As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on December 15, 2006
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U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
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Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 |
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and/or |
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Registration Statement under the Investment Company Act of 1940 |
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(Check appropriate box or boxes) |
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Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II |
(Exact Name of Registrant Specified in Charter) |
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82 Devonshire Street |
Boston, MA 02109 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
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Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code: 617-563-7000 |
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
Registrant elects to register an indefinite number of shares pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION. PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED December 15, 2006. The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
The fund offers its shares only to separate accounts of insurance companies that offer variable annuity and variable life insurance products. The fund may not be available in your state due to various insurance regulations. Please check with your insurance company for availability. If the fund is not available in your state, this prospectus is not to be considered a solicitation with respect to the fund. Please read this prospectus together with your variable annuity or variable life insurance product prospectus.
Like securities of all mutual funds, these securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission has not determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Fidelity® Strategic Advisers® Small Cap
Portfolio
Initial Class
Investor Class
Prospectus
_________, 2007
82 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02109
Contents
Fund Summary |
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Investment Summary |
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Performance |
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Fee Table |
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Fund Basics |
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Investment Details |
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Valuing Shares |
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Shareholder Information |
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Buying and Selling Shares |
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Dividends and Capital Gain Distributions |
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Tax Consequences |
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Fund Services |
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Fund Management |
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Fund Distribution |
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Fund Summary
Investment Summary
Investment Objective
Fidelity® Strategic Advisers® Small Cap Portfolio seeks capital appreciation.
Principal Investment Strategies
Normally investing at least 80% of assets in equity securities of companies with small market capitalizations (which, for the purpose of this fund, are those companies with market capitalizations of up to $3 billion).
Investing in either growth stocks or value stocks or both.
Potentially investing in initial public offerings (IPOs) and the securities of unseasoned companies.
Investing in domestic and foreign issuers.
Using an investment process that combines quantitative models, fundamental research about particular securities, and individual judgment.
Principal Investment Risks
Stock Market Volatility. Stock markets are volatile and can decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. Different parts of the market can react differently to these developments.
Issuer-Specific Changes. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole. The value of securities of smaller issuers can be more volatile than that of larger issuers.
Small Cap Investing. The value of securities of smaller, less well-known issuers can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks and can be more volatile than that of larger issuers.
Investing in Unseasoned Companies. The securities of unseasoned companies may have limited liquidity and their prices may be very volatile because of their limited operating history and potential dependence on the efforts of individual managers,
Investing in IPOs. Shares of IPOs may be subject to price volatility due to the fact that there may be only a limited number of shares available for trading.
Foreign Exposure . Foreign markets can be more volatile than the U.S. market due to increased risks of adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments and can perform differently from the U.S. market.
An investment in the fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
When a shareholder sells shares, they may be worth more or less than what the shareholder paid for them, which means that the shareholder could lose money.
Performance
Performance history will be available for the fund after the fund has been in operation for one calendar year.
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Fee Table
The following table describes the fees and expenses that are incurred, directly or indirectly, when a variable product owner buys, holds, or redeems interests in a separate account that invests in a class of the fund, but
does not reflect the effect of any fees or other expenses of any variable annuity or variable life insurance product. The annual class operating expenses provided below for each class are based on estimated expenses.
Fees ( paid by the variable product owner directly )
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Initial
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Investor
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Sales charge (load) on purchases and reinvested distributions |
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Not Applicable |
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Not Applicable |
Deferred sales charge (load) on redemptions |
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Not Applicable |
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Not Applicable |
Annual operating expenses (paid from class assets)
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Initial
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Investor
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Management fee |
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Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees |
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None |
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None |
Other expenses A |
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Total annual class operating expenses B |
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A Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. |
B Strategic Advisers, Inc. (Strategic Advisers) has voluntarily agreed to reimburse Initial Class and Investor Class of the fund to the extent that total operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, certain securities lending costs, brokerage commissions, and extraordinary expenses), as a percentage of their respective average net assets, exceed the following rates: |
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Initial Class |
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Effective Date |
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Investor Class |
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Effective Date |
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Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap Portfolio |
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These arrangements may be discontinued by Strategic Advisers at any time.
This example helps compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
Lets say, hypothetically, that each classs annual return is 5% and that the fees and each classs annual operating expenses are exactly as described in the fee table. This example illustrates the effect of fees and expenses, but is not meant to suggest actual or expected fees and expenses or returns, all of which may vary. This example does not reflect the effect of any fees or other expenses of any variable annuity or
variable life insurance product. If these fees and expenses were included, overall expenses would be higher. For every $10,000 invested, heres how much a variable product owner would pay in total expenses if all interests in the separate account that invests in a class of the fund were redeemed at the end of each time period indicated:
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Initial
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Investor
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1 Year |
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3 Years |
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$ |
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Fund Basics
Investment Details
Investment Objective
Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap Portfolio seeks capital appreciation.
Principal Investment Strategies
The funds sub-adviser, OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (Oppenheimer) normally invests at least 80% of the funds assets in equity securities of companies with small market capitalizations. Oppenheimer currently defines small market capitalization companies as those whose market capitalization is up to $3 billion (small-cap companies). Over time, Oppenheimer, upon consultation with Strategic Advisers, Inc. (Strategic Advisers), may change the range of asset capitalizations it uses to define small-cap companies, as market conditions change.
The fund invests mainly in common stocks of small-cap U.S. companies that Oppenheimer believes have favorable business trends or prospects. These may include growth and/or value common stocks and other equity securities. A value investment style attempts to find companies whose securities Oppenheimer believes to be undervalued in the marketplace. A growth investment style encompasses a search for companies whose earnings are expected to increase at a greater rate than the overall market. Oppenheimer incorporates a blended style of investing combining both growth and value styles.
The fund can invest in unseasoned companies. These are companies that have been in operation less than three years, including the operations of any predecessors. The fund currently does not intend to invest more than 20% of its net assets in these securities.
The fund has no limit on the amount of its assets that can be invested in IPOs. By definition, securities issued in IPOs have not traded publicly until the time of their offerings.
The funds investments are not limited only to small-cap companies. Under normal market conditions, up to 20% of the assets of the fund can be invested in securities of larger capitalization companies, if Oppenheimer believes they offer opportunities for growth.
Oppenheimer may invest the funds assets in securities of foreign issuers in addition to securities of domestic issuers.
The fund may engage in active and frequent trading to try to achieve its objective.
In selecting securities for purchase or sale by the fund, Oppenheimer uses an investment process that combines quantitative models, fundamental research about particular securities and individual judgment. While this process and the inter-relationship of the factors used may change over time and its implementation may vary in particular cases, in general, the selection process involves the use of:
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Multi-factor quantitative models: These include a group of top-down models that analyze data such as relative valuations, relative price trends, interest rates and the shape of the yield curve. These help determine portfolio weightings within the small-cap universe. A group of bottom up models helps to rank stocks in a universe, selecting stocks for relative attractiveness by analyzing fundamental stock and company characteristics. |
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Fundamental research: The portfolio managers use internal research and analysis by other market analysts, with emphasis on current company news and industry-related events. |
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Judgment: The portfolio is then regularly re-balanced by the portfolio managers, based upon the quantitative tools and qualitative factors described above. |
In seeking broad diversification of the funds portfolio, Oppenheimer currently searches primarily for the following characteristics (although these may vary over time and in different cases):
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Companies with a small market capitalization. |
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Companies with financial characteristics attractive to Oppenheimers quantitative models. |
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Companies experiencing positive changes in operations due to enhanced competitive ability and/or beneficial industry trends. |
Oppenheimer employs a disciplined approach in deciding whether to sell particular portfolio securities based on quantitative models and fundamental research. If a particular stock exhibits the following factors, among others, Oppenheimer will consider selling the stock:
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deterioration in a companys expected earnings or cash flow; |
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change in valuation as determined by multiple variables including: earnings, cash flow and book value; or |
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analysis of a companys balance sheet suggests less attractive earnings potential. |
In addition, if a characteristic upon which Oppenheimer based its original purchase of a particular companys stock materially changes, then Oppenheimer may also decide to sell the stock.
Description of Principal Security Types
Equity securities represent an ownership interest, or the right to acquire an ownership interest, in an issuer. Different types of equity securities provide different voting and dividend rights and priority in the event of the bankruptcy of the issuer. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, and warrants.
Principal Investment Risks
Many factors affect the funds performance.
The funds share price changes daily based on changes in market conditions and interest rates and in response to other economic, political, or financial developments. The funds reaction to these developments will be affected by the types of securities in which the fund invests, the financial condition, industry and economic sector, and geographic location of an issuer, and the funds level of investment in the securities of that issuer. When a shareholder sells shares they may be worth more or less than what the shareholder paid for them, which means that the shareholder could lose money.
The following factors can significantly affect the funds performance:
Stock Market Volatility. The value of equity securities fluctuates in response to issuer, political, market, and economic developments. In the short term, equity prices can fluctuate dramatically in response to these developments. Different parts of the market and different types of equity securities can react differently to these developments. For example, large cap stocks can react differently from small cap stocks, and growth stocks can react differently from value stocks. Issuer, political, or economic developments can affect a single issuer, issuers within an industry or economic sector or geographic region, or the market as a whole.
Foreign Exposure. Foreign securities, foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations can involve additional risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory conditions in foreign countries. These risks include fluctuations in foreign currencies; withholding or other taxes; trading, settlement, custodial, and other operational risks; and the less stringent investor protection and disclosure standards of some foreign markets. All of these factors can make foreign investments, especially those in emerging markets, more volatile and potentially less liquid than U.S. investments. In addition, foreign markets can perform differently from the U.S. market.
Issuer-Specific Changes. Changes in the financial condition of an issuer or counterparty, changes in specific economic or political conditions that affect a particular type of security or issuer, and changes in general economic or political conditions can affect a securitys or instruments value. The value of securities of smaller, less well known issuers can be more volatile than that of larger issuers.
Small Cap Investing. The value of securities of smaller, less well-known issuers can be more volatile than that of larger issuers and can react differently to issuer, political, market, and economic developments than the market as a whole and other types of stocks. Smaller issuers can have more limited product lines, markets, and financial resources.
Investing in Unseasoned Companies. Because unseasoned companies have a limited operating history and may be more dependent on the efforts of individual managers, their securities may have limited liquidity and their prices may be very volatile. Newer growth companies typically retain a large part of their earnings for research, development or investment in capital assets. Therefore, they do not tend to emphasize paying dividends, and may not pay any dividends for some time after the fund buys their stock.
Special Risks of IPOs. Special risks associated with IPOs may include, among others, the fact that there may be only a limited number of shares available for trading. The market for those securities may be unseasoned. The issuer may have a limited operating history. These factors may contribute to price volatility. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may also make it more difficult for the fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. In addition, some companies initially offering their shares publicly are involved in relatively new industries or lines of business, which may not be widely understood by investors. Some of the companies involved in new industries may be regarded as developmental stage
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companies, without revenues or operating income, or the near-term prospects of them. Many IPOs are by small companies that are undercapitalized.
Portfolio Turnover. Increased portfolio turnover creates higher brokerage and transaction costs for the fund (and may reduce performance). If the fund realizes capital gains when it sells its portfolio investments, it must generally pay those gains out to shareholders, increasing their taxable distributions.
In response to market, economic, political, or other conditions, Oppenheimer may temporarily use a different investment strategy for defensive purposes. If Oppenheimer does so, different factors could affect the funds performance and the fund may not achieve its investment objective.
Shareholder Notice
The following policy is subject to change only upon 60 days prior notice to shareholders:
Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap Portfolio normally invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies with small market capitalizations.
Valuing Shares
The fund is open for business each day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open.
A classs net asset value per share (NAV) is the value of a single share. Fidelity normally calculates each classs NAV as of the close of business of the NYSE, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. However, NAV may be calculated earlier if trading on the NYSE is restricted or as permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The funds assets are valued as of this time for the purpose of computing each classs NAV.
To the extent that the funds assets are traded in other markets on days when the fund is not open for business, the value of the funds assets may be affected on those days. In addition, trading in some of the funds assets may not occur on days when the fund is open for business.
The funds assets are valued primarily on the basis of market quotations or official closing prices. Certain short-term securities are valued on the basis of amortized cost. If market quotations or official closing prices are not readily available or do not accurately reflect fair value for a security or if a securitys value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, that security will be valued by another method that the Board of Trustees
believes accurately reflects fair value in accordance with the Boards fair value pricing policies. For example, arbitrage opportunities may exist when trading in a portfolio security or securities is halted and does not resume before the fund calculates its NAV. These arbitrage opportunities may enable short-term traders to dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Securities trading in overseas markets present time zone arbitrage opportunities when events affecting portfolio security values occur after the close of the overseas market but prior to the close of the U.S. market. Fair value pricing will be used for high yield debt and floating rate loans when available pricing information is determined to be stale or for other reasons not to accurately reflect fair value. To the extent the fund invests in other open-end funds, the fund will calculate its NAV using the NAV of the underlying funds in which it invests as described in the underlying funds prospectuses. The fund may invest in other Fidelity funds that use the same fair value pricing policies as the fund or in Fidelity money market funds. A securitys valuation may differ depending on the method used for determining value. Fair valuation of the funds portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the funds NAV by short-term traders. While the fund has policies regarding excessive trading, these too may not be effective to prevent short-term NAV arbitrage trading, particularly in regard to omnibus accounts.
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Shareholder Information
Buying and Selling Shares
Only Permitted Accounts, including separate accounts of insurance companies and qualified fund of funds that have signed the appropriate agreements with the fund, if applicable, can buy or sell shares of the fund. Insurance companies offer variable annuity and variable life insurance products through separate accounts. A qualified fund of funds is an eligible insurance-dedicated mutual fund that invests in other mutual funds.
Permitted Accounts not variable product owners are the shareholders of the fund. Variable product owners hold interests in separate accounts, including separate accounts that are shareholders of qualified fund of funds. The terms of the offering of interests in separate accounts are included in the variable annuity or variable life insurance product prospectus.
The fund may reject for any reason, or cancel as permitted or required by law, any purchase orders.
For example, the fund may reject any purchase orders, from market timers or investors that, in Strategic Advisers opinion, may be disruptive to the fund.
Frequent purchases and sales of fund shares resulting from purchase, exchange, or withdrawal transactions can harm variable product owners in various ways, including reducing the returns to long-term variable product owners by increasing costs paid by the fund (such as brokerage commissions), disrupting portfolio management strategies, and diluting the value of the shares of long-term variable product owners in cases in which fluctuations in markets are not fully priced into the funds NAV. Accordingly, the Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures designed to discourage frequent large-scale purchases and sales of shares at the Permitted Account level for the fund, but has not adopted policies at the variable product owner level. Purchase and redemption transactions submitted to the fund by Permitted Accounts reflect the transactions of multiple variable product owners whose individual transactions are not disclosed to the fund. Therefore, the fund generally cannot detect short-term trading by individual variable product owners and relies in large part on the rights, ability, and willingness of insurance companies to detect and deter short-term trading. The funds policies are separate from, and in addition to, any policies and procedures applicable to variable product owner transactions. The variable annuity or variable life insurance product prospectus will contain a description of the insurance companys
policies and procedures, if any, with respect to short-term trading. A qualified fund of funds is required to adopt policies designed to control frequent trading that have been determined by the fund or its Treasurer to be reasonably effective. The adviser to the fund of funds must also demonstrate to the funds Treasurer that the investment strategy of the fund of funds will not lead to excessive trading. However, there is the significant risk that the funds, insurance companys, and/or qualified fund of funds policies and procedures will prove ineffective in whole or in part to detect or prevent frequent trading. The fund may alter its policies at any time without prior notice to shareholders. The funds Treasurer is authorized to suspend the funds policies during periods of severe market turbulence or national emergency.
The funds transfer agent monitors each Permitted Accounts daily purchases and sales orders. Redemption transactions that are greater than a certain dollar amount, or greater than a certain percentage of the total of the Permitted Accounts holdings of the fund, will trigger a review of the Permitted Accounts prior history. If, in the opinion of the funds transfer agent, the history may be consistent with a pattern of disruptive trading by variable product owners, the funds transfer agent or distributor will notify the insurance company and inquire about the source of the activity. These policies will be applied uniformly to all insurance companies. However, there is no assurance that the insurance company will investigate the activity or stop any activity that proves to be inappropriate. The fund reserves the right, but does not have the obligation, to reject purchase orders from, or to stop or limit the offering of shares to, Permitted Accounts. In addition, the fund reserves the right to impose restrictions on purchases at any time or conditions that are more restrictive on disruptive, excessive, or short-term trading than those that are otherwise stated in this prospectus.
The price to buy one share of each class is the classs NAV. Each classs shares are sold without a sales charge.
Shares will be bought at the next NAV calculated after an order is received in proper form.
The fund has authorized certain intermediaries and qualified fund of funds to accept orders to buy shares on its behalf. When authorized intermediaries or qualified fund of funds receive an order in proper form, the order is considered as being placed with the fund, and shares will be bought at the next NAV calculated after the order is received by the authorized intermediary or qualified fund of fund.
The fund may stop offering shares completely or may
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offer shares only on a limited basis, for a period of time or permanently.
Under applicable anti-money laundering regulations and other federal regulations, purchase orders may be suspended, restricted, or canceled and the monies may be withheld.
The price to sell one share of each class is the classs NAV.
If appropriate to protect shareholders, the fund may impose a redemption fee on redemptions from the fund.
Shares will be sold at the next NAV calculated after an order is received in proper form. Normally, redemptions will be processed by the next business day, but it may take up to seven days to pay the redemption proceeds if making immediate payment would adversely affect the fund.
The fund has authorized certain intermediaries and qualified fund of funds to accept orders to sell shares on its behalf. When authorized intermediaries or qualified fund of funds receive an order in proper form, the order is considered as being placed with the fund, and shares will be sold at the next NAV calculated after the order is received by the authorized intermediary or qualified fund of fund.
Redemptions may be suspended or payment dates postponed when the NYSE is closed (other than weekends or holidays), when trading on the NYSE is restricted, or as permitted by the SEC.
Redemption proceeds may be paid in securities or other property rather than in cash if Strategic Advisers determines it is in the best interests of the fund.
Under applicable anti-money laundering regulations and other federal regulations, redemption requests may be suspended, restricted, canceled, or processed and the proceeds may be withheld.
The fund offers its shares to Permitted Accounts that may be affiliated or unaffiliated with Strategic Advisers and/or each other. The fund currently does not foresee any disadvantages to variable product owners arising out of the fact that the fund offers its shares to separate accounts of insurance companies that offer variable annuity and variable life insurance products (as well as other Permitted Accounts). Nevertheless, the Board of Trustees that oversees the fund intends to monitor events to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts that may possibly arise and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response.
Variable product owners may be asked to provide additional information in order for Fidelity to verify their identities in accordance with requirements under
anti-money laundering regulations. Accounts may be restricted and/or closed, and the monies withheld, pending verification of this information or as otherwise required under these and other federal regulations.
Dividends and Capital Gain Distributions
The fund earns dividends, interest, and other income from its investments, and distributes this income (less expenses) to shareholders as dividends. The fund also realizes capital gains from its investments, and distributes these gains (less any losses) to shareholders as capital gain distributions.
The fund normally pays dividends and capital gain distributions in February and December.
Dividends and capital gain distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the same class of the fund.
Tax Consequences
Variable product owners seeking to understand the tax consequences of their investment should consult with their tax advisers or the insurance company that issued their variable product, or refer to their variable annuity or variable life insurance product prospectus.
Insurance company separate accounts generally do not pay tax on dividends or capital gain distributions from the fund.
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Fund Services
Fund Management
The fund is a mutual fund, an investment that pools shareholders money and invests it toward a specified goal.
Strategic Advisers is the funds manager. The address of Strategic Advisers and its affiliates, unless otherwise indicated below, is 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
As of [__________], Strategic Advisers had approximately $[___] in discretionary assets under management.
Pursuant to an SEC exemptive order, Strategic Advisers intends to act as a manager of managers, meaning that Strategic Advisers has the responsibility to oversee sub-advisers and recommend their hiring, termination, and replacement. Subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of the fund but without shareholder approval, Strategic Advisers may replace or hire unaffiliated sub-advisers or amend the terms of their existing sub-advisory agreements, if any. In the event of approval of a new unaffiliated sub-adviser, you will be provided with information about the new sub-adviser and sub-advisory agreement within ninety days of appointment.
As the manager, Strategic Advisers is responsible for handling the funds business affairs.
Oppenheimer, at Two World Financial Center, 225 Liberty Street, 11 th Floor, New York, New York 10281-1008, serves as a sub-adviser for the fund. Oppenheimer chooses the funds investments and places orders to buy and sell the funds investments. As of [_______], Oppenheimer and its subsidiaries and controlled affiliates had approximately $[___] billion in discretionary assets under management.
The fund is managed by Oppenheimer, a sub-adviser to the fund. Nikolaos D. Monoyios and Mark Zavanelli are the portfolio managers for the fund. Mr. Monoyios, CFA, has been a Senior Vice President of Oppenheimer since October 2003 and was formerly Vice President of Oppenheimer from April 1998 through September 2003. He is an officer of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex. Mr. Zavanelli, CFA, has been a Vice President of Oppenheimer since November 2000. He is an officer of three portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex. Prior to joining Oppenheimer, Mr. Zavanelli was President of Waterside Capital Management, a registered investment adviser, from August 1995 through April 1998.
The statement of additional information (SAI) provides additional information about the compensation of, any other accounts managed by, and any fund shares held by Messrs. Monoyios and Zavanelli.
The fund pays a management fee to Strategic Advisers. The management fee is calculated and paid to Strategic Advisers every month. Strategic Advisers pays all of the other expenses of the fund and each class of the fund, as applicable, with limited exceptions.
The funds annual management fee rate is [__] of its average net assets.
Strategic Advisers pays Oppenheimer for providing investment management services.
Strategic Advisers may, from time to time, agree to reimburse a class for management fees and other expenses above a specified limit. Strategic Advisers retains the ability to be repaid by a class if expenses fall below the specified limit prior to the end of the fiscal year. Reimbursement arrangements, which may be discontinued by Strategic Advisers at any time, can decrease a classs expenses and boost its performance.
Fund Distribution
The fund is composed of multiple classes of shares. All classes of the fund have a common investment objective and investment portfolio.
Fidelity Distributors Corporation (FDC) distributes each classs shares.
Intermediaries, including insurance companies and their affiliated broker-dealers and service-providers, may receive from Strategic Advisers, FDC, and/or their affiliates compensation for their services intended to result in the sale of class shares. This compensation may take the form of payments for additional distribution-related activities and/or shareholder services and payments for educational seminars and training, including seminars sponsored by Strategic Advisers or an affiliate, or by an intermediary. These payments are described in more detail on the following pages and in the SAI.
Initial Class of the fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act) that recognizes that Strategic Advisers may use its management fee revenues, as well as its past profits or its resources from any other source, to pay FDC for expenses incurred in connection with providing services intended to result in the sale of Initial Class shares and/or support services that benefit variable product owners. Strategic Advisers, directly or through FDC, may pay significant amounts to intermediaries that
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provide those services. Currently, the Board of Trustees for the fund has authorized such payments for Initial Class. These payments are not charged to the fund and do not directly increase the funds total expenses.
Investor Class of the fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that recognizes that Strategic Advisers may use its management fee revenues, as well as its past profits or its resources from any other source, to pay FDC for expenses incurred in connection with providing services intended to result in the sale of Investor Class shares and/or support services that benefit variable product owners. Strategic Advisers, directly or through FDC, may pay significant amounts to intermediaries that provide those services. Currently, the Board of Trustees for the fund has authorized such payments for Investor Class. These payments are not charged to the fund and do not directly increase the funds total expenses.
If payments made by Strategic Advisers to FDC or to intermediaries under the Initial Class or Investor Class Distribution and Service Plans were considered to be paid out of a classs assets on an ongoing basis, they might increase the cost of a shareholders investment and might cost a shareholder more than paying other types of sales charges.
