corruption Laws make it illegal (with civil and criminal penalties) for AB,
and its employees and agents, to provide anything of value to public or private sector employees, directly or indirectly, for the
purpose of obtaining an improper business advantage (which can include improperly securing government licenses and permits). Accordingly,
the use of AB funds or assets (or those of any third party) to make a payment directly or through another person or company for
any illegal, improper and/or corrupt purpose is strictly prohibited.
It
is often difficult to determine at what point a business courtesy extended to another person crosses the line into becoming excessive,
and what ultimately could be considered a bribe.
Therefore, no
entertainment or gifts may be offered to, or travel or hotel expenses paid for, any public official, including employees of government-owned
or controlled enterprises, under any circumstances, without the express prior written approval (e-mail correspondence is acceptable)
of the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, or their designees in the Legal and Compliance Department.
10.
Political Contributions/Activities
(a)
By or on behalf of AB
Election laws in many jurisdictions generally prohibit
political contributions by corporations to candidates. Many local laws also prohibit corporate contributions to local political
campaigns. In accordance with these laws, AB does not make direct contributions to any candidates for national or local offices
where applicable laws make such contributions illegal. In these cases, contributions to political campaigns must not be, nor appear
to be, made with or reimbursed by AB assets or resources. AB assets and resources include (but are not limited to) AB facilities,
personnel, office supplies, letterhead, telephones, electronic communication systems and fax machines. This means that AB office
facilities may not be used to host receptions or other events for political candidates or parties which include any fund raising
activities or solicitations. In limited circumstances, AB office facilities may be used to host events for public office holders
as a public service, but only where steps have been taken (such as not providing to the office holder a list of attendees) to avoid
the facilitation of fund raising solicitations either during or after the event, and where the event has been pre-approved in writing
by the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel.
Please see the
Policy and Procedures for Giving
and Receiving Gifts and Entertainment
, which can be found on the Legal and Compliance Department intranet site, for a discussion
relating to political contributions suggested by clients.
Election laws in many jurisdictions allow corporations
to establish and maintain political action or similar committees, which may lawfully make campaign contributions. AB or companies
affiliated with AB may establish such committees or other mechanisms through which AB employees may make political contributions,
if permitted under the laws of the jurisdictions in which they operate. Any questions about this policy should be directed to the
General Counsel or Chief Compliance Officer.
(b)
By Employees
AB employees who hold or seek to hold political office
must do so on their own time, whether through vacation, after work hours or on weekends. Additionally, the employee must notify
the General Counsel or Chief Compliance Officer prior to running for political office to ensure that there are no conflicts of
interest with AB business.
AB employees may make
personal political contributions
as they see fit in accordance with all applicable laws and the guidelines in the
Policy and Procedures for Giving and Receiving
Gifts and Entertainment
, as well as the
pre-clearance requirement
as described below. Certain employees involved with
the offering or distribution of municipal fund securities (e.g.,
a “529 Plan”) or acting as a director for
certain subsidiaries, must also adhere to the restrictions and reporting requirements of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board.
Several (U.S.) states and localities have enacted “pay-to-play”
laws. Some of these laws could prohibit AB from entering into a government contract for a certain number of years if a covered
employee makes or solicits a covered contribution. Other jurisdictions require AB to report contributions made by certain employees,
without the accompanying ban on business. In certain jurisdictions, the laws also cover the activities of the spouse and dependent
children of the covered person.
In response to these laws, in addition to SEC Rule 206(4)-5, which also prohibits certain political
contributions, AB has in place a pre-clearance requirement, under which all employees must pre-clear with the Compliance Department,
all personal political contributions (including those of their spouses and dependent children) made to, or solicited on behalf
of, any (U.S.) state or local candidate or political party
.
[6]
11.
“Ethical Wall” Policy
AB has established a policy entitled
Insider Trading
and Control of Material Non-Public Information
(“Ethical Wall Policy”), a copy of which can be found on the Legal
and Compliance Department intranet site. This policy was established to prevent the flow of material non-public information about
a listed company or its securities from AB employees who receive such information in the course of their employment to those AB
employees performing investment management activities. If “Ethical Walls” are in place, AB’s investment management
activities may continue despite the knowledge of material non-public information by other AB employees involved in different parts
of AB’s business. “Investment management activities” involve making, participating in, or obtaining information
regarding purchases or sales of securities of public companies or making, or obtaining information about, recommendations with
respect to purchases or sales of such securities. Given AB’s extensive investment management activities, it is very important
for AB employees to familiarize themselves with AB’s Ethical Wall Policy and abide by it.
12.
Use of Client Relationships
As discussed previously, AB owes fiduciary duties to
each of our clients. These require that our actions with respect to client assets or vendor relationships be based solely on the
clients’ best interests and avoid any appearance of being based on our own self-interest. Therefore, we must avoid using
client assets or relationships to inappropriately benefit AB.
Briefly, AB regularly acquires services directly
for itself, and indirectly on behalf of its clients (e.g., brokerage, investment research, custody, administration, auditing, accounting,
printing and legal services). Using the existence of these relationships to obtain discounts or favorable pricing on items purchased
directly for AB or for clients other than those paying for the services may create conflicts of interest. Accordingly, business
relationships maintained on behalf of our clients may not be used to leverage pricing for AB when acting for its own account unless
all pricing discounts and arrangements are shared ratably with those clients whose existing relationships were
used to negotiate the arrangement and the arrangement
is otherwise appropriate under relevant legal/regulatory guidelines. For example, when negotiating printing services for the production
of AB’s Form 10-K and annual report, we may not ask the proposed vendor to consider the volume of printing business that
they may get from AB on behalf of the investment funds we manage when proposing a price. On the other hand, vendor/service provider
relationships with AB may be used to leverage pricing on behalf of AB’s clients.
In summary, while efforts made to leverage our buying
power are good business, efforts to obtain a benefit for AB as a result of vendor relationships that we structure or maintain on
behalf of clients may create conflicts of interest, which should be escalated and addressed.
13.
Corporate Opportunities and Resources
AB employees owe a duty to AB to advance the firm’s
legitimate interests when the opportunity to do so arises and to use corporate resources exclusively for that purpose. Corporate
opportunities and resources must not be taken or used for personal gain. AB Employees are prohibited from:
|
·
|
Taking for themselves personally opportunities that are discovered through the use of company property, information or their
position;
|
|
·
|
Using company property, information, resources or their company position for personal gain; and
|
|
·
|
Competing with AB directly or indirectly.
|
Please also refer to the
Policy and Procedures
for Giving and Receiving Gifts and Entertainment
, and its Appendix B, the
Code of Conduct Regarding the Purchase of Products
and Services on Behalf of AB and its Clients
, which can be found on the Legal and Compliance Department intranet site.
14.
Antitrust and Fair Dealing
AB believes that the welfare of consumers is best
served by economic competition. Our policy is to compete vigorously, aggressively and successfully in today’s increasingly
competitive business climate and to do so at all times in compliance with all applicable antitrust, competition and fair dealing
laws in all the markets in which we operate. We seek to excel while operating honestly and ethically, never through taking unfair
advantage of others. Each AB employee should endeavor to deal fairly with AB’s customers, suppliers, competitors and other
AB employees. No one should take unfair advantage through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation
of material facts or any other unfair dealing practices.
The antitrust laws of many jurisdictions are designed
to preserve a competitive economy and promote fair and vigorous competition. We are all required to comply with these laws and
regulations. AB employees involved in marketing, sales and purchasing, contracts or in discussions with competitors have a particular
responsibility to ensure that they understand our standards and are familiar with applicable competition laws. Because these laws
are complex and can vary from one jurisdiction to another, AB employees are urged to seek advice from the General Counsel, Chief
Compliance Officer or Corporate Secretary if questions arise. Please also refer to the
Policy and Procedures for Giving and
Receiving Gifts and Entertainment
, which can be found on the Legal and Compliance Department intranet site, for a discussion
relating to some of these issues.
15.
Recordkeeping and Retention
Properly maintaining and retaining company records
is of the utmost importance. AB employees are responsible for ensuring that AB’s business records are properly maintained
and retained in accordance with applicable laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where it operates. AB Employees should familiarize
themselves with these laws and regulations. Please see the
Record Retention Policy
on the Legal and Compliance intranet
site for more information.
16.
Improper Influence on Conduct of Audits
AB employees, and persons acting under their direction,
are prohibited from taking any action to coerce, manipulate, mislead, hinder, obstruct or fraudulently influence any external auditor,
internal auditor or regulator engaged in the performance of an audit or review of AB’s financial statements and/or procedures.
AB employees are required to cooperate fully with any such audit or review.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of actions that
might constitute improper influence:
|
·
|
Offering or paying bribes or other financial incentives to an auditor, including offering future employment or contracts for
audit or non-audit services;
|
|
·
|
Knowingly providing an internal or external auditor or regulator with inaccurate or misleading data or information;
|
|
·
|
Threatening to cancel or canceling existing non-audit or audit engagements if the auditor objects to the company’s accounting;
|
|
·
|
Seeking to have a partner or other team member removed from the audit engagement because such person objects to the company’s
accounting;
|
|
·
|
Knowingly altering, tampering or destroying company documents;
|
|
·
|
Knowingly withholding pertinent information; or
|
|
·
|
Knowingly providing incomplete information.
|
Under Sarbanes Oxley Law any false statement -- that
is, any lie or attempt to deceive an investigator -- may result in criminal prosecution.
17.
Accuracy of Disclosure
Securities and other laws impose public disclosure
requirements on AB and require it to regularly file reports, financial information and make other submissions to various regulators
and stock market authorities around the globe. Such reports and submissions must comply with all applicable legal requirements
and may not contain misstatements or omit material facts.
AB employees who are directly or indirectly involved
in preparing such reports and submissions, or who regularly communicate with the press, investors and analysts concerning AB, must
ensure within the scope of the employee’s job activities that such reports, submissions and communications are (i) full,
fair, timely, accurate and understandable, and (ii) meet applicable legal requirements. This applies to all public disclosures,
oral statements, visual presentations, press conferences and media calls concerning AB, its financial performance and similar matters.
In addition, members of AB’s Board, executive officers and AB employees who regularly
communicate with analysts or actual or potential investors
in AB securities are subject to the AB
Regulation FD Compliance Policy
. A copy of the policy can be found on the Legal and
Compliance Department intranet site.
18.
Confidentiality
AB employees must maintain the confidentiality of
sensitive non-public and other confidential information entrusted to them by AB or its clients and vendors and must not disclose
such information to any persons except when disclosure is authorized by AB or mandated by regulation or law. However, disclosure
may be made to (1) other AB employees who have a bona-fide “need to know” in connection with their duties, (2) persons
outside AB (such as attorneys, accountants or other advisers) who need to know in connection with a specific mandate or engagement
from AB or who otherwise have a valid business or legal reason for receiving it and have executed appropriate confidentiality agreements,
or (3) regulators pursuant to an appropriate written request (see Section 23).
Confidential information includes all non-public information
that might be of use to competitors, or harmful to AB or our clients and vendors, if disclosed. The identity of certain clients
may be confidential, as well. Intellectual property (such as confidential product information, trade secrets, patents, trademarks,
and copyrights), business, marketing and service plans, databases, records, salary information, unpublished financial data and
reports as well as information that joint venture partners, suppliers or customers have entrusted to us are also viewed as confidential
information. Please note that the obligation to preserve confidential information continues even after employment with AB ends.
To safeguard confidential information, AB employees
should observe at least the following procedures:
|
·
|
Special confidentiality arrangements may be required for certain parties, including outside business associates and governmental
agencies and trade associations, seeking access to confidential information;
|
|
·
|
Papers relating to non-public matters should be appropriately safeguarded;
|
|
·
|
Appropriate controls for the reception and oversight of visitors to sensitive areas should be implemented and maintained;
|
|
·
|
Document control procedures, such as numbering counterparts and recording their distribution, should be used where appropriate;
|
|
·
|
If an AB employee is out of the office in connection with a material non-public transaction, staff members should use caution
in disclosing the AB employee’s location;
|
|
·
|
Sensitive business conversations, whether in person or on the telephone, should be avoided in public places and care should
be taken when using portable computers and similar devices in public places; and
|
|
·
|
E-mail messages and attachments containing material non-public information should be treated with similar discretion (including
encryption, if appropriate) and recipients should be made aware of the need to exercise similar discretion.
|
Please see the
Privacy Policy
on the Legal and
Compliance intranet site for more information.
19.
Protection and Proper Use of AB Assets
AB employees have a responsibility for safeguarding
and making proper and efficient use of AB’s property. Every AB employee also has an obligation to protect AB’s property
from loss, fraud, damage, misuse, theft, embezzlement or destruction. Acts of fraud, theft, loss, misuse, carelessness and waste
of assets may have a direct impact on AB’s profitability. Any situations or incidents that could lead to the theft, loss,
fraudulent or other misuse or waste of AB property should be reported to your supervisor or a representative of AB’s Human
Capital or Legal and Compliance Department as soon as they come to an employee’s attention. Should an employee feel uncomfortable
utilizing the normal channels, issues may be brought to the attention of the Company Ombudsman, who is an independent, informal
and confidential resource for concerns about AB business matters that may implicate issues of ethics or questionable practices.
Please see Section 25 for additional information on the Company Ombudsman.
20.
Policy on Intellectual Property
(a)
Overview
Ideas, inventions, discoveries and other forms of so-called
“intellectual property” are becoming increasingly important to all businesses, including ours. Recently, financial
services companies have been applying for and obtaining patents on their financial product offerings and “business methods”
for both offensive and defensive purposes. For example, business method patents have been obtained for information processing systems,
data gathering and processing systems, billing and collection systems, tax strategies, asset allocation strategies and various
other financial systems and strategies.
The primary goals of the AB policy on intellectual property are to preserve our ability
to use our own proprietary business methods, protect our IP investments and reduce potential risks and liabilities.
(b)
Employee Responsibilities
|
·
|
New Products and Methods
. Employees must maintain detailed records and all work papers related to the development of
new products and methods in a safe and secure location.
|
|
·
|
Trademarks
. Clearance must be obtained from the Legal and Compliance Department before any new word, phrase or slogan,
which we consider proprietary and in need of trademark protection, is adopted or used in any written materials. To obtain clearance,
the proposed word, phrase or slogan and a brief description of the products or services for which it is intended to be used should
be communicated to the Legal and Compliance Department sufficiently well in advance of any actual use in order to permit any necessary
clearance investigation.
|
(c)
Company Policies and Practices
|
·
|
Ownership
. Employees acknowledge that any discoveries, inventions, or improvements (collectively, “Inventions”)
made or conceived by them in connection with, and during the
|
course of, their employment belong, and automatically
are assigned, to AB. AB can keep any such Inventions as trade secrets or include them in patent applications, and Employees will
assist AB in doing so. Employees agree to take any action requested by AB, including the execution of appropriate agreements and
forms of assignment, to evidence the ownership by AB of any such Invention.
|
·
|
Use of Third Party Materials
. In performing one’s work for, or on behalf of AB, Employees will not knowingly disclose
or otherwise make available, or incorporate anything that is proprietary to a third party without obtaining appropriate permission.
|
|
·
|
Potential Infringements
. Any concern regarding copyright, trademark, or patent infringement should be immediately communicated
to the Legal and Compliance Department. Questions of infringement by AB will be investigated and resolved as promptly as possible.
|
By certifying in accordance with Section 27 of this
Code, the individual subject to this Code agrees to comply with AB’s policies and practices related to intellectual property
as described in this Section 20.
21.
Compliance Practices and Policies of Group Subsidiaries
AXA, a worldwide leader in financial protection strategies
and wealth management, owns a majority economic interest in AB and as a result AB is considered an AXA Group company.
Despite being an AXA Group company, AB operates autonomously
and has adopted its own compliance policies adapted to its specific businesses and to the specific legal, regulatory and ethical
environments in the countries where it does business, which AXA encourages for all its companies as a matter of “best practices.”
However, the AXA Group has adopted a Group
Compliance
and Ethics Guide
, and AXA Financial has put forth a
Policy Statement on Ethics
, to which AXA Group companies must adhere.
In addition, AXA has promulgated a
Group Standards Handbook
. AB employees are expected to become familiar with the requirements
articulated in these documents, which can be found on the Legal and Compliance Department intranet site.
22.
Exceptions from the Code
In addition to the exceptions contained within the
specific provisions of the Code, the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer (or his or her designee) may, in very limited circumstances,
grant other exceptions under any Section of this Code on a case-by-case basis, under the following procedures:
(a)
Written Statement and Supporting Documentation
The individual seeking the exception
furnishes to the Chief Compliance Officer, as applicable:
|
(1)
|
A written statement detailing the efforts made to comply with the requirement from which the individual seeks an exception;
|
|
(2)
|
A written statement containing a representation and warranty that (i) compliance with the requirement would impose a severe
undue hardship on the individual and (ii) the exception would not, in any manner or degree, harm or defraud a client, violate the
general principles herein or compromise the individual’s or AB’s fiduciary duty to any client; and/or
|
|
(3)
|
Any supporting documentation that the Chief Compliance Officer may require.
|
(b)
Compliance Interview
The Chief Compliance Officer (or designee) will conduct
an interview with the individual or take such other steps deemed appropriate in order to determine that granting the exception
will not, in any manner or degree, harm or defraud a client, violate the general principles herein or compromise the individual’s
or AB’s fiduciary duty to any client; and will maintain all written statements and supporting documentation, as well as documentation
of the basis for granting the exception.
PLEASE NOTE: To the extent required by law or NYSE
rule, any waiver or amendment of this Code for AB’s executive officers (including AB’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Financial Officer, and Principal Accounting Officer) or directors shall be made at the discretion of the Board of AllianceBernstein
Corporation and promptly disclosed to the unitholders of AllianceBernstein Holding pursuant to Section 303A.10 of the NYSE Exchange
Listed Company Manual.
23.
Regulatory Inquiries, Investigations and Litigation
(a)
Requests for Information
Governmental agencies and regulatory organizations
may from time to time conduct surveys or make inquiries that request information about AB, its customers or others that generally
would be considered confidential or proprietary.
All regulatory inquiries concerning AB are to be
handled by the Chief Compliance Officer or General Counsel. Employees receiving such inquiries should refer such matters immediately
to the Legal and Compliance Department.
(b)
Types of Inquiries
Regulatory inquiries may be received by mail, e-mail,
telephone or personal visit. In the case of a personal visit, demand may be made for the immediate production or inspection of
documents. While any telephone or personal inquiry should be handled in a courteous manner, the caller or visitor should be informed
that responses to such requests are the responsibility of AB’s Legal and Compliance Department. Therefore, the visitor should
be asked to wait briefly while a call is made to the Chief Compliance Officer or General Counsel for guidance on how to proceed.
In the case of a telephone inquiry, the caller should be referred to the Chief Compliance Officer or General Counsel or informed
that his/her call will be promptly returned. Letter or e-mail inquiries should be forwarded promptly to the Chief Compliance Officer
or General Counsel, who will provide an appropriate response.
(c)
Responding to Information Requests
Under no circumstances should any documents or material
be released without prior approval of the Chief Compliance Officer or General Counsel. Likewise, no employee should have substantive
discussions with any regulatory personnel without prior consultation with either of these individuals. Note that this policy is
standard industry practice and should not evoke adverse reaction from any experienced regulatory personnel. Even if an objection
to such delay is made, the policy is fully within the law and no exceptions should be made.
(d)
Use of Outside Counsel
It is the responsibility of the Chief Compliance Officer
or General Counsel to inform AB’s outside counsel in those instances deemed appropriate and necessary.
(e)
Regulatory Investigation
Any employee that is notified that they are the subject
of a regulatory investigation, whether in connection with his or her activities at AB or at a previous employer, must immediately
notify the Chief Compliance Officer or General Counsel.
(f)
Litigation
Any receipt of service or other notification of a pending
or threatened action against the firm should be brought to the immediate attention of the General Counsel or Chief Compliance Officer.
These individuals also should be informed of any instance in which an employee is sued in a matter involving his/her activities
on behalf of AB. Notice also should be given to either of these individuals upon receipt of a subpoena for information from AB
relating to any matter in litigation or receipt of a garnishment lien or judgment against the firm or any of its clients or employees.
The General Counsel or Chief Compliance Officer will determine the appropriate response.
24.
Compliance and Reporting of Misconduct / “Whistleblower” Protection
No Code can address all specific situations. Accordingly,
each AB employee is responsible for applying the principles set forth in this Code in a responsible fashion and with the exercise
of good judgment and common sense.
Whenever uncertainty arises, an AB employee should seek guidance from an appropriate supervisor
or a representative of Human Capital or the Legal and Compliance Department before proceeding.
All AB employees should promptly report any practices
or actions the employee believes to be inappropriate or inconsistent with any provisions of this Code. In addition all employees
must
promptly report any actual violations of the Code to the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer or a designee.
Any
person reporting a violation in good faith will be protected against reprisals
.
If you feel uncomfortable utilizing the formal channels,
issues may be brought to the attention of the Company Ombudsman, who is an independent, informal and confidential resource for
concerns about AB business matters that may implicate issues of ethics or questionable practices. Please see Section 25 for additional
information on the Company Ombudsman.
25.
Company Ombudsman
AB’s Company Ombudsman provides a neutral, confidential,
informal and independent communications channel where any AB employee can obtain assistance in surfacing and resolving work-related
issues. The primary purpose of the Ombudsman is to help AB:
-
Safeguard its reputation and financial, human and other company assets;
-
Maintain an ethical and fiduciary culture;
-
Demonstrate and achieve its commitment to “doing the right thing;” and
-
Comply with relevant provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, as well
as AB’s 2003 SEC Order, New York Stock Exchange Rule 303A.10 and other laws, regulations and policies.
The Ombudsman seeks to provide early warnings and to
identify changes that will prevent malfeasance and workplace issues from becoming significant or recurring. The Ombudsman has a
reporting relationship to the AB CEO, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of AllianceBernstein Corporation and independent
directors of AB’s U.S. mutual fund boards.
Any type of work-related issue may be brought to the
Ombudsman, including potential or actual financial malfeasance, security matters, inappropriate business practices, compliance
issues, unethical behavior, violations of law, health and safety issues, and employee relations issues. The Ombudsman supplements,
but does not replace existing formal channels such as Human Capital, Legal and Compliance, Internal Audit, Security and line management.
26.
Sanctions
Upon learning of a violation of this Code, any member
of the AB Group, with the advice of the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and/or the AB Code of Ethics Oversight Committee,
may impose such sanctions as such member deems appropriate, including, among other things, restitution, censure, suspension or
termination of service. Persons subject to this Code who fail to comply with it may also be violating the U.S. federal securities
laws or other federal, state or local laws within their particular jurisdictions.
27.
Annual Certifications
Each person subject to this Code must certify at least
annually to the Chief Compliance Officer that he or she has read and understands the Code, recognizes that he or she is subject
hereto and has complied with its provisions and disclosed or reported all personal securities transactions and other items required
to be disclosed or reported under the Code. The Chief Compliance Officer may require interim certifications for significant changes
to the Code.
APPENDIX A
A
LLIANCE
B
ERNSTEIN
L.P.
PERSONAL TRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
1.
Overview
(a)
Introduction
AB recognizes the importance to its employees of being
able to manage and develop their own and their dependents’ financial resources through long-term investments and strategies.
However, because of the potential conflicts of interest inherent in our business, our industry and AB have implemented certain
standards and limitations designed to minimize these conflicts and help ensure that we focus on meeting our duties as a fiduciary
for our clients.
Employees should be aware that their ability to liquidate positions may be severely restricted under these
policies, including during times of market volatility
. Therefore, as a general matter, AB discourages personal investments
by employees in individual securities and encourages personal investments in managed collective vehicles, such as mutual funds.
AB senior management believes it is important for employees
to align their own personal interests with the interests of our clients.
Consequently, employees are encouraged to invest in
the mutual fund products and services offered by AB, where available and appropriate.
(b)
Definitions
The following definitions apply for purposes of this
Appendix A of the Code; however additional definitions are contained in the text itself.
[7]
|
1.
|
“AllianceBernstein” or “AB”
mean AllianceBernstein L.P., its subsidiaries and its joint venture
entities.
|
|
2.
|
“Beneficial Ownership”
is interpreted in the same manner as in determining whether a person is subject to
the provisions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), Rule 16a-1 and the other rules
and regulations thereunder and includes ownership by any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement,
understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a Security. For example, an
individual has an indirect pecuniary interest in any Security owned by the individual’s spouse. Beneficial Ownership also
includes, directly or indirectly, through any contract,
|
arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise,
having or sharing “voting power” or “investment power,” as those terms are used in Section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 thereunder.
|
3.
|
“Client”
means any person or entity, including an investment company, for which AB serves as investment
manager or adviser.
|
|
4.
|
“Chief Compliance Officer”
refers to AB’s Chief Compliance Officer.
|
|
5.
|
“Code of Ethics Oversight Committee”
refers to the committee of AB’s senior officers that is responsible
for monitoring compliance with the Code.
|
|
6.
|
“Conflicts Officer”
refers to AB’s Conflicts Officer, who reports to the Chief Compliance Officer.
|
|
7.
|
“Control”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act.
|
|
8.
|
“Director”
means any person who serves in the capacity of a director of AllianceBernstein Corporation.
“Affiliated
Outside Director”
means any Director who is not an Employee (as defined below) but who is an employee of an entity affiliated
with AB.
“Outside Director”
means any Director who is neither an Employee (as defined below) nor an employee
of an entity affiliated with AB.
|
|
9.
|
“Employee”
refers to any person who is an employee or officer of AB, including part-time employees and consultants
(acting in the capacity of a portfolio manager, trader or research analyst, or others at the discretion of the Compliance Department)
under the Control of AB.
|
|
10.
|
“Initial Public Offering”
means an offering of Securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
“1933 Act”), the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements
of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as well as similar offerings of Securities issued outside the United States.
|
|
11.
|
“Investment Personnel”
refers to:
|
|
a.
|
Any Employee who acts in the capacity of a portfolio manager, research analyst or trader or any other capacity (such as an
assistant to one of the foregoing) and in connection with his or her regular duties makes or participates in making, or is in a
position to be aware of, recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities by a Client;
|
|
b.
|
Any Employee who receives or has access to AB equity research or Bernstein Research via Outlook distribution, Factset, Bloomberg,
Research Wire or other medium/platform;
|
|
c.
|
Any other Employee designated as such by the Legal and Compliance Department; or
|
|
d.
|
Any natural person who Controls AB and who obtains information concerning recommendations made to a Client regarding the purchase
or sale of securities by the Client.
|
|
12.
|
“Limited Offering”
means an offering that is exempt from registration under the 1933 Act pursuant to Sections
4(2) or 4(6) thereof or pursuant to Rules 504, 505 or 506 under the 1933 Act, as well as similarly exempted offerings of Securities
issued outside the United States. Investments in hedge funds are typically sold in a limited offering setting.
|
|
13.
|
“Ombudsman”
means the Company Ombudsman of AB, or any of his/her staff members.
|
|
14.
|
“Personal Account”
refers to any account (including, without limitation, a custody account, safekeeping
account and an account maintained by an entity that may act in a brokerage or a principal capacity) in which any type of security
(as defined in Section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act of 1940) may be traded or custodied, and in which an Employee has
any Beneficial Ownership, and any such account maintained by or for a financial dependent of an Employee. For example, this definition
includes Personal Accounts of:
|
|
a.
|
An Employee’s spouse/domestic partner (of same or opposite gender), including a legally separated or divorced spouse
who is a financial dependent;
|
|
b.
|
Financial dependents of an Employee, including both those residing with the Employee and those not residing with the Employee,
such as financially dependent children away at college; and
|
|
c.
|
Any person or entity for which the Employee acts as a fiduciary (e.g., acting as a Trustee) or who has given investment discretion
to the Employee, other than accounts over which the employee has discretion as a result of his or her responsibilities at AB.
|
Personal Accounts include any account meeting the
above definition even if the Employee has given discretion over the account to someone else.
|
15.
|
“Purchase or Sale of a Security”
includes, among other transactions, the writing or purchase of an option
to sell a Security and any short sale of a Security.
|
|
16.
|
“Security”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act and includes any
derivative thereof, commodities, options or forward contracts, except that it shall not include:
|
|
a.
|
Securities issued by the government of the United States;
|
|
b.
|
Short-term debt securities that are government securities within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company
Act;
|
|
c.
|
Shares issued by money market funds;
|
|
d.
|
Shares issued by open-end mutual funds,
other than Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and mutual funds managed
by AB
; and
|
|
e.
|
Bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, high quality short-term debt instruments and such
other instruments as may be designated from time to time by the Chief Compliance Officer.
|
IMPORTANT NOTE: Exchange-Traded
Funds are covered under this definition of Security, and therefore are subject to the governing rules. (See exceptions in Sections
2(d)(ii), 2(e)(ii) and 2(f)(ii) of this Appendix.)
|
17.
|
A Security is
“Being Considered for Purchase or Sale”
when:
|
|
a.
|
An AB Growth research analyst issues research information regarding initial coverage of, or changing a rating with respect
to, a Security;
|
|
b.
|
A portfolio manager has indicated his or her intention to purchase or sell a Security; or
|
|
c.
|
An open order
[8]
in the Security exists on any buy-side
trading desk.
|
This is not an exhaustive list. At the discretion
of the Legal and Compliance Department, a Security may be deemed “Being Considered for Purchase or Sale” even if none
of the above events have occurred, particularly if a portfolio manager is contemplating the purchase or sale of that Security,
as evidenced by e-mails or the manager’s preparation of, or request for, research.
|
18.
|
“Security held or to be acquired or sold
” means:
|
|
a.
|
Any Security which, within the most recent 15 days (i) is or has been held by a Client in an AB-managed account or (ii) is
being or has been considered by AB for purchase or sale for the Client; and
|
|
b.
|
Any option to purchase or sell, and any Security convertible into or exchangeable for, a Security.
|
|
19.
|
“StarCompliance Code of Ethics application”
means the web-based application used to electronically pre-clear
personal securities transactions and file many of the reports required herein. The application can be accessed via the AB network
at: http://starcompliance.acml.com.
|
|
20.
|
“Subsidiary”
refers to entities with respect to which AB, directly or indirectly, through the ownership
of voting securities, by contract or otherwise has the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of such
entity.
|
2.
Requirements and Restrictions – All Employees
The following are the details of the standards which
must be observed:
(a)
General Standards
Employees have an obligation to conduct their personal
investing activities and related Securities transactions lawfully and in a manner that avoids actual or potential conflicts between
their own interests and the interests of AB and its clients. Employees must carefully consider the nature of their AB responsibilities
- and the type of information that he or she might be deemed to possess in light of any particular securities transaction - before
engaging in any investment-related activity or transaction.
|
i.
|
Material Nonpublic Information
: Employees in possession of material nonpublic information about or affecting Securities,
or their issuer, are prohibited from buying or selling such Securities, or advising any other person to buy or sell such Securities.
Similarly, they
may not disclose such information to anyone without the permission of the General Counsel or Chief Compliance
Officer
. Please see the AB Insider Trading Policies, which can be found on the Legal and Compliance Department intranet site.
|
|
ii.
|
Short-Term Trading
: Employees are encouraged to adopt long-term investment strategies (see Section 2(f) for applicable
holding period for individual securities). Similarly, purchases of shares of most mutual funds should be made for investment purposes.
Employees are therefore prohibited from engaging in transactions in a mutual fund that are in violation of the fund’s prospectus,
including any applicable short-term trading or market-timing prohibitions.
|
With respect to the AB funds,
Employees are prohibited from short-term trading, and may not effect a purchase and redemption, regardless of size, in and out
of the same mutual fund within any sixty (60) day period.
[9]
|
iii.
|
Personal Responsibility
: It is the responsibility of each Employee to ensure that all Securities transactions in Personal
Accounts are made in strict compliance with the restrictions and procedures in the Code and this Appendix A, and otherwise comply
with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
|
|
iv.
|
Affiliated Directors and Outside Directors
: The personal trading restrictions of Appendix A of the Code do not apply
to any Affiliated Director or Outside Director,
provided that at the time of the transaction, he or she has no actual knowledge
that the Security involved is “Being Considered for Purchase or Sale
.” Affiliated Directors and Outside Directors,
however, are subject to reporting requirements as described in Section 8 below.
|
(b)
Disclosure of Personal Accounts
All Employees must disclose their Personal Accounts
to the Compliance Department (and take all necessary actions to close any accounts held with non-designated brokers, see next section).
It is each Employee’s responsibility to ensure that the Compliance Department is appropriately notified of all accounts and
to direct the broker to provide the Compliance Department with electronic and/or paper brokerage transaction confirmations and
account statements (and verify that it has been done). Do not assume that the broker-dealer will automatically arrange for this
information to be set up and forwarded correctly.
(c)
Designated Brokerage Accounts
Personal Accounts of an Employee that are maintained
as brokerage accounts must be held only at the following approved designated broker-dealers (each a “Designated Broker”):
[10]
|
·
|
Credit Suisse Securities - Private Banking USA Group;
|
|
·
|
Goldman, Sachs & Co. - Private Wealth Management (account minimums apply);
|
|
·
|
Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC
[11]
|
Under limited circumstances, the Compliance Department
may grant exceptions to this policy and approve the use of other broker-dealers or custodians (such as in the case of proprietary
products that can only be held at specific firms). In addition, the Chief Compliance Officer may in the future modify this list.
All Securities in which an Employee has any Beneficial
Ownership must be held in Personal Accounts and maintained in accordance with the Designated Broker requirements described above
(except that shares of open-end mutual funds may be held directly with the investment company). Additionally, Employees may effect
Securities transactions only in Personal Accounts (or directly through a mutual fund’s transfer agent). In limited circumstances,
the Chief Compliance Officer, or his designee, may grant an exception to these requirements (see Section 22 of the Code). This
requirement
applies to all types of Securities and personal Securities
transactions including, for example, Securities issued in a Limited Offering or other direct investments.
(d)
Pre-Clearance Requirement
|
i.
|
Subject to the exceptions specified below, an Employee may not purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, any Security (
please
note the limited pre-clearance requirement related to AB mutual funds in Section 2(h) below
) in which the Employee has (or
after such transaction would have) any Beneficial Ownership unless the Employee obtains the prior approval from the Compliance
Department
and, in the case of Investment Personnel, the head of the business unit (or a designated manager) in which the Employee
works
.
[12]
Pre-clearance requests must be made on
the date of the contemplated transaction, through the use of the appropriate pre-clearance form, which can be accessed via the
StarCompliance Code of Ethics application at http://starcompliance.acml.com. These requests will document (a) the details of the
proposed transaction and (b) representations as to compliance with the personal trading restrictions of this Code.
|
Pre-Clearance requests will generally be acted
on by the automated pre-clearance system only between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
(New York time). The Legal and
Compliance Department (including via its electronic pre-clearance utility) will review the request to determine if the proposed
transaction complies with the Code, whether that security is restricted for AB personnel, and if appropriate, contact the appropriate
supervisor (or a person designated by the supervisor) to determine whether the proposed transaction raises any potential conflicts
of interest or other issues. The Compliance Department will communicate to the requesting Employee its approval or denial of the
proposed transaction, either in writing (e-mail) or orally. In the U.S. and Canada, any approval given under this paragraph will
remain in effect only until the end of the trading day on which the approval was granted. For employees in offices outside the
U.S. and Canada, such approval will remain in effect for the following business day as well. Good-until-cancel limit orders are
not permitted without daily requests for pre-clearance approval.
Employees must wait for approval before placing the order with
their broker
.
The Legal and Compliance Department will maintain
an electronic log of all pre-clearance requests and indicate the approval or denial of the request in the log.
