Michael K. Hoffman, Esq.
Leonard B. Mackey, Jr., Esq.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Clifford Chance US LLP
Four Times Square
31 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10036
New York, New York 10019
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£
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This [post-effective] amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed [post-effective amendment] [registration statement].
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£
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This form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is
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.
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Title of Securities
Being Registered |
Amount Being
Registered |
Proposed
Maximum Offering Price
Per Share
(1)
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Proposed
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (1) |
Amount of
Registration
Fee
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Common Shares, $.01 par value
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50,000 Shares
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$20.00
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$1,000,000
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$71.30
(2)
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Per Share
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Total(3)
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Public offering price
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$20.00
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$
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Sales load(1)
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$.90
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$
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Proceeds, before expenses, to the Trust(2)
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$19.10
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$
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(1)
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Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”) and Guggenheim Partners Asset Management, LLC (the “Sub-
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||||
Adviser”) have agreed to pay from their own assets additional compensation to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
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Incorporated and a structuring fee to each of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Wells Fargo
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Securities, LLC and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser also may pay certain qualifying
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underwriters a structuring fee, additional compensation or a sales incentive fee in connection with the offering. Also, as
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described in footnote (2) below, up to .15% of the public offering price of the securities sold in this offering may be paid by the
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Trust to Guggenheim Funds Distributors, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, as compensation for the
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distribution services it provides to the Trust. The compensation to Guggenheim Funds Distributors, Inc. will be subject to the
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offering expense limitation described in footnote (2) below. See “Underwriting.”
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(2)
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Offering expenses payable by the Trust will be deducted from the Proceeds to the Trust. Total offering expenses (other than sales
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load) are estimated to be $ , which will be paid by the Trust up to the $.04 per common share limit described below. The Trust | |||||
has agreed to pay the underwriters $ ($.00667 per common share) as partial reimbursement of expenses incurred in | |||||
connection with this offering. The Adviser has agreed to pay (i) all of the Trust’s organizational costs and (ii) offering expenses of the
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Trust (other than sales load, but inclusive of the partial reimbursement of expenses of the underwriters) that exceed $.04 per
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common share sold in the offering, including pursuant to the
overallotment
option. T
he Trust has agreed to pay up to .15% of the
public offering price of the securities sold in this offering to Guggenheim Funds Distributors, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, as compensation for the distribution services it provides to the Trust. Such compensation is subject to the offering expense limitation of $.04 described above and will not be paid to the extent it would cause the offering expenses of the Trust to exceed $.04. See “Underwriting.” |
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(3)
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The Trust has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional
common shares at the public
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|||
offering price, less the sales load, within 45 days of the date of this prospectus solely to cover overallotments, if any. If such
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option is exercised in full, the public offering price, sales load, estimated offering expenses and proceeds, after expenses, to the
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|||||
Trust will be $ , $ and $ , respectively. See “Underwriting.”
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Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of
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these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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The underwriters expect to deliver the common shares
to
purchasers on or about , 2010
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.
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BofA Merrill Lynch
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Citi
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Morgan Stanley
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Wells Fargo Securities
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Raymond James
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BB&T Capital Markets
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Guggenheim Funds
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J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC
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Distributors, Inc.
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Janney Montgomery Scott
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Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. Maxim Group LLC RBC Capital Markets
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Stifel Nicolaus Weisel
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Wedbush Securities Inc.
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Wunderlich Securities
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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Prospectus Summary
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6
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Summary of Trust Expenses
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34
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The Trust
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36
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Use of Proceeds
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36
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Investment Objectives and Policies
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36
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Use of Financial Leverage
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48
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Risks
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53
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Management of the Trust
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65
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Net Asset Value
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68
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Distributions
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68
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Dividend Reinvestment Plan
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69
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Description of Capital Structure
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70
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Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Trust’s Governing Documents
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71
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Closed-End Fund Structure
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73
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Repurchase of Common Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund
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73
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Tax Matters
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74
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Underwriting
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76
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Custodian, Administrator, Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent
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79
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Legal Matters
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79
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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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79
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Additional Information
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79
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Privacy Principles of the Trust
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80
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Table of Contents of the Statement of Additional Information
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81
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designed to stimulate state and local infrastructure projects, create jobs
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and attract non-traditional municipal security investors. BABs are
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issued by state and local governments to finance capital projects such
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as public schools, roads, transportation infrastructure, bridges, ports
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and public buildings. Municipal securities include, among other
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things, bonds, notes, leases and certificates of participation. Municipal
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securities may be structured as callable or non-callable, may have
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payment forms that include fixed-coupon, variable rate and zero
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coupon, and may include capital appreciation bonds, floating rate
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securities, inverse floating rate securities (including residual interest
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municipal tender option bonds), inflation-linked securities and other
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derivative instruments that replicate investment exposure to such
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securities. BABs, as municipal securities, may be structured in any
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of the foregoing ways, except that under current law BABs may not
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be structured as zero coupon bonds, and new versions of BABs
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may be offered in the future. The Trust may invest in any of these
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types of BABs.
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BABs offer an alternative form of financing for state and local
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government entities whose primary means for accessing the capital
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markets traditionally has been through the issuance of tax-exempt
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municipal securities. Unlike investments in most other municipal
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securities, interest received on BABs is subject to federal income tax
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and may be subject to state income tax. BABs issuers may elect either
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(i) to receive payments from the U.S. Treasury equal to a specified
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percentage of their interest payments (“Direct Payment BABs”) or (ii)
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to cause investors in the bonds to receive federal tax credits (“Tax
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Credit BABs”).
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Under the terms of the Act, issuers of Direct Payment BABs are
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entitled to receive reimbursement from the U.S. Treasury currently
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equal to 35% (or 45% in the case of Recovery Zone Economic
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Development Bonds, a new type of taxable governmental bond similar
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to BABs) of the interest paid on the bonds, which continues for the life
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of the bond. Such subsidies may allow such issuers to issue BABs that
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pay interest rates that are expected to be competitive with the rates
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typically paid by private bond issuers in the taxable fixed-income
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market. Tax Credit BABs provide a 35% interest subsidy (net of the
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tax credit) to investors that results in a federal subsidy to the issuer
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equal to approximately 25% of the total return to the investor (interest
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and tax credit). Based on current market conditions, the Trust
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anticipates initially investing primarily in Direct Payment BABs and
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does not anticipate investing in Tax Credit BABs.
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Currently, bonds issued after December 31, 2010 (referred to as the
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“sunset”) will not qualify as BABs unless the relevant provisions of
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the Act are extended or similar legislation is enacted that provides for
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municipal issuers to elect to issue taxable municipal securities and
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receive from the U.S. Treasury federal subsidies to offset a portion of
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the interest costs incurred over the full term of such taxable municipal
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securities. As currently enacted, the Act contains no budgetary limit on
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issuances through the program until the sunset. However, under the
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Act, BABs cannot be used to finance private, non-municipal activities,
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and can only be used to fund capital expenditures. The proceeds of
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BABs issuances are used for public benefit and generally support
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facilities that meet such essential needs as water, electricity,
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transportation, and education. As currently enacted, the Act does not
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permit refunding issuances, private activity bond issuances, or deficit
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fund issuances. Many BABs are general obligation bonds, which are
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backed by the full faith and taxing powers of the state and local
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governments issuing them. Although the U.S. Treasury subsidizes an
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issuer’s payments of interest on BABs, it does not guarantee the issuer
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will be able to make principal or interest payments.
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The Obama administration and Congress are considering a variety of
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proposals to extend or modify the BABs program. In particular, a bill
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approved by the House of Representatives would (1) extend the BABs
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program to March 31, 2013, (2) reduce the amount of the direct pay
|
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subsidy for bonds issued after 2010, and (3) apply the BABs program
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to certain bonds issued to refinance BABs. A similar proposal in the
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Senate would extend the BABs program only to December 31, 2011.
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No assurance can be given as to whether these proposals or other
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changes in the BABs program will be enacted, nor can it be predicted
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whether such proposals or changes, if enacted, will have a positive or
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negative effect on the Trust. If the BABs program is not extended and
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there cease to be new issuances of BABs or other taxable municipal
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securities with interest payments subsidized by the U.S. Government
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through direct pay subsidies, the Board of Trustees intends to evaluate
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potential actions with respect to the Trust. See “Risks—Build America
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Bonds Risk—Continuation of BABs Program.”
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Investment Rationale
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The Sub-Adviser believes that BABs represent a compelling asset
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class that addresses investors’ need for liquidity, diversification,
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enhanced credit and yield. | |
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Liquidity.
Between the launch of the BABs program on April 3,
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2009 and August 31, 2010 approximately $130 billion of BABs have
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been issued.
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Diversification.
Municipal issuers in 49 states and the District of
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Columbia have utilized the BABs program since its inception.
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Enhanced Credit.
Investment-grade municipal issuers have lower
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historical default rates than investment-grade corporate issuers.
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Yield.
BABs may offer higher yield-to-maturity than similarly-rated
|
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corporate bonds and greater call protection than similarly-rated tax-
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exempt municipal bonds. | |
The Sub-Adviser considers itself to be at the forefront of the
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structuring and development of the BABs and Qualified School
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Construction Bonds (“QSCBs”) markets, with $4.3 billion in
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municipal assets under management, including $1.5 billion in BABs
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and $1.3 billion in QSCBs as of June 30, 2010.
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The Trust seeks to maximize the benefits to investors of this
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asset class while seeking to mitigate interest-rate risk and overall
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portfolio volatility.
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Investment Policies
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Under normal market conditions:
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•
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The Trust will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets
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in BABs.
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||
•
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The Trust may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in
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securities other than BABs, including taxable municipal
|
||
securities that do not qualify for federal subsidy payments under
|
||
the Act, municipal securities the interest income from which is
|
||
exempt from regular federal income tax (sometimes referred to
|
||
as “tax-exempt municipal securities”), asset-backed securities
|
||
(“ABS”), senior loans and other income producing securities.
|
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•
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The Trust will not invest more than 25% of its Managed Assets
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in municipal securities in any one state of origin.
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•
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The Trust will not invest more than 15% of its Managed Assets in
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municipal securities that, at the time of investment, are illiquid.
|
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Credit Quality.
Under normal market conditions, the Trust will invest
|
||
at least 80% of its Managed Assets in securities that, at the time of
|
||
investment, are investment grade quality. A security is considered
|
||
investment grade quality if, at the time of investment, it is rated within
|
||
the four highest letter grades by at least one of the nationally
|
||
recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”) (that is Baa or
|
||
better by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or BBB or
|
||
better by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) or Fitch
|
||
Ratings (“Fitch”)) that rate such security, even if it is rated lower by
|
||
another, or if it is unrated by any NRSRO but judged to be of
|
||
comparable quality by the Sub-Adviser.
|
||
Under normal market conditions, the Trust may invest up to 20% of its
|
||
Managed Assets in securities that, at the time of investment, are rated
|
||
below investment grade (that is below Baa3- by Moody’s or below
|
||
BBB- by S&P or Fitch) or are unrated by any NRSRO but judged to be
|
||
of comparable quality by the Sub-Adviser. Securities of below
|
||
investment grade quality are regarded as having predominately
|
||
speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and
|
||
repay principal, and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” See
|
||
“Risks—Below Investment Grade Securities Risk.”
|
||
Duration Management Strategy.
“Duration” is a measure of the price
|
||
volatility of a security as a result of changes in market rates of interest,
|
||
based on the weighted average timing of a security’s expected
|
||
principal and interest payments. There is no limit on the remaining
|
||
maturity or duration of any individual security in which the Trust may
|
||
invest, nor will the Trust’s portfolio be managed to any duration
|
||
benchmark prior to taking into account the duration management
|
||
strategy discussed herein. | ||
The Trust intends to employ investment and trading strategies to seek
|
||
to reduce the leverage-adjusted portfolio duration to generally less
|
||
than ten (10) years. The Sub-Adviser may seek to manage the duration
|
||
of the Trust’s portfolio through the use of derivative instruments,
|
||
including U.S. treasury swaps, credit default swaps, total return swaps
|
||
and futures contracts to reduce the overall volatility of the Trust’s
|
portfolio to changes in market interest rates. For example, the Sub-
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|
Adviser may seek to manage the overall duration through the
|
|
combination of the sale of interest-rate swaps on the long end of the
|
|
yield curve (for example a transaction in which the Trust would pay a
|
|
fixed interest rate on a 30 year swap transaction) with the purchase of
|
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an interest-rate swap on the intermediate portion of the yield curve (for
|
|
example a transaction in which the Trust would receive a fixed interest
|
|
rate on a ten year swap transaction). In addition, the Trust may invest
|
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up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities other than BABs, which
|
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may consist of short-duration fixed-income securities, which may help
|
|
to decrease the overall duration of the Trust’s portfolio while also
|
|
potentially adding incremental yield. Initially, the Sub-Adviser
|
|
anticipates focusing such investments in ABS, senior loans and high-
|
|
yield fixed-income securities, although the types of short-duration
|
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fixed-income securities in which the Trust may invest may vary
|
|
significantly over time. The Sub-Adviser may seek to manage the
|
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Trust’s duration in a flexible and opportunistic manner based primarily
|
|
on then current market conditions and interest rate levels. The Trust
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may incur costs in implementing the duration management strategy,
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but such strategy will seek to reduce the volatility of the Trust’s
|
|
portfolio. There can be no assurance that the Sub-Adviser’s duration
|
|
management strategy will be successful at any given time in managing
|
|
the duration of the Trust’s portfolio or helping the Trust to achieve its
|
|
investment objectives.
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Investment Funds.
As an alternative to holding investments directly,
|
|
the Trust may also obtain investment exposure to securities in which it
|
|
may invest directly by investing up to 20% of its Managed Assets in
|
|
other investment companies, including U.S. registered investment
|
|
companies and/or other U.S. or foreign pooled investment vehicles
|
|
(collectively, “Investment Funds”). Investment Funds do not include
|
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structured finance investments, such as asset-backed securities. To the
|
|
extent that the Trust invests in Investment Funds that invest at least
|
|
80% of their total assets in BABs, such investment will be counted for
|
|
purposes of the Trust’s policy of investing at least 80% of its Managed
|
|
Assets in BABs. Investments in other Investment Funds involve
|
|
operating expenses and fees at the Investment Funds level that are in
|
|
addition to the expenses and fees borne by the Trust and are borne
|
|
indirectly by Common Shareholders.
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Synthetic Investments.
As an alternative to holding investments
|
|
directly, the Trust may also obtain investment exposure to investments
|
|
in which the Trust may invest directly through the use of derivative
|
|
instruments (including swaps, options, forwards, notional principal
|
|
contracts or customized derivative or financial instruments) to
|
|
replicate, modify or replace the economic attributes associated with an
|
|
investment in which the Trust may invest directly. The Trust may be
|
|
exposed to certain additional risks should the Sub-Adviser use
|
|
derivatives as a means to synthetically implement the Trust’s
|
|
investment strategies, including counterparty risk, lack of liquidity in such derivative
|
|
instruments and additional expenses associated with using such
|
|
derivative instruments. To the extent that the Trust obtains indirect investment
|
|
exposure to BABs through the use of the foregoing
|
|
derivative instruments with economic chacteristics similar to BABs, | |
such investments will be counted for purposes of the Trust’s policy
|
|
of investing at least 80% of its Managed Assets in BABs. The Trust
|
|
has not adopted any percentage limitation with respect to the overall
|
|
percentage of investment exposure to BABs that the Trust may obtain
|
|
through the use of derivative instruments.
|
|
Strategic Transactions.
In addition to those derivatives transactions
|
|
utilized in connection with the Trust’s duration management strategy,
|
|
the Trust may, but is not required to, use various portfolio strategies,
|
|
including derivatives transactions involving interest rate and foreign
|
|
currency transactions, swaps, options and futures (“Strategic
|
|
Transactions”), to earn income, facilitate portfolio management and
|
|
mitigate risks. In the course of pursuing Strategic Transactions, the
|
|
Trust may purchase and sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter put
|
|
and call options on securities, instruments or equity and fixed-income
|
|
indices, purchase and sell futures contracts and options thereon, and
|
|
enter into swap, cap, floor or collar transactions. In addition, Strategic
|
|
Transactions may also include new techniques, instruments or
|
|
strategies that are developed or permitted as regulatory changes occur.
|
|
Successful use of Strategic Transactions depends on the Sub-Adviser’s
|
|
ability to predict correctly market movements, which cannot be
|
|
assured. Losses on Strategic Transactions may reduce the Trust’s net
|
|
asset value and its ability to pay distributions if they are not offset by
|
|
gains on portfolio positions being hedged. See “Investment Objectives
|
|
and Policies—Strategic Transactions” in this Prospectus and
|
|
“Investment Objectives and Policies—Derivative
|
|
Instruments” in the SAI. | |
Other Investment Practices.
The Trust may engage in certain other
|
|
investment transactions, including entering into forward commitments
|
|
for the purchase or sale of securities, including on a “when issued” or
|
|
“delayed delivery” basis, in excess of customary settlement periods for
|
|
the type of security involved, lending portfolio securities to securities
|
|
broker-dealers or financial institutions and entering into repurchase
|
|
agreements. See “Investment Objectives and Policies—Certain Other
|
|
Investment Practices.”
|
|
These policies may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust
|
|
(the “Board of Trustees”), but no change is anticipated. If the Trust’s
|
|
policy with respect to investing at least 80% of its Managed Assets in
|
|
BABs changes, the Trust will provide shareholders at least 60 days’
|
|
prior notice before implementation of the change.
|
|
Special Tax Considerations
|
The Trust primarily invests in taxable municipal securities whose
|
income is subject to U.S. Federal income tax. Thus, dividends with
|
|
respect to the common shares will be taxable as ordinary income for
|
|
U.S. Federal income tax purposes (except in the case of capital gain
|
|
dividends). See “Tax Matters.”
|
|
Financial Leverage
|
The Trust may employ leverage through (i) the issuance of senior
|
securities representing indebtedness, including through borrowing
|
|
from financial institutions or issuance of debt securities, including
|
|
notes or commercial paper (collectively, “Indebtedness”), (ii)
|
|
engaging in reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and
|
|
economically similar transactions, (iii) investments in inverse floating
|
rate securities, which have the economic effect of leverage, and (iv)
|
|
the issuance of preferred shares (“Preferred Shares”) (collectively
|
|
“Financial Leverage”). Under current market conditions, the Trust
|
|
initially expects to utilize Financial Leverage through Indebtedness
|
|
and/or engaging in reverse repurchase agreements, such that the
|
|
aggregate amount of Financial Leverage is not expected to exceed
|
|
33
1
/
3
% of the Trust’s Managed Assets (including the proceeds of such
|
|
Financial Leverage).
|
|
The Trust may utilize Financial Leverage up to the limits imposed by
|
|
the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, the Trust may utilize Financial
|
|
Leverage in the form of Indebtedness in an aggregate amount up to
|
|
33
1
/
3
% of the Trust’s Managed Assets (including the proceeds of such
|
|
Financial Leverage) immediately after such Indebtedness. Under the
|
|
1940 Act, the Trust may utilize Financial Leverage in the form of
|
|
Preferred Shares in an aggregate amount of up to 50% of the Trust’s
|
|
total assets (including the proceeds of such Financial Leverage)
|
|
immediately after such issuance. The Trust has no current intention to
|
|
issue Preferred Shares.
|
|
With respect to Financial Leverage incurred through investments in
|
|
inverse floating rate securities and/or reverse repurchase agreements,
|
|
the Trust intends to earmark or segregate cash or liquid securities in
|
|
accordance with applicable interpretations of the Staff of the Securities
|
|
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). As a result of such
|
|
segregation, the Trust’s obligations under such transactions will not be
|
|
considered senior securities representing indebtedness for purposes of
|
|
the 1940 Act. Therefore, the Trust’s ability to utilize Financial
|
|
Leverage through such transactions will not be limited by the 1940
|
|
Act, but will be limited by the Trust’s maximum overall leverage levels
|
|
approved by the Board of Trustees (currently 33 1/3% of the Trust's
|
|
Managed Assets) and may be limited by the availability of cash or
|
|
liquid securities to earmark or segregate in connection with such transactions.