To receive payments made pursuant to a Distribution and Service Plan, intermediaries must sign the appropriate agreement with FDC in advance.
The SAI contains further details about the payments made by Strategic Advisers, FDC and their affiliates and the services provided by certain intermediaries. Please speak with your investment professional to learn more about any payments his or her firm may receive from Strategic Advisers, FDC and/or their affiliates, as well as fees and/or commissions the investment professional charges. You should also consult disclosures made by your investment professional at the time of purchase.
If mutual fund sponsors and their affiliates make distribution and/or non-distribution related payments in varying amounts, certain intermediaries and investment professionals that receive these payments may have an incentive to recommend one mutual fund or one share class over another.
In addition, the funds transfer agent may also make payments and reimbursements from its own resources to intermediaries for performing recordkeeping and administrative services with respect to insurance contract owners accounts, which the funds transfer agent or an affiliate would otherwise have to perform directly. These payments are not charged to the fund and do not directly increase the funds total expenses. Please see Transfer and Service Agent Agreements in the SAI for more information.
No dealer, sales representative, or any other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations, other than those contained in this prospectus and in the related SAI, in connection with the offer contained in this prospectus. If given or made, such other information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the fund or FDC. This prospectus and the related SAI do not constitute an offer by the fund or by FDC to sell shares of the fund to or to buy shares of the fund from any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT |
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To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT ACT), requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or entity that opens an account. |
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For variable product owners : When you open an account, you will be asked for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow Fidelity to identify you. You may also be asked to provide documents that may help to establish your identity, such as your drivers license. |
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For insurance separate accounts : When you open an account, you will be asked for the name of the entity, its principal place of business and taxpayer identification number (TIN) and may be requested to provide information on persons with authority or control over the account such as name, residential address, date of birth and social security number. You may also be asked to provide documents, such as drivers licenses, articles of incorporation, trust instruments or partnership agreements and other information that will help Fidelity identify the entity. |
You can obtain additional information about the fund. A description of the funds policies and procedures for disclosing its holdings is available in the funds SAI and on Fidelitys web sites. The SAI also includes more detailed information about the fund and its investments. The SAI is incorporated herein by reference (legally forms a part of the prospectus). A financial report will be available once the fund has completed its first annual or semi-annual period. The funds annual and semi-annual reports also include additional information. The funds annual report includes a discussion of the funds holdings and recent market conditions and the funds investment strategies that affected performance.
For a free copy of any of these documents or to request other information or ask questions about the fund, call Fidelity at 1-877-208-0098. In addition, you may visit Fidelitys web site at www.advisor.fidelity.com for a free copy of a prospectus, SAI, or annual or semi-annual report or to request other information.
The SAI, the funds annual and semi-annual reports and other related materials are available from the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) Database on the SECs web site (http:/ / www.sec.gov). You can obtain copies of this information, after paying a duplicating fee, by sending a request by e-mail to publicinfo@ sec.gov or by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102. You can also review and copy information about the fund, including the funds SAI, at the SECs Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call 1-202-551-8090 for information on the operation of the SECs Public Reference Room. |
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Investment Company Act of 1940, File Number, [811- ] |
Fidelity, Fidelity Investments & (Pyramid) Design and Strategic Advisers are registered trademarks of FMR Corp.
The third party marks appearing above are the marks of their respective owners.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DATED December 15, 2006. The information in this statement of additional information is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This statement of additional information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Fidelity® Rutland Square Trust II
Fidelity Strategic Advisers® Small Cap Portfolio
A Fund of Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II
Initial Class and Investor Class
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
___________, 2007
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This statement of additional information (SAI) is not a prospectus. An annual report for the fund will be available once the fund has completed its first annual period. |
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To obtain a free additional copy of a prospectus or SAI, dated ___________, 2007, please call Fidelity at 1-877-208-0098 or visit Fidelitys web site at www.advisor.fidelity.com. |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PAGE |
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Investment Policies and Limitations |
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2 |
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Portfolio Transactions |
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16 |
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Valuation |
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18 |
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Buying and Selling Information |
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Distributions and Taxes |
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Trustees and Officers |
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Control of Investment Advisers |
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Management Contract |
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26 |
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Proxy Voting Guidelines |
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28 |
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Distribution Services |
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28 |
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Transfer and Service Agent Agreements |
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Description of the Trust |
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30 |
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Fund Holdings Information |
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Appendix |
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82 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02109
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND LIMITATIONS
The following policies and limitations supplement those set forth in the prospectus. Unless otherwise noted, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a maximum percentage of the funds assets that may be invested in any security or other asset, or sets forth a policy regarding quality standards, such standard or percentage limitation will be determined immediately after and as a result of the funds acquisition of such security or other asset. Accordingly, any subsequent change in values, net assets, or other circumstances will not be considered when determining whether the investment complies with the funds investment policies and limitations.
The funds fundamental investment policies and limitations cannot be changed without approval by a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act)) of the fund. However, except for the fundamental investment limitations listed below, the investment policies and limitations described in this SAI are not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval.
The following are the funds fundamental investment limitations set forth in their entirety.
Diversification
The fund may not with respect to 75% of the funds total assets, purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, (a) more than 5% of the funds total assets would be invested in the securities of that issuer, or (b) the fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.
For purposes of the funds diversification limitation discussed above, the extent to which the fund may invest in the securities of a single issuer or a certain number of issuers is limited by the diversification requirements imposed by Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, which are in addition to the diversification requirements described in the above limitation.
Senior Securities
The fund may not issue senior securities, except in connection with the insurance program established by the fund pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission or as otherwise permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Borrowing
The fund may not borrow money, except that the fund may borrow money for temporary or emergency purposes (not for leveraging or investment) in an amount not exceeding 33 1/3 % of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings). Any borrowings that come to exceed this amount will be reduced within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) to the extent necessary to comply with the 33 1/3% limitation.
Underwriting
The fund may not underwrite securities issued by others, except to the extent that the fund may be considered an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in the disposition of restricted securities or in connection with investments in other investment companies.
Concentration
The fund may not purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the funds total assets would be invested in the securities of companies whose principal business activities are in the same industry.
Real Estate
The fund may not purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business).
Commodities
The fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the fund from purchasing or selling options and futures contracts or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities).
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Loans
The fund may not lend any security or make any other loan if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, but this limitation does not apply to purchases of debt securities or to repurchase agreements, or to acquisitions of loans, loan participations or other forms of debt instruments.
The following investment limitations are not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval.
Short Sales
The fund does not currently intend to sell securities short, unless it owns or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short, and provided that transactions in futures contracts and options are not deemed to constitute selling securities short.
Margin Purchases
The fund does not currently intend to purchase securities on margin, except that the fund may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions, and provided that margin payments in connection with futures contracts and options on futures contracts shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.
Borrowing
The fund may borrow money only (a) from a bank or from a registered investment company or portfolio for which Strategic Advisers, Inc. (Strategic Advisers) or an affiliate serves as investment adviser or (b) by engaging in reverse repurchase agreements with any party (reverse repurchase agreements are treated as borrowings for purposes of the fundamental borrowing investment limitation).
Illiquid Securities
The fund does not currently intend to purchase any security if, as a result, more than 10% of its net assets would be invested in securities that are deemed to be illiquid because they are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale or because they cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business at approximately the prices at which they are valued.
For purposes of the funds illiquid securities limitation discussed above, if through a change in values, net assets, or other circumstances, the fund were in a position where more than 10% of its net assets were invested in illiquid securities, it would consider appropriate steps to protect liquidity.
Loans
The fund does not currently intend to lend assets other than securities to other parties, except by (a) lending money (up to 15% of the funds net assets) to a registered investment company or portfolio for which Strategic Advisers or an affiliate serves as investment adviser or (b) assuming any unfunded commitments in connection with the acquisition of loans, loan participations, or other forms of debt instruments. (This limitation does not apply to purchases of debt securities, to repurchase agreements, or to acquisitions of loans, loan participations or other forms of debt instruments.)
Oil, Gas, and Mineral Exploration Programs
The fund does not currently intend to invest in oil, gas, or other mineral exploration or development programs or leases.
Foreign Securities
FMR limits the amount of the funds assets that may be invested in foreign securities to 50%.
In addition to the funds fundamental and non-fundamental limitations discussed above:
Pursuant to certain state insurance regulations, any repurchase agreements or foreign repurchase agreements the fund enters into will be secured by collateral consisting of liquid assets having a market value of not less than 102% of the cash or assets transferred to the other party.
For the funds limitations on futures, options, and swap transactions, as applicable, see the section entitled Limitations on Futures, Options, and Swap Transactions on page 8.
The fund intends to comply with the requirements of Section 12(d)(1)(G)(i)(IV) of the 1940 Act.
The following pages contain more detailed information about types of instruments in which the fund may invest, strategies OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (Oppenheimer) may employ in pursuit of the funds investment objective, and a summary
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of related risks. Oppenheimer may not buy all of these instruments or use all of these techniques unless it believes that doing so will help the fund achieve its goal.
Affiliated Bank Transactions . The fund may engage in transactions with financial institutions that are, or may be considered to be, affiliated persons of the fund under the 1940 Act. These transactions may involve repurchase agreements with custodian banks; short-term obligations of, and repurchase agreements with, the 50 largest U.S. banks (measured by deposits); municipal securities; U.S. Government securities with affiliated financial institutions that are primary dealers in these securities; short-term currency transactions; and short-term borrowings. In accordance with exemptive orders issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Board of Trustees has established and periodically reviews procedures applicable to transactions involving affiliated financial institutions.
Asset-Backed Securities represent interests in pools of mortgages, loans, receivables, or other assets. Payment of interest and repayment of principal may be largely dependent upon the cash flows generated by the assets backing the securities and, in certain cases, supported by letters of credit, surety bonds, or other credit enhancements. Asset-backed security values may also be affected by other factors including changes in interest rates, the availability of information concerning the pool and its structure, the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool, the originator of the loans or receivables, or the entities providing the credit enhancement. In addition, these securities may be subject to prepayment risk.
Borrowing . The fund may borrow from banks or from other funds advised by Strategic Advisers or its affiliates, or through reverse repurchase agreements. If the fund borrows money, its share price may be subject to greater fluctuation until the borrowing is paid off. If the fund makes additional investments while borrowings are outstanding, this may be considered a form of leverage.
Cash Management . The fund can hold uninvested cash or can invest it in cash equivalents such as money market securities, repurchase agreements, or shares of money market or short-term bond funds. Generally, these securities offer less potential for gains than other types of securities.
Common Stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.
Convertible Securities are bonds, debentures, notes, or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio. A convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue. If a convertible security held by the fund is called for redemption or conversion, the fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.
Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Because of this higher yield, convertible securities generally sell at prices above their conversion value, which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion. The difference between this conversion value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline in value, convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities. However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder. When the underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible securities may also be expected to increase. At the same time, however, the difference between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks. Because convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk and are often lower-quality securities.
Debt Securities are used by issuers to borrow money. The issuer usually pays a fixed, variable, or floating rate of interest, and must repay the amount borrowed, usually at the maturity of the security. Some debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay interest but are sold at a deep discount from their face values. Debt securities include corporate bonds, government securities, repurchase agreements, and mortgage and other asset-backed securities.
Exchange Traded Funds are shares of other investment companies which are traded on an exchange, but whose underlying assets are stocks selected to track a particular index. Therefore, an exchange traded fund (ETF) can track the performance of an index in much the same way as a traditional indexed mutual fund. However, unlike many traditional
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investment companies, which are only bought and sold at closing net asset values (NAVs), ETFs are tradable in the secondary market on an intra-day basis. Shares of an ETF are only redeemable in large blocks (typically, 50,000 shares) called creation units by persons other than the fund, and are redeemed principally in kind at each days next calculated NAV.
ETFs, like other investment companies, typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the fund. The funds purchase of ETFs results in the layering of expenses, such that the fund would indirectly bear a proportionate share of any ETFs operating expenses. Further, while traditional investment companies are continuously offered at NAV, ETFs are traded in the secondary market at prices above or below the value of their underlying portfolios.
Some of the risks of investing in an ETF are similar to those of investing in an indexed mutual fund, including: market risk (the risk of fluctuating stock prices in general); asset class risk (the risk of fluctuating prices of the stocks represented in the ETFs index); tracking error risk (the risk of errors in matching the ETFs underlying assets to the index); industry concentration risk (the risk of the stocks in a particular index being concentrated in an industry performing poorly relative to other stocks); and the risk that because an ETF is not actively managed, it cannot sell poorly performing stocks as long as they are represented in the index. Other ETF risks include: the risk that ETFs may trade in the secondary market ( e.g., on a stock exchange) at a discount from their NAV and the risk that the ETFs may not be liquid.
Exposure to Foreign Markets . Foreign securities, foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.
Foreign investments involve risks relating to local political, economic, regulatory, or social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments, and may be affected by actions of foreign governments adverse to the interests of U.S. investors. Such actions may include expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, restrictions on U.S. investment or on the ability to repatriate assets or convert currency into U.S. dollars, or other government intervention. Additionally, governmental issuers of foreign debt securities may be unwilling to pay interest and repay principal when due and may require that the conditions for payment be renegotiated. There is no assurance that Oppenheimer will be able to anticipate these potential events or counter their effects. In addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies and of dividends and interest paid with respect to such securities will fluctuate based on the relative strength of the U.S. dollar.
It is anticipated that in most cases the best available market for foreign securities will be on an exchange or in over-the-counter (OTC) markets located outside of the United States. Foreign stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as those in the United States, and securities of some foreign issuers may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign security trading, settlement and custodial practices (including those involving securities settlement where fund assets may be released prior to receipt of payment) are often less developed than those in U.S. markets, and may result in increased risk or substantial delays in the event of a failed trade or the insolvency of, or breach of duty by, a foreign broker-dealer, securities depository, or foreign subcustodian. In addition, the costs associated with foreign investments, including withholding taxes, brokerage commissions, and custodial costs, are generally higher than with U.S. investments.
Foreign markets may offer less protection to investors than U.S. markets. Foreign issuers are generally not bound by uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements and standards of practice comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. Adequate public information on foreign issuers may not be available, and it may be difficult to secure dividends and information regarding corporate actions on a timely basis. In general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the United States. OTC markets tend to be less regulated than stock exchange markets and, in certain countries, may be totally unregulated. Regulatory enforcement may be influenced by economic or political concerns, and investors may have difficulty enforcing their legal rights in foreign countries.
Some foreign securities impose restrictions on transfer within the United States or to U.S. persons. Although securities subject to such transfer restrictions may be marketable abroad, they may be less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions.
American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) as well as other hybrid forms of ADRs, including European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. The underlying shares are held in trust by a custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuers home country. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs are alternatives to directly
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purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. However, ADRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. These risks include foreign exchange risk as well as the political and economic risks of the underlying issuers country.
The risks of foreign investing may be magnified for investments in emerging markets. Security prices in emerging markets can be significantly more volatile than those in more developed markets, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, countries with emerging markets may have relatively unstable governments, may present the risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets, and may have less protection of property rights than more developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times.
Foreign Currency Transactions . The fund may conduct foreign currency transactions on a spot (i.e., cash) or forward basis (i.e., by entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies). Although foreign exchange dealers generally do not charge a fee for such conversions, they do realize a profit based on the difference between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the counterparty desire to resell that currency to the dealer. Forward contracts are customized transactions that require a specific amount of a currency to be delivered at a specific exchange rate on a specific date or range of dates in the future. Forward contracts are generally traded in an interbank market directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. The parties to a forward contract may agree to offset or terminate the contract before its maturity, or may hold the contract to maturity and complete the contemplated currency exchange.
The following discussion summarizes the principal currency management strategies involving forward contracts that could be used by the fund. The fund may also use swap agreements, indexed securities, and options and futures contracts relating to foreign currencies for the same purposes.
A settlement hedge or transaction hedge is designed to protect the fund against an adverse change in foreign currency values between the date a security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received. Entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in an underlying security transaction for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars locks in the U.S. dollar price of the security. Forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency may also be used by the fund in anticipation of future purchases or sales of securities denominated in foreign currency, even if the specific investments have not yet been selected by Oppenheimer.
The fund may also use forward contracts to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. For example, if the fund owned securities denominated in pounds sterling, it could enter into a forward contract to sell pounds sterling in return for U.S. dollars to hedge against possible declines in the pounds value. Such a hedge, sometimes referred to as a position hedge, would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations, but would not offset changes in security values caused by other factors. The fund could also hedge the position by selling another currency expected to perform similarly to the pound sterling. This type of hedge, sometimes referred to as a proxy hedge, could offer advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but generally would not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a direct hedge into U.S. dollars. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.
The fund may enter into forward contracts to shift its investment exposure from one currency into another. This may include shifting exposure from U.S. dollars to a foreign currency, or from one foreign currency to another foreign currency. This type of strategy, sometimes known as a cross-hedge, will tend to reduce or eliminate exposure to the currency that is sold, and increase exposure to the currency that is purchased, much as if the fund had sold a security denominated in one currency and purchased an equivalent security denominated in another. Cross-hedges protect against losses resulting from a decline in the hedged currency, but will cause the fund to assume the risk of fluctuations in the value of the currency it purchases.
Successful use of currency management strategies will depend on Oppenheimers skill in analyzing currency values. Currency management strategies may substantially change the funds investment exposure to changes in currency exchange rates and could result in losses to the fund if currencies do not perform as Oppenheimer anticipates. For example, if a currencys value rose at a time when Oppenheimer had hedged the fund by selling that currency in exchange for dollars, the fund would not participate in the currencys appreciation. If Oppenheimer hedges currency exposure through proxy hedges, the fund could realize currency losses from both the hedge and the security position if the two currencies do not move in
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tandem. Similarly, if Oppenheimer increases the funds exposure to a foreign currency and that currencys value declines, the fund will realize a loss. There is no assurance that Oppenheimers use of currency management strategies will be advantageous to the fund or that it will hedge at appropriate times.
Foreign Repurchase Agreements . Foreign repurchase agreements involve an agreement to purchase a foreign security and to sell that security back to the original seller at an agreed-upon price in either U.S. dollars or foreign currency. Unlike typical U.S. repurchase agreements, foreign repurchase agreements may not be fully collateralized at all times. The value of a security purchased by the fund may be more or less than the price at which the counterparty has agreed to repurchase the security. In the event of default by the counterparty, the fund may suffer a loss if the value of the security purchased is less than the agreed-upon repurchase price, or if the fund is unable to successfully assert a claim to the collateral under foreign laws. As a result, foreign repurchase agreements may involve higher credit risks than repurchase agreements in U.S. markets, as well as risks associated with currency fluctuations. In addition, as with other emerging market investments, repurchase agreements with counterparties located in emerging markets or relating to emerging markets may involve issuers or counterparties with lower credit ratings than typical U.S. repurchase agreements.
Funds Rights as an Investor . The fund does not intend to direct or administer the day-to-day operations of any company. The fund, however, may exercise its rights as a shareholder or lender and may communicate its views on important matters of policy to management, the Board of Directors, shareholders of a company, and holders of other securities of the company when Oppenheimer determines that such matters could have a significant effect on the value of the funds investment in the company. The activities in which the fund may engage, either individually or in conjunction with others, may include, among others, supporting or opposing proposed changes in a companys corporate structure or business activities; seeking changes in a companys directors or management; seeking changes in a companys direction or policies; seeking the sale or reorganization of the company or a portion of its assets; supporting or opposing third-party takeover efforts; supporting the filing of a bankruptcy petition; or foreclosing on collateral securing a security. This area of corporate activity is increasingly prone to litigation and it is possible that the fund could be involved in lawsuits related to such activities and could incur liabilities. The funds proxy voting guidelines are included in this SAI.
Futures, Options, and Swaps . The following paragraphs pertain to futures, options, and swaps: Combined Positions, Correlation of Price Changes, Futures Contracts, Futures Margin Payments, Limitations on Futures, Options, and Swap Transactions, Liquidity of Options and Futures Contracts, Options and Futures Relating to Foreign Currencies, OTC Options, Purchasing Put and Call Options, Writing Put and Call Options, and Swap Agreements.
Combined Positions involve purchasing and writing options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward contracts, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall position. For example, purchasing a put option and writing a call option on the same underlying instrument would construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract. Another possible combined position would involve writing a call option at one strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.
Correlation of Price Changes . Because there are a limited number of types of exchange-traded options and futures contracts, it is likely that the standardized contracts available will not match the funds current or anticipated investments exactly. The fund may invest in options and futures contracts based on securities with different issuers, maturities, or other characteristics from the securities in which the fund typically invests, which involves a risk that the options or futures position will not track the performance of the funds other investments.
Options and futures prices can also diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments match the funds investments well. Options and futures prices are affected by such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect correlation may also result from differing levels of demand in the options and futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how options and futures and securities are traded, or from imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or trading halts. The fund may purchase or sell options and futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the securities it wishes to hedge or intends to purchase in order to attempt to compensate for differences in volatility between the contract and the securities, although this may not be successful in all cases. If price changes in the funds options or futures positions are poorly correlated with its other investments, the positions may fail to produce anticipated gains or result in losses that are not offset by gains in other investments.
Futures Contracts . In purchasing a futures contract, the buyer agrees to purchase a specified underlying instrument at a specified future date. In selling a futures contract, the seller agrees to sell a specified underlying instrument at a specified
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future date. The price at which the purchase and sale will take place is fixed when the buyer and seller enter into the contract. Some currently available futures contracts are based on specific securities, such as U.S. Treasury bonds or notes, some are based on indices of securities prices, such as the Standard & Poors 500 SM Index (S&P 500®), and some are based on Eurodollars. Futures can be held until their delivery dates, or can be closed out before then if a liquid secondary market is available.
Futures may be based on foreign indexes such as the Compagnie des Agents de Change 40 Index (CAC 40) in France, the Deutscher Aktienindex (DAX 30) in Germany, the Financial Times Stock Exchange Eurotop 100 Index (FTSE Eurotop 100) in Europe, the IBEX 35 Index (IBEX 35) in Spain, the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index (FTSE 100) in the United Kingdom, the Australian Stock Exchange All Ordinaries Index (ASX All Ordinaries) in Australia, the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong, and the Nikkei Stock Average (Nikkei 225), the Nikkei Stock Index 300 (Nikkei 300), and the Tokyo Stock Exchange Stock Price Index (TOPIX) in Japan.
Positions in Eurodollar futures reflect market expectations of forward levels of three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) rates.
The value of a futures contract tends to increase and decrease in tandem with the value of its underlying instrument. Therefore, purchasing futures contracts will tend to increase the funds exposure to positive and negative price fluctuations in the underlying instrument, much as if it had purchased the underlying instrument directly. When the fund sells a futures contract, by contrast, the value of its futures position will tend to move in a direction contrary to the market. Selling futures contracts, therefore, will tend to offset both positive and negative market price changes, much as if the underlying instrument had been sold.
Futures Margin Payments . The purchaser or seller of a futures contract is not required to deliver or pay for the underlying instrument unless the contract is held until the delivery date. However, both the purchaser and seller are required to deposit initial margin with a futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant (FCM), when the contract is entered into. Initial margin deposits are typically equal to a percentage of the contracts value. If the value of either partys position declines, that party will be required to make additional variation margin payments to settle the change in value on a daily basis. The party that has a gain may be entitled to receive all or a portion of this amount. Initial and variation margin payments do not constitute purchasing securities on margin for purposes of the funds investment limitations. In the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of an FCM that holds margin on behalf of the fund, the fund may be entitled to return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCMs other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the fund. The fund is required to segregate liquid assets equivalent to the funds outstanding obligations under the contract in excess of the initial margin and variation margin, if any.
Although futures exchanges generally operate similarly in the United States and abroad, foreign futures exchanges may follow trading, settlement, and margin procedures that are different from those for U.S. exchanges. Futures contracts traded outside the United States may involve greater risk of loss than U.S.-traded contracts, including potentially greater risk of losses due to insolvency of a futures broker, exchange member, or other party that may owe initial or variation margin to the fund. Because initial and variation margin payments may be measured in foreign currency, a futures contract traded outside the United States may also involve the risk of foreign currency fluctuation.