PLEASE NOTE: When a Security is Being Considered for
Purchase or Sale for a Client (see Section 2(i) below) or is being purchased or sold for a Client following the approval on the
same day of a personal trading request form for the same Security, the Legal and Compliance Department is authorized to cancel
the personal order if (a) it has not been executed and the order exceeds a market value of $50,000 or (b) the Legal and Compliance
Department determines, after consulting with the trading desk
and the appropriate business unit head (if available),
that the order, based on market conditions, liquidity and other relevant factors, could have an adverse impact on a Client or on
a Client’s ability to purchase or sell the Security or other Securities of the issuer involved.
|
ii.
|
Exceptions: The pre-clearance requirements do not apply to
[13]
:
|
|
a.
|
Non-Volitional Transactions, including
:
|
|
·
|
Transactions in a Personal Account managed for an Employee on a discretionary basis by a third person or entity, when the Employee
does not discuss any specific transactions for the account with the third-party manager;
|
|
·
|
Any Security received as part of an Employee’s compensation (although any subsequent sales must be pre-cleared);
|
|
·
|
Any Securities transaction effected in an Employee’s Personal Account pursuant to an automatic investment plan, which
means a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) a Personal Account in
accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation, and includes dividend reinvestment plans. Additional purchases and sales
that are not automatic, however, are subject to the pre-clearance requirement.
|
The Legal and Compliance Department may request an Employee
to certify as to the non-volitional nature of these transactions.
|
b.
|
Exercise of
Pro Rata
Issued Rights
|
Purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued
by an issuer
pro rata
to all holders of a class of the issuer’s Securities, to the extent such rights were acquired
from such issuer, and sales of such rights so acquired. This exemption applies only to the exercise or sale of rights that are
issued in connection with a specific upcoming public offering on a specified date, as opposed to rights acquired from the issuer
(such as warrants or options), which may be exercised from time-to-time up until an expiration date. This exemption does not apply
to the sale of stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of rights.
|
c.
|
Certain Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”)/AB Managed Open-end Mutual Funds
|
ETFs and open-end mutual funds managed by AB are covered
under the Code’s definition of Security and therefore are subject to all applicable Code rules and prohibitions. However,
investments in AB-managed funds (if transacted through
the ABI Employee Desk -
if, not, pre-clearance is
required
) and the following broad-based ETFs are not subject to the
pre-clearance
provisions:
[14]
–
PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ)
–
SPDR Trust (SPY)
–
DIAMONDS Trust, Series I (DIA)
–
iShares S&P 500 Index Fund (IVV)
–
iShares Russell 1000 Growth (IWF)
–
iShares Russell 1000 Value (IWD)
–
iShares Russell 1000 Index (IWB)
–
iShares MSCI EAFE (EFA)
–
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets (EEM)
–
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth (EFG)
–
iShares MSCI EAFE Value (EFV)
–
iShares FTSE 100 (ISF)
–
iShares MSCI World (IWRD/IQQW)
–
iShares Barclays 7-10 Yr Treas Bond (IEF)
–
iShares Barclays 1-3 Yr Treas Bond (SHY)
–
iShares Barclays TIPS Bond Fund (TIP)
–
iShares Barclays MBS Bond Fund (MBB)
–
iShares IBOXX Investment Grade – (LQD)
–
IShares IBOXX High Yield Corp Bond (HYG)
–
iShares S&P US Preferred Stock Index (PFF)
|
–
iShares JPMorgan USD Emer Mkt Bond Fund (EMB)
–
iShares CDN Composite Index Fund (XIC)
–
iShares MSCI Kokusai (TOK)
–
iShares MSCI Japan (EWJ)
–
iShares DAX (DAXEX)
–
iShares DJ EuroStoxx 50 (EUE)
–
SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Fund (STW)
–
smartFONZ (FNZ)
–
DAIWA ETF – TOPIX (1305)
–
NOMURA ETF – TOPIX (1306)
–
NIKKO ETF – TOPIX (1308)
–
DAIWA ETF - NIKKEI 225 (1320)
–
NOMURA ETF - NIKKEI 225 (1321)
–
NIKKO ETF – 225 (1330)
–
Tracker Fund of Hong Kong (2800)
–
iShares FTSE/Xinhua A50 China Tracker (2823)
–
Nifty BeES
–
SENSEX Prudential ICICI ETF
|
(e)
Limitation on the Number of Trades
|
i.
|
No more than an aggregate of twenty (20) transactions in individual Securities may occur in an Employee’s Personal Accounts
during any rolling thirty-day period.
|
|
a.
|
The limitation on the permissible number of trades over a 30-day period does not apply to the AB-managed funds or the ETFs
listed in Section 2(d)(ii)(c) above.
Note that the 60-day hold requirement (see next section) still applies to these Securities.
In addition, options on these securities are not included in this exception.
|
(f)
Short-Term Trading
|
i.
|
Employees must always conduct their personal trading activities lawfully, properly and responsibly, and are encouraged to adopt
long-term investment strategies that are consistent with their financial resources and objectives. AB discourages short-term trading
strategies, and Employees are cautioned that such strategies may inherently carry a higher risk of regulatory and other scrutiny.
In any event, excessive or inappropriate trading that interferes with job performance, or compromises the duty that AB owes to
its Clients will not be tolerated.
|
Employees are subject to a mandatory buy and hold
of all Securities for 60 days
.
[15]
By regulation,
employees of AB Japan Ltd. are subject to a 6-month hold.
A last-in-first out accounting methodology will be applied to a series
of Securities purchases for determining compliance with this holding rule. As noted in Section 2(a)(ii), the applicable holding
period for AB open-end funds is also 60 days.
|
ii.
|
Exceptions to the short-term trading rules (i.e., the 60-day hold):
|
|
a.
|
Securities transactions in Personal Accounts of spouses and domestic partners and other non-Employees (e.g., financially dependent
children)
which are not directed by the Employee
are subject to the mandatory buy and hold (or sale and buyback) of 60-calendar
days. However, after 30 calendar days, such a transaction will be permitted for these Personal Accounts if necessary to minimize
a loss.
|
|
b.
|
Transactions in a Personal Account managed for an Employee on a discretionary basis by a third person or entity.
|
|
c.
|
Transactions in Securities held by the Employee prior to his or her employment with AB.
|
|
d.
|
Shares in the publicly traded units of AB that
were acquired in connection with a compensation plan
. However, units
purchased on the open market must comply with the holding period requirements herein.
|
Any trade made in violation of this section of the
Code shall be unwound, or, if that is not practicable, all profits from the short-term trading may be disgorged as directed by
the Chief Compliance Officer.
(g)
Short Sales
The Legal and Compliance Department will prohibit an
Employee from engaging in any short sale of a Security in a Personal Account if, at the time of the transaction, any Client has
a long position in such Security in an AB-managed portfolio (except that an Employee may engage in short sales against the box
and covered call writing provided that these personal Securities transactions do not violate the prohibition against short-term
trading).
(h)
Trading in AB Units and AB Open and Closed-End Mutual Funds
During certain times of the year (typically in the
weeks leading up to the firm’s quarterly earnings announcement), Employees may be prohibited from conducting transactions
in the equity units of AB (as well as the AllianceBernstein L.P. Contingent Value Rights, associated with the acquisition of W.P.
Stewart and & Co., Ltd.). Additional restricted periods may be required for certain individuals and events, and the Legal and
Compliance
Department will announce when such additional restricted
periods are in effect. Transactions in AB Units and closed-end mutual funds managed by AB are subject to the same pre-clearance
process as other Securities, with certain additional Legal and Compliance Department approval required. See the
Statement of
Policy and Procedures Concerning Purchases and Sales of AllianceBernstein Units
and the
Statement of Policy and Procedures
Concerning Purchases and Sales of AllianceBernstein Closed-End Mutual Funds
. Employees are not permitted to transact in short
sales of AB Units.
Employees who transact in open-end AB mutual
funds outside of the Employee Desk at AllianceBernstein Investments – i.e., in a regular brokerage account, must pre-clear
the transaction via StarCompliance.
(i)
Securities Being Considered for Purchase or Sale
|
i.
|
The Legal and Compliance Department will, subject to the exceptions below, prohibit an Employee from purchasing or selling
a Security (or a derivative product), or engaging in any short sale of a Security, in a Personal Account if, at the time of the
transaction, the Security is Being Considered for Purchase or Sale for a Client or is being purchased or sold for a Client. Please
see the definition of a Security “Being Considered for Purchase or Sale” (Section 1(b)(17) of this Appendix) for a
non-exhaustive list of examples which illustrate this prohibition.
|
|
ii.
|
Exceptions: This prohibition does not apply to
:
|
|
a.
|
Non-Volitional Transactions, including
:
|
|
·
|
Transactions in a Personal Account managed for an Employee on a discretionary basis by a third person or entity, when the Employee
does not discuss any specific transactions for the account with the third-party manager;
|
|
·
|
Any Security received as part of an Employee’s compensation (although any subsequent sales must be pre-cleared);
|
|
·
|
Any Securities transaction effected in an Employee’s Personal Account pursuant to an automatic investment plan, which
means a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) a Personal Account in
accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation, and includes dividend reinvestment plans. Additional purchases and sales
that are not automatic, however, are subject to this prohibition.
|
The Legal and Compliance Department may request an Employee
to certify as to the non-volitional nature of these transactions.
|
b.
|
Exercise of
Pro Rata
Issued Rights
|
Purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued
by an issuer
pro rata
to all holders of a class of the issuer’s Securities, to the extent such rights were acquired
from such issuer, and sales of such rights so acquired.
This exemption applies only to the exercise or sale of rights that are issued in connection with a specific upcoming public offering
on a specified date, as opposed to rights acquired from the issuer (such as warrants or options), which may be exercised from time-to-time
up until an expiration date. This exemption does not apply to the sale of stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of rights.
|
c.
|
De Minimis
Transactions -- Fixed Income Securities
|
Any of the following Securities, if at the time of the
transaction, the Employee has no actual knowledge that the Security is Being Considered for Purchase or Sale by a Client or that
the Security is being purchased or sold by or for the Client:
|
·
|
Fixed income securities transactions having a principal amount not exceeding $25,000; or
|
|
·
|
Non-convertible debt securities and non-convertible preferred stocks which are rated by at least one nationally recognized
statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) in one of the three highest investment grade rating categories.
|
|
d.
|
De Minimis
Transactions -- Equity Securities
|
Any equity Security transaction, or series of related
transactions, involving shares of common stock and excluding options, warrants, rights and other derivatives, provided:
|
·
|
Any orders are entered after 10:00 a.m. and before 3:00 p.m. and are not designated as “market on open” or “market
on close;”
|
|
·
|
The aggregate value of the transactions do not exceed (1) $10,000 for Securities of an issuer with a market capitalization
of less than $1 billion; (2) $25,000 for Securities of an issuer with a market capitalization of $1 billion to $5 billion and (3)
$50,000 for Securities of an issuer with a market capitalization of greater than $5 billion; and
|
|
·
|
The Employee has no actual knowledge that the Security is Being Considered for Purchase or Sale by a Client or that the Security
is being purchased or sold by or for the Client.
|
PLEASE NOTE: Even if a trade qualifies for a de minimis
exception, it must be pre-cleared by the Legal and Compliance Department in advance of being placed.
(j)
Restricted List
A Security may not be purchased or sold in a Personal
Account if, at the time of the transaction, the Security appears on the AB Daily Restricted List and is restricted for
Employee transactions. The Daily Restricted List is
made available each business day to all Employees via the AB intranet page.
(k)
Dissemination of Research Information
|
i.
|
An Employee may not buy or sell any Security for a Personal Account that is the subject of “significantly new”
or “significantly changed” research during the period commencing with the approval of the research and continuing for
twenty-four hours subsequent to the first publication or release of the research. An Employee also may not buy or sell any Security
on the basis of research that AB has not yet made public or released. The terms “significantly new” and “significantly
changed” include:
|
|
a.
|
The initiation of coverage by an AB or Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC research analyst;
|
|
b.
|
Any change in a research rating or position by an AB or Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC research analyst;
|
|
c.
|
Any other rating, view, opinion, or advice from an AB or Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC research analyst, the issuance
(or re-issuance) of which in the opinion of such research analyst, or his or her director of research, would be reasonably likely
to have a material effect on the price of the security.
|
|
ii.
|
Exceptions: This prohibition does not apply to
:
|
|
a.
|
Non-Volitional Transactions, including
:
|
|
·
|
Transactions in a Personal Account managed for an Employee on a discretionary basis by a third person or entity, when the Employee
does not discuss any specific transactions for the account with the third-party manager;
|
|
·
|
Any Security received as part of an Employee’s compensation (although any subsequent sales must be pre-cleared);
|
|
·
|
Any Securities transaction effected in an Employee’s Personal Account pursuant to an automatic investment plan, which
means a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) a Personal Account in
accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation, and includes dividend reinvestment plans. Additional purchases and sales
that are not automatic, however, are subject to this prohibition.
|
The Legal and Compliance Department may request an Employee
to certify as to the non-volitional nature of these transactions.
|
b.
|
Exercise of
Pro Rata
Issued Rights
|
Purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued
by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of the issuer’s Securities, to the extent such rights were acquired
from such issuer, and sales of such rights so acquired.
This exemption applies only to the exercise or sale of rights that are issued in connection with a specific upcoming public offering
on a specified date, as opposed to rights acquired from the issuer (such as warrants or options), which may be exercised from time-to-time
up until an expiration date. This exemption does not apply to the sale of stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of rights.
|
c.
|
De Minimis
Transactions -- Fixed Income Securities
|
This exception does not apply to research issued
by Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC
.
Any of the following Securities, if at the time of the transaction, the Employee
has no actual knowledge that the issuer is the subject of significantly new or significantly changed research:
|
·
|
Fixed income securities transactions having a principal amount not exceeding $25,000; or
|
|
·
|
Non-convertible debt securities and non-convertible preferred stocks which are rated by at least one nationally recognized
statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) in one of the three highest investment grade rating categories.
|
|
d.
|
De Minimis
Transactions -- Equity Securities
|
This exception does not apply to research issued
by Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC
.
Any equity Securities transaction, or series of related transactions, involving
shares of common stock and excluding options, warrants, rights and other derivatives, provided:
|
·
|
Any orders are entered after 10:00 a.m. and before 3:00 p.m. and are not designated as “market on open” or “market
on close;”
|
|
·
|
The aggregate value of the transactions do not exceed (1) $10,000 for Securities of an issuer with a market capitalization
of less than $1 billion; (2) $25,000 for Securities of an issuer with a market capitalization of $1 billion to $5 billion and (3)
$50,000 for Securities of an issuer with a market capitalization of greater than $5 billion; and
|
|
·
|
The Employee has no actual knowledge that the issuer is the subject of significantly new or significantly changed research.
|
PLEASE NOTE: Even if a trade qualifies for a de minimis
exception, it must be pre-cleared by the Legal and Compliance Department in advance of being placed.
(l)
Initial Public Offerings
No Employee, or other person whose Personal Accounts
are covered under this Code (see Section 1(b)(14)) shall acquire for a Personal Account any Security issued in an Initial Public
Offering.
(m)
Limited Offerings/Private Placements
No Employee, or other person whose Personal Accounts
are covered under this Code (see Section 1(b)(14)), shall acquire any Security issued in any limited or private offering (please
note that hedge funds are sold as limited or private offerings) unless the Chief Compliance Officer (or designee) and the Employee’s
Business Unit Head give express prior written approval and document the basis for granting approval after due inquiry. The Chief
Compliance Officer, in determining whether approval should be given, will take into account, among other factors, whether the investment
opportunity should be reserved for a Client and whether the opportunity is being offered to the individual by virtue of his or
her position with AB. Employees authorized to acquire Securities issued in a limited or private offering must disclose that investment
when they play a part in any Client’s subsequent consideration of an investment in the issuer, and in such a case, the decision
of AB to purchase Securities of that issuer for a Client will be subject to an independent review by Investment Personnel with
no personal interest in such issuer.
[16]
Additional restrictions
or disclosures may be required if there is a business relationship between the Employee or AB and the issuer of the offering.
See
also
- additional restrictions that apply to employees of the Fund of Funds Group (Section 6).
3.
Additional Restrictions – Portfolio Managers
In addition to the requirements
and restrictions on Employee trading in Section 2 of this Appendix A of the Code, the following restrictions apply to all persons
acting in the capacity of a portfolio manager of a Client account. For purposes of the restrictions in this section, a portfolio
manager is defined as an Employee who has decision-making authority
regarding specific securities to be traded for Client
accounts, as well as such Employee’s supervisor. Please see Section 6 for restrictions relating to the Alternate Investment
Strategies Group.
General Prohibition
: No person acting
in the capacity of a portfolio manager will be permitted to buy for a Personal Account, a Security that is an eligible portfolio
investment in that manager’s product group (e.g., Large Cap Growth).
This prohibition does not apply to transactions
directed by spouses or other persons whose Personal Accounts are covered under this Code (see Section 1(b)(14)) provided that the
employee has no input into the investment decision.
Nor does it apply to sales of securities held prior to the application of this restriction or employment with the firm. However,
such transactions are subject to the following additional restrictions.
(a)
Blackout Periods
No person acting in the capacity of a portfolio manager
will be permitted to trade a Security for a Personal Account within seven calendar days before and after any Client serviced in
that manager’s product group (e.g., Large Cap Growth) trades in the same Security. If a portfolio manager engages in such
a personal securities transaction during a blackout period, the Chief Compliance Officer may break the trade or, if the trade cannot
be broken, the Chief Compliance Officer may direct that any profit realized on the trade be disgorged.
(b)
Actions During Blackout Periods
No person acting in the capacity of a portfolio manager
shall delay or accelerate a Client trade due to a previous purchase or sale of a Security for a Personal Account. In the event
that a portfolio manager determines that it is in the best interest of a Client to buy or sell a Security for the account of the
Client within seven days of the purchase or sale of the same Security in a Personal Account, the portfolio manager must contact
the Chief Compliance Officer immediately, who may direct that the trade in the Personal Account be canceled, grant an exception
or take other appropriate action.
(c)
Transactions Contrary to Client Positions
No person acting in the capacity of a portfolio manager
shall trade a Security in a Personal Account contrary to investment decisions made on behalf of a Client, unless the portfolio
manager represents and warrants in the personal trading request form that (1) it is appropriate for the Client account to buy,
sell or continue to hold that Security and (2) the decision to purchase or sell the Security for the Personal Account arises from
the need to raise or invest cash or some other valid reason specified by the portfolio manager and approved by the Chief Compliance
Officer and is not otherwise based on the portfolio manager’s view of how the Security is likely to perform.
4.
Additional Restrictions – Research Analysts
In addition to the requirements and restrictions on
Employee trading in Section 2 of this Appendix A of the Code, the following restrictions apply to all persons acting in the capacity
of a research analyst.
Please note that rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
may
impose additional limitations on the personal trading of the research analysts of Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC and their
family members. Such research analysts should refer to the relevant policy documents that detail those additional restrictions
.
General Prohibition
: No person acting
in the capacity of research analyst will be permitted to buy for his or her Personal Account, a Security that is in the sector
covered by such research analyst. This prohibition does not apply to transactions directed by spouses or other
persons whose Personal Accounts are covered under
this Code (see Section 1(b)(14)), provided that the employee has no input into the investment decision. Nor does it apply to sales
of securities held prior to the application of this restriction or employment with the firm. However, such transactions are subject
to the following additional restrictions.
(a)
Blackout Periods
No person acting as a research analyst shall trade
a Security for a Personal Account within seven calendar days before and after making a change in a rating or other published view
with respect to that Security. If a research analyst engages in such a personal securities transaction during a blackout period,
the Chief Compliance Officer may break the trade or, if the trade cannot be broken, the Chief Compliance Officer may direct that
any profit realized on the trade be disgorged.
(b)
Actions During Blackout Periods
No person acting as a research analyst shall delay
or accelerate a rating or other published view with respect to any Security because of a previous purchase or sale of a Security
in such person’s Personal Account. In the event that a research analyst determines that it is appropriate to make a change
in a rating or other published view within seven days of the purchase or sale of the same Security in a Personal Account, the research
analyst must contact the Chief Compliance Officer immediately, who may direct that the trade in the Personal Account be canceled,
grant an exception or take other appropriate action.
(c)
Actions Contrary to Ratings
No person acting as a research analyst shall trade
a Security (to the extent such Security is included in the research analyst’s research universe) contrary to an outstanding
rating or a pending ratings change or traded by a research portfolio, unless (1) the research analyst represents and warrants in
the personal trading request form that (as applicable) there is no reason to change the outstanding rating and (2) the research
analyst’s personal trade arises from the need to raise or invest cash, or some other valid reason specified by the research
analyst and approved by the Chief Compliance Officer and is not otherwise based on the research analyst’s view of how the
security is likely to perform.
5.
Additional Restrictions – Buy-Side Equity Traders
In addition to the requirements and restrictions on
Employee trading in Section 2 of this Appendix A of the Code, the following restrictions apply to all persons acting in the capacity
of Trader on any buy-side equity trading desk.
General Prohibition
: No person acting
in the capacity of buy-side equity trader will be permitted to buy for his or her Personal Account, a Security that is among the
eligible portfolio investments traded on that Desk.
This prohibition does not apply to transactions
directed by spouses or other persons whose Personal Accounts are covered under this Code (see Section 1(b)(14)) provided that the
employee has no input into the investment decision. Nor does it apply to sales of securities
held prior to the application of this restriction
or employment with the firm. Such transactions are, of course, subject to all other Code provisions.
6.
Additional Restrictions – Alternate Investment Strategies Groups
In addition to the requirements and restrictions on
Employee trading in Section 2 of this Appendix A of the Code, the following restrictions apply to all members of the firm’s
Alternative Investment Management Group (also known as the “Gamsin Group”), as well as to the members of the Investment
Policy Group and Board of Directors of Bernstein Alternative Investment Strategies, LLC.
General Prohibition
: No member of
the groups listed above will be permitted to directly invest in a privately offered fund or other investment product that is managed
by an adviser other than AB and is within the scope of the current or contemplated funds or other products in which the Alternative
Investment Management Group may invest. All such investments by members of these groups shall be made through the AB Alternative
Investment Services platform.
7.
Reporting Requirements
(a)
Duplicate Confirmations and Account Statements
All Employees must direct their brokers to supply to
the Chief Compliance Officer, on a timely basis, duplicate copies of broker trade confirmations of, and account statements concerning,
all Securities transactions in any Personal Account. Even for Designated Brokers, each Employee must verify that the Employee’s
account(s) is properly “coded” for AB to receive electronic data feeds.
The Compliance Department will review such documents
for Personal Accounts to ensure that AB’s policies and procedures are being complied with, and make additional inquiries
as necessary. Access to duplicate confirmations and account statements will be restricted to those persons who are assigned to
perform review functions, and all such materials will be kept confidential except as otherwise required by law.
(b)
Initial Holdings Reports by Employees
An Employee must, within 10 days of commencement of
employment with AB, provide a signed (electronic in most cases) and dated Initial Holdings Report to the Chief Compliance Officer.
New employees will receive an electronic request to perform this task via the StarCompliance Code of Ethics application. The report
must contain the following information current as of a date not more than 45 days prior to the date of the report:
|
i.
|
All Securities (including private investments as well as any AB-managed mutual funds) held in a Personal Account of the Employee,
including the title and type of Security, and as applicable, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares and/or
principal amount of each Security/fund beneficially owned);
|
|
ii.
|
The name of any broker-dealer or financial institution with which the Employee maintains a Personal Account in which any Securities
are held for the Employee; and
|
|
iii.
|
Details of any outside business affiliations.
|
Employees must then take all necessary actions to bring
their accounts into compliance with the designated broker guidelines detailed in Section 2(c) of this Appendix.
(c)
Quarterly Reports by Employees – including Certain Funds and Limited Offerings
Following each calendar quarter, the Legal and Compliance
Department will forward (electronically via the StarCompliance Code of Ethics application) to each Employee, an individualized
form containing all Securities transactions in the Employee’s Personal Accounts during the quarter based on information reported
to AB by the Employee’s brokers.
Transactions in Personal Accounts managed on a discretionary basis or pursuant to an
automated investment program need not be included for purposes of this reporting requirement
.
Within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar
quarter, every Employee must review the form and certify its accuracy, making any necessary changes to the information provided
on the
pre-populated form (generally this will include those shares of mutual funds sub-advised by AB and held directly
with the investment company and Securities issued in limited offerings which are not sent directly to the Compliance Department).
For each such Security, the report must contain the following information: (1) the date of the transaction, the title, and as applicable
the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, interest rate and maturity date, number of shares, and principal amount of each Security
involved; (2) the nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase or sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition); (3) the price
of the Security at which the transaction was effected; (4) the name of the broker or other financial institution through which
the transaction was effected; and (5) the date the Employee submits the report.
In addition, any new Personal Account established during
the calendar quarter must be reported, including (1) the name of the broker or other financial institution with which the account
was established and (2) the date the account was established.
(d)
Annual Holdings Reports by Employees
On an annual basis, by a date to be specified by the
Compliance Department (typically February 15
th
), each Employee must provide to the Chief Compliance Officer, a signed
and dated (or electronically certified via the StarCompliance Code of Ethics application) Annual Holdings Report containing data
current as of a date not more than forty five (45) days prior to the date of the submission.
[17]
The report must disclose:
|
i.
|
All Securities (including shares of mutual funds managed by AB and limited offerings), held in a Personal Account of the Employee,
including the title and type of security, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares and/or
principal amount of each Security beneficially owned); and
|
|
ii.
|
The name of any broker-dealer or financial institution with which the Employee maintains a Personal Account in which any Securities
are held for the Employee.
|
In the event that AB already maintains a record of the
required information via duplicate copies of broker trade confirmations and account statements received from the Employee’s
broker-dealer, an Employee may satisfy this requirement by (i) confirming in writing (which may include e-mail) the accuracy of
the record on at least an annual basis and (ii) recording the date of the confirmation.
(e)
Report and Certification of Adequacy to the Board of Directors of Fund Clients
On a periodic basis, but not less than annually, the
Chief Compliance Officer shall prepare a written report to the management and the board of directors of each registered investment
fund (other than a unit investment trust) in which AB acts as investment adviser setting forth the following:
|
i.
|
A certification on behalf of AB that AB has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Employees and Directors from
violating the Code;
|
|
ii.
|
A summary of existing procedures concerning personal investing and any changes in procedures made during the past year; and
|
|
iii.
|
A description of any issues arising under the Code or procedures since the last report to the Board including, but not limited
to, information about material violations of the Code or procedures and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations.
|
AB shall also submit any material changes to this Code
to each Fund’s Board at the next regular board meeting during the quarter following the change.
(f)
Report Representations
Any Initial or Annual Holdings Report or Quarterly
Transaction Report may contain a statement that the report is not to be construed as an admission by the person making the report
that he or she has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership in the Security to which the report relates.
(g)
Maintenance of Reports
The Chief Compliance Officer shall maintain the information
required by this Section and such other records, if any, and for such time periods required by Rule 17j-1 under the Investment
Company Act and Rules 204-2 and 204A-1 under the Advisers Act. All reports furnished pursuant to this Section will be kept confidential,
subject to the rights of inspection and review by the General Counsel, the Chief Compliance Officer and his or her designees, the
Code of Ethics Oversight Committee (or subcommittee thereof), the
Securities and Exchange Commission and by other third
parties pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.
8.
Reporting Requirements for Directors who are not Employees
All Affiliated Outside Directors (i.e., not Employees
of AB, but employees of an AB affiliate) and Outside Directors (i.e., neither Employees of AB, nor of an AB affiliate) are subject
to the specific reporting requirements of this Section 8 as described below. Directors who are Employees of AB, however, are subject
to the full range of personal trading requirements, restrictions and reporting obligations outlined in Sections 1 through 7 of
this Appendix A of the Code, as applicable. In addition, all Directors are expected to adhere to the fiduciary duties and high
ethical standards described in the Code.
(a)
Outside Directors / Affiliated Outside Directors
|
i.
|
In general, pursuant to various regulatory rule exceptions and interpretations, no reporting is required of Outside Directors
and Affiliated Outside Directors. However, if an Outside or Affiliated Outside Director knew, or in the ordinary course of fulfilling
his or her official duties as a Director should have known
, that during the 15-day period immediately before or after the Outside
or Affiliated Outside Director’s transaction in a Security for a Personal Account, a Client bought or sold the Security,
or the Client or AB considered buying or selling the Security, the following reporting would be required.
|
Transaction Report
.
In the event that a transaction report is required
pursuant to the scenario in the preceding paragraph, other than for accounts over which the director had no influence or control,
each outside director must within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar quarter, provide to the Chief Compliance
Officer, a signed and dated report disclosing all Securities transactions in any Personal Account. For each such Security, the
report must contain the following information:
|
a.
|
The date of the transaction, the title, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, interest rate and maturity
date, number of shares, and principal amount of each Security involved;
|
|
b.
|
The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase or sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);
|
|
c.
|
The price of the Security at which the transaction was effected; and
|
|
d.
|
The name of the broker or other financial institution through which the transaction was effected.
|
A
LLIANCE
B
ERNSTEIN
L.P.
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
CERTIFICATION
I hereby acknowledge receipt of the
Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics
(the “Code”) of AllianceBernstein L.P., its subsidiaries and joint ventures, which includes
the AB
Personal Trading Policies and Procedures
attached as Appendix A to the Code. I certify that I have read and understand
the Code, recognize that I am subject to its provisions, and that I must report any violations to the Legal and Compliance Department.
I have reviewed my own situation and conduct and confirm
that:
|
1.
|
I am in compliance with the Code, including the requirements regarding the manner in which
I maintain and report my (public
and
private) Securities holdings and transactions in my Personal Accounts (as such terms
are defined in Appendix A of the Code) and conduct my personal Securities trading activities.
|
|
2.
|
I have disclosed any potential conflicts of interest, have been pre-approved for any reportable
outside business activities, and am in compliance with the requirements associated with the firm's
Policy and Procedures for
Giving and Receiving Gifts and Entertainment
(including its requirement to pre-clear certain political contributions); and
the requirements associated with the firm's
Anti-Corruption Policy
.
|
|
3.
|
I have read the firm’s Compliance Manual and agree to abide by the policies contained
therein.
|
For those Employees with
Securities Licenses:
I have contacted Compliance with any changes to information that would require a Form U4 amendment,
including a change of address, name change, addition of any new, or the discontinuance of any previously reported outside business
activity, and any occurrence or matter which would change my answer to a disclosure question (e.g., arrests and other criminal
or civil matters, regulatory events, tax liens and bankruptcies).
I understand that any violation(s) of the Code is grounds for
immediate disciplinary action up to, and including, termination of employment.
Signature
Print Name
Date
Please return this form to the Chief
Compliance Officer at:
1345 Avenue of the Americas, New
York, N.Y. 10105
[Please note that for the ANNUAL
Certification process for employees, this signoff is performed
electronically
via the StarCompliance Code of Ethics application.]
[1]
For purposes of this section of the Code, unless otherwise specifically provided, (i) “family” means your spouse/domestic
partner, parents, children, siblings, in-laws by marriage (i.e., mother, father, son and/or daughter-in-law) and anyone who shares
your home; and (ii) “relative” means your immediate family members and your first cousins.
[2]
The subject of insider trading will be covered in various Compliance training programs and materials.
[3]
No approval is required to serve as a trustee/board member of not-for-profit organizations such as religious organizations, foundations,
educational institutions, co-ops, private clubs etc., provided that the organization
has not issued, and does not have future
plans to issue, publicly held securities, including debt obligations
. Indeed, AllianceBernstein recognizes that its employees
often engage in community service in their local communities and engage in a variety of charitable activities, and it commends
such service. However, it is the duty of every AllianceBernstein employee to ensure that all outside activities, even charitable
or pro bono activities, do not constitute a conflict of interest or are not otherwise inconsistent with employment by AllianceBernstein.
Accordingly, although no approval is required, each employee must use his/her best efforts to ensure that the organization does
not use the employee’s affiliation with AllianceBernstein, including his/her corporate title, in any promotional (other than
a “bio” section) or fundraising activities, or to advance a specific mission or agenda of the entity
. Such positions
also must be reported to the firm pursuant to other periodic requests for information (e.g., the AllianceBernstein 10-K questionnaire).
|
[4]
|
Such authorization requires an agreement on the part of the employee to not hold him or herself out as acting on behalf of
AllianceBernstein (or any affiliate) and to use best efforts to ensure that AllianceBernstein’s name (or that of any AllianceBernstein
affiliated company) is not used in connection with the proposed affiliation (other than in a “bio” section), and in
particular, activities relating to fundraising or to the advancement of a specific entity mission or agenda.
|
[5]
In the case of AllianceBernstein subsidiaries that are holding companies for consolidated subgroups, unless otherwise specified
by the holding company’s Chief Executive Officer, this approval may be granted by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial
Officer of each subsidiary or business unit with such a consolidated subgroup.
[6]
Please note that the requirement does not apply to contributions to federal candidates --
unless
the federal candidate is a state or local official at the time (e.g., a state controller who is running for Congress).
[7]
Due to the importance that AB places on promoting responsible personal trading, we have applied the definition of “access
person,” as used in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, and related requirements to all
AB employees and officers. We have drafted special provisions for directors of AB who are not also employees of AB.
[8]
Defined as any client order on a Growth trading desk which has not been completely executed, as well as any “significant”
open Value client orders, or Value “priority” purchases or sales, as those terms are defined by the applicable Value
SBU CIO.
[9]
These restrictions shall not apply to investments in mutual funds through professionally managed asset allocation programs; automatic
reinvestment programs; automatic investments through 401(k) and similar retirement accounts; and any other non-volitional investment
vehicles. These restrictions also do not apply to transactions in money market funds and other short duration funds used as checking
accounts or for similar cash management purposes.
[10]
Exceptions may apply in certain non-U.S. locations. Please consult with your local compliance officer.
[11]
Non-discretionary accounts at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC. may only be used for the following purposes:
|
|
(a) Custody of securities and related activities (such as receiving and delivering positions, corporate actions, and subscribing
to offerings commonly handled by operations such as State of Israel bonds, etc.); (b) Transacting in US Treasury securities; and
(c) Transacting in AB products outside of a private client relationship (such as hedge funds, AB and SCB mutual funds, and CollegeBound
fund
accounts). All equity and fixed income (other than US Treasuries) transactions are prohibited.
|
[12]
For purposes of the pre-clearance requirement, all employees in the Value SBU are considered Investment Personnel, and are therefore
required to have all of their trades pre-approved by the head of their respective departments (or a designee).
[13]
Additional Securities may be exempted from the pre-clearance requirement if, in the opinion of the Chief Compliance Officer, no
conflict of interest could arise from personal trades in such Security.
[14]
Note
: Options on the ETFs included on this list
are not
exempt from the pre-clearance or volume requirements.
[15]
Relating to the buyback of a previously sold Security, an employee must wait 60 days if the new purchase price is lower than the
previous sale, and 30 days if the new purchase price exceeds the previous sale price.
[16]
Any Employee who acquires (or any new Employee with a pre-existing position in) an interest in any private investment fund (including
a “hedge fund”) or any other Security that cannot be purchased and held in an account at a Designated Broker shall
be exempt from the Designated Broker requirement as described in this Appendix A of the Code. The Legal and Compliance Department
may require an explanation as to why such Security can not be purchased and held in such manner. Transactions in these Securities
nevertheless remain subject to all other requirements of this Code, including applicable private placement procedures, pre-clearance
requirements and blackout-period trading restrictions.
[17]
Employees who join the Firm after the annual process has commenced will submit their initial holdings report (see Section 7(b))
and complete their first Annual Holdings Report during the next annual cycle and thereafter.