|
|
The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser anticipate that the use of Financial
|
|
Leverage will result in higher total return to Common Shareholders
|
|
over time. Use of Financial Leverage creates an opportunity for
|
|
increased income and capital appreciation but, at the same time,
|
|
creates special risks. The costs associated with the issuance of
|
|
Financial Leverage will be borne by Common Shareholders, which
|
|
will result in a reduction of net asset value of the Common Shares.
|
|
There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be utilized or
|
|
will be successful. The fee paid to the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser
|
|
will be calculated on the basis of the Trust’s Managed Assets,
|
|
including proceeds from the issuance of Indebtedness, Preferred
|
|
Shares or any other form of Financial Leverage, so the fees paid to the
|
|
Adviser and the Sub-Adviser will be higher when Financial Leverage
|
|
is utilized. Common Shareholders bear the portion of the investment
|
|
advisory fee attributable to the assets purchased with the proceeds of
|
|
Financial Leverage, which means that Common Shareholders
|
|
effectively bear the entire advisory fee. The maximum level of and
|
|
types of Financial Leverage used by the Trust must be approved by the
|
|
Board of Trustees.
|
In addition, the Trust may engage in certain derivative transactions,
|
|
including swaps, that have characteristics similar to leverage. To the
|
|
extent the terms of such transactions obligate the Trust to make
|
|
payments, the Trust intends to earmark or segregate cash or liquid
|
|
securities in an amount at least equal to the current value of the
|
|
amount then payable by the Trust under the terms of such transactions
|
|
or otherwise cover such transactions in accordance with applicable
|
|
interpretations of the Staff of the SEC. Such segregation or cover will
|
|
ensure that the Trust has liquid assets available to satisfy its obligations
|
|
under such transactions. As a result of such segregation or cover, the Trust’s
|
|
obligations under such transactions will not be considered senior
|
|
securities representing indebtedness for purposes of the 1940 Act, or
|
|
included in calculating the aggregate amount of the Trust’s Financial
|
|
Leverage. To the extent that the Trust’s obligations under such
|
|
transactions are not so segregated or covered, such obligations may be
|
|
considered “senior securities representing indebtedness” under the
|
|
1940 Act and therefore subject to the 300% asset coverage
|
|
requirement. There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will
|
|
be utilized or, if utilized, will be successful. See “Risks—Financial
|
|
Leverage Risk” and “Risks—Volatility Risk.”
|
|
Temporary Defensive
|
|
Investments
|
At any time when a temporary defensive posture is believed by the
|
Sub-Adviser to be warranted (a “temporary defensive period”), the
|
|
Trust may, without limitation, hold cash or invest its assets in money
|
|
market instruments and repurchase agreements in respect of those
|
|
instruments. The Trust may not achieve its investment objectives
|
|
during a temporary defensive period or be able to sustain its historical
|
|
distribution levels. See “Investment Objectives and Policies—
|
|
Temporary Defensive Investments.”
|
|
Management of the Trust
|
Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC acts as the Trust’s
|
investment adviser pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with
|
|
the Trust (the “Advisory Agreement”). Pursuant to the Advisory
|
|
Agreement, the Adviser is responsible for the management of the Trust
|
|
and administers the affairs of the Trust to the extent requested by the
|
|
Board of Trustees. As compensation for its services, the Trust pays the
|
|
Adviser a fee, payable monthly, in an annual amount equal to .60% of
|
|
the Trust’s average daily Managed Assets. “Managed Assets” means
|
|
the total assets of the Trust, including the assets attributable to the
|
|
proceeds of any Financial Leverage (whether or nor these assets are
|
|
reflected in the Trust’s financial statements for purposes of generally
|
|
accepted accounting principals), minus liabilities, other than liabilities
|
|
related to any Financial Leverage. Managed Assets shall include assets
|
|
attributable to Financial Leverage of any form, including Indebtedness,
|
|
engaging in reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and
|
|
economically similar transactions, investments in inverse floating rate
|
|
securities, and Preferred Shares.
|
|
Guggenheim Partners Asset Management, LLC, an affiliate of
|
|
Guggenheim and of the Adviser, acts as the Trust’s investment sub-
|
|
adviser pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement with the
|
|
Trust and the Adviser (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). Pursuant to
|
|
the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser is responsible for the
|
Not a Complete Investment Program.
An investment in the Common
|
|
Shares of the Trust should not be considered a complete investment
|
|
program. The Trust is intended for long-term investors seeking current
|
|
income and capital appreciation. The Trust is not meant to provide a
|
|
vehicle for those who wish to play short-term swings in the stock
|
|
market. Each Common Shareholder should take into account the
|
|
Trust’s investment objectives as well as the Common Shareholder’s
|
|
other investments when considering an investment in the Trust.
|
|
Investment and Market Risk.
An investment in Common Shares of the
|
|
Trust is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the
|
|
entire principal amount invested. An investment in the Common
|
|
Shares of the Trust represents an indirect investment in the securities
|
|
owned by the Trust, including municipal securities, which generally
|
|
trade in the over-the-counter markets. The value of those securities
|
|
may fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The value of the
|
|
securities owned by the Trust will affect the value of the Common
|
|
Shares. At any point in time, your Common Shares may be worth less
|
|
than your original investment, including the reinvestment of Trust
|
|
dividends and distributions.
|
|
Management Risk.
The Trust is subject to management risk because it
|
|
has an actively managed portfolio. The Sub-Adviser will apply
|
|
investment techniques and risk analysis in making investment
|
|
decisions for the Trust, but there can be no guarantee that these will
|
|
produce the desired results. The Trust will invest in securities that the
|
|
Sub-Adviser believes are undervalued or mispriced as a result of
|
|
recent economic events, such as market dislocations, the inability of
|
|
other investors to evaluate risk and forced selling. If the Sub-Adviser’s
|
|
perception of the value of a security is incorrect, your investment in
|
|
the Trust may lose value.
|
|
Build America Bonds Risk.
The BABs market is smaller and less
|
|
diverse than the broader municipal securities market. In addition,
|
|
because BABs are a new form of municipal financing and because
|
|
bonds issued after December 31, 2010 currently will not qualify as
|
|
BABs unless the relevant provisions of the Act are extended, it is
|
|
impossible to predict the extent to which a market for such bonds will
|
|
develop, meaning that BABs may experience less liquidity than other
|
|
types of municipal securities. If the ability to issue BABs is not
|
|
extended beyond December 31, 2010, the number of BABs available
|
|
in the market will be limited and there can be no assurance that BABs
|
|
will be actively traded. Reduced liquidity may negatively affect the
|
|
value of the BABs.
|
|
Because issuers of Direct Payment BABs held in the Trust’s portfolio
|
|
receive reimbursement from the U.S. Treasury with respect to interest
|
|
payment on bonds, there is a risk that those municipal issuers will not
|
|
receive timely payment from the U.S. Treasury and may remain
|
|
obligated to pay the full interest due on Direct Payment BABs held by
|
|
the Trust. Furthermore, it is possible that a municipal issuer may fail to
|
|
comply with the requirements to receive the direct pay subsidy or that
|
|
a future Congress may terminate the subsidy altogether. In addition,
|
|
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) contains
|
a general offset rule (the “IRS Offset Rule”) which allows for the
|
|
possibility that subsidy payments received by issuers of BABs may be
|
|
subject to offset against amounts owed by them to the federal
|
|
government. Moreover, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) may
|
|
audit the agencies issuing BABs and such audits may, among other
|
|
things, examine the price at which BABs are initially sold to investors.
|
|
If the IRS concludes that a BAB was mis-priced based on its audit, it
|
|
could disallow all or a portion of the interest subsidy received by the
|
|
issuer of the BAB. The IRS Offset Rule and the disallowance of any
|
|
interest subsidy as a result of an IRS audit could potentially adversely
|
|
affect a BABs issuer’s credit rating, and adversely affect the issuer’s
|
|
ability to repay or refinance BABs. This, in turn, could adversely affect
|
|
the ratings and value of the BABs held by the Trust and the Trust’s net
|
|
asset value. In this regard, the State of Florida recently announced that
|
|
it suspended the new issuance of BABs as a result of its uncertainty
|
|
relating to the IRS Offset Rule and, in May 2010, the IRS withheld
|
|
subsidies from several states and municipalities, including Austin,
|
|
Texas and the State of Maryland.
|
|
Because the BABs program is new, certain aspects of the BABs
|
|
program may be subject to additional federal or state level guidance or
|
|
subsequent legislation. For example, the IRS or U.S. Treasury could
|
|
impose restrictions or limitations on the payments received. Aspects of
|
|
the BABs program for which the IRS and the U.S. Treasury have
|
|
solicited public comment include, but have not been limited to,
|
|
methods for making direct payments to issuers, the tax procedural
|
|
framework for such payments, and compliance safeguards. It is not
|
|
known what additional procedures will be implemented with respect to
|
|
Direct Payment BABs, if any, nor is it known what effect such possible
|
|
procedures would have on the BABs market. Legislation extending the
|
|
relevant provisions of the Act, if any, may also modify the
|
|
characteristics of BABs issued after December 31, 2010, including the
|
|
amount of subsidy paid to issuers.
|
|
The Trust intends to invest primarily in BABs and therefore the Trust’s
|
|
net asset value may be more volatile than the value of a more broadly
|
|
diversified portfolio and may fluctuate substantially over short periods
|
|
of time. Because BABs currently do not include certain industries or
|
|
types of municipal bonds (
e.g.
, tobacco bonds or private activity
|
|
bonds), there may be less diversification than with a broader pool of
|
|
municipal securities.
|
|
Continuation of BABs Program.
Currently, bonds issued after
|
|
December 31, 2010 will not qualify as BABs unless the relevant
|
|
provisions of the Act are extended or similar legislation is enacted that
|
|
provides for municipal issuers to elect to issue taxable municipal
|
|
securities and receive from the U.S. Treasury federal subsidies to
|
|
offset a portion of the interest costs incurred over the full term of such
|
|
taxable municipal securities. The Obama administration and Congress
|
|
are considering a variety of proposals to extend or modify the BABs
|
|
program. In particular, a bill approved by the House of Representatives
|
|
would (1) extend the BABs program to March 31, 2013, (2) reduce the
|
|
amount of the direct pay subsidy for bonds issued after 2010, and (3)
|
|
apply the BABs program to certain bonds issued to refinance BABs. A
|
similar proposal in the Senate would extend the BABs program only to
|
|
December 31, 2011. No assurance can be given as to whether these
|
|
proposals or other changes in the BABs program will be enacted, nor
|
|
can it be predicted whether such proposals or changes, if enacted, will
|
|
have a positive or negative effect on the Trust. If the BABs program is
|
|
not extended and there cease to be new issuances of BABs or other
|
|
taxable municipal securities with interest payments subsidized by the
|
|
U.S. Government through direct pay subsidies, the Board of Trustees
|
|
intends to evaluate potential actions with respect to the Trust. In such
|
|
event the Board of Trustees may consider, among other things,
|
|
changes to the non-fundamental investment policies of the Trust to
|
|
permit the Trust to broaden its investment focus, for example to
|
|
taxable municipal securities generally, merger of the Trust into another
|
|
fund or termination of the Trust. If the Trust were to be terminated, the
|
|
Trust would distribute all of its net assets to shareholders of record as
|
|
of the date of termination after providing for all obligations of the
|
|
Trust. The Trust’s investment objectives and policies are not designed
|
|
to seek to return the initial offering price of the Common Shares in the
|
|
offering on any future termination date. Investors who purchase
|
|
Common Shares may receive more or less than their original
|
|
investment upon any termination of the Trust.
|
|
General Municipal Securities Market Risk.
Investing in the municipal
|
|
securities market involves certain risks. The municipal market is one in
|
|
which dealer firms make markets in bonds on a principal basis using
|
|
their proprietary capital, and during the recent market turmoil these
|
|
firms’ capital was severely constrained. As a result, some firms were
|
|
unwilling to commit their capital to purchase and to serve as a dealer
|
|
for municipal bonds. Certain municipal securities may not be
|
|
registered with the SEC or any state securities commission and will
|
|
not be listed on any national securities exchange. The amount of public
|
|
information available about municipal securities is generally less than
|
|
for corporate equities or bonds, and the Trust’s investment
|
|
performance may therefore be more dependent on the Sub-Adviser’s
|
|
analytical abilities.
|
|
The secondary market for municipal securities, particularly the below
|
|
investment grade bonds in which the Trust may invest, also tends to be
|
|
less developed or liquid than many other securities markets, which
|
|
may adversely affect the Trust’s ability to sell its municipal securities
|
|
at attractive prices or at prices approximating those at which the Trust
|
|
currently values them. Municipal securities may contain redemption
|
|
provisions, which may allow the securities to be called or redeemed
|
|
prior to their stated maturity, potentially resulting in the distribution of
|
|
principal and a reduction in subsequent interest distributions.
|
|
Many state and municipal governments are currently under significant
|
|
economic and financial stress and may not be able to satisfy their
|
|
obligations. The ability of municipal issuers to make timely payments
|
|
of interest and principal may be diminished during general economic
|
|
downturns and as governmental cost burdens are reallocated among
|
|
federal, state and local governments. The taxing powers of any
|
|
governmental entity may be limited by provisions of state constitutions
|
|
or laws and an entity’s credit will depend on many factors, including
|
the entity’s tax base, the extent to which the entity relies on federal or
|
|
state aid, and other factors which are beyond the entity’s control. In
|
|
addition, laws enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or
|
|
referenda could extend the time for payment of principal and/or
|
|
interest, or impose other constraints on enforcement of such
|
|
obligations, or on the ability of municipalities to levy taxes.
|
|
Issuers of municipal securities might seek protection under Chapter 9
|
|
of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Although similar to other bankruptcy
|
|
proceedings in some respects, municipal bankruptcy is significantly
|
|
different in that there is no provision in the law for liquidation of the
|
|
assets of the municipality and distribution of the proceeds to creditors.
|
|
Municipal bankruptcy is available to issuers in certain states. In states
|
|
in which municipal bankruptcy is not presently available, new
|
|
legislation would be required to permit a municipal issuer in such state
|
|
to file for bankruptcy. Municipalities must voluntarily seek protection
|
|
under the Bankruptcy Code; municipal bankruptcy proceedings cannot
|
|
be commenced by creditors. Due to the severe limitations placed upon
|
|
the power of the bankruptcy court in Chapter 9 cases, the bankruptcy
|
|
court generally is not as active in managing a municipal bankruptcy
|
|
case as it is in corporate reorganizations. The bankruptcy court cannot
|
|
appoint a trustee nor interfere with the municipality’s political or
|
|
governmental powers or with its properties or revenues, for example
|
|
by ordering reductions in expenditures, increases in taxes, or sales of
|
|
property, without the municipality’s consent. In addition, the
|
|
municipality can continue to borrow in the ordinary course without
|
|
bankruptcy court approval if it is able to do so without affecting the
|
|
rights of existing creditors. Neither creditors nor courts may control
|
|
the affairs of the municipality indirectly by proposing a readjustment
|
|
plan that would effectively determine the municipality’s future tax and
|
|
spending decisions, so the Trust’s influence over any bankruptcy
|
|
proceedings would be very limited. In the event of bankruptcy of a
|
|
municipal issuer, the Trust could experience delays in collecting
|
|
principal and interest, and the Trust may not be able to collect all
|
|
principal and interest to which it is entitled. There is no provision in
|
|
municipal bankruptcy proceedings for liquidation of municipal assets
|
|
in order to distribute proceeds to creditors such as the Trust.
|
|
Credit Risk.
Credit risk is the risk that one or more securities in the
|
|
Trust’s portfolio will decline in price, or fail to pay interest or principal
|
|
when due, because the issuer of the obligation experiences a decline in
|
|
its financial status.
|
|
Interest Rate Risk.
Generally, when market interest rates rise, bond
|
|
prices fall, and vice versa. Interest rate risk is the risk that the debt
|
|
securities in the Trust’s portfolio will decline in value because of
|
|
increases in market interest rates. As interest rates decline, issuers of
|
|
municipal securities may prepay principal earlier than scheduled,
|
|
forcing the Trust to reinvest in lower-yielding securities and potentially
|
|
reducing the Trust’s income. As interest rates increase, slower than
|
|
expected principal payments may extend the average life of securities,
|
|
potentially locking in a below-market interest rate and reducing the
|
|
Trust’s value. In typical market interest rate environments, the prices
|
|
of longer-term debt securities generally fluctuate more than the prices
|
of shorter-term debt securities as interest rates change. These risks
|
|
may be greater because certain interest rates are near or at historically
|
|
low levels. To the extent the Trust invests in debt securities that may be
|
|
prepaid at the option of the obligor, the sensitivity of such securities to
|
|
changes in interest rates may increase (to the detriment of the Trust)
|
|
when interest rates rise. Moreover, because rates on certain floating
|
|
rate debt securities in which the Trust may invest typically reset only
|
|
periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly
|
|
sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause some
|
|
fluctuations in the Trust’s net asset value. See “Risks—Interest
|
|
Rate Risk.”
|
|
Duration Management Risk.
In connection with the Trust’s duration
|
|
management strategy, the Trust may utilize certain strategies,
|
|
including interest rate swaps, in order to manage the duration of the
|
|
Trust’s portfolio to reduce the interest rate sensitivity of the Trust’s
|
|
debt securities and decrease the Trust’s exposure to interest rate risk.
|
|
Certain aspects of the Trust’s duration management strategy may not
|
|
be implemented until after the full investment of the proceeds of this
|
|
offering. Until the duration management strategy is fully implemented,
|
|
the Trust may be more subject to interest rate risk. There can be no
|
|
assurance that the Sub-Adviser’s duration management strategy will be
|
|
successful at any given time in managing the duration of the Trust’s
|
|
portfolio or helping the Trust to achieve its investment objectives.
|
|
Financial Leverage Risk.