Limitations on Futures, Options, and Swap Transactions . The trust, on behalf of the fund, has filed with the National Futures Association a notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of the term commodity pool operator (CPO) under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, and the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to the funds operation. Accordingly, the fund is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO.
The fund will not: (a) sell futures contracts, purchase put options, or write call options if, as a result, more than 25% of the funds total assets would be hedged with futures and options under normal conditions; (b) purchase futures contracts or write put options if, as a result, the funds total obligations upon settlement or exercise of purchased futures contracts and written put options would exceed 25% of its total assets under normal conditions; or (c) purchase call options if, as a result, the current value of option premiums for call options purchased by the fund would exceed 5% of the funds total assets. These limitations do not apply to options attached to or acquired or traded together with their underlying securities, and do not apply to securities that incorporate features similar to options.
Oppenheimer also intends to follow certain other limitations on the funds futures and option activities. The fund will not purchase any option if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in option premiums. Under normal conditions, the fund will not enter into any futures contract, option, or swap agreement if, as a result, the sum of (i) the current value of assets hedged in the case of strategies involving the sale of securities, and (ii) the current value of the indices or other instruments underlying the funds other futures, options, or swaps positions, would exceed 35% of the funds total
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assets. These limitations do not apply to options attached to, or acquired or traded together with their underlying securities, and do not apply to securities that incorporate features similar to futures, options, or swaps.
The above limitations on the funds investments in futures contracts, options, and swaps, and the funds policies regarding futures contracts, options, and swaps discussed elsewhere in this SAI may be changed as regulatory agencies permit.
Liquidity of Options and Futures Contracts . There is no assurance a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular options or futures contract at any particular time. Options may have relatively low trading volume and liquidity if their strike prices are not close to the underlying instruments current price. In addition, exchanges may establish daily price fluctuation limits for options and futures contracts, and may halt trading if a contracts price moves upward or downward more than the limit in a given day. On volatile trading days when the price fluctuation limit is reached or a trading halt is imposed, it may be impossible to enter into new positions or close out existing positions. If the secondary market for a contract is not liquid because of price fluctuation limits or otherwise, it could prevent prompt liquidation of unfavorable positions, and potentially could require the fund to continue to hold a position until delivery or expiration regardless of changes in its value. As a result, the funds access to other assets held to cover its options or futures positions could also be impaired.
Options and Futures Relating to Foreign Currencies . Currency futures contracts are similar to forward currency exchange contracts, except that they are traded on exchanges (and have margin requirements) and are standardized as to contract size and delivery date. Most currency futures contracts call for payment or delivery in U.S. dollars. The underlying instrument of a currency option may be a foreign currency, which generally is purchased or delivered in exchange for U.S. dollars, or may be a futures contract. The purchaser of a currency call obtains the right to purchase the underlying currency, and the purchaser of a currency put obtains the right to sell the underlying currency.
The uses and risks of currency options and futures are similar to options and futures relating to securities or indices, as discussed above. The fund may purchase and sell currency futures and may purchase and write currency options to increase or decrease its exposure to different foreign currencies. Currency options may also be purchased or written in conjunction with each other or with currency futures or forward contracts. Currency futures and options values can be expected to correlate with exchange rates, but may not reflect other factors that affect the value of the funds investments. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a Yen-denominated security from a decline in the Yen, but will not protect the fund against a price decline resulting from deterioration in the issuers creditworthiness. Because the value of the funds foreign-denominated investments changes in response to many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to match the amount of currency options and futures to the value of the funds investments exactly over time.
OTC Options . Unlike exchange-traded options, which are standardized with respect to the underlying instrument, expiration date, contract size, and strike price, the terms of OTC options (options not traded on exchanges) generally are established through negotiation with the other party to the option contract. While this type of arrangement allows the purchaser or writer greater flexibility to tailor an option to its needs, OTC options generally are less liquid and involve greater credit risk than exchange-traded options, which are guaranteed by the clearing organization of the exchanges where they are traded.
Purchasing Put and Call Options . By purchasing a put option, the purchaser obtains the right (but not the obligation) to sell the options underlying instrument at a fixed strike price. In return for this right, the purchaser pays the current market price for the option (known as the option premium). Options have various types of underlying instruments, including specific securities, indices of securities prices, and futures contracts. The purchaser may terminate its position in a put option by allowing it to expire or by exercising the option. If the option is allowed to expire, the purchaser will lose the entire premium. If the option is exercised, the purchaser completes the sale of the underlying instrument at the strike price. A purchaser may also terminate a put option position by closing it out in the secondary market at its current price, if a liquid secondary market exists.
The buyer of a typical put option can expect to realize a gain if security prices fall substantially. However, if the underlying instruments price does not fall enough to offset the cost of purchasing the option, a put buyer can expect to suffer a loss (limited to the amount of the premium, plus related transaction costs).
The features of call options are essentially the same as those of put options, except that the purchaser of a call option obtains the right to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the options strike price. A call buyer typically attempts to participate in potential price increases of the underlying instrument with risk limited to the cost of the option if security prices fall. At the same time, the buyer can expect to suffer a loss if security prices do not rise sufficiently to offset the cost of the option.
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Writing Put and Call Options . The writer of a put or call option takes the opposite side of the transaction from the options purchaser. In return for receipt of the premium, the writer assumes the obligation to pay the strike price for the options underlying instrument if the other party to the option chooses to exercise it. The writer may seek to terminate a position in a put option before exercise by closing out the option in the secondary market at its current price. If the secondary market is not liquid for a put option, however, the writer must continue to be prepared to pay the strike price while the option is outstanding, regardless of price changes. When writing an option on a futures contract, the fund will be required to make margin payments to an FCM as described above for futures contracts.
If security prices rise, a put writer would generally expect to profit, although its gain would be limited to the amount of the premium it received. If security prices remain the same over time, it is likely that the writer will also profit, because it should be able to close out the option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the put writer would expect to suffer a loss. This loss should be less than the loss from purchasing the underlying instrument directly, however, because the premium received for writing the option should mitigate the effects of the decline.
Writing a call option obligates the writer to sell or deliver the options underlying instrument, in return for the strike price, upon exercise of the option. The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, except that writing calls generally is a profitable strategy if prices remain the same or fall. Through receipt of the option premium, a call writer mitigates the effects of a price decline. At the same time, because a call writer must be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, even if its current value is greater, a call writer gives up some ability to participate in security price increases.
Swap Agreements can be individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease the funds exposure to long- or short-term interest rates (in the United States or abroad), foreign currency values, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices or inflation rates. Swap agreements can take many different forms and are known by a variety of names.
In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level, while the seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. An interest rate collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.
Swap agreements will tend to shift the funds investment exposure from one type of investment to another. For example, if the fund agreed to exchange payments in dollars for payments in foreign currency, the swap agreement would tend to decrease the funds exposure to U.S. interest rates and increase its exposure to foreign currency and interest rates. Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. Depending on how they are used, swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the funds investments and its share price.
Swap agreements also may allow the fund to acquire or reduce credit exposure to a particular issuer. The most significant factor in the performance of swap agreements is the change in the factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the fund, the fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. If a swap counterpartys creditworthiness declines, the risk that they may not perform may increase, potentially resulting in a loss to the fund. Although there can be no assurance that the fund will be able to do so, the fund may be able to reduce or eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party.
Illiquid Securities cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business at approximately the prices at which they are valued. Difficulty in selling securities may result in a loss or may be costly to the fund. Under the supervision of the Board of Trustees and Strategic Advisers, Oppenheimer determines the liquidity of the funds investments and, through reports from Strategic Advisers and/or Oppenheimer, the Board monitors investments in illiquid securities. In determining the liquidity of the funds investments, Oppenheimer, as appropriate, may consider various factors, including (1) the frequency and volume of trades and quotations, (2) the number of dealers and prospective purchasers in the marketplace, (3) dealer undertakings to make a market, and (4) the nature of the security and the market in which it trades (including any demand, put or tender features, the mechanics and other requirements for transfer, any letters of credit or other credit enhancement features, any ratings, the number of holders, the method of soliciting offers, the time required to dispose of the security, and the ability to assign or offset the rights and obligations of the security).
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Indexed Securities are instruments whose prices are indexed to the prices of other securities, securities indices, currencies, or other financial indicators. Indexed securities typically, but not always, are debt securities or deposits whose value at maturity or coupon rate is determined by reference to a specific instrument or statistic.
Currency-indexed securities typically are short-term to intermediate-term debt securities whose maturity values or interest rates are determined by reference to the values of one or more specified foreign currencies, and may offer higher yields than U.S. dollar-denominated securities. Currency-indexed securities may be positively or negatively indexed; that is, their maturity value may increase when the specified currency value increases, resulting in a security that performs similarly to a foreign-denominated instrument, or their maturity value may decline when foreign currencies increase, resulting in a security whose price characteristics are similar to a put on the underlying currency. Currency-indexed securities may also have prices that depend on the values of a number of different foreign currencies relative to each other.
The performance of indexed securities depends to a great extent on the performance of the security, currency, or other instrument to which they are indexed, and may also be influenced by interest rate changes in the United States and abroad. Indexed securities may be more volatile than the underlying instruments. Indexed securities are also subject to the credit risks associated with the issuer of the security, and their values may decline substantially if the issuers creditworthiness deteriorates. Recent issuers of indexed securities have included banks, corporations, and certain U.S. Government agencies.
Interfund Borrowing and Lending Program . Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the fund may lend money to, and borrow money from, other funds advised by Fidelity Management & Research Company (FMR) or its affiliates (which would include Strategic Advisers). The fund will borrow through the program only when the costs are equal to or lower than the cost of bank loans, and will lend through the program only when the returns are higher than those available from an investment in repurchase agreements. Interfund loans and borrowings normally extend overnight, but can have a maximum duration of seven days. Loans may be called on one days notice. The fund may have to borrow from a bank at a higher interest rate if an interfund loan is called or not renewed. Any delay in repayment to a lending fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional borrowing costs.
Investment-Grade Debt Securities . Investment-grade debt securities include all types of debt instruments that are of medium and high-quality. Investment-grade debt securities include repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government securities as well as repurchase agreements collateralized by equity securities, non-investment-grade debt, and all other instruments in which a fund can perfect a security interest, provided the repurchase agreement counterparty has an investment-grade rating. Some investment-grade debt securities may possess speculative characteristics and may be more sensitive to economic changes and to changes in the financial conditions of issuers. An investment-grade rating means the security or issuer is rated investment-grade by Moodys ® Investors Service, Standard & Poors ® (S&P ® ), Fitch Inc., Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited, or another credit rating agency designated as a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) by the SEC, or is unrated but considered to be of equivalent quality by Oppenheimer.
Loans and Other Direct Debt Instruments . Direct debt instruments are interests in amounts owed by a corporate, governmental, or other borrower to lenders or lending syndicates (loans and loan participations), to suppliers of goods or services (trade claims or other receivables), or to other parties. Direct debt instruments involve a risk of loss in case of default or insolvency of the borrower and may offer less legal protection to the purchaser in the event of fraud or misrepresentation, or there may be a requirement that the fund supply additional cash to a borrower on demand.
Purchasers of loans and other forms of direct indebtedness depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of interest and repayment of principal. If scheduled interest or principal payments are not made, the value of the instrument may be adversely affected. Loans that are fully secured provide more protections than an unsecured loan in the event of failure to make scheduled interest or principal payments. However, there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the borrowers obligation, or that the collateral could be liquidated. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative. Borrowers that are in bankruptcy or restructuring may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. Direct indebtedness of developing countries also involves a risk that the governmental entities responsible for the repayment of the debt may be unable, or unwilling, to pay interest and repay principal when due.
Investments in loans through direct assignment of a financial institutions interests with respect to a loan may involve additional risks. For example, if a loan is foreclosed, the purchaser could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. In addition, it is conceivable that under emerging legal theories of lender liability, a purchaser could be held liable as a co-lender. Direct debt instruments may also involve a risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other intermediary.
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A loan is often administered by a bank or other financial institution that acts as agent for all holders. The agent administers the terms of the loan, as specified in the loan agreement. Unless, under the terms of the loan or other indebtedness, the purchaser has direct recourse against the borrower, the purchaser may have to rely on the agent to apply appropriate credit remedies against a borrower. If assets held by the agent for the benefit of a purchaser were determined to be subject to the claims of the agents general creditors, the purchaser might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on the loan or loan participation and could suffer a loss of principal or interest.
Direct indebtedness may include letters of credit, revolving credit facilities, or other standby financing commitments that obligate purchasers to make additional cash payments on demand. These commitments may have the effect of requiring a purchaser to increase its investment in a borrower at a time when it would not otherwise have done so, even if the borrowers condition makes it unlikely that the amount will ever be repaid.
The fund limits the amount of total assets that it will invest in any one issuer or in issuers within the same industry (see the funds investment limitations). For purposes of these limitations, the fund generally will treat the borrower as the issuer of indebtedness held by the fund. In the case of loan participations where a bank or other lending institution serves as financial intermediary between the fund and the borrower, if the participation does not shift to the fund the direct debtor-creditor relationship with the borrower, SEC interpretations require the fund, in appropriate circumstances, to treat both the lending bank or other lending institution and the borrower as issuers for these purposes. Treating a financial intermediary as an issuer of indebtedness may restrict the funds ability to invest in indebtedness related to a single financial intermediary, or a group of intermediaries engaged in the same industry, even if the underlying borrowers represent many different companies and industries.
Lower-Quality Debt Securities . Lower-quality debt securities include all types of debt instruments that have poor protection with respect to the payment of interest and repayment of principal, or may be in default. These securities are often considered to be speculative and involve greater risk of loss or price changes due to changes in the issuers capacity to pay. The market prices of lower-quality debt securities may fluctuate more than those of higher-quality debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty, which may follow periods of rising interest rates.
The market for lower-quality debt securities may be thinner and less active than that for higher-quality debt securities, which can adversely affect the prices at which the former are sold. Adverse publicity and changing investor perceptions may affect the liquidity of lower-quality debt securities and the ability of outside pricing services to value lower-quality debt securities.
The fund may choose, at its expense or in conjunction with others, to pursue litigation or otherwise to exercise its rights as a security holder to seek to protect the interests of security holders if it determines this to be in the best interest of the funds shareholders.
Money Market Securities are high-quality, short-term obligations. Money market securities may be structured to be, or may employ a trust or other form so that they are, eligible investments for money market funds. For example, put features can be used to modify the maturity of a security or interest rate adjustment features can be used to enhance price stability. If a structure fails to function as intended, adverse tax or investment consequences may result. Neither the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) nor any other regulatory authority has ruled definitively on certain legal issues presented by certain structured securities. Future tax or other regulatory determinations could adversely affect the value, liquidity, or tax treatment of the income received from these securities or the nature and timing of distributions made by the fund.
Mortgage Securities are issued by government and non-government entities such as banks, mortgage lenders, or other institutions. A mortgage security is an obligation of the issuer backed by a mortgage or pool of mortgages or a direct interest in an underlying pool of mortgages. Some mortgage securities, such as collateralized mortgage obligations (or CMOs), make payments of both principal and interest at a range of specified intervals; others make semiannual interest payments at a predetermined rate and repay principal at maturity (like a typical bond). Mortgage securities are based on different types of mortgages, including those on commercial real estate or residential properties. Stripped mortgage securities are created when the interest and principal components of a mortgage security are separated and sold as individual securities. In the case of a stripped mortgage security, the holder of the principal-only security (PO) receives the principal payments made by the underlying mortgage, while the holder of the interest-only security (IO) receives interest payments from the same underlying mortgage.
Fannie Maes and Freddie Macs are pass-through securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, respectively. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which guarantee payment of interest and repayment of principal on Fannie Maes and Freddie Macs, respectively, are federally chartered corporations supervised by the U.S. Government that act as governmental instrumentalities under authority granted by Congress. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are authorized to borrow from the U.S.
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Treasury to meet their obligations. Fannie Maes and Freddie Macs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
The value of mortgage securities may change due to shifts in the markets perception of issuers and changes in interest rates. In addition, regulatory or tax changes may adversely affect the mortgage securities market as a whole. Non-government mortgage securities may offer higher yields than those issued by government entities, but also may be subject to greater price changes than government issues. Mortgage securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the risk that early principal payments made on the underlying mortgages, usually in response to a reduction in interest rates, will result in the return of principal to the investor, causing it to be invested subsequently at a lower current interest rate. Alternatively, in a rising interest rate environment, mortgage security values may be adversely affected when prepayments on underlying mortgages do not occur as anticipated, resulting in the extension of the securitys effective maturity and the related increase in interest rate sensitivity of a longer-term instrument. The prices of stripped mortgage securities tend to be more volatile in response to changes in interest rates than those of non-stripped mortgage securities.
To earn additional income for the fund, Oppenheimer may use a trading strategy that involves selling (or buying) mortgage securities and simultaneously agreeing to purchase (or sell) mortgage securities on a later date at a set price. This trading strategy may increase interest rate exposure and result in an increased turnover of the funds portfolio which increases costs and may increase taxable gains.
Municipal Securities are issued to raise money for a variety of public or private purposes, including general financing for state and local governments, or financing for specific projects or public facilities. They may be issued in anticipation of future revenues and may be backed by the full taxing power of a municipality, the revenues from a specific project, or the credit of a private organization. The value of some or all municipal securities may be affected by uncertainties in the municipal market related to legislation or litigation involving the taxation of municipal securities or the rights of municipal securities holders. A municipal security may be owned directly or through a participation interest.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies . Some securities of corporations domiciled outside the U.S. which the fund may purchase, may be considered passive foreign investment companies (PFICs) under U.S. tax laws. PFICs are those foreign corporations which generate primarily passive income. They tend to be growth companies or start-up companies. For federal tax purposes, a corporation is deemed a PFIC if 75% or more of the foreign corporations gross income for the income year is passive income or if 50% or more of its assets are assets that produce or are held to produce passive income. Passive income is further defined as any income to be considered foreign personal holding company income within the subpart F provisions defined by Internal Revenue Code §954.
Investing in PFICs involves the risks associated with investing in foreign securities, as described above. There are also the risks that the fund may not realize that a foreign corporation it invests in is a PFIC for federal tax purposes. Federal tax laws impose severe tax penalties for failure to properly report investment income from PFICs. Following industry standards, the fund makes every effort to ensure compliance with federal tax reporting of these investments. PFICs are considered foreign securities for the purposes of the funds minimum percentage requirements or limitations of investing in foreign securities.
Subject to the limits under the 1940 Act, the fund may also invest in foreign mutual funds which are also deemed PFICs (since nearly all of the income of a mutual fund is generally passive income). Investing in these types of PFICs may allow exposure to various countries because some foreign countries limit, or prohibit, all direct foreign investment in the securities of companies domiciled therein.
In addition to bearing their proportionate share of the funds expenses (management fees and operating expenses), shareholders would also indirectly bear similar expenses of such entities.
Preferred Stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred securities and common stock.
Put Features entitle the holder to sell a security back to the issuer or a third party at any time or at specified intervals. In exchange for this benefit, the fund may accept a lower interest rate. Securities with put features are subject to the risk that the put provider is unable to honor the put feature (purchase the security). Put providers often support their ability to buy securities on demand by obtaining letters of credit or other guarantees from other entities. Demand features, standby commitments, and tender options are types of put features.
Real Estate Investment Trusts . Equity real estate investment trusts own real estate properties, while mortgage real estate investment trusts make construction, development, and long-term mortgage loans. Their value may be affected by
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changes in the value of the underlying property of the trusts, the creditworthiness of the issuer, property taxes, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements, such as those relating to the environment. Both types of trusts are dependent upon management skill, are not diversified, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status of income under the Internal Revenue Code and failing to maintain exemption from the 1940 Act.
Repurchase Agreements involve an agreement to purchase a security and to sell that security back to the original seller at an agreed-upon price. The resale price reflects the purchase price plus an agreed-upon incremental amount which is unrelated to the coupon rate or maturity of the purchased security. As protection against the risk that the original seller will not fulfill its obligation, the securities are held in a separate account at a bank, marked-to-market daily, and maintained at a value at least equal to the sale price plus the accrued incremental amount. The value of the security purchased may be more or less than the price at which the counterparty has agreed to purchase the security. In addition, delays or losses could result if the other party to the agreement defaults or becomes insolvent. The fund will engage in repurchase agreement transactions with parties whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by Oppenheimer or, under certain circumstances, by Strategic Advisers or a Strategic Advisers affiliate.
Restricted Securities are subject to legal restrictions on their sale. Difficulty in selling securities may result in a loss or be costly to the fund. Restricted securities generally can be sold in privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (1933 Act), or in a registered public offering. Where registration is required, the holder of a registered security may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expense and a considerable period may elapse between the time it decides to seek registration and the time it may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the holder might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when it decided to seek registration of the security.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements . In a reverse repurchase agreement, the fund sells a security to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase that security at an agreed-upon price and time. The fund will enter into reverse repurchase agreements with parties whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by Oppenheimer or, under certain circumstances, by Strategic Advisers or a Strategic Advisers affiliate.
Such transactions may increase fluctuations in the market value of fund assets and the funds yield and may be viewed as a form of leverage.
Securities of Other Investment Companies , including shares of closed-end investment companies, unit investment trusts, and open-end investment companies, represent interests in professionally managed portfolios that may invest in any type of instrument. The fund can also invest in ETFs, which are typically open-end funds or unit investment trusts listed on a stock exchange. Investing in other investment companies involves substantially the same risks as investing directly in the underlying instruments, but may involve additional expenses at the investment company-level, such as portfolio management fees and operating expenses. Certain types of investment companies, such as closed-end investment companies, issue a fixed number of shares that trade on a stock exchange or over-the-counter at a premium or a discount to their NAV. Others are continuously offered at NAV, but may also be traded in the secondary market.
The extent to which the fund can invest in securities of other investment companies is limited by federal securities laws.
Short Sales Against the Box are short sales of securities that the fund owns or has the right to obtain (equivalent in kind or amount to the securities sold short). If the fund enters into a short sale against the box, it will be required to set aside securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short (or securities convertible or exchangeable into such securities) and will be required to hold such securities while the short sale is outstanding. The fund will incur transaction costs, including interest expenses, in connection with opening, maintaining, and closing short sales against the box.
Short Sales . Stocks underlying the funds convertible security holdings can be sold short. For example, if Oppenheimer anticipates a decline in the price of the stock underlying a convertible security held by the fund, it may sell the stock short. If the stock price subsequently declines, the proceeds of the short sale could be expected to offset all or a portion of the effect of the stocks decline on the value of the convertible security. The fund currently intends to hedge no more than 15% of its total assets with short sales on equity securities underlying its convertible security holdings under normal circumstances.
The fund will be required to set aside securities equivalent in kind and amount to those sold short (or securities convertible or exchangeable into such securities) and will be required to hold them aside while the short sale is outstanding. The fund will incur transaction costs, including interest expenses, in connection with opening, maintaining, and closing short sales.
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Sources of Liquidity or Credit Support . Issuers may employ various forms of credit and liquidity enhancements, including letters of credit, guarantees, swaps, puts, and demand features, and insurance provided by domestic or foreign entities such as banks and other financial institutions. For purposes of making initial and ongoing minimal credit risk determinations, Oppenheimer and its affiliates may rely on their evaluation of the credit of the issuer or the credit of the liquidity or credit enhancement provider. In evaluating the credit of a foreign bank or other foreign entities, factors considered may include whether adequate public information about the entity is available and whether the entity may be subject to unfavorable political or economic developments, currency controls, or other government restrictions that might affect its ability to honor its commitment. Changes in the credit quality of the entity providing the enhancement could affect the value of the security or the funds share price.