AMERIPRISE GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT
PERSONAL ACCOUNT DEALING AND
CODE OF ETHICS POLICY
Entities that have adopted – See Appendix A
Table of Contents
Introduction – Standards of Business Conduct 3
A. General Principles - Required Standard of Business
Conduct 3
B. Duty Owed to Clients 3
C. Conflicts of Interest – Prevention and
Management 5
D. Additional Standards of Conduct and Regulatory
Requirements 5
E. Reporting of Potential Code of Ethics or other Compliance
Violations/Breaches 6
F. Non-Compliance with the Policy 6
Applicability of Policy and General Requirements For all Covered
Persons 6
A. Applicability and Scope of the Policy 6
B. Insider Dealing Restrictions – Misuse of
Material Nonpublic Information 7
C. Notification of Brokerage Accounts and Holding
Brokerage Accounts at Designated Broker-Dealers (Limited Choice) 9
Specific Personal Trading Restrictions For all Covered
Persons 9
A. Client Conflict – Prohibition on “Front
Running” 9
B. Prior Approval (Pre-Clearance) of Personal Security
Transactions 9
C. Short-Term Trading Prohibition (30 Day Holding
Period) 10
D. Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”) and
Limited Offerings 11
E. Participation in Investment Clubs 11
F. Derivatives11
G. Frequent and Unusual Trading Activity 12
Additional Trading Restrictions for Investment Employees
13
A. Rules Applicable to Portfolio Managers and other
Designated Covered Persons 13
14 Day Blackout Period 13
B. Rules Applicable to Research Analysts 13
C. Rules Applicable to Trading Personnel 13
3 Day Blackout Period 13
Reporting and Administration Requirements 14
A. Reporting Requirements 14
B. Confidentiality 14
C. Certification of Compliance with and Annual Review
of Policy 15
D. Resources 15
E. Recordkeeping Requirements 15
Appendix A – Entities that have adopted Global
Policy 16
Appendix B – Other Policies Applicable to Covered
Persons 17
Appendix C – Compliance and Reporting Resources
18
Appendix D – Individual Securities Requirements
19
Appendix E – Covered Funds List 20
Appendix F – Options/Shorting Trading Guidelines
22
Appendix G – Limited Choice Policy (Applicable to Columbia
Management and support partners – applicable to Threadneedle employees with the implementation of the Personal Trading Assistant
[PTA] tool) 24
In order to
comply with SEC expectations concerning the monitoring of trading activity within Covered Person accounts, Ameriprise Financial
maintains a “limited choice” brokerage policy which dictates where certain types of securities must be held and traded.
Introduction – Standards of Business Conduct
|
A.
|
General Principles - Required Standard of Business Conduct
|
The conduct of personal dealings
in investments by Covered Persons (refer to Section A: Applicability of Policy and Scope of Policy for definition of Covered Persons)
employed by or affiliated with the Ameriprise Global Asset Management Entities
[1]
(the “Firms”) is a matter of the utmost importance to the organization, its clients, its regulators and to employees
themselves. It is essential that the Firms appropriately manage access to privileged information concerning clients’ portfolios,
the Firms’ trading intentions and trading activities, and that the Firms discharge their duties in a way that does not harm
the interests of clients, the Firms or breach any legal or regulatory requirements. It is important that the Firms are not seen
to act on privileged information for personal gain.
Various regulations applicable to
the Firms impose a
fiduciary duty
to act in the exclusive best interest of their clients at all times recognizing their
role as a “Trusted Adviser”. A number of specific obligations flow from the duty that is owed to clients, including:
|
·
|
To act solely in the best interests of clients
at all times.
|
|
·
|
To make full and fair disclosure of all
material facts, particularly where the Firms’ interests may conflict with those of its clients.
|
|
·
|
To act in a manner which satisfies the fiduciary
duty owed to clients.
|
|
·
|
To refrain from favoring the interest of
a particular client over the interests of another client.
|
|
·
|
To keep all information about clients (including
former clients) confidential, including the client’s identity, client’s securities holdings information, and other
non-public information.
|
|
·
|
To exercise a high degree of care to ensure
that adequate and accurate representations and other information is presented appropriately.
|
In
connection with providing investment management services to clients, this
includes
prohibiting any activity which directly or indirectly:
·
Defrauds a client in any manner.
|
·
|
Misleads a client, including any statement
that omits material facts.
|
|
·
|
Operates or would operate as a fraud or
deceit on a client.
|
|
·
|
Functions as a manipulative practice with
respect to a client.
|
·
Functions as a manipulative practice with respect to securities.
Specifically, the fiduciary duty owed to clients
means the following outcomes must be achieved:
|
·
|
To have a reasonable, independent basis
for investment advice.
|
|
·
|
To ensure that investment advice is suitable
to the client’s investment objectives, needs and circumstances.
|
|
·
|
To refrain from effecting Personal Securities
Transactions inconsistent with clients’ interests.
|
|
·
|
To obtain best execution for clients’
securities transactions.
|
C. Conflicts of Interest
– Prevention and Management
All Covered
Persons must be vigilant in terms of identifying circumstances that may present a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest
is any situation that presents an incentive to act other than in the best interest of a client or without objectivity. A conflict
of interest may arise, for example, when a Covered Person engages in a transaction that potentially favors:
|
(i)
|
The Firms’ interests over a client’s interest
|
|
(ii)
|
The interest of a Covered Person over a client’s interest
|
|
(iii)
|
One client’s interest over another client’s interest
|
In addition to this Ameriprise Global
Asset Management Personal Account Dealing and Code of Ethics Policy (“Policy”), the Firms have adopted various policies
designed to prevent, or otherwise manage, conflicts of interest in contexts outside of personal trading (certain of these policies
are listed in
Appendix B
). To effectively manage conflicts of interest, all Covered Persons must seek to prevent conflicts
of interest, including the appearance of a conflict.
The requirements
set forth in this Policy do not identify all possible conflicts of interest that may arise in relation to personal transactions.
Employees are encouraged to seek assistance from their local Compliance resources (see Appendix C) whenever they have any
questions concerning obligations under the Policy, including conflicts of interest situations or concerns
.
D. Additional Standards
of Conduct and Regulatory Requirements
Covered Persons must comply with other
policies adopted by the individual Ameriprise Global Asset Management Entities
that are intended to promote fair and ethical
standards of business conduct and comply with related regulatory requirements. These policies are listed in
Appendix B
.
E. Reporting of
Potential Code of Ethics or other Compliance Violations/Breaches
The Firms have various resources
for Covered Persons to raise compliance issues and concerns on a confidential basis (refer to
Appendix C
for a list of Compliance
resources). In general, a Covered Person should first discuss a compliance issue with their supervisor, department head, Chief
Compliance Officer, Compliance Executive, or other resource listed on
Appendix C
. In the event that a Covered Person does
not feel comfortable discussing compliance issues through these channels, the employee may anonymously report suspected violations
of law or company policy by contacting their local resources (refer to
Appendix C
). Employees are encouraged to report these
questionable practices so that the Firms have an opportunity to address and resolve these issues before they become more significant
regulatory or legal issues.
F. Non-Compliance
with the Policy
Violations/Breaches of this Policy
are taken seriously and may result in disciplinary actions and/or sanctions. Disciplinary actions could be up to and including
termination of employment and sanctions will vary depending on the circumstances (e.g., depending on the severity of the violation,
if a record of previous violations exists, etc.).
Applicability of Policy
and General Requirements For all Covered Persons
|
A.
|
Applicability and Scope of the Policy
|
|
1.
|
Employees, Contractors, Directors and others who are “Covered
Persons”
|
This Policy applies to
all Covered Persons. Covered Persons include:
|
·
|
All Columbia and Threadneedle employees
and contractors.
|
|
·
|
Any other individual with a specific role
(including working on a project) which compels Covered Person
status due to access to proprietary information (e.g., holdings/transactions),
such as the member of a staff group that provides ongoing audit, technology, finance, compliance, or legal support to Firms.
|
|
·
|
Any other persons that may be deemed appropriate
by Compliance.
|
|
2.
|
Applicability of Policy to Certain Household Members, Trusteeships
and Executorships of Covered Persons
|
This Policy governs a Covered Person’s
personal securities transactions as well as those securities transactions in which a Covered Person is deemed to have a direct
or indirect Beneficial Ownership and
over
which
a Covered Person exercises direct or indirect
influence
or control (“Affiliated Accounts”). A
n account generally is
covered
by this Policy if it is:
|
·
|
In the Covered Person’s
name
|
|
·
|
In the name of the
Covered Person’s
spouse/partner and/or any financially dependent
members of the Covered Person’s household,
|
|
·
|
Of a partnership in which the Covered Person
or a member of his/her immediate
family is a partner with direct or indirect investment discretion
|
|
·
|
Of a trust in which
the Covered Person
(or a member of his/her
immediate family) is a beneficiary and a trustee with direct or
indirect
investment discretion
|
|
·
|
Of a closely held
corporation in which the Covered Person or a
member
of his/her immediate family holds shares and have direct or indirect investment
discretion
|
It is the responsibility of the Covered
Person to seek advice in the event that it is not clear whether certain personal securities transactions are covered by this Policy.
|
B.
|
Insider Dealing Restrictions – Misuse of Material Nonpublic Information
|
A
Covered Person who is in possession of material nonpublic information (often referred to as “Inside Information”) about
securities or financial instruments is prohibited from buying, selling, recommending or trading such securities or financial instruments.
In addition, a Covered Person must not communicate or disclose such information to others who may misuse it. Material nonpublic
information
may
include nonpublic information about a
pooled investment vehicle (e.g., UCITS, open-end and closed-end
mutual funds, and private funds) that are advised or sub-advised by the Firm. The Firms each have adopted specific policies that
address these prohibitions, and set forth specific protocols for handling material nonpublic information
(see
Appendix
B
which identifies the specific policies
)
.
|
C.
|
Notification of Brokerage Accounts and Holding Brokerage Accounts at Designated Broker-Dealers
(Limited Choice)
|
Covered Persons must promptly disclose
their brokerage accounts to their Firm’s Compliance group, and ensure that
each broker-dealer
with which he/she maintains an account sends to the
Compliance group, as soon as practicable,
copies of all confirmations of
his/her securities transactions and of all monthly,
quarterly and annual account
statements.
No
Changes in Threadneedle reporting requirements until the implementation of the Personal Trading Assistant (PTA) tool.
Certain
of the Firms require their employees to maintain brokerage accounts at one (or more) of the designated broker-dealer firms (please
refer to
Appendix G
of this Policy for additional details concerning this requirement).
Specific Personal Trading
Restrictions For all Covered Persons
|
A.
|
Client Conflict – Prohibition on “Front Running”
|
Covered Persons are prohibited from
engaging in a Personal Securities Transaction that involves the purchase or sale of a Reportable Security when such Covered Person
has knowledge that such security (1) is being considered for purchase or sale by a client
account
or (2) is being
purchased or sold by a client account.
|
B.
|
Prior Approval (Pre-Clearance) of Personal Security Transactions
|
Covered Persons must obtain approval
– often referred to as pre-clearance - from Compliance
prior
to
effecting a securities trade in most categories
of investments. This pre-clearance requirement extends to securities transactions in all accounts for which the Covered Person
has Beneficial Ownership (discussed above). If the Covered Person receives pre-clearance approval, it is valid only for the duration
of the locally defined approval period; if a Covered Person does not effect the pre-cleared personal trade(s) within that locally
approved time period, the Covered Person must request and obtain pre-clearance for the proposed personal trade(s) again before
the trade(s) are effected. If the Covered Person does not receive pre-clearance approval, he/she must not effect the requested
Personal Securities Transaction (but may request approval on a subsequent day).
Covered Persons are required to
obtain such pre-clearance approval for the majority of investments. Please refer to
Appendix D
that identifies those categories
of investments to which pre-clearance is or is not applicable.
No
Changes in Threadneedle pre-clearance requirements until the implementation of the Personal Trading Assistant (PTA) tool.
Private
Placements/Limited Offerings
: Investments in private placement offerings require approval by the Compliance group (e.g., private
placements, non-exchange traded REITs, hedge funds, fixed income new issues, etc.).
Gifts and Charitable Donations
:
Approval is not necessary for a gift of securities to a Non-Profit Organization, but Compliance should be notified in advance and
the Short-Term and 14-day Blackout rules do not apply. For gifting securities to a For-Profit Organization, individual, trust or
other person or entity (other than a Non-Profit Organization), the pre-clearance requirement and 14-day Blackout rule do apply
if you are purchasing the securities you intend to give.
|
C.
|
Short-Term Trading Prohibition (30 Day Holding Period)
|
|
1.
|
Individual Securities
at a Profit
|
Covered Persons are prohibited from
engaging in short-term trading of Reportable Securities. This means that Covered Persons may not buy (or add to their existing
position), then sell the same securities (or equivalent) within 30calendar days
if the trade would result in a
gain
.
Covered Persons must wait until calendar day 31 (
Trade Date
+ 30) to trade out of a position at a profit.
These prohibitions on short term trading
apply across all accounts in which Covered Persons have Beneficial Ownership (so that Covered Persons cannot buy securities (or
equivalent) in one account and sell the same security (or equivalent) from another account within 30 days.
When calculating the 30-day holding
period, the average cost method must be used.
|
2.
|
Covered Funds and other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
A Covered
Person is prohibited from short term trading in any Covered Fund
(e.g., mutual fund, SICAV, OEIC, or other pooled investment
vehicle, see
Appendix E
) held for less than 30 calendar days, or a longer time if specified in the Covered Fund’s
prospectus or similar disclosure document. Covered Persons are prohibited from engaging in market timing (short-term trading) in
shares of any Mutual Fund or other pooled vehicles and must comply with the holding period policy established by any Mutual Fund
held, even though the Mutual Fund may not be a Covered Fund. Please see the Mutual Fund’s prospectus for further information.
Transactions
exempted from short-term trading prohibitions
:
Money market
fund investments, automated investments and withdrawal programs, and Dividend Reinvestments are not subject to the 30 day holding
period.
Please note
that Threadneedle provides discounts on investments to employees in its products but operates a holding period of a minimum 60
working days in order to
qualify for
those discounts. Please refer to the Threadneedle Compensation & Benefits intranet site for information.
|
D.
|
Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”) and Limited Offerings
|
Covered
Persons require pre-clearance approval to purchase Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”) or Limited Offerings, including
additions to existing holdings but excluding capital calls for previously approved commitments.
Such
approval will only be granted when it is established that there is no conflict or appearance
of a conflict with any Client or other possible impropriety (such as where the Security
in the Limited Offering is appropriate for purchase by a Client, or when his/her participation in the
Limited
Offering is suggested by a person who has a business relationship with any such
Company
or expects to establish such a relationship). The 30-day holding period also applies to IPOs.
|
E.
|
Participation in Investment Clubs
|
No Covered Person may
participate in private investment clubs or other similar groups.
Covered
Persons are strongly discouraged from investing in any form of derivative that could give rise to an open ended, unlimited liability.
Most derivative trading is subject to pre-clearance requirements, option trading guidelines and the Short Term Trading Prohibition.
(See
Appendix F
for additional guidance)
.
|
G.
|
Frequent and Unusual Trading Activity
|
Compliance
monitors patterns of personal trading activity and may require additional information from a Covered Person with respect to a specific
trade or series of transactions. In addition, frequent trading activity is strongly discouraged. Although no set limit of trades
during a period of time is expressly stated by the Firms, Covered Persons should understand that they may come under scrutiny for
frequent trading activity, which could result in corrective measures if the activity is deemed especially excessive.
Additional Trading Restrictions
for Investment Employees
|
A.
|
Rules Applicable to Portfolio Managers and other Designated Covered Persons
|
14
Day Blackout Period
Portfolio Managers
(and other
Covered Persons specifically identified by Compliance) are not permitted to transact in any security that is purchased or sold
in a client account 7 calendar days before
and
7 calendar days after a client account they manage trades in that same (or
equivalent) security. This means a
Portfolio Manager must wait until calendar day 8
to trade the security. Application of
this rule may be applied broader based on team function and location.
Because
it is a Portfolio Manager’s responsibility to put his/her client’s
interests
ahead of his/her own, he/she
may not delay taking appropriate action for a client account
in order to avoid potential adverse consequences in his/her personal account.
In certain limited instances, Compliance,
at their discretion, may determine that a trade should be deemed to have not caused a black out violation (e.g., unexpected significant
client redemption or inflow triggering a sale or purchase in all securities held in the client portfolio).
|
B.
|
Rules Applicable to Research Analysts
|
Research Analysts
are
prohibited from engaging in a personal securities transaction that involves securities issued by issuers on their Coverage List
at the security (not issuer) level. This restriction includes securities convertible into, options on, and derivatives of, such
securities.
|
C.
|
Rules Applicable to Trading Personnel
|
Traders are not permitted to transact
in any security that is purchased or sold in a client account 3 calendar days before the client transaction. This means a
Trader
must wait until calendar day 4
to trade the security. Application of this rule may be adjusted based on team function and location.
Reporting and Administration
Requirements
|
A.
|
Reporting Requirements
|
|
1.
|
Initial Holdings Report and Certification
: Upon becoming a
Covered Person
under this Policy
,
one must disclose all securities holdings (as indicated in
Appendix
D
) in which they have Beneficial Ownership. All brokerage accounts must be disclosed.
|
All Covered Persons are notified
of this requirement and are provided with a copy of this Policy when they first become subject to the Policy. This initial certification
must be completed within 10 days of becoming a Covered Person. This information must be current as of the date no more than 45
days prior to the date the person becomes a Covered Person.
|
2.
|
Annual Certification
: Covered Persons are also required to
complete an annual accounts and holdings certification. This certification allows the Covered Person to validate the Brokerage
Accounts and certain securities holdings in which they have Beneficial Ownership. Covered Persons also certify that they have received,
read and understand the Policy. This information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the report
was submitted.
|
|
3.
|
Quarterly Certification
: On a quarterly basis, Covered Persons
must also certify to securities transactions outside of a previously reported and approved Brokerage Account. The quarterly certification
must be completed within 30 calendar days of the last day of the quarter.
|
No
Changes in Threadneedle reporting requirements until the implementation of the Personal Trading Assistant (PTA) tool.
All
reports and other documents and information supplied by or on behalf of
any Covered
Person in accordance with the requirements of
this Policy will be treated as confidential,
but are subject to review as provided
herein and in the procedures by Legal, Compliance
and other involved departments of the Firms, by Personal Trading, senior management, by representatives relevant
regulatory
authority of the asset management business’ regulatory or self-regulatory authority, or otherwise as required by law, regulation,
or court order.
|
C.
|
Certification of Compliance with and Annual Review of Policy
|
At least annually, each Chief Compliance Officer/Compliance Executive of the Ameriprise Global Asset Management Entities must review
the adequacy of this Policy and the policies and procedures herein referenced.
Refer to
Appendix C
for Compliance
and Legal resources.
|
E.
|
Recordkeeping Requirements
|
Each respective Compliance group
is primarily responsible for maintaining records created with respect to this Policy and the procedures adopted to implement it.
All records must be maintained for five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the documents were later of creation or
last use, the first two years in an easily accessible place.
Appendix A – Entities
that have adopted Global Policy
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
Columbia Management Investment Services, Corp.
Threadneedle Asset Management Ltd.
Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings SARL (TAMHS)
Threadneedle International Limited
Threadneedle Asset Management Limited (TAML)
Threadneedle International Limited (TINTL)
Threadneedle Pensions Limited (TPEN)
Threadneedle Navigator ISA Manager Limited (TNIML)
Threadneedle Portfolio Services Limited (TPSL)
Threadneedle Investment Services Limited (TISL)
Threadneedle Unit Trust Manager Limited (TUTML)
Threadneedle Management Luxembourg SA. (TMLUX)
Threadneedle Portfolio Services Hong Kong Limited (TPSHKL)
Threadneedle Portfolio Services Hong Kong Limited (DIFC Branch)
(TPSHKL DIFC)
Threadneedle Investments Singapore (PTE) Limited (TIS)
TAM Malaysia
It should be noted that Columbia Management includes Wanger Acorn
trading data to also cover non- CWAM employees under one consolidated Code.
Appendix B – Other Policies Applicable
to Covered Persons
Additional Policies Relevant to Covered Persons Employed by or Affiliated
with Columbia Management:
Ameriprise Financial Code of Conduct
Ameriprise Handling Whistleblower Claims Policy
Ameriprise Limited Choice Policy
Columbia Management Activities Involving Outside Entities or Family
Relationships Policy
Columbia Management Gifts and Benefits Policy
Columbia Management Material Nonpublic Information Policy
Columbia Management Political Contributions Policy
Columbia Management Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policy
Columbia Management Privacy Policy
Threadneedle Other Conflicts of Interest Policies Applicable
to Covered Persons:
Threadneedle Market Abuse & Insider Dealing Policy
Threadneedle Conflicts of Interest Policy
Threadneedle Outside Activities & Family Relationships
Policy
Threadneedle Gifts & Corporate Hospitality Policy
Threadneedle Treating Customers Fairly
Threadneedle Whistleblowing Policy
Appendix C – Compliance and Reporting
Resources
Personal Trading - 612-671-5196 or send email to Personal.Trading@ampf.com
Threadneedle Personal Trading -
personalaccountdealing@threadneedle.com
Contact the Compliance Team if you are ever at doubt
as to your obligations under this Policy.
Ameriprise
Financial provides a dedicated resource through NAVEX Global (formerly known as Ethicspoint)
(800-963-6395)
,
a comprehensive and confidential reporting service for U.S. employees to report suspected fraud, abuse or other misconduct.
Threadneedle employees, in accordance with the Threadneedle Whistleblowing
Policy, may contact the following for reporting, investigating and remedying any wrongdoing in the workplace.
Safecall
|
|
0800 915 1571
|
FCA whistleblowing line
|
whistle@fca.gov.uk
|
020 7676 9200
|
Public Concern at Work
|
helpline@pcaw.co.uk
|
020 7404 6609
|
Appendix D – Individual Securities Requirements
Pre-clearance Requirements
– All securities
are subject to prior approval under the Global Asset Management Personal Account Dealing and Code of Ethics Policy (“Policy”)
except those listed below:
-
Ameriprise Financial Stock* (other rules - blackout,
holding periods still apply)
-
Annuities and Life Insurance (where there is no specific
investment exposure)
-
Bank products (checking/savings, CDs, etc.)
-
Currencies
-
Debt securities issued by any government
-
Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPS)
-
Futures
-
Money Market Funds
-
Non Investment derivatives – sporting bets only
-
Open-End Mutual Funds
-
Threadneedle Products**
-
Unit Investment Trusts (UITs)
*Certain Ameriprise Senior Executives /Threadneedle
Executive Board & BMT members need to pre-clear all AMP transactions with the Corporate Secretary’s Office.
**Pre-clearance is required on Threadneedle OEICS/SICAVS
by FPDC/SPC members
Holding Reporting Requirements*
– All securities
are subject to the reporting requirements under the Policy except those listed below:
-
Annuities (report only Covered Funds appendix E)
-
Bank products (checking/savings, CDs etc.)
-
Currencies
-
Debt securities issued by any government
-
Money Market Funds
-
Open-End Mutual Funds (Covered Open – End Funds
appendix E are reportable)
*All brokerage accounts are reportable even if the holdings
in those accounts are not.
Ameriprise 401(K) – report Schwab PCRA accounts.
ETF and Closed End Fund transactions within these PCRA accounts also require preclearance.
529 Plans – report account only; not holdings
All other securities not listed above are subject to
the
Limited Choice Policy
(
Appendix G
) and
30 Day Holding Period
.
Appendix E – Covered Funds List
The
Global Asset Management Personal
Account Dealing and Code of Ethics Policy (“Policy”)
speaks to certain rules concerning activity within Covered
Funds. Closed-End Funds, ETFs and Mutual Funds for which Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC serves as an investment adviser
or for which an affiliate of Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC serves as principal underwriter are considered “Covered
Funds.”
The following is the list of Covered Funds as of October 2014:
|
•
|
All Columbia Mutual Funds (both retail and variable), including Columbia
Acorn Funds, Wanger Funds,
Active Portfolios
® and CMG Ultra Short Term Bond Fund
|
|
•
|
All Columbia Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
|
|
•
|
Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund, Inc.
|
|
•
|
Tri-Continental Corporation
|
|
•
|
Third-Party Funds Sub Advised by CMIA:
|
|
•
|
Bishop Street Dividend Value Fund
|
|
•
|
Bishop Street Strategic Growth Fund
|
|
•
|
ING Columbia Contrarian Core Portfolio
|
|
•
|
ING Columbia Small Cap Value II Portfolio
|
|
•
|
ING Multi-Manager Large Cap Core Portfolio
|
|
•
|
LVIP Columbia Small-Mid Cap Growth RPM Fund
|
|
•
|
Mercer US Large Cap Growth Equity Fund
|
|
•
|
MassMutual Select Large Cap Value Fund
|
|
•
|
Prudential Dividend Value
Fund
|
|
•
|
Prudential Strategic Growth Fund
|
|
•
|
SunAmerica Series Trust Technology Portfolio
|
|
•
|
VALIC Company I Large Cap Core Fund
|
Appendix F – Options/Shorting Trading
Guidelines
SHORTING TRADING – GENERAL GUIDELINES
Shorting individual securities is prohibited. Shorting broad based
market securities (ETFs) is permitted.
OPTIONS TRADING – GENERAL GUIDELINES
All persons subject to the
Global
Asset Management Personal Account Dealing and Code of Ethics Policy (“Policy”)
are
strongly discouraged from dealing in any form of derivative that could give rise to an open ended, unlimited liability.
All Covered Persons
must obtain pre-clearance via PTA prior
to placing an options trade.
Short term trading at a profit is prohibited under the code. Covered
Persons may not trade options that will result in a gain if held less than 30 days. Covered Persons must wait trade date plus 30
days before closing the position at a profit.
ACCEPTABLE TRANSACTIONS
:
|
•
|
Options that have an expiration greater than 30 days and
|
|
•
|
Out of the money option contracts
|
|
•
|
In the money option contracts only if there is an underlying position
held greater than 30 days
|
PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS:
|
•
|
Options that have an expiration less than 30 days
|
|
•
|
In the money option contracts – unless there is an underlying
position held greater than 30 days
|
|
•
|
Buying and selling options contracts at a profit held less than 30 days
|
KEY REMINDERS:
|
•
|
Covered Persons are required to preclear the option ticker symbol (please
use the new option symbology) and not the underlying ticker.
|
|
•
|
Covered Persons are responsible for calculating the 30 day holding period
(Trade date + 30 days), you must use the average cost method (PTA does not calculate the 30 day holding period).
|
|
•
|
Receiving pre-clearance does not exclude you from other personal trading rules included in the
Policy.
|
Appendix G – Limited Choice Policy (Applicable
to Columbia Management and support partners – applicable to Threadneedle employees with the implementation of the Personal
Trading Assistant [PTA] tool
)
In order to comply with SEC expectations
concerning the monitoring of trading activity within Covered Person accounts, Ameriprise Financial maintains a “limited choice”
brokerage policy which dictates where certain types of securities must be held and traded.
Unless you have an exception approved by Personal Trade
Compliance, your personal securities must be held and trading must be conducted through one of these brokers:
Ameriprise/Columbia
- Ameriprise Financial Brokerage,
Charles Schwab, Merrill Lynch
Threadneedle
– Barclays, Charles Schwab, Halifax,
Hargreaves Lansdowne, Selftrade,
TD Direct Invest, UOB Kay Hian
You must immediately report any new accounts opened by completing
the following steps:
-
Add the account to the PTA system using the “Add Brokerage
Account” functionality.
|
2.
|
Notify your broker of your association with Ameriprise Financial.
You are responsible for
notifying your broker that you are affiliated with or employed by a broker/dealer and ensuring that Personal Trade Compliance is
provided with duplicate statements and confirmations for your account(s).
|
The types of securities that are subject to the Limited
Choice Policy are specified on the Individual Securities Requirements List
Appendix D.
If you maintain a
Brokerage Account
outside of the
limited choice brokers that holds securities subject to the limited choice policy, you have the following options:
|
1.
|
You may transfer the subject holdings to a like-ownership account at one of the approved brokers.
|
|
2.
|
You may liquidate the subject holdings (subject to the requirements in the Code) and either hold
the proceeds as cash or reinvest in non-subject securities.
|
|
3.
|
You may apply for an exception.
|
Exceptions to the Limited Choice Policy
are rare. If you believe your situation warrants an exception, contact Personal Trading for a Limited Choice Exception Request
Form. An exception does not make you exempt from complying will all other requirements in
Global
Asset Management Personal Account Dealing and Code of Ethics Policy (“Policy”)
.
[1]
See Appendix A
DANA INVESTMENT ADVISORS, INC.
CODE OF ETHICS
It is the policy of Dana Investment
Advisors, Inc. (“Dana”) to adhere to the highest ethical standards with respect to its client relationships. Dana believes
it is important that all who work at Dana understand that its role as an investment manager involves important responsibilities
and carries with it certain burdens not typically assumed by other service providers. With respect to the operation of its business,
Dana expects all of its employees to adhere to the highest ethical standards. Set forth below in this Code of Ethics (“Code”)
are certain minimum duties and restrictions on each employee’s activities.
As a condition to continued employment,
annually, all Dana employees are required to execute an Annual Certification of Receipt and Compliance (Exhibit F) regarding Dana’s
Code of Ethics and complete a Potential Employee Conflicts of Interest Checklist (Exhibit E). Newly hired employees are required
to acknowledge their receipt and understanding of Dana’s Code of Ethics within 15 days after being hired. Failure to execute
the required certification will subject the employee to dismissal.
|
II.
|
CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY
|
The information which clients
convey to Dana must be held in the strictest confidence. Without the express permission of the respective client, no employee,
officer or director of Dana shall disclose to any unauthorized person any client information. Client names, investment objectives,
the amount of assets under management and other client-specific information shall not generally be disclosed to anyone but another
employee of Dana. Additionally, specific management techniques and strategies used by Dana in managing client accounts are considered
proprietary information and, unless otherwise authorized by the CEO of Dana, shall in all events be kept confidential. Violation
of these confidentiality rules constitutes a breach of the professional ethical standards imposed by Dana and may lead to disciplinary
proceedings.
As a condition to employment with
Dana, each employee will be required to read and acknowledge Dana’s Confidentiality Policy as well as the Corporate Privacy
Policy and Practices Statement (See Exhibit A).
|
III.
|
PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
|
A.
Requirements
.
Each officer, director and employee of Dana is prohibited, in connection with the purchase or
sale of a security:
|
1.
|
To employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud Dana or any of its clients;
|
|
2.
|
To make any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state to Dana or any of its clients
a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;
|
|
3.
|
To engage in any act, practice or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud
or deceit upon Dana or any of its clients; or
|
|
4.
|
To engage in any manipulative practice with respect to Dana or any of its clients.
|
|
1.
|
“Access Person” includes (a) each director or officer of Dana; (b) each employee of
Dana who in connection with his or her regular duties obtains information about the purchase or sale of a security by Dana or a
client of Dana or whose functions are related to the making of such recommendations; (c) any natural person in a control relationship
to Dana who obtains information concerning recommendations made by Dana with regard to the purchase or sale of a security.
|
|
2.
|
Generally, you should consider yourself to be the “beneficial owner” of securities
held by your spouse, your minor children, a relative who shares your home, or other persons if by reason of any contract, understanding,
relationship, agreement or other arrangement, you obtain from such securities benefits substantially equivalent to those of ownership.
You should also consider yourself the beneficial owner of securities if you can vest or re-vest title in yourself, now or in the
future.
|
|
3.
|
A security is considered “restricted” if it has been identified by either the CEO or
Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as having been placed in either one or more of Dana’s investment strategies.
Options on restricted securities, other than covered calls, shall also be deemed to be a restricted security. For purposes of this
section, non-reportable securities placed in one or more of Dana’s investment strategies shall not be deemed restricted.
In addition, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) (to include ETNs or iShares) that are placed in either one or more of Dana’s investment
strategies shall not be deemed restricted.
|
|
4.
|
A security is considered “non-restricted” as long as it is not identified as a restricted
security.
|
|
5.
|
A “reportable security” includes but is not limited to: all publicly traded equities,
preferred stocks, corporate and convertible bonds, municipal bonds, warrants, options, exchange traded funds (ETFs) (to include
ETNs or iShares), and other similar investments. In addition, investments in non-publicly traded hedge funds, limited partnerships,
and private placement arrangements shall also be considered reportable securities. A reportable security does not include: securities
issued by the U.S. Government and Government Agencies, bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, open-end mutual
funds, common trusts or commingled funds which provide either an NAV or unit value at the end of each business trading day, commercial
paper and other high quality short term debt instruments that when purchased will mature in less than 366 days, or any security
in which transactions are effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan/program. However, with respect to automatic investment
programs, any transactions that override the preset investment allocation or formula shall be considered a reportable security
under this section (such as selling shares rather than purchasing them).
|
|
6.
|
A “Covered Security” means any security as defined in Section 2(a)(36) of the Investment
Company Act. A Covered Security does not include:
|
|
·
|
Direct obligations of the Government of the United States;
|
|
·
|
Bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including
repurchase agreements; and
|
|
·
|
Shares issued by open-end funds when purchased directly from an investment company registered under the Investment Company
Act.
|
|
C.
|
Policy of Dana
.
It is the policy of Dana Investment Advisors, Inc. to prohibit purchases
by Access Persons in all restricted securities. All sale transactions involving a restricted security must first be submitted,
in writing whenever possible, to either the Chief Compliance Officer or the CEO for pre-clearance. Personal security transactions
by Access persons in non-restricted securities do not require pre-clearance.
|
1.
Restricted Securities List
.
Generally, personal securities transactions
in restricted securities are prohibited. A complete list containing all currently restricted securities (the “Restricted
Securities List”) will be posted on Dana’s internal intranet site, which is available to all Access Persons. Such list
will be continually updated and should be reviewed prior to initiating a personal securities transaction in a reportable security.
|
2.
|
Pre-Clearance of Trades
.
|
All personal securities transactions
involving a sale of a restricted security must first be submitted to either the Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee,
or the CEO for pre-clearance. In addition, all transactions in IPOs, non-publicly traded hedge funds, limited partnerships, and
private placement arrangements must first be submitted for pre-clearance. The CCO or his or her designee, or CEO will then communicate
to the Access Person whether or not such transaction(s) will be permitted. Authorization for all pre-cleared transactions shall
only be effective for trades executed during the authorized time period (normally 1-2 trading days). All non-executed pre-cleared
transactions must be resubmitted for pre-clearance each subsequent trading day until the desired execution is completed.
|
3.
|
Reporting Transactions
.
|
In order to provide Dana with information
to enable it to determine with reasonable assurance whether the requirements set forth above are being observed by its Access Persons,
each Access Person of Dana shall submit Personal Securities Transactions reports in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B to the
Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee, showing all transactions in “reportable securities” in which the person
has, or by reason of such transaction acquires any direct or indirect beneficial ownership. Such reports shall be filed no later
than 30 business days after the end of each calendar quarter. Dana’s Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee shall
review such reports at least quarterly. In addition to regularly filing quarterly transaction reports, each Access Person shall
also file annually a complete holdings list showing all holdings of any Covered Security by security name, ticker/CUSIP, and
share amount/number of bonds/principal
amount as of December 31st (i.e. copy of December 31st year end account statements) within 45 days of a calendar year end. For
Access Persons hired during the calendar year, an initial holdings report dated no more than 45 days prior shall be submitted to
the CCO within the first 10 business days of employment. Holdings reports do not need to be submitted for accounts that can’t
hold Covered Securities (i.e. 529 accounts, variable life insurance, fixed annuities, etc.)
4.
Notification to Access Persons
.
Dana’s Chief Compliance Officer
shall periodically notify each Access Person of their responsibilities contained within this Code of Ethics, and shall further
provide to each Access Person a copy of this Code of Ethics for review at least annually and following each material amendment.