The Trust initially expects to employ
|
|
Financial Leverage through Indebtedness and/or engaging in reverse
|
|
repurchase agreements. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser anticipate
|
|
that the use of Financial Leverage will result in higher income to
|
|
Common Shareholders over time. Use of Financial Leverage creates
|
|
an opportunity for increased income and capital appreciation but, at
|
|
the same time, creates special risks. There can be no assurance that a
|
|
leveraging strategy will be utilized or will be successful.
|
|
Financial Leverage is a speculative technique that exposes the Trust to
|
|
greater risk and increased costs than if it were not implemented.
|
|
Increases and decreases in the value of the Trust’s portfolio will be
|
|
magnified when the Trust uses Financial Leverage. As a result,
|
|
Financial Leverage may cause greater changes in the Trust’s net asset
|
|
value and returns than if Financial Leverage had not been used. The
|
|
Trust will also have to pay interest on its Indebtedness, if any, which
|
|
may reduce the Trust’s return. This interest expense may be greater
|
|
than the Trust’s return on the underlying investment, which would
|
|
negatively affect the performance of the Trust.
|
|
Certain types of Indebtedness subject the Trust to covenants in credit
|
|
agreements relating to asset coverage and portfolio composition
|
|
requirements. Certain Indebtedness issued by the Trust also may
|
|
subject the Trust to certain restrictions on investments imposed by
|
|
guidelines of one or more rating agencies, which may issue ratings
|
|
for such Indebtedness. Such guidelines may impose asset coverage
|
|
or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than
|
|
those imposed by the 1940 Act. It is not anticipated that these
|
|
covenants or guidelines will impede the Sub-Adviser from managing
|
the Trust’s portfolio in accordance with the Trust’s investment
|
|
objectives and policies.
|
|
Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risks that the interest
|
|
income earned on the investment of the proceeds will be less than the
|
|
interest expense and Trust expenses, that the market value of the
|
|
securities sold by the Trust may decline below the price at which the
|
|
Trust is obligated to repurchase such securities and that the securities
|
|
may not be returned to the Trust. There is no assurance that reverse
|
|
repurchase agreements can be successfully employed.
|
|
Dollar roll transactions involve the risk that the market value of the
|
|
securities the Trust is required to purchase may decline below the
|
|
agreed upon repurchase price of those securities. If the broker/dealer to
|
|
whom the Trust sells securities becomes insolvent, the Trust’s right to
|
|
purchase or repurchase securities may be restricted. Successful use of
|
|
dollar rolls may depend upon the Sub-Adviser’s ability to correctly
|
|
predict interest rates and prepayments. There is no assurance that
|
|
dollar rolls can be successfully employed.
|
|
Inverse floating rate securities represent beneficial interests in a
|
|
special purpose trust (sometimes called a “tender option bond trust”)
|
|
formed by a third party sponsor for the purpose of holding municipal
|
|
bonds. Investing in such securities may expose the Trust to certain
|
|
risks. In general, income on inverse floating rate securities will
|
|
decrease when interest rates increase and increase when interest rates
|
|
decrease. Investments in inverse floating rate securities may subject
|
|
the Trust to the risks of reduced or eliminated interest payments and
|
|
losses of principal.
|
|
During the time in which the Trust is utilizing Financial Leverage, the
|
|
amount of the fees paid to the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser for
|
|
investment advisory services will be higher than if the Trust did not
|
|
utilize Financial Leverage because the fees paid will be calculated
|
|
based on the Trust’s Managed Assets, including proceeds of Financial
|
|
Leverage. This may create a conflict of interest between the Adviser
|
|
and the Sub-Adviser, on the one hand, and the Common Shareholders,
|
|
on the other hand. Common Shareholders bear the portion of the
|
|
investment advisory fee attributable to the assets purchased with the
|
|
proceeds of Financial Leverage, which means that Common
|
|
Shareholders effectively bear the entire advisory fee. In order to
|
|
manage this conflict of interest, the maximum level of and types of
|
|
Financial Leverage used by the Trust must be approved by the Board
|
|
of Trustees, and the Board of Trustees will receive regular reports from
|
|
the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser regarding the Trust’s use of Financial
|
|
Leverage and the effect of Financial Leverage on the management of
|
|
the Trust’s portfolio and the performance of the Trust.
|
|
In addition the Trust may engage in certain derivative transactions,
|
|
including swaps, that have characteristics similar to leverage. To the
|
|
extent the terms of any such transaction obligate the Trust to make
|
|
payments, the Trust intends to earmark or segregate cash or liquid
|
|
securities in an amount at least equal to the current value of the
|
|
amount then payable by the Trust under the terms of such transaction
|
|
in accordance with applicable interpretations of the Staff of the SEC.
|
|
To the extent the terms of any such transaction obligate the Trust to
|
deliver particular securities to extinguish the Trust’s obligations under
|
|
such transactions, the Trust may “cover” its obligations under such
|
|
transaction by either (i) owning the securities or collateral underlying
|
|
such transactions or (ii) having an absolute and immediate right to
|
|
acquire such securities or collateral without additional cash
|
|
consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, having
|
|
earmarked or segregated cash or liquid securities). Securities so
|
|
segregated or designated as “cover” will be unavailable for sale by the
|
|
Sub-Adviser (unless replaced by other securities qualifying for
|
|
segregation or cover requirements), which may adversely effect the
|
|
ability of the Trust to pursue its investment objectives. See “Risks—
|
|
Financial Leverage Risk.”
|
|
Reinvestment Risk.
Reinvestment risk is the risk that income from the
|
|
Trust’s portfolio will decline if and when the Trust invests the proceeds
|
|
from matured, traded or called bonds at market interest rates that are
|
|
below the portfolio’s current earnings rate. A decline in income could
|
|
affect the Common Shares’ market price or investors’ overall returns.
|
|
See “Risks—Reinvestment Risk.”
|
|
Inflation/Deflation Risk.
Inflation risk is the risk that the value of
|
|
assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future as
|
|
inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real
|
|
value of the Common Shares and distributions can decline. In addition,
|
|
during any periods of rising inflation, the dividend rates or borrowing
|
|
costs associated with the Trust’s use of Financial Leverage would
|
|
likely increase, which would tend to further reduce returns to Common
|
|
Shareholders. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the
|
|
economy decline over time—the opposite of inflation. Deflation may
|
|
have an adverse affect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may
|
|
make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the
|
|
value of the Trust’s portfolio.
|
|
Insurance Risk.
The Trust may purchase municipal securities that
|
|
are secured by insurance, bank credit agreements or escrow
|
|
accounts. The credit quality of the companies that provide such
|
|
credit enhancements will affect the value of these securities. To date,
|
|
BABs have been sold largely without insurance; however, as the
|
|
BABs market continues to develop and evolve, insured BABs
|
|
offerings may become more prevalent. Many significant providers of
|
|
insurance for municipal securities have recently incurred significant
|
|
losses as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other
|
|
lower credit quality investments that have experienced recent
|
|
defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit deterioration. As a
|
|
result, such losses have reduced the insurers’ capital and called into
|
|
question their continued ability to perform their obligations under
|
|
such insurance if they are called upon to do so in the future. While
|
|
an insured municipal security will typically be deemed to have the
|
|
rating of its insurer, if the insurer of a municipal security suffers a
|
|
downgrade in its credit rating or the market discounts the value of
|
|
the insurance provided by the insurer, the rating of the underlying
|
|
municipal security will be more relevant and the value of the
|
|
municipal security would more closely, if not entirely, reflect such
|
|
rating. In such a case, the value of insurance associated with a
|
municipal security would decline and the insurance may not add any
|
|
value. As concern has increased about the balance sheets of insurers,
|
|
prices on insured bonds—especially those bonds issued by weaker
|
|
underlying credits—declined. Most insured bonds are currently
|
|
being valued according to their fundamentals as if they were
|
|
uninsured. The insurance feature of a municipal security normally
|
|
provides that it guarantees the full payment of principal and interest
|
|
when due through the life of an insured obligation, but does not
|
|
guarantee the market value of the insured obligation or the net asset
|
|
value of the Common Shares attributable to such insured obligation.
|
|
Below Investment Grade Securities Risk.
Under normal market
|
|
conditions, the Trust may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in
|
|
securities that, at the time of investment, are below investment grade
|
|
quality, which are commonly referred to as “junk” bonds and are
|
|
regarded as predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s
|
|
capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Below investment grade
|
|
securities may be particularly susceptible to economic downturns. It is
|
|
likely that an economic recession could severely disrupt the market for
|
|
such securities and may have an adverse impact on the value of such
|
|
securities. In addition, it is likely that any such economic downturn
|
|
could adversely affect the ability of the issuers of such securities to
|
|
repay principal and pay interest thereon and increase the incidence of
|
|
default for such securities.
|
|
Lower grade securities, though high yielding, are characterized by
|
|
high risk. They may be subject to certain risks with respect to the
|
|
issuing entity and to greater market fluctuations than certain lower
|
|
yielding, higher rated securities. The retail secondary market for lower
|
|
grade securities may be less liquid than that for higher rated securities.
|
|
Adverse conditions could make it difficult at times for the Trust to sell
|
|
certain securities or could result in lower prices than those used in
|
|
calculating the Trust’s net asset value. Because of the substantial risks
|
|
associated with investments in lower grade securities, you could lose
|
|
money on your investment in common shares of the Trust, both in the
|
|
short-term and the long-term. See “Risks—Volatility Risk” and
|
|
“Risks—Recent Market Developments Risks.”
|
|
Sector Risk.
The Trust may invest a significant portion of its Managed
|
|
Assets in certain sectors of the municipal securities market, such as
|
|
hospitals and other health care facilities, charter schools and other
|
|
private educational facilities, special taxing districts and start-up utility
|
|
districts, and private activity bonds including industrial development
|
|
bonds on behalf of transportation companies such as airline
|
|
companies, whose credit quality and performance may be more
|
|
susceptible to economic, business, political and regulatory
|
|
developments than other sectors of municipal issuers. If the Trust
|
|
invests a significant portion of its Managed Assets in the sectors noted
|
|
above, the Trust’s performance may be subject to additional risk and
|
|
variability. To the extent that the Trust focuses its Managed Assets in
|
|
the hospital and healthcare facilities sector, for example, the Trust will
|
|
be subject to risks associated with such sector, including adverse
|
|
government regulation and reduction in reimbursement rates, as well
|
|
as government approval of products and services and intense
|
competition. Securities issued with respect to special taxing districts
|
|
will be subject to various risks, including real-estate development
|
|
related risks and taxpayer concentration risk. Further, the fees, special
|
|
taxes or tax allocations and other revenues established to secure the
|
|
obligations of securities issued with respect to special taxing districts
|
|
are generally limited as to the rate or amount that may be levied or
|
|
assessed and are not subject to increase pursuant to rate covenants or
|
|
municipal or corporate guarantees. Charter schools and other private
|
|
educational facilities are subject to various risks, including the reversal
|
|
of legislation authorizing or funding charter schools, the failure to
|
|
renew or secure a charter, the failure of a funding entity to appropriate
|
|
necessary funds and competition from alternatives such as voucher
|
|
programs. Issuers of municipal utility securities can be significantly
|
|
affected by government regulation, financing difficulties, supply and
|
|
demand of services or fuel and natural resource conservation. The
|
|
transportation sector, including airports, airlines, ports and other
|
|
transportation facilities, can be significantly affected by changes in the
|
|
economy, fuel prices, maintenance, labor relations, insurance costs and
|
|
government regulation.
|
|
Special Risks Related to Certain Municipal Securities.
The Trust may
|
|
invest in municipal leases and certificates of participation in such
|
|
leases. Municipal leases and certificates of participation involve
|
|
special risks not normally associated with general obligations or
|
|
revenue bonds. Leases and installment purchase or conditional sale
|
|
contracts (which normally provide for title to the leased asset to pass
|
|
eventually to the governmental issuer) have evolved as a means for
|
|
governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment without
|
|
meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance
|
|
of debt. The debt issuance limitations are deemed to be inapplicable
|
|
because of the inclusion in many leases or contracts of “non-
|
|
appropriation” clauses that relieve the governmental issuer of any
|
|
obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless
|
|
money is appropriated for such purpose by the appropriate legislative
|
|
body on a yearly or other periodic basis. In addition, such leases or
|
|
contracts may be subject to the temporary abatement of payments in
|
|
the event the governmental issuer is prevented from maintaining
|
|
occupancy of the leased premises or utilizing the leased equipment.
|
|
Although the obligations may be secured by the leased equipment or
|
|
facilities, the disposition of the property in the event of non-
|
|
appropriation or foreclosure might prove difficult, time consuming and
|
|
costly, and may result in a delay in recovering or the failure to fully
|
|
recover the Trust’s original investment. In the event of non-
|
|
appropriation, the issuer would be in default and taking ownership of
|
|
the assets may be a remedy available to the Trust, although the Trust
|
|
does not anticipate that such a remedy would normally be pursued. To
|
|
the extent that the Trust invests in unrated municipal leases or
|
|
participates in such leases, the credit quality and risk of cancellation of
|
|
such unrated leases will be monitored on an ongoing basis. Certificates
|
|
of participation, which represent interests in unmanaged pools of
|
|
municipal leases or installment contracts, involve the same risks as the
|
|
underlying municipal leases. In addition, the Trust may be dependent
|
|
upon the municipal authority issuing the certificates of participation to
|
exercise remedies with respect to the underlying securities. Certificates
|
|
of participation entail a risk of default or bankruptcy not only of the
|
|
issuer of the underlying lease but also of the municipal agency issuing
|
|
the certificate of participation.
|
|
Asset-Backed Securities Risk.
Investing in asset-backed securities
|
|
(“ABS”) entails various risks, including credit risks, liquidity risks,
|
|
interest rate risks, market risks and legal risks. ABS are subject to
|
|
significant credit risks because of the credit risks inherent in the
|
|
underlying collateral and because issuers are primarily private entities.
|
|
The structure of ABS and the terms of the investors’ interest in the
|
|
collateral can vary widely depending on the type of collateral, the
|
|
desires of investors and the use of credit enhancements. Although the
|
|
basic elements of all ABS are similar, individual transactions can differ
|
|
markedly in both structure and execution. Important determinants of
|
|
the risk associated with issuing or holding the securities include the
|
|
process by which principal and interest payments are allocated and
|
|
distributed to investors, how credit losses affect the issuing vehicle and
|
|
the return to investors in such ABS, whether collateral represents a
|
|
fixed set of specific assets or accounts, whether the underlying
|
|
collateral assets are revolving or closed-end, under what terms
|
|
(including the maturity of the ABS itself) any remaining balance in the
|
|
accounts may revert to the issuing entity and the extent to which the
|
|
entity that is the actual source of the collateral assets is obligated to
|
|
provide support to the issuing vehicle or to the investors in such ABS.
|
|
The Trust may invest in ABS that are subordinate in right of payment
|
|
and rank junior to other securities that are secured by or represent an
|
|
ownership interest in the same pool of assets. In addition, many of the
|
|
transactions in which such securities are issued have structural features
|
|
that divert payments of interest and/or principal to more senior classes
|
|
when the delinquency or loss experience of the pool exceeds certain
|
|
levels. As a result, such securities have a higher risk of loss. See
|
|
“Risks—Asset-Backed Securities Risk.”
|
|
Senior Loan Risk.
Senior Loans hold the most senior position in the
|
|
capital structure of a business entity, are typically secured with specific
|
|
collateral and have a claim on the assets and/or stock of the borrower
|
|
that is senior to that held by subordinated debt holders and
|
|
stockholders of the borrower. Senior Loans are usually rated below
|
|
investment grade. As a result, the risks associated with Senior Loans
|
|
are similar to the risks of below investment grade securities, although
|
|
Senior Loans are typically senior and secured in contrast to other
|
|
below investment grade securities, which are often subordinated and
|
|
unsecured. Senior Loans’ higher standing has historically resulted in
|
|
generally higher recoveries in the event of a corporate reorganization.
|
|
In addition, because their interest rates are typically adjusted for
|
|
changes in short-term interest rates, Senior Loans generally are subject
|
|
to less interest rate risk than other below investment grade securities,
|
|
which are typically fixed rate.
|
|
There is less readily available, reliable information about most Senior
|
|
Loans than is the case for many other types of securities. In addition,
|
|
there is no minimum rating or other independent evaluation of a
|
|
borrower or its securities limiting the Trust’s investments, and the
|
Sub-Adviser relies primarily on its own evaluation of a borrower’s
|
|
credit quality rather than on any available independent sources. As a
|
|
result, the Trust is particularly dependent on the analytical abilities of
|
|
the Sub-Adviser.
|
|
The Trust may invest in Senior Loans rated below investment grade,
|
|
which are considered speculative because of the credit risk of their
|
|
issuers. The companies issuing such Senior Loans are more likely to
|
|
default on their payments of interest and principal owed to the Trust,
|
|
and such defaults could reduce the Trust’s net asset value and income
|
|
distributions. An economic downturn generally leads to a higher non-
|
|
payment rate, and a Senior Loan may lose significant value before a
|
|
default occurs. Moreover, any specific collateral used to secure a
|
|
Senior Loan may decline in value or become illiquid, which would
|
|
adversely affect the Senior Loan’s value. No active trading market may
|
|
exist for certain Senior Loans, which may impair the ability of the
|
|
Trust to realize full value in the event of the need to sell a Senior Loan
|
|
and which may make it difficult to value Senior Loans. Adverse
|
|
market conditions may impair the liquidity of some actively traded
|
|
Senior Loans, meaning that the Trust may not be able to sell them
|
|
quickly at a desirable price. To the extent that a secondary market does
|
|
exist for certain Senior Loans, the market may be subject to irregular
|
|
trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement
|
|
periods. Illiquid securities are also difficult to value. See “Risks—
|
|
Below Investment Grade Securities Risk.”
|
|
Although the Senior Loans in which the Trust will invest generally
|
|
will be secured by specific collateral, there can be no assurance that
|
|
liquidation of such collateral would satisfy the borrower’s obligation in
|
|
the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal or that
|
|
such collateral could be readily liquidated. In the event of the
|
|
bankruptcy of a borrower, the Trust could experience delays or
|
|
limitations with respect to its ability to realize the benefits of the
|
|
collateral securing a Senior Loan. If the terms of a Senior Loan do not
|
|
require the borrower to pledge additional collateral in the event of a
|
|
decline in the value of the already pledged collateral, the Trust will be
|
|
exposed to the risk that the value of the collateral will not at all times
|
|
equal or exceed the amount of the borrower’s obligations under the
|
|
Senior Loans. To the extent that a Senior Loan is collateralized by
|
|
stock in the borrower or its subsidiaries, such stock may lose all of its
|
|
value in the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower. Such Senior
|
|
Loans involve a greater risk of loss. Some Senior Loans are subject to
|
|
the risk that a court, pursuant to fraudulent conveyance or other similar
|
|
laws, could subordinate the Senior Loans to presently existing or
|
|
future indebtedness of the borrower or take other action detrimental to
|
|
lenders, including the Trust. Such court action could under certain
|
|
circumstances include invalidation of Senior Loans.
|
|
The Trust may purchase Senior Loans on a direct assignment basis
|
|
from a participant in the original syndicate of lenders or from
|
|
subsequent assignees of such interests. Investments in Senior Loans on
|
|
a direct assignment basis may involve additional risks to the Trust. The
|
|
purchaser of an assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and
|
|
obligations of the assigning institution and becomes a lender under the
|
credit agreement with respect to the debt obligation; however, the
|
|
purchaser’s rights can be more restricted than those of the assigning
|
|
institution, and, in any event, the Trust may not be able to unilaterally
|
|
enforce all rights and remedies under the loan and with regard to any
|
|
associated collateral. If such loan is foreclosed, the Trust could
|
|
become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and
|
|
liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. The
|
|
Trust may also purchase, without limitation, participations in Senior
|
|
Loans. The participation by the Trust in a lender’s portion of a Senior
|
|
Loan typically will result in the Trust having a contractual relationship
|
|
only with such lender, not with the Borrower. As a result, the Trust
|
|
may have the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any
|
|
fees to which it is entitled only from the lender selling the participation
|
|
and only upon receipt by such lender of payments from the Borrower.
|
|
Such indebtedness may be secured or unsecured. In purchasing
|
|
participations, the Trust generally will have no right to enforce
|
|
compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement
|
|
against the borrower, and the Trust may not directly benefit from the
|
|
collateral supporting the debt obligation in which it has purchased the
|
|
participation. When purchasing loan participations, the Trust assumes
|
|
the credit risk associated with the Borrower and may assume the credit
|
|
risk associated with an interposed bank or other financial intermediary.
|
|
The participation interests in which the Trust may invest may not be
|
|
rated by any NRSRO.
|
|
Liquidity Risk.
The Trust may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets
|
|
in municipal securities that are, at the time of investment, illiquid and
|
|
certain other securities in which the Trust may invest may be illiquid.
|
|
Illiquid securities are securities that cannot be disposed of within seven
|
|
days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the value that
|
|
the Trust values the securities. Illiquid securities may trade at a
|
|
discount from comparable, more liquid securities and may be subject
|
|
to wide fluctuations in market value. The Trust may be subject to
|
|
significant delays in disposing of illiquid securities. Accordingly, the
|
|
Trust may be forced to sell these securities at less than fair market
|
|
value or may not be able to sell them when the Sub-Adviser believes it
|
|
is desirable to do so. Illiquid securities also may entail registration
|
|
expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for
|
|
liquid securities. Restricted securities (
i.e.