Sovereign Debt Obligations are issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or their agencies, including debt of Latin American nations or other developing countries. Sovereign debt may be in the form of conventional securities or other types of debt instruments such as loans or loan participations. Sovereign debt of developing countries may involve a high degree of risk, and may be in default or present the risk of default. Governmental entities responsible for repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal and pay interest when due, and may require renegotiation or rescheduling of debt payments. In addition, prospects for repayment of principal and payment of interest may depend on political as well as economic factors. Although some sovereign debt, such as Brady Bonds, is collateralized by U.S. Government securities, repayment of principal and payment of interest is not guaranteed by the U.S. Government.
Stripped Securities are the separate income or principal components of a debt security. The risks associated with stripped securities are similar to those of other debt securities, although stripped securities may be more volatile, and the value of certain types of stripped securities may move in the same direction as interest rates. U.S. Treasury securities that have been stripped by a Federal Reserve Bank are obligations issued by the U.S. Treasury.
Privately stripped government securities are created when a dealer deposits a U.S. Treasury security or other U.S. Government security with a custodian for safekeeping. The custodian issues separate receipts for the coupon payments and the principal payment, which the dealer then sells.
Because the SEC does not consider privately stripped government securities to be U.S. Government securities for purposes of Rule 2a-7, the fund must evaluate them as it would non-government securities pursuant to regulatory guidelines applicable to money market funds.
Temporary Defensive Policies . When market conditions are unstable, or Oppenheimer believes it is otherwise appropriate to reduce holdings in stocks, the fund can invest in a variety of debt securities for defensive purposes. The fund can invest in:
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commercial paper (short-term, unsecured, promissory notes of domestic or foreign companies) rated in the top rating category of a nationally recognized rating organization, |
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debt obligations of corporate issuers, rated investment grade (rated at least Baa by Moodys Investors Service, Inc. or at least BBB by Standard & Poors Corporation, or a comparable rating by another rating organization), or unrated securities judged by Oppenheimer to have a comparable quality to rated securities in those categories, |
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preferred stocks, |
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certificates of deposit and bankers acceptances of domestic and foreign banks and savings and loan associations, and |
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repurchase agreements. |
Short-term debt securities would normally be selected for defensive or cash management purposes because they can normally be disposed of quickly, are not generally subject to significant fluctuations in principal value and their value will be less subject to interest rate risk than longer-term debt securities.
Variable and Floating Rate Securities provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate paid on the security. Variable rate securities provide for a specified periodic adjustment in the interest rate, while floating rate securities have interest rates that change whenever there is a change in a designated benchmark rate or the issuers credit quality. Some
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variable or floating rate securities are structured with put features that permit holders to demand payment of the unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest from the issuers or certain financial intermediaries.
Warrants and Rights . Warrants are instruments which entitle the holder to buy an equity security at a specific price for a specific period of time. Changes in the value of a warrant do not necessarily correspond to changes in the value of its underlying security. The price of a warrant may be more volatile than the price of its underlying security, and a warrant may offer greater potential for capital appreciation as well as capital loss. Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a short duration and are distributed directly by the issuer to its shareholders.
Warrants and rights do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the underlying security and do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuing company. A warrant or right ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date. These factors can make warrants and rights more speculative than other types of investments.
When-Issued and Forward Purchase or Sale Transactions involve a commitment to purchase or sell specific securities at a predetermined price or yield in which payment and delivery take place after the customary settlement period for that type of security. Typically, no interest accrues to the purchaser until the security is delivered.
When purchasing securities pursuant to one of these transactions, the purchaser assumes the rights and risks of ownership, including the risks of price and yield fluctuations and the risk that the security will not be issued as anticipated. Because payment for the securities is not required until the delivery date, these risks are in addition to the risks associated with the funds investments. If the fund remains substantially fully invested at a time when a purchase is outstanding, the purchases may result in a form of leverage. When the fund has sold a security pursuant to one of these transactions, the fund does not participate in further gains or losses with respect to the security. If the other party to a delayed-delivery transaction fails to deliver or pay for the securities, the fund could miss a favorable price or yield opportunity or suffer a loss.
The fund may renegotiate a when-issued or forward transaction and may sell the underlying securities before delivery, which may result in capital gains or losses for the fund.
Zero Coupon Bonds do not make interest payments; instead, they are sold at a discount from their face value and are redeemed at face value when they mature. Because zero coupon bonds do not pay current income, their prices can be more volatile than other types of fixed-income securities when interest rates change. In calculating the funds dividend, a portion of the difference between a zero coupon bonds purchase price and its face value is considered income.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Strategic Advisers has granted investment management authority to Oppenheimer (see the section entitled Management Contract) and Oppenheimer is authorized to provide the services described in the sub-advisory agreement, and will do so in accordance with the policies described in this section.
One of the duties of Oppenheimer under the sub-advisory agreement is to arrange the portfolio transactions for the fund. The sub-advisory agreement contains provisions relating to the employment of broker-dealers to effect the funds portfolio transactions. Oppenheimer is authorized by the sub-advisory agreement to employ broker-dealers, including affiliated brokers, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, that Oppenheimer thinks, in its best judgment based on all relevant factors, will implement the policy of the fund to obtain, at reasonable expense, the best execution of the funds portfolio transactions. Best execution means prompt and reliable execution at the most favorable price obtainable for the services provided. Oppenheimer need not seek competitive commission bidding.
Purchases and sales of securities on a securities exchange are effected through brokers who receive compensation for their services. Compensation may also be paid in connection with riskless principal transactions (in both OTC securities and securities listed on an exchange) and agency OTC transactions executed with an electronic communications network (ECN) or an alternative trading system.
Securities may be purchased from underwriters at prices that include underwriting fees.
Generally, compensation relating to investments traded on foreign exchanges will be higher than for investments traded on U.S. exchanges and may not be subject to negotiation.
Futures transactions are executed and cleared through FCMs who receive compensation for their services.
Under the sub-advisory agreement, in choosing brokers to execute portfolio transactions for the fund, Oppenheimer may select brokers (other than affiliates) that provide both brokerage and research services to the fund. The commissions paid to
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those brokers may be higher than another qualified broker would charge, if Oppenheimer makes a good faith determination that the commission is fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided.
The research services provided by a particular broker may be useful both to the fund and to one or more of the other accounts advised by Oppenheimer or its affiliates. Investment research may be supplied to Oppenheimer by the broker or by a third party at the instance of a broker through which trades are placed.
Investment research services include information and analysis on particular companies and industries as well as market or economic trends and portfolio strategy, market quotations for portfolio evaluations, analytical software and similar products and services. If a research service also assists Oppenheimer in a non-research capacity (such as bookkeeping or other administrative functions), then only the percentage or component that provides assistance to Oppenheimer in the investment decision-making process may be paid in commission dollars.
The research services provided by brokers broaden the scope and supplement the research activities of Oppenheimer. That research provides additional views and comparisons for consideration, and helps Oppenheimer to obtain market information for the valuation of securities that are either held in the funds portfolio or are being considered for purchase.
Oppenheimer may place trades with certain brokers, including National Financial Services LLC (NFS), with which Strategic Advisers is under common control, provided it determines that these affiliates trade execution abilities and costs are comparable to those of non-affiliated, qualified brokerage firms.
The Trustees of the fund periodically review Strategic Advisers or Oppenheimers performance of their responsibilities in connection with the placement of portfolio transactions on behalf of the fund and review the compensation paid by the fund over representative periods of time to determine if they are reasonable in relation to the benefits to the fund.
The fund may pay compensation including both commissions and spreads in connection with the placement of portfolio transactions. Significant changes in brokerage commissions paid by the fund from year to year may result from changing asset levels throughout the year, shareholder activity, and/or portfolio turnover.
[The Trustees of the fund have approved procedures in conformity with Rule 10f-3 under the 1940 Act whereby the fund may purchase securities that are offered in underwritings in which an affiliate of FMR or Strategic participates. These procedures prohibit the fund from directly or indirectly benefiting an FMR affiliate or a Strategic affiliate in connection with such underwritings. In addition, for underwritings where an FMR affiliate or a Strategic affiliate participates as a principal underwriter, certain restrictions may apply that could, among other things, limit the amount of securities that the fund could purchase in the underwritings.]
From time to time the Trustees will review whether the recapture for the benefit of the fund of some portion of the compensation paid by the fund on portfolio transactions is legally permissible and advisable. The Trustees intend to continue to review whether recapture opportunities are available and are legally permissible and, if so, to determine in the exercise of their business judgment whether it would be advisable for the fund to participate, or continue to participate, in the commission recapture program.
Investment decisions for the fund are made by Oppenheimer and are independent from those of other funds or investment accounts (including proprietary accounts) managed by Strategic Advisers, Oppenheimer or their affiliates. The same security is often held in the portfolio of more than one of these funds or investment accounts. Simultaneous transactions are inevitable when several funds and investment accounts are managed by the same investment adviser, particularly when the same security is suitable for the investment objective of more than one fund or investment account.
Oppenheimer allocates brokerage for the fund subject to the provisions of the sub-advisory agreement and other applicable rules and procedures described below.
Oppenheimers portfolio traders allocate brokerage based upon recommendations from Oppenheimers portfolio managers, together with the portfolio traders judgment as to the execution capability of the broker or dealer. In certain instances, portfolio managers may directly place trades and allocate brokerage. In either case, Oppenheimers executive officers supervise the allocation of brokerage.
Transactions in securities other than those for which an exchange is the primary market are generally done with principals or market makers. In transactions on foreign exchanges, the fund may be required to pay fixed brokerage commissions and therefore would not have the benefit of negotiated commissions that are available in U.S. markets. Brokerage commissions are paid primarily for transactions in listed securities or for certain fixed-income agency transactions
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executed in the secondary market. Otherwise, brokerage commissions are paid only if it appears likely that a better price or execution can be obtained by doing so. In an option transaction, the fund ordinarily uses the same broker for the purchase or sale of the option and any transaction in the securities to which the option relates.
Other accounts advised or sub-advised by Oppenheimer have investment policies similar to those of the fund. Those other accounts may purchase or sell the same securities as the fund at the same time as the fund, which could affect the supply and price of the securities. If two or more accounts advised by Oppenheimer purchase the same security on the same day from the same dealer, the transactions under those combined orders are averaged as to price and allocated in accordance with the purchase or sale orders actually placed for each account. When possible, Oppenheimer tries to combine concurrent orders to purchase or sell the same security by more than one of the accounts managed by Oppenheimer or its affiliates. The transactions under those combined orders are averaged as to price and allocated in accordance with the purchase or sale orders actually placed for each account.
Rule 12b-1(h) under the 1940 Act prohibits the fund from compensating a broker or dealer for promoting or selling the funds shares by (1) directing to that broker or dealer any of the funds portfolio transactions, or (2) directing any other remuneration to that broker or dealer, such as commissions, mark-ups, mark downs or other fees from the funds portfolio transactions, that were effected by another broker or dealer (these latter arrangements are considered to be a type of step-out transaction). In other words, the fund and its investment adviser or sub-adviser cannot use the funds brokerage for the purpose of rewarding broker-dealers for selling the funds shares.
However, the Rule permits the fund to effect brokerage transactions through firms that also sell fund shares, provided that certain procedures are adopted to prevent a quid pro quo with respect to portfolio brokerage allocations. As permitted by the Rule, Oppenheimer has adopted procedures (and the funds Board of Trustees has approved those procedures) that permit the fund to direct portfolio securities transactions to brokers or dealers that also promote or sell shares of the fund, subject to the best execution considerations discussed above. Those procedures are designed to prevent: (1) Oppenheimers personnel who effect the funds portfolio transactions from taking into account a brokers or dealers promotion or sales of the fund shares when allocating the funds portfolio transactions, and (2) the fund, Oppenheimer and the funds distributor from entering into agreements or understandings under which Oppenheimer directs or is expected to direct the funds brokerage directly, or through a step-out arrangement, to any broker or dealer in consideration of that brokers or dealers promotion or sale of the funds shares or the shares of any of the other funds.
VALUATION
Each classs NAV is the value of a single share. The NAV of each class is computed by adding the classs pro rata share of the value of the applicable funds investments, cash, and other assets, subtracting the classs pro rata share of the applicable funds liabilities, subtracting the liabilities allocated to the class, and dividing the result by the number of shares of that class that are outstanding.
Portfolio securities are valued by various methods depending on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. Most equity securities for which the primary market is the United States are valued at the official closing price, last sale price or, if no sale has occurred, at the closing bid price. Most equity securities for which the primary market is outside the United States are valued using the official closing price or the last sale price in the principal market in which they are traded. If the last sale price (on the local exchange) is unavailable, the last evaluated quote or closing bid price normally is used. Securities of other open-end investment companies are valued at their respective NAVs.
Debt securities and other assets for which market quotations are readily available may be valued at market values determined by such securities most recent bid prices (sales prices if the principal market is an exchange) in the principal market in which they normally are traded, as furnished by recognized dealers in such securities or assets. Or, debt securities and convertible securities may be valued on the basis of information furnished by a pricing service that uses a valuation matrix which incorporates both dealer-supplied valuations and electronic data processing techniques. Use of pricing services has been approved by the Board of Trustees. A number of pricing services are available, and the fund may use various pricing services or discontinue the use of any pricing service.
Futures contracts and options are valued on the basis of market quotations, if available.
Independent brokers or quotation services provide prices of foreign securities in their local currency. Fidelity Service Company, Inc. (FSC) gathers all exchange rates daily at the close of the NYSE using the last quoted price on the local currency and then translates the value of foreign securities from their local currencies into U.S. dollars. Any changes in the value of forward contracts due to exchange rate fluctuations and days to maturity are included in the calculation of NAV. If an event that is expected to materially affect the value of a portfolio security occurs after the close of an exchange or market
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on which that security is traded, then that security will be valued in good faith by a committee appointed by the Board of Trustees.
Short-term securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less for which market quotations and information furnished by a pricing service are not readily available are valued either at amortized cost or at original cost plus accrued interest, both of which approximate current value.
The procedures set forth above need not be used to determine the value of the securities owned by the fund if, in the opinion of a committee appointed by the Board of Trustees, some other method would more accurately reflect the fair value of such securities. For example, securities and other assets for which there is no readily available market value may be valued in good faith by a committee appointed by the Board of Trustees. In making a good faith determination of the value of a security, the committee may review price movements in futures contracts and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), market and trading trends, the bid/ask quotes of brokers and off-exchange institutional trading.
BUYING AND SELLING INFORMATION
Under certain circumstances (for example, at the request of a shareholder), the fund may make redemption payments in whole or in part in readily marketable securities or other property pursuant to procedures approved by the Trustees if Strategic Advisers determines it is in the best interests of the fund. Such securities or other property will be valued for this purpose as they are valued in computing each classs NAV. Shareholders that receive securities or other property will realize, upon receipt, a gain or loss for tax purposes, and will incur additional costs and be exposed to market risk prior to and upon sale of such securities or other property.
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The following information is only a summary of some of the tax consequences affecting insurance company separate accounts invested in the fund. No attempt has been made to discuss tax consequences affecting variable product owners. Variable product owners seeking to understand the tax consequences of their investment should consult with their tax advisers or the insurance company that issued their variable product, or refer to their variable annuity or variable life insurance product prospectus.
The fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code so that it will not be liable for federal tax on income and capital gains distributed to insurance company separate accounts invested in the fund. In order to qualify as a regulated investment company, and avoid being subject to federal income or excise taxes at the fund level, the fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains within each calendar year as well as on a fiscal year basis, and intends to comply with other tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies. If the fund failed to qualify as a regulated investment company in any year, among other consequences, each insurance company separate account invested in the fund would fail to satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund also intends to satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder. These diversification requirements, which are in addition to the diversification requirements of Subchapter M, place certain limitations on the assets of an insurance company separate account that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer or a certain number of issuers. Because Section 817(h) and the regulations thereunder treat the assets of the fund as the assets of the related insurance company separate account, the fund must also satisfy these requirements. If the fund failed to satisfy these requirements, a variable annuity or variable life insurance product supported by an insurance company separate account invested in the fund would not be treated as an annuity or as life insurance for tax purposes and would no longer be eligible for tax deferral.
Foreign governments may withhold taxes on dividends and interest earned by the fund with respect to foreign securities. Foreign governments may also impose taxes on other payments or gains with respect to foreign securities. If, at the close of its fiscal year, more than 50% of the funds total assets is invested in securities of foreign issuers, the fund may elect to pass through eligible foreign taxes paid and thereby allow shareholders to take a deduction or, if they meet certain holding period requirements with respect to fund shares, a credit on their tax returns.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The Trustees and executive officers of the fund are listed below. The Board of Trustees governs the fund and is responsible for protecting the interests of shareholders. The Trustees are experienced executives who meet periodically
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throughout the year to oversee the funds activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the fund, and review the funds performance. Except for Mr. Howard E. Cox, Jr. and Ms. Karen Kaplan, each of the Trustees oversees ten funds advised by Strategic Advisers or an affiliate. Mr. Cox and Ms. Kaplan oversee five funds advised by Strategic Advisers or an affiliate.
The Trustees hold office without limit in time except that (a) any Trustee may resign; (b) any Trustee may be removed by written instrument, signed by at least two-thirds of the number of Trustees prior to such removal; (c) any Trustee who requests to be retired or who has become incapacitated by illness or injury may be retired by written instrument signed by a majority of the other Trustees; and (d) any Trustee may be removed at any special meeting of shareholders by a two-thirds vote of the outstanding voting securities of the trust. The executive officers hold office without limit in time, except that any officer may resign or may be removed by a vote of a majority of the Trustees at any regular meeting or any special meeting of the Trustees. Except as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the past five years.
Interested Trustees *:
Correspondence intended for each Trustee who is an interested person may be sent to Fidelity Investments, 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
Name. Age: Principal Occupation
Roger T. Servison (61) |
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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Mr. Servison is Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Servison serves as President of Strategic New Business Development for Fidelity Investments (1995-present), and oversees Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company (FILI) and Strategic Advisers (May 2005-present). He also serves as President and a Director of Fidelity Brokerages Services (Japan), LLC (1996-present), a Director of Fidelity Investments Asia Funding Corp. (2000-present), and a Director of Strategic Advisers (1999-present). Previously, he served as President of Fidelity Investments Retail Marketing Company and Fidelity Brokerage Services, Inc. (1991-1995), President of Monarch Capital (1990-1991), Senior Vice President of Fidelity Capital (1989-1990), Senior Vice President of Fidelitys New Business Development Group (1987-1989), and Senior Vice President of Fidelity Brokerage Services (1980-1987); and he served as a Director of FBSI Investments, Inc. (1993-2003), FMR Brokerage Holdings, Inc. (1999-2003), and Fidelity Partners Management Corp. (1997-2003). |
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Abigail P. Johnson (44) |
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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Ms. Johnson serves as President of Fidelity Employer Services Company (FESCO) (2005-present). She is President and a Director of Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. (2001-present), FMR Co., Inc. (2001-present), and a Director of FMR Corp. Previously, Ms. Johnson served as President and a Director of FMR (2001-2005), a Trustee of other investment companies advised by FMR (2001-2005), Senior Vice President of the Fidelity funds (2001-2005), and managed a number of Fidelity funds. |
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Richard A. Spillane Jr. (55) |
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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Mr. Spillane serves as President of Strategic Advisers (2005-present). Previously, he served as Executive Vice President and Head of Global Investment Strategy for Fidelity Investments (2002-2005), Senior Vice President of FMRs Income Growth and International Groups (1997-2002) and Head of U.S. equities (2001-2002). Mr. Spillane serves as Director of Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company (2000-present), Vice Chairman of Fidelitys Political Action Committee (2001-present), and a Member of the Board of Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company (2000-present). Mr. Spillane also serves as Chairman of the Board of Xaverian Brothers High School (1998-present). Mr. Spillane is a Chartered Financial Analyst (1985-present). |
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Trustees have been determined to be Interested Trustees by virtue of, among other things, their affiliation with the trusts or various entities under common control with Strategic Advisers. |
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Independent Trustees:
Correspondence intended for each Independent Trustee (that is, the Trustees other than the Interested Trustees) may be sent to Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 55235, Boston, Massachusetts 02205-5235.
Name. Age; Principal Occupation
Peter C. Aldrich (62) |
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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From January 1997 through December 2004, Mr. Aldrich was Chairman and Managing Member of AEIGIS, LLC. (foreign private investment). From 1999 through December 2004, he was Faculty Chairman of The Research Council on Global Investment of The Conference Board (business and professional education non-profit). From 1998 through December 2004, Mr. Aldrich was Managing Member of Poseidon, LLC (foreign private investment). Previously, he was Co-Chairman of AEW Capital Management, L.P., a real estate investment advisor (1997-1998), and a founder and Managing Partner of Aldrich, Eastman & Waltch, Inc., a real estate investment advisor (1981-1996). Mr. Aldrich serves as a Member of the Board of the National Bureau of Economic Research (1994), a Member of the Board of Zipcar, Inc. (car sharing, 2002), and a Member of the Board of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (2003). |
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Howard E. Cox, Jr. (62) |
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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Mr. Howard Cox is as a Partner of Greylock, a national venture capital firm, with which he has been associated since 1971. Prior to joining Greylock, Mr. Cox served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (1968-1971). He is currently a Director of Stryker Corporation (medical products and services). He has previously served on the boards of numerous public and private companies, including: The Boston Globe, American Medical Systems (acquired by Pfizer), AMISYS (acquired by McKessonHBOC), APPEX (acquired by EDS), Arbor (acquired by Extendicare), BMR Financial Group, Centene, Checkfree, Cogito Data Systems, Compdent (acquired by APPS), Execucom, HPR (acquired by McKessonHBOC), ISSCO (acquired by Computer Associates), Landacorp, Lunar (acquired by GE), Multimate, Rehab Systems (acquired by Novacare), Share Development (acquired by United Healthcare), United Publishers (acquired by NYNEX), VHA Long Term Care (acquired by ServiceMaster), and Vincam (acquired by ADP). Mr. Cox is a Director and former Chairman of the National Venture Capital Association. Mr. Howard Cox and Mr. Ralph Cox are not related. |
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Ralph F. Cox (74) |
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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Mr. Cox is President of RABAR Enterprises (management consulting for the petroleum industry, 1998-present). Previously, he was President of Greenhill Petroleum Corporation (petroleum exploration and production). Until March 1990, Mr. Cox was President and Chief Operating Officer of Union Pacific Resources Company (exploration and production). He is a Director of CH2M Hill Companies (engineering), and Abraxas Petroleum (petroleum exploration and production, 1999). In addition, he is a member of advisory boards of Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Ralph Cox and Mr. Howard Cox are not related. |
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Karen Kaplan (45) |
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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Ms. Kaplan is President of Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos Inc., a subsidiary of The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (group of advertising and specialized marketing and communication services companies). She has been with Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos Inc. since 1982. Ms. Kaplan is Vice President of the Massachusetts Womens Forum and Vice Chair of the Board of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. She serves as a Director of the Executive Committee of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, a Member of the Presidents Council of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, serves on the Advisory Council of the Urban Improv, and a Member of the Board of Mentors of Community Servings. Ms. Kaplan also serves as a Director of ADVO (direct mail marketing services), Tweeter Home Entertainment Group, and Delta Dental Plan of Massachusetts. |
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Executive Officers:
Correspondence intended for each executive officer may be sent to Fidelity Investments, 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
Name. Age; Principal Occupation
Eric D. Roiter (57) |
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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Chief Legal Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap. He also serves as Secretary of other Fidelity funds; Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of FMR Co., Inc. (2001-present) and FMR; Assistant Secretary of Fidelity Management & Research (U.K.) Inc. (2001-present), Fidelity Research & Analysis Company (2001-present), and Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. (2001-present). Mr. Roiter is an Adjunct Member, Faculty of Law, at Boston College Law School (2003-present). Previously, Mr. Roiter served as Vice President and Secretary of Fidelity Distributors Corporation (FDC) (1998-2005). |
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Stuart Fross (47) |
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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Secretary of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap. Mr. Fross also serves as Assistant Secretary of other Fidelity funds (2003-present). Mr. Fross previously served as Vice President and Secretary of FDC (2005-2006), and is a Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel of FMR. |
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Stephen D. Fisher (43) |
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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Assistant Secretary of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap. Mr. Fisher previously served as Vice President and Director of Fidfunds Mutual Limited (1998-2003) and is a Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel of FMR. |
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Mark Osterheld (51) |
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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President and Treasurer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap. Mr. Osterheld also serves as Assistant Treasurer of other Fidelity funds (2002) and is an employee of FMR. |
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Charles V. Senatore (52) |
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap. He also serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for the Fidelity Risk Oversight Group (2003-present). Before joining Fidelity Investments, Mr. Senatore served as Co-Head of Global Compliance (2002-2003), Head of Private Client Compliance (2000-2002), and Head of the Regulatory Affairs Group (1999-2000) at Merrill Lynch. Mr. Senatore serves as a Member of the SIA Compliance and Legal Division Executive Committee (2004-present), a Member of the SIA Self Regulation and Supervisory Practices Committee (2004-present), a Member of the New York Stock Exchange Compliance Advisory Committee (2000-2003; 2005), and a Member of the Securities Industry/Regulatory Council on Continuing Education (2004-present). He previously served as a Member (2001-2003) and Chair (2003) of the NASDs District 10 Business Committee in New York. |
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Kathleen Tucker (47) |
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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Chief Financial Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap. She also serves as Senior Vice President of Accounting and Pricing Operations for Fidelity Pricing & Cash Management Services (1999-present). Previously, Ms. Tucker worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (1981-1999), where she was most recently a partner in the investment management practice. |
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John H. Costello (60) |
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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Assistant Treasurer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap. Mr. Costello also serves as Assistant Treasurer of other Fidelity funds and is an employee of FMR. |
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Peter L. Lydecker (52) |
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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Assistant Treasurer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap. Mr. Lydecker also serves as Assistant Treasurer of other Fidelity funds (2004) and is an employee of FMR. |
Standing Committees of the Funds Trustees . The Board of Trustees has established various committees to support the Independent Trustees in acting independently in pursuing the best interests of the fund and its shareholders. The committees facilitate the timely and efficient consideration of all matters of importance to Independent Trustees, the fund, and fund shareholders and to facilitate compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Currently, the Board of Trustees has two standing committees. The members of each committee are Independent Trustees.