Each Access Person shall at least annually, and following any material amendment, sign a written acknowledgment (see Exhibit F)
demonstrating receipt, understanding and compliance with Dana’s Code of Ethics.
|
5.
|
Dana’s Chief Compliance Officer shall report to the Board of Directors
.
|
|
a)
|
At the next Board of Directors meeting following the review of any report on Exhibit B with
respect to each reported transaction in violation of the “Restricted Securities List”, unless the total transaction
amount involved was less than $20,000.
|
|
b)
|
With respect to any transaction not required to be reported to the Board by the operation of subparagraph
(a) that the Chief Compliance Officer believes nonetheless may evidence a violation of this Code; and
|
|
c)
|
Apparent violations of the reporting requirements stated herein.
|
|
6.
|
The Board shall consider reports made to it hereunder and shall determine whether the policy established
in paragraph III.C has been violated, and what sanctions, if any, should be imposed. The Board shall review the operation
of this policy at least once a year.
|
If the Board determines that an
Access Person has committed a violation of the Code, the Board may impose, or it may authorize the CCO to impose, sanctions and
take other actions as it deems appropriate, including a letter of caution or warning, suspension of personal trading privileges,
suspension or termination of employment, fine, civil referral to the SEC and, in certain cases, criminal referral. The Board may
also require the offending Access Person to reverse the trades in question, forfeit any profit or absorb any loss derived there
from and such forfeiture shall be disposed of in a manner that shall be determined by the board in its sole discretion. Failure
to timely abide by directions to reverse a trade or forfeit profits may result in the imposition of additional sanctions.
|
7.
|
Exceptions to the Code will rarely, if ever, be granted. However, the CCO may grant an occasional
exception on a case-by-case basis when the proposed conduct involves negligible opportunities for abuse. All exceptions shall be
requested and issued in writing. Pre-Clearance and quarterly reports are
not
required under this Code for transactions effected
pursuant to an automatic investment plan. Quarterly reports
are
required, however pre-Clearance is
not
required under
this Code for transactions placed by a discretionary Investment Advisor or Trustee that an Access person has retained to manage
their account(s) and who unilaterally executes transactions on their behalf. Quarterly reports
are
required, however pre-Clearance
is
not
required under this Code for sale transactions pursuant to a trailing stop loss order for which the employee provided
documentation of the order at the time the order was placed. Quarterly reports
are
required, however pre-Clearance is
not
required under this Code for transactions in securities held in accounts over which the Access Person has no direct control, to
include investment club transactions provided the Access Person does not determine the purchase and/or sale execution criteria
for the club and does not take part in initiating club related securities transactions. Annual holdings reports
are
still
required for all of the accounts described in this paragraph.
|
|
8.
|
This Code, a copy of each report by an Access Person, any written report hereunder by the Chief
Compliance Officer and lists of all persons required to make reports shall be preserved with Dana’s records for the period
required by Rule 204-2 et al. of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
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|
IV.
|
INSIDER TRADING POLICIES
|
This Code of Ethics is based on
the principle that all Access Persons of Dana Investment Advisors, Inc. have a fiduciary duty to place the interest of clients
ahead of their own and Dana’s. Access Persons must avoid activities, interests and relationships that might interfere with
making decisions in the best interests of Dana clients. Each Employee is obligated to comply with Dana’s Insider Trading
Policies and to generally refrain from trading in any securities on the basis of inside information. A violation of Dana’s
Insider Trading Compliance Policies will subject the employee to immediate discipline.
A.
Insider Trading Defined
.
Essentially, insider trading consists of the use of material, nonpublic information
in purchasing or selling a particular security (trading based on nonpublic information which, if public, could affect the price
of the security traded).*
*This definition of insider trading
is not to be relied upon as a legal definition. Courts and regulatory authorities construing insider trading may apply a different
standard.
As fiduciaries, all Access Persons
must at all times:
|
1.
|
Place the interests of advisory clients first
. All Access Persons must scrupulously avoid
serving their own personal interests ahead of the interests of Dana’s advisory clients. Access Persons may not induce or
cause an advisory client to take action, or not to take action, for personal benefit, rather than for the benefit of the advisory
|
client. For example, a supervisor
or employee would violate the policy by causing an advisory client to purchase a security he or she owned for the purpose of increasing
the price of that security.
|
2.
|
Avoid taking inappropriate advantage of their position
. The receipt of investment opportunities,
perquisites or gifts from persons seeking business with Dana or its advisory clients, could call into question the exercise of
the independent judgment of an Access Person. Access Persons may not, for example, use their knowledge of portfolio transactions
to profit by the market effect of such transactions.
|
|
3.
|
Conduct all personal securities transactions in full compliance with this Code including both
pre-clearance and reporting requirements
. Doubtful situations always should be resolved in favor of Dana’s clients. Technical
compliance with the Code’s provisions shall not automatically insulate from scrutiny any securities transactions or actions
that indicate a violation of Dana’s fiduciary duties.
|
|
C.
|
Procedures to be Followed
.
|
|
1.
|
Chief Compliance Officer
. The Chief Compliance Officer, or other individual appointed by
the CEO, shall be responsible for reviewing employee trading and maintaining and enforcing the insider trading compliance policies
(the “Compliance Policies”) set forth in this document.
|
2.
Monitoring of Employee Transactions
.
|
a)
|
No-Trade Order
. Dana has the right at any time to name a security with respect to which
no trading will be allowed. If Dana issues a no-trade order, the existence of such order and the security(ies) subject to such
order are to be kept strictly confidential.
|
|
b)
|
Reports to Dana
. In accordance with Dana’s existing “personal trading policy,”
all transactions should be submitted to the Chief Compliance Officer within thirty (30) days after the end of each quarter. The
Chief Compliance Officer will review such information.
|
|
3.
|
Acknowledgement
. Annually, each employee will be required to sign an acknowledgment that
he or she (1) has read and agrees to abide by these Compliance Policies, (2) will refrain from trading on the basis of material
nonpublic information and (3) will hold Dana harmless from the consequences of any breach of these representations and warranties.
|
The annual execution of the Acknowledgment
is a condition to continued employment. Failure to execute the Acknowledgment will subject the employee to dismissal.
|
4.
|
Discipline and Enforcement
. A violation of any of these Compliance Policies including the
representations and warranties in the Acknowledgment will subject the Employee to immediate discipline. Depending on the severity
of the violation,
|
discipline may include, but shall
not be limited to, an oral warning, a written warning, suspension, dismissal and reporting the violations to the proper regulatory
authorities.
A.
Confidentiality
.
Access Persons are prohibited from revealing information relating to the investment intentions,
activities or portfolios of advisory clients except to the person whose responsibilities require knowledge of the information.
|
B.
|
Gifts
.
The following provisions on gifts apply to Access Persons:
|
|
1.
|
Giving and Receiving Gifts
. In general, the term “gifts” shall include both
the giving and receiving of physical gifts as well as meals and entertainment. On occasion, because of their position with Dana,
Access Persons may either give gifts to or receive gifts from: clients, brokers, vendors or other persons. Giving and receiving
extraordinary or extravagant gifts is prohibited. When Access Persons are offered extraordinary or extravagant gifts, such gifts
must be declined and returned in order to protect Dana’s reputation and integrity. Onetime gifts of nominal value not exceeding
$100 (e.g., candy, pens, mugs, T-shirts, etc.) are allowed whether alone, or in the aggregate if there are multiple gifts at the
same time. Single gifts of $100 or more in value during any twelve month period, (e.g. customary business meals, entertainment
and sporting activities) are also allowed, but must be disclosed on the employee’s quarterly Gifts Report (see Exhibit C).
In addition, nominal gifts shall also be reported on the employee’s next quarterly gift reporting when the total value of
nominal gifts either received from or given to the same party during the prior twelve months will exceed $100. Access persons are
encouraged to seek pre-clearance from the CCO for any gifts that might reasonably be seen to violate the firm’s gift policy.
|
|
2.
|
Solicitation of Gifts
. Access Persons are prohibited from soliciting gifts of any value
under any circumstances.
|
|
3.
|
Gift or Inheritance of Securities
. Access Persons are allowed to receive a gift or inheritance
of any security even if a particular security is a restricted security. All gifts of restricted securities shall be reported to
the CCO within 90 days. Dana’s regular personal transactions policy will apply to the subsequent sale and reporting of any
gifted or inherited securities.
|
|
4.
|
Required Notification
. Any employee with knowledge that a gift received by an Access Person
might violate this Code must promptly notify the CCO of the suspected gift violation.
|
C.
Opportunities
.
Access Persons may not take personal advantage of any opportunity properly belonging to any
advisory client or to Dana. This includes, but is not limited to, acquiring Reportable Securities for one’s own account that
would otherwise be acquired for an advisory client.
|
D.
|
Undue Influence
.
Access Persons shall not cause or attempt to cause any advisory
client to purchase, sell or hold any security in a manner calculated to create any personal benefit to such Access Person. If an
Access Person stands to materially benefit from an investment decision for an advisory client that the Access Person is recommending
or participating in, the Access Person must disclose to those persons with authority to make investment decisions for the advisory
client the full nature of the beneficial interest that the Access Person has in that security, any derivative security of that
security or the security issuer, where the decision could create a material benefit to the Access Person or the appearance of impropriety.
The person to whom the Access Person reports the interest, in consultation with the CCO, must determine whether or not the Access
Person will be restricted in making investment decisions in respect of the subject security.
|
Updated January 1, 2015
EXHIBIT A
Dana
Investment Advisors, Inc.
CORPORATE PRIVACY POLICY AND PRACTICES
STATEMENT
Federal legislation requires all investment
advisors registered with the SEC to provide a privacy notice to all of their clients.
This notice will describe our practices
and policies concerning our handling of your personal information.
Protecting and Safeguarding Your
Nonpublic Personal Information
Our relationship with our clients is
of utmost importance to us. As you have entrusted us with your private financial information, we will always act accordingly to
maintain that trust. Our employees are trained so that your personal information is held in strict confidence and safeguarded.
Physical, procedural, and electronic safeguards are in place and well established.
Nonpublic Personal Information We
Collect to Serve You
The nonpublic personal information we
use is collected to enable us to open and administer your account, process your transactions, and help us to provide you with quality
service. The information we collect may include name, address, phone number, email address, birth date, social security number
(or tax ID number) and information about your income, net worth, risk tolerance and investment experience. Personal information
is collected to meet our regulatory obligations. This information is neither sold nor otherwise disseminated to disinterested outside
parties.
Nonpublic Personal Information is
Held in Strict Confidence
Personal information is not disclosed
to any third parties unless it is necessary for processing investment transactions or for the servicing of one or more of your
investment accounts. We will always act in good faith and disclose only that information which is required or permitted under law.
If, at any time, it is necessary to disclose any of your nonpublic personal information in a manner that is not consistent with
this policy, you will be notified in advance in order to have the opportunity to opt out of such disclosure. If, at any time, you
decide to close your account(s) or become an inactive client, we will continue to adhere to our ongoing privacy policies and practices
as described in this notice and as amended by any future notices.
Public Personal Information is Used
in a Limited Capacity
Personal information regarding high
net worth individuals is not used for marketing purposes. Certain public information identifying the name of an institutional client
and its corresponding industry group, or State location, is occasionally used in direct presentations to potential clients. This
information is often required by institutional client prospects and helps us to demonstrate our knowledge of a potential client’s
investment management needs through past experience with similarly situated clients. Rarely is any other public information disclosed
beyond this limited capacity. You will always have the right to opt out of such a limited disclosure by informing us in writing
of your intentions.
We reserve the right to change this
Privacy Policy at anytime, without notice and will notify clients of any modifications on an annual basis.
EXHIBIT B
QUARTERLY
PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS REPORT
NAME:
TIME
FRAME: [insert applicable time frame]
Please
list any personal security transactions which were executed by you in one or more of your accounts, or in which you were the beneficial
owner (i.e. transactions your spouse made), during the above stated time frame. Please include the following information:
TRADE DATE
|
BUY/SELL OR EXCHANGE
|
SECURITY NAME
|
TICKER (Use CUSIP for Bonds/Prfrds)
|
SHARE AMOUNT, # OF BONDS / PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
|
INTEREST
RATE / COUPON
(if
applicable)
|
MATURITY
DATE
(if
applicable)
|
PRICE
|
EXECUTING BROKER/DEALER / BANK
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
|
A
ll
transactions in “reportable securities” should be listed above or on a separate sheet. Even if
no reportable transactions were executed during this time frame, please write “None” in the security name section and
sign at the bottom of this form.
By executing
this form you are attesting that you have included all security transactions from all accounts in which you were either the direct
or beneficial owner. Please sign at the bottom and
return to Dana’s Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee by
[insert applicable date].
SIGNATURE:
DATE:
EXHIBIT C
GIFTS REPORT
Date of Gift:
Receiving Party:
Approximate $Value:
Description of the gift(s):
**For personal political contributions,
include the name of the political candidate. Signature on this form is your verification that only personal, non-business resources
were used to make such political contributions.
Employee Name:
Employee Signature:
Date:
EXHIBIT D
POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION POLICY
Regulatory Background
In response to a perceived spike in “pay-to-play”
activity, the Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted Rule 206(4)-5 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Rule”).
In general, the Rule contains three key prohibitions:
|
-
|
a two-year prohibition on an adviser’s providing compensated
services to a government entity following a political contribution to certain officials of that entity;
|
|
-
|
a prohibition on the use of third-party solicitors who are not themselves
“regulated persons” subject to pay-to-play restrictions on political contributions; and
|
|
-
|
a prohibition on “bundling” and other efforts by advisers
to solicit political contributions to certain officials of a government entity to which the adviser is seeking to provide services.
|
Specifically, Rule 206(4)-5 prohibits advisers
from “receiving”
any
compensation for providing investment advice to a “government entity” within
two years after a contribution has been made by the adviser or one of its “covered associates”. A “covered associate”
includes (i) any partner, managing member or executive officer or individual with a similar status or function, (ii) any employee
who solicits a government entity for the adviser (and any person who directly or indirectly supervises such employee) and (iii)
any political action committees (“PACs”) controlled by the adviser or a covered associate. A person’s activities
and not his or her title will ultimately determine whether he or she is a covered associate. For example, an “executive officer,”
under the Rule, not only includes the president and vice-president in charge of a principal business unit, division or function,
but also any other officer or person who performs a policy-making functions. Generally, non-executive level personnel and those
employees that do not directly solicit business from government entities are not considered to be covered associates.
U.S. federal, state and local contributions
are subject to significant legal restrictions and prohibitions, including pay-to-play laws that can prohibit Dana from engaging
in certain businesses if its employees make political contributions to covered officials, candidates or political committees. The
Rule broadly defines “contributions” to include a gift, subscription, loan, advance, deposit of money or anything of
value made for the purpose of influencing a federal, state or local election, including payments of campaign debts and transition
or inaugural expenses incurred by successful candidates for state or local (but not federal) office. Such definition would not
include (i) an individual’s donated time (if the adviser does not solicit such person’s efforts or provide the use
of its resources) and (ii) charitable donations made at the request of a government entity. Importantly, contributions to PACs
do not directly implicate the Rule’s prohibitions on contributions if the contributions are not attributable to a particular
covered official.
For purposes of the Rule, an “official”
includes an incumbent, candidate or successful candidate for office if the office is directly or indirectly responsible for, or
can influence the outcome of, the hiring of an adviser or has the authority to appoint such a person. The Rule does not specify
particular types of officials who could influence the hiring of an adviser. In addition, political contributions to public officials
or candidates for public office outside the U.S. may be subject to local regulations and some jurisdictions may not permit political
contributions by foreign companies or persons. Prior to making any non-U.S. contribution, you should confirm that you are in compliance
with such rules.
Rule 206(4)-5 contains a “look back”
provision under which advisers must look back in time to determine whether a covered associate has made a triggering contribution.
Pursuant to the look back provision, contributions made by a covered associate will be attributed to an adviser if those contributions
were made within (i) two years prior to the date the individual became a covered associate, in the case of covered associates who
solicit clients for the adviser or (ii) six months prior to the date the individual became a covered associate, in the case of
covered associates who do not solicit clients for the adviser.
Dana Policy
Dana employees may engage in legitimate political
activities and make political contributions to the extent permitted under law. However, you are prohibited from making contributions
to any political officials or political causes if those contributions are intended to influence the award or retention of any Dana
Investment Advisors (“Dana”) business. You are also responsible for confirming that your personal political activity
is in compliance with legal limits.
The Rule
permits individuals to make aggregate contributions within certain de minimis limits without triggering the two-year “time
out” period. In accordance with these limits, Dana employees are specifically allowed to make political contributions intended
to be covered by the Rule of up to $350 per election to an elected official or candidate for whom the individual is entitled to
vote, and up to $150 per election to an elected official or candidate for whom the individual is not entitled to vote. Please note
that these
de minimis
limits are available only for contributions made by individual covered associates, not advisers,
and primary and general elections are treated as separate under both exceptions.
You may not use Dana resources for any
political event or political contribution.
In order to further Dana’s and all covered
associates’ compliance with the Rule, Dana employees are required to report all political contribution activity relating
to U.S. federal, state or local political candidates, officials, party committees, organizations or ballot measure committees.
Within 30 calendar days following each calendar quarter end, any employee making a political contribution during the prior calendar
quarter shall promptly communicate via email the following details for each separate contribution to Dana’s CCO:
|
-
|
Date that the political contribution was made
|
|
-
|
Amount of the contribution
|
|
-
|
Name of the political candidate receiving such contribution
|
|
-
|
Verification that personal resources were used in making payment
for such contribution
|
Adherence to Dana’s Political Contributions
Policy is considered mandatory and failure to abide by it can ultimately serve as grounds for discipline and potentially termination
under certain circumstances. Any questions regarding this policy should be directed to Dana’s CCO.
EXHIBIT E
CERTIFICATION OF RECEIPT A
POTENTIAL EMPLOYEE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
CHECK LIST
Definitions
Party of Interest
: Any immediate family member of either
you
or
your spouse
eg. mother, father, brother, sister, step-children, adopted children, grandmother, grandfather,
aunt, uncle. This definition
does not include
ex-spouses or cousins at this time.
List the name
and
relationship (eg. mother, father, brother-in-law),
of anyone in your
party of interest
who could be considered: 1) an owner of a Dana managed account,
or
2) either
an employee, officer, general partner, managing member, board member, director or more than a 5% shareholder of any entity which
Dana manages one or more accounts for:
Dana Client name and account number:
Name/Relationship:
Dana Client name and account number:
Name/Relationship:
Dana Client name and account number:
Name/Relationship:
Dana Client name and account number:
Name/Relationship:
Are you authorized to effect securities transactions in the above
account(s)? Yes
No
|
2.
|
PUBLICALLY TRADED COMPANIES
|
List the name
and
relationship (eg. mother, father, brother-in-law),
of anyone in your
party of interest
who is a Board Member/Director/Officer of a publicly traded company:
Company Name:
Name/Relationship:
Company Name:
Name/Relationship:
|
3.
|
INVESTMENT INDUSTRY TIES
|
List the name
and
relationship (eg. mother, father, brother-in-law),
of anyone in your
party of interest
who could be considered either an employee, officer, general partner, managing member,
board member, director or more than a 5% shareholder of the following:
Brokerage/Advisory Firm:
Custodian/Trust Firm:
Solicitor Firm:
Consulting Firm:
Vendor or Supplier of Services to either Dana or its Clients:
|
4.
|
ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF EMPLOYMENT WITH DANA
|
Outside your employment at Dana, do you serve in any of the following
capacities?
Board of Director (List name
of company or organization):
Volunteer for a Non-Profit
Organization (List organization name):
General Partner (List name
of Partnership/LLC):
Partner/Limited Partner/Member:
Trustee (List name and relationship
of trust account):
Power of Attorney,
excluding
Healthcare POA
(List name and Relationship):
Please list any other potential conflicts of interest that you may
be aware of at this time:
Signature
Printed Name
Date
EXHIBIT F
ANNUAL CERTIFICATION OF RECEIPT AND
COMPLIANCE WITH
DANA INVESTMENT ADVISORS, INC.
CODE OF ETHICS
I hereby acknowledge that:
|
1.
|
I have received a copy of the Dana Investment Advisors, Inc. Code of Ethics dated January 1, 2015.
|
|
2.
|
I understand it is my responsibility to read the policies and guidelines contained in the Code
of Ethics and to fully understand and comply with the stated requirements. I also understand that I have a duty to notify Dana’s
Chief Compliance Officer if I become aware that either I, or a fellow employee, has violated a provision of Dana’s Code of
Ethics.
|
|
3.
|
I understand that adhering to the policies described in the Code are employment requirements, and
that failure to comply with such policies and procedures may be grounds for disciplinary actions and may include termination of
employment.
|
I certify that during the year ended
December 31, 2014:
|
1.
|
I have fully disclosed all securities holdings in which I have, or a member of my immediate household
has, a beneficial interest.
|
|
2.
|
I have reviewed the Restricted Securities List prior to placing transactions in reportable securities
and have obtained pre-clearance for all securities transactions in which I have, or an immediate member of my family has, a beneficial
interest except for transactions exempt from pre-clearance as indicated in this Code, or for which I have received an exception
in writing from the CCO.
|
|
3.
|
I have reported all “reportable” securities transactions in which I have, or any member
of my immediate family (spouse, children, parents, relatives) living in my home has, a beneficial interest.
|
|
4.
|
I have complied with the Code of Ethics in all other respects.
|
Signature
Printed Name
Date
CODE OF ETHICS
Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.
Waddell & Reed, Inc.
Waddell & Reed Investment Management
Company
Fiduciary Trust Company of New Hampshire
Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds
Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios
InvestEd Portfolios
Ivy
Funds
Ivy
Investment Management Company
Ivy Funds Distributor, Inc.
Waddell & Reed Services Company, doing
business as WI Services Company
Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund
Revised Nov. 2012
Adopted by Ivy High Income Opportunities
Fund February 27, 2013
1.
Preface
Rule 17j-1
under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), requires registered investment companies and their investment
advisers and principal underwriters to adopt codes of ethics and certain other provisions to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and
manipulative practices. Each investment company in Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds, Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios and
InvestEd Portfolios (collectively, the "W&R Funds") and Ivy Funds (the "Ivy Funds") are registered as open-end
management investment companies under the Act. Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund is a registered closed-end management investment
company under the Act ("IVH" and together with the Ivy Funds and the W&R Funds, each a "Fund" and collectively,
the "Funds"). Waddell & Reed, Inc. ("WRI") is the principal underwriter for each of the W&R Funds,
and Ivy Funds Distributor, Inc. ("IFDI") is the principal underwriter for Ivy Funds. Waddell & Reed Services Company
doing business as WI Services Company ("WISC") is the accounting services agent, transfer agent and shareholder servicing
agent for Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds and InvestEd Portfolios and Ivy Funds and the transfer agent for Ivy Funds Variable
Insurance Portfolios. Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company ("WRIMCO") is the investment adviser for the W&R
Funds and may also serve as investment adviser for institutional clients other than the Funds. Ivy Investment Management Company
("IICO") is the investment adviser for the Ivy Funds and IVH and may also serve as investment adviser for institutional
clients other than the Funds. Fiduciary Trust Company of New Hampshire ("FTC") is a trust company and a subsidiary of
WRI and Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. ("WDR") is the public parent holding company. Except as otherwise specified
herein, this Code applies to all employees, officers, directors and trustees of WRI, WISC, WRIMCO, IFDI, IICO and FTC (each a "Company"
and collectively, the "Companies").
This Code of Ethics (the "Code") is based on the
principle that the officers, directors, trustees and employees of the Companies and the Funds have a fiduciary duty to place the
interests of their respective advisory clients first, to conduct all personal securities transactions consistently with this Code
and in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of their position of trust and responsibility,
and to conduct their personal securities transactions in a manner that does not interfere with the portfolio transactions of any
advisory client or otherwise take unfair advantage of their relationship to any advisory client. Persons covered by this Code must
adhere to this general principle as well as comply with the specific provisions of this Code. Persons covered by this Code, including
Supervised Persons, are required to comply with all Federal securities laws.
Technical compliance with this Code will not insulate from
scrutiny trades that indicate an abuse of an individual's fiduciary duties to any advisory client.
This Code has been approved, and any material change to it
must be approved, by each Fund’s board of trustees including a majority of the Fund's Disinterested Trustees, defined below.
"
Access Person
" means (i) any director, trustee,
officer or general partner of a Fund or an Adviser, (ii) any employee of a Fund or Company, any director or officer of a Principal
Underwriter, or any director, officer, general partner or employee of any company in a control relationship to a Fund or Adviser
who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in or obtains information regarding the purchase
or sale of securities for an Advisory Client or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendation to an Advisory Client
regarding the purchase or sale of securities and (iii) any natural person in a control relationship to a Fund or an Adviser who
obtains information concerning recommendations made to a Fund with regard to the purchase or sale of securities by the Fund. A
natural person in a control relationship or an employee of a company in a control relationship does not become an "Access
Person" simply by virtue of the following: normally assisting in the preparation of public reports, but not receiving information
about
current
recommendations or trading; or a single instance of obtaining knowledge of current recommendations or trading
activity, or infrequently and inadvertently obtaining such knowledge. The Legal Department, in cooperation with department heads,
is responsible for determining who are Access Persons.
"
Adviser
" means each of WRIMCO and IICO.
"
Advisory Client
" means any client (including
any Fund or managed account) for which WRIMCO or IICO serves as an investment adviser, renders investment advice or makes investment
decisions.
"
Beneficial Ownership
" shall be interpreted
in the same manner as it would be pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in determining whether
a person is the beneficial owner of a Security for purposes of Section 16 thereof. (See Appendix A for a more complete description.)
"
CCO
" means Chief Compliance Officer.
"
Control
" shall have the same meaning as that
set forth in Section 2(a)(9) of the Act.
"
De Minimis Transaction
" means a transaction
in an equity Security (or an equivalent security) that is equal to or less than 300 shares, or is a fixed-income Security (or an
equivalent security) that is equal to or less than $15,000 in principal amount. Purchases and sales, as the case may be, in the
same Security or an equivalent Security within 30 days will be aggregated for purposes of determining if the transaction meets
the definition of a De Minimis Transaction.
"
Disinterested Trustee
" means a trustee of
a Fund who is not an "interested person" of such Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Act.
"
Equivalent Security
" means any Security issued
by the same entity as the issuer of a subject security, including options, rights, warrants, preferred stock, restricted stock,
phantom stock, bonds and other obligations of that company, or security convertible into another security.
"
Immediate Family
" of an individual means
any of the following persons who reside in the same household as the individual:
child grandparent son-in-law
stepchild spouse daughter-in-law
grandchild sibling brother-in-law
parent mother-in-law sister-in-law
stepparent father-in-law
Immediate Family includes adoptive relationships and any other
relationship (whether or not recognized by law) that the Legal Department determines could lead to possible conflicts of interest,
diversions of corporate opportunity, or appearances of impropriety that this Code is intended to prevent.
"
Initial Public Offering
" means an offering
of Securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer of which, immediately before registration, was not subject
to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
"
Investment Personnel
" means any employee
who provides information and advice to a Portfolio Manager or who helps execute the Portfolio Manager's decisions.
"
Large Cap Transaction
" means a purchase or
sale of Securities issued by (or equivalent securities with respect to) companies with market capitalization that are not considered
small cap Securities, or have a market capitalization of at least $3.5 billion.
"
Non-Affiliated Director
" means a director
or trustee of a Fund or a Company, who is otherwise not an affiliated person of a Fund or a Company.
"
Portfolio Manager
" means any employee entrusted
with the direct responsibility and authority to make investment decisions affecting an Advisory Client.
"
Principal Underwriter
"
means each
of IFDI and WRI.
"
Private Placement
" means an offering that
is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 4(2) or Section 4(6) of, or pursuant to Rule 504,
Rule 505 or Rule 506 under, the Securities Act of 1933.
"
Purchase or Sale of a Security
" includes,
without limitation, the writing, purchase or exercise of an option to purchase or sell a Security, conversions of convertible securities
and short sales.
"
Reportable Fund
" means (i) any of the Funds;
(ii) any other RIC for which a Company serves as an investment adviser as defined in Section 2(a)(20) of the Act; or (iii) any
RIC whose investment adviser or principal underwriter controls a Company, or is under common control with a Company.
"
RIC
" means any investment company registered
under the Act.
"
SEC
" means the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission.
"Security"
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 202(a)(18) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, except that it does
not include (i) direct obligations of the Government of the United States, (ii) bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit,
commercial paper, high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements (iii) shares issued by money market
RICs; (iv) shares issued by open-end RICs, other than Reportable Funds and exchange traded funds (
"
ETFs
"
);
and (v) shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end RICs, none of which is a
Reportable Fund.
"
Security Held or to be Acquired
" by an Advisory
Client means (a) any security that, within the most recent 15 days, (i) is or has been held by an Advisory Client or (ii) is being
or has been considered for purchase by an Advisory Client, and (b) any option to purchase or sell, and any security convertible
into or exchangeable into, a security described in the preceding clause (a).
"
Supervised Person
" is any partner, officer,
director (or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions), or employee of an Adviser, or other person
who provides investment advice on behalf of an Adviser and is subject to the supervision and control of the Adviser.
|
3.
|
Pre-Clearance Requirements
|
Except as otherwise specified in this Code, all Access Persons,
except a Non-Affiliated Director or Disinterested Trustee or a member of his or her Immediate Family, shall clear in advance through
the Legal Department, the Funds' CCO or his/her designee (hereinafter referred to as the "Legal Department"), any purchase
or sale, direct or indirect, of any Security (with the exception of Reportable Funds) in which such Access Person has, or by reason
of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership; provided, however, that an Access Person shall not be
required to clear transactions effected for securities held in any account over which such Access Person does not have any direct
or indirect influence or control.
For accounts affiliated with the Companies or any of their
affiliates or related companies (
"
affiliated accounts
"
),
WRIMCO or IICO, as applicable, must clear in advance purchases of equity securities in Initial Public Offerings only.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 5, the Legal Department
will not grant clearance for any purchase or sale of a Security by an Access Person if there is a pending open order for that Security
(an “Open Order”) on the trading desk. If the Security proposed to be purchased or sold by the Access Person is an
option, clearance will not be granted if there is an Open Order on the securities subject to the option. If the Security proposed
to be purchased or sold is a convertible security, clearance will not be granted if there is an Open Order on either that security
or the securities into which it is convertible. For all other purchases and sales of securities for affiliated accounts, no clearance
is necessary, but such transactions are subject to WRIMCO's or IICO's Procedures for Aggregation of Orders for Advisory Clients,
as amended from time to time.
The Legal Department may refuse to preclear a transaction if
it deems the transaction to involve a conflict of interest, possible diversion of corporate opportunity, or an appearance of impropriety.
Clearance is effective, unless earlier revoked, until the earlier
of (1) the close of business on the second trading day, beginning on and including the day on which such clearance was granted,
or (2) such time as the Access Person learns that the information provided to the Legal Department in such Access Person's request
for clearance is not accurate. If an Access Person places an order for a transaction within the two trading days but such order
is not executed within the two trading days (e.g., a limit order), clearance need not be re-obtained unless the Access Person who
placed the original order amends such order in any way. Clearance may be revoked at any time and is deemed revoked if, subsequent
to receipt of clearance, the Access Person has knowledge that a Security to which the clearance relates is being considered for
purchase or sale by an Advisory Client.
A Security is "being considered for purchase or sale"
when an order to purchase or sell that Security has been given to the trading room, or prior thereto when, in the opinion of the
portfolio manager, a decision, whether or not conditional, has been made (even though not yet implemented) to make the purchase
or sale, or when the decision-making process has reached a point that such a decision is imminent.
The pre-clearance requirements in Section 3, the prohibited
actions and transactions in Section 5 and the reporting requirements set forth in Section 6 of this Code shall not apply to:
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(a)
|
Purchases or sales that are non-volitional on the part of either the Access Person or the Advisory Client. This exemption includes
accounts managed by WRIMCO or IICO on a discretionary basis that are deemed to be beneficially owned by an Access Person.
|
|
(b)
|
Purchases that are part of an automatic investment plan or automatic dividend reinvestment plan.
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(c)
|
Purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer
pro
rata
to all holders of a class of its
securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuer, and sales of such rights so acquired.
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|
(d)
|
Transactions in securities of WDR; however, individuals subject to the Insider Trading Policy remain subject to such policy.
(See Appendix B).
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(e)
|
Purchases or sales by a Non-Affiliated Director or Disinterested Trustee or a member of his or her Immediate Family, except
as provided in Section 6(d).
|
|
5.
|
Prohibited Actions and Transactions
|
Clearance will not be granted under Section 3 with respect
to the following prohibited actions and transactions. Engaging in any such actions or transactions by Access Persons will result
in sanctions, including, but not limited to, the sanctions expressly provided for in this Section.
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(a)
|
Access Persons, except a Non-Affiliated Director or Disinterested Trustee, shall not purchase any Initial Public Offering.
|
|
(b)
|
Except with respect to Large Cap Transactions, Access Persons, except a Non-Affiliated Director or Disinterested Trustee, shall
not execute a transaction in a Security while an Advisory Client has a pending buy or sell Open Order on the trading desk in that
same security or an equivalent security until that order is executed or withdrawn. An Access Person shall disgorge any profits
realized on trades within such period.
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|
(c)
|
Except for De Minimis Transactions, Large Cap Transactions and transactions in Reportable Funds, a Portfolio Manager shall
not buy or sell a Security within seven (7) trading days before or after an Advisory Client that the Portfolio Manager manages
trades in that Security or an equivalent security. A Portfolio Manager shall disgorge any profits realized on such trades within
such period. The Funds' CCO will review all trades that occur during such period by Portfolio Managers and may, in his/her sole
discretion, allow exceptions when he/she has determined that an exception would be equitable and that no abuse was involved in
the trade(s).
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(d)
|
Except for De Minimis Transactions and Large Cap Transactions, Investment Personnel
and Portfolio Managers shall not profit in the purchase or sale, or sale and purchase, of the same (or equivalent) securities within
sixty (60) calendar days. Investment Personnel and Portfolio Managers profiting from short-term transactions shall disgorge any
profits realized on such transaction. The Funds' CCO will review any such short-term trading by
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Investment Personnel and Portfolio Managers and may, in his/her
sole discretion, allow exceptions when he/she has determined that an exception would be equitable and that no abuse is involved
in the trade(s). This section shall not apply to options on securities used for hedging purposes for securities held longer than
sixty (60) days.
|
(e)
|
Except with respect to Large Cap Transactions, Investment Personnel and Portfolio Managers shall not acquire a Security in
a Private Placement, absent prior authorization from the Legal Department. The Legal Department will not grant clearance for the
acquisition of a Security in a Private Placement if it is determined that the investment opportunity should be reserved for an
Advisory Client or that the opportunity to acquire the Security is being offered to the individual requesting clearance by virtue
of such individual's position with a Company or a Fund. An individual who has been granted clearance to acquire securities in a
Private Placement shall disclose such investment when participating in an Advisory Client's subsequent consideration of an investment
in the issuer. A subsequent decision by an Advisory Client to purchase such a Security shall be subject to independent review by
Investment Personnel with no personal interest in the issuer.
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|
(f)
|
An Access Person shall not execute a transaction in a Security on the basis of (i.e., while aware of) material nonpublic information
regarding the Security or its issuer.
|
|
(g)
|
An Access Person shall not execute a transaction in a Security that is intended to result in market manipulation, including
but not limited to, a transaction intended to raise, lower, or maintain the price of any security or to create a false appearance(s)
of active trading.
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(h)
|
Except with respect to Large Cap Transactions, an Access Person shall not execute a transaction in a Security involving the
purchase or sale of a security at a time when such Access Person intends, or knows of another's intention, to purchase or sell
that Security (or an equivalent security) on behalf of an Advisory Client. This prohibition would apply whether the transaction
is in the same (e.g., two purchases) or the opposite (a purchase and sale) direction as the transaction of the Advisory Client.