, securities subject to legal or
|
|
contractual restrictions on resale) may be illiquid. However, some
|
|
restricted securities (such as securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A
|
|
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) and
|
|
certain commercial paper) may be treated as liquid for these purposes.
|
|
Inverse floating rate securities or the residual interest certificates of
|
|
tender option bond trusts are not considered illiquid securities.
|
|
Volatility Risk.
The use of Financial Leverage by the Trust will cause
|
|
the net asset value, and possibly the market price, of the Trust’s
|
|
common shares to fluctuate significantly in response to changes in
|
|
interest rates and other economic indicators. In addition, the Trust may
|
|
invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities that, at the time of
|
|
investment, are below investment grade quality (
i.e.,
“junk bonds”),
|
|
which may be less liquid and therefore more volatile than investment
|
|
grade municipal securities. As a result, the net asset value and market
|
price of the common shares of the Trust will be more volatile than
|
|
those of a closed-end investment company that is not exposed to
|
|
leverage or that does not invest in below investment grade securities.
|
|
Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk.
Under current market
|
|
conditions, the Trust anticipates utilizing Financial Leverage through
|
|
Indebtedness and/or engaging in reverse repurchase agreements.
|
|
However, the Trust also may utilize Financial Leverage through
|
|
investments in inverse floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as
|
|
“inverse floaters”). Typically, inverse floating rate securities represent
|
|
beneficial interests in a special purpose trust (sometimes called a
|
|
“tender option bond trust”) formed by a third party sponsor for the
|
|
purpose of holding municipal bonds. Distributions on inverse floating
|
|
rate securities bear an inverse relationship to short-term municipal
|
|
bond interest rates. In general, income on inverse floating rate
|
|
securities will decrease, or in the extreme be eliminated, when interest
|
|
rates increase and increase when interest rates decrease. Investments in
|
|
inverse floating rate securities may subject the Trust to the risks of
|
|
reduced or eliminated interest payments and losses of principal. Short-
|
|
term interest rates are at historic lows and may be more likely to rise in
|
|
the current market environment, which may have a negative effect on
|
|
the returns of inverse floating rate securities.
|
|
Inverse floating rate securities may increase or decrease in value at a
|
|
greater rate than the underlying interest rate, which effectively
|
|
leverages the Trust’s investment. As a result, the market value of such
|
|
securities generally will be more volatile than that of fixed rate
|
|
securities. The structure and degree to which the Trust’s inverse
|
|
floating rate securities are leveraged will vary based upon a number of
|
|
factors, including the size of the special purpose trust itself and the
|
|
terms of the underlying municipal security. In the event of a
|
|
significant decline in the value of an underlying security, the Trust
|
|
may suffer losses in excess of the amount of its investment (up to an
|
|
amount equal to the value of the municipal securities underlying the
|
|
inverse floating rate securities) as a result of liquidating the special
|
|
purpose trust or other collateral required to maintain the Trust’s
|
|
anticipated effective leverage ratio. The market price of inverse
|
|
floating rate securities is generally more volatile than that of the
|
|
underlying securities due to leverage.
|
|
The Trust may invest in inverse floating rate securities issued by
|
|
special purpose trusts that have recourse to the Trust. In the Sub-
|
|
Adviser’s discretion, the Trust may enter into a separate shortfall and
|
|
forbearance agreement with the third party sponsor of a special
|
|
purpose trust. The Trust may enter into such shortfall and forbearance
|
|
agreements (i) when the liquidity provider to the special purpose trust
|
|
requires such an agreement because the level of leverage in the special
|
|
purpose trust exceeds the level that the liquidity provider is willing to
|
|
support absent such an agreement; and/or (ii) to seek to prevent the
|
|
liquidity provider from collapsing the special purpose trust in the event
|
|
that the municipal obligation held in the special purpose trust has
|
|
declined in value. Such an agreement would require the Trust to
|
|
reimburse the third party sponsor of the special purpose trust, upon
|
|
termination of the special purpose trust issuing the inverse floating rate
|
security, the difference between the liquidation value of the bonds held
|
||
in the special purpose trust and the principal amount due to the holders
|
||
of floating rate interests. In such instances, the Trust may be at risk of
|
||
loss that exceeds its original investment in the inverse floating rate
|
||
securities. The Trust’s investments in inverse floating rate securities
|
||
issued by special purpose trusts that have recourse to the Trust may be
|
||
highly leveraged.
|
||
Inverse floating rate securities have varying degrees of liquidity based,
|
||
among other things, upon the liquidity of the underlying securities
|
||
deposited in a special purpose trust. The Trust may invest in taxable
|
||
inverse floating rate securities, issued by special purpose trusts formed
|
||
with taxable municipal securities. The market for such inverse floating
|
||
rate securities issued by special purpose trusts formed with taxable
|
||
municipal securities is relatively new and undeveloped. Initially, there
|
||
may be a limited number of counterparties, which may increase the
|
||
credit risks, counterparty risk and liquidity risk of investing in taxable
|
||
inverse floating rate securities.
|
||
The leverage attributable to such inverse floating rate securities may be
|
||
“called away” on relatively short notice and therefore may be less
|
||
permanent than more traditional forms of Financial Leverage. In
|
||
certain circumstances, to the extent the Trust relies on inverse floating
|
||
rate securities to achieve its desired effective leverage ratio, the
|
||
likelihood of an increase in the volatility of net asset value and market
|
||
price of the Common Shares may be greater.
|
||
To the extent the Trust relies on inverse floating rate securities to
|
||
achieve its desired effective leverage ratio, the Trust may be required
|
||
to sell its inverse floating rate securities at less than favorable prices, or
|
||
liquidate other Trust portfolio holdings in certain circumstances,
|
||
including, but not limited to, the following:
|
||
•
|
if the Trust has a need for cash and the securities in a special
|
|
purpose trust are not actively trading due to adverse market
|
||
conditions;
|
||
•
|
if special purpose trust sponsors (as a collective group or
|
|
individually) experience financial hardship and consequently
|
||
seek to terminate their respective outstanding special purpose
|
||
trusts; and/or
|
||
•
|
if the value of an underlying security declines significantly (to a
|
|
level below the notional value of the floating rate securities
|
||
issued by the special purpose trust) and if additional collateral
|
||
has not been posted by the Trust.
|
||
Recent Market Developments.
Global and domestic financial markets
|
||
have experienced periods of unprecedented turmoil. Instability in the
|
||
credit markets has made it more difficult for a number of issuers to
|
||
obtain financings or refinancings for their investment or lending
|
||
activities or operations. There is a risk that such issuers will be unable
|
||
to successfully complete such financings or refinancings. In particular,
|
||
because of the conditions in the credit markets, issuers of debt
|
||
securities may be subject to increased costs for debt, tightening
|
||
underwriting standards and reduced liquidity for loans they make,
|
||
securities they purchase and securities they issue. There is also a risk
|
that developments in sectors of the credit markets in which the Trust
|
|
does not invest may adversely affect the liquidity and the value of
|
|
securities in sectors of the credit markets in which the Trust does
|
|
invest, including securities owned by the Trust.
|
|
The debt and equity capital markets in the United States have been
|
|
negatively impacted by significant write-offs in the financial services
|
|
sector relating to sub-prime mortgages and the re-pricing of credit risk
|
|
in the broadly syndicated market, among other things. These events,
|
|
along with the deterioration of the housing market, the failure of major
|
|
financial institutions and the resulting United States federal
|
|
government actions led to worsening general economic conditions,
|
|
which materially and adversely impacted the broader financial and
|
|
credit markets and reduced the availability of debt and equity capital
|
|
for the market as a whole and financial firms in particular. Such market
|
|
conditions may increase the volatility of the value of securities owned
|
|
by the Trust, may make it more difficult for the Trust to accurately
|
|
value its securities or to sell its securities on a timely basis and may
|
|
adversely affect the ability of the Trust to borrow for investment
|
|
purposes and increase the cost of such borrowings, which would
|
|
reduce returns to Common Shareholders. These developments
|
|
adversely affected the broader economy, and may continue to do so,
|
|
which in turn may adversely affect the ability of issuers of securities
|
|
owned by the Trust to make payments of principal and interest when
|
|
due, lead to lower credit ratings and increased defaults. Such
|
|
developments could, in turn, reduce the value of securities owned by
|
|
the Trust and adversely affect the net asset value of the Trust’s
|
|
Common Shares. In addition, the prolonged continuation or further
|
|
deterioration of current market conditions could adversely impact the
|
|
Trust’s portfolio.
|
|
Governmental cost burdens may be reallocated among federal, state
|
|
and local governments. Also, as a result of the downturn, many state
|
|
and local governments have experienced significant reductions in
|
|
revenues and consequently difficulties meeting ongoing expenses. As
|
|
a result, certain of these state and local governments may have
|
|
difficulty paying principal or interest on their outstanding debt and
|
|
may experience ratings downgrades of their debt. In addition, laws
|
|
enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or referenda
|
|
could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or
|
|
impose other constraints on enforcement of such obligations, or on
|
|
the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. In addition to actions taken
|
|
at the federal level, certain municipalities might seek protection under
|
|
the bankruptcy laws, thereby affecting the repayment of their
|
|
outstanding debt.
|
|
Recently markets have witnessed more stabilized economic activity as
|
|
expectations for an economic recovery increased. However, risks to a
|
|
robust resumption of growth persist. A return to unfavorable economic
|
|
conditions or sustained economic slowdown could adversely impact
|
|
the Trust’s portfolio. Financial market conditions, as well as various
|
|
social and political tensions in the United States and around the world,
|
|
have contributed to increased market volatility and may have long-
|
|
term effects on the U.S. and worldwide financial markets and cause
|
further economic uncertainties or deterioration in the United States
|
|
and worldwide. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser do not know how long
|
|
the financial markets will continue to be affected by these events and
|
|
cannot predict the effects of these or similar events in the future on the
|
|
U.S. and global economies and securities markets in the Trust’s
|
|
portfolio. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser intend to monitor
|
|
developments and seek to manage the Trust’s portfolio in a manner
|
|
consistent with achieving the Trust’s investment objectives, but there
|
|
can be no assurance that it will be successful in doing so.
|
|
Government Intervention in the Financial Markets.
The instability in
|
|
the financial markets discussed above has led the U.S. Government to
|
|
take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain
|
|
financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have
|
|
experienced extreme volatility, and in some cases a lack of liquidity.
|
|
Federal, state, and other governments, their regulatory agencies, or self
|
|
regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of
|
|
the instruments in which the Trust invests, or the issuers of such
|
|
instruments. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
|
|
Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), which was signed into law in
|
|
July 2010, is expected to result in a significant revision of the U.S.
|
|
financial regulatory framework. The Dodd-Frank Act covers a broad
|
|
range of topics, including, among many others: a reorganization of
|
|
federal financial regulators; the creation of a process designed to
|
|
ensure financial system stability and the resolution of potentially
|
|
insolvent financial firms; the enactment of new rules for derivatives
|
|
trading; the creation of a consumer financial protection watchdog; the
|
|
registration and regulation of managers of private funds; the regulation
|
|
of credit rating agencies; and the enactment of new federal
|
|
requirements for residential mortgage loans. The regulation of various
|
|
types of derivative instruments pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act may
|
|
adversely affect issuers of securities in which the Trust invests that
|
|
utilize derivatives strategies for hedging or other purposes. The
|
|
ultimate impact of the Dodd-Frank Act, and any resulting regulation, is
|
|
not yet certain and issuers of securities in which the Trust invests may
|
|
also be affected by the new legislation and regulation in ways that are
|
|
currently unknown and unforeseeable.
|
|
Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from
|
|
financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those
|
|
institutions. The implications of government ownership and
|
|
disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have
|
|
positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance
|
|
of the Trust’s portfolio holdings.
|
|
Legislation Risk.
At any time after the date of this Prospectus,
|
|
legislation may be enacted that could negatively affect the assets of the
|
|
Trust or the issuers of such assets. Changing approaches to regulation
|
|
may have a negative impact on the entities in which the Trust invests.
|
|
Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the Trust
|
|
itself is regulated. There can be no assurance that future legislation,
|
|
regulation or deregulation will not have a material adverse effect on
|
|
the Trust or will not impair the ability of the Trust to achieve its
|
|
investment objectives.
|
Strategic Transactions Risk.
The Trust may engage in various portfolio
|
|
strategies, including derivatives transactions involving interest rate and
|
|
foreign currency transactions, swaps, options and futures (“Strategic
|
|
Transactions”), for hedging and risk management purposes and to
|
|
enhance total return. The use of Strategic Transactions to enhance total
|
|
return may be particularly speculative. Strategic Transactions involve
|
|
risks, including the imperfect correlation between the value of such
|
|
instruments and the underlying assets, the possible default of the other
|
|
party to the transaction and illiquidity of the derivative instruments.
|
|
Furthermore, the Trust’s ability to successfully use Strategic
|
|
Transactions depends on the Sub-Adviser’s ability to predict pertinent
|
|
market movements, which cannot be assured. The use of Strategic
|
|
Transactions may result in losses greater than if they had not been used,
|
|
may require the Trust to sell or purchase portfolio securities at
|
|
inopportune times or for prices other than current market values, may
|
|
limit the amount of appreciation the Trust can realize on an investment
|
|
or may cause the Trust to hold a security that it might otherwise sell.
|
|
Additionally, amounts paid by the Trust as premiums and cash or other
|
|
assets held in margin accounts with respect to Strategic Transactions
|
|
are not otherwise available to the Trust for investment purposes.
|
|
Synthetic Investments Risk.
As an alternative to holding investments
|
|
directly, the Trust may also obtain investment exposure to credit
|
|
securities through the use of derivative instruments (including swaps,
|
|
options, forwards, notional principal contracts or customized
|
|
derivative or financial instruments) to replicate, modify or replace the
|
|
economic attributes associated with an investment in securities in
|
|
which the Trust may invest. The Trust may be exposed to certain
|
|
additional risks, including counterparty risk, should the Sub-Adviser use
|
|
derivatives as a means to synthetically implement the Trust’s investment
|
|
strategies. If the Trust enters into a derivative instrument whereby it agrees
|
|
to receive the return of a security or financial instrument or a basket of securities
|
|
or financial instruments, it will typically contract to receive such returns
|
|
for a predetermined period of time. During such period, the Trust may
|
|
not have the ability to increase or decrease its exposure. In addition,
|
|
customized derivative instruments will likely be highly illiquid, and it
|
|
is possible that the Trust will not be able to terminate such derivative
|
|
instruments prior to their expiration date or that the penalties
|
|
associated with such a termination might impact the Trust’s
|
|
performance in a material adverse manner. Furthermore, derivative
|
|
instruments typically contain provisions giving the counterparty the
|
|
right to terminate the contract upon the occurrence of certain events.
|
|
Such events may include a decline in the value of the reference
|
|
securities and material violations of the terms of the contract or the
|
|
portfolio guidelines as well as other events determined by the
|
|
counterparty. If a termination were to occur, the Trust’s return could
|
|
be adversely affected as it would lose the benefit of the indirect
|
|
exposure to the reference securities and it may incur significant
|
|
termination expenses.
|
|
Counterparty Risk.
The Trust will be subject to credit risk with
|
|
respect to the counterparties to the derivative contracts purchased by
|
|
the Trust. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to
|
|
perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial
|
difficulties, the Trust may experience significant delays in obtaining
|
|
any recovery under the derivative contract in bankruptcy or other
|
|
reorganization proceedings. The Trust may obtain only a limited
|
|
recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.
|
|
Securities Lending Risk.
The Trust may lend its portfolio securities to
|
|
banks or dealers which meet the creditworthiness standards established
|
|
by the Board of Trustees. Securities lending is subject to the risk that
|
|
loaned securities may not be available to the Trust on a timely basis
|
|
and the Trust may therefore lose the opportunity to sell the securities at
|
|
a desirable price. Any loss in the market price of securities loaned by
|
|
the Trust that occurs during the term of the loan would be borne by the
|
|
Trust and would adversely affect the Trust’s performance. Also, there
|
|
may be delays in recovery, or no recovery, of securities loaned or even
|
|
a loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities
|
|
fail financially while the loan is outstanding.
|
|
Investment Funds Risk.
Investments in Investment Funds present
|
|
certain special considerations and risks not present in making direct
|
|
investments in securities in which the Trust may invest. Investments in
|
|
Investment Funds involve operating expenses and fees that are in
|
|
addition to the expenses and fees borne by the Trust. Such expenses
|
|
and fees attributable to the Trust’s investments in Investment Funds are
|
|
borne indirectly by Common Shareholders. Accordingly, investment in
|
|
such entities involves expense and fee layering. To the extent
|
|
management fees of Investment Funds are based on total gross assets,
|
|
it may create an incentive for such entities’ managers to employ
|
|
financial leverage, thereby adding additional expense and increasing
|
|
volatility and risk. A performance-based fee arrangement may create
|
|
incentives for an adviser or manager to take greater investment risks in
|
|
the hope of earning a higher profit participation. Investments in
|
|
Investment Funds frequently expose the Trust to an additional layer of
|
|
financial leverage.
|
|
Market Discount Risk.
Shares of closed-end investment companies
|
|
frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value, which is a risk
|
|
separate and distinct from the risk that the Trust’s net asset value could
|
|
decrease as a result of its investment activities. Although the value of
|
|
the Trust’s net assets is generally considered by market participants in
|
|
determining whether to purchase or sell Common Shares, whether
|
|
investors will realize gains or losses upon the sale of Common Shares
|
|
will depend entirely upon whether the market price of Common
|
|
Shares at the time of sale is above or below the investor’s purchase
|
|
price for Common Shares. Because the market price of Common
|
|
Shares will be determined by factors such as net asset value, dividend
|
|
and distribution levels (which are dependent, in part, on expenses),
|
|
supply of and demand for Common Shares, stability of dividends or
|
|
distributions, trading volume of Common Shares, general market and
|
|
economic conditions and other factors beyond the control of the Trust,
|
|
the Trust cannot predict whether Common Shares will trade at, below
|
|
or above net asset value or at, below or above the initial public offering
|
|
price. This risk may be greater for investors expecting to sell their
|
|
Common Shares soon after the completion of the public offering, as
|
|
the net asset value of the Common Shares will be reduced immediately
|
Shareholder Transaction Expenses
|
|||
Sales load paid by you (as a percentage of offering price)
|
4.5%
|
||
Offering expenses borne by Common Shareholders (as a percentage of offering price)(1)
|
.20%
|
||
Dividend Reinvestment Plan fees(2)
|
None
|
||
Percentage of
|
|||
Net Assets
|
|||
Attributable to
|
|||
Annual Expenses
|
Common Shares
|
||
Management fees(3)
|
.90%
|
||
Interest payments on borrowed funds(4)(7)
|
.75%
|
||
Other expenses(5)(6)
|
.30%
|
||
Total annual expenses
|
1.95%
|
(1)
|
The Adviser has agreed to pay (i) all organizational costs of the Trust and (ii) offering expenses of the Trust (other than the sales load but inclusive of the partial reimbursement of expenses of the underwriters) that exceed $.04 per Common Share sold in the offering, including pursuant to the overallotment option (.20% of the offering price).
The Trust has agreed to pay up to .15% of the public offering price of the securities sold in this offering to Guggenheim Funds Distributors, Inc., ("GFDI") an affiliate of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, as compensation for the distribution services it provides to the Trust. Such compensation is subject to the offering expense limitation of $.04 described above and will not be paid to the extent it would cause the offering expenses of the Trust to exceed $.04.