The Audit Committee is composed of ______, ____ (Chair), and ______. All committee members must be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a companys balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. The committee normally meets in conjunction with in person meetings of the Board of Trustees, or more frequently as called by the Chair. The committee meets separately periodically with the funds Treasurer, with personnel responsible for the internal audit function of FMR Corp., and with the funds outside auditors. The committee has direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of the work of the outside auditors employed by the fund. The committee assists the Trustees in overseeing and monitoring: (i) the systems of internal accounting and financial controls of the fund and the funds service providers, (ii) the financial reporting processes of the fund, (iii) the independence, objectivity and qualification of the auditors to the fund, (iv) the annual audits of the funds financial statements, and (v) the accounting policies and disclosures of the fund. The committee considers and acts upon (i) the provision by any outside auditor of any non-audit services for any fund, and (ii) the provision by any outside auditor of certain non-audit services to fund service providers and their affiliates to the extent that such approval (in the case of this clause (ii)) is required under applicable regulations of the SEC. In furtherance of the foregoing, the committee has adopted (and may from time to time amend or supplement) and provides oversight of policies and procedures for non-audit engagements by outside auditors of the fund. It is responsible for approving all audit engagement fees and terms for the fund, resolving disagreements between the fund and any outside auditor regarding the funds financial reporting, and has sole authority to hire and fire any auditor. Auditors of the fund report directly to the committee. The committee will obtain assurance of independence and objectivity from the outside auditors, including a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the auditor and the fund and any service providers consistent with Independent Standards Board Standard No. 1. The committee will receive reports of compliance with provisions of the Auditor Independence Regulations relating to the hiring of employees or former employees of the outside auditors. It oversees and receives reports on the funds service providers internal controls and reviews with management, internal auditors, and outside counsel the adequacy and effectiveness of the service providers accounting and financial controls, including: (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect the funds ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data; (ii) any change in the funds internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the funds internal control over financial reporting; and (iii) any fraud, whether material or not, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the funds or service providers internal controls over financial reporting. The committee reviews at least annually a report from the outside auditor describing any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality control, peer review, or Public Company Accounting Oversight Board examination of the auditing firm and any material issues raised by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities of the auditing firm and in each case any steps taken to deal with such issues. The committee will oversee and receive reports on the funds financial reporting process, will discuss with Strategic Advisers, the funds Treasurer, outside auditors and, if appropriate, internal audit personnel of FMR Corp. their qualitative judgments about the appropriateness and acceptability of accounting principles and financial disclosure practices used or proposed for adoption by the fund, and will review with Strategic Advisers, the funds Treasurer, outside auditor, and internal auditor personnel of FMR Corp. (to the extent relevant) the results of audits of the funds financial statements. The committee will review periodically the funds major internal controls exposures and the steps that have been taken to monitor and control such exposures. The committee also plays an oversight role in respect of the funds compliance with its name test and
23
investment restrictions, the code of ethics relating to personal securities transactions, the code of ethics applicable to certain senior officers of the fund, and anti-money laundering requirements.
The Governance and Nominating Committee is composed of [________] (Chair) and [_______________]. The committee meets as called by the Chair. With respect to fund governance and board administration matters, the committee periodically reviews procedures of the Board of Trustees and its committees (including committee charters) and periodically reviews the compensation of Independent Trustees. The committee monitors corporate governance matters and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees on the frequency and structure of the Board of Trustee meetings and on any other aspect of Board procedures. It reviews the performance of legal counsel employed by the fund and the Independent Trustees. On behalf of the Independent Trustees, the committee will make such findings and determinations as to the independence of counsel for the Independent Trustees as may be necessary or appropriate under applicable regulations or otherwise. The committee is also responsible for Board administrative matters applicable to Independent Trustees, such as expense reimbursement policies and compensation for attendance at meetings, conferences and other events. The committee monitors compliance with, acts as the administrator of, and makes determinations in respect of, the provisions of the code of ethics and any supplemental policies regarding personal securities transactions applicable to the Independent Trustees. The committee monitors the functioning of each Board committee and makes recommendations for any changes, including the creation or elimination of standing or ad hoc Board committees. The committee monitors regulatory and other developments to determine whether to recommend modifications to the committees responsibilities or other Trustee policies and procedures in light of rule changes, reports concerning best practices in corporate governance and other developments in mutual fund governance. The committee recommends that the Board establish such special or ad hoc Board committees as may be desirable or necessary from time to time in order to address ethical, legal, or other matters that may arise. The committee also oversees the annual self-evaluation of the Board of Trustees and establishes procedures to allow it to exercise this oversight function. In conducting this oversight, the committee shall address all matters that it considers relevant to the performance of the Board of Trustees and shall report the results of its evaluation to the Board of Trustees, including any recommended amendments to the principles of governance , and any recommended changes to the funds or the Board of Trustees policies, procedures, and structures. The committee reviews periodically the size and composition of the Board of Trustees as a whole and recommends, if necessary, measures to be taken so that the Board of Trustees reflects the appropriate balance of knowledge, experience, skills, expertise, and diversity required for the Board as a whole and contains at least the minimum number of Independent Trustees required by law. The committee makes nominations for the election or appointment of Independent Trustees and for membership on committees. The committee shall have authority to retain and terminate any third-party advisers, including authority to approve fees and other retention terms. Such advisers may include search firms to identify Independent Trustee candidates and board compensation consultants. The committee may conduct or authorize investigations into or studies of matters within the committees scope of responsibilities, and may retain, at the funds expense, such independent counsel or other advisers as it deems necessary. The committee will consider nominees to the Board of Trustees recommended by shareholders based upon the criteria applied to candidates presented to the committee by a search firm or other source. Recommendations, along with appropriate background material concerning the candidate that demonstrates his or her ability to serve as an Independent Trustee of the fund, should be submitted to the Chair of the committee at the address maintained for communications with Independent Trustees. If the committee retains a search firm, the Chair will generally forward all such submissions to the search firm for evaluation.
The following table sets forth information describing the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee in the fund and in all funds in the aggregate within the same fund family overseen by the Trustee for the calendar year ended December 31, 2006.
Interested Trustees
DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES |
|
Abigail P. Johnson |
|
Roger T. Servison |
|
Richard A.
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap |
|
|
None |
|
|
None |
|
|
None |
|
AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES IN ALL FUNDS OVERSEEN WITHIN FUND FAMILY |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
Independent Trustees
DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES |
|
Peter C. Aldrich |
|
Howard E. Cox, Jr. |
|
Ralph F. Cox |
|
Karen Kaplan |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap |
|
|
None |
|
|
None |
|
|
None |
|
|
None |
|
AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES IN ALL FUNDS OVERSEEN WITHIN FUND FAMILY |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
24
The following table sets forth information describing the compensation of each Trustee for his or her services for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.
Compensation Table 1
AGGREGATE COMPENSATION FROM A FUND |
|
Peter C. Aldrich |
|
Howard E. Cox, Jr. |
|
Ralph F. Cox |
|
Karen Kaplan |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap+ |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
TOTAL COMPENSATION FROM THE FUND COMPLEX |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
|
1 |
Abigail P. Johnson, Roger T. Servison and Richard A. Spillane Jr. are interested persons and are compensated by Strategic Advisers or an affiliate (including FMR). |
+ |
Estimated for the funds first full year. |
As of the public offering of shares of the fund, 100% of the funds outstanding securities were held by Strategic Advisers or an affiliate. FMR Corp. is the ultimate parent company of Strategic Advisers and this affiliate.
CONTROL OF INVESTMENT ADVISERS
FMR Corp., organized in 1972, is the ultimate parent company of Strategic Advisers. The voting common stock of FMR Corp. is divided into two classes. Class B is held predominantly by members of the Edward C. Johnson 3d family and is entitled to 49% of the vote on any matter acted upon by the voting common stock. Class A is held predominantly by non-Johnson family member employees of FMR Corp. and its affiliates and is entitled to 51% of the vote on any such matter. The Johnson family group and all other Class B shareholders have entered into a shareholders voting agreement under which all Class B shares will be voted in accordance with the majority vote of Class B shares. Under the 1940 Act, control of a company is presumed where one individual or group of individuals owns more than 25% of the voting stock of that company. Therefore, through their ownership of voting common stock and the execution of the shareholders voting agreement, members of the Johnson family may be deemed, under the 1940 Act, to form a controlling group with respect to FMR Corp.
At present, the primary business activities of FMR Corp. and its subsidiaries are: (i) the provision of investment advisory, management, shareholder, investment information and assistance and certain fiduciary services for individual and institutional investors; (ii) the provision of securities brokerage services; (iii) the management and development of real estate; and (iv) the investment in and operation of a number of emerging businesses.
Oppenheimer, a registered investment adviser, has its principal office at Two World Financial Center, 225 Liberty Street, 11 th Floor, New York, New York 10281-1008. Oppenheimer is wholly-owned by Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., a holding company controlled by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, a global, diversified insurance and financial services organization.
Strategic Advisers and Oppenheimer (collectively, the Investment Advisers), FDC, and the fund have adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that set forth employees fiduciary responsibilities regarding the fund, establish procedures for personal investing, and restrict certain transactions. Employees subject to the codes of ethics, including the Investment Advisers investment personnel, may invest in securities for their own investment accounts, including securities that may be purchased or held by the fund.
25
MANAGEMENT CONTRACT
The fund has entered into a management contract with Strategic Advisers, pursuant to which Strategic Advisers furnishes investment advisory and other services.
Pursuant to an SEC exemptive order, Strategic Advisers intends to act as a manager of managers with respect to the fund, meaning that Strategic Advisers has the responsibility to oversee sub-advisers and recommend their hiring, termination, and replacement. Subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of the fund but without shareholder approval, Strategic Advisers may replace or hire unaffiliated sub-advisers or amend the terms of their existing sub-advisory agreements, if any. In the event of approval of a new unaffiliated sub-adviser, shareholders of the fund will be provided with information about the new sub-adviser and sub-advisory agreement within ninety days of appointment.
Management and Sub-Advisory Services . Strategic Advisers provides the fund with all necessary office facilities and personnel for servicing the funds investments, compensates all officers of the fund and all Trustees who are interested persons of the trusts or of Strategic Advisers, and all personnel of the fund or Strategic Advisers performing services relating to research, statistical and investment activities.
In addition, Strategic Advisers or its affiliates, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, provide the management and administrative services necessary for the operation of the fund. These services include providing facilities for maintaining the funds organization; supervising relations with custodians, transfer and pricing agents, accountants, underwriters and other persons dealing with the fund; preparing all general shareholder communications and conducting shareholder relations; maintaining the funds records and the registration of the funds shares under federal securities laws and making necessary filings under state laws; developing management and shareholder services for the fund; and furnishing reports, evaluations and analyses on a variety of subjects to the Trustees.
Oppenheimer serves as sub-adviser of the fund. Under its management contract with the fund, Strategic Advisers acts as investment adviser. Under the sub-advisory agreement, and subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, Oppenheimer directs the investments of the fund in accordance with its investment objective, policies, and limitations.
Management-Related Expenses . In addition to the management fee payable to Strategic Advisers and the fees payable to the transfer, dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing agent and pricing and bookkeeping agent, and the costs associated with securities lending, as applicable, the fund or each class thereof, as applicable, pays all of its expenses that are not assumed by those parties. The fund pays for the typesetting, printing, and mailing of its proxy materials to shareholders, legal expenses, and the fees of the custodian, auditor, and Independent Trustees. The funds management contract further provides that the fund will pay for typesetting, printing, and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, notices, and reports to shareholders; however, under the terms of the funds transfer agent agreement, the transfer agent bears these costs. Other expenses paid by the fund include interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, the funds proportionate share of insurance premiums and Investment Company Institute dues, and the costs of registering shares under federal securities laws and making necessary filings under state securities laws. The fund is also liable for such nonrecurring expenses as may arise, including costs of any litigation to which the fund may be a party, and any obligation it may have to indemnify its officers and Trustees with respect to litigation. The fund also pays the costs related to the solicitation of fund proxies from variable product owners.
Management Fees . For the services of Strategic Advisers under the management contract, the fund has a monthly management fee which is payable to Strategic Advisers at the annual rate of [___]% of its average net assets throughout the month.
Sub-Adviser - Oppenheimer . The fund and Strategic Advisers have entered into a sub-advisory agreement with Oppenheimer. Pursuant to the sub-advisory agreement, Strategic Advisers has granted Oppenheimer investment management authority as well as the authority to buy and sell securities.
Under the sub-advisory agreement, for providing investment management services to the fund, Strategic Advisers pays Oppenheimer fees at an annual rate of [___] of the average net assets of the fund.
Strategic Advisers may, from time to time, voluntarily reimburse all or a portion of a classs operating expenses (exclusive of interest, taxes, certain securities lending costs, brokerage commissions, and extraordinary expenses), which is subject to revision or discontinuance. Strategic Advisers retains the ability to be repaid for these expense reimbursements in the amount that expenses fall below the limit prior to the end of the fiscal year.
Expense reimbursements by Strategic Advisers will increase a classs returns, and repayment of the reimbursement by a class will lower its returns.
26
Nikolaos D. Monoyios and Mark Zavanelli are the portfolio managers for the fund and receive compensation for their services.
The funds portfolio managers are employed and compensated by Oppenheimer, not the fund. Under Oppenheimers compensation program for its portfolio managers and portfolio analysts, their compensation is based primarily on the investment performance results of the funds and accounts they manage, rather than on the financial success of Oppenheimer. This is intended to align the portfolio managers and analysts interests with the success of the funds and accounts and their investors. Oppenheimers compensation structure is designed to attract and retain highly qualified investment management professionals and to reward individual and team contributions toward creating shareholder value. As of [____________], 2006, each portfolio manager s compensation consisted of three elements: a base salary, an annual discretionary bonus and eligibility to participate in long-term awards of options and appreciation rights in regard to the common stock of Oppenheimers holding company parent. Senior portfolio managers may also be eligible to participate in the Oppenheimers deferred compensation plan.
The base pay component of each portfolio manager is reviewed regularly to ensure that it reflects the performance of the individual, is commensurate with the requirements of the particular portfolio, reflects any specific competence or specialty of the individual manager, and is competitive with other comparable positions, to help Oppenheimer attract and retain talent. The annual discretionary bonus is determined by senior management of Oppenheimer and is based on a number of factors, including the funds pre-tax performance for periods of up to five years, measured against an appropriate benchmark selected by management. The Lipper benchmark with respect to the Fund is Lipper Small Cap Core Funds. Other factors include management quality (such as style consistency, risk management, sector coverage, team leadership and coaching) and organizational development. The portfolio managers compensation is not based on the total value of the funds portfolio assets, although the funds investment performance may increase those assets. The compensation structure is also intended to be internally equitable and serve to reduce potential conflicts of interest between the fund and other funds and accounts managed by the portfolio managers . The compensation structure of the other funds managed by the portfolio managers is the same as the compensation structure of the fund, described above.
In addition to managing the funds investment portfolio, each portfolio manager also manages other investment portfolios and accounts on behalf of Oppenheimer or its affiliates. The following table provides information, as of [June 30, 2006], regarding the other portfolios managed by each portfolio manager. No account has a performance-based advisory fee:
|
|
|
|
1. |
In millions. |
|
2. |
Does not include personal accounts of portfolio managers and their families, which are subject to the Code of Ethics. |
As of September 30, 2006, the dollar range of shares of the fund beneficially owned by Messrs. Monoyios and Zavanelli was none.
As indicated above, each of the portfolio managers also manage other funds and accounts. Potentially, at times, those responsibilities could conflict with the interests of the fund. That may occur whether the investment strategies of the other fund or account are the same as, or different from, the funds investment objectives and strategies. For example, the portfolio manager may need to allocate investment opportunities between the fund and another fund or account having similar objectives or strategies, or he may need to execute transactions for another fund or account that could have a negative impact on the value of securities held by the fund. Not all funds and accounts advised by Oppenheimer have the same management fee. If the management fee structure of another fund or account is more advantageous to Oppenheimer than the fee structure of the fund, Oppenheimer could have an incentive to favor the other fund or account. However, Oppenheimers compliance procedures and Code of Ethics recognize the Oppenheimers fiduciary obligations to treat all of its clients, including the fund, fairly and equitably, and are designed to preclude the portfolio managers from favoring one client over another. It is possible, of course, that those compliance procedures and the Code of Ethics may not always be adequate to do so. At different times, one or more of the funds portfolio managers may manage other funds or accounts with investment objectives and strategies
27
that are similar to those of the fund, or may manage funds or accounts with investment objectives and strategies that are different from those of the fund.
PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
Oppenheimer has adopted Portfolio Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures under which Oppenheimer votes proxies relating to securities (portfolio proxies) held by the fund. Oppenheimers primary consideration in voting portfolio proxies is the financial interests of the fund and its shareholders. Oppenheimer has retained an unaffiliated third-party as its agent to vote portfolio proxies in accordance with Oppenheimers Portfolio Proxy Voting Guidelines and to maintain records of such portfolio proxy voting. The Portfolio Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures include provisions to address conflicts of interest that may arise between the fund and Oppenheimer or its affiliates or business relationships. Such a conflict of interest may arise, for example, where Oppenheimer or an affiliate of Oppenheimer manages or administers the assets of a pension plan or other investment account of the portfolio company soliciting the proxy or seeks to serve in that capacity. Oppenheimer and its affiliates generally seek to avoid such conflicts by maintaining separate investment decision making processes to prevent the sharing of business objectives with respect to proposed or actual actions regarding portfolio proxy voting decisions. Additionally, Oppenheimer employs the following two procedures: (1) if the proposal that gives rise to the conflict is specifically addressed in the Guidelines, Oppenheimer will vote the portfolio proxy in accordance with the Guidelines, provided that they do not provide discretion to Oppenheimer on how to vote on the matter; and (2) if such proposal is not specifically addressed in the Guidelines or the Guidelines provide discretion to Oppenheimer on how to vote, Oppenheimer will vote in accordance with the third-party proxy voting agents general recommended guidelines on the proposal provided that Oppenheimer has reasonably determined that there is no conflict of interest on the part of the proxy voting agent. If neither of the previous two procedures provides an appropriate voting recommendation, Oppenheimer may retain an independent fiduciary to advise Oppenheimer on how to vote the proposal or may abstain from voting. The Guidelines provisions with respect to certain routine and non-routine proxy proposals are summarized below:
|
|
Oppenheimer generally votes with the recommendation of the issuers management on routine matters, including ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm, unless circumstances indicate otherwise. |
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|
Oppenheimer evaluates nominees for director nominated by management on a case-by-case basis, examining the following factors, among others: Composition of the board and key board committees, attendance at board meetings, corporate governance provisions and takeover activity, long-term company performance and the nominees investment in the company. |
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In general, Oppenheimer opposes anti-takeover proposals and supports the elimination, or the ability of shareholders to vote on the preservation or elimination, of anti-takeover proposals, absent unusual circumstances. |
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Oppenheimer supports shareholder proposals to reduce a super-majority vote requirement, and opposes management proposals to add a super-majority vote requirement. |
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Oppenheimer opposes proposals to classify the board of directors or trustees. |
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Oppenheimer supports proposals to eliminate cumulative voting. |
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|
Oppenheimer opposes re-pricing of stock options without shareholder approval. |
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|
Oppenheimer generally considers executive compensation questions such as stock option plans and bonus plans to be ordinary business activity. Oppenheimer analyzes stock option plans, paying particular attention to their dilutive effect. While Oppenheimer generally supports management proposals, Oppenheimer opposes plans it considers to be excessive. |
To view the funds proxy voting record for the most recent 12 month period ended June 30, if applicable, visit www.fidelity.com/proxyvotingresults or visit the SECs web site at www.sec.gov.
DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
The fund has entered into a distribution agreement with FDC, an affiliate of Strategic Advisers. The principal business address of FDC is 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. FDC is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. The distribution agreement calls for FDC to use all reasonable efforts, consistent with its other business, to secure
28
purchasers for shares of the fund, which are continuously offered at NAV. Promotional and administrative expenses in connection with the offer and sale of shares are paid by Strategic Advisers.
The Trustees have approved Distribution and Service Plans on behalf of Initial Class and Investor Class (the Plans) pursuant to Rule 12b-l under the 1940 Act (the Rule). The Rule provides in substance that a mutual fund may not engage directly or indirectly in financing any activity that is primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of the fund except pursuant to a plan approved on behalf of the fund under the Rule. The Plans, as approved by the Trustees, allow Initial Class, Investor Class and Strategic Advisers to incur certain expenses that might be considered to constitute direct or indirect payment by the fund of distribution expenses.
The Rule 12b-1 Plan adopted for Initial Class and Investor Class of the fund is described in the prospectus for that class.
Under the Initial Class Plan, if the payment of management fees by the fund to Strategic Advisers is deemed to be indirect financing by the fund of the distribution of its shares, such payment is authorized by the Initial Class Plan. The Initial Class Plan specifically recognizes that Strategic Advisers may use its management fee revenue, as well as its past profits or its other resources, to pay FDC for expenses incurred in connection with providing services intended to result in the sale of Initial Class shares and/or support services that benefit variable product owners. In addition, the Initial Class Plan provides that Strategic Advisers, directly or through FDC, may pay significant amounts to intermediaries, primarily insurance companies or their affiliated broker-dealers or other service-providers, that provide those services. Currently, the Board of Trustees has authorized such payments for Initial Class shares.
Under the Investor Class Plan, if the payment of management fees by the fund to Strategic Advisers is deemed to be indirect financing by the fund of the distribution of its shares, such payment is authorized by the Investor Class Plan. The Investor Class Plan specifically recognizes that Strategic Advisers may use its management fee revenue, as well as its past profits or its other resources, to pay FDC for expenses incurred in connection with providing services intended to result in the sale of Investor Class shares and/or support services that benefit variable product owners. In addition, the Investor Class Plan provides that Strategic Advisers, directly or through FDC, may pay significant amounts to intermediaries, primarily insurance companies or their affiliated broker-dealers or other service-providers, that provide those services. Currently, the Board of Trustees has authorized such payments for Investor Class shares.