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|
(i)
|
An Access Person shall not cause or attempt to cause any Advisory Client to purchase, sell, or hold any Security in a manner
calculated to create any personal benefit to such Access Person or his or her Immediate Family. If an Access Person or his or her
Immediate Family stands to materially benefit from an investment decision for an
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Advisory Client that the Access Person is recommending
or in which the Access Person is participating, the Access Person shall disclose to the persons with authority to make investment
decisions for the Advisory Client, any beneficial interest that the Access Person or his or her Immediate Family has in such security
or an equivalent security, or in the issuer thereof, where the decision could create a material benefit to the Access Person or
his or her Immediate Family or result in the appearance of impropriety.
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(j)
|
Investment Personnel and Portfolio Managers shall not accept from any person or entity that does or proposes to do business
with or on behalf of an Advisory Client a gift or other thing of more than de minimis value or any other form of advantage. The
solicitation or giving of such gifts by Investment Personnel and Portfolio Managers is also prohibited. For purposes of this subparagraph,
"de minimis" means $100 or less if received in the ordinary course of business.
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(k)
|
Investment Personnel and Portfolio Managers shall not serve on the board of directors of publicly traded companies (with the
exception of IVH), absent prior authorization from the Legal Department. The Legal Department will grant authorization only if
it is determined that such service would be consistent with the interests of any Advisory Client. In the event board service is
authorized, such individuals serving as directors shall be isolated from those making investment decisions through procedures designed
to safeguard against potential conflicts of interest, such as a Chinese Wall policy or investment restrictions.
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6.
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Reporting by Access Persons
|
Except for Section 6(d), this Section 6 does not apply to a
Non-Affiliated Director or Disinterested Trustee or a member of his or her Immediate Family.
|
(a)
|
Each Access Person shall require a broker-dealer or bank effecting a transaction in any Security in which such Access Person
has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership in the security to timely send (no
later than 30 days after the end of a calendar quarter) duplicate copies (which may be in electronic format) of each confirmation
for each securities transaction and/or periodic account statement for each brokerage account in which such Access Person has a
beneficial interest to Waddell & Reed, Inc., Attention: Legal Department.
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|
(b)
|
Upon commencement of employment, or, if later, at the time he or she becomes an Access Person (and no later than ten (10) days
after the person becomes an Access Person), each such Access Person shall provide the Legal Department with a report (current as
of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the person becomes an Access Person) that discloses:
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|
(i)
|
The name, number of shares and principal amount of each Security in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect Beneficial
Ownership when he or she became an Access Person;
|
|
(ii)
|
The name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the Access Person maintained an account in which securities were held for
the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person as of the date he or she became an Access Person; and
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|
(iii)
|
The date the report is submitted.
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|
(c)
|
Annually thereafter, each Access Person shall provide the Legal Department with a report (current as of a date no more than
30 days before the report is submitted) that discloses:
|
|
(i)
|
The name, number of shares and principal amount of each Security in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect Beneficial
Ownership;
|
|
(ii)
|
The name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the Access Person maintains an account in which securities were held for
the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person; and
|
|
(iii)
|
The date the report is submitted.
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However, an Access Person shall not be required to
make a report with respect to Securities held in any account over which such Access Person does not have any direct or indirect
influence or control.
In addition, each Access Person shall annually certify
in writing that all transactions in any Security in which such Access Person has, or by reason of such transaction has acquired,
any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership have been reported to the Legal
Department. If an Access Person had no transactions
during the year, such Access Person shall so advise the Legal Department.
|
(d)
|
A Disinterested Trustee or a member of his or her Immediate Family need only report a transaction in a Security (other than
a Reportable Fund) if such trustee, at the time of that transaction, knew or, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official
duties, should have known that, during the 15-day period immediately preceding or following the date of the transaction, such Security
was purchased or sold by an Advisory Client or was being considered for purchase or sale by an Advisory Client.
|
The report should contain:
|
(i)
|
the date of the transaction, the name of the security, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares
and the total principal value of the securities involved in the transaction;
|
|
(ii)
|
the nature of the transaction (
i.e.
, a sale or purchase);
|
|
(iii)
|
the price of the security at which the transaction was effected;
|
|
(iv)
|
the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected; and
|
|
(v)
|
the date the report is submitted.
|
A Disinterested Trustee shall submit the report
to the Legal Department within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter in which the transaction occurred.
A Disinterested Trustee may satisfy this reporting
obligation by sending, or arranging for the broker, dealer or bank to send a copy of the trade confirmation(s) or account statement(s)
if the trade confirmation or account statement contains the same information that is required to be included in the report.
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(e)
|
In connection with a report, recommendation or decision of an Access Person to purchase or sell a security, a Company or a
Fund may, in its discretion, require such Access Person to disclose his or her direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership of such
security. Any such report may contain a statement that the report shall not be construed as an admission by the person making such
report that he or she has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership in the security to which the report relates.
|
|
(f)
|
The Legal Department shall identify all Access Persons who are required to make reports pursuant to Section 6 and shall notify
those persons of their reporting obligations hereunder. The Legal Department shall review, or determine other appropriate personnel
to review, the reports submitted pursuant to Section 6.
|
|
(g)
|
Each Access Person shall immediately: (i) identify to the Legal Department, each new brokerage or other account in which the
person has a beneficial interest and (ii) instruct the broker or custodian of that account to deliver to the attention of the Funds
CCO duplicate confirmations of all securities transactions and/or duplicate brokerage statements for such accounts. In the case
of refusal or similar inability of a broker or a custodian to furnish duplicate confirmations and/or account statements, then the
Access Person will be permitted, in the discretion of the Fund's CCO, to furnish exact copies of transaction confirmations and/or
account statements.
|
|
(h)
|
The transfer agent receives a monthly report of all 401(k) plan exchange and redemption transactions within every Access Persons'
401(k) plan account. This report is utilized by the transfer agent to monitor the trading activity of Access Persons within their
401(k) plan accounts that could be harmful to other shareholders due to the frequency of the trades.
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|
7.
|
Reports to Board or Committees of Board
|
At least annually, each Fund, WRIMCO, IICO, WRI, IFDI
and
WISC
shall provide the relevant Fund's board, and that board shall consider, a written report that:
|
(a)
|
Describes any issues arising under this Code or the related procedures instituted to prevent violation of this Code since the
last report to the board, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of this Code or such procedures
and sanctions imposed in response to such violations; and
|
|
(b)
|
Certifies that the Fund, WRIMCO, IICO, WRI, IFDI
and WISC
, as applicable,
have adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating this Code.
|
In addition to the written report otherwise required by Section
7, all material violations of this Code, any exceptions granted pursuant to Sections 5(c) or 5(d) above, and any sanctions imposed
with respect thereto shall be periodically reported to each Fund board.
The Disinterested Trustees of the applicable Funds shall be
provided a report of any known breach of fiduciary duty and/or Federal securities laws no less frequently than quarterly; provided,
however, that any material breach shall be reported promptly.
|
8.
|
Confidentiality of Transactions and Information
|
Every Access Person shall treat as confidential information
the fact that a security is being considered for purchase or sale by an Advisory Client, the contents of any research report, recommendation
or decision, whether at the preliminary or final level, and the holdings of an Advisory Client and shall not disclose any such
confidential information without prior consent from the Legal Department. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a Fund,
the holdings of the Fund shall not be considered confidential after such holdings by the Fund have been disclosed in a public report
to shareholders or to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Access Persons shall not disclose any such confidential information
to any person except those employees and directors who need such information to carry out the duties of their position with a Company
or a Fund.
9.
Reporting Violations
It is the responsibility of each Supervised Person promptly
to report to the applicable Adviser's CCO any violation or apparent violation of this Code by any Supervised Person. The CCO will
not maintain a record of the reports by such persons (each, a "Reporting Person"), if any, of violations or apparent
violations of this Code by any Supervised Persons, but will maintain records of any violations and actions taken as a result of
the violations. The Adviser will keep the identity of any Reporting Person who is an employee confidential and privileged under
all circumstances, unless such Reporting Person has authorized the Adviser to disclose his or her identity.
Reporting Persons may report Code violations on an anonymous
basis. The Adviser urges any employee that considers making an anonymous complaint to strongly consider that anonymous complaints
are, by their nature, susceptible to abuse, less reliable and more difficult to resolve.
In addition, employees considering making an anonymous complaint
should be aware that there are significant rights and protections available to them if they identify themselves when making a complaint,
and these rights and protections may be lost if they make the complaint on an anonymous basis. Therefore, the Adviser encourages
employees to identify themselves when making reports of Code violations without resort to the anonymity that is available to each
employee.
The Funds' CCO shall determine, in response to any report,
whether or not a violation of this Code has occurred, and in the event the CCO shall determine that a violation has occurred, shall
report such violation to the General Counsel for review and resolution as the General Counsel deems appropriate.
Upon discovering a violation of this Code, each applicable
Company or Fund may impose such sanctions as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, a letter of censure or suspension
or termination of the employment of the violator.
11.
Monitoring Compliance with the
Code
Each Company that provides services to the Funds shall maintain
a Code of Ethics Oversight Committee, which shall be comprised of senior executives, having responsibility for, among other things,
all matters relating to issues arising under this Code. Each Code of Ethics Oversight Committee shall hold, at least quarterly,
meetings with respect to that Company to review violations of the Code, as well as to consider policy matters relating to the Code.
|
12.
|
Certification of Compliance
|
Each Access Person, except a Non-Affiliated Director or Disinterested
Trustee and members of his or her Immediate Family, and each Supervised Person shall certify that he or she has received or accessed
the Code from the corporate intranet website, read and understands this Code and recognizes that he or she is subject hereto. Such
certifications shall be made (a) at the time a person becomes a Supervised Person, (b) annually, and (c) at any time this Code
is materially amended.
The Companies shall maintain records in the manner and to the
extent set forth below, which records may be maintained pursuant to the conditions described in Rule 31a-2 under the Act and shall
be available for examination by representatives of the SEC.
|
(a)
|
A copy of this Code and any other code that is, or at any time within the past five years has been, in effect shall be preserved
in an easily accessible place;
|
|
(b)
|
A record of any violation of this Code and of any action taken as a result of such violation shall be preserved in an easily
accessible place for a period of not less than five years following the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurs;
|
|
(c)
|
A copy of each report made by an Access Person pursuant to this Code shall be preserved for a period of not less than five
years from the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, the first two years in an easily accessible place;
|
|
(e)
|
A list of all persons who are, or within the past five years have been, required to make reports pursuant to this Code shall
be maintained in an easily accessible place;
|
|
(f)
|
A copy of each written report to the boards of trustees of the Funds shall be maintained for at least five years from the end
of the fiscal year in which it is made, the first two years in an easily accessible place; and
|
|
(g)
|
A record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition of securities in an Initial Public
Offering or a Private Placement, shall be preserved for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval
is granted.
|
Appendix A
"Beneficial Ownership"
For purposes of this Code, "Beneficial Ownership"
is interpreted in the same manner as it would be pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in determining
whether a person is the beneficial owner of a security for purposes of Section 16 thereof. In general, a "beneficial owner"
of a security is any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise,
has or shares any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the security. The Companies and Funds will interpret Beneficial Ownership
in a broad sense.
The existence of Beneficial Ownership is clear in certain situations,
such as: securities held in street name by brokers for an Access Person's account, bearer securities held by an Access Person,
securities held by custodians, pledged securities, and securities held by relatives or others for an Access Person. An Access Person
is also considered the beneficial owner of securities held by certain family members. The SEC has indicated that an individual
is considered the beneficial owner of securities owned by such individual's Immediate Family. The relative's ownership of the securities
may be direct (i.e., in the name of the relative) or indirect.
An Access Person is deemed to have Beneficial Ownership of
securities owned by a trust of which the Access Person is the settlor, trustee or beneficiary, securities owned by an estate of
which the Access Person is the executor or administrator, legatee or beneficiary, securities owned by a partnership of which the
Access Person is a partner, and securities of a corporation of which the Access Person is a director, officer or shareholder.
An Access Person must comply with the provisions of this Code
with respect to all securities in which such Access Person has a Beneficial Ownership. If an Access Person is in doubt as to whether
she or he has a Beneficial Ownership interest in a security, the Access Person should report the ownership interest to the Legal
Department. An Access Person may disclaim Beneficial Ownership as to any security on required reports.
APPENDIX B
POLICY STATEMENT ON INSIDER TRADING
This Policy Statement is intended to inform Company personnel
of issues relevant to prohibitions on insider trading so as to enable them to avoid taking action that may be unlawful or to seek
clearance and guidance from the Legal Department when in doubt. It is not the purpose of this Policy Statement to give precise
and definitive rules that will relate to every situation, but rather to furnish enough information so that subject persons may
avoid unintentional violations and seek guidance when necessary. This Policy Statement applies to every officer, director, employee
and associated person of the Companies and extends to activities within and outside their duties with the Companies
I.
Prohibition on Insider Trading
All employees, officers, directors and other persons associated
with the Companies as a term of their employment or association are forbidden to misuse material nonpublic information in violation
of Federal securities laws or other applicable laws.
This prohibition covers (a) transactions for one's own benefit
and also for the benefit of or on behalf of others, including the Funds and other investment Advisory Clients of WRIMCO and IICO,
while aware of material nonpublic information, and (b) the unlawful dissemination of such information to others. Such conduct is
frequently referred to as "insider trading." The prohibition against insider trading applies to transactions in any securities,
including publicly traded securities of affiliated companies (e.g., Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.
[1]
)
The term "insider trading" is not defined in the
Federal securities laws, but generally is used to refer to the use of material nonpublic information to trade in securities (whether
or not one is an "insider") or to the communication of material nonpublic information to others. In addition, there is
no definitive or precise law as to what constitutes material nonpublic information or its unlawful use. The law in these areas
has been developed through court decisions primarily
interpreting basic anti-fraud provisions of the Federal securities
laws. There is no statutory definition, only statutory sanctions and procedural requirements.
While the law concerning insider trading is not static, it
is generally understood that the law is as follows:
|
A.
|
It is unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, to purchase, sell or cause the purchase or sale of any security, either
personally or on behalf of or for the benefit of others, while aware of material, nonpublic information relating thereto, if such
person knows or recklessly disregards that such information has been obtained wrongfully, or that such purchase or sale would constitute
a wrongful use of such information. The law relates to trading by an insider while aware of material, nonpublic information or
trading by a non-insider while aware of material, nonpublic information, where the information either was disclosed to the non-insider
in violation of an insider's duty to keep it confidential or was misappropriated.
|
|
B.
|
It is unlawful for any person involved in any transaction that would violate the foregoing to communicate material, nonpublic
information to others (or initiate a chain of communication to others) who purchase or sell the subject security if such sale or
purchase is reasonably foreseeable.
|
The major elements of insider trading and
the penalties for such unlawful conduct are discussed below. If, after reviewing this Policy Statement, you have any questions,
you should consult the Legal Department.
|
1.
|
Who is an Insider?
The concept of "insider" is broad. It includes officers, directors and employees of a company
in possession of nonpublic information. In addition, a person can be a "temporary insider" if he or she enters into a
special confidential relationship in the conduct of a company's affairs and as a result is given access to information solely for
the company's purposes. A temporary insider can include, among others, a company's attorneys, accountants, consultants, bank lending
officers, and certain of the employees of such organizations. In addition, an employee may become a temporary insider of any company
that his or her employer advises or for which it performs services.
|
|
2.
|
What is Material Information?
Trading on inside information is not a basis for liability unless the information is material.
"Material information" includes information that a reasonable investor would be likely to consider important in making
an investment decision, information that is reasonably certain to have a substantial effect on the price of a company's securities
if publicly known, or information that would significantly alter the total mix of information available to shareholders of a company.
Information that one may consider material includes information regarding dividends, earnings, estimates of earnings, changes in
previously released earnings estimates, merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, major litigation, liquidation problems,
new products or discoveries and extraordinary management developments. Material information is not just information that emanates
from the issuer of the security, but includes market information such as the intent of someone to commence a tender offer for the
securities, a favorable or critical article in an important financial publication or information relating to a Fund's buying program.
|
|
3.
|
What is Nonpublic Information?
Information is nonpublic until it has been effectively communicated to the marketplace
and is available to investors generally. One must be able to point to some fact to show that the information is generally public.
For example, information found in a report filed with the SEC, or appearing in
The Wall Street Journal
or other publications
of general circulation would be considered public.
|
|
4.
|
When is a Person Aware of Information?
A person is "aware" of material nonpublic information if he or she
has knowledge or is conscious or cognizant of such information. Once a person is aware of material, nonpublic information, he or
she may not buy or sell the subject security, even though the person is prompted by entirely different reasons to make the transaction,
if such person knows or recklessly disregards that such information was wrongfully obtained or will be wrongfully used. Advisory
personnel's normal analytical conclusions, no matter how thorough and convincing, can temporarily be of no use if the analyst has
material nonpublic information, which he or she knows or recklessly disregards is information that was wrongfully obtained or would
be wrongfully used.
|
|
5.
|
When Is Information Wrongfully Obtained or Wrongfully Used?
Wrongfully obtained connotes the idea of gaining the information
from some unlawful activity such as theft, bribery or industrial espionage. It is not necessary that the subject person gained
the information through his or her own actions. Wrongfully obtained includes information
|
gained from another person with knowledge that the
information was so obtained or with reckless disregard that the information was so obtained. Wrongful use of information concerns
circumstances where the person gained the information properly, often to be used properly, but instead used it in violation of
some express or implied duty of confidentiality. An example would be the personal use of information concerning a Fund's trades.
The employee may need to know a Fund's pending transaction and may even have directed it, but it would be unlawful to use this
information in his or her own transaction or to reveal it to someone he or she believes may personally use it. Similarly, it would
be unlawful for a person to use information obtained from a family member if the person has agreed to keep the information confidential
or knows (or reasonably should know) that the family member expected the information to be kept confidential.
|
6.
|
When Is Communicating Information (Tipping) Unlawful?
It is unlawful for a person who, although not trading himself
or herself, communicates material nonpublic information to those who make an unlawful transaction if the transaction is reasonably
foreseeable. The reason for tipping the information is not relevant. The tipper's motivation is not of concern, but it is relevant
whether the tipper knew the information was unlawfully obtained or was being unlawfully used. For example, if an employee tips
a friend about a large pending trade of a Fund, why he or she did so is not relevant, but it is relevant that he or she had a duty
not to communicate such information. It is unlawful for a tippee to trade while aware of material nonpublic information if he or
she knew or recklessly ignored that the information was wrongfully obtained or wrongfully communicated to him or her directly or
through a chain of communicators.
|
|
II.
|
Penalties for Insider Trading
|
|
|
Penalties for unlawful trading or communication of material nonpublic information are severe, both for individuals involved
in such unlawful conduct and their employers. A person can be subject to some or all the penalties below even if he or she does
not personally benefit from the violation. Penalties include civil injunctions, treble damages, disgorgement of profits, jail sentences,
fines for the person who committed the violation and fines for the employer or other controlling person. In addition, any violation
of this Policy Statement can be expected to result in serious sanctions by any or all of the Companies, including, but not limited
to, dismissal of the persons involved.
|
|
III.
|
Monitoring of Insider Trading
|
|
|
The following are some of the procedures that have been established to aid the officers, directors and employees of the Companies
in avoiding insider trading, and to aid the Companies in preventing, detecting and imposing sanctions against insider trading.
Every officer, director and employee of the Companies must follow these procedures or risk serious sanctions, including dismissal,
substantial liability and criminal penalties. If you have any questions about these procedures, you should consult the Legal Department.
|
|
A.
|
Identifying Inside Information
|
|
|
Before trading for yourself or others in the securities of a company about which you may have potential inside information,
ask yourself the following questions:
|
|
(1)
|
Is the information material? Is this information that an investor would consider important in making his or her investment
decisions? Is this information that would substantially affect the market price of securities if generally disclosed?
|
|
(2)
|
Is the information nonpublic? To whom has this information been provided? Has the information been effectively communicated
to the marketplace by being published in a publication of general circulation?
|
|
(3)
|
Do you know or have any reason to believe the information was wrongfully obtained or may be wrongfully used?
|
If after consideration of the above, you believe that
the information is material and nonpublic and may have been wrongfully obtained or may be wrongfully used, or if you have questions
as to whether the information is material or nonpublic or may have been wrongfully obtained or may be wrongfully used, you should
take the following steps:
|
(1)
|
Report the matter immediately to the Legal Department.
|
|
(2)
|
Do not purchase or sell the securities on behalf of yourself or others.
|
[1]
Reporting transactions in affiliated corporation securities is in addition to and does not replace the obligation of certain senior
officers to file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
M
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3
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|
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|
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|
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7
|
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|
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|
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.......................
8
|
|
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|
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......................................................................................................
.
8
|
|
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|
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................................................................................................................
.
8
|
|
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|
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Acc
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s
..................................................................................................
.
9
|
|
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|
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.......................................
.
9
|
|
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|
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und
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..................................................................................................................
.
9
|
|
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|
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...................................................................................................................
.
10
|
|
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|
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..........................................................................................................................
.
10
|
|
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|
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........................................................................................................................................
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10
|
III.
T
RADE
P
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-
C
LE
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E
/R
EST
RIC
T
IO
N
S
..........................................................
10
A.
G
ener
a
l
..........................................................................................................................................
.
10
B
.
Ini
t
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a
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in
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a
T
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a
ct
i
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n
................................................................................................................
.
10
C
.
Pre-
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V
a
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f
o
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........................................................................................
.
11
D. Re
s
t
ric
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o
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a
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Re
q
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e
m
e
n
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s
fo
r
Po
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a
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ent
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..............
.
11
E
.
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m
pl
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ee
s
D
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o
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“
A
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a
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”
...........................................................................
.
11
F
.
T
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a
ns
a
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in
g
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Mo
rg
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n
S
t
a
n
l
e
y
S
e
c
u
r
i
t
i
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s
...................................................................................
.
11
G
.
T
r
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Deri
vat
i
v
es
.....................................................................................................................
.
12
H
.
Ot
her
Re
s
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ric
t
i
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ns
........................................................................................................................
.
12
I
.
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A
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qui
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P
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a
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a
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e
...................................................................................
.
13
I
V
.
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Q
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AN
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A
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I
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.....................
13
A
.
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Sub
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a
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F
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s
...............................................................................
.
13
B
.
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.........................................................................................................................
.
13
C
.
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ldi
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pl
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................................................................
.
13
V
.
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Q
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S
.................................................................................
14
A
.
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p
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...............................................................................................
.
14
B
.
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a
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erly
Rep
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a
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t
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f
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......................................................................................
.
14
C. Annu
a
l
Rep
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t
ing
a
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Cer
t
i
f
ic
at
i
o
n
...........................................................................................
.
15
VI. OU
TS
IDE
AC
T
IVI
T
I
E
S
AND PRIVA
T
E
IN
V
EST
M
E
N
T
S
.....................................
15
A. Appr
ova
l
t
o
E
n
gag
e
in
a
n
O
u
t
s
ide
Ac
t
i
v
i
t
y
...............................................................................
.
15
B
. Appr
ova
l
t
o
I
n
v
e
s
t
in
a
P
ri
v
at
e
I
n
v
e
s
t
m
e
nt
...............................................................................
.
16
C.
P
re
-
Cle
a
r
a
nce
P
r
o
ce
s
s
.................................................................................................................
.
16
VII. CON
S
U
LT
AN
T
S
AND
TE
M
P
ORA
R
Y
WORK
E
R
S
..................................................
16
VIII. R
E
VI
E
W,
IN
TE
R
P
R
E
T
A
T
IONS
AND
E
XC
E
P
T
IONS
............................................
17
I
X
.
E
N
F
O
RC
E
M
E
N
T
AN
D
S
AN
C
TIO
N
S
..........................................................................
17
X. R
EL
A
TE
D
P
O
L
ICI
E
S
...................................................................................................
19
2
P
r
e
v
i
o
u
s
v
e
r
s
i
on
s
:
A
u
g
u
s
t
16
,
2
002
,
Fe
br
u
a
r
y
24
,
2
0
04
,
Jun
e
15
,
20
0
4
,
Dece
m
b
er
31
,
2
004
,
Dece
m
b
er
15
,
2
0
06,
M
a
y
12
,
2
00
8
,
A
u
gu
s
t
19
,
20
10
,
Se
p
te
m
b
er
17
,
20
1
0
,
Fe
b
r
u
a
r
y
15
,
2
0
11
,
M
a
r
ch
1
,
2
01
1
,
Se
p
te
m
b
er
28
,
20
1
1,
J
un
e
29
,
20
1
2
a
n
d
Se
p
te
m
b
er
16
,
2
013.
I. IN
T
RODUC
T
IO
N
3
A.
G
e
ne
r
al
The
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
I
n
v
e
stm
e
nt
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
nt
(
“
M
S
I
M
”
)
C
ode
o
f
Ethi
c
s
(
the
“
C
od
e
”
)
is
rea
son
a
b
l
y
d
e
si
g
n
e
d
to
p
re
v
e
nt
l
e
g
a
l,
busin
e
ss
a
n
d
e
thi
ca
l
c
on
f
li
c
ts,
to
g
u
ar
d
a
g
a
inst
the misuse
of
c
on
f
id
e
nti
a
l
i
n
f
o
r
m
a
tion,
a
nd
to
a
void
e
v
e
n
the
a
p
p
ea
r
a
n
c
e
of
i
mp
r
op
r
i
e
t
y
th
a
t m
a
y
ar
ise
in
c
onn
e
c
tion
with
y
our
p
er
so
n
a
l
t
ra
ding
a
nd
outside
ac
tiviti
e
s
a
s
a
n
M
S
I
M
e
mpl
o
y
e
e
.
I
t
is
v
e
r
y impo
r
t
a
nt
f
or you
to
r
e
a
d
the
“
D
ef
initions”
s
e
c
tion
b
e
low
to und
er
st
a
nd
the
s
c
ope
of
this
C
od
e
,
in
c
luding t
h
e
individu
a
ls,
acc
ounts,
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
a
nd t
ra
ns
ac
tions
it
c
ov
er
s.
Y
ou
ar
e
re
qu
i
re
d
to
ac
kn
o
wl
e
dge
r
e
ce
ipt
a
nd your und
er
st
a
ndi
n
g
of this
C
ode
a
t
the st
ar
t
of
yo
u
r
e
mpl
o
ym
e
nt
a
t
M
S
I
M
or w
h
e
n
you
b
ec
ome a
C
ov
e
r
e
d
P
er
son,
a
s
d
ef
in
e
d
b
e
lo
w
,
a
nd
a
nnu
a
l
l
y.
B
.
S
t
a
nd
a
r
d
s
o
f
Bu
s
i
n
e
ss
Co
ndu
c
t
M
S
I
M
s
e
e
ks
to
c
omp
l
y
with
the
Fe
d
e
r
a
l
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
l
a
ws
a
nd
r
e
g
u
l
a
tions
a
ppli
ca
ble
to
its busin
e
ss.
The
C
ode
is
d
e
si
g
n
e
d
to
a
ssist
y
ou
in
f
ul
f
illing
y
our
r
e
g
ul
a
to
r
y
a
nd
f
idu
c
i
a
r
y
duti
e
s
a
s
a
n
M
S
I
M
e
mpl
o
y
e
e
a
s th
e
y
re
l
a
te
to
y
o
u
r
p
er
son
a
l s
e
c
u
r
iti
e
s
t
ra
n
s
ac
tions.
Ø
F
idu
c
i
a
r
y
Duti
e
s.
As
a
n
M
S
I
M
e
mpl
o
y
e
e
,
y
ou
owe
a
f
idu
c
i
a
r
y
du
t
y
to
M
S
I
M
’
s
C
li
e
nts.
This
m
ea
ns
th
a
t
in
e
v
e
r
y
d
ec
ision
r
e
l
a
ting
to
p
er
son
a
l
inv
e
stm
e
nts,
y
ou must
rec
ogni
z
e
the n
ee
ds
a
nd
int
ere
sts
of
C
li
e
n
t
s
a
nd
pl
a
c
e
those
a
h
ea
d
of
a
n
y p
er
son
a
l
int
ere
st or
int
e
r
e
st
of
the
F
i
r
m.
Ø
P
er
son
a
l
S
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
T
ra
n
s
ac
tions
a
nd
R
e
l
a
tionship
to M
S
I
M
’
s
C
li
e
nts.
M
S
IM
g
e
n
era
l
l
y
p
r
ohibits
y
ou
f
r
om
e
n
g
a
g
i
n
g
in
p
er
son
a
l
t
ra
ding
in
a
m
a
nn
e
r
th
a
t
would dist
rac
t
y
o
u
fr
om
y
our
d
a
i
l
y
r
e
sponsibiliti
e
s.
M
S
I
M st
r
o
n
g
l
y
e
n
c
ou
r
a
g
e
s
y
ou to inv
e
st
f
or
the
lo
n
g
t
er
m
a
nd
dis
c
ou
r
a
g
e
s
sho
r
t
-
t
e
r
m,
sp
ec
ul
a
tive
t
r
a
din
g
.
You
a
r
e
ca
ution
e
d th
a
t
sho
r
t
-
t
e
r
m
st
ra
t
e
g
i
e
s
m
a
y
a
tt
r
ac
t
a h
i
g
h
e
r
l
e
v
e
l
of
r
e
g
ul
a
to
r
y
a
nd oth
e
r
s
c
r
uti
n
y
.
E
x
ce
s
s
ive
or
i
n
a
pp
r
op
r
i
a
t
e
t
r
a
ding
th
a
t
int
e
r
fe
r
e
s
w
ith
job p
erf
o
r
m
a
n
c
e
or
th
a
t
c
omp
r
omis
e
s
the
du
t
y th
a
t
MS
I
M
o
w
e
s
to
its
C
li
e
nts
will
not be
tol
era
t
e
d.
I
f
y
ou
b
ec
ome
a
w
a
r
e
t
h
a
t
y
ou
or
so
m
e
one
e
lse
m
a
y
h
a
v
e
viol
a
t
e
d
a
n
y
a
sp
ec
t
o
f
this
C
od
e
,
y
ou must
re
p
o
r
t
the
susp
ec
t
e
d
viol
a
tion to
C
ompli
a
n
c
e
imm
e
di
a
t
e
l
y
.
C.
Ov
er
vi
e
w
of
Co
d
e
R
e
q
u
i
r
e
m
e
n
t
s
C
ompli
a
n
c
e
with
the
C
ode
is
a
m
a
tt
e
r
of
un
d
er
st
a
ndi
n
g
its
b
a
sic
re
q
ui
re
m
e
nts
a
nd m
a
king
su
r
e
the
st
e
ps
y
o
u
t
a
ke
r
e
g
ar
di
n
g
a
c
tiviti
e
s
c
ov
er
e
d
b
y
the
C
ode
a
r
e
in
a
c
c
o
r
d
a
n
ce
with the
l
e
tt
e
r
a
nd spi
r
it of
the
C
od
e
. G
e
n
era
l
l
y
,
y
ou h
a
ve
the
f
ollowi
n
g
o
b
li
g
a
tions:
3
T
h
is
C
od
e
is
i
n
t
e
n
d
ed
to
f
u
l
f
i
ll
M
S
I
M
’
s
r
e
q
u
i
r
e
m
e
n
ts
u
n
d
er
R
u
le
204A
-
1
o
f
t
h
e
I
nv
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
A
d
v
i
s
e
r
s
A
ct
o
f
1940,
as
a
m
e
n
d
ed
(
t
h
e
“
A
d
v
i
s
e
r
s
A
ct”)
a
n
d
Ru
le
17j
-
1
un
d
er
t
h
e
In
v
e
st
m
e
n
t
C
o
m
p
a
n
y
A
ct
o
f
1940
, as
a
m
e
n
d
ed
(
t
h
e “
C
o
m
p
a
n
y
A
ct”
)
. N
o
te
t
h
at
t
h
e
r
e
is
a
s
e
p
a
r
ate
C
od
e
o
f
E
t
h
i
c
s
f
o
r
t
h
e
M
or
g
a
n
St
a
n
l
e
y
m
u
t
u
al
f
u
n
d
f
a
m
i
l
y
.
A
ct
ivi
t
y
Co
d
e
R
e
qu
i
r
e
m
e
n
t
s
Empl
o
y
e
e
Se
c
u
r
iti
e
s
A
cc
ount
(
s)
P
re-c
l
e
ara
n
ce
,
R
e
po
r
ti
n
g
P
er
son
a
l
T
ra
di
n
g
R
e
po
r
t
i
ng
P
re-c
l
e
ara
n
ce
,
Holdi
n
g
,
R
e
po
r
ting
P
ar
ti
c
ip
a
ting
in
a
n Outs
i
de
A
c
tivi
t
y
P
re-c
l
e
ara
n
ce
,
R
e
po
r
ti
n
g
M
a
king
a
P
r
iv
a
te
I
nv
e
s
t
m
e
nt
P
re-c
l
e
ara
n
ce
,
R
e
po
r
ti
n
g
You
must
e
x
a
mine
the
s
p
ec
i
f
ic
p
r
ovisions
of
the
C
ode
f
or
mo
r
e
d
e
t
a
ils
on
eac
h
of
th
e
se
ac
tiviti
e
s
a
nd
ar
e
s
t
r
o
n
g
ly
u
r
g
e
d to
c
onsult
with
C
ompli
a
n
c
e
if
y
ou h
a
ve
a
n
y
qu
e
stions.
D.
D
e
f
i
n
i
t
io
n
s
Th
e
se
d
ef
initions
ar
e
h
e
r
e to
h
e
lp
y
ou
und
er
st
a
nd
the
a
ppli
ca
tion
of the
C
ode to
v
ar
ious
ac
tiviti
e
s
und
er
t
a
k
e
n
b
y
y
o
u
a
nd
ot
h
e
r
p
er
sons
re
l
a
t
e
d
to
y
ou
who
m
a
y
b
e
c
ov
ere
d
b
y t
h
e
C
od
e
.
The
d
e
f
initions
ar
e
a
n
int
e
g
ra
l
p
a
r
t
of
t
h
e
C
ode
a
nd
a
p
r
o
p
e
r
u
n
d
er
st
a
ndi
n
g
of th
e
m is
e
ss
e
nti
a
l.
R
efe
r
b
ac
k to th
e
se
d
e
f
initions
a
s
y
ou
rea
d
t
h
e
C
od
e
.
“A
cce
ss
P
er
so
n
s
”
(
f
or
p
u
r
pos
e
s
of
t
ra
n
s
ac
ti
n
g
in
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s)
is
d
ef
in
e
d
in the
Glob
a
l
Empl
o
y
e
e
T
ra
ding
a
nd
I
n
v
e
sting
P
oli
c
y
a
nd
m
ea
ns
those
individu
a
ls
or divisions th
a
t,
a
s
p
a
r
t of
t
h
e
ir
job
f
u
n
c
tion
m
a
y
r
ec
e
ive
or
h
a
v
e
a
c
c
e
ss
to
M
o
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
-
re
l
a
t
e
d
m
a
t
e
r
i
a
l
non
-
pub
l
ic
in
f
o
r
m
a
tion
th
a
t is
re
c
u
rr
ing
o
r
c
y
c
li
c
a
l
in n
a
tu
r
e
.
“
C
li
e
n
t
”
m
ea
n
s
s
h
are
ho
l
d
er
s
o
r
li
m
it
e
d
p
a
r
tn
er
s
o
f
re
g
ist
ere
d
a
n
d
un
re
g
ist
ere
d
inv
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
c
omp
a
ni
e
s
a
n
d
o
th
e
r
in
v
e
stm
e
n
t
v
e
h
i
c
l
e
s
,
i
n
s
t
it
u
t
i
on
a
l
,
h
i
g
h
n
e
t
w
o
r
t
h
a
n
d
re
t
a
i
l
s
e
p
ara
te
acc
oun
t
c
l
i
e
n
t
s
,
e
mplo
y
e
e
b
e
n
ef
i
t
t
r
u
st
s
a
n
d
a
l
l
o
th
e
r
t
y
p
e
s
o
f
c
li
e
n
t
s
a
d
v
is
e
d
by
M
S
I
M
.