Assuming the Trust issues approximately 15 million Common Shares, the offering expenses are estimated to be approximately $910,000 (exclusive of any compensation paid to GFDI), of which $600,000 ($.04 per Common Share) will be borne by the Trust.
|
(2)
|
You will pay brokerage charges if you direct the Plan Agent to sell your Common Shares held in a dividend reinvestment account. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”
|
(3)
|
The Trust pays an investment advisory fee to the Adviser in an annual amount equal to .60% of the Trust’s average daily Managed Assets. Common Shareholders bear the portion of the investment advisory fee attributable to the assets purchased with the proceeds of Financial Leverage, which means that Common Shareholders effectively bear the entire advisory fee.
|
(4)
|
Under current market conditions, the Trust initially expects to utilize Financial Leverage through Indebtedness and/or engaging in reverse repurchase agreements, such that the aggregate amount of Financial Leverage is
not expected to exceed 33
1
/
3
% of the Trust’s Managed Assets (including the proceeds of such Financial Leverage). The table above assumes that the Trust utilizes Financial Leverage in the form of Indebtedness in an amount equal to 33
1
/
3
% of the Trust’s Managed Assets (including the proceeds of such Financial Leverage) and an annual interest rate of 1.25%. The table above also assumes a one-time facility fee of .25% of the amount of Indebtedness, which is included as a component of “Interest payments on borrowed funds.” To the extent other forms of Financial Leverage (or combinations of forms of Financial Leverage) are utilized, the associated Financial Leverage costs would likely change from the cost estimates set forth above.
|
(5)
|
The “Other expenses” shown in the table and related footnotes are based on estimated amounts for the Trust’s first year of operations. Expenses attributable to the Trust’s investments, if any, in Investment Funds are currently estimated not to exceed .01%.
|
(6) | Compensation, if any, to be paid by the Trust to GFDI, as described in footnote (1) above, is not reflected in "Other expenses," as it is included in "Offering expenses borne by Common Shareholders (as a percentage of offering price)" above. |
|
|
(7)
|
The table presented in this footnote estimates what the Trust’s annual expenses would be, stated as percentages of the Trust’s net assets attributable to Common Shares and assumes the Trust is the same size as
the table above but, unlike the table above, assumes that the Trust does not utilize any form of Financial Leverage. In accordance with these assumptions, the Trust’s expenses would be estimated as follows:
|
Percentage of Net Assets
|
|
Attributable to Common
|
|
Shares (assumes no
|
|
Annual Expenses
|
Financial Leverage is used)
|
Management fees
|
.60%
|
Interest payments on borrowed funds
|
None
|
Other expenses(4)(5)
|
.20%
|
Total annual expenses
|
.80%
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
5 Years
|
10 Years
|
|
$66
|
$100
|
$137
|
$238
|
*
|
The Example should not be considered a representation of future expenses or returns. Actual expenses
|
|||
may be higher or lower than those assumed. Moreover, the Trust’s actual rate of return may be higher
|
||||
or lower than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example.
The example assumes that all dividends
|
||||
and distributions are reinvested at net asset value and that the estimated “Interest payments on borrowed
|
||||
funds” and “Other expenses” are accurate.
|
·
|
Liquidity.
Between the launch of the BABs program on April 3, 2009 and August 31, 2010 approximately $130 billion of BABs have been issued.
|
·
|
Diversification.
Municipal issuers in 49 states and the District of Columbia have utilized the BABs program since its inception.
|
·
|
Enhanced Credit.
Investment-grade municipal issuers have lower historical default rates than investment- grade corporate issuers.
|
·
|
Yield.
BABs may offer higher yield-to-maturity than similarly-rated corporate bonds and greater call protection than similarly-rated tax-exempt municipal bonds.
|
·
|
The Trust will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in BABs.
|
·
|
The Trust may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities other than BABs, including taxable municipal securities that do not qualify for federal subsidy payments under the Act, municipal securities the interest income from which is exempt from regular federal income tax (sometimes referred to as “tax-exempt municipal securities”), asset-backed securities (“ABS”), senior loans and other income producing securities.
|
·
|
The Trust will not invest more than 25% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities in any one state of origin.
|
·
|
The Trust will not invest more than 15% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities that, at the time of investment, are illiquid.
|
Assumed portfolio total return (net of expenses)
|
(10.00)%
|
(5.00)%
|
0.00%
|
5.00%
|
10.00%
|
Common Share total return
|
-15.62%
|
-8.12%
|
-.62%
|
6.87%
|
14.37%
|
·
|
the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and dividend rate of the Common Shares than a comparable portfolio without Financial Leverage;
|
·
|
the risk that fluctuations in interest rates on borrowings and short-term debt or in the interest or dividend rates on any Financial Leverage that the Trust must pay will reduce the return to the Common Shareholders;
|
·
|
the effect of Financial Leverage in a declining market may result in a greater decline in the net asset value of the Common Shares than if the Trust were not leveraged;
|
·
|
when the Trust uses Financial Leverage, the investment advisory fees payable to the Adviser and Sub- Adviser will be higher than if the Trust did not use Financial Leverage; and
|
·
|
Financial Leverage may increase operating costs, which may reduce total return.
|
·
|
if the Trust has a need for cash and the securities in a special purpose trust are not actively trading due to adverse market conditions;
|
·
|
if special purpose trust sponsors (as a collective group or individually) experience financial hardship and consequently seek to terminate their respective outstanding special purpose trusts; and/or
|
·
|
if the value of an underlying security declines significantly (to a level below the notional value of the floating rate securities issued by the special purpose trust) and if additional collateral has not been posted by the Trust.
|
·
|
the merger or consolidation of the Trust or any subsidiary of the Trust with or into any Principal Shareholder;
|
·
|
the issuance of any securities of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder for cash (other than pursuant to any automatic dividend reinvestment plan);
|
·
|
the sale, lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder, except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, aggregating for the purpose of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period; or
|
·
|
the sale, lease or exchange to the Trust or any subsidiary of the Trust, in exchange for securities of the Trust, of any assets of any Principal Shareholder, except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, aggregating for purposes of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period.
|
Number
|
|
Underwriter
|
of Shares
|
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
|
|
Incorporated
|
|
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
|
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
|
|
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
|
|
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
|
|
BB&T Capital Markets, a division of Scott & Stringfellow, LLC
|
|
Guggenheim Funds Distributors, Inc.
|
|
J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC
|
|
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
|
|
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.
|
|
Maxim Group LLC
|
|
RBC Capital Markets Corporation
|
|
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
|
|
Wedbush Securities Inc.
|
|
Wunderlich Securities, Inc.
|
|
Total |
Per Share
|
Without Option
|
With Option
|
|
Public offering price
|
$20.00
|
$ | $ |
Sales load
|
$.90
|
$ | $ |
Estimated offering expenses
|
$.04
|
$ | $ |
Proceeds, after expenses, to Trust
|
$19.06
|
$ | $ |
Page
|
|
The Trust
|
S-2
|
Investment Objectives and Policies
|
S-2
|
Investment Restrictions
|
S-24
|
Management of the Trust
|
S-26
|
Portfolio Transactions
|
S-35
|
Tax Matters
|
S-35
|
General Information
|
S-40
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
FS-1
|
Financial Statements for the Trust
|
FS-2
|
Appendix A: Ratings of Investments
|
A-1
|
Appendix B: Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
|
B-1
|
Page
|
|
The Trust
|
S-2
|
Investment Objectives and Policies
|
S-2
|
Investment Restrictions
|
S-24
|
Management of the Trust
|
S-26
|
Portfolio Transactions
|
S-35
|
Tax Matters
|
S-35
|
General Information
|
S-40
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
FS-1
|
Financial Statement for the Trust
|
FS-2
|
Appendix A: Ratings of Investments
|
A-1
|
Appendix B: Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
|
B-1
|
·
|
Companies engaged in the ownership, construction, financing, management and/or sale of commercial, industrial and/or residential real estate (or that have assets primarily invested in such real estate), including REITs; and
|
·
|
Companies engaged in energy, natural resources and basic materials businesses and companies engaged in associated businesses. These companies include those engaged in businesses such as oil and gas exploration and production, gold and other precious metals, steel and iron ore production, energy services, forest products, chemicals, coal, alternative energy sources and environmental services, as well as related transportation companies and equipment manufacturers.
|
·
|
Interest rate swaps.
Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Trust with another party of respective commitments to pay or receive interest (
e.g
., an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments).
|
·
|
Total return swaps.
Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from the designated underlying asset(s), which may include securities, baskets of securities, or securities indices, during the specified period, in return for receiving payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from the other designated underlying asset(s).
|
·
|
Currency swaps.
Currency swaps involve the exchange of the two parties’ respective commitments to pay or receive fluctuations with respect to a notional amount of two different currencies (
e.g.
, an exchange of payments with respect to fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the Japanese yen).
|
·
|
Credit default swaps.
When the Trust is the buyer of a credit default swap contract, the Trust is entitled to receive the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation from the counterparty to the contract in the event of a default by a third party, such as a U.S. or foreign corporate issuer, on the debt obligation. In return, the Trust would normally pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the Trust would have spent the stream of payments and received no benefit from the contract. When the Trust is the seller of a credit default swap contract, it normally receives a stream of payments but is obligated to pay upon default of the referenced debt obligation. As the seller, the Trust would add the equivalent of leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total assets, the Trust would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. The Trust may enter into credit default swap contracts and baskets thereof for investment and risk management purposes, including diversification.
|
Number of
|
|||||
Term of
|
Portfolios
|
||||
Office and
|
Principal
|
in Fund
|
Other Directorships
|
||
Name,
|
Position Held
|
Length of
|
Occupation
|
Complex(3)
|
Held by Trustee
|
Business Address(1)
|
with the
|
Time
|
During Past Five
|
Overseen
|
During the Past
|
and Age
|
Trust
|
Served(2)
|
Years
|
by Trustee
|
Five Years
|
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES:
|
|||||
Roman Friedrich III
|
Trustee
|
Trustee
|
Founder of Roman Friedrich &
|
41
|
Director, Zincore Metals Inc.
|
Year of Birth: 1946
|
since 2010
|
Company, which specializes in
|
(2009-present); GFM
|
||
the provision of financial
|
Resources Ltd. (2005-
|
||||
advisory services to
|
present); StrataGold
|
||||
corporations in the resource
|
Corporation (2003-2009);
|
||||
sector (1998-present).
|
Gateway Gold Corp.
|
||||
Formerly, Managing Director
|
(2004-2008).
|
||||
of TD Securities (1996-
|
|||||
1998); Managing Director of
|
|||||
Lancaster Financial Ltd. (1990-
|
|||||
1996); Managing Director of
|
|||||
Burns Fry Ltd. (1980-1984);
|
|||||
President of Chase Manhattan
|
|||||
Bank (Canada) Ltd. | |||||
(1975-1977).
|
|||||
Robert B. Karn III
|
Trustee
|
Trustee
|
Consultant (1998-present).
|
42
|
Director , Peabody Energy
|
Year of Birth: 1942
|
since 2010
|
Formerly, Managing Partner,
|
Company (2003-present);
|
||
Financial and Economic
|
Natural Resource Partners, LLC
|
||||
Consulting, St. Louis office
|
(2002-present); Kennedy Capital
|
||||
of Arthur Andersen, LLP
|
Management, Inc.
|
||||
(1977-1997).
|
(2002-present).
|
||||
Ronald E. Toupin, Jr.
|
Trustee
|
Trustee
|
Retired. Formerly Vice
|
40
|
None
|
Year of Birth: 1958
|
since 2010
|
President, Manager and
|
|||
Portfolio Manager of Nuveen
|
|||||
Asset Management (1998-
|
|||||
1999), Vice President of
|
|||||
Nuveen Investment Advisory
|
|||||
Corporation (1992-1999), Vice
|
|||||
President and Manager of
|
|||||
Nuveen Unit Investment
|
|||||
Trusts (1991-1999), and
|
|||||
Assistant Vice President and
|
|||||
Portfolio Manager of Nuveen
|
|||||
Unit Trusts (1988-1999), each
|
|||||
of John Nuveen & Company,
|
|||||
Inc. (asset manager) | |||||
(1982-1999).
|
Number of
|
|||||
Term of
|
Portfolios
|
||||
Office and
|
Principal
|
in Fund
|
Other Directorships
|
||
Name,
|
Position Held
|
Length of
|
Occupation
|
Complex(3)
|
Held by Trustee
|
Business Address(1)
|
with the
|
Time
|
During Past Five
|
Overseen
|
During the Past
|
and Age
|
Trust
|
Served(2)
|
Years
|
by Trustee
|
Five Years
|
INTERESTED TRUSTEES:
|
|||||
Randall C. Barnes(*)
|
Trustee
|
Trustee
|
Investor (2001-present).
|
49
|
None
|
Year of Birth: 1951
|
since 2010
|
Formerly, Senior Vice
|
|||
President, Treasurer
|
|||||
(1993-1997), President,
|
|||||
Pizza Hut International
|
|||||
(1991-1993) and Senior
|
|||||
Vice President, Strategic
|
|||||
Planning and New Business
|
|||||
Development (1987-1990) of
|
|||||
PepsiCo, Inc. (1987-1997).
|
|||||
Ronald A. Nyberg(*)
|
Trustee
|
Trustee
|
Partner of Nyberg & Cassioppi,
|
51
|
None
|
Year of Birth: 1953
|
since 2010
|
LLC, a law firm specializing in
|
|||
corporate law, estate planning
|
|||||
and business transactions
|
|||||
(2000-present). Formerly,
|
|||||
Executive Vice President,
|
|||||
General Counsel and Corporate
|
|||||
Secretary of Van Kampen
|
|||||
Investments (1982-1999).
|
(1)
|
The business address of each Trustee of the Trust is 2455 Corporate West Drive, Lisle, Illinois 60532, unless otherwise noted.
|
|
(2)
|
After a Trustee’s initial term, each Trustee is expected to serve a three year term concurrent with the class of Trustees for
he serves.
|
|
·
|
Mr. Randall C. Barnes, as Class I Trustee, is expected to stand for re-election at the Trust’s annual meeting of shareholders for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2014.
|
|
·
|
Messrs. Roman Friedrich III and Ronald A. Nyberg, as Class II Trustees, are expected to stand for re-election at the Trust’s annual meeting of shareholders for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2012.
|
|
·
|
Messrs. Robert B. Karn and Ronald E. Toupin, Jr., as a Class III Trustees, are expected to stand for re-election at the Trust’s annual meeting of shareholders for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2013.
|
|
(3)
|
As of the date of this SAI, the Fund Complex is composed of 15 closed-end funds, including the Trust, and 38 exchange-
funds. The Fund Complex is overseen by multiple boards of trustees.
|
|
(*)
|
Mr. Barnes will cease to be an Interested Trustee once Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. are no
|
|
longer principal underwriters of the Trust. Mr. Nyberg will cease to be an Interested Trustee once Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated is no longer a principal underwriter of the Trust.
|
Name, Business
|
Principal Occupation
|
|
Address(1) and Age
|
Position
|
During the Past Five Years
|
J. Thomas Futrell
|
Chief
|
Senior Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Guggenheim
|
Year of Birth: 1955
|
Executive
|
Funds Investment Advisors, LLC and Guggenheim Funds Distributors,
|
Officer
|
Inc. (2008-present). Formerly, Managing Director of Research, Nuveen
|
|
Asset Management (2000-2007).
|
||
Steven M. Hill
|
Chief Financial
|
Senior Managing Director of Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors,
|
Year of Birth: 1964
|
Officer, Chief
|
LLC and Guggenheim Funds Distributors, Inc. (2005-present). Formerly,
|
Accounting Officer
|
Chief Financial Officer of Guggenheim Funds Services Group, Inc. (2005-
|
|
and Treasurer
|
2006), Managing Director of Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors,
|
|
LLC and Guggenheim Funds Distributors, Inc. 92003-2005). Formerly,
|
||
Treasurer of Henderson Global Funds and Operations Manager of
|
||
Henderson Global Investors (NA) Inc. (2002-2003); Managing Director of
|
||
FrontPoint Partners LLC (2001-2002); Vice President of Nuveen
|
||
Investments (1999-2001).
|
||
Kevin M. Robinson
|
Chief
|
Senior Managing Director and General Counsel of Guggenheim Funds
|
Year of Birth: 1959
|
Legal Officer
|
Investment Advisors, LLC and Guggenheim Funds Services Group, Inc.
|
(2007-present). Formerly, Associate General Counsel and Assistant
|
||
Corporate Secretary of NYSE Euronext, Inc. (2000-2007).
|
Name, Business
|
Principal Occupation
|
|
Address(1) and Age
|
Position
|
During the Past Five Years
|
Mark E. Mathiasen
|
Secretary
|
Vice President, Assistant General Counsel of Guggenheim Funds
|
Year of Birth: 1978
|
Distributors, Inc. (2007- present). Secretary of certain funds in the Fund
|
|
Complex. Previously, Law Clerk, Idaho State Courts (2003-2006).
|
||
Bruce Saxon
|
Chief
|
Vice President, Fund Compliance Officer of Guggenheim Funds Services
|
Year of Birth: 1957
|
Compliance
|
Group, Inc. (2006 to present). Formerly, Chief Compliance Officer/
|
Officer
|
Assistant Secretary of Harris Investment Management, Inc. (2003-2006).
|
|
Director-Compliance of Harrisdirect LLC (1999-2003).
|
||
James Howley
|
Assistant
|
Vice President, Fund Administration (2004-present) of Guggenheim
|
Year of birth: 1972
|
Treasurer
|
Funds Investment Advisors, LLC and Guggenheim Funds Distributors,
|
Inc.; Assistant Treasurer of certain funds in the Fund Complex. Previously,
|
||
Manager, Mutual Fund Administration of Van Kampen Investments, Inc.
|
||
(2000-2004).
|
||
Mark J. Furjanic
|
Assistant
|
Vice President, Fund Administration-Tax (2005-present) of Guggenheim
|
Year of birth: 1959
|
Treasurer
|
Funds Investment Advisors, LLC and Guggenheim Funds Distributors,
|
Inc.; Assistant Treasurer of certain funds in the Fund Complex. Formerly,
|
||
Senior Manager (1999-2005) for Ernst & Young LLP.
|
||
Donald P. Swade
|
Assistant
|
Vice President, Fund Administration (2006-present) of Guggenheim
|
Year of birth: 1972
|
Treasurer
|
Funds Investment Advisors, LLC and Guggenheim Funds Distributors,
|
Inc.; Assistant Treasurer of certain funds in the Fund Complex. Formerly,
|
||
Manager-Mutual Fund Financial Administration (2003-2006) for Morgan
|
||
Stanley/Van Kampen Investments.
|
||
Melissa J. Nguyen
|
Assistant
|
Vice President, Assistant General Counsel of Guggenheim Funds Services
|
Year of birth: 1978
|
Secretary
|
Group Inc. (2005-present). Secretary of certain funds in the Fund
|
Complex. Previously, Associate, Vedder Price P.C. (2003-2005).
|
||
Elizabeth H. Hudson
|
Assistant
|
Assistant General Counsel of Guggenheim Funds Services Group Inc.
|
Year of birth: 1980
|
Secretary
|
(2009-present). Assistant Secretary of certain funds in the Fund Complex.
|
Previously, associate at Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP (nka K&L Gates LLP)
|
||
(2007-2008).
|
(1)
|
The business address of each officer of the Trust is 2455 Corporate West Drive, Lisle, Illinois 60532, unless otherwise noted.
|
Estimated Total
|
||||
Aggregate
|
Pension or Retirement
|
Compensation
|
||
Estimated
|
Benefits Accrued
|
Estimated Annual
|
from the Trust and
|
|
Compensation
|
as Part of
|
Benefits Upon
|
Fund Complex(2)
|
|
Name
|
from the Trust
|
Trust Expenses(1)
|
Retirement(1)
|
Paid to Trustee
|
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES:
|
||||
Roman Friedrich III
|
$18,500
|
None
|
None
|
$103,000
|
Robert B. Karn III
|
$19,250
|
None
|
None
|
$127,500
|
Ronald E. Toupin Jr.
|
$20,750
|
None
|
None
|
$243,000
|
INTERESTED TRUSTEES:
|
||||
Randall C. Barnes
|
$19,250
|
None
|
None
|
$192,500
|
Ronald A. Nyberg
|
$18,500
|
None
|
None
|
$223,500
|
(1)
|
The Trust does not accrue or pay retirement or pension benefits to Trustees as of the date of this SAI.
|
(2)
|
As of the date of this SAI, the Fund Complex is composed of 15 closed-end funds, including the Trust, and 38 exchange- traded funds.