Prior to approving each Plan, the Trustees carefully considered all pertinent factors relating to the implementation of the Plan, and determined that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the applicable class of the fund and variable product owners. In particular, the Trustees noted that each Plan does not authorize payments by the applicable class of the fund other than those made to Strategic Advisers under its management contract with the fund. To the extent that each Plan gives Strategic Advisers and FDC greater flexibility in connection with the distribution of class shares, additional sales of class shares or stabilization of cash flows may result. Furthermore, certain support services that benefit variable product owners may be provided more effectively under the Plans by insurance companies and their affiliates with whom variable product owners have other relationships.
The fund may execute portfolio transactions with, and purchase securities issued by, depository institutions that receive payments under the Plans. No preference for the instruments of such depository institutions will be shown in the selection of investments.
FDC or an affiliate may compensate intermediaries (primarily insurance companies or their affiliated broker-dealers or their service-providers) that distribute and/or service the fund. A number of factors are considered in determining whether to pay these additional amounts. Such factors may include, without limitation, the level or type of services provided by the intermediary, the level or expected level of assets or sale of shares, the placing of the fund on a preferred or recommended fund list, access to an intermediarys personnel, and other factors. [The total amount paid to intermediaries in the aggregate currently will not exceed [___]% of the total assets of [________] on an annual basis.] In addition to such payments, FDC or an affiliate may offer other incentives such as sponsorship of educational or client seminars relating to current products and issues, assistance in training and educating intermediaries personnel, payments or reimbursements for travel and related expenses associated with due diligence trips that an intermediary may undertake in order to explore possible business relationships with affiliates of FDC, and/or payments of costs and expenses associated with attendance at seminars, including travel, lodging, entertainment and meals. FDC anticipates that payments will be made to over a hundred intermediaries, including some of the largest broker-dealers and other financial firms, and these payments may be significant to the intermediaries. As permitted by SEC and National Association of Securities Dealers rules and other applicable laws and regulations, FDC or an affiliate may pay or allow other incentives or payments to intermediaries.
29
These additional payments and expenses, which are sometimes referred to as revenue sharing may represent a premium over payments made by other fund families, and investment professionals may have added incentive to sell or recommend a fund or a share class over others offered by competing fund families.
The funds transfer agent may also make payments and reimbursements from their own resources to certain intermediaries for performing recordkeeping and other services. Please see Transfer and Service Agent Agreements in this SAI for more information.
TRANSFER AND SERVICE AGENT AGREEMENTS
Each class of the fund has entered into a transfer agent agreement with Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Co., Inc. (FIIOC), an affiliate of Strategic Advisers, which is located at 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. Under the terms of the agreements, FIIOC (or an agent, including an affiliate) performs transfer agency, dividend disbursing, and shareholder services for each class of the fund.
For providing transfer agency services, FIIOC receives an asset-based fee paid monthly with respect to each account in the fund.
The asset-based fees are subject to adjustment if the year-to-date total return of the S&P 500 exceeds a positive or negative 15%.
FIIOC pays out-of-pocket expenses associated with providing transfer agent services. In addition, FIIOC bears the expense of typesetting, printing, and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, and all other reports, notices, and statements to existing shareholders, with the exception of proxy statements.
FIIOC or an affiliate may make payments out of its own resources to intermediaries for transfer agency and related recordkeeping services with respect to insurance contract owners accounts. Because intermediaries may be paid varying amounts for recordkeeping and administrative services, such payments may provide incentives for intermediaries to favor one fund family over another.
The fund has also entered into a service agent agreement with Fidelity Service Company, Inc. (FSC), an affiliate of Strategic Advisers (or an agent, including an affiliate). The fund has also entered into a securities lending administration agreement with FSC. Under the terms of the agreements, FSC calculates the NAV and dividends for each class of the fund, maintains the funds portfolio and general accounting records, and administers the funds securities lending program.
For providing pricing and bookkeeping services, FSC receives a monthly fee based on the funds average daily net assets throughout the month.
The annual rates for pricing and bookkeeping services for the fund are 0.0375% of the first $500 million of average net assets, 0.0265% of average net assets between $500 million and $3.5 billion, 0.0040% of average net assets between $3.5 billion and $25 billion, and 0.0018% of average net assets in excess of $25 billion.
In addition, the fund is subject to a multiple class surcharge of 10% of the asset-based fee.
For administering the funds securities lending program, FSC is paid based on the number and duration of individual securities loans.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST
Trust Organization . Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap Portfolio is a fund of Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II, an open-end management investment company created under an initial trust instrument dated March 8, 2006. Currently, there are two funds offered in the trust: Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value Portfolio and Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap Portfolio. The Trustees are permitted to create additional funds in the trust and to create additional classes of the funds.
The assets of the trust received for the issue or sale of shares of each fund and all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, subject to the rights of creditors, are allocated to such fund, and constitute the underlying assets of such fund. The underlying assets of each fund in a trust shall be charged with the liabilities and expenses attributable to such fund, except that liabilities and expenses may be allocated to a particular class. Any general expenses of the trust shall be allocated between or among any one or more of the funds or classes.
Shareholder Liability . The trust is a statutory trust organized under Delaware law. Delaware law provides that, except to the extent otherwise provided in the Trust Instrument, shareholders shall be entitled to the same limitations of personal
30
liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the general corporation law of Delaware. The courts of some states, however, may decline to apply Delaware law on this point. The Trust Instrument contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for the debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses of the trust. The Trust Instrument provides that the trust shall not have any claim against shareholders except for the payment of the purchase price of shares and requires that each agreement, obligation, or instrument entered into or executed by the trust or the Trustees relating to the trust shall include a provision limiting the obligations created thereby to the trust or to one or more funds and its or their assets. The Trust Instrument further provides that shareholders of the fund shall not have a claim on or right to any assets belonging to any other fund.
The Trust Instrument provides for indemnification out of each funds property of any shareholder or former shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the fund solely by reason of his or her being or having been a shareholder and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other reason. The Trust Instrument also provides that each fund shall, upon request, assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of the fund and satisfy any judgment thereon. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which Delaware law does not apply, no contractual limitation of liability was in effect, and a fund is unable to meet its obligations. Strategic Advisers believes that, in view of the above, the risk of personal liability to shareholders is extremely remote. Claims asserted against one class of shares may subject holders of another class of shares to certain liabilities.
Voting Rights . Each funds capital consists of shares of beneficial interest. As a shareholder, you are entitled to one vote for each dollar of net asset value you own. The voting rights of shareholders can be changed only by a shareholder vote. Shares may be voted in the aggregate, by fund, and by class.
The shares have no preemptive or conversion rights. Shares are fully paid and nonassessable, except as set forth under the heading Shareholder Liability above.
The trust or a fund or a class may be terminated upon the sale of its assets to, or merger with, another open-end management investment company, series, or class thereof, or upon liquidation and distribution of its assets. The Trustees may reorganize, terminate, merge, or sell all or a portion of the assets of the trust or a fund or a class without prior shareholder approval. In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the trust, shareholders of each of its funds are entitled to receive the underlying assets of such fund available for distribution. In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of a fund or a class, shareholders of that fund or that class are entitled to receive the underlying assets of the fund or class available for distribution.
Custodians . State Street Bank and Trust Company, 2 Avenue de Lafayette, Lafayette Corporate Center, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02109, is custodian of the assets of the fund. The custodian is responsible for the safekeeping of the funds assets and the appointment of any subcustodian banks and clearing agencies. JPMorgan Chase Bank, headquartered in New York, also may serve as a special purpose custodian of certain assets of the fund in connection with repurchase agreement transactions. State Street also may serve as a special purpose custodian of certain assets of the fund in connection with repurchase agreement transactions.
[Strategic Advisers, its officers and directors, its affiliated companies, and Members of the Board of Trustees may, from time to time, conduct transactions with various banks, including banks serving as custodians for certain funds advised by Strategic Advisers.]
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms . ________________, independent registered public accounting firm, examines financial statements for the fund and provides other audit, tax, and related services.
FUND HOLDINGS INFORMATION
[The fund views holdings information as sensitive and limits its dissemination. The Board authorized Strategic Advisers, in consultation with FMR, to establish and administer guidelines for the dissemination of fund holdings information, which may be amended at any time without prior notice. FMRs Disclosure Policy Committee (comprising executive officers of FMR) evaluates disclosure policy with the goal of serving the funds best interests by striking an appropriate balance between providing information about the funds portfolio and protecting the fund from potentially harmful disclosure. The Board reviews the administration and modification of these guidelines and receives reports from the funds chief compliance officer periodically.
1. The fund will provide a full list of holdings as of the end of the funds fiscal quarter on www.advisor.fidelity.com 60 days after its fiscal quarter-end.
31
2. The fund will provide its top ten holdings (excluding cash and futures) as of the end of the calendar quarter on Fidelitys web site 15 or more days after the calendar quarter-end. [This information may also be provided to insurance companies via an electronic reporting tool at that time.]
This information will be available on the web site until updated for the next applicable period.
The fund may also from time to time provide specific fund level performance attribution information and statistics to the Board or third parties, such as fund shareholders or prospective fund shareholders, members of the press, consultants, and ratings and rankings organizations.
The Use of Holdings In Connection With Fund Operations . Material non-public holdings information may be provided as part of the investment activities of the fund to: entities which, by explicit agreement or by virtue of their respective duties to the fund, are required to maintain the confidentiality of the information disclosed; other parties if legally required; or persons Strategic Advisers believes will not misuse the disclosed information. These entities, parties, and persons include: the funds trustees; the funds manager, its sub-advisers and their affiliates whose access persons are subject to a code of ethics; contractors who are subject to a confidentiality agreement; the funds auditors; the funds custodians; proxy voting service providers; financial printers; pricing service vendors; broker-dealers in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or requests for price quotations or bids on one or more securities; securities lending agents; counsel to the fund or their Independent Trustees; regulatory authorities; stock exchanges and other listing organizations; parties to litigation; an issuer, regarding the number of shares of the issuer (or percentage of outsourcing shares) held by the fund; and third-parties in connection with a bankruptcy proceeding relating to the fund holding. Non-public holdings information may also be provided to issuers regarding the number or percentage of its shares that are owned by the fund and in connection with redemptions in kind.
Other Uses Of Holdings Information . In addition, the fund may provide material non-public holdings information to (i) third-parties that calculate information derived from holdings for use by Strategic Advisers or its affiliates, (ii) third parties that supply their analyses of holdings (but not the holdings themselves) to their clients (including sponsors of retirement plans or their consultants), (iii) ratings and rankings organizations, and (iv) an investment adviser, trustee, or their agents to whom holdings are disclosed for due diligence purposes or in anticipation of a merger involving the fund. Each individual request is reviewed by the Disclosure Policy Committee which must find, in its sole discretion that, based on the specific facts and circumstances, the disclosure appears unlikely to be harmful to the fund. Entities receiving this information must have in place control mechanisms to reasonably ensure or otherwise agree that, (a) the holdings information will be kept confidential, (b) no employee shall use the information to effect trading or for their personal benefit, and (c) the nature and type of information that they, in turn, may disclose to third-parties is limited. Strategic Advisers relies primarily on the existence of non-disclosure agreements and/or control mechanisms when determining that disclosure is not likely to be harmful to the fund.
At this time, the entities receiving information described in the preceding paragraph are: Factset Research Systems Inc. (full holdings daily, on the next business day); Kynex Inc. (full holdings weekly, one business day after the end of the week); Thomson Vestek (full holdings, as of the end of the calendar quarter, 15 calendar days after the calendar quarter-end); S&P (full holdings weekly, four or more calendar days after the end of the week); Moodys Investor Service (full holdings weekly, four or more calendar days after the end of the week); and Anacomp Inc. (full or partial holdings daily, on the next business day).
Strategic Advisers, its affiliates, or the fund will not enter into any arrangements with third-parties from which they derive consideration for the disclosure of material non-public holdings information. If, in the future, Strategic Advisers desired to make such an arrangement, it would seek prior Board approval and any such arrangements would be disclosed in the funds SAI
There can be no assurance that the funds policies and procedures with respect to disclosure of fund portfolio holdings will prevent the misuse of such information by individuals and firms that receive such information.]
APPENDIX
Fidelity, Strategic Advisers and Fidelity Investments & (Pyramid) Design are registered trademarks of FMR Corp.
The third party marks appearing above are the marks of their respective owners.
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SUBJECT TO COMPLETION. PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED December 15, 2006. The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Contents
Fund Summary |
3 |
Investment Summary |
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3 |
Performance |
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4 |
Fee Table |
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Fund Basics |
5 |
Investment Details |
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6 |
Valuing Shares |
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Shareholder Information |
8 |
Buying and Selling Shares |
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9 |
Dividends and Capital Gain Distributions |
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9 |
Tax Consequences |
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Fund Services |
10 |
Fund Management |
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10 |
Fund Distribution |
2
Fund Summary
Investment Summary
Investment Objective
Fidelity® Strategic Advisers® Mid Cap Value Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital.
Principal Investment Strategies
Normally investing at least 80% of assets in equity securities of companies with medium market capitalizations (which, for the purpose of this fund, are those companies with market capitalizations similar to companies of the Russell Mid Cap ® Value Index).
Investing primarily in common stocks and real estate investment trusts (REITs).
Investing in securities of companies that the funds sub-adviser, J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (JPMIM), believes are undervalued and have the potential to grow intrinsic value per share.
Employing a bottom-up approach to selecting investments, constructing the funds portfolio based on company fundamentals, quantitative screening and proprietary fundamental analysis.
Using derivatives as substitutes for securities in which the fund can invest, as tools in the management of the funds assets and to hedge various investments, for risk management and to increase the funds income or gain.
Principal Investment Risks
Stock Market Volatility. Stock markets are volatile and can decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. Different parts of the market can react differently to these developments.
Issuer-Specific Changes . The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole. The value of securities of smaller issuers can be more volatile than that of larger issuers.
Value Investing. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks and can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time.
Mid Cap Investing. The value of securities of medium size, less well-known issuers can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks and can be more volatile than that of larger issuers.
Real Estate Industry Exposure. Changes in real estate values or economic downturns can have a significant negative effect on issuers in the real estate industry.
Investing in Derivatives . Derivatives may be more sensitive to changes in economic or market conditions than other types of investments and could result in losses that significantly exceed the funds original investment.
Leveraging Risk. Leverage can increase market exposure and magnify investment risks.
An investment in the fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
When a shareholder sells shares, they may be worth more or less than what the shareholder paid for them, which means that the shareholder could lose money.
Performance
Performance history will be available for the fund after the fund has been in operation for one calendar year.
3
Fee Table
The following table describes the fees and expenses that are incurred, directly or indirectly, when a variable product owner buys, holds, or redeems interests in a separate account that invests in a class of the fund, but
does not reflect the effect of any fees or other expenses of any variable annuity or variable life insurance product. The annual class operating expenses provided below for each class are based on estimated expenses.
Fees ( paid by the variable product owner directly )
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Initial
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Investor
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Sales charge (load) on purchases and reinvested distributions |
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Not Applicable |
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Not Applicable |
Deferred sales charge (load) on redemptions |
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Not Applicable |
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Not Applicable |
Annual operating expenses (paid from class assets)
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Initial
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Investor
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Management fee |
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[ ] |
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[ ] |
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees |
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None |
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None |
Other expenses A |
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[ ] |
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[ ] |
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Total annual class operating expenses B |
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[ ] |
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[ ] |
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A Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. |
B Strategic Advisers, Inc. (Strategic Advisers) has voluntarily agreed to reimburse Initial Class and Investor Class of the fund to the extent that total operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, certain securities lending costs, brokerage commissions, and extraordinary expenses), as a percentage of their respective average net assets, exceed the following rates: |
This example helps compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
Lets say, hypothetically, that each classs annual return is 5% and that the fees and each classs annual operating expenses are exactly as described in the fee table. This example illustrates the effect of fees and expenses, but is not meant to suggest actual or expected fees and expenses or returns, all of which may vary. This example does not reflect the effect of any fees or other expenses of any variable annuity or
variable life insurance product. If these fees and expenses were included, overall expenses would be higher. For every $10,000 invested, heres how much a variable product owner would pay in total expenses if all interests in the separate account that invests in a class of the fund were redeemed at the end of each time period indicated:
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Initial
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Investor
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1 Year |
$ |
[ ] |
$ |
[ ] |
3 Years |
$ |
[ ] |
$ |
[ ] |
4
Fund Basics
Investment Details
Investment Objective
Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital.
Principal Investment Strategies
JPMIM normally invests at least 80% of the funds assets in equity securities of companies with medium market capitalizations, including common stock and debt securities and preferred stocks, both of which are convertible into common stocks. For purposes of this fund, JPMIM generally defines medium market capitalization companies (mid-cap companies) as those whose market capitalization is similar to those within the universe of the Russell Mid Cap Value Index. A companys market capitalization is based on the total market value of its shares at the time of the funds investment.
The funds investments are primarily in common stocks and real estate investment trusts (REITs). REITs are pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in income-producing real estate or loans related to real estate.
JPMIM may use derivatives as substitutes for securities in which the fund can invest. JPMIM may use futures contracts, options, swaps and other derivatives as tools in the management of portfolio assets. JPMIM may use derivatives to hedge various investments, for risk management and to increase the funds income or gain.
JPMIM employs a bottom-up approach to stock selection, constructing the funds portfolio based on company fundamentals, quantitative screening and proprietary fundamental analysis. JPMIM looks for quality companies, which appear to be undervalued and to have the potential to grow intrinsic value per share. For JPMIM, quality companies generally are those believed to have a sustainable competitive position, high returns on invested capital and strong experienced management. Potential investments are subjected to rigorous financial analysis and a disciplined approach to valuation.
JPMIM may sell a security for several reasons. JPMIM may sell a security due to a change in the companys fundamentals. A change in the original reason for purchase of an investment may also cause the security to be eliminated from the portfolio. Investments may be sold if new investment opportunities with higher
expected returns emerge to displace existing portfolio holdings with lower expected returns. Finally, JPMIM may also sell a security, which JPMIM no longer considers attractively valued.
Description of Principal Security Types
Equity securities represent an ownership interest, or the right to acquire an ownership interest, in an issuer. Different types of equity securities provide different voting and dividend rights and priority in the event of the bankruptcy of the issuer. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, and warrants.
Real estate related instruments may be either debt or equity securities and may be issued by government and private entities such as banks, mortgage lenders, and other institutions. Real estate related instruments include, but are not limited to, commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities, other mortgage-related securities, and real estate investment trusts.
Principal Investment Risks
Many factors affect the funds performance.
The funds share price changes daily based on changes in market conditions and interest rates and in response to other economic, political, or financial developments. The funds reaction to these developments will be affected by the types of securities in which the fund invests, the financial condition, industry and economic sector, and geographic location of an issuer, and the funds level of investment in the securities of that issuer. When a shareholder sells shares they may be worth more or less than what the shareholder paid for them, which means that the shareholder could lose money.
The following factors can significantly affect the funds performance:
Stock Market Volatility. The value of equity securities fluctuates in response to issuer, political, market, and economic developments. In the short term, equity prices can fluctuate dramatically in response to these developments. Different parts of the market and different types of equity securities can react differently to these developments. For example, large cap stocks can react differently from small cap stocks, and growth stocks can react differently from value stocks. Issuer, political, or economic developments can affect a single issuer, issuers within an industry or economic sector or geographic region, or the market as a whole.
5
Issuer-Specific Changes. Changes in the financial condition of an issuer or counterparty, changes in specific economic or political conditions that affect a particular type of security or issuer, and changes in general economic or political conditions can affect a securitys or instruments value. The value of securities of smaller, less well known issuers can be more volatile than that of larger issuers.
Value Investing. Value stocks can react differently to issuer, political, market, and economic developments than the market as a whole and other types of stocks. Value stocks tend to be inexpensive relative to their earnings or assets compared to other types of stocks. However, value stocks can continue to be inexpensive for long periods of time and may not ever realize their full value.
Mid Cap Investing. The value of securities of medium size, less well-known issuers can be more volatile than that of relatively larger issuers and can react differently to issuer, political, market, and economic developments than the market as a whole and other types of stocks.
The real estate industry is particularly sensitive to economic downturns. The value of securities of issuers in the real estate industry can be affected by changes in real estate values and rental income, property taxes, interest rates, tax and regulatory requirements, overbuilding, extended vacancies of properties, and the issuers management skill. In addition, the value of a real estate investment trust (REIT) can depend on the structure of and cash flow generated by the REIT.
REITs and mortgage-backed securities are subject to the risk that mortgagors may not meet their payment obligations. Each investment also has its unique interest rate and payment priority characteristics. In addition, REITs are subject to unique tax requirements which, if not met, could adversely affect dividend payments. Also, in the event of a default of an underlying borrower or lessee, a REIT could experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments.
Derivatives Risk . JPMIM may use derivatives in connection with its investment strategies for the fund. Derivatives may be riskier than other types of investments because they may be more sensitive to changes in economic or market conditions than other types of investments and could result in losses that significantly exceed the funds original investment. Derivatives are also subject to the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. JPMIMs use of derivatives for hedging purposes may not be successful, resulting in losses to the fund, and the cost of hedging may reduce the funds returns. In addition, JPMIM may use derivatives for non-hedging purposes which increases the funds potential for loss.
Leveraging Risk . Derivatives involve leveraging risk because they can provide investment exposure in an amount exceeding the initial investment. A small change in the underlying asset, instrument, or index can lead to a significant loss. Assets segregated to cover these transactions may decline in value and are not available to meet redemptions.
In response to market, economic, political, or other conditions, JPMIM may temporarily use a different investment strategy for defensive purposes. If JPMIM does so, different factors could affect the funds performance and the fund may not achieve its investment objective.
Shareholder Notice
The following policy is subject to change only upon 60 days prior notice to shareholders:
Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value Portfolio normally invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies with medium market capitalizations.
Valuing Shares
The fund is open for business each day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open.
A classs net asset value per share (NAV) is the value of a single share. Fidelity normally calculates each classs NAV as of the close of business of the NYSE, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. However, NAV may be calculated earlier if trading on the NYSE is restricted or as permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The funds assets are valued as of this time for the purpose of computing each classs NAV.
To the extent that the funds assets are traded in other markets on days when the fund is not open for business, the value of the funds assets may be affected on those days. In addition, trading in some of the funds assets may not occur on days when the fund is open for business.
The funds assets are valued primarily on the basis of market quotations or official closing prices. Certain short-term securities are valued on the basis of amortized cost. If market quotations or official closing prices are not readily available or do not accurately reflect fair value for a security or if a securitys value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, that security will be
6
valued by another method that the Board of Trustees believes accurately reflects fair value in accordance with the Boards fair value pricing policies. For example, arbitrage opportunities may exist when trading in a portfolio security or securities is halted and does not resume before the fund calculates its NAV. These arbitrage opportunities may enable short-term traders to dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Securities trading in overseas markets present time zone arbitrage opportunities when events affecting portfolio security values occur after the close of the overseas market but prior to the close of the U.S. market. Fair value pricing will be used for high yield debt and floating rate loans when available pricing information is determined to be stale or for other reasons not to accurately reflect fair value. To the extent the fund invests in other open-end funds, the fund will calculate its NAV using the NAV of the underlying funds in which it invests as described in the underlying funds prospectuses. The fund may invest in other Fidelity funds that use the same fair value pricing policies as the fund or in Fidelity money market funds. A securitys valuation may differ depending on the method used for determining value. Fair valuation of the funds portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the funds NAV by short-term traders. While the fund has policies regarding excessive trading, these too may not be effective to prevent short-term NAV arbitrage trading, particularly in regard to omnibus accounts.