“
C
o
m
p
li
a
n
ce
”
m
ea
n
s
y
o
u
r
lo
ca
l
C
o
mp
l
i
a
n
c
e
g
r
ou
p
(Ne
w
Y
o
r
k
,
L
ondon
,
Si
n
g
a
po
re
,
T
o
k
y
o
a
n
d
M
u
mb
a
i
)
.
“Co
n
s
u
l
t
a
n
t
”
m
ea
ns a
non
-e
mpl
o
y
e
e
of
M
S
I
M
who
fa
lls und
e
r
the
d
ef
inition
of
a
C
ov
ere
d
P
er
son.
“
C
ov
ere
d
P
er
so
n
s
”
m
ea
ns
:
Ø
A
l
l
M
S
I
M
e
mpl
o
y
ee
s
;
Ø
A
l
l
d
i
rec
to
r
s
a
n
d
o
ff
i
cer
s
o
f
M
S
I
M
;
Ø
A
ny
p
er
so
n
(
su
c
h
a
s
cer
t
a
i
n
c
on
s
u
l
t
a
nt
s
,
l
ea
s
e
d
w
o
r
k
er
s
o
r
t
e
m
po
ra
r
y
w
o
r
k
e
r
s
)
w
ho p
r
ovid
e
s
i
n
v
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
a
dv
i
c
e
t
o
c
l
i
e
n
t
s
o
n
b
e
h
a
l
f
o
f
M
S
I
M
,
i
s
su
b
j
ec
t
t
o
the
sup
er
v
i
si
o
n
a
n
d
c
ont
r
o
l
o
f
M
S
I
M
a
n
d
w
h
o
h
a
s
acce
s
s
t
o
non
p
ub
l
i
c
in
f
o
r
m
a
ti
o
n
re
g
ar
din
g
a
ny
Cli
e
nt
’
s
p
u
rc
h
a
s
e
o
r
s
a
l
e
o
f
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
,
o
r
w
h
o
i
s
i
nv
o
lv
e
d
i
n
m
a
king
s
ec
u
r
i
t
i
e
s
rec
o
mm
e
nd
a
ti
o
n
s
t
o
C
li
e
nt
s
,
o
r
w
h
o
h
a
s
acce
s
s
t
o
su
c
h
rec
omm
e
n
d
a
ti
on
s
th
a
t
ar
e
n
onp
u
b
l
i
c
.
Ø
A
ny
p
er
so
n
w
it
h
re
s
p
o
n
si
b
il
i
ti
e
s
re
l
a
t
e
d
t
o
M
S
I
M
o
r
w
h
o
su
p
po
r
t
s
M
S
I
M
a
s
a
bus
i
n
e
s
s
a
n
d
h
a
s
fre
qu
e
n
t
int
erac
t
io
n
w
it
h
C
o
v
ere
d
P
er
so
n
s
o
r
I
nv
e
stm
e
n
t
P
e
r
sonn
e
l
,
a
s
d
e
t
er
m
in
e
d
by
Comp
l
i
a
n
ce.
Ø
A
ny
oth
e
r
p
er
son
s
fa
l
l
in
g
w
i
t
hi
n
su
c
h
d
ef
i
n
i
tio
n
u
nd
e
r
R
u
l
e
1
7j
-
1
o
f
th
e
C
omp
a
ny
Ac
t
o
r
R
u
l
e
2
0
4
A-
1
u
n
d
e
r
th
e
A
d
v
is
er
s
A
c
t
a
n
d
su
c
h
oth
e
r
p
er
s
on
s
th
a
t
m
a
y be
s
o
d
ee
m
e
d
by
Comp
l
i
a
n
c
e
f
r
o
m
t
im
e
t
o
t
i
m
e
.
T
h
e
d
ef
i
n
i
t
io
n
o
f
“
C
ov
er
e
d
P
er
s
on
”
m
a
y
v
a
r
y
by
lo
ca
tion
.
C
ont
a
c
t
C
om
p
li
a
n
c
e
i
f
y
o
u
h
a
ve
a
ny
qu
e
stio
n
a
s
t
o
y
ou
r
st
a
tu
s
a
s
a
C
o
v
ere
d
P
er
son
.
“
C
ov
ere
d
S
ec
u
r
i
t
i
e
s
”
i
n
c
lud
e
s
g
e
n
era
ll
y
a
l
l
e
qu
it
y
o
r
d
e
b
t
s
ec
u
r
i
ti
e
s
,
in
c
l
u
din
g
d
er
iv
a
tiv
e
s
o
f
s
ec
u
r
i
t
i
e
s
(
su
c
h
a
s
opt
i
ons
,
warra
n
t
s
a
n
d
A
m
er
i
ca
n
d
e
p
o
s
i
t
a
r
y
r
e
ce
ipts
)
,
f
utu
re
s
,
c
omm
o
di
t
i
e
s
,
s
ec
u
r
i
ti
e
s
i
ndi
ce
s
,
e
x
c
h
a
n
g
e-
t
ra
d
e
d
f
unds
,
op
e
n
-e
n
d
mu
t
u
a
l
f
und
s
f
o
r
w
h
i
c
h
M
S
I
M
ac
t
s
a
s
a
dvis
e
r
o
r
s
ub
-a
dv
i
s
er
,
c
los
e
d
-e
n
d
f
u
nds
,
c
o
r
p
o
ra
t
e
a
n
d
m
uni
c
i
p
a
l
bon
d
s
,
s
pot
f
o
re
i
g
n
e
x
c
h
a
n
g
e
t
ra
ns
ac
tio
n
s
(“
sp
o
t
f
x
”
)
a
n
d
s
i
mil
a
r
i
nst
r
um
e
n
ts
,
b
u
t
d
o
e
s
no
t
in
c
lude
“E
x
e
mp
t
S
ec
u
r
i
t
i
e
s,
”
a
s
d
ef
in
e
d
b
e
lo
w
.
R
efe
r
t
o
S
c
h
e
dul
e
A
f
o
r
a
p
p
l
i
ca
ti
o
n
o
f
th
e
Cod
e
t
o
v
ar
iou
s
s
ec
u
r
i
ty
ty
p
e
s
.
“E
m
p
loy
ee
”
m
ea
n
s
a
n
M
S
I
M
e
mpl
o
y
e
e
a
s
we
l
l
a
s
his/h
e
r
spo
u
s
e
o
r
dom
e
s
t
i
c
p
ar
tn
er
,
d
e
p
e
nd
e
n
t
s
a
n
d
o
t
h
e
r
p
e
r
son
s
f
o
r
w
h
o
m
th
e
e
m
pl
o
y
ee
,
e
mpl
o
y
ee’
s
spous
e
o
r
d
om
e
s
t
i
c
p
ar
tn
e
r
c
o
n
t
r
i
b
ut
e
s
su
b
st
a
nti
a
l
f
in
a
n
c
i
a
l
sup
p
o
r
t
.
“
E
m
p
loy
e
e
Se
c
u
r
i
t
i
e
s
A
cc
o
un
t
s”
ar
e
a
n
y
a
cc
ou
n
ts
in
y
our
own
n
a
me
a
nd
oth
e
r
a
c
c
ounts
y
o
u
c
ould
be
e
x
p
ec
t
e
d
t
o
in
f
lu
e
n
c
e
or
c
ont
r
ol,
in
whole
or
in
p
ar
t,
di
rec
tly or
indi
rec
t
l
y
,
wh
e
th
e
r
f
or s
e
c
u
r
iti
e
s
o
r oth
e
r
f
in
a
n
c
i
a
l
inst
r
u
m
e
nts,
a
nd th
a
t
a
r
e
ca
p
a
ble
of holdi
n
g
C
ov
ere
d
S
ec
u
r
iti
e
s,
wh
e
th
e
r
or
not
su
c
h
ca
p
a
b
i
li
t
y
is
utili
z
e
d.
Emplo
y
e
e
S
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
A
cc
ounts in
c
lud
e
:
Ø
acc
ounts ow
n
e
d
b
y
y
ou;
Ø
acc
ounts ow
n
e
d
b
y
y
our
spouse
or
dom
e
stic
p
ar
t
n
er
;
Ø
acc
ounts
ow
n
e
d
b
y
y
ou
r
c
hild
re
n
or ot
h
e
r
re
l
a
t
iv
e
s
of
y
ou
or
y
our
s
p
ouse or dom
e
stic p
ar
tn
e
r
who
r
e
side
in
the s
a
me hou
s
e
hold
a
s
y
ou
a
nd
to
w
h
om
y
ou
c
ont
r
ibute subst
a
nti
a
l
f
i
n
a
n
c
i
a
l
suppo
r
t
(e
.
g
.,
a
c
hild
in
c
oll
e
g
e
t
h
a
t
is
c
l
a
i
m
e
d
a
s
a d
e
p
e
nd
e
nt
on
y
our
i
n
c
o
me
t
a
x
re
tu
r
n
or
who
r
ece
iv
e
s
h
ea
lth
b
e
n
e
f
its
th
r
ou
g
h
y
o
u
)
;
Ø
acc
ounts
wh
e
r
e
y
ou
o
b
t
a
in
b
e
n
ef
its
subst
a
nti
a
ll
y
e
quiv
a
l
e
nt
to
o
wn
e
r
ship
of s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s;
Ø
acc
ounts
th
a
t
y
ou
or
the
p
er
sons
d
e
s
c
r
ib
e
d
a
bove
c
ould
be
e
x
p
ec
t
e
d
to
in
f
lu
e
n
c
e
or
c
ont
r
ol, su
c
h
a
s:
§
joint
acc
ounts;
§
fa
mi
l
y
a
cc
ounts;
§
re
ti
re
m
e
nt
a
cc
ounts;
§
c
o
r
po
ra
t
e
a
c
c
ounts;
|
§
|
t
r
ust
acc
ounts
f
or
whi
c
h
y
ou
ac
t
a
s
t
r
ust
e
e
wh
e
r
e
y
ou
h
a
ve
the
pow
e
r
to
eff
e
c
t
inv
e
stm
e
nt d
ec
isi
o
ns
or
th
a
t
y
ou oth
e
r
wise
g
uide
or
i
n
f
lu
e
n
c
e
;
|
§
arra
n
g
e
m
e
nts
simil
a
r
to t
r
ust
acc
ounts th
a
t b
e
n
ef
it
y
ou di
r
e
c
t
l
y
;
§
acc
ounts
f
or
whi
c
h
y
ou
a
c
t
a
s
c
ustodi
a
n;
a
nd
§
p
ar
tn
er
ship
a
cc
ounts.
“
E
x
e
m
p
t
S
ec
u
r
i
t
i
e
s”
a
r
e
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
th
a
t
ar
e
not
s
ubj
ec
t
to
the
p
re-c
l
eara
n
ce
,
holding
a
nd
re
po
r
ti
n
g
re
qui
r
e
m
e
nts
of
the
C
od
e
,
su
c
h
a
s:
Ø
B
a
nk
er
s
’
acce
pt
a
n
ce
s
,
b
a
n
k
cer
ti
f
i
ca
t
e
s
o
f
d
e
p
o
s
i
t
a
n
d
c
o
m
m
erc
i
a
l
p
a
p
er
;
Ø
I
nv
e
stm
e
n
t
g
ra
d
e
,
sho
r
t
-
t
er
m
d
e
b
t
in
s
t
r
um
e
nt
s
,
i
n
c
lu
d
in
g
re
pu
rc
h
a
s
e
a
g
r
ee
m
e
n
t
s
(w
hi
c
h
f
o
r
th
e
s
e
pu
r
p
os
e
s
ar
e
re
pu
rc
h
a
s
e
a
g
ree
m
e
n
t
s
a
n
d
a
ny
inst
r
u
m
e
n
t
th
a
t
h
a
s
a
m
a
tu
r
i
ty
a
t
issu
a
n
c
e
o
f
f
e
we
r
th
a
n
36
6
d
a
y
s
th
a
t
i
s
ra
t
e
d
i
n
on
e
o
f
th
e
t
w
o
hi
g
h
e
s
t
ca
t
e
g
o
r
i
e
s
by a
n
a
tion
a
l
ly
rec
o
g
ni
z
e
d
s
t
a
t
is
t
i
ca
l
r
a
ti
n
g
o
r
g
a
ni
z
a
ti
o
n
)
;
Ø
D
i
rec
t
o
b
li
g
a
t
i
on
s
o
f
t
h
e
U
.
S
.
G
ov
er
nm
e
n
t
4
;
Ø
S
h
are
s
h
e
l
d
i
n
mon
e
y
m
ar
k
e
t
f
un
d
s
;
Ø
Var
i
a
bl
e
i
n
su
ra
n
c
e
p
r
od
u
c
t
s
th
a
t
inv
e
s
t
i
n
f
und
s
f
o
r
w
hi
c
h
M
S
I
M
do
e
s
no
t
ac
t
a
s
a
dvis
e
r
o
r
sub
-
a
dv
i
s
er
;
a
n
d
Ø
O
p
e
n
-e
n
d
m
utu
a
l
f
u
n
d
s
f
o
r
w
hi
c
h
M
S
I
M
do
e
s
n
o
t
a
c
t
a
s
a
d
v
is
e
r
o
r
sub
-
a
dv
i
s
er
.
R
efe
r
t
o
S
c
h
e
d
u
l
e
A
f
o
r
a
ppli
c
a
ti
o
n
o
f
th
e
Cod
e
t
o
v
ar
iou
s
s
ec
u
r
i
ty
t
y
p
e
s
.
“
F
i
r
m
”
m
ea
n
s
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
,
M
S
I
M
’
s
p
are
n
t
c
o
mp
a
n
y
.
“
F
u
ll
y
M
a
n
ag
e
d
Acc
o
u
n
t
”
m
ea
n
s
a
n
acc
oun
t
f
o
r
w
hi
c
h
a
n
E
mplo
y
e
e
h
a
s
a
utho
r
i
z
e
d
a
p
r
o
fe
ss
i
on
a
l
f
in
a
n
c
i
a
l
a
d
v
iso
r
o
r
inv
e
stm
e
n
t
m
a
n
a
g
er
,
i
n
i
t
s
sol
e
dis
cr
e
ti
o
n
,
t
o
ac
qui
r
e
a
n
d
dis
p
os
e
o
f
a
ss
e
t
s
h
e
l
d
i
n
th
e
acc
ount
.
T
h
e
E
m
p
l
o
y
e
e
m
a
y
no
t
m
a
k
e
,
di
rec
t
ly
o
r
indi
rec
tl
y
,
a
ny
inv
e
stm
e
n
t
d
ec
i
s
io
n
,
b
e
m
a
d
e
awar
e
o
f
a
ny
su
c
h
d
e
c
is
i
on
s
b
ef
o
r
e
t
ra
ns
ac
ti
o
n
s
ar
e
e
x
ec
u
t
e
d
by
th
e
a
dviso
r
o
r
m
a
n
a
g
er
,
o
r
oth
erw
is
e
d
i
rec
t
th
e
a
d
v
iso
r
o
r
m
a
n
a
g
e
r
t
o
effec
t
a
ny
t
ra
ns
ac
t
i
on
s
i
n
th
e
acc
ount
. A
F
ul
ly
M
a
n
a
g
e
d
A
cc
oun
t
i
s
n
o
t
c
ons
i
d
ere
d
a
n
E
mpl
o
y
e
e
S
ec
u
r
i
t
i
e
s
Acc
o
un
t
.
“I
n
v
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
P
er
so
nn
e
l
”
m
ea
n
s
(
i
)
E
m
p
l
o
y
ee
s
a
nd
a
ny
oth
e
r
Cov
ere
d
P
er
s
on
s
w
h
o
obt
a
i
n
o
r
h
a
v
e
acce
s
s
t
o
in
f
o
r
m
a
tio
n
c
on
cer
n
in
g
inv
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
rec
omm
e
nd
a
ti
o
n
s
m
a
d
e
t
o
a
ny
Cli
e
nt;
a
n
d
(
ii
)
a
ny
p
er
son
s
d
e
s
i
g
n
a
t
e
d
a
s
I
nv
e
stm
e
n
t
P
er
so
nn
e
l
b
y
Compli
a
n
ce
.
“I
P
O”
m
ea
ns
a
n
initi
a
l
public
o
ffer
ing
of
e
qu
it
y
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
r
e
g
ist
ere
d
with
the
U.
S
.
S
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
a
nd E
x
c
h
a
n
g
e
C
ommission or
a
f
o
re
i
g
n
f
in
a
n
c
i
a
l
r
e
g
ul
a
to
r
y
a
ut
h
o
r
i
t
y
.
“
M
o
r
gan
S
t
a
n
l
e
y
B
r
o
k
er
”
m
ea
ns a
b
r
ok
e
r
-
d
ea
l
e
r
aff
ili
a
t
e
d
with Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
.
“
M
o
r
ga
n
S
t
a
n
l
e
y
I
n
v
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
M
a
n
ag
e
m
e
n
t
”
or
“
M
S
I
M
”
m
ea
n
s
th
e
c
omp
a
ni
e
s
a
n
d
4
I
n
c
l
u
d
es
s
e
c
u
r
iti
e
s
t
h
at
a
r
e
b
ac
k
ed
b
y
t
h
e
f
u
ll
f
ai
t
h
a
n
d
c
r
e
d
it
o
f
t
h
e
U
.
S. G
o
v
e
rn
m
e
n
t
f
o
r
t
h
e
t
i
m
e
l
y
p
a
ym
e
n
t
o
f
pr
i
n
ci
p
al
a
n
d
i
n
te
r
e
s
t,
s
u
c
h
a
s G
i
n
n
ie
Ma
e
s
, U
.
S.
s
a
v
i
n
g
s
bo
n
d
s
,
a
n
d U
.
S.
T
r
ea
su
r
ie
s
,
a
n
d
e
qu
i
v
al
e
n
t
s
e
c
u
r
ities
i
s
s
u
ed
b
y
n
on
-
U
.
S.
g
o
v
e
r
n
m
e
n
t
s
.
bus
i
n
e
ss
e
s
c
o
mp
r
is
i
n
g
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
n
l
e
y
’
s
I
nv
e
stm
e
n
t
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
n
t
D
i
v
is
i
on
,
b
u
t
n
ot in
c
l
u
din
g
M
erc
h
a
n
t
B
a
n
k
in
g
/R
ea
l
E
s
t
a
t
e
I
nv
e
stin
g
.
S
e
e
S
c
h
e
dul
e
B
f
o
r
a
li
s
t
o
f
th
o
s
e
l
e
g
al
e
nti
t
i
e
s
th
a
t
c
omp
r
is
e
M
S
I
M
f
o
r
pu
r
pos
e
s
o
f
th
e
C
o
d
e
.
“
M
o
r
gan
S
t
a
n
l
e
y
s
ec
u
r
i
t
i
e
s”
m
ea
ns
e
qui
t
y
,
p
refe
r
re
d
a
nd
d
e
bt
s
ec
u
r
i
ti
e
s
issu
e
d
b
y Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
,
but
e
x
c
l
ud
e
s
st
r
u
c
tu
re
d
p
r
od
u
c
ts,
su
c
h
a
s
e
qui
t
y
-
link
e
d
o
r
cre
dit-
link
e
d not
e
s.
“
M
u
t
u
a
l
F
u
n
d
s
”
m
ea
n
s
(
i
)
a
l
l
op
e
n
-e
n
d
m
utu
a
l
f
und
s
;
a
n
d
(
ii
)
s
i
m
i
l
a
r
p
o
o
l
e
d
i
nv
e
s
tm
e
n
t
v
e
hi
c
l
e
s
e
st
a
b
l
i
sh
e
d
i
n
n
o
n
-U
.
S
.
ju
r
is
d
i
c
t
ion
s
,
s
u
c
h
a
s
re
g
ist
ere
d
inv
e
s
tm
e
n
t
t
r
ust
s
i
n J
a
p
a
n
.
F
o
r
pu
r
pos
e
s
o
f
t
h
e
C
od
e
,
Mutu
a
l
F
un
d
do
e
s
no
t
i
n
c
lud
e
s
h
are
s
of
op
e
n
-e
nd
mon
e
y m
a
r
k
e
t
mutu
a
l
f
unds
(
unl
e
ss
oth
er
wise
a
dvis
e
d
b
y
C
ompli
a
n
ce)
.
“O
u
t
si
d
e
A
ct
ivi
t
y”
m
ea
ns
a
n
y
o
r
g
a
ni
z
e
d
or
bus
i
n
e
ss
ac
tivi
t
y
c
ond
u
c
t
e
d
b
y
a
n
Empl
o
y
e
e
outside of M
S
I
M.
This
in
c
lud
e
s,
but
is
not
l
i
mit
e
d
to,
p
ar
ti
c
ip
a
tion
on
a bo
ar
d
of a
c
h
ar
it
a
ble
o
r
g
a
ni
z
a
tion,
wo
r
ki
n
g
p
ar
t
-
time
ou
t
side
of
M
S
I
M,
e
st
a
blishing
a
holdi
n
g
c
omp
a
n
y
f
or inv
e
stm
e
nt
s
,
inv
e
sting
in
re
nt
a
l
p
r
o
p
er
ti
e
s,
or
f
o
r
mi
n
g
a
limit
e
d p
ar
tn
e
r
ship.
“
P
o
rt
f
o
l
i
o
M
a
n
a
g
er
s
”
m
ea
n
s
E
mplo
y
e
e
s
w
h
o
ar
e
p
r
im
ar
i
ly
r
e
spons
i
bl
e
f
o
r
th
e
d
a
y
-
to
-
d
a
y
m
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
n
t
o
f
a
C
l
i
e
n
t
p
o
r
t
f
o
l
io.
“
P
r
iv
a
t
e
I
n
v
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
”
m
ea
ns
a
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
o
f
f
er
i
ng
t
h
a
t
is
e
x
e
mpt
fr
om
r
e
g
ist
r
a
tion
und
e
r
cer
t
a
in
p
r
ovisions
of
t
he
U.
S
.
s
e
c
u
r
iti
e
s
l
a
w
s
a
nd/or
simil
a
r
l
a
ws
of
non
-
U.
S
.
ju
r
isdi
c
tions.
“
P
r
o
p
r
i
et
a
r
y
o
r
Sub
-
a
d
vis
e
d
M
u
t
u
al
F
und
”
m
ea
ns
a
n
y
op
e
n
-e
nd
M
utu
a
l
F
und
f
or
whi
c
h M
S
I
M
ac
ts
a
s inv
e
stm
e
nt
a
dvis
e
r
or
sub
-a
d
vis
er
.
“
Re
s
e
a
rc
h
A
n
al
y
s
t
s
”
ar
e
E
mpl
o
y
ee
s
w
h
o
ar
e
a
ssi
g
n
e
d
t
o
m
a
k
e
inv
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
rec
omm
e
nd
a
tio
n
s
to
,
o
r
f
o
r
th
e
b
e
n
ef
i
t
o
f
,
a
n
y
Cli
e
n
t
po
r
t
f
o
lio.
E
.
G
r
o
und
s
f
or
Dis
qu
a
l
i
f
i
c
a
t
ion
f
r
om
E
m
p
loy
me
n
t
P
u
r
su
a
nt
to the
t
e
r
ms
of
S
ec
tion
9 of
the
Advis
e
r
s
A
c
t, no
di
r
e
c
to
r
,
o
f
f
i
ce
r
or
e
mpl
o
y
e
e
of M
S
I
M
m
a
y
b
ec
o
m
e
,
or
c
ontinue
to
r
e
m
a
in,
a
n
o
ff
i
cer
,
di
r
e
c
tor
or
e
mpl
o
y
e
e
of
M
S
I
M
without
a
n
e
x
e
mptive
o
r
d
e
r
issu
e
d
b
y the U.
S
.
S
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
a
nd E
x
c
h
a
nge
C
ommission, if su
c
h di
rec
to
r
,
o
ff
i
c
e
r
or
e
mpl
o
y
ee
:
Ø
w
it
h
i
n
t
h
e
p
a
s
t
t
e
n
y
ea
r
s
h
a
s
b
ee
n
c
o
n
vi
c
t
e
d
o
f
a
ny
fe
lo
ny
o
r
misd
e
m
e
a
no
r
(
i
)
inv
o
lv
i
n
g
th
e
pu
rc
h
a
s
e
o
r
s
a
l
e
o
f
a
ny
s
ec
u
r
i
t
y
;
o
r
(
ii
)
ar
isin
g
ou
t
o
f
h
i
s
o
r
h
e
r
c
ondu
c
t
a
s
a
n
und
erwr
i
t
er
,
b
r
o
k
er
,
d
ea
l
er
,
i
n
v
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
a
d
v
is
er
,
m
uni
c
ip
a
l
s
ec
u
r
i
t
i
e
s
d
ea
l
er
,
g
ov
er
nm
e
n
t
s
ec
u
r
i
ti
e
s
b
r
o
k
er
,
g
ov
er
nm
e
n
t
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
d
ea
l
er
,
t
ra
ns
fe
r
a
g
e
nt
,
o
r
e
ntit
y
o
r
p
er
so
n
re
qui
r
e
d
t
o
b
e
r
e
g
ist
ere
d
und
e
r
th
e
U.S.
Co
m
mo
d
i
ty
E
x
c
h
a
n
g
e
Ac
t
,
o
r
a
s
a
n
aff
ili
a
t
e
d
p
er
s
on
,
s
a
l
e
sm
a
n
o
r
e
mp
l
o
y
e
e
o
f
a
ny
inv
e
stm
e
n
t
c
o
mp
a
n
y
,
b
a
nk,
insu
ra
n
c
e
c
omp
a
ny
o
r
e
nt
i
ty
o
r
p
er
so
n
re
qui
re
d
t
o
b
e
re
g
ist
ere
d
und
e
r
t
h
e
U
.
S
.
Co
m
mo
d
i
ty
E
x
c
h
a
n
g
e
Ac
t
;
or
Ø
i
s
o
r
b
ec
om
e
s
p
er
m
a
n
e
n
tl
y
o
r
t
e
mpo
rar
i
ly
e
njoin
e
d
by
a
ny
c
ou
r
t
fr
om
:
(
i
)
a
c
tin
g
a
s
a
n
und
erwr
it
er
,
b
r
ok
er
,
d
ea
l
er
,
inv
e
s
tm
e
n
t
a
d
v
i
s
er
,
muni
c
ip
a
l
s
ec
u
r
i
t
i
e
s
d
ea
l
er
,
g
ov
er
nm
e
n
t
s
ec
u
r
i
ti
e
s
b
r
o
k
er
,
g
ov
er
nm
e
n
t
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
d
ea
l
er
,
t
ra
ns
fe
r
a
g
e
nt
,
o
r
e
ntit
y
o
r
p
er
so
n
re
qui
r
e
d
t
o
b
e
r
e
g
ist
ere
d
und
e
r
th
e
U.
S
.
Co
m
mo
d
i
ty
E
x
c
h
a
n
g
e
Ac
t
,
o
r
a
s
a
n
aff
ili
a
t
e
d
p
er
s
on
,
s
a
l
e
sm
a
n
o
r
e
mp
l
oy
e
e
o
f
a
ny
inv
e
stm
e
n
t
c
o
mp
a
n
y,
b
a
nk,
insu
ra
n
c
e
c
o
mp
a
ny
o
r
e
nt
i
ty
o
r
p
er
so
n
re
qui
re
d
t
o
b
e
re
g
ist
ere
d
u
nd
e
r
t
h
e
U.
S
.
Co
m
mo
d
i
ty
E
x
c
h
a
n
g
e
A
c
t
;
o
r
(
i
i
)
e
n
g
a
g
in
g
i
n
o
r
c
o
nti
n
uin
g
a
ny
c
ondu
c
t
o
r
p
rac
ti
c
e
i
n
c
o
n
n
ec
ti
o
n
w
it
h
a
ny s
u
c
h
ac
t
i
vit
y
o
r
i
n
c
onn
e
c
tio
n
w
i
t
h
th
e
p
u
rc
h
a
s
e
o
r
s
a
l
e
o
f
a
ny
s
ec
u
r
i
ty.
Y
o
u
ar
e
obli
g
a
t
e
d
t
o
i
m
m
e
di
a
t
e
ly
re
po
r
t
a
ny
c
o
nvi
c
t
io
n
o
r
i
n
jun
c
tio
n
d
e
s
cr
ib
e
d
h
er
e
t
o
Com
p
li
a
n
ce
.
|
II.
|
T
Y
P
E
S
OF
A
CCOUN
T
S
/ACCOUNT
O
P
E
NI
N
G
R
E
QUIR
E
M
E
N
TS
A.
E
m
p
loy
e
e
Se
c
u
r
i
t
i
e
s
A
c
c
o
un
t
s
|
G
e
n
e
r
a
l
l
y
,
y
o
u
mus
t
m
a
i
nt
a
i
n
a
l
l
E
mp
l
o
y
e
e
S
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
Acc
o
u
nt
s
th
a
t
m
a
y
i
n
v
e
s
t
i
n
C
o
v
er
e
d
S
ec
u
r
i
t
i
e
s
a
t
a
Mo
r
g
a
n
St
a
nl
e
y
B
r
ok
er
.
Re
qu
i
r
e
m
e
nt
s
m
a
y
v
ar
y
i
n
non
-
U
.
S
.
o
f
fi
ce
s
.
Ne
w
E
mp
l
o
y
ee
s
o
r
n
ew
ly
d
e
s
i
g
n
a
t
e
d
Cov
ere
d
P
er
s
on
s
mus
t
t
ra
ns
fe
r
t
h
e
i
r
E
m
p
l
oy
e
e
S
ec
u
r
iti
es
Acc
ount
(
s
)
t
o a
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
B
r
ok
er
,
a
t
th
e
i
r
o
w
n ex
p
e
ns
e
,
a
s
s
o
o
n
a
s
p
rac
t
i
ca
bl
e
(
g
e
n
era
l
ly
w
ithi
n
3
0
d
a
y
s
o
f
b
ec
om
i
n
g
a
Cov
ere
d
P
er
son
)
.
F
a
ilu
r
e
t
o
d
o
s
o
i
s
c
o
n
sid
ere
d
a
si
g
ni
f
i
ca
n
t
v
iol
a
ti
o
n
o
f
th
i
s
C
o
d
e
.
Op
e
ning
a
M
organ
Stanl
e
y
Bro
ke
rage
A
cc
ount.
W
h
e
n
op
e
ning
a
n
a
c
c
o
unt,
y
ou
must noti
f
y
the
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
B
r
o
k
e
r
th
a
t
y
ou
ar
e
a
n
Empl
o
y
e
e
a
nd
th
a
t
y
o
u
r
a
c
c
ount
must be
c
od
e
d
a
s
a
n
e
mplo
y
e
e
or
e
mpl
o
y
e
e
-
re
l
a
t
e
d
a
cc
ount.
B
.
F
u
lly
M
a
n
ag
e
d
A
c
c
o
u
n
t
You
m
a
y
op
e
n
a
F
ul
l
y
M
a
n
a
g
e
d
A
c
c
ount
if
the
acc
ount
m
ee
ts
the
st
a
nd
ar
ds
s
e
t
f
o
r
th
b
e
low.
I
n
c
er
t
a
in
c
i
rc
u
mst
a
n
ce
s
a
nd
with
a
pp
r
o
v
a
l
fr
om
C
ompli
a
n
ce
,
y
o
u
m
a
y
a
ppoint non
-
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nley m
a
n
a
g
er
s
(
e
.
g
.,
t
r
ust
c
om
p
a
ni
e
s,
b
a
nks or
r
e
g
ist
e
r
e
d
inv
e
stm
e
nt
a
dvis
er
s)
to m
a
n
a
ge your
acc
ount.
I
n
o
r
d
e
r
to
e
st
a
blish
a
F
ul
l
y
M
a
n
a
g
e
d
A
cc
ount,
y
o
u
must
g
r
a
nt
the
m
a
n
a
g
e
r
c
ompl
e
te inv
e
stm
e
nt
dis
cre
tion
ov
e
r
y
our
acc
ount.
P
r
e
-c
l
e
ara
n
c
e
is
not
re
qui
r
e
d
f
o
r t
ra
d
e
s
in
this
acc
ount; how
e
v
er
,
y
ou
m
a
y
not
p
ar
ti
c
ip
a
t
e
,
d
i
rec
t
l
y
or
indi
rec
t
l
y
,
in individu
a
l inv
e
stm
e
nt
d
ec
isions
or be
m
a
de
a
w
ar
e
of su
c
h
d
ec
isions
b
ef
o
r
e
t
ra
ns
a
c
tions
a
r
e
e
x
ec
ut
e
d.
This
re
st
r
i
c
tion
do
e
s
not
p
rec
lude
y
ou
fr
om
e
st
a
b
lishing
inv
e
stm
e
nt
g
ui
d
e
lin
e
s
f
or the m
a
n
a
g
er
,
su
c
h
a
s
indi
c
a
ting
indust
r
i
e
s
in
wh
i
c
h
y
ou
d
e
si
r
e
to
inv
e
s
t
,
the
t
y
p
e
s
o
f s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
y
ou
w
a
nt
to
pu
rc
h
a
se
or
y
our
o
v
era
ll
inv
e
stm
e
nt obj
ec
tiv
e
s.
How
e
v
er
,
those
g
uid
e
lin
e
s
m
a
y not
be
c
h
a
n
g
e
d
so
f
r
e
qu
e
nt
l
y
a
s
to
g
i
v
e
the
a
pp
e
ara
n
c
e
th
a
t
y
ou
ar
e
ac
tu
a
l
l
y
di
rec
ti
n
g
a
cc
ou
n
t
inv
e
stm
e
nts.
To op
e
n
a
F
ul
l
y
M
a
n
a
g
e
d
A
c
c
ount,
y
ou must submit the
a
pp
r
op
r
i
a
te
Dis
c
losu
r
e
o
f
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
A
c
c
ount
F
o
r
m
,
a
lo
n
g
with
the
r
e
qui
re
d
do
c
um
e
nt
a
tion
(
i
.
e
.
the
a
dviso
r
y
a
g
ree
m
e
nt
or
c
ont
rac
t
with
the
m
a
n
a
g
e
r
)
to
C
om
p
li
a
n
ce
.
I
f
the
a
c
c
ount
is m
a
n
a
g
e
d
b
y a
F
i
r
m
oth
e
r th
a
n
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
,
y
ou
must
submit
a
re
qu
e
st
in
the
Outside
B
usin
e
ss
I
nt
e
re
sts
S
y
st
e
m
(
t
h
e
"
O
B
I
S
y
st
e
m
"
)
a
nd
a
r
ra
n
g
e
f
or
dupli
ca
te
c
o
pi
e
s
of
t
r
a
de
c
on
f
i
r
m
a
tions
a
nd st
a
t
e
m
e
nts
to be
s
e
nt to
C
ompl
i
a
n
ce
.
C.
O
t
h
e
r
M
o
r
gan
S
t
a
n
l
e
y
A
cc
o
un
t
s
Empl
o
y
e
e
S
to
c
k
P
u
r
c
h
a
s
e
P
l
a
n
(
E
SPP
)
(
no n
e
w
c
ont
r
ibutions)
Empl
o
y
e
e
S
to
c
k
O
wn
er
s
hip
P
l
a
n
(
E
S
O
P
)
Empl
o
y
e
e
I
n
c
e
ntive
C
omp
e
ns
a
tion
P
l
a
n
(
E
I
CP
)
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
C
omp
e
ns
a
tion
I
n
ce
ntive
P
r
o
g
r
a
m
(
M
S
C
I
P
)
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
401
(
k)
(
401
(
k)
P
l
a
n)
Y
o
u
d
o
no
t
h
a
v
e
t
o
p
re-c
l
ea
r
p
ar
ti
c
ip
a
ti
o
n
i
n
th
e
E
S
O
P
,
E
I
C
P
M
S
C
I
P
o
r
4
0
1
(
k
)
P
l
a
n
w
it
h
Com
p
li
a
n
ce
.