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
|
||
Securities in All Registered Investment
|
||
Dollar Range of
|
Companies Overseen by Trustee in
|
|
Name
|
Equity Securities in the Trust(1)
|
Family of Investment Companies(2)
|
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES:
|
||
Roman Friedrich III
|
None
|
None
|
Robert B. Karn III
|
None
|
None
|
Ronald E. Toupin Jr.
|
None
|
None
|
INTERESTED TRUSTEES:
|
||
Randall C. Barnes
|
None
|
over $100,000
|
Ronald A. Nyberg
|
None
|
over $100,000
|
(1)
|
The Trustees could not own shares in the Trust as of December 31, 2009 because the Trust had not yet begun investment operations as of that date.
|
(2)
|
As of the date of this SAI, the Family of Investment Companies is composed of 15 closed-end funds, including the Trust, and 38 exchange-traded funds.
|
Number of
|
||||
Accounts
|
Assets
|
|||
Subject to a
|
Subject to a
|
|||
Number of
|
Assets of
|
Performance
|
Performance
|
|
Accounts
|
Accounts
|
Fee
|
Fee
|
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
2
|
$331.4 million
|
0
|
$0
|
Pooled Investment Vehicles Other Than
|
||||
Investment Companies
|
3
|
$1.69 billion
|
2
|
$1.64 billion
|
Other Accounts
|
11
|
$38.61 billion
|
0
|
$0
|
Number of
|
||||
Accounts
|
Assets
|
|||
Subject to a
|
Subject to a
|
|||
Number of
|
Assets of
|
Performance
|
Performance
|
|
Accounts
|
Accounts
|
Fee
|
Fee
|
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
2
|
$331.4 million
|
0
|
$0
|
Pooled Investment Vehicles Other Than
|
||||
Registered Investment Companies
|
2
|
$1.64 billion
|
2
|
$1.64 billion
|
Other Accounts
|
21
|
$9.01 billion
|
1
|
$253.3 million
|
Number of
|
||||
Accounts
|
Assets
|
|||
Subject to a
|
Subject to a
|
|||
Number of
|
Assets of
|
Performance
|
Performance
|
|
Accounts
|
Accounts
|
Fee
|
Fee
|
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
0
|
$0
|
0
|
$0
|
Pooled Investment Vehicles Other Than
|
||||
Registered Investment Companies
|
0
|
$0
|
0
|
$0
|
Other Accounts
|
0
|
$0
|
0
|
$0
|
GUGGENHEIM BUILD AMERICA BONDS MANAGED DURATION TRUST
|
||||
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
|
||||
SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
|
||||
ASSETS:
|
||||
Cash
|
$ | 100,084 | ||
Deferred offering costs
|
600,000 | |||
Total Assets
|
700,084 | |||
LIABILITIES:
|
||||
Accrued offering costs
|
600,000 | |||
Total Liabilities
|
600,000 | |||
NET ASSETS
|
$ | 100,084 | ||
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS:
|
||||
Common stock, at par value of $0.01 per share
|
$ | 52 | ||
Additional paid in capital
|
100,032 | |||
NET ASSETS
|
$ | 100,084 | ||
COMMON SHARES:
|
||||
Net asset value per share
|
||||
(5,240 shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding)
|
$ | 19.10 | ||
Public offering price per share
|
$ | 20.00 | ||
SEE NOTES TO STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
|
Managed Assets
|
Rate
|
First $200,000,000
|
0.0275%
|
Next $300,000,000
|
0.0200%
|
Next $500,000,000
|
0.0150%
|
Over $1,000,000,000
|
0.0100%
|
·
|
Likelihood of payment — capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;
|
·
|
Nature of and provisions of the obligation;
|
·
|
Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.
|
·
|
Amortization schedule — the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and
|
·
|
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.
|
·
|
Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations, most commonly structured and project finance issues, pending receipt of final documentation and legal opinions.
|
·
|
Preliminary ratings are assigned to Rule 415 Shelf Registrations. As specific issues, with defined terms, are offered from the master registration, a final rating may be assigned to them in accordance with Standard & Poor’s policies.
|
·
|
Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations that will likely be issued upon the obligor’s emergence from bankruptcy or similar reorganization, based on late-stage reorganization plans, documentation and discussions with the obligor. Preliminary ratings may also be assigned to the
|
·
|
Preliminary ratings may be assigned to entities that are being formed or that are in the process of being independently established when, in S&P’s opinion, documentation is close to final.
Preliminary ratings may also be assigned to these entities’ obligations.
|
·
|
Preliminary ratings may be assigned when a previously unrated entity is undergoing a well- formulated restructuring, recapitalization, significant financing or other transformative event, generally at the point that investor or lender commitments are invited. The preliminary rating may be assigned to the entity and to its proposed obligation(s). These preliminary ratings consider the anticipated general credit quality of the obligor, as well as attributes of the anticipated obligation(s), assuming successful completion of the transformative event. Should the transformative event not occur, S&P would likely withdraw these preliminary ratings.
|
·
|
A preliminary recovery rating may be assigned to an obligation that has a preliminary issue credit rating.
|
b.
|
the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; or
|
c.
|
Fitch otherwise believes a condition of ‘RD’ or ‘D’ to be imminent or inevitable, including through the formal announcement of a coercive debt exchange.
|
a.
|
the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;
|
b.
|
the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation;
|
c.
|
the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; or
|
d.
|
execution of a coercive debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations.
|
·
|
The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.
|
·
|
The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.
|
·
|
The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuer’s securities or stock.
|
·
|
The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an issuer default.
|
·
|
The ratings do not opine on the suitability of an issuer as a counterparty to trade credit.
|
·
|
The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer’s business, operational or financial profile other than the agency’s opinion on its relative vulnerability to default.
|
·
|
The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.
|
·
|
The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.
|
·
|
The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuer’s securities or stock.
|
·
|
The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an obligation default.
|
·
|
The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer or transaction’s profile other than the agency’s opinion on the relative vulnerability to default of the rated issuer or obligation.
|
V.
|
When GPAM May Not Vote Proxies
|
(i)
|
A copy of these Proxy Policies, as they may be amended from time to time;
|
(ii)
|
Copies of proxy statements received regarding client securities, unless these materials are available electronically through the SEC’s EDGAR system;
|
(iii)
|
A record of each proxy vote cast on behalf of its clients;
|
(iv)
|
A copy of internal documents created by GPAM that were material to making the decision how to vote proxies on behalf of its clients; and
|
(v)
|
Each written client request for information on how GPAM voted proxies on behalf of the client and all written responses by GPAM to oral or written client requests for such proxy voting information.
|
IX.
|
Disclosure
|
|
(a)
|
Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Registrant(*)
|
|
(b)
|
By-Laws of Registrant(*)
|
|
(c)
|
Not applicable
|
|
(d)
|
Not applicable
|
|
(e)
|
Dividend Reinvestment Plan of Registrant(*)
|
|
(f)
|
Not applicable
|
|
(g)
|
(i)
|
Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”)(*)
|
|
(ii)
|
Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement among Registrant, the Adviser and Guggenheim Partners Asset Management, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) (*)
|
|
(h)
|
(i)
|
Form of Underwriting Agreement(+)
|
|
(ii)
|
Form of Master Agreement Among Underwriters(+)
|
|
(iii)
|
Form of Standard Dealer Agreement(+)
|
(iv)
|
Form of Merill Lynch Additional Compensation Agreement (+)
|
(v)
|
Form of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Structuring Fee Agreement (+)
|
(vi)
|
Form of Morgan Stanley Structuring Fee Agreement (+)
|
(vii)
|
Form of Wells Fargo Structuring Fee Agreement (+)
|
(viii)
|
Form of Raymond James Structuring Fee Agreement (+)
|
|
(i)
|
Not applicable
|
|
(j)
|
(i)
|
Form of Custody Agreement(+)
|
|
(ii)
|
Form of Foreign Custody Manager Agreement(+)
|
|
(k)
|
(i)
|
Form of Stock Transfer Agency Agreement(+)
|
|
(ii)
|
Form of Trust Accounting Agreement(+)
|
|
(iii)
|
Form of Administration Agreement (+)
|
|
(iv)
|
Organizational and Offering Expense Limitation Agreement (+)
|
|
(l)
|
Opinion and Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP(+)
|
|
(m)
|
Not applicable
|
|
(n)
|
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm(*)
|
|
(o)
|
Not applicable
|
|
(p)
|
Initial Subscription Agreement(*)
|
|
(q)
|
Not applicable
|
|
( r)
|
(i)
|
Code of Ethics of Registrant, the Adviser and
Guggenheim Funds Distributors, Inc.
(*)
|
|
(ii)
|
Code of Ethics of the Sub-Adviser(*)
|
|
(s)
|
Power of Attorney (*)
|
Printer/Edgar Filer
|
|
Issuer Counsel
|
|
NYSE Fee
|
|
Marketing Design
|
|
SEC Fees
|
|
FINRA Fees
|
|
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
|
Counsel for Independent Trustees
|
|
Underwriter Expense Reimbursement
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
Total
|
|
Title of Class
|
Number of Record Shareholders
as of September 27, 2010
|
Common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share
|
1
|
|
1.
|
Registrant undertakes to suspend the offering of Common Shares until the prospectus is amended, if subsequent to the effective date of this registration statement, its net asset value declines more than ten percent from its net asset value, as of the effective date of the registration statement or its net asset value increases to an amount greater than its net proceeds as stated in the prospectus.
|
|
5.
|
Registrant undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 497(h) will be deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.
|
|
6.
|
Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any Statement of Additional Information constituting Part B of this Registration Statement.
|
Principal Executive Officer:
/s/ J. Thomas Futrell
J. Thomas Futrell
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
(a)
|
Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Registrant
|
(b)
|
By-Laws of Registrant
|
(e)
|
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
|
(g) (i)
|
Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and the Adviser
|
(g) (ii)
|
Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Registrant, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser
|
(n)
|
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
(p)
|
Initial Subscription Agreement
|
(r) (i)
|
Code of Ethics of Registrant, the Adviser and Guggenheim Funds Distributors, Inc.
|
(r) (ii)
|
Code of Ethics of the Sub-Adviser
|
(s)
|
Power of Attorney
|
1.1
|
Name
|
4
|
1.2
|
Definitions
|
4
|
2.1
|
Number and Qualification
|
6
|
2.2
|
Term and Election
|
6
|
2.3
|
Resignation and Removal
|
7
|
2.4
|
Vacancies
|
7
|
2.5
|
Meetings
|
8
|
2.6
|
Trustee Action by Written Consent
|
8
|
2.7
|
Officers and Chairman
|
8
|
3.1
|
General
|
9
|
3.2
|
Investments
|
9
|
3.3
|
Legal Title
|
9
|
3.4
|
Issuance and Repurchase of Shares
|
10
|
3.5
|
Borrow Money or Utilize Leverage
|
10
|
3.6
|
Delegation; Committees
|
10
|
3.7
|
Collection and Payment
|
10
|
3.8
|
Expenses
|
11
|
3.9
|
By-Laws
|
11
|
3.10
|
Miscellaneous Powers
|
11
|
3.11
|
Further Powers
|
11
|
4.1
|
Advisory and Management Arrangements
|
12
|
4.2
|
Distribution Arrangements
|
12
|
4.3
|
Parties to Contract
|
13
|
5.1
|
No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc.
|
13
|
5.2
|
Mandatory Indemnification
|
13
|
5.3
|
No Bond Required of Trustees
|
15
|
5.4
|
No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, etc.
|
15
|
5.5
|
Reliance on Experts, etc.
|
15
|
6.1
|
Beneficial Interest
|
16
|
6.2
|
Other Securities
|
16
|
6.3
|
Rights of Shareholders
|
16
|
6.4
|
Trust Only
|
16
|
6.5
|
Issuance of Shares
|
17
|
6.6
|
Register of Shares
|
17
|
6.7
|
Transfer Agent and Registrar
|
17
|
6.8
|
Transfer of Shares
|
17
|
6.9
|
Notices
|
18
|
7.1
|
Appointment and Duties
|
18
|
7.2
|
Central Certificate System
|
19
|
8.1
|
Redemptions
|
19
|
8.2
|
Disclosure of Holding
|
19
|
9.1
|
Net Asset Value
|
19
|
9.2
|
Distributions to Shareholders
|
19
|
9.3
|
Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures
|
20
|
10.1
|
Meetings of Shareholders
|
20
|
10.2
|
Voting
|
21
|
10.3
|
Notice of Meeting and Record Date
|
21
|
10.4
|
Quorum and Required Vote
|
21
|
10.5
|
Proxies, etc.
|
22
|
10.6
|
Reports
|
22
|
10.7
|
Inspection of Records
|
22
|
10.8
|
Shareholder Action by Written Consent
|
22
|
11.1
|
Duration
|
24
|
11.2
|
Termination
|
24
|
11.3
|
Amendment Procedure
|
25
|
11.4
|
Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets
|
26
|
11.5
|
Subsidiaries
|
26
|
11.6
|
Conversion
|
26
|
11.7
|
Certain Transactions
|
27
|
12.1
|
Filing
|
28
|
12.2
|
Resident Agent
|
28
|
12.3
|
Governing Law
|
29
|
12.4
|
Counterparts
|
29
|
12.5
|
Reliance by Third Parties
|
29
|
12.6
|
Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation
|
29
|
By:
|
|
Name:
Title:
|
By:
|
|
Name:
Title:
|
By:
|
|
Name:
Title:
|
Page
|
||
I.
|
INTRODUCTION
|
1
|
II.
|
GENERAL STANDARDS
|
1
|
III.
|
DEFINITIONS
|
2
|
IV.
|
APPLICATION OF THE CODE
|
4
|
V.
|
RESTRICTIONS
|
4
|
VI.
|
PRE-CLEARANCE AND REPORTING PROCEDURES
|
6
|
VII.
|
EXCEPTIONS TO PRE-CLEARANCE AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
|
8
|
VIII.
|
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES OF INVESTMENT COMPANY CLIENTS
|
9
|
IX.
|
COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER ADVISER OR FUND CODES
|
10
|
X.
|
ENFORCEMENT OF CODE AND CONSEQUENCES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY
|
10
|
XI.
|
RETENTION OF RECORDS
|
11
|
XII.
|
AMENDMENT TO THIS CODE
|
11
|
|
·
|
employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud the client
|
|
·
|
make any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of circumstances under which they are made, not misleading or in any way mislead the client regarding a material fact
|
|
·
|
engage in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the client
|
|
·
|
engage in any manipulative practice with respect to the client
|
A.
|
Access Person
. Any director, officer, or partner of Claymore or an Investment Company Client or any employee of Claymore or an Investment Company Client who (a) has access to nonpublic information regarding any clients’ purchase or sale of securities, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of an Investment Company Client or (b) is involved in making securities recommendations to clients, or who has access to
|
1
|
Federal Securities Laws means the Securities Act of 1933(15 U.S.C. 771-aa), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a-mm), the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-204, 116 Stat. 745 (2002)), the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a), the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b), Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (Pub. L. No. 106-102) 113 Stat 1338 (1999), any rules adopted by the SEC under any of these statutes, the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. 5311-5314; 5316-5332) as it applies to funds and investment advisers, and any rules adopted thereunder by the SEC or the Department of the Treasury.
|
|
such recommendations that are nonpublic. Currently all Claymore employees are deemed access persons. See Exhibit A.
|
B.
|
Chief Compliance Officer
. The Code contains many references to the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO). The CCO is Anne Kochevar. References to the CCO also include, for any function, any person designated by the CCO as having responsibility for that function from time to time. If the CCO is not available, reports required to be made to the CCO, or actions permitted to be taken by the CCO, may be made to Sue Pittner, provided a copy is sent to the CCO. See Exhibit B.
|
C.
|
Independent Trustee
. A trustee of a closed-end fund or exchange-traded fund which is an Investment Company Client who is not an “interested person” of the closed-end fund or exchange-traded fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
|
D.
|
Investment Personnel
. Any Access Person who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes or participates in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities for a client, and (2) any natural person who controls an Investment Company Client or Claymore and who obtains information concerning recommendations made to a client regarding the purchase or sale of securities by the client, and (3) personnel involved in Claymore index administration functions. A list of Investment Personnel is attached as Exhibit C.
|
E.
|
Personal Securities Transaction.
The Code regulates Personal Securities Transactions as a part of the effort by Claymore to detect and prevent conduct that might violate the general prohibitions outlined above.
A Personal Securities Transaction is a transaction in a security, other than an exempted security (as defined below), in which a person subject to this Code has a beneficial interest.
|
|
1.
|
Security.
Security is defined very broadly, and means any note, stock, bond, debenture, investment contract, limited partnership or limited liability membership interest, and includes any right to acquire any security (an option or warrant, for example).
|
|
2.
|
Beneficial interest.
You have a beneficial interest in a security in which you have, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in the security, or in which you have an indirect interest, including beneficial ownership by your spouse or minor children or other dependents or any immediate family member living in your household, or your share of securities held by a partnership of which you are a general partner.
Technically, Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 will be applied to determine if you have a beneficial interest in a security (even if the security would not be within the scope of section 16).
|
|
·
|
Portfolio managers who manage the accounts
|
|
·
|
Research analysts or research assistants who are members of the management team for the accounts
|
|
·
|
Traders who trade on behalf of clients
|
|
·
|
Support staff and administrative assistants working directly with portfolio managers and analysts
|
|
·
|
Personnel involved in Claymore index administration.
|
A.
|
No Conflicting Personal Securities Transactions.
No Access Person shall engage in a Personal Securities Transaction in a security which the person
knows or has reason to believe
(i) is being purchased or sold (i.e., a pending “buy” or “sell” order), (ii) has been purchased or sold for a client within the last seven (7) calendar days, or (iii) is being considered for purchase or sale by a client, until that client’s transactions have been completed
or
consideration of such transactions has been abandoned. A security will be treated as
“under consideration”
for a client, if the portfolio manager or investment team responsible for the management of the account of that client intends to purchase or sell the security in the next seven (7) calendar days. No Access Person shall engage in a Personal Securities Transaction in a security which the person knows or has reason to believe is under consideration for inclusion or exclusion in an index administered by Claymore within seven (7) calendar days prior to or after the index rebalance being published.
|
B.
|
Private Placements.
No Access Person shall acquire
or dispose of
a beneficial interest in a security in a private placement without express prior written approval from the CCO or her designee.
|
|
Claymore Group Stock.
No Access Person shall acquire or dispose of a beneficial interest in the stock of Claymore Group Inc. (“Claymore Group Stock”) without the prior written approval of the General Counsel or his designee.
|
|
Guggenheim Capital LLC Membership Interests.
Any Access Person who is granted an interest in, or receives approval to purchase or sell Guggenheim Capital membership interest (“Guggenheim Interest”) by Guggenheim Capital, must inform Claymore Compliance of such grant or approval to purchase or sell, and disclose any initial or continued holdings of Guggenheim Interests on Schedule H.
|
C.
|
Initial Public Offerings.
No Access Person shall acquire a beneficial interest in a security in an initial public offering.
|
D.
|
Short-term trading.
Investment Personnel and Fund Trustee’s shall not profit in the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the same (or equivalent) security within sixty calendar days.
Access persons shall not profit in the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase of any Claymore Fund or Trust within sixty calendar days.
Trades made in violation of this prohibition shall be unwound or, if that is impracticable, any profits must be disgorged to a charitable organization that is selected by the CCO or her designee.
|
E.
|
Gifts.