7
Shareholder Information
Buying and Selling Shares
Only Permitted Accounts, including separate accounts of insurance companies and qualified fund of funds that have signed the appropriate agreements with the fund, if applicable, can buy or sell shares of the fund. Insurance companies offer variable annuity and variable life insurance products through separate accounts. A qualified fund of funds is an eligible insurance-dedicated mutual fund that invests in other mutual funds.
Permitted Accounts not variable product owners are the shareholders of the fund. Variable product owners hold interests in separate accounts, including separate accounts that are shareholders of qualified fund of funds. The terms of the offering of interests in separate accounts are included in the variable annuity or variable life insurance product prospectus.
The fund may reject for any reason, or cancel as permitted or required by law, any purchase orders.
For example, the fund may reject any purchase orders, from market timers or investors that, in Strategic Advisers opinion, may be disruptive to the fund.
Frequent purchases and sales of fund shares resulting from purchase, exchange, or withdrawal transactions can harm variable product owners in various ways, including reducing the returns to long-term variable product owners by increasing costs paid by the fund (such as brokerage commissions), disrupting portfolio management strategies, and diluting the value of the shares of long-term variable product owners in cases in which fluctuations in markets are not fully priced into the funds NAV. Accordingly, the Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures designed to discourage frequent large-scale purchases and sales of shares at the Permitted Account level for the fund, but has not adopted policies at the variable product owner level. Purchase and redemption transactions submitted to the fund by Permitted Accounts reflect the transactions of multiple variable product owners whose individual transactions are not disclosed to the fund. Therefore, the fund generally cannot detect short-term trading by individual variable product owners and relies in large part on the rights, ability, and willingness of insurance companies to detect and deter short-term trading. The funds policies are separate from, and in addition to, any policies and procedures applicable to variable product owner transactions. The variable annuity or variable life insurance product prospectus will contain a description of the insurance companys
policies and procedures, if any, with respect to short-term trading. A qualified fund of funds is required to adopt policies designed to control frequent trading that have been determined by the fund or its Treasurer to be reasonably effective. The adviser to the fund of funds must also demonstrate to the funds Treasurer that the investment strategy of the fund of funds will not lead to excessive trading. However, there is the significant risk that the funds, insurance companys, and/or qualified fund of funds policies and procedures will prove ineffective in whole or in part to detect or prevent frequent trading. The fund may alter its policies at any time without prior notice to shareholders. The funds Treasurer is authorized to suspend the funds policies during periods of severe market turbulence or national emergency.
The funds transfer agent monitors each Permitted Accounts daily purchases and sales orders. Redemption transactions that are greater than a certain dollar amount, or greater than a certain percentage of the total of the Permitted Accounts holdings of the fund, will trigger a review of the Permitted Accounts prior history. If, in the opinion of the funds transfer agent, the history may be consistent with a pattern of disruptive trading by variable product owners, the funds transfer agent or distributor will notify the insurance company and inquire about the source of the activity. These policies will be applied uniformly to all insurance companies. However, there is no assurance that the insurance company will investigate the activity or stop any activity that proves to be inappropriate. The fund reserves the right, but does not have the obligation, to reject purchase orders from, or to stop or limit the offering of shares to, Permitted Accounts. In addition, the fund reserves the right to impose restrictions on purchases at any time or conditions that are more restrictive on disruptive, excessive, or short-term trading than those that are otherwise stated in this prospectus.
The price to buy one share of each class is the classs NAV. Each classs shares are sold without a sales charge.
Shares will be bought at the next NAV calculated after an order is received in proper form.
The fund has authorized certain intermediaries and qualified fund of funds to accept orders to buy shares on its behalf. When authorized intermediaries or qualified fund of funds receive an order in proper form, the order is considered as being placed with the fund, and shares will be bought at the next NAV calculated after the order is received by the authorized intermediary or qualified fund of fund.
The fund may stop offering shares completely or may offer shares only on a limited basis, for a period of time or permanently.
8
Under applicable anti-money laundering regulations and other federal regulations, purchase orders may be suspended, restricted, or canceled and the monies may be withheld.
The price to sell one share of each class is the classs NAV.
If appropriate to protect shareholders, the fund may impose a redemption fee on redemptions from the fund.
Shares will be sold at the next NAV calculated after an order is received in proper form. Normally, redemptions will be processed by the next business day, but it may take up to seven days to pay the redemption proceeds if making immediate payment would adversely affect the fund.
The fund has authorized certain intermediaries and qualified fund of funds to accept orders to sell shares on its behalf. When authorized intermediaries or qualified fund of funds receive an order in proper form, the order is considered as being placed with the fund, and shares will be sold at the next NAV calculated after the order is received by the authorized intermediary or qualified fund of fund.
Redemptions may be suspended or payment dates postponed when the NYSE is closed (other than weekends or holidays), when trading on the NYSE is restricted, or as permitted by the SEC.
Redemption proceeds may be paid in securities or other property rather than in cash if Strategic Advisers determines it is in the best interests of the fund.
Under applicable anti-money laundering regulations and other federal regulations, redemption requests may be suspended, restricted, canceled, or processed and the proceeds may be withheld.
The fund offers its shares to Permitted Accounts that may be affiliated or unaffiliated with Strategic Advisers and/or each other. The fund currently does not foresee any disadvantages to variable product owners arising out of the fact that the fund offers its shares to separate accounts of insurance companies that offer variable annuity and variable life insurance products (as well as other Permitted Accounts). Nevertheless, the Board of Trustees that oversees the fund intends to monitor events to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts that may possibly arise and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response.
Variable product owners may be asked to provide additional information in order for Fidelity to verify their identities in accordance with requirements under
anti-money laundering regulations. Accounts may be restricted and/or closed, and the monies withheld, pending verification of this information or as otherwise required under these and other federal regulations.
Dividends and Capital Gain Distributions
The fund earns dividends, interest, and other income from its investments, and distributes this income (less expenses) to shareholders as dividends. The fund also realizes capital gains from its investments, and distributes these gains (less any losses) to shareholders as capital gain distributions.
The fund normally pays dividends and capital gain distributions in February and December.
Dividends and capital gain distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the same class of the fund.
Tax Consequences
Variable product owners seeking to understand the tax consequences of their investment should consult with their tax advisers or the insurance company that issued their variable product, or refer to their variable annuity or variable life insurance product prospectus.
Insurance company separate accounts generally do not pay tax on dividends or capital gain distributions from the fund.
9
Fund Services
Fund Management
The fund is a mutual fund, an investment that pools shareholders money and invests it toward a specified goal.
Strategic Advisers is the funds manager. The address of Strategic Advisers and its affiliates, unless otherwise indicated below, is 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
As of [__________], Strategic Advisers had approximately $[___] in discretionary assets under management.
Pursuant to an SEC exemptive order, Strategic Advisers intends to act as a manager of managers, meaning that Strategic Advisers has the responsibility to oversee sub-advisers and recommend their hiring, termination, and replacement. Subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of the fund but without shareholder approval, Strategic Advisers may replace or hire unaffiliated sub-advisers or amend the terms of their existing sub-advisory agreements, if any. In the event of approval of a new unaffiliated sub-adviser, you will be provided with information about the new sub-adviser and sub-advisory agreement within ninety days of appointment.
As the manager, Strategic Advisers is responsible for handling the funds business affairs.
JPMIM, at 245 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10167, serves as a sub-adviser for the fund. JPMIM chooses the funds investments and places orders to buy and sell the funds investments. As of [______], JPMIM and its affiliates had approximately $[______] billion in discretionary assets under management.
The fund is managed by JPMIM, a sub-adviser to the fund. Jonathan Kendrew Llewelyn Simon, Lawrence E. Playford and Gloria Fu are the portfolio managers for the fund. Mr. Simon is also a managing director of JPMIM and has worked with various affiliates of JPMIM since 1980. Mr. Playford, a CFA charterholder and CPA, is a Vice President of JPMIM and has worked for various affiliates of JPMIM since 1993. Ms. Fu, a Vice President of JPMIM and CFA charterholder, has worked for various affiliates of JPMIM since 2002. Prior to joining JPMIM, Ms. Fu worked as a sell side analyst for Robertson Stephens, Inc. from 2000 to 2002.
The statement of additional information (SAI) provides additional information about the compensation of, any other accounts managed by, and any fund shares held by Messrs. Simon and Playford and Ms. Fu.
The fund pays a management fee to Strategic Advisers. The management fee is calculated and paid to Strategic Advisers every month. Strategic Advisers pays all of the other expenses of the fund and each class of the fund, as applicable, with limited exceptions.
The funds annual management fee rate is [__] of its average net assets.
Strategic Advisers pays JPMIM for providing investment management services.
Strategic Advisers may, from time to time, agree to reimburse a class for management fees and other expenses above a specified limit. Strategic Advisers retains the ability to be repaid by a class if expenses fall below the specified limit prior to the end of the fiscal year. Reimbursement arrangements, which may be discontinued by Strategic Advisers at any time, can decrease a classs expenses and boost its performance.
Fund Distribution
The fund is composed of multiple classes of shares. All classes of the fund have a common investment objective and investment portfolio.
Fidelity Distributors Corporation (FDC) distributes each classs shares.
Intermediaries, including insurance companies and their affiliated broker-dealers and service-providers, may receive from Strategic Advisers, FDC, and/or their affiliates compensation for their services intended to result in the sale of class shares. This compensation may take the form of payments for additional distribution-related activities and/or shareholder services and payments for educational seminars and training, including seminars sponsored by Strategic Advisers or an affiliate, or by an intermediary. These payments are described in more detail on the following pages and in the SAI.
Initial Class of the fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act) that recognizes that Strategic Advisers may use its management fee revenues, as well as its past profits or its resources from any other source, to pay FDC for expenses incurred in connection with providing services intended to result in the sale of Initial Class shares and/or support services that benefit variable product owners. Strategic Advisers, directly or through FDC, may pay significant amounts to intermediaries that provide those services. Currently, the Board of Trustees for the fund has authorized such payments for Initial Class. These payments are not charged to the fund and do not directly increase the funds total expenses.
10
Investor Class of the fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that recognizes that Strategic Advisers may use its management fee revenues, as well as its past profits or its resources from any other source, to pay FDC for expenses incurred in connection with providing services intended to result in the sale of Investor Class shares and/or support services that benefit variable product owners. Strategic Advisers, directly or through FDC, may pay significant amounts to intermediaries that provide those services. Currently, the Board of Trustees for the fund has authorized such payments for Investor Class. These payments are not charged to the fund and do not directly increase the funds total expenses.
If payments made by Strategic Advisers to FDC or to intermediaries under the Initial Class or Investor Class Distribution and Service Plans were considered to be paid out of a classs assets on an ongoing basis, they might increase the cost of a shareholders investment and might cost a shareholder more than paying other types of sales charges.
To receive payments made pursuant to a Distribution and Service Plan, intermediaries must sign the appropriate agreement with FDC in advance.
The SAI contains further details about the payments made by Strategic Advisers, FDC and their affiliates and the services provided by certain intermediaries. Please speak with your investment professional to learn more about any payments his or her firm may receive from Strategic Advisers, FDC and/or their affiliates, as well as fees and/or commissions the investment professional charges. You should also consult disclosures made by your investment professional at the time of purchase.
If mutual fund sponsors and their affiliates make distribution and/or non-distribution related payments in varying amounts, certain intermediaries and investment professionals that receive these payments may have an incentive to recommend one mutual fund or one share class over another.
In addition, the funds transfer agent may also make payments and reimbursements from its own resources to intermediaries for performing recordkeeping and administrative services with respect to insurance contract owners accounts, which the funds transfer agent or an affiliate would otherwise have to perform directly. These payments are not charged to the fund and do not directly increase the funds total expenses. Please see Transfer and Service Agent Agreements in the SAI for more information.
No dealer, sales representative, or any other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations, other than those contained in this
prospectus and in the related SAI, in connection with the offer contained in this prospectus. If given or made, such other information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the fund or FDC. This prospectus and the related SAI do not constitute an offer by the fund or by FDC to sell shares of the fund to or to buy shares of the fund from any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT ACT), requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or entity that opens an account.
For variable product owners : When you open an account, you will be asked for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow Fidelity to identify you. You may also be asked to provide documents that may help to establish your identity, such as your drivers license.
For insurance separate accounts : When you open an account, you will be asked for the name of the entity, its principal place of business and taxpayer identification number (TIN) and may be requested to provide information on persons with authority or control over the account such as name, residential address, date of birth and social security number. You may also be asked to provide documents, such as drivers licenses, articles of incorporation, trust instruments or partnership agreements and other information that will help Fidelity identify the entity.
You can obtain additional information about the fund. A description of the funds policies and procedures for disclosing its holdings is available in the funds SAI and on Fidelitys web sites. The SAI also includes more detailed information about the fund and its investments. The SAI is incorporated herein by reference (legally forms a part of the prospectus). A financial report will be available once the fund has completed its first annual or semi-annual period. The funds annual and semi-annual reports also include additional information. The funds annual report includes a discussion of the funds holdings and recent market conditions and the funds investment strategies that affected performance.
For a free copy of any of these documents or to request other information or ask questions about the fund, call Fidelity at 1-877-208-0098. In addition, you may visit Fidelitys web site at www.advisor.fidelity.com for a free copy of a prospectus, SAI, or annual or semi-annual report or to request other information.
The SAI, the funds annual and semi-annual reports and other related materials are available from the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) Database on the SECs web site (http:/ / www.sec.gov). You can obtain copies of this information, after paying a duplicating fee, by sending a request by e-mail to publicinfo@ sec.gov or by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102. You can also review and copy information about the fund, including the funds SAI, at the SECs Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call 1-202-551-8090 for information on the operation of the SECs Public Reference Room.
Investment Company Act of 1940, File Number, [811- ]
Fidelity, Fidelity Investments & (Pyramid) Design and Strategic Advisers are registered trademarks of FMR Corp.
The third party marks appearing above are the marks of their respective owners.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DATED December 15, 2006. The information in this statement of additional information is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This statement of additional information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Fidelity® Rutland Square Trust II
Fidelity Strategic Advisers® Mid Cap Value Portfolio
A Fund of Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II
Initial Class and Investor Class
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
___________, 2007
This statement of additional information (SAI) is not a prospectus. An annual report for
the fund will be available once the fund has completed its first annual period.
To obtain a free additional copy of a prospectus or SAI, dated ___________, 2007, please
call Fidelity at 1-877-208-0098 or visit Fidelitys web site at www.advisor.fidelity.com.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PAGE |
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Investment Policies and Limitations |
2 |
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Portfolio Transactions |
21 |
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Valuation |
23 |
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Buying and Selling Information |
23 |
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Distributions and Taxes |
23 |
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Trustees and Officers |
24 |
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Control of Investment Advisers |
30 |
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Management Contract |
30 |
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Proxy Voting Guidelines |
33 |
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Distribution Services |
35 |
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Transfer and Service Agent Agreements |
37 |
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Description of the Trust |
37 |
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Fund Holdings Information |
38 |
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Appendix |
39 |
82 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02109
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND LIMITATIONS
The following policies and limitations supplement those set forth in the prospectus. Unless otherwise noted, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a maximum percentage of the funds assets that may be invested in any security or other asset, or sets forth a policy regarding quality standards, such standard or percentage limitation will be determined immediately after and as a result of the funds acquisition of such security or other asset. Accordingly, any subsequent change in values, net assets, or other circumstances will not be considered when determining whether the investment complies with the funds investment policies and limitations.
The funds fundamental investment policies and limitations cannot be changed without approval by a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act)) of the fund. However, except for the fundamental investment limitations listed below, the investment policies and limitations described in this SAI are not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval.
The following are the funds fundamental investment limitations set forth in their entirety.
Diversification
The fund may not with respect to 75% of the funds total assets, purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, (a) more than 5% of the funds total assets would be invested in the securities of that issuer, or (b) the fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.
For purposes of the funds diversification limitation discussed above, the extent to which the fund may invest in the securities of a single issuer or a certain number of issuers is limited by the diversification requirements imposed by Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, which are in addition to the diversification requirements described in the above limitation.
Senior Securities
The fund may not issue senior securities, except in connection with the insurance program established by the fund pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission or as otherwise permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Borrowing
The fund may not borrow money, except that the fund may borrow money for temporary or emergency purposes (not for leveraging or investment) in an amount not exceeding 33 1/3 % of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings). Any borrowings that come to exceed this amount will be reduced within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) to the extent necessary to comply with the 33 1/3% limitation.
Underwriting
The fund may not underwrite securities issued by others, except to the extent that the fund may be considered an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in the disposition of restricted securities or in connection with investments in other investment companies.
Concentration
The fund may not purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the funds total assets would be invested in the securities of companies whose principal business activities are in the same industry.
Real Estate
The fund may not purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business).
Commodities
The fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the fund from purchasing or selling options and futures contracts or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities).
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Loans
The fund may not lend any security or make any other loan if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, but this limitation does not apply to purchases of debt securities or to repurchase agreements, or to acquisitions of loans, loan participations or other forms of debt instruments.
The following investment limitations are not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval.
Short Sales
The fund does not currently intend to sell securities short, unless it owns or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short, and provided that transactions in futures contracts and options are not deemed to constitute selling securities short.
Margin Purchases
The fund does not currently intend to purchase securities on margin, except that the fund may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions, and provided that margin payments in connection with futures contracts and options on futures contracts shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.
Borrowing
The fund may borrow money only (a) from a bank or from a registered investment company or portfolio for which Strategic Advisers, Inc. (Strategic Advisers) or an affiliate serves as investment adviser or (b) by engaging in reverse repurchase agreements with any party (reverse repurchase agreements are treated as borrowings for purposes of the fundamental borrowing investment limitation).
Illiquid Securities
The fund does not currently intend to purchase any security if, as a result, more than 10% of its net assets would be invested in securities that are deemed to be illiquid because they are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale or because they cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business at approximately the prices at which they are valued.
For purposes of the funds illiquid securities limitation discussed above, if through a change in values, net assets, or other circumstances, the fund were in a position where more than 10% of its net assets were invested in illiquid securities, it would consider appropriate steps to protect liquidity.
Loans
The fund does not currently intend to lend assets other than securities to other parties, except by (a) lending money (up to 15% of the funds net assets) to a registered investment company or portfolio for which Strategic Advisers or an affiliate serves as investment adviser or (b) assuming any unfunded commitments in connection with the acquisition of loans, loan participations, or other forms of debt instruments. (This limitation does not apply to purchases of debt securities, to repurchase agreements, or to acquisitions of loans, loan participations or other forms of debt instruments.)
Oil, Gas, and Mineral Exploration Programs
The fund does not currently intend to invest in oil, gas, or other mineral exploration or development programs or leases.
Foreign Securities
FMR limits the amount of the funds assets that may be invested in foreign securities to 50%.
In addition to the funds fundamental and non-fundamental limitations discussed above:
Pursuant to certain state insurance regulations, any repurchase agreements or foreign repurchase agreements the fund enters into will be secured by collateral consisting of liquid assets having a market value of not less than 102% of the cash or assets transferred to the other party.
For the funds limitations on futures, options, and swap transactions, as applicable, see the section entitled Limitations on Futures, Options, and Swap Transactions on page 9.
The fund intends to comply with the requirements of Section 12(d)(1)(G)(i)(IV) of the 1940 Act.
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For purposes of normally investing at least 80% of the funds assets in securities of companies with medium market capitalizations, the capitalization range of the Russell Mid Cap® Value Index is measured no less frequently than once a month.
The following pages contain more detailed information about types of instruments in which the fund may invest, strategies J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (JPMIM) may employ in pursuit of the funds investment objective, and a summary of related risks. JPMIM may not buy all of these instruments or use all of these techniques unless it believes that doing so will help the fund achieve its goal.
Affiliated Bank Transactions . The fund may engage in transactions with financial institutions that are, or may be considered to be, affiliated persons of the fund under the 1940 Act. These transactions may involve repurchase agreements with custodian banks; short-term obligations of, and repurchase agreements with, the 50 largest U.S. banks (measured by deposits); municipal securities; U.S. Government securities with affiliated financial institutions that are primary dealers in these securities; short-term currency transactions; and short-term borrowings. In accordance with exemptive orders issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Board of Trustees has established and periodically reviews procedures applicable to transactions involving affiliated financial institutions.
Asset-Backed Securities represent interests in pools of mortgages, loans, receivables, or other assets. Payment of interest and repayment of principal may be largely dependent upon the cash flows generated by the assets backing the securities and, in certain cases, supported by letters of credit, surety bonds, or other credit enhancements. Asset-backed security values may also be affected by other factors including changes in interest rates, the availability of information concerning the pool and its structure, the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool, the originator of the loans or receivables, or the entities providing the credit enhancement. In addition, these securities may be subject to prepayment risk.
Bank Obligations . Bank obligations consist of bankers acceptances, certificates of deposit, and time deposits.
Bankers acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange typically drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are accepted by a bank, meaning, in effect, that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. To be eligible for purchase by the fund, a bankers acceptance must be guaranteed by a domestic or foreign bank or savings and loan association having, at the time of investment, total assets in excess of $1 billion (as of the date of its most recently published financial statements).
Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank or a savings and loan association for a definite period of time and earning a specified return. To be eligible for purchase by the fund, a certificate of deposit must be issued by (i) a domestic or foreign branch of a U.S. commercial bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve System or the deposits of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or (ii) a domestic savings and loan association, the deposits of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation provided that, in each case, at the time of purchase, such institution has total assets in excess of $1 billion (as of the date of their most recently published financial statements).
Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank or a savings and loan association for a definite period of time and earning a specified return. Certificates of deposit may also include those issued by foreign banks outside the United States with total assets at the time of purchase in excess of the equivalent of $1 billion. Such certificates of deposit include Eurodollar and Yankee certificates of deposits. Eurodollar certificates of deposit are U.S. dollar-denominated certificates of deposit issued by branches of foreign and domestic banks located outside the United States. Yankee certificates of deposit are certificates of deposit issued by a U.S. branch of a foreign bank denominated in U.S. dollars and held in the United States. The fund may also invest in obligations (including bankers acceptances and certificates of deposit) denominated in foreign currencies (see Exposure to Foreign Markets herein).
Time deposits are interest-bearing non-negotiable deposits at a bank or a savings and loan association that have a specific maturity date. A time deposit earns a specific rate of interest over a definite period of time. Time deposits cannot be traded on the secondary market and those exceeding seven days and with a withdrawal penalty are considered to be illiquid. Time deposits will be maintained only at banks or savings and loan associations from which the fund could purchase certificates of deposit. The fund will not invest in obligations for which JPMIM, or any of its affiliated persons, is the ultimate obligor or accepting bank.
Borrowing . The fund may borrow from banks or from other funds advised by Strategic Advisers or its affiliates, or through reverse repurchase agreements. If the fund borrows money, its share price may be subject to greater fluctuation until the borrowing is paid off. If the fund makes additional investments while borrowings are outstanding, this may be considered a form of leverage.
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Cash Management . The fund can hold uninvested cash or can invest it in cash equivalents such as money market securities, repurchase agreements, or shares of money market or short-term bond funds. Generally, these securities offer less potential for gains than other types of securities.
Commercial Paper . Commercial paper is defined as short-term obligations with maturities from 1 to 270 days issued by banks or bank holding companies, corporations and finance companies. Although commercial paper is generally unsecured, the fund may also purchase secured commercial paper. In the event of a default of an issuer of secured commercial paper, the fund may hold the securities and other investments that were pledged as collateral even if it does not invest in such securities or investments. In such a case, the fund would take steps to dispose of such securities or investments in a commercially reasonable manner. Commercial paper includes master demand obligations.
Common Stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.
Convertible Securities are bonds, debentures, notes, or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio. A convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue. If a convertible security held by the fund is called for redemption or conversion, the fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.
Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Because of this higher yield, convertible securities generally sell at prices above their conversion value, which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion. The difference between this conversion value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline in value, convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities. However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder. When the underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible securities may also be expected to increase. At the same time, however, the difference between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks. Because convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk and are often lower-quality securities.