H
o
we
v
er
,
y
o
u
mu
s
t
d
i
s
c
l
o
s
e
p
ar
ti
c
i
p
a
tio
n
i
n
a
ny
o
f
th
e
s
e
pl
a
n
s
a
s
p
ar
t
o
f
the qu
ar
t
er
l
y
r
e
po
r
ti
n
g
p
r
o
ce
ss
upo
n
i
n
i
t
i
a
l
p
ar
ti
c
ip
a
t
i
o
n
,
a
n
d
i
n
a
n
nu
a
l
ce
r
ti
f
i
c
a
t
i
ons
.
D
.
N
o
n
-M
o
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
n
l
e
y
A
c
c
o
un
t
s
E
x
ce
ptions
to
the
re
q
ui
r
e
m
e
nt
to
m
a
int
a
in
Empl
o
y
e
e
Se
c
u
r
iti
e
s
A
cc
oun
t
s
a
t
a
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
B
r
ok
e
r
a
r
e
r
a
r
e
a
nd
re
qui
r
e
C
ompli
a
n
c
e
a
pp
r
ov
a
l.
I
f
y
our
r
e
qu
e
st
is
a
pp
r
ov
e
d,
y
o
u
will
be
re
qui
re
d
to
e
nsu
r
e
th
a
t
dupli
ca
te
c
o
n
f
i
r
m
a
tions
a
nd
st
a
t
e
m
e
nts
ar
e s
e
nt
to
C
ompli
a
n
ce
.
R
e
qui
re
m
e
nts
m
a
y
v
a
r
y
in non
-
U.
S
.
o
ff
i
ce
s.
I
f
y
ou
o
p
e
n
a
n
outside
a
c
c
ount
without
obt
a
i
ning
C
ompli
a
n
c
e
a
pp
r
o
v
a
l,
y
ou
must imm
e
di
a
t
e
l
y
dis
c
lose
it to
C
ompli
a
n
ce
.
You m
a
y
be
re
qui
r
e
d to
c
lose
su
c
h
acc
ount.
M
a
i
n
t
a
i
n
i
n
g
a
n
o
n
-
M
o
r
g
a
n
St
a
n
l
e
y
4
0
1
(
k
)
p
l
a
n
o
r
s
imil
a
r
ac
c
o
un
t
t
h
a
t
p
er
mi
t
s
y
o
u
t
o
t
r
a
d
e
c
o
v
e
r
e
d
s
e
c
u
r
it
i
e
s
mus
t
b
e
a
pp
r
ov
e
d
by
C
ompli
a
n
c
e.
E
.
I
nd
ivi
d
u
al
S
avi
n
gs
A
cc
o
un
t
s
(
“I
S
A
s
”
)
fo
r
e
m
p
lo
y
e
e
s
of
M
S
I
M
L
t
d
.
F
ul
l
y
M
a
n
a
g
e
d
I
S
As
(
i.
e
.
,
a
n
ind
e
p
e
nd
e
nt
m
a
n
a
g
e
r
m
a
k
e
s
the
inv
e
stm
e
nt
d
ec
isions)
m
a
y
be
e
st
a
blish
e
d
a
nd
m
a
in
t
a
in
e
d
without
the p
r
ior
a
pp
r
ov
a
l
of
C
ompli
a
n
ce
,
p
r
ovid
e
d
th
a
t
y
o
u
e
x
e
r
c
ise
no
in
f
l
u
e
n
c
e
o
r
c
ont
r
ol
on
s
to
c
k
s
e
l
ec
tion
or oth
e
r inv
e
stm
e
nt
d
ec
isions. Non
-
dis
c
r
e
tion
a
r
y
I
S
As
(
in
c
luding
si
n
g
le
c
om
p
a
n
y
I
S
As
)
,
w
h
er
e
y
ou
m
a
ke
inv
e
stm
e
nt d
ec
isions,
m
a
y
on
l
y
be
e
st
a
blish
e
d
a
n
d
m
a
int
a
in
e
d
a
s
long
a
s
the
a
c
c
ount
is p
re-a
p
p
r
ov
e
d
b
y
C
ompli
a
n
ce
,
dupli
ca
te
st
a
t
e
m
e
nts
ar
e
suppli
e
d
to
C
o
mpli
a
n
c
e
a
nd
a
ppli
ca
ble
r
e
po
r
ti
n
g
r
e
q
u
i
re
m
e
nts
a
r
e
m
e
t. O
n
c
e
a
F
ul
l
y
M
a
n
a
g
e
d
I
S
A
is
e
st
a
blish
e
d,
it must be
dis
c
los
e
d
to
C
ompli
a
n
c
e
in the
O
B
I
S
y
s
t
e
m.
F
.
M
u
t
u
al
F
un
d
A
cc
o
un
t
s
You
m
a
y op
e
n
a
n
a
c
c
o
unt
f
or
the
pu
r
pose
of
t
ra
ns
ac
ti
n
g
in
o
p
e
n
-
e
nd
Mutu
a
l
F
unds,
in
c
luding
S
ub
-
Advis
e
d
a
nd
P
r
op
r
i
e
t
a
r
y
Mutu
a
l
F
unds
(
i.
e
.
a
n
acc
oun
t
di
rec
t
ly
w
it
h
a
f
und t
ra
ns
fe
r
a
g
e
nt
)
w
i
tho
u
t
p
r
i
o
r
a
pp
r
ov
a
l
fr
o
m
C
o
m
p
li
a
n
ce
.
G
.
Is
s
u
e
r
P
u
rc
h
as
e
P
l
a
n
s
Y
o
u
m
a
y
op
e
n
a
n
acc
o
un
t
d
i
rec
t
ly
w
it
h
a
n
i
ssu
e
r
t
o
pu
rc
h
a
s
e
i
t
s
sh
are
s
,
su
c
h
a
s
a
di
v
id
e
nd
re
inv
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
pl
a
n
,
o
r
“
D
R
I
P
,
”
by
submit
t
in
g
th
e
D
R
IP
F
o
r
m
t
o y
ou
r
lo
c
a
l
C
o
mp
l
i
a
n
c
e
g
r
ou
p
a
n
d
p
re-c
l
ear
in
g
th
e
ini
t
i
a
l
pu
r
c
h
a
s
e
a
n
d
a
ny
s
a
l
e
s
.
Y
o
u
mu
s
t
a
l
s
o
re
po
r
t
D
R
I
P
hol
d
in
g
s
t
o
C
o
m
p
li
a
n
c
e
a
s
p
ar
t
o
f
th
e
a
nnu
a
l
cer
ti
f
i
ca
tio
n
p
r
o
ce
ss
.
H
.
I
n
v
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
C
lu
bs
Y
o
u
m
a
y
no
t
p
ar
ti
c
ip
a
t
e
i
n
o
r
s
o
li
c
i
t
t
ra
ns
a
c
ti
o
n
s
o
n
b
e
h
a
l
f
o
f
i
n
v
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
c
lub
s
i
n
w
h
i
c
h
m
e
mb
er
s
po
o
l
t
h
e
i
r
f
u
nd
s
t
o
m
a
k
e
i
n
v
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
s
i
n
s
e
c
u
r
iti
e
s
o
r
oth
e
r
f
in
a
n
c
i
a
l
p
r
odu
c
t
s
.
I
.
52
9
P
la
n
s
Y
o
u
d
o
no
t
h
a
v
e
t
o
o
bt
a
i
n
a
pp
r
ov
a
l
fr
o
m
C
o
mp
l
i
a
n
c
e
t
o
p
ar
t
i
c
ip
a
t
e
i
n
a
5
2
9
pl
a
n.
|
III.
|
T
RADE
P
R
E
-
C
LE
ARANC
E
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N
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A.
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You
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C
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, in its
sole dis
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a
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r
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p
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ind
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x
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po
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f
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lio.
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ny
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ra
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tio
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th
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t
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s
p
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ohi
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it
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d
b
y
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t
s
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ffere
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wee
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e
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h
a
s
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p
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by a
Cli
e
n
t
du
r
in
g
th
e
re
l
e
v
a
n
t
p
er
i
od
)
subj
e
c
t
t
o
dis
g
o
r
g
e
m
e
nt
.
S
e
e
“E
n
f
o
rce
m
e
n
t
a
n
d
S
a
n
c
ti
o
ns
”
b
e
lo
w
.
B
.
I
n
i
t
ia
t
i
n
g
a
T
r
a
n
sa
ct
i
o
n
P
re-c
l
eara
n
c
e
i
s
o
bt
a
i
n
e
d
by
e
nt
er
in
g
y
ou
r
t
ra
de
re
qu
e
s
t
i
nt
o
th
e
Tra
d
e
P
re-
Cl
eara
n
c
e
s
y
st
e
m
.
(
T
y
p
e
“T
P
C
”
i
nt
o
y
ou
r
int
er
n
e
t
b
r
o
w
s
e
r
.
)
U
po
n
c
om
p
l
e
t
i
o
n
o
f
th
e
n
ece
ss
a
r
y
c
h
ec
ks
,
C
o
m
p
li
a
n
c
e
w
i
l
l
noti
f
y y
o
u
p
r
ompt
ly
r
e
g
a
r
din
g
y
ou
r
re
qu
e
st
,
g
e
n
era
lly
o
n
th
e
s
a
m
e
bus
i
n
e
s
s
d
a
y
.
C
.
P
re-C
l
e
a
r
a
n
c
e
V
al
i
d
f
o
r
O
n
e
D
a
y
On
l
y
I
f
y
ou
r
t
ra
d
e
re
qu
e
s
t
i
s
a
pp
r
ov
e
d
,
su
c
h
a
p
p
r
ov
a
l
i
s
v
a
l
i
d
o
n
ly
f
o
r
th
e
d
a
y
o
n
w
hi
c
h
i
t
i
s
g
ra
nt
e
d
.
A
ny
t
ra
ns
ac
tio
n
no
t
c
o
mpl
e
t
e
d
o
n
th
a
t
d
a
y
w
i
l
l
re
qui
r
e
a
n
e
w
a
pp
r
o
v
a
l
.
T
h
i
s
m
ea
ns th
a
t
op
e
n
o
r
d
er
s
,
su
c
h
a
s
l
i
m
i
t
o
r
d
er
s
a
n
d
st
o
p
-
l
os
s
o
r
d
er
s
,
m
u
s
t
b
e
p
re-c
l
e
are
d
eac
h
d
a
y
unt
i
l
th
e
t
ra
n
s
ac
t
i
o
n
i
s
ef
f
ec
t
e
d
.
5
D.
R
e
s
tr
i
c
t
io
n
s
a
n
d
R
e
qu
i
reme
n
t
s
f
or
P
o
rt
fo
lio
M
a
n
ag
er
s
a
n
d
I
n
v
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
P
e
r
so
nn
el
N
o
pu
rc
h
a
s
e
o
r
s
a
l
e
t
ra
ns
ac
ti
o
n
m
a
y
b
e
m
a
d
e
i
n
a
ny
Cov
ere
d
S
ec
u
r
it
y
o
r
a
re
l
a
t
ed
inv
e
s
tm
e
n
t
(
i.
e
.
,
d
er
i
v
a
t
i
v
e
s
)
by
a
P
o
r
t
f
o
l
i
o
M
a
n
a
g
e
r
f
o
r
a
p
er
io
d
o
f
s
e
v
e
n
ca
l
e
nd
a
r
d
a
ys
b
ef
o
r
e
o
r
s
e
v
e
n
ca
l
e
nd
a
r
d
a
ys
af
t
e
r
th
e
P
o
r
t
f
ol
i
o
M
a
n
a
g
e
r
pu
rc
h
a
s
e
s
o
r
s
e
ll
s
th
e
s
ec
u
r
i
ty
on b
e
h
a
l
f
o
f
a
C
l
i
e
nt
.
A
P
o
r
t
f
oli
o
M
a
n
a
g
e
r
m
a
y
r
e
qu
e
s
t
a
n
ex
ce
p
ti
o
n
fr
o
m
th
e
bl
ac
ko
u
t
p
er
i
od
i
f
th
e
C
o
v
ere
d
S
ec
u
r
i
ty
wa
s
t
ra
d
e
d
f
o
r
a
n
ind
ex
f
u
n
d
o
r
i
nd
ex
p
o
r
t
f
o
l
i
o.
I
nv
e
stm
e
n
t
P
er
sonn
e
l
w
h
o
h
a
v
e
kno
w
l
e
d
g
e
o
f
a
P
o
r
t
f
o
l
i
o
M
a
n
a
g
er’
s
t
ra
din
g
ac
tiv
i
ty
ar
e
subj
ec
t
t
o
th
e
s
a
m
e
s
e
v
e
n
d
a
y
bl
ac
kou
t
p
er
iod
.
I
nv
e
stm
e
n
t
P
er
s
o
nn
e
l
m
u
s
t
obt
a
i
n
a
pp
r
ov
a
l
fr
o
m
t
h
e
i
r
m
a
n
a
g
e
r
o
r
hi
s
/
h
e
r
d
e
si
g
n
e
e
p
r
i
o
r
t
o
o
b
t
a
i
nin
g
p
re-c
l
eara
n
c
e
by
Comp
l
i
a
n
ce.
E
.
E
m
p
loy
ee
s
D
e
si
g
n
a
t
e
d
t
o
b
e
“
A
b
o
v
e
t
h
e
Wa
l
l
”
E
mp
l
o
y
ee
s
i
n
th
e
M
S
I
M
L
e
g
a
l
a
n
d
C
o
m
p
li
a
n
c
e
D
iv
i
sio
n
a
n
d
th
e
M
S
I
M
G
lob
a
l
R
is
k
&
A
n
a
l
y
si
s
D
iv
i
si
o
n
ar
e
d
e
si
g
n
a
t
e
d
t
o
b
e
a
bov
e
th
e
wa
l
l
a
n
d
t
h
e
i
r
p
er
s
on
a
l
s
ec
u
r
i
t
i
es
t
ra
ns
ac
t
i
on
s
ar
e
subj
e
ct
t
o
a
ddi
t
ion
a
l
p
re-c
l
eara
n
ce
c
h
ec
k
s
w
it
h
th
e
C
o
nt
r
o
l
Gr
oup
.
O
th
e
r
e
mplo
y
ee
s
m
a
y
a
ls
o
b
e
subj
ec
t
t
o
t
h
e
a
bov
e-
t
h
e-wa
l
l
c
h
ec
k
s
a
s
d
ee
m
e
d
n
ece
ss
a
r
y
by
Com
p
li
a
n
ce
.
F
.
T
r
a
n
sa
ct
i
n
g
i
n
M
o
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
n
l
e
y
S
ec
u
r
i
t
i
es
Tra
ns
ac
tin
g
i
n
,
in
c
lu
d
in
g
th
e
g
i
f
tin
g
o
f
,
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
m
us
t
t
a
k
e
pl
ac
e
du
r
ing
d
e
si
g
n
a
t
e
d
w
in
d
o
w
p
er
i
o
ds
.
Con
s
u
l
t
M
S
T
od
a
y
f
or
th
e
w
indo
w
p
er
i
o
d
a
nn
o
un
ce
m
e
n
t
p
r
i
or
t
o
t
ra
d
i
n
g
.
E
x
ce
p
t
a
s
no
t
e
d
b
e
lo
w
f
o
r
Acce
s
s
P
e
r
sons
,
i
f y
o
u
ar
e
t
ra
ns
ac
tin
g
i
n
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
n
l
e
y
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
t
h
r
ou
g
h
a
b
r
ok
era
g
e
acc
ount
,
y
o
u
ar
e
no
t
re
qui
re
d
t
o
p
re-c
l
ea
r
t
h
e
t
ra
ns
ac
t
i
o
n
w
i
t
h
C
om
p
l
i
a
n
ce
.
S
i
m
il
ar
l
y,
y
o
u
d
o
no
t
h
a
v
e
t
o
p
re-c
l
ea
r
t
ra
ns
ac
t
i
on
s
i
n
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
n
l
e
y
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
so
l
d
o
u
t
o
f y
ou
r EI
C
P
,
E
S
O
P
,
E
S
P
P
o
r
401
(
k
)
P
l
a
n
.
A
l
l
o
th
e
r
hol
d
in
g
a
n
d
re
po
r
tin
g
re
q
ui
re
m
e
n
t
s
f
o
r
C
o
v
ere
d
S
e
c
u
r
iti
e
s
s
t
i
l
l
a
p
p
ly.
Tra
ns
ac
ti
o
n
s
i
n
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
effec
t
e
d
by
M
S
I
M
J
e
m
p
l
o
y
ee
s
ar
e
subj
ec
t
t
o
a
s
i
x
mon
t
h
h
o
l
d
in
g
p
er
io
d
.
A
ddi
t
ion
a
l
R
e
s
t
r
i
c
ti
o
n
s
f
o
r
Acce
s
s
P
er
s
o
n
s
Tra
ns
a
c
tin
g
i
n
Mo
r
g
an
S
t
a
nl
e
y
S
ec
u
r
i
t
i
e
s
.
A
ll
t
ra
ns
ac
tions
in
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
must
o
c
c
ur
du
r
i
n
g
the d
e
si
g
n
a
t
e
d
30
-
day op
e
n window p
er
iod
eac
h
qu
a
r
t
er
.
C
ompli
a
n
c
e
c
ommuni
ca
t
e
s
the o
p
e
n
a
nd
c
los
e
d window
5
I
n
t
h
e
ca
s
e
o
f
t
r
a
d
es
in
i
n
te
r
n
ati
o
n
al
m
a
r
k
e
t
s
w
h
e
r
e
t
h
e
m
a
r
k
et
h
as
al
r
ea
d
y
cl
o
s
e
d
,
t
r
a
n
s
acti
o
n
s
m
u
s
t
b
e
e
x
ec
u
ted
b
y
t
h
e
n
e
x
t cl
o
s
e
o
f t
r
a
d
i
n
g
in t
h
at
m
a
r
k
et.
p
er
iods
a
ppli
c
a
ble
to
A
cce
ss
Pe
r
sons
e
ac
h
q
u
a
r
t
er
.
D
u
r
i
n
g
a
n
op
e
n
w
indow
p
er
iod,
A
cce
ss
P
er
sons
a
r
e
r
e
q
ui
re
d
to
p
re-c
l
e
a
r
t
ra
n
s
ac
tions
in
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
s
e
c
u
r
iti
e
s
th
r
ou
g
h
T
P
C
.
This
in
c
l
u
d
e
s
t
ra
ns
ac
tions
m
a
de
in
the
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
f
und
of the
401
(
k)
P
l
a
n
or
sh
a
r
e
s
h
e
ld
e
x
t
er
n
a
l
l
y
fr
om
p
re
vious
F
i
r
m
-
sponso
r
e
d
pl
a
ns
(
e
.
g
.,
C
omput
er
sh
are
,
Equiniti
)
.
P
ositions
in
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
s
e
c
u
r
iti
e
s
must
be
h
e
ld
f
or
a
minimum
of
30
ca
l
e
nd
a
r
d
a
y
s. A
si
x
-
month
holding p
er
i
od
a
ppli
e
s
to
the
F
i
r
m
’
s
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
nt
a
nd
O
p
era
t
i
ng
C
ommitt
e
e m
e
mb
er
s
f
o
r
positions
in
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s.
S
h
are
s
re
c
e
iv
e
d
a
s p
ar
t
of
e
qui
t
y
-
b
a
s
e
d
c
omp
e
n
s
a
tion
a
r
e
e
x
e
mpt
fr
om
the
holding
p
er
iod
r
e
qui
re
m
e
nts.
You
ar
e p
r
ohibit
e
d
fr
om
b
u
y
i
n
g
or
s
e
lling Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
if
y
ou
a
r
e
in
poss
e
ssion
of m
a
t
er
i
a
l,
non
-
public
in
f
o
r
m
a
tion
r
e
g
ar
di
n
g
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
.
G
.
T
r
a
d
i
n
g
D
er
iva
t
iv
e
s
You
m
a
y not
t
ra
d
e
f
u
t
u
re
s,
f
o
r
w
ar
d
c
ont
r
a
c
ts,
in
c
luding
c
u
rr
e
n
c
y
f
or
w
ar
ds,
p
h
y
si
c
a
l
c
ommoditi
e
s
a
nd
re
l
a
t
e
d
d
er
iv
a
tiv
e
s,
ov
er-
th
e
-
c
ount
e
r
w
a
r
ra
nts
or sw
a
ps.
You
ar
e p
r
ohibit
e
d
fr
om
s
e
lling
(
“
w
r
iting
”
)
a
put.
The
f
ollowing is
a
list
of
p
e
r
mitt
e
d
optio
n
s t
ra
din
g
:
C
a
ll
Options
L
ist
e
d
C
all
Options.
Y
ou
m
a
y
p
u
rc
h
a
s
e
a
list
e
d
ca
ll
option
if
the
ca
ll
option
h
a
s
a
“
p
er
iod
to
e
x
pi
ra
tion”
of
a
t
l
ea
st
30
d
a
y
s
f
r
om
the d
a
te of pu
rc
h
a
se
a
nd
y
ou
hold
the
ca
ll option
f
or
a
t
l
ea
st 30
d
a
y
s
p
r
ior
to
s
a
l
e
.
I
f
y
ou
c
hoose
to
e
x
erc
ise
the
option, you
must
a
lso
hold the
und
er
l
yi
n
g
s
ec
u
r
i
t
y
d
e
liv
e
r
e
d
pu
r
su
a
nt to the
e
x
erc
ise
f
or
30
d
a
y
s.
C
o
ve
r
e
d
C
alls
.
You
m
a
y
a
lso
s
e
ll
(
or
“
w
r
it
e
”
)
a
ca
ll
option
on
l
y
i
f
y
ou
h
a
ve
h
e
ld
the und
er
l
y
ing
s
ec
u
r
i
t
y
(
in the
c
o
r
r
e
sponding
a
mount)
f
or
a
t l
ea
st 30 da
y
s.
P
ut
Options
L
ist
e
d
Put
Options.
You
m
a
y
pu
rc
h
a
se
a
list
e
d
p
u
t
option
if
the
put
option
h
a
s
a
“
p
er
iod
to
e
x
pi
ra
tion”
of
a
t
l
ea
st
30
d
a
y
s
fr
om
t
h
e
d
a
te
o
f
pu
rc
h
a
se
a
nd
y
ou hold the
put
option
f
or
a
t
l
ea
st
30
d
a
y
s
p
r
ior
to
s
a
l
e
. If
y
ou
p
u
rc
h
a
se
a
put
option
on
a
s
ec
u
r
ity
y
ou
a
l
r
e
a
dy
own,
y
ou m
a
y
e
x
erc
ise
the
put on
c
e
y
ou h
a
v
e
h
e
ld the
und
er
lyi
n
g
s
ec
u
r
ity
f
or
30 d
a
y
s.
You
m
u
st
o
b
t
ain
p
re-c
l
e
a
r
a
n
c
e
f
r
o
m
C
o
m
p
li
a
n
c
e
t
o
e
x
e
rc
ise
an
o
p
t
ion
or
pu
rc
h
ase
or
s
e
ll an
o
p
t
io
n
.
H.
O
t
h
e
r
R
e
s
t
r
i
ct
io
n
s
P
r
im
ar
y
a
n
d
S
ec
ond
a
r
y
P
u
b
li
c
Offer
in
g
s
.
Y
o
u
a
n
d
y
ou
r
E
mpl
o
y
e
e
S
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
Acc
ou
n
t
(
s
)
ar
e
g
e
n
era
l
ly
p
r
ohibit
e
d
f
r
o
m
pu
rc
h
a
s
in
g
a
ny
e
qui
ty
s
ec
u
r
i
ty
i
n
a
n
in
i
ti
a
l
pu
b
l
i
c
o
ffer
in
g
.
In
a
ddition,
unl
e
ss
oth
er
wise
noti
f
i
e
d
by Complian
ce
,
y
ou
may not
purch
a
se
a
n
e
quity s
ec
u
r
i
t
y
th
a
t is p
ar
t of a p
r
im
a
ry
or s
ec
ond
a
ry o
ffer
ing
th
a
t the
F
i
r
m
is und
er
w
r
iting
or s
e
lling until the dist
r
i
b
ution
h
a
s b
ee
n
c
ompl
e
t
e
d.
A
cc
o
r
din
g
l
y
,
y
ou
must
c
onsu
l
t
Compli
a
n
c
e p
r
ior
to pu
rc
h
a
sing
a
n
e
qui
t
y
se
c
u
r
ity in a p
r
imary
or se
c
ond
a
ry public
o
ffer
i
n
g
to
d
e
t
er
mine
w
h
e
th
e
r
a
n
y
re
st
r
i
c
tions
a
p
p
l
y
.
N
ot
e
th
a
t
t
h
i
s
re
s
t
r
i
c
ti
o
n
a
ls
o
a
pp
l
i
e
s
t
o
y
ou
r
imm
e
di
a
t
e
fa
m
il
y
,
re
ga
r
d
l
e
s
s
o
f
w
h
e
th
e
r
th
e
s
ec
u
r
i
ti
e
s
ar
e
p
u
rc
h
a
s
e
d
i
n
t
o
a
n
E
mp
l
o
y
e
e
S
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
Ac
c
ount
.
P
u
rc
h
a
s
e
s
o
f
n
e
w
issu
e
d
e
b
t
ar
e
p
er
m
i
tt
e
d
,
p
r
ov
i
d
e
d
su
c
h
pu
r
c
h
a
s
e
s
ar
e
p
re-c
l
eare
d
by
Com
p
li
a
n
c
e
a
n
d
m
ee
t
o
t
h
e
r
re
l
e
v
a
n
t
re
q
ui
re
m
e
n
t
s
o
f
th
e
Cod
e.
S
ho
r
t
S
a
l
e
s
.
Y
o
u
m
a
y
no
t
e
n
g
a
g
e
i
n
sho
r
t
s
e
l
l
in
g
o
f
Cov
ere
d
S
ec
u
r
i
ti
e
s
.
R
e
st
r
i
c
t
e
d
L
ist
.
Y
o
u
m
a
y
no
t
t
ra
ns
ac
t
i
n
Cov
ere
d
S
ec
u
r
i
ti
e
s
t
h
a
t
a
p
p
ea
r
o
n
th
e
F
i
r
m
w
i
de
R
e
st
r
i
c
t
e
d
L
ist
.
C
om
p
l
i
a
n
c
e
w
il
l
c
h
ec
k
th
e
R
e
s
t
r
i
c
t
e
d
L
is
t
a
s
p
ar
t
o
f
it
s
p
re-c
l
eara
n
ce
p
r
o
ce
ss
.
I
.
O
t
h
e
r
Act
i
vi
t
i
e
s
Re
q
u
i
r
i
n
g
P
re-C
l
e
a
r
a
n
c
e
T
h
e
f
o
l
lo
w
i
n
g
ac
tiv
i
ti
e
s
a
l
s
o
re
q
u
i
r
e
p
re-c
l
eara
n
ce:
Ø
Outside
A
c
tiviti
e
s
Ø
T
ra
ns
ac
tions
in
P
r
iv
a
te
I
nv
e
stm
e
nts
Ø
P
oliti
ca
l
C
ont
r
ibu
t
ions
I
V
.
HOL
D
I
N
G
R
E
Q
U
I
R
E
M
E
N
T
S
AN
D
R
E
P
URC
H
A
S
E
L
I
M
I
T
A
T
I
O
N
S
A
.
P
r
o
p
r
i
et
a
r
y
a
n
d
S
ub
-
a
d
vis
e
d
M
u
t
u
a
l
F
u
n
ds
Y
o
u
m
a
y
no
t
re
d
ee
m
o
r
e
x
c
h
a
n
g
e
P
r
o
p
r
i
e
t
a
r
y
o
r
S
ub
-A
dv
i
s
e
d
M
u
tu
a
l
F
un
d
s
unt
i
l
a
t
l
ea
s
t
30
ca
l
e
nd
a
r
d
a
y
s
fr
o
m
th
e
pu
rc
h
a
s
e
t
ra
d
e
d
a
t
e.
B
.
C
ov
ere
d
S
ec
u
r
i
t
i
es
Y
o
u
m
a
y
no
t
s
e
l
l
a
Cov
ere
d
S
ec
u
r
it
y
unti
l
y
o
u
h
a
v
e
h
e
l
d
i
t
f
o
r
a
t
l
ea
s
t
3
0
d
a
y
s
.
I
f
y
o
u
s
e
l
l
a
Cov
ere
d
S
ec
u
r
i
t
y
,
y
o
u
m
a
y
no
t
re
pu
rc
h
a
s
e
th
e
s
a
m
e
s
ec
u
r
i
ty
f
o
r
a
t
l
ea
s
t
3
0
d
a
y
s
.
C
.
Ho
l
d
i
n
g
R
e
q
u
i
re
m
e
n
t
s
S
p
ec
i
f
i
c
t
o
M
S
I
M
J
E
m
pl
oy
ees
W
h
e
n
s
e
l
l
i
n
g
e
qui
ty
a
n
d
e
quit
y
-
link
e
d
not
e
s
,
Co
v
ere
d
P
er
son
s
a
t
M
S
I
M
J
mus
t
h
ol
d
su
c
h
in
s
t
r
um
e
n
t
s
f
o
r
a
t
l
ea
s
t
s
i
x
m
on
t
hs
;
ho
we
v
er
,
C
o
mp
l
i
a
n
c
e
m
a
y
g
ra
n
t
a
n
e
x
ce
p
ti
o
n
i
f
th
e
in
s
t
r
um
e
n
t
s
ar
e
h
e
l
d
f
o
r
a
t
l
ea
s
t
3
0
ca
l
e
nd
a
r
d
a
ys
f
r
o
m
th
e
d
a
t
e
o
f
p
u
rc
h
a
s
e
.
T
hi
s
i
n
c
lud
es
t
ra
ns
ac
t
i
on
s
i
n
Mo
r
g
a
n
St
a
nl
e
y
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
.
V
.
R
E
P
O
R
TI
N
G
R
E
Q
U
I
R
E
M
E
N
T
S
A
.
I
n
i
t
i
a
l
Re
p
o
rt
i
n
g
a
n
d
C
e
rt
i
f
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
W
h
e
n
y
ou
c
omm
e
n
c
e
e
mpl
o
y
m
e
nt
with
M
S
I
M
or oth
er
wise b
ec
ome a
C
ov
ere
d
P
er
son,
y
o
u
must
p
r
ovide
a
n
Ot
h
e
r
Outside
I
nv
e
stm
e
nts
Dis
c
losu
r
e
F
o
r
m
(
the
“
I
n
iti
a
l
R
e
po
r
t
”
)
to
C
ompli
a
n
c
e
no
l
a
t
e
r
th
a
n
10
d
a
y
s
af
t
e
r
y
ou
b
ec
o
me
a
C
ov
ere
d
P
er
son.
The in
f
o
r
m
a
tion
y
o
u
p
r
ovide must
not
b
e mo
r
e th
a
n
45
d
a
y
s
o
l
d
fr
om
the d
a
y
y
ou
b
ec
a
me a
C
ov
e
r
e
d
P
er
son
a
nd
must in
c
lud
e
:
Ø
the
title
a
nd
t
y
p
e
,
a
nd,
a
s
a
ppli
c
a
bl
e
,
the
e
x
c
h
a
nge
ti
c
k
e
r
s
y
mbol or
C
U
S
I
P
numb
er
,
numb
e
r
of
s
h
ar
e
s
a
nd p
r
in
c
ip
a
l
a
mount of
a
n
y
C
o
v
ere
d
Se
c
u
r
i
t
y
;
Ø
the
n
a
me
of
a
n
y
b
r
ok
e
r-
d
ea
l
er
,
b
a
nk
or
f
i
n
a
n
c
i
a
l
institu
t
ion
wh
er
e
y
ou
m
a
int
a
in
a
n
a
c
c
ount
in whi
c
h
a
n
y
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
a
r
e
h
e
ld;
Ø
a
n
y
Outside
A
c
tiviti
e
s;
a
nd
Ø
the
d
a
te
y
ou submitt
e
d the
I
niti
a
l
R
e
po
r
t.
All
n
e
w
C
ov
ere
d
P
er
so
n
s
will
rece
ive
t
ra
ini
n
g
o
n
the
p
r
in
c
ipl
e
s
a
nd
p
r
o
ce
du
re
s
of
the
C
od
e
.
As
a
C
ov
ere
d
P
er
son,
y
ou
must
a
lso
cer
t
i
f
y
th
a
t
y
ou
h
a
ve
r
ea
d,
und
er
st
a
nd
a
nd
a
g
re
e
to
a
bi
d
e
by t
h
e t
e
r
ms
of the
C
od
e
. If
y
ou
h
a
ve
a
ny qu
e
stions,
c
ont
ac
t
y
our lo
ca
l
C
ompli
a
n
c
e
g
r
oup.
B
.
Q
u
a
rter
ly
R
e
p
o
r
t
i
n
g
a
n
d
C
ert
i
f
i
c
a
t
ion
Y
o
u
m
us
t
su
b
m
i
t
a
Q
u
a
r
t
er
ly
R
e
po
r
t
t
o
C
o
mp
l
i
a
n
c
e
n
o
l
a
t
e
r
t
h
a
n
3
0
ca
l
e
nd
a
r
d
a
y
s
af
t
e
r
the
e
n
d
o
f
eac
h
ca
l
e
nd
a
r
qu
a
r
t
er
,
o
r
i
n
acc
o
r
d
a
n
c
e
w
i
t
h
re
g
ul
a
to
r
y
re
qui
re
m
e
n
t
s
a
pp
l
i
ca
bl
e
t
o
y
ou
r
r
e
g
ion
.
T
h
e
Q
u
a
r
t
er
l
y
R
e
po
r
t
mu
s
t
c
o
n
t
a
i
n
th
e
in
f
o
r
m
a
t
i
o
n
s
e
t
f
o
r
t
h
b
e
l
o
w
.
Ø
F
o
r
t
ra
ns
ac
t
ion
s
i
n
a
n
E
mplo
y
e
e
S
ec
u
r
i
ty
Acc
oun
t
d
u
r
in
g
th
e
p
re
v
i
ou
s
q
u
ar
t
e
r
y
ou mus
t
p
r
o
v
id
e
:
|
•
|
the
d
a
te
of
the
t
r
a
ns
ac
ti
o
n,
the
titl
e
,
a
nd,
a
s
a
ppli
ca
bl
e
,
the
e
x
c
h
a
n
g
e
ti
c
k
er
s
y
mbol
or
C
U
S
I
P
numb
er
,
int
ere
st
ra
te
a
nd
m
a
tu
r
i
t
y
d
a
t
e
,
numb
e
r
of
sh
ar
e
s
a
nd
p
r
in
c
ip
a
l
a
mount of
a
n
y
C
ov
e
re
d
Se
c
u
r
i
t
y
;
|
|
•
|
the
n
a
tu
r
e
of
t
h
e
t
ra
ns
a
c
t
ion
(
i.
e
.
pu
rc
h
a
s
e
,
s
a
le
o
r
oth
e
r
t
y
pe
of
ac
quisition or
disposition
)
;
|
• the
p
r
i
c
e
of
t
h
e
s
ec
u
r
i
t
y
a
t whi
c
h the
t
ra
ns
a
c
tion
w
a
s
ef
f
ec
t
e
d;
|
•
|
the
n
a
me
of
t
h
e
b
r
ok
e
r-
d
ea
l
e
r
o
r
b
a
nk
with
or
th
r
ou
g
h
wh
i
c
h
the
t
ra
n
s
ac
t
i
on
w
a
s
e
f
fec
t
e
d;
a
nd
|
• the
d
a
te
y
ou
submitt
e
d the
Qu
ar
t
e
r
l
y
R
e
po
r
t.