Access Persons shall not accept any gift or other thing of more than de minimus value (e.g. $100 for U.S. and $300 CDN for Claymore Canada) from any person or entity that does business with or on behalf of any client of Claymore, or seeks to do business with or on behalf of a client. Gifts in excess of this value must either be returned to the donor or paid for by the recipient. It is not the intent of the Code to prohibit the everyday courtesies of business life. Therefore, this prohibition does not include an occasional meal or ticket to a theater, entertainment or sporting event that is an incidental part of a meeting that has a clear business purpose.
|
F.
|
Service as Director.
Access Persons shall not serve on the board of directors of a publicly traded company, without prior authorization by the CCO. Access Persons may submit a request for authorization and such request shall state the position sought, the reason service is desired and any possible conflicts of interest known at the time of the request. Service may be authorized by the CCO only if the CCO determines that service in that capacity would be consistent with the interests of Claymore and its clients. In addition, Investment Personnel who receive authorization to serve in such a capacity shall
|
|
be isolated through “Information Barrier” procedures from making investment decisions regarding securities issued by the entity involved.
|
|
1.
|
Pre-clearance Requirement.
Except as provided below, all Access Persons
must receive prior approval of their Personal Securities Transactions from the CCO or her designee. Personal Securities Transactions of the CCO must be approved by the General Counsel. Any approval shall be valid for one business day.
|
|
2.
|
Personal Securities Transaction Form.
All requests for pre-clearance of Personal Securities Transactions must be made on the form attached as Exhibit G
or Exhibit G(a) for Claymore Group Stock.
|
|
3.
|
Factors to Consider in Pre-clearing Personal Securities Transactions.
The CCO should consider:
|
|
·
|
whether the security appears on Claymore’s Product Security List or Index Consideration List
|
|
·
|
whether the investment opportunity should be reserved for a client
|
|
·
|
whether the opportunity is being offered to an individual by virtue of his/her position with respect to Claymore’s relationship with a client
|
|
4.
|
Subsequent Disclosure by Access Person.
If pre-clearance is granted, the Access Person must disclose the Personal Securities Transaction when he or she participates in any subsequent investment decision for a client regarding the same issuer. In such circumstances, the decision to purchase or sell securities of the issuer will be subject to an independent review by the CCO or her designee.
|
|
5.
|
Exemptions from Pre-clearance.
Access Persons do not need to seek pre-clearance for the following transactions:
|
|
·
|
Purchases or sales which are
non-volitional
on the part of either the Access Person or the Investment Company Client (e.g., transactions in corporate mergers, stock splits, tender offers); or
|
|
·
|
Purchases effected upon the
exercise of rights
issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its securities.
|
|
·
|
Purchases or sales effected in any account (previously approved by the CCO or her designee) over which the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control.
|
|
·
|
Purchases which are part of ongoing participation in an automatic dividend reinvestment plan. (The initial election to participate in an automatic dividend reinvestment plan should be pre-cleared.)
|
B.
|
Reporting Requirements
.
Every Access Person must report to the CCO or her designee the following reports regarding the Access Persons direct or indirect beneficial ownership in securities (other than Excepted Securities):
|
|
1.
|
Initial and Annual Holdings Reports.
No later than ten days after the person becomes an Access Person, and annually thereafter as of December 31, the following information:
|
|
·
|
the title and type of security, interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), CUSIP number or exchange ticker symbol, number of shares and principal amount of each security beneficially owned
|
|
·
|
the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person maintained an account
|
|
·
|
the date that the report is submitted by the Access Person
|
|
·
|
the reports can be accomplished through submission of account statements or the form at Exhibit H or
Exhibit H(a) for Claymore Group Stock.
|
|
2.
|
Quarterly Transaction Reports
.
No later than
thirty
days after the end of the calendar quarter, the following information (a) with respect to any Personal Securities Transaction during the quarter:
|
|
·
|
The date of the transaction, the title and type of security, the CUSIP number or exchange ticker symbol (if applicable), the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares and the principal amount of each security
|
|
·
|
The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition)
|
|
·
|
The price at which the transaction was effected
|
|
·
|
The name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected
|
|
·
|
The date that the report is submitted by the Access Person
|
|
·
|
The name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person established the account
|
|
·
|
The date the account was established
|
|
·
|
The date that the report is submitted by the Access Person
|
C.
|
Execution of Personal Securities Transactions Through Disclosed Brokerage Accounts; Duplicate Confirmations.
All Personal Securities Transactions must be conducted through brokerage or other accounts that have been identified to the CCO or her designee. Each such account must be set up to deliver or mail duplicate copies of all confirmations and statements to: Claymore Securities, Inc., Attention: Compliance Department, 2455 Corporate West Drive, Lisle, IL 60532.
|
|
Excepted Securities.
Access Persons
do not need to report transactions or holdings, or seek pre-clearance for transactions, in the following securities.
|
|
·
|
shares of open-end investment companies that are not Investment Company Clients (open-end funds for which Claymore is not the investment adviser or distributor)
Please note that all ETFs must be pre-cleared.
|
|
·
|
direct obligations of the U.S. government (U.S. treasury bills, notes and bonds);
|
|
·
|
money market instruments, including bank certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper and repurchase agreements
|
|
·
|
shares of money market funds;
|
|
·
|
shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end investment companies, none of whom are Investment Company Clients. Note: All purchases and sales of Claymore sponsored Unit Investment Trusts must be pre-cleared.
|
|
1.
|
Independent Trustees shall be subject to Sections V.A. “Restrictions-No Conflicting Personal Securities Transactions”, V.B. “Restrictions-Private Placements” and VI.B.2. “Pre-Clearance and Reporting Procedures-Reporting Requirements-Quarterly Transaction Reports” only if the Independent Trustee knew or, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duties as a trustee, should have known that during the 15-day period immediately before or after the trustee’s transaction in a security (except for Excepted Securities described in Section VII “Exceptions to Preclearance and Reporting Requirements”), the closed-end fund or ETF of which such person is an Independent Trustee, purchased or sold the security, or a purchase or sale was considered on behalf of the closed-end fund or ETF.
|
|
2.
|
Although not strictly prohibited, it is recommended that Independent Trustees refrain from trading in shares of the relevant closed-end fund or ETF for a period of seven calendar days before and after meetings of the Board of Trustees of such fund.
|
|
3.
|
Independent Trustees shall not accept any gift or other thing of more than de minimis value (e.g. $100) from any person or entity that the Independent Trustee knows or should know does business with or on behalf of, or seeks to do business with or on behalf of a closed-end fund or ETF on whose board the Trustee serves. Gifts in excess of this value must either be returned to the donor or paid for by the recipient. It is not the intent of the Code to prohibit the everyday courtesies of business life. Therefore, this prohibition does not include an occasional meal or
|
|
|
ticket to a theater, entertainment or sporting event that is an incidental part of a meeting that has a clear business purpose.
|
|
4.
|
In lieu of the sanctions contemplated by Section X.D. hereof, Independent Trustees shall be subject to sanctions as determined by the Board of Trustees of the relevant closed-end fund or ETF.
|
A.
|
Certification
. All persons subject to the Code (other than Independent Trustees) shall certify annually that they have read and understood the Code and recognized that they are subject thereto, and that they have complied with the requirements of the Code. See Exhibit F.
|
B.
|
Review of Reports.
The CCO or her designee shall review all reports submitted under the Code.
|
C.
|
Notification of Reporting Obligation.
The CCO or her designee shall update Exhibits A, B, C as necessary to include new Access Persons and Investment Personnel and shall notify those persons of their obligations under the Code.
|
D.
|
Sanctions for Violations.
Upon discovery of a violation of this Code, including either violations of the enumerated provisions or the general principles provided, Claymore may impose such sanctions as it deems appropriate, including,
inter alia
, a letter of censure or suspension or termination of the employment of the violator.
|
E.
|
Annual Review.
Pursuant to Rule 17j-1(c)(2)(ii), Claymore will at least annually review this Code of Ethics to determine whether it is reasonably designed to prevent persons subject to the Code from engaging in fraudulent activities prohibited by paragraph (b) of the rule. The CCO, General Counsel or Chief Administrative Officer will certify annually that Claymore has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Claymore Access Persons from violating this Code of Ethics.
|
|
1.
|
I have read and understood the Code of Ethics and recognize that I am subject to its provisions;
|
|
2.
|
In accordance with Section VI of the Code of Ethics, I will report all securities transactions in which I have a beneficial interest, except for transactions exempt from reporting under Section VII of the Code of Ethics.
|
3.
|
I will comply with the Code of Ethics in all other respects.
|
I. OBJECTIVES OF THE CODE |
1
|
A. Adoption of Code of Ethics by Guggenheim Partners Asset Management, LLC |
1
|
B. Regulatory Requirement |
1
|
C. Compliance with Applicable Law |
1
|
D. Confidential Information |
1
|
E. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest |
1
|
F. Upholding the Spirit of the Code of Ethics |
2
|
II. WHO IS SUBJECT TO THE CODE? |
2
|
A. GPAM Employees, Officers and Directors |
2
|
III. WHO ADMINISTERS THE CODE? |
3
|
A. GPAM Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) |
3
|
B. Financial Tracking Technology, LLC (“FTT”) |
4
|
IV. FIDUCIARY DUTY TO CLIENTS |
4
|
A. Comply with Applicable Law |
4
|
B. Fiduciary Duty – Avoiding Conflicts and Safeguarding Information |
5
|
C. Compliance with the Code of Ethics |
5
|
D. Personal Interests |
5
|
E. Maintaining the Best Interests of Clients |
5
|
F. Confidentiality |
5
|
G. Gifts and Entertainment |
5
|
H. Outside Affiliations |
6
|
I. Political Contributions |
6
|
J. Personal Trading |
7
|
V. REPORTING OF PERSONAL TRADING |
7
|
A. Personal Investment Accounts |
7
|
B. Electronic Personal Trading Reporting System |
7
|
C. Which Investment Accounts Do Access Persons Need to Report? |
7
|
D. Required Initial, Quarterly and Annual Reports |
9
|
E. New Investment Accounts |
11
|
VI. PRE-CLEARANCE FOR PERSONAL TRADING |
11
|
A. What Trades Must Be Pre-Cleared? |
11
|
B. What Trades are Not Required to be Pre-Cleared? |
12
|
C. How Does Pre-Clearance Process Work? |
13
|
VII. TRADING RESTRICTIONS |
13
|
A. For All Trading |
13
|
B. Excessive Trading in Reportable Accounts |
13
|
C. Holding Periods for Certain Mutual Funds, Investment Companies |
14
|
VIII. ANNUAL REVIEW
|
14
|
|
IX. RETENTION OF RECORDS
|
14
|
|
INSIDER TRADING POLICY
|
16
|
|
A. Policy Statement on Insider Trading |
16
|
|
B. In General – Inside Information |
16
|
|
C. Prohibiting Misuse of Inside Information |
17
|
|
D. General Guidelines |
17
|
|
E. Maintenance of Restricted List |
18
|
|
F. Review of Trading |
18
|
|
G. Investigations |
19
|
|
H. Procedures for GPAM’s Policy Against Insider Trading |
19
|
|
SUPPLEMENT #1:
|
21
|
|
TRANSACTING IN THE GUGGENHEIM/CLAYMORE STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES FUND (“GOF”)
|
21
|
|
SUPPLEMENT #2:
|
22
|
|
LIST OF OPEN-END MUTUAL FUNDS ADVISED OR SUB-ADVISED BY GPAM OR AFFILIATES
|
22
|
|
SUPPLEMENT #3:
|
23
|
|
TRANSACTIONS IN EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (“ETF’S”) ADVISED OR SUB-ADVISED BY GPAM AND SECURITIES TRADED BY SUCH FUNDS
|
23
|
|
SUPPLEMENT #4:
|
24
|
|
TRANSACTIONS IN UNIT INVESTMENT TRUST’S (“UIT’S”) FOR WHICH GPAM ASSISTS THE WITH THE SELECTION OF SECURITIES TRADED BY SUCH TRUSTS
|
24
|
I.
|
OBJECTIVES OF THE CODE
|
A.
|
Adoption of Code of Ethics by Guggenheim Partners Asset Management, LLC
|
B.
|
Regulatory Requirement
|
C.
|
Compliance with Applicable Law
|
D.
|
Confidential Information
|
E.
|
Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
|
F.
|
Upholding the Spirit of the Code of Ethics
|
II.
|
WHO IS SUBJECT TO THE CODE?
|
A.
|
GPAM Employees, Officers and Directors
|
1.
|
“
Supervised Person
” includes any:
|
a)
|
Director, officer, manager, principal and partner of the Adviser (or other persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions);
|
b)
|
Employee of the Adviser; and
|
c)
|
Other person who provides advice on behalf of the Adviser or is subject to the Adviser’s supervision and control.
|
2.
|
“
Access Person
” means any Supervised Person who:
|
a)
|
Has access to nonpublic information regarding any client’s purchase or sale of securities, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any client account the Adviser or its affiliates manage or any fund which is advised or sub-advised by the Adviser (or certain affiliates, where applicable);
|
b)
|
Is involved in making securities recommendations to clients, or has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic;
|
c)
|
In connection with his/her regular functions or duties, makes or participates in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities on behalf of a client;
|
d)
|
Obtains information concerning recommendations made regarding the purchase or sale of securities on behalf of a client;
|
e)
|
Otherwise exercises Investment Control (defined below) over client accounts; or
|
f)
|
Is a director, officer or partner of the Adviser.
|
3.
|
Temporary Employees
: The CCO shall determine on a case-by-case basis whether a temporary employee (e.g., consultant or intern) should be considered a Supervised Person, Access Person or neither. Such determination shall be made based upon on an application of the criteria provided above.
|
4.
|
Access Persons with Investment Control
: This category includes all accounts over which an Access Person exercises Investment Control. Investment Control shall mean the direct or indirect power to exercise controlling influence over investment decisions. This includes any arrangement where the Access Person serves as an agent, executor, trustee or in another similar capacity.
|
III.
|
WHO ADMINISTERS THE CODE?
|
A.
|
GPAM Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)
|
1.
|
Responsibilities: The GPAM CCO is responsible for administering the Code of Ethics under the auspices of Guggenheim Partners’ Legal & Compliance Department (the “Legal & Compliance Department”) and GPAM’s senior management.
|
2.
|
Reporting of Violations: If a Supervised Person becomes aware of a violation of this Code of Ethics or a violation of applicable law, they have an obligation to report the matter promptly to the CCO.
|
3.
|
Review of Violations: The CCO will review all violations of the Code of Ethics and oversee any appropriate investigation and subsequent response with respect to GPAM. As the designee of senior management, the CCO shall have the right to make final and binding interpretations of the Code and may grant, using her discretion, exceptions to certain of the above restrictions.
|
4.
|
Review of CCO’s Compliance with Code of Ethics: A member of senior management of the Adviser or any other person designated (
e.g
., a member of the Legal & Compliance Department), who may or may not be an employee of the Adviser, is responsible for reviewing the CCO's personal trading reports and annual Code of Ethics certifications required under the Code of Ethics. If the CCO is in violation of the Code of Ethics, senior management will impose the appropriate sanction(s).
|
5.
|
Sanctions: For violations of this Code of Ethics, sanctions may be imposed as deemed appropriate by the CCO and as applicable in coordination with senior management, including, among other things, sale of an open position and disgorgement of profits realized from a prohibited transaction under the Code of Ethics, a letter of censure or suspension or termination of the employment of the employee. A pattern of violations that individually do not violate the law, but which taken together demonstrate a lack of respect for the Code of Ethics, may result in disciplinary action, including termination of employment.
|
6.
|
Employee Cooperation: Employees are encouraged to share questions, concerns, suggestions or complaints with management of the Adviser, the CCO or other members of the Legal & Compliance Department. Reports of violations or suspected violations will be kept confidential to the extent possible, but consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation.
|
B.
|
Financial Tracking Technology, LLC (“FTT”)
|
1.
|
Use of FTT: GPAM has implemented an automated system, FTT, to manage Code of Ethics reporting obligations. All Supervised Persons and Access Persons are required to use the system.
|
IV.
|
FIDUCIARY DUTY TO CLIENTS
|
A.
|
Comply with Applicable Law
|
B.
|
Fiduciary Duty – Avoiding Conflicts and Safeguarding Information
|
C.
|
Compliance with the Code of Ethics
|
D.
|
Personal Interests
|
E.
|
Maintaining the Best Interests of Clients
|
F.
|
Confidentiality
|
G.
|
Gifts and Entertainment
|
1.
|
Supervised Persons may be offered or may receive gifts and entertainment such as hosted dinners or other events from persons that are personally in a position to do or potentially to do business with GPAM such as clients, consultants, vendors or other business contacts (generally know as “business contacts”). To monitor that Supervised Persons are not beholden to a business contact and that their judgment remains objective, Supervised Persons may only accept appropriate and reasonable gifts and entertainment of a de minimis value as provided in GPAM’s Gifts and
|
|
Entertainment Policy, which is included in GPAM’s current Compliance Manual and no cash or cash equivalents (i.e. gift cards) may be accepted.
|
2.
|
Supervised Persons may not personally give gifts to business contacts that exceed a de minimis value as provided in GPAM’s Gifts and Entertainment Policy. Any gifts or entertainment provided to business contacts should be done on behalf of GPAM with proper authorization.
|
3.
|
Supervised Persons may not solicit gifts or entertainment or anything of value from a business contact.
|
4.
|
The acceptance and providing of gifts and entertainment shall also be subject to GPAM’s policies and procedures as applicable.
|
5.
|
Supervised Persons are required to report gifts and entertainment, received and given, on a quarterly basis via FTT. Reporting of gifts of an insignificant amount in value such as pens, baseball caps, or t-shirts does not require reporting. Nor do food gifts that are sent to or shared with multiple employees.
|
H.
|
Outside Affiliations
|
1.
|
Any Supervised Person who is employed by, accepts any remuneration from, or performs any services for any person or entity, including serving as a director of a public or private company, trustee or general partner of a partnership, other than the Adviser or any affiliate of the Adviser (or in these capacities, i.e. director or partner, in a non-profit corporation.), must complete the Pre-Clearance Questionnaire posted on FTT.
|
2.
|
The CCO may require specific information to verify no conflict of interest exists between the outside affiliation and the GPAM’s activities and the Supervised Person’s role at GPAM. If authorized to engage in the outside affiliation or business activity, appropriate safeguards and procedures may be implemented to prevent potential conflicts of interest.
|
3.
|
In no event should any Supervised Person have any outside employment that might cause embarrassment to, or jeopardize the interests of the Adviser, interfere with its operations, or adversely affect his or her productivity or that of other employees.
|
I.
|
Political Contributions
|
1.
|
Neither GPAM nor any Supervised Person is allowed to make political contributions that intentionally or unintentionally have the perceived effect of influencing whether a government entity, official or candidate hires or retains GPAM or its affiliates as investment advisers or invests or maintains an investment in any fund advised or sub-advised by GPAM or a GPAM affiliate.
|
2.
|
Supervised Persons are prohibited from contributing to a candidate’s campaign in a state for which GPAM manages state or local governments’ funds.
|
3.
|
Please see the Compliance Manual and Guggenheim Capital, LLC’s Code of Conduct for further guidance on political contributions.
|
J.
|
Personal Trading
|
1.
|
A potential conflict exists between the interests of clients and personal investment activities of Supervised Persons and particularly Access Persons. This conflict may take shape in a variety of ways, including the particular trades executed and the volume of trading done in personal accounts.
|
2.
|
Supervised Persons may not engage in an excessive volume of trading in personal accounts. High volumes of personal trading, as determined by the CCO and or senior management, may raise concerns that Supervised and Access Persons energies and interests are not aligned with client interests.
|
3.
|
At all times, Supervised Persons have an obligation to refrain from personal trading to manipulate the prices of securities and trading on material, non-public information.
|
4.
|
Given the potential conflict that exists among client transactions, holdings and intentions and Supervised Persons personal trading activity, the Code of Ethics contains more detailed requirements to permit the monitoring of personal trading activity. The remaining sections of the Code of Ethics provide guidance on the requirements that must be followed in connection with personal trading activity.