You
do
not
h
a
ve
to
su
b
mit
a
Qu
ar
t
er
l
y
R
e
po
r
t
if
it
would
dupli
ca
te
in
f
o
r
m
a
tion
p
r
ovid
e
d in
b
r
ok
e
r
t
ra
d
e
c
on
f
i
r
m
a
t
ions
or
acc
ount
st
a
t
e
m
e
n
ts
th
a
t
C
ompli
a
n
c
e
a
l
re
a
d
y
r
ece
i
v
e
s
or m
a
y
ac
c
e
ss.
Ø
F
or
a
n
y
n
e
w
a
cc
ount
e
s
t
a
blish
e
d
b
y
y
ou
du
r
i
n
g
t
he
p
re
vious
q
u
ar
t
e
r
in
w
hi
c
h
a
n
y s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
a
r
e
h
e
ld
f
o
r
y
o
ur
di
rec
t or
indi
r
ec
t
b
e
n
e
f
it,
y
ou must p
r
ovid
e
:
|
•
|
the
n
a
me
of
the
b
r
ok
er
-
d
ea
l
er
,
b
a
nk
or
f
in
a
n
c
i
a
l
institution
with
whi
c
h
y
o
u
e
st
a
blish
e
d
the
a
c
c
ount;
|
• the
d
a
te
the
a
cc
ount
w
a
s
e
st
a
blish
e
d;
a
nd
• the
d
a
te
y
ou
submitt
e
d the
Qu
ar
t
e
r
l
y
R
e
po
r
t.
A
re
mind
e
r
to
c
ompl
e
t
e
the
Qu
ar
t
e
r
l
y
R
e
po
r
t
will be
p
r
ovid
e
d
to
y
ou
b
y
C
ompli
a
n
ce
.
C.
A
nnu
al R
e
p
o
rt
i
n
g
a
n
d
C
ert
i
f
i
c
a
t
ion
You
must
upd
a
t
e
,
a
s
a
p
pli
ca
bl
e
,
a
nd
cer
ti
f
y
to
t
he
f
ollowing
in
f
o
r
m
a
ti
o
n
on
a
n
a
nn
u
al
b
a
sis
(
the
“
Ann
u
a
l
R
e
po
r
t
”)
:
Ø
a
list of
y
our
c
u
r
r
e
nt
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
b
r
ok
e
r
a
g
e
a
c
c
ount
(
s
)
;
Ø
a
list
of
a
ll
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
a
nd
p
r
in
c
ip
a
l
a
mount
b
e
n
ef
i
c
i
a
l
l
y
own
e
d
b
y
y
ou
i
n
th
e
se
acc
ount
(
s
)
;
Ø
a
list
of
a
ll
y
our
a
pp
r
o
v
e
d
Outside
A
c
tiviti
e
s,
in
c
luding
non
-
M
or
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
b
r
ok
er
a
ge
a
cc
ounts,
P
r
iv
a
te
I
nv
e
stm
e
nts
a
nd Out
s
ide
A
c
tiviti
e
s;
Ø
a
list
of
a
ll
oth
e
r
inv
e
stm
e
nts
y
ou
hold
outside
of
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
(
s
u
c
h
a
s
D
R
I
P
s,
oth
e
r
40
1
(
k)
a
cc
o
unts
a
nd
a
n
y
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
h
e
ld in
cer
ti
f
i
ca
t
e
f
o
r
m
)
;
a
nd
Ø
a
list
of
b
r
ok
er-
d
ea
l
e
r
s,
b
a
nks
or
f
in
a
n
c
i
a
l
institut
i
ons
with
whi
c
h
y
ou
m
a
i
n
t
a
in
a
n
acc
ount in whi
c
h
a
n
y
s
e
c
u
r
iti
e
s
ar
e
h
e
ld.
The
in
f
o
r
m
a
tion
in
the
Annu
a
l
R
e
po
r
t
must
not
be
mo
r
e
th
a
n
45
d
a
y
s
o
ld
fr
om
the
d
a
y
y
o
u
submit it to
C
ompli
a
n
ce
.
You must
a
lso
c
e
r
ti
f
y
t
h
a
t
y
ou
h
a
ve
r
e
a
d
a
nd
a
g
r
e
e
to
a
bide
b
y
the
r
e
qui
re
m
e
nts
of
the
C
ode
a
nd th
a
t
y
ou
a
r
e
i
n
c
ompli
a
n
c
e
with the
C
od
e
.
The
link to the
Annu
a
l
R
e
po
r
t
will be
p
r
ovid
e
d
to
y
o
u
b
y
C
ompli
a
n
ce
.
|
VI.
|
OU
TS
IDE
AC
T
IVI
T
I
E
S
AND PRIVA
T
E
IN
V
EST
M
E
N
T
S
A.
A
pp
r
oval
t
o
En
gage
in
an
O
u
t
si
d
e
A
ct
ivi
t
y
|
You
m
a
y not
e
ng
a
g
e
in
a
n
y
Outside
A
c
tivi
t
y
,
r
e
g
a
r
dl
e
ss
of
wh
e
th
e
r
or
n
ot
y
ou
r
ece
i
v
e
c
omp
e
ns
a
tion
,
or
ar
e
a
s
k
e
d
to
e
n
g
a
ge
in
su
c
h
ac
tivi
t
y
b
y the
F
i
r
m,
without
p
r
ior
a
pp
r
ov
a
l
fr
om
C
ompli
a
n
ce
.
I
f
y
ou
rece
ive
a
p
p
r
ov
a
l,
it
is
y
our
re
sponsibili
t
y to
noti
f
y
C
ompli
a
n
c
e
imm
e
di
a
t
e
l
y
if
a
n
y
c
on
f
li
c
t
or
pot
e
nti
a
l
c
o
n
f
li
c
t
of
int
e
r
e
st
ar
i
s
e
s
in
the
c
ou
r
se
of
t
h
e Outside
A
c
tivi
t
y
.
E
x
a
mpl
e
s
of
a
n
Outside
A
c
tivi
t
y
in
c
lu
d
e
p
r
ov
i
ding
c
onsulti
n
g
s
er
vi
c
e
s
,
o
r
g
a
ni
z
ing
a
c
omp
a
n
y
,
g
iving a
f
o
r
m
a
l
l
ec
tu
r
e
or
publishing
a
book
or
ar
ti
c
l
e
,
a
c
c
e
pting
c
omp
e
ns
a
tion
fr
om
a
n
y
p
e
r
son
or
o
r
g
a
ni
z
a
tion
oth
e
r
th
a
n
the
F
i
r
m,
s
er
ving
a
s
a
n
o
f
f
i
cer
,
e
mpl
o
y
e
e,
di
rec
to
r
,
p
ar
tn
e
r
,
m
e
mb
e
r
,
or
a
dviso
r
y
bo
a
r
d
m
e
mb
e
r
of
a
c
omp
a
n
y
or
o
r
g
a
ni
z
a
tion
not
aff
ili
a
t
e
d
with
the
F
i
r
m,
wh
e
th
e
r
or not
re
l
a
t
e
d
to
the
f
in
a
n
c
i
a
l
s
er
vi
ce
s
indust
r
y
(
in
c
luding
c
h
a
r
it
a
ble
o
r
g
a
ni
z
a
tions
or
a
c
tiviti
e
s
f
or
whi
c
h
y
ou
do
not
r
e
ce
ive
c
omp
e
ns
a
tion
)
,
s
e
tti
n
g
up
a
holdi
n
g
c
om
p
a
n
y
f
or
inv
e
stm
e
nts
or
inv
e
sting in
r
e
nt
a
l p
r
op
er
ti
e
s.
G
e
n
era
l
l
y
,
C
ompli
a
n
c
e
will
not
a
p
pr
ove
a
n
y
Outside
A
c
tivity
r
e
l
a
t
e
d
to
the s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
or
f
in
a
n
c
i
a
l
s
e
r
vi
ce
s
indust
r
y
oth
e
r
th
a
n
ac
tiviti
e
s
th
a
t
ref
l
ec
t
the
int
ere
sts
of
the indust
r
y
a
s
a
whole
a
nd
t
h
a
t
ar
e
not in
c
omp
e
titi
o
n
with those
of
the
F
i
r
m.
A
re
qu
e
st
to
s
er
ve
on
t
he
bo
ar
d
o
f
a
n
y
c
omp
a
n
y
,
p
ar
ti
c
ul
ar
l
y
the
bo
a
r
d
of
a
public
c
omp
a
n
y
,
will
be
g
r
a
nt
e
d
in
v
e
r
y
limit
e
d
inst
a
n
ce
s
on
l
y
.
I
f
y
ou
r
e
ce
ive
a
pp
r
ov
a
l,
y
our di
rec
to
r
ship
m
a
y
be
sub
j
ec
t to the
impl
e
m
e
nt
a
tion
of
in
f
o
r
m
a
tion
b
arr
i
e
r
p
r
o
ce
du
r
e
s
to isol
a
te
y
ou
f
r
om
m
a
king
inv
e
stm
e
nt
d
e
c
isions
f
or
C
li
e
nts
c
on
cer
ni
n
g
t
h
e
c
omp
a
n
y
in qu
e
stion,
a
s
a
ppli
ca
bl
e
.
B
.
A
pp
r
oval
t
o I
n
v
e
st
in
a
P
r
iv
a
t
e
I
n
v
e
s
t
me
n
t
You
m
a
y not
inv
e
st
in
a
P
r
iv
a
te
I
n
v
e
stm
e
nt
of
a
n
y
kind
without
p
r
ior
a
pp
r
ov
a
l
f
r
om
C
ompli
a
n
ce
.
P
r
iv
a
te
I
n
v
e
stm
e
nts
in
c
lude
inv
e
stm
e
nts
in
p
r
iv
a
t
e
l
y
h
e
ld
c
o
r
po
ra
tions,
limit
e
d
p
ar
tn
er
ships,
t
a
x sh
e
lt
e
r
p
r
og
ra
ms
a
nd
h
e
d
g
e
f
unds
(
in
c
ludi
n
g
those
sponso
re
d
b
y Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
or
its
af
f
ili
a
t
e
s
)
.
C.
P
r
e-
C
l
e
a
r
a
n
c
e
P
r
o
c
e
ss
You
m
a
y
re
qu
e
st
p
r
e
-c
l
e
ara
n
c
e
o
f
Outside
A
c
tiv
i
ti
e
s
a
nd
P
r
iv
a
te
I
n
v
e
stm
e
nts
b
y
t
y
pi
n
g
“
O
B
I
”
into
y
our
int
ra
n
e
t
b
r
ows
er
.
VII. CON
S
U
LT
AN
T
S
AND
TE
M
P
ORA
R
Y
WORK
E
RS
C
onsult
a
nts
a
nd
oth
e
r
t
e
mpo
ra
r
y
wo
r
k
er
s
who
fa
ll
und
e
r
the
d
ef
inition
of
a
C
ov
ere
d
P
er
son
b
y vi
r
tue
of
th
e
ir
duti
e
s
a
nd
re
sponsibiliti
e
s
with
M
S
I
M
must
a
dh
er
e
to
the
f
ollowin
g
:
Ø
I
niti
a
l,
qu
a
r
t
er
l
y
a
nd
a
n
n
u
a
l
re
po
r
ti
n
g
;
Ø
P
r
ovision
of
dupli
ca
te
t
r
a
de
c
on
f
i
r
m
a
tions
a
nd
a
c
c
ount
st
a
t
e
m
e
nts
to
C
o
m
pli
a
n
c
e
f
or
t
ra
ns
a
c
tions
in
a
n
y
C
ov
ere
d
S
ec
u
r
i
t
y
;
Ø
P
r
ohibition
a
g
a
inst
p
ar
ti
c
ip
a
ting
in
a
n
y
I
P
Os;
Ø
P
re-c
l
e
ara
n
c
e
of
Outside
A
c
tiviti
e
s
a
nd
P
r
iv
a
te
I
n
v
e
stm
e
nts.
C
er
t
a
in
C
onsult
a
nts
or
t
e
mpo
ra
r
y
wo
r
k
e
r
s
m
a
y
be
re
qui
re
d
to
p
re-c
l
e
a
r
a
ll
p
er
son
al
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
t
ra
ns
ac
tions
in
C
ov
ere
d
S
ec
u
r
iti
e
s.
C
onsult
a
nts
or
t
e
mpo
ra
r
y
w
o
r
k
er
s
th
a
t
ar
e
hi
re
d
f
or
positions
l
a
sting mo
r
e
th
a
n
one
y
e
a
r
a
r
e
re
qui
re
d
to
t
ra
n
s
fe
r
b
r
o
k
er
a
g
e
a
cc
ounts to a
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
B
r
o
k
er
.
VIII. R
E
VI
E
W,
IN
TE
R
P
R
E
T
A
T
IONS
AND
E
XC
E
P
T
IONS
Com
p
li
a
n
c
e
i
s
re
s
p
on
s
ib
l
e
f
o
r
a
dmi
n
i
s
t
er
in
g
th
e
C
od
e
a
n
d
re
vi
e
w
in
g
y
ou
r
I
ni
t
i
a
l
,
Q
u
a
r
t
er
ly
a
n
d
A
nnu
a
l
R
e
p
o
r
t
s
.
C
o
mp
l
i
a
n
c
e
h
a
s
th
e
a
u
t
ho
r
it
y
t
o
m
a
k
e
f
in
a
l
d
ec
i
si
o
n
s
re
g
ar
din
g
Code poli
c
i
e
s
a
n
d
m
a
y
g
ra
n
t
a
n
e
x
ce
p
t
io
n
t
o
a
poli
c
y
a
s
lon
g
a
s
i
t
d
e
t
er
m
i
n
e
s
t
h
a
t
n
o
a
bus
e
or pot
e
n
ti
a
l
a
b
u
s
e
i
s
i
n
vo
l
v
e
d
.
E
x
ce
p
ti
o
n
s
ar
e
g
ra
nt
e
d
on
ly
i
n
rar
e
a
n
d
unusu
a
l
c
i
rc
um
s
t
a
n
ce
s
,
su
c
h
a
s
f
in
a
n
c
i
a
l
h
ar
d
sh
i
p
.
Y
o
u
m
u
s
t
c
o
n
t
ac
t
C
o
m
pli
a
n
c
e
w
i
t
h
a
ny
qu
e
stio
n
s
re
g
ar
din
g
the
a
ppli
ca
b
i
l
i
t
y
,
m
ea
nin
g
o
r
a
dmi
n
i
s
t
ra
t
i
o
n
o
f
th
e
Co
d
e
,
in
c
l
ud
i
n
g
re
qu
e
st
s
f
o
r
a
n
e
x
ce
pt
i
on
,
i
n
a
dv
a
n
c
e
o
f
a
ny
c
ont
e
mpl
a
t
e
d
t
ra
n
s
ac
t
i
on
.
I
X
.
E
N
F
O
RC
E
M
E
N
T
AN
D
S
AN
C
TIO
NS
V
iol
a
tio
n
s
o
f
t
h
e
Cod
e
a
r
e
re
po
r
t
e
d
t
o
t
h
e
Hea
d
o
f
M
S
I
M
Co
m
p
l
i
a
n
c
e
a
nd,
on
a
qu
ar
t
er
l
y
b
a
sis,
to
s
e
nior
m
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
nt
a
nd
the
a
ppli
ca
ble
f
unds'
b
o
ar
d
of
di
r
e
c
to
r
s.
C
ompli
a
n
ce
m
a
y
issu
e
l
e
tt
e
r
s
o
f
war
nin
g
/
e
du
ca
t
io
n
o
r
i
mp
o
s
e
s
a
n
c
ti
o
n
s
a
s
a
pp
r
op
r
i
a
t
e
,
in
c
l
u
ding
noti
f
y
in
g
th
e
Cov
ere
d
P
er
son
’
s
m
a
n
a
g
er
,
i
ss
u
i
n
g
a
re
p
r
im
a
n
d
(
o
ra
ll
y
o
r
i
n
wr
i
tin
g
)
,
mon
e
t
a
r
y
f
in
e
,
d
e
moti
o
n
,
susp
e
n
s
io
n
o
r
t
e
r
min
a
t
i
o
n
o
f
e
mplo
y
m
e
nt
.
T
h
e
f
ollo
w
in
g
i
s a
s
c
h
e
dul
e
o
f
s
a
n
c
t
i
on
s
th
a
t
m
a
y
b
e
impos
e
d
f
o
r
fa
i
lu
r
e
t
o
a
b
id
e
by
th
e
re
qu
i
re
m
e
nt
s
o
f
the Cod
e
.
V
io
l
a
t
i
o
n
s
a
r
e
c
o
n
s
i
d
ere
d
o
n
a
c
u
m
u
la
t
i
v
e
b
a
s
is
.
T
h
e
s
e
s
a
n
c
ti
o
n
s
ar
e
int
e
nd
e
d
t
o
b
e
g
uid
e
lin
e
s
o
n
ly.
Comp
l
i
a
n
ce
,
i
n
i
t
s
dis
cre
t
i
o
n
,
m
a
y
rec
omm
e
n
d
a
lt
er
n
a
tiv
e
ac
t
i
on
s
,
in
c
l
u
din
g
im
p
os
i
t
i
o
n
o
f
mo
r
e
s
e
v
er
e
s
a
n
c
t
i
ons
,
i
f
d
ee
m
e
d
warra
nt
e
d
by
th
e
fac
t
s
a
nd
c
i
rc
um
s
t
a
n
ce
s
o
f
eac
h
s
itu
a
t
io
n
.
M
S
I
M
m
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
nt
,
in
c
l
u
din
g
th
e
H
ea
d
o
f
M
S
I
M
Com
p
li
a
n
ce
,
i
s
a
u
t
ho
r
i
z
e
d
t
o
d
e
t
er
m
in
e
t
h
e
c
hoi
c
e
o
f
ac
tio
n
s
t
o
b
e
t
a
k
e
n
i
n
sp
ec
i
f
i
c
ca
s
e
s
.
S
a
n
c
t
ion
s
m
a
y
v
a
r
y
b
a
s
e
d
o
n
re
g
ul
a
to
r
y
c
on
cer
n
s
i
n
y
ou
r
ju
r
isdi
c
ti
o
n.
T
RADING VIO
L
A
T
IONS
|
S
ANC
T
ION
|
Fr
ont
r
unni
n
g
(
t
r
a
ding
a
h
ea
d
of
a
C
li
e
nt)
|
E
ac
h
in
c
id
e
nt to be
c
onsid
ere
d on
c
a
se
b
y
ca
se
b
a
sis: possible
t
er
m
in
a
tion
a
nd
re
po
r
ti
n
g
to
r
e
g
ul
a
to
r
y
a
utho
r
iti
e
s
|
I
nsid
e
r
t
r
a
ding
(
t
ra
di
n
g
on
m
a
t
er
i
a
l
non
-
publ
i
c
in
f
o
r
m
a
tion)
|
E
ac
h
in
c
id
e
nt to be
c
onsid
ere
d on a
ca
s
e
b
y
c
a
se
b
a
sis: possible
t
er
min
a
tion
a
nd
re
po
r
ti
n
g
to
r
e
g
ul
a
to
r
y
a
utho
r
iti
e
s
|
T
RADING VIO
L
A
T
IONS
|
S
ANC
T
ION
|
Fa
iling
to obt
a
in
a
utho
r
i
z
a
tion
f
or
a
t
ra
d
e
,
in
c
luding
non
-
p
r
o
p
r
i
e
t
a
r
y
P
r
iv
a
te
I
nv
e
stm
e
nts
or t
ra
ding
on
d
a
y
af
t
e
r
p
r
e-
c
l
eara
n
c
e
is
g
ra
n
t
e
d
f
or
a p
er
son
a
l
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
t
ra
ns
a
c
tion
T
ra
di
n
g
within
30
d
a
y
holding
p
er
iod
(
6
months
f
or
M
S
I
M
J
)
A
cce
ss
P
er
sons
t
ra
di
n
g
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
Se
c
u
r
iti
e
s
outside of
the window
p
er
iod
or
without
p
re
-
c
l
ea
r
a
n
ce
T
ra
di
n
g
in s
e
v
e
n d
a
y
b
l
a
c
kout
p
er
iod
P
ar
ti
c
ip
a
ting
in
a
n
I
P
O
|
1
st
O
ffe
nse
|
L
e
tt
e
r
of
w
ar
ni
n
g
;
possible
re
v
er
s
a
l
of
t
ra
de with
a
n
y
p
r
o
f
its
don
a
t
e
d to
c
h
ar
i
t
y
|
2
n
d
O
ffe
nse
|
No
n
-
I
n
v
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
P
e
r
so
nn
e
l
e
x
ce
p
t
M
a
n
agi
n
g
Di
rect
o
r
s
:
L
e
tt
e
r
of
w
ar
ni
n
g
;
possible
re
v
er
s
a
l
of
t
ra
de with
a
n
y
p
r
o
f
its
don
a
t
e
d to
c
h
ar
i
t
y
p
l
u
s
a
f
ine
o
f
$200 U
S
D
I
n
v
e
s
tme
n
t
P
e
r
so
nn
el
a
n
d
all
M
a
n
ag
i
n
g
Di
rect
o
r
s
:
L
e
tt
e
r
o
f w
ar
ni
n
g
;
possible
re
v
er
s
a
l
of
t
ra
d
e
with
a
n
y p
r
o
f
its
don
a
t
e
d to
c
h
a
r
i
t
y
p
l
u
s
a
dis
cre
tion
a
r
y
f
ine of
$1,000
|
3
r
d
O
ffe
nse
|
L
e
tt
e
r
of
w
ar
ni
n
g
;
possible
re
v
er
s
a
l
of
t
ra
de with
a
n
y
p
r
o
f
its
don
a
t
e
d to
c
h
ar
i
t
y
p
l
u
s
a
f
ine
e
qu
a
l to the
g
r
e
a
t
e
r
of
$1,000 U
S
D
or
5%
of
the n
e
t t
ra
de
a
mount don
a
t
e
d
to
c
h
ar
i
t
y
a
n
d
a
3
-
month t
ra
ding
b
an
|
DI
S
C
L
O
S
UR
E
/AC
K
NOW
LE
D
G
E
M
E
NT
VIO
L
A
T
IONS
|
S
ANC
T
ION
|
Fa
iling
to
c
ompl
e
te
do
c
um
e
nt
a
tion
or
m
ee
t
re
po
r
ti
n
g
re
qui
r
e
m
e
nts
(
i.
e
.
Annu
a
l
C
er
ti
f
i
c
a
tion
or
C
ode of Ethi
c
s
ac
kn
o
wl
e
dg
e
m
e
nt;
p
r
ovision
of st
a
t
e
m
e
nts
a
nd
c
on
f
i
r
ms)
in a
tim
e
l
y
m
a
nn
e
r
Fa
iling
to
dis
c
lose
a
n
O
u
tside
B
usin
e
ss
A
c
tivi
t
y
o
r
a
p
r
iv
a
t
e
inv
e
stm
e
nt
i
n
c
luding M
or
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
f
unds,
t
ra
n
s
ac
tions
in
p
r
iv
a
t
e
l
y
h
e
ld
c
o
r
po
r
a
tions,
limit
e
d p
ar
tn
er
ships,
t
a
x
sh
e
lt
er
s
a
nd simil
a
r p
r
iv
a
t
e
l
y
o
ff
e
re
d
d
ea
ls in
c
luding
h
e
d
ge
f
unds
Fa
iling
to
obt
a
in
a
pp
r
ov
a
l
f
or
a
n
outside
b
r
ok
er
a
ge
acc
ount
|
1
st
O
ffe
nse
|
L
e
tt
e
r
of
w
ar
ni
n
g
;
acc
ount
mov
e
d to Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
b
r
ok
e
r imm
e
di
a
t
e
l
y
|
2
n
d
O
ffe
nse
|
L
e
tt
e
r
of
w
ar
ni
n
g
;
acc
ount
mov
e
d to Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
b
r
ok
e
r imm
e
di
a
t
e
l
y
;
p
l
u
s
a
$200
f
ine
|
rd
3
O
ffe
nse
|
L
e
tt
e
r
of
w
ar
ni
n
g
;
acc
ount
mov
e
d to Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
b
r
ok
e
r imm
e
di
a
t
e
l
y
;
p
l
u
s
a
$300
f
ine
|
X. R
EL
A
TE
D
P
O
L
ICI
ES
I
n
a
ddition
to
this
C
od
e
,
y
ou
a
r
e
a
lso
subj
ec
t
to
the
poli
c
i
e
s
a
nd
p
r
o
ce
d
ur
e
s
do
c
um
e
nt
e
d
in
the
C
ompli
a
n
c
e
M
a
nu
a
l
a
ppli
ca
ble
to
y
o
u
r
r
e
g
ion;
the
G
lob
al
E
m
p
l
oy
ee
Tra
din
g
a
n
d
I
nv
e
sting
P
oli
c
y
;
th
e
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
C
ode of
C
ondu
c
t
;
the
P
o
li
c
y
on U.
S
.
P
o
liti
ca
l
C
ont
r
ibutions
a
nd
A
c
tiviti
e
s;
a
nd
the
M
S
IM
G
lob
a
l
G
i
f
ts
a
n
d
E
n
t
er
t
a
inm
e
n
t
P
o
l
i
c
y
(r
e
qui
re
m
e
nts
may
v
a
ry
in non
-
U.
S
. o
ff
i
ce
s
)
.
SE
CURI
T
I
E
S
T
RAN
S
AC
T
ION
M
A
T
RIX
S
C
H
E
DU
L
E
A
T
Y
P
E
O
F
SE
CURI
T
Y
|
P
r
e-
C
l
e
a
r
a
n
ce
R
e
qu
i
red
|
R
e
p
o
rt
i
n
g
R
e
qu
i
red
|
Hol
d
i
n
g
R
e
qu
i
red
|
Cov
ere
d
S
ec
u
r
i
t
i
es
|
|
|
|
P
o
o
l
ed
Inve
st
m
ent
V
e
h
i
c
l
es:
|
|
|
|
C
l
osed
-
End Funds
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
O
pen
-
End
Mu
t
u
a
l
Funds
ad
v
i
sed
by
MS
IM
|
No
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
O
pen
-
End
Mu
t
ual
Funds
sub
-
a
d
v
i
sed
by
M
S
IM
|
No
|
Y
es
|
No
|
U
n
i
t
I
n
v
es
t
m
ent
T
r
u
s
t
s
|
No
|
Y
es
|
No
|
Exchan
g
e
T
r
a
ded F
u
nds
(
E
T
F
s
)
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Exchan
g
e
T
r
a
ded
N
o
t
es
(
E
T
N
s
)
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
E
qu
it
i
e
s
:
|
|
|
|
Mo
r
g
an S
t
an
l
ey
sec
u
r
i
ti
e
s
6
|
No
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
C
o
m
m
on S
t
oc
k
s
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
L
ist
e
d d
e
posito
r
y
r
e
c
e
ipts
e
.
g
. AD
R
s, AD
S
s, GD
R
s
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
D
R
I
P
s
7
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
S
t
ock
Sp
l
its
|
No
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
R
i
g
h
ts
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
S
t
ock
D
i
v
i
dend
|
No
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Wa
r
r
a
n
t
s
(
L
i
s
t
ed
and E
x
e
rc
i
se
d
)
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
P
r
e
f
e
r
r
ed
S
t
ock
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
J
R
E
IT
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
I
n
iti
al
Pu
b
l
i
c
O
f
f
e
r
i
n
g
s
(
e
q
u
it
y
I
P
O
s)
|
P
RO
H
I
B
I
T
ED
|
H
ed
g
e
Funds
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
No
|
P
ri
v
a
t
e
I
n
v
es
t
m
en
t
s
i
n P
u
b
l
i
c
Eq
u
ity
Secu
r
i
t
i
es
(
P
I
PES)
|
|
P
RO
H
I
B
I
T
ED
|
|
D
e
ri
v
a
t
i
v
es
|
|
|
|
Mo
r
g
an S
t
an
l
ey
(
s
t
o
ck
op
t
i
ons)
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
C
o
m
m
on S
t
ock
O
p
ti
ons
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Spot
F
X
|
No
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Fo
r
w
a
r
d
C
o
n
t
r
a
c
t
s
(i
n
c
l
u
d
i
ng
cu
rr
e
n
cy
f
o
r
w
a
r
d
s
)
|
P
RO
H
I
B
I
T
ED
|
C
o
m
m
od
iti
es
|
P
RO
H
I
B
I
T
ED
|
O
T
C
w
a
r
r
a
n
t
s
o
r
s
w
a
ps
|
P
RO
H
I
B
I
T
ED
|
Fu
t
u
r
es
|
P
RO
H
I
B
I
T
ED
|
6
E
m
p
l
o
y
ee
s
m
ay
t
ra
n
s
ac
t
i
n
M
o
r
g
a
n
St
a
n
l
e
y
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
d
u
r
i
n
g
d
e
si
gn
a
t
e
d
w
i
n
do
w
p
er
i
o
d
s
.
I
n
a
d
d
iti
o
n
,
t
h
e
p
re
-
c
l
e
a
ra
n
ce
o
f
t
ra
n
s
ac
t
i
o
n
s
i
n
M
o
r
g
a
n
St
a
n
l
e
y
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
i
s
r
e
q
u
i
r
e
d
f
o
r
a
l
l
A
cce
s
s
P
e
r
s
o
n
s
.
7
A
u
t
o
m
a
ti
c
p
u
rc
h
a
s
e
s
fo
r
d
i
v
i
d
e
n
d
r
e
i
nv
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
p
l
a
n
a
r
e
n
o
t
s
u
b
j
ec
t
t
o
p
r
e
-
a
p
p
r
o
v
a
l
re
q
u
i
re
m
e
n
ts
.
T
Y
P
E
O
F
SE
CURI
T
Y
|
P
r
e
-
Cl
eara
n
ce
R
equ
i
red
|
R
epor
t
i
ng
R
equ
i
red
|
H
o
l
d
i
ng
R
equ
i
red
|
F
i
x
ed Inc
o
m
e
I
n
s
t
r
u
m
e
n
t
s
:
|
|
|
|
Fann
i
e
M
ae
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
F
r
ed
d
i
e
Mac
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
C
o
r
po
r
a
t
e
B
onds
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
C
on
v
e
rti
b
l
e
B
o
n
ds
(
con
v
e
r
t
ed)
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Mun
i
c
i
p
al
B
o
n
ds
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
N
ew
I
ssues
(
f
i
xed
i
nco
m
e)
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
H
i
g
h
Y
i
e
l
d S
e
cu
r
i
t
i
e
s
|
|
P
RO
H
I
B
I
T
ED
|
|
P
ri
v
a
t
e
I
n
v
es
t
m
en
t
s
(
e.
g
.
li
m
it
ed pa
r
t
n
e
r
s
h
i
p
s
)
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
N
/
A
|
O
u
t
s
i
de
A
c
ti
v
i
t
i
es
|
Y
es
|
Y
es
|
N
/
A
|
I
n
v
es
t
m
ent
C
l
ubs
|
P
RO
H
I
B
I
T
ED
|
E
x
e
m
p
t
Se
c
u
r
i
t
i
es
|
Mu
t
u
al
F
u
nds
(
open
-
end)
n
ot
ad
v
i
s
ed
or
sub-
ad
v
i
sed
by
MS
I
M
|
No
|
Y
es
|
No
|
U
S
T
r
e
as
u
r
y
/
S
o
v
e
r
ei
gn
D
e
b
t
8
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
CDs
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Money
M
a
r
k
et
Fun
d
s
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
GN
MA
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
C
o
m
m
e
r
c
i
al
Pa
p
er
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
B
an
k
e
r
s’
A
c
ce
p
t
an
c
es
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
I
n
v
es
t
m
en
t
G
r
a
d
e
S
h
o
r
t
-
T
er
m
D
eb
t
I
n
st
ru
m
e
n
t
s
9
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
8
S
o
v
e
r
ei
g
n
d
e
b
t
s
ec
u
r
iti
e
s
r
ated
AA
o
r
h
i
g
h
e
r
.
9
F
o
r
t
h
e
s
e
p
u
r
p
o
s
e
s
,
r
e
p
u
rc
h
a
s
e
a
g
ree
m
e
n
t
s
a
n
d
a
n
y
i
n
st
r
u
m
e
n
t
t
h
a
t
h
a
s
a
m
a
t
u
r
i
ty
a
t
iss
u
a
n
c
e
o
f
f
e
w
e
r
t
h
a
n
3
6
6
d
a
y
s
t
h
a
t
i
s
r
a
t
e
d
a
s
i
nv
e
st
m
e
n
t
g
ra
d
e
b
y
a
n
a
t
i
o
n
a
ll
y
rec
o
gn
i
ze
d
st
a
tisti
ca
l
ra
ti
n
g
o
r
g
a
n
i
za
t
i
o
n
.
S
CH
E
DU
L
E
B
INV
EST
M
E
NT
M
ANA
G
E
M
E
NT
DIVI
S
ION
(e
x
c
l
ud
i
n
g
Merc
h
a
n
t
B
a
nk
i
n
g
a
n
d
R
e
al
E
s
t
a
t
e
I
n
v
e
s
t
i
n
g)
R
e
gist
e
r
ed
I
n
v
e
stm
e
nt
A
d
v
is
e
rs
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
I
nv
e
st
m
e
nt
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
nt
I
n
c
. Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
A
I
P
GP
L
P
P
r
iv
a
te
I
nv
e
stm
e
nt
P
ar
t
n
er
s,
I
n
c.
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
I
nv
e
st
m
e
nt
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
nt
L
imit
e
d
(
M
S
I
M
L
td.) Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
I
nv
e
st
m
e
nt
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
nt
C
omp
a
n
y
(
S
in
g
a
po
r
e)
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
I
nv
e
st
m
e
nt
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
nt
(
J
a
p
a
n)
C
o.,
L
td.
(
M
S
I
M
J
)
R
e
gist
e
r
ed
C
ommodity
P
ool Op
e
rator/
C
ommodity
T
rading Ad
v
is
e
r
C
ere
s
M
a
n
a
g
e
d
F
ut
u
re
s
L
LC
I
n
ve
stm
e
nt
A
d
v
is
e
rs
that are
not R
e
gist
e
r
ed
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
I
nv
e
st
m
e
nt
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
nt
P
r
iv
a
t
e
L
imit
e
d
(
M
S
I
M
P
r
iv
a
te
L
imit
e
d) Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
I
nv
e
st
m
e
nt
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
nt
P
r
op
r
i
e
t
a
r
y
(
P
t
y
)
L
imit
e
d
(
Aust
r
a
li
a
)
Bro
ke
r
-
D
e
al
er
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
n
l
e
y
D
ist
r
ib
u
t
i
o
n
I
n
c
.
For
e
ign
Bro
ke
r
-
D
e
al
er
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
nl
e
y
&
C
o.
I
n
t
er
n
a
tion
a
l
plc
(
wi
t
h
r
e
s
p
e
c
t
t
o
I
n
v
e
s
t
m
en
t
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
en
t
E
m
p
l
o
y
e
e
s
o
n
l
y
)
T
ransf
e
r
Ag
e
nt
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
n
l
e
y
S
er
vi
ce
s
Comp
a
ny
I
n
c.
G
lob
a
l
I
n
-
h
ous
e
C
e
nt
e
r
(
I
ndia)
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
n
l
e
y
A
dv
a
nt
a
g
e
S
er
vi
ce
s
P
vt
.
L
td
.
(
w
i
t
h
r
e
s
p
e
c
t
t
o
I
n
v
e
s
t
m
e
n
t
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
en
t
E
m
p
l
o
y
e
e
s
o
n
l
y
)
Mo
r
g
a
n
S
t
a
n
l
e
y
S
olu
t
ion
s
I
ndi
a
P
v
t
.
L
td
.
(
w
i
t
h
r
e
s
p
e
c
t
t
o
I
n
v
e
s
t
m
en
t
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
en
t
E
m
p
l
o
y
e
e
s
o
n
l
y
)