|
V.
|
REPORTING OF PERSONAL TRADING
|
A.
|
Personal Investment Accounts
|
B.
|
Electronic Personal Trading Reporting System
|
C.
|
Which Investment Accounts Do Access Persons Need to Report?
|
|
1.
|
Report any of the following investment accounts:
|
(a)
|
The Access Person has Beneficial Ownership which is an investment account with a broker-dealer or bank in which the Access Person has a direct or indirect interest, including, but is not limited to, individual accounts or that they share jointly with another person. This includes, but is not limited to individual accounts, joint accounts, spousal accounts, UTMA accounts, partnerships, trusts and controlling interests in corporations. Access Persons must also report any Individual Retirement Account (“IRA”) held with a broker-dealer or bank.
|
(b)
|
Any investment account with a broker-dealer or bank over which the Access Person has investment decision-making authority (including accounts that the Access Person is named on, such as being a guardian, executor or trustee, as well as accounts that Access Person is not named on such as an account owned by another person but for which the Access Person has been granted trading authority).
|
(c)
|
Any investment account with a broker-dealer or bank established by partnership, corporation, or other entity in which the Access Person has a direct or indirect interest through any formal or informal understanding or agreement.
|
(d)
|
Any college savings account in which the Access Person holds securities issued under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code and in which the Access Person has a direct or indirect interest.
|
(e)
|
Any other account that the CCO deems appropriate in light of the Access Person’s interest or involvement.
|
(f)
|
Any account in which the Access Person’s immediate family is the owner. Access Persons are presumed to have investment decision-making authority for, and therefore must report, any investment account of a member of their immediate family if they live in the same household as them. (Immediate family includes, but is not limited to, a spouse, child, grandchild, stepchild, parent, grandparent, sibling, mother or father-in-law, son or daughter-in-law, or brother or sister-in-law). Access Persons may rebut this presumption if they are able to provide GPAM with satisfactory assurances that they have no material interest in the account and exercise no control over investment decisions made regarding the account. Access Persons should consult with the CCO for guidance regarding this process.
|
(a)
|
Accounts over which the Access Person retains no Investment Control and that are managed by an independent third-party must be reported but are not subject to the trading restrictions of the Code, if:
|
(i)
|
A copy of the discretionary account management agreement is provided to the CCO promptly upon establishment of the account;
|
(ii)
|
The CCO finds no exceptions after his/her review of the discretionary account management agreement; and
|
(iii)
|
The CCO is provided with an attestation from the Access Person’s discretionary money manager that such Access Person has no ability to
|
|
exercise investment control or to place unsolicited trades with such manager unless, in the view of the CCO, the discretionary account management agreement (described in (i.) above) contains language to such effect.
|
D.
|
Required Initial, Quarterly and Annual Reports
|
1.
|
Initial
: What information is required when you initially become subject to GPAM’s Code of Ethics?
|
(a)
|
Access Persons must report all of their investment accounts. (See Section V.C. above for more detail for which accounts must be reported.)
|
(b)
|
The report must either include copies of statements or the name of the broker, dealer or bank, title on the account, security names, and the number of shares and principal amount of all holdings.
|
(i)
|
If the Access Person’s brokerage firm provides automatic feeds to FTT, GPAM will obtain account information electronically, after the Access Person has completed the appropriate authorizations as required by the brokerage firm.
|
(ii)
|
If the brokerage firm does not provide automatic feeds to FTT, the CCO will arrange with the broker to send duplicate confirmations and statements directly to FTT, but the Access Person’s assistance may be required.
|
(c)
|
All required account information must be reported within 10 calendar days from the date of hire or the date on which the Access Person becomes a GPAM employee and the information must be current as of a date no more than 45 calendar days prior to the date the person becomes an Access Person.
|
(d)
|
Supervised Persons report any Outside Business Activities, in addition to completing a disciplinary history form.
|
(e)
|
Supervised Persons must complete a form certifying receipt of this Code of Ethics.
|
2.
|
Quarterly Transaction Reports
: What information is required on a quarterly basis?
|
(a)
|
Access Persons must review FTT’s report of all transactions in Covered Securities, in which they have a direct or indirect beneficial interest,
within 30 days after quarter end.
|
(i)
|
What are “Covered Securities”? “Covered Securities” are securities as defined by the Acts are any financial instrument related to a security, including:
|
1.
|
Stock;
|
2.
|
Note;
|
3.
|
Treasury stock;
|
4.
|
Security future;
|
5.
|
Bond;
|
6.
|
Debenture;
|
7.
|
Evidence of indebtedness;
|
8.
|
Future;
|
9.
|
Investment contract;
|
10.
|
Voting trust certificate;
|
11.
|
Certificate of deposit for a security;
|
12.
|
Option on any security or on any group or index of securities (
e.g.
, put, call or straddle);
|
13.
|
Exchange traded fund (ETF);
|
14.
|
Limited partnership;
|
15.
|
Certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement;
|
16.
|
Collateral-RIC certificate;
|
17.
|
Fractional undivided interest in oil, gas or other mineral right;
|
18.
|
Pre-organizational certificate or subscription;
|
19.
|
Transferable shares;
|
20.
|
Foreign unit trust (
i.e.
, UCIT) and foreign mutual fund;
|
21.
|
Private investment fund, hedge fund, and investment club;
|
22.
|
Unit investment trusts (UIT’s);
|
23.
|
Any open-end mutual funds managed, advised or sub-advised by GPAM or an affiliate; and
|
24.
|
Any other instrument that is considered a “security” under the various securities laws.
|
(ii)
|
The term “Covered Securities” does not include obligations of the US government, bank loans, banker’s acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short term debt instruments such as repurchase agreements, shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open end funds, none of which are reportable funds, or open-end mutual funds which GPAM or an affiliate doesn’t manage, advise or sub-advise.
|
(b)
|
From time to time, FTT may not receive all duplicate statements from brokers or may not receive them on a timely basis. In those cases, Access Persons will be notified by the CCO and must provide copies of the statements to the CCO who will forward the information to FTT.
|
(c)
|
Access Persons who do not maintain investment accounts or did not execute transactions in “Covered Securities,” will be required to confirm that there was no investment activity on FTT.
|
(d)
|
Supervised Persons must report all gifts and entertainment from clients and business contacts received or given during the quarter.
|
3.
|
Annual Holdings Reports
: What information is required on an annual basis?
|
(a)
|
Access Persons must provide a list of all Covered Securities in which they or their Immediate Family
2
have a direct or indirect interest, including those not held in an account at a broker-dealer or bank. The list must include the title, number of shares and principal amount of each covered security. Access Persons must report the account number, account name and financial institution for each investment account with a broker-dealer or bank for which they are required to report.
|
(b)
|
On an annual basis Access Persons must confirm that all accounts and holdings are reported in FTT.
|
(c)
|
The information in the annual report must be as of December 31.
|
(d)
|
Supervised Persons must also certify annually that they have complied with the requirements of this Code of Ethics and that they have disclosed all transactions and holdings required to be disclosed pursuant to the requirements of this Code.
|
E.
|
New Investment Accounts
|
VI.
|
PRE-CLEARANCE FOR PERSONAL TRADING
|
A.
|
What Trades Must Be Pre-Cleared?
|
1.
|
Covered Securities
: Unless excluded below, you must pre-clear trades in Covered Securities. Pre-clearance serves to verify the trade does not conflict with any securities included on GPAM’s restricted list.
|
2.
|
Shares in any Affiliated Investment Company
: Pre-clearance is required for purchases or sale of shares of closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) advised or sub-advised by GPAM, and for unit investment trusts (“UITs”) sponsored by GPAM or an affiliate of GPAM. This includes pre-clearance for such purchases or sales in an Immediate Family member’s account.
|
3.
|
Private Placement Securities
: Any trades in private placement securities (i.e., any offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to section 4(2) or 4(6) or pursuant to rule 504, rule 505, or rule 506 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) must be precleared. For example, private investment partnerships or private real estate holding partnerships would be subject to pre-clearance.
|
4.
|
Initial Public Offerings
: Trade in IPO’s must be pre-cleared. After obtaining pre-approval from the CCO, participation is limited to the scope permitted for “Restricted Persons” under NASD Conduct Rule 5130.
|
5.
|
529 College Savings Plans
: Any transaction in units of a college savings plan established under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code where the underlying investments are open-end funds advised or sub-advised by GPAM.
|
B.
|
What Trades are Not Required to be Pre-Cleared?
|
1.
|
Government Securities
: Trades in any direct obligations of the U.S. Government, bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments including repurchase agreements are not required to be pre-cleared.
|
2.
|
Money Market Funds
: Trades in any investment company or fund that is a money market fund are not required to be pre-cleared.
|
3.
|
Open-End Mutual Funds
: Trades in open-end mutual funds that are not advised or sub-advised by GPAM are not required to be pre-cleared.
|
4.
|
No Knowledge
: Securities transactions where no knowledge of the transaction exists before it is completed. For example, a transaction effected by a Trustee of a blind trust or discretionary trades involving an investment partnership or investment club, when the Access Person is neither consulted nor advised of the trade before it is executed are not required to be pre-cleared.
|
5.
|
Certain Corporate Actions
: Any acquisition of securities through stock dividends, dividend reinvestments, stock splits, reverse stock splits, mergers, consolidations, spin-offs, exercise of rights or other similar corporate reorganizations or distributions
|
|
generally applicable to all holders of the same class of securities is not required to be pre-cleared.
|
6.
|
529 College Savings Plans
: Any transaction in units of a college savings plan established under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, unless the underlying investment includes open-end funds advised or sub-advised by GPAM.
|
7.
|
Miscellaneous
: Any transaction in any other securities as the GPAM CCO may designate on the grounds that the risk of abuse is minimal or non-existent.
|
C.
|
How Does Pre-Clearance Process Work?
|
1.
|
Understand the Pre-Clearance Requirements
: Review Sections VI.A and VI.B to determine if the security requires pre-clearance.
|
2.
|
Pre-Clearance Request Form
: Log on to FTT, complete the online pre-clearance form, and electronically submit request.
|
3.
|
Approval or Denial
: Approval of the proposed trade may automatically be generated so long as the trade is not currently listed on applicable restricted lists or does not require additional review or authorization by the CCO or senior management.
|
VII.
|
TRADING RESTRICTIONS
|
A.
|
For All Trading
|
1.
|
Market Manipulation
: Securities transactions may not be executed with the intent to raise, lower, or maintain the price of any security or to falsely create the appearance of trading activity.
|
2.
|
Trading on Inside Information
: Transactions (buy’s or sell’s) of any security cannot be made if in possession of material non-public information about the security or the issuer of the security. (Please also refer to GPAM’s Policy on Insider Trading.)
|
3.
|
Regardless of whether a transaction is specifically prohibited in this Code of Ethics, no person subject to this Code of Ethics may engage in any personal securities transactions that (i) impact their ability to carry out their assigned duties or (ii) increase the possibility of an actual or apparent conflict of interest.
|
B.
|
Excessive Trading in Reportable Accounts
|
C.
|
Holding Periods for Certain Mutual Funds, Investment Companies
|
1.
|
For Access Persons
:
|
(a)
|
After purchase in an account of a fund advised or sub-advised by GPAM, Access Persons must hold that security in that account for at least 60 days from the date of purchase.
|
(b)
|
Note that this limitation also applies to any purchase or sales in an Access Person’s individual retirement account, 401(k), deferred compensation plan, or any similar retirement plan or investment account for their or their immediate family.
|
VIII.
|
ANNUAL REVIEW
|
IX.
|
RETENTION OF RECORDS
|
A.
|
Policy Statement on Insider Trading
|
B.
|
In General – Inside Information
|
C.
|
Prohibiting Misuse of Inside Information
|
·
|
No Adviser employee, while in possession of inside information relevant to a security, shall purchase or sell, or recommend or direct the purchase or sale of, such security for the account of the Adviser, an employee, a client, or anyone else.
|
·
|
No employee shall use inside information to purchase or sell securities for his or her own account, any account in which he or she has a direct or indirect beneficial interest (including accounts for family members), or any other account over which the employee has discretionary authority or a power of attorney.
|
·
|
No employee shall disclose “inside” information to any person outside the firm without the authorization of the CCO or senior management.
|
·
|
Any employee who, in the course of his or her employment, obtains “inside” information that is later disclosed to the general public must allow sufficient time to elapse for the investing public to assimilate and evaluate the information before taking any action for his or her personal account on the basis of the disclosed facts.
|
D.
|
General Guidelines
|
E.
|
Maintenance of Restricted List
|
·
|
Where there is a concentration of ownership in a security and the Adviser’s clients already own a substantial portion of the publicly held outstanding shares; or
|
·
|
When an Adviser comes into possession of material, non-public information about a public company, such as business plans, earnings projections, or merger and acquisition plans.
|
·
|
When Adviser or any Adviser employee recommends an equity security, or has access to information relating to such a recommendation, for any UIT sponsored by Adviser or an affiliate of Adviser or any ETF advised or sub-advised by Adviser or an affiliate of Adviser.
|
F.
|
Review of Trading
|
G.
|
Investigations
|
H.
|
Procedures for GPAM’s Policy Against Insider Trading
|
1.
|
Identifying “Inside” Information
|
|
(iii)
|
Do not communicate the information inside or outside an Adviser, other than to the CCO.
|
2.
|
Restricting Access to Material Nonpublic Information
|
3.
|
Resolving Issues Concerning Insider Trading
|
1.
|
Pre-Approval
: Access Persons are required to obtain prior approval through Financial Tracking (“FTT”) before undertaking any transaction (e.g., purchase or sale) in CEF’s advised or sub-advised by GPAM. Pre-approval is in addition to, not a substitute, for other restrictions discussed below.
|
2.
|
Blackouts: Dividend
: Access Persons are prohibited from trading in CEF’s advised or sub-advised by GPAM. seven (7) days before and seven (7) days after the initial dividend of such CEF is declared. Access Persons are also prohibited form trading in in CEF’s advised or sub-advised by GPAM. seven (7) days before the dividend of such CEF is declared. Dividends that are automatically reinvested are not subject to the pre-approval requirement.
|
3.
|
Blackouts – Fund Securities
: Access Persons may not engage in personal transactions in equity securities to be traded in CEF’s advised or sub-advised by GPAM seven (7) days before and seven (7) days after such transaction.
|
4.
|
Blackouts – Board Meetings
: Access Person may not trade in CEF’s advised or sub-advised by GPAM seven (7) days before and seven (7) days after a board meeting for such CEF.
|
5.
|
Holding Period
: Access Persons are required to hold any purchase of CEF’s advised or sub-advised by GPAM for sixty (60) calendar days.
|
6.
|
Requests for Exceptions from Blackouts
: Requests for exceptions from the blackout restriction should be submitted in writing to the CCO. The CCO shall respond to all such requests in writing. The CCO will maintain records of all exception requests and records of all responses.
|
7.
|
Review of Trading: The CCO will review trading activity of Access Persons and in other client accounts, at least quarterly, to ensure compliance with the above procedures. A record of such reviews will be maintained by the CCO.
|
8.
|
Reporting of Transactions
: Access Persons must notify the Claymore Advisors’ Legal Department Patty Villasenor (
pvillasenor@claymore.com
) and Dolores Delgado (ddelgado@claymore.com) immediately, but in no event more than 24 hours, after any transaction in CEF’s advised or sub-advised by GPAM.. Such reporting is required for Claymore to make mandatory regulatory filings within the required time period.
|
FUND
|
TICKER
|
American Beacon High Yield Bond Fund – Instl
|
AYBFX
|
American Beacon High Yield Bond Fund – Investor
|
AHYPX
|
CNI Charter High Yield Bond Fund – Class N
|
CHBAX
|
CNI Charter High Yield Bond Fund – Instl
|
CHYIX
|
Pinnacle American Core-Plus Bond Fund – Class: A, F, I (Canada)
|
----------
|
Principal Global Diversified Income Fund – Class A
|
PGBAX
|
Principal Global Diversified Income Fund – Class C
|
PGDCX
|
Principal Global Diversified Income Fund – Instl
|
PGDIX
|
Russell Short Duration Bond Fund – Class A
|
RSBTX
|
Russell Short Duration Bond Fund – Class C
|
RSBCX
|
Russell Short Duration Bond Fund – Class E
|
RSBEX
|
Russell Short Duration Bond Fund – Class S
|
RFBSX
|
Russell Short Duration Bond Fund – Class Y
|
RSBYX
|
Russell Strategic Bond Fund – Class A
|
RFDAX
|
Russell Strategic Bond Fund – Class C
|
RFCCX
|
Russell Strategic Bond Fund – Class E
|
RFCEX
|
Russell Strategic Bond Fund – Class S
|
RFCTX
|
Russell Strategic Bond Fund – Class Y
|
RFCYX
|
Russell Strategic Bond Fund – Instl
|
RFCSX
|
SEI Canada US High Yield Bond Fund
|
----------
|
SEI Global Master Fund PLC High Yield Fixed Income Fund
|
----------
|
SEI Institutional Investment Trust High Yield Bond Fund
|
SGYAX
|
SEI Institutional Managed High Yield Bond Fund – Class A
|
SHYAX
|
1.
|
Pre-Approval
: Access Persons are required to obtain prior approval through Financial Tracking (“FTT”) before undertaking any transaction (e.g., purchase or sale) in an ETF advised or sub-advised by GPAM and the securities held by such ETFs. Pre-approval is in addition to, not a substitute for, other guidelines discussed below. This restriction applies to: (a) personal trading, and (b) trading for other client accounts.
|
2.
|
Blackouts
– Fund Securities
: With respect to GPAM’s role as adviser or sub-adviser to an ETF, no Access Person shall engage in a securities transaction in an equity security recommended for inclusion or exclusion for the ETF from the time a final recommendation concerning such security is communicated, either to a GPAM investment decision-maker or to the ETF’s Adviser, until the shorter of: the time such security is purchased or sold by the ETF, or (5) business days following communication of the recommendation. This restriction applies to: (a) personal trading, and (b) trading for other client accounts.
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3.
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Blackouts – Board Meetings
: Access Person may not trade in ETF’s advised or sub-advised by GPAM. seven (7) days before and seven (7) days after a board meeting for such ETF.
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4.
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Blackouts: Dividend
: Access Persons are prohibited from trading in ETF’s advised or sub-advised by GPAM seven (7) days before and seven (7) days after the initial dividend of such ETF is declared. Access Persons are also prohibited form trading in in ETF’s advised or sub-advised by GPAM seven (7) days before the dividend of such ETF is declared.
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5.
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Re-investment of Dividends: Dividends that are automatically reinvested are not subject to the pre-approval requirement.
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6.
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Requests for Exceptions from Blackouts
: Requests for exceptions from the blackout restriction should be submitted in writing to the CCO. The CCO shall respond to all such requests in writing. The CCO will maintain records of all exception requests and records of all responses.
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4.
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Review of Trading
: The CCO will review trading activity of Access Persons and in other client accounts, at least quarterly, to ensure compliance with the above procedures. A record of such reviews will be maintained by the CCO.
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1.
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Blackouts
: With respect to GPAM’s role in security selection for UIT’s, no Access Person shall engage in a securities transaction in an equity security recommended for inclusion or exclusion for the UIT from the time a final recommendation concerning such security is communicated to the UIT Sponsor until the shorter of: the time such security is deposited into the UIT, or (5) business days following communication of the recommendation. This restriction applies to: (a) personal trading, and (b) trading for other client accounts.
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2.
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Requests for Exceptions from Blackouts
: Requests for exceptions from the blackout restriction should be submitted in writing to the CCO. The CCO shall respond to all such requests in writing. The CCO will maintain records of all exception requests and records of all responses.
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3.
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Review of Trading
: The CCO will review trading activity of Access Persons and in other client accounts, at least quarterly, to ensure compliance with the above procedures. A record of such reviews will be maintained by the CCO.
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