Debt Securities are used by issuers to borrow money. The issuer usually pays a fixed, variable, or floating rate of interest, and must repay the amount borrowed, usually at the maturity of the security. Some debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay interest but are sold at a deep discount from their face values. Debt securities include corporate bonds, government securities, repurchase agreements, and mortgage and other asset-backed securities.
Exchange Traded Funds are shares of other investment companies which are traded on an exchange, but whose underlying assets are stocks selected to track a particular index. Therefore, an exchange traded fund (ETF) can track the performance of an index in much the same way as a traditional indexed mutual fund. However, unlike many traditional investment companies, which are only bought and sold at closing net asset values (NAVs), ETFs are tradable in the secondary market on an intra-day basis. Shares of an ETF are only redeemable in large blocks (typically, 50,000 shares) called creation units by persons other than the fund, and are redeemed principally in kind at each days next calculated NAV.
ETFs, like other investment companies, typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the fund. The funds purchase of ETFs results in the layering of expenses, such that the fund would indirectly bear a proportionate share of any ETFs operating expenses. Further, while traditional investment companies are continuously offered at NAV, ETFs are traded in the secondary market at prices above or below the value of their underlying portfolios.
Some of the risks of investing in an ETF are similar to those of investing in an indexed mutual fund, including: market risk (the risk of fluctuating stock prices in general); asset class risk (the risk of fluctuating prices of the stocks represented in the ETFs index); tracking error risk (the risk of errors in matching the ETFs underlying assets to the index); industry concentration risk (the risk of the stocks in a particular index being concentrated in an industry performing poorly relative to other stocks); and the risk that because an ETF is not actively managed, it cannot sell poorly performing stocks as long as they are represented in the index. Other ETF risks include: the risk that ETFs may trade in the secondary market ( e.g., on a stock exchange) at a discount from their NAV and the risk that the ETFs may not be liquid.
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Exposure to Foreign Markets . Foreign securities, foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.
Foreign investments involve risks relating to local political, economic, regulatory, or social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments, and may be affected by actions of foreign governments adverse to the interests of U.S. investors. Such actions may include expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, restrictions on U.S. investment or on the ability to repatriate assets or convert currency into U.S. dollars, or other government intervention. Additionally, governmental issuers of foreign debt securities may be unwilling to pay interest and repay principal when due and may require that the conditions for payment be renegotiated. There is no assurance that JPMIM will be able to anticipate these potential events or counter their effects. In addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies and of dividends and interest paid with respect to such securities will fluctuate based on the relative strength of the U.S. dollar.
It is anticipated that in most cases the best available market for foreign securities will be on an exchange or in over-the-counter (OTC) markets located outside of the United States. Foreign stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as those in the United States, and securities of some foreign issuers may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign security trading, settlement and custodial practices (including those involving securities settlement where fund assets may be released prior to receipt of payment) are often less developed than those in U.S. markets, and may result in increased risk or substantial delays in the event of a failed trade or the insolvency of, or breach of duty by, a foreign broker-dealer, securities depository, or foreign subcustodian. In addition, the costs associated with foreign investments, including withholding taxes, brokerage commissions, and custodial costs, are generally higher than with U.S. investments.
Foreign markets may offer less protection to investors than U.S. markets. Foreign issuers are generally not bound by uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements and standards of practice comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. Adequate public information on foreign issuers may not be available, and it may be difficult to secure dividends and information regarding corporate actions on a timely basis. In general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the United States. OTC markets tend to be less regulated than stock exchange markets and, in certain countries, may be totally unregulated. Regulatory enforcement may be influenced by economic or political concerns, and investors may have difficulty enforcing their legal rights in foreign countries.
Some foreign securities impose restrictions on transfer within the United States or to U.S. persons. Although securities subject to such transfer restrictions may be marketable abroad, they may be less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions.
American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) as well as other hybrid forms of ADRs, including European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. The underlying shares are held in trust by a custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuers home country. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. However, ADRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. These risks include foreign exchange risk as well as the political and economic risks of the underlying issuers country.
The risks of foreign investing may be magnified for investments in emerging markets. Security prices in emerging markets can be significantly more volatile than those in more developed markets, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, countries with emerging markets may have relatively unstable governments, may present the risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets, and may have less protection of property rights than more developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times.
6
Foreign Currency Transactions . The fund may conduct foreign currency transactions on a spot (i.e., cash) or forward basis (i.e., by entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies). Although foreign exchange dealers generally do not charge a fee for such conversions, they do realize a profit based on the difference between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the counterparty desire to resell that currency to the dealer. Forward contracts are customized transactions that require a specific amount of a currency to be delivered at a specific exchange rate on a specific date or range of dates in the future. Forward contracts are generally traded in an interbank market directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. The parties to a forward contract may agree to offset or terminate the contract before its maturity, or may hold the contract to maturity and complete the contemplated currency exchange.
The following discussion summarizes the principal currency management strategies involving forward contracts that could be used by the fund. The fund may also use swap agreements, indexed securities, and options and futures contracts relating to foreign currencies for the same purposes.
A settlement hedge or transaction hedge is designed to protect the fund against an adverse change in foreign currency values between the date a security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received. Entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in an underlying security transaction for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars locks in the U.S. dollar price of the security. Forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency may also be used by the fund in anticipation of future purchases or sales of securities denominated in foreign currency, even if the specific investments have not yet been selected by JPMIM.
The fund may also use forward contracts to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. For example, if the fund owned securities denominated in pounds sterling, it could enter into a forward contract to sell pounds sterling in return for U.S. dollars to hedge against possible declines in the pounds value. Such a hedge, sometimes referred to as a position hedge, would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations, but would not offset changes in security values caused by other factors. The fund could also hedge the position by selling another currency expected to perform similarly to the pound sterling. This type of hedge, sometimes referred to as a proxy hedge, could offer advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but generally would not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a direct hedge into U.S. dollars. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.
The fund may enter into forward contracts to shift its investment exposure from one currency into another. This may include shifting exposure from U.S. dollars to a foreign currency, or from one foreign currency to another foreign currency. This type of strategy, sometimes known as a cross-hedge, will tend to reduce or eliminate exposure to the currency that is sold, and increase exposure to the currency that is purchased, much as if the fund had sold a security denominated in one currency and purchased an equivalent security denominated in another. Cross-hedges protect against losses resulting from a decline in the hedged currency, but will cause the fund to assume the risk of fluctuations in the value of the currency it purchases.
Successful use of currency management strategies will depend on JPMIMs skill in analyzing currency values. Currency management strategies may substantially change the funds investment exposure to changes in currency exchange rates and could result in losses to the fund if currencies do not perform as JPMIM anticipates. For example, if a currencys value rose at a time when JPMIM had hedged the fund by selling that currency in exchange for dollars, the fund would not participate in the currencys appreciation. If JPMIM hedges currency exposure through proxy hedges, the fund could realize currency losses from both the hedge and the security position if the two currencies do not move in tandem. Similarly, if JPMIM increases the funds exposure to a foreign currency and that currencys value declines, the fund will realize a loss. There is no assurance that JPMIMs use of currency management strategies will be advantageous to the fund or that it will hedge at appropriate times.
Foreign Repurchase Agreements . Foreign repurchase agreements involve an agreement to purchase a foreign security and to sell that security back to the original seller at an agreed-upon price in either U.S. dollars or foreign currency. Unlike typical U.S. repurchase agreements, foreign repurchase agreements may not be fully collateralized at all times. The value of a security purchased by the fund may be more or less than the price at which the counterparty has agreed to repurchase the security. In the event of default by the counterparty, the fund may suffer a loss if the value of the security purchased is less than the agreed-upon repurchase price, or if the fund is unable to successfully assert a claim to the collateral under foreign laws. As a result, foreign repurchase agreements may involve higher credit risks than repurchase agreements in U.S. markets, as well as risks associated with currency fluctuations. In addition, as with other emerging market investments, repurchase agreements with counterparties located in emerging markets or relating to emerging markets may involve issuers or counterparties with lower credit ratings than typical U.S. repurchase agreements.
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Funds Rights as an Investor . The fund does not intend to direct or administer the day-to-day operations of any company. The fund, however, may exercise its rights as a shareholder or lender and may communicate its views on important matters of policy to management, the Board of Directors, shareholders of a company, and holders of other securities of the company when JPMIM determines that such matters could have a significant effect on the value of the funds investment in the company. The activities in which the fund may engage, either individually or in conjunction with others, may include, among others, supporting or opposing proposed changes in a companys corporate structure or business activities; seeking changes in a companys directors or management; seeking changes in a companys direction or policies; seeking the sale or reorganization of the company or a portion of its assets; supporting or opposing third-party takeover efforts; supporting the filing of a bankruptcy petition; or foreclosing on collateral securing a security. This area of corporate activity is increasingly prone to litigation and it is possible that the fund could be involved in lawsuits related to such activities. JPMIM will monitor such activities with a view to mitigating, to the extent possible, the risk of litigation against the fund and the risk of actual liability if the fund is involved in litigation. No guarantee can be made, however, that litigation against the fund will not be undertaken or liabilities incurred. The funds proxy voting guidelines are included in this SAI.
Futures, Options, and Swaps . The following paragraphs pertain to futures, options, and swaps: Combined Positions, Correlation of Price Changes, Futures Contracts, Futures Margin Payments, Limitations on Futures, Options, and Swap Transactions, Liquidity of Options and Futures Contracts, Options and Futures Relating to Foreign Currencies, OTC Options, Purchasing Put and Call Options, Writing Put and Call Options, and Swap Agreements.
Combined Positions involve purchasing and writing options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward contracts, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall position. For example, purchasing a put option and writing a call option on the same underlying instrument would construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract. Another possible combined position would involve writing a call option at one strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.
Correlation of Price Changes . Because there are a limited number of types of exchange-traded options and futures contracts, it is likely that the standardized contracts available will not match the funds current or anticipated investments exactly. The fund may invest in options and futures contracts based on securities with different issuers, maturities, or other characteristics from the securities in which the fund typically invests, which involves a risk that the options or futures position will not track the performance of the funds other investments.
Options and futures prices can also diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments match the funds investments well. Options and futures prices are affected by such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect correlation may also result from differing levels of demand in the options and futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how options and futures and securities are traded, or from imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or trading halts. The fund may purchase or sell options and futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the securities it wishes to hedge or intends to purchase in order to attempt to compensate for differences in volatility between the contract and the securities, although this may not be successful in all cases. If price changes in the funds options or futures positions are poorly correlated with its other investments, the positions may fail to produce anticipated gains or result in losses that are not offset by gains in other investments.
Futures Contracts . In purchasing a futures contract, the buyer agrees to purchase a specified underlying instrument at a specified future date. In selling a futures contract, the seller agrees to sell a specified underlying instrument at a specified future date. The price at which the purchase and sale will take place is fixed when the buyer and seller enter into the contract. Some currently available futures contracts are based on specific securities, such as U.S. Treasury bonds or notes, some are based on indices of securities prices, such as the Standard & Poors 500 SM Index (S&P 500®), and some are based on Eurodollars. Futures can be held until their delivery dates, or can be closed out before then if a liquid secondary market is available.
Futures may be based on foreign indexes such as the Compagnie des Agents de Change 40 Index (CAC 40) in France, the Deutscher Aktienindex (DAX 30) in Germany, the Financial Times Stock Exchange Eurotop 100 Index (FTSE Eurotop 100) in Europe, the IBEX 35 Index (IBEX 35) in Spain, the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index (FTSE 100) in the United Kingdom, the Australian Stock Exchange All Ordinaries Index (ASX All Ordinaries) in Australia, the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong, and the Nikkei Stock Average (Nikkei 225), the Nikkei Stock Index 300 (Nikkei 300), and the Tokyo Stock Exchange Stock Price Index (TOPIX) in Japan.
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Positions in Eurodollar futures reflect market expectations of forward levels of three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) rates.
The value of a futures contract tends to increase and decrease in tandem with the value of its underlying instrument. Therefore, purchasing futures contracts will tend to increase the funds exposure to positive and negative price fluctuations in the underlying instrument, much as if it had purchased the underlying instrument directly. When the fund sells a futures contract, by contrast, the value of its futures position will tend to move in a direction contrary to the market. Selling futures contracts, therefore, will tend to offset both positive and negative market price changes, much as if the underlying instrument had been sold.
Futures Margin Payments . The purchaser or seller of a futures contract is not required to deliver or pay for the underlying instrument unless the contract is held until the delivery date. However, both the purchaser and seller are required to deposit initial margin with a futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant (FCM), when the contract is entered into. Initial margin deposits are typically equal to a percentage of the contracts value. If the value of either partys position declines, that party will be required to make additional variation margin payments to settle the change in value on a daily basis. The party that has a gain may be entitled to receive all or a portion of this amount. Initial and variation margin payments do not constitute purchasing securities on margin for purposes of the funds investment limitations. In the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of an FCM that holds margin on behalf of the fund, the fund may be entitled to return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCMs other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the fund. The fund is required to segregate liquid assets equivalent to the funds outstanding obligations under the contract in excess of the initial margin and variation margin, if any.
Although futures exchanges generally operate similarly in the United States and abroad, foreign futures exchanges may follow trading, settlement, and margin procedures that are different from those for U.S. exchanges. Futures contracts traded outside the United States may involve greater risk of loss than U.S.-traded contracts, including potentially greater risk of losses due to insolvency of a futures broker, exchange member, or other party that may owe initial or variation margin to the fund. Because initial and variation margin payments may be measured in foreign currency, a futures contract traded outside the United States may also involve the risk of foreign currency fluctuation.
Limitations on Futures, Options, and Swap Transactions . The trust, on behalf of the fund, has filed with the National Futures Association a notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of the term commodity pool operator (CPO) under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, and the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to the funds operation. Accordingly, the fund is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO.
The fund will not: (a) sell futures contracts, purchase put options, or write call options if, as a result, more than 25% of the funds total assets would be hedged with futures and options under normal conditions; (b) purchase futures contracts or write put options if, as a result, the funds total obligations upon settlement or exercise of purchased futures contracts and written put options would exceed 25% of its total assets under normal conditions; or (c) purchase call options if, as a result, the current value of option premiums for call options purchased by the fund would exceed 5% of the funds total assets. These limitations do not apply to options attached to or acquired or traded together with their underlying securities, and do not apply to securities that incorporate features similar to options.
JPMIM also intends to follow certain other limitations on the funds futures and option activities. The fund will not purchase any option if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in option premiums. Under normal conditions, the fund will not enter into any futures contract, option, or swap agreement if, as a result, the sum of (i) the current value of assets hedged in the case of strategies involving the sale of securities, and (ii) the current value of the indices or other instruments underlying the funds other futures, options, or swaps positions, would exceed 35% of the funds total assets. These limitations do not apply to options attached to, or acquired or traded together with their underlying securities, and do not apply to securities that incorporate features similar to futures, options, or swaps.
The above limitations on the funds investments in futures contracts, options, and swaps, and the funds policies regarding futures contracts, options, and swaps discussed elsewhere in this SAI may be changed as regulatory agencies permit.
Liquidity of Options and Futures Contracts . There is no assurance a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular options or futures contract at any particular time. Options may have relatively low trading volume and liquidity if their strike prices are not close to the underlying instruments current price. In addition, exchanges may establish daily price fluctuation limits for options and futures contracts, and may halt trading if a contracts price moves upward or downward more than the limit in a given day. On volatile trading days when the price fluctuation limit is reached or a trading halt is imposed, it may be impossible to enter into new positions or close out existing positions. If the secondary market for a contract is not liquid because of price fluctuation limits or otherwise, it could prevent prompt liquidation of unfavorable positions, and potentially could require the fund to continue to hold a position until delivery or expiration regardless of changes in its value. As a result, the funds access to other assets held to cover its options or futures positions could also be impaired.
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Options and Futures Relating to Foreign Currencies . Currency futures contracts are similar to forward currency exchange contracts, except that they are traded on exchanges (and have margin requirements) and are standardized as to contract size and delivery date. Most currency futures contracts call for payment or delivery in U.S. dollars. The underlying instrument of a currency option may be a foreign currency, which generally is purchased or delivered in exchange for U.S. dollars, or may be a futures contract. The purchaser of a currency call obtains the right to purchase the underlying currency, and the purchaser of a currency put obtains the right to sell the underlying currency.
The uses and risks of currency options and futures are similar to options and futures relating to securities or indices, as discussed above. The fund may purchase and sell currency futures and may purchase and write currency options to increase or decrease its exposure to different foreign currencies. Currency options may also be purchased or written in conjunction with each other or with currency futures or forward contracts. Currency futures and options values can be expected to correlate with exchange rates, but may not reflect other factors that affect the value of the funds investments. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a Yen-denominated security from a decline in the Yen, but will not protect the fund against a price decline resulting from deterioration in the issuers creditworthiness. Because the value of the funds foreign-denominated investments changes in response to many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to match the amount of currency options and futures to the value of the funds investments exactly over time.
OTC Options . Unlike exchange-traded options, which are standardized with respect to the underlying instrument, expiration date, contract size, and strike price, the terms of OTC options (options not traded on exchanges) generally are established through negotiation with the other party to the option contract. While this type of arrangement allows the purchaser or writer greater flexibility to tailor an option to its needs, OTC options generally are less liquid and involve greater credit risk than exchange-traded options, which are guaranteed by the clearing organization of the exchanges where they are traded.
Purchasing Put and Call Options . By purchasing a put option, the purchaser obtains the right (but not the obligation) to sell the options underlying instrument at a fixed strike price. In return for this right, the purchaser pays the current market price for the option (known as the option premium). Options have various types of underlying instruments, including specific securities, indices of securities prices, and futures contracts. The purchaser may terminate its position in a put option by allowing it to expire or by exercising the option. If the option is allowed to expire, the purchaser will lose the entire premium. If the option is exercised, the purchaser completes the sale of the underlying instrument at the strike price. A purchaser may also terminate a put option position by closing it out in the secondary market at its current price, if a liquid secondary market exists.
The buyer of a typical put option can expect to realize a gain if security prices fall substantially. However, if the underlying instruments price does not fall enough to offset the cost of purchasing the option, a put buyer can expect to suffer a loss (limited to the amount of the premium, plus related transaction costs).
The features of call options are essentially the same as those of put options, except that the purchaser of a call option obtains the right to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the options strike price. A call buyer typically attempts to participate in potential price increases of the underlying instrument with risk limited to the cost of the option if security prices fall. At the same time, the buyer can expect to suffer a loss if security prices do not rise sufficiently to offset the cost of the option.
Writing Put and Call Options . The writer of a put or call option takes the opposite side of the transaction from the options purchaser. In return for receipt of the premium, the writer assumes the obligation to pay the strike price for the options underlying instrument if the other party to the option chooses to exercise it. The writer may seek to terminate a position in a put option before exercise by closing out the option in the secondary market at its current price. If the secondary market is not liquid for a put option, however, the writer must continue to be prepared to pay the strike price while the option is outstanding, regardless of price changes. When writing an option on a futures contract, the fund will be required to make margin payments to an FCM as described above for futures contracts.
If security prices rise, a put writer would generally expect to profit, although its gain would be limited to the amount of the premium it received. If security prices remain the same over time, it is likely that the writer will also profit, because it should be able to close out the option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the put writer would expect to suffer a loss. This loss should be less than the loss from purchasing the underlying instrument directly, however, because the premium received for writing the option should mitigate the effects of the decline.
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Writing a call option obligates the writer to sell or deliver the options underlying instrument, in return for the strike price, upon exercise of the option. The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, except that writing calls generally is a profitable strategy if prices remain the same or fall. Through receipt of the option premium, a call writer mitigates the effects of a price decline. At the same time, because a call writer must be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, even if its current value is greater, a call writer gives up some ability to participate in security price increases.
Swap Agreements can be individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease the funds exposure to long- or short-term interest rates (in the United States or abroad), foreign currency values, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices or inflation rates. Swap agreements can take many different forms and are known by a variety of names.
In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level, while the seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. An interest rate collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.
Swap agreements will tend to shift the funds investment exposure from one type of investment to another. For example, if the fund agreed to exchange payments in dollars for payments in foreign currency, the swap agreement would tend to decrease the funds exposure to U.S. interest rates and increase its exposure to foreign currency and interest rates. Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. Depending on how they are used, swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the funds investments and its share price.
Swap agreements also may allow the fund to acquire or reduce credit exposure to a particular issuer. The most significant factor in the performance of swap agreements is the change in the factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the fund, the fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. If a swap counterpartys creditworthiness declines, the risk that they may not perform may increase, potentially resulting in a loss to the fund. Although there can be no assurance that the fund will be able to do so, the fund may be able to reduce or eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party.
Illiquid Securities cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business at approximately the prices at which they are valued. Difficulty in selling securities may result in a loss or may be costly to the fund. Under the supervision of the Board of Trustees and Strategic Advisers, JPMIM determines the liquidity of the funds investments and, through reports from Strategic Advisers and/or JPMIM, the Board monitors investments in illiquid securities. In determining the liquidity of the funds investments, JPMIM, as appropriate, may consider various factors, including (1) the frequency and volume of trades and quotations, (2) the number of dealers and prospective purchasers in the marketplace, (3) dealer undertakings to make a market, and (4) the nature of the security and the market in which it trades (including any demand, put or tender features, the mechanics and other requirements for transfer, any letters of credit or other credit enhancement features, any ratings, the number of holders, the method of soliciting offers, the time required to dispose of the security, and the ability to assign or offset the rights and obligations of the security).
Indexed Securities are instruments whose prices are indexed to the prices of other securities, securities indices, currencies or other financial indicators. Indexed securities typically, but not always, are debt securities or deposits whose value at maturity or coupon rate is determined by reference to a specific instrument or statistic.
Currency-indexed securities typically are short-term to intermediate-term debt securities whose maturity values or interest rates are determined by reference to the values of one or more specified foreign currencies, and may offer higher yields than U.S. dollar-denominated securities. Currency-indexed securities may be positively or negatively indexed; that is, their maturity value may increase when the specified currency value increases, resulting in a security that performs similarly to a foreign-denominated instrument, or their maturity value may decline when foreign currencies increase, resulting in a security whose price characteristics are similar to a put on the underlying currency. Currency-indexed securities may also have prices that depend on the values of a number of different foreign currencies relative to each other.
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The performance of indexed securities depends to a great extent on the performance of the security, currency, or other instrument to which they are indexed, and may also be influenced by interest rate changes in the United States and abroad. Indexed securities may be more volatile than the underlying instruments. Indexed securities are also subject to the credit risks associated with the issuer of the security, and their values may decline substantially if the issuers creditworthiness deteriorates. Recent issuers of indexed securities have included banks, corporations, and certain U.S. Government agencies.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities. Inflation-linked securities include fixed and floating rate debt securities of varying maturities issued by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities, such as Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS), as well as securities issued by other entities such as corporations, foreign governments and foreign issuers, including foreign issuers from emerging markets. Typically, such securities are structured as fixed income investments whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. The following two structures are common: (i) the U.S. Treasury and some other issuers issue inflation-linked securities that accrue inflation into the principal value of the security and (ii) other issuers may pay out the Consumer Price Index (CPI) accruals as part of a semi-annual coupon. Other types of inflation-linked securities exist which use an inflation index other than the CPI.
Inflation-linked securities issued by the U.S. Treasury, such as TIPS, have maturities of approximately five, ten, twenty or thirty years, although it is possible that securities with other maturities will be issued in the future. Typically, TIPS pay interest on a semi-annual basis equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. For example, if the fund purchased an inflation-indexed bond with a par value of $1000 and a 3% real rate of return coupon (payable 1.5% semi-annually), and the rate of inflation over the first six months was 1%, the mid-year par value of the bond would be $1,010 and the first semi-annual interest payment would be $15.15 ($1,010 times 1.5%). If inflation during the second half of the year resulted in the whole years inflation equaling 3%, the end-of-year par value of the bond would be $1,030 and the second semi-annual interest payment would be $15.45 ($1,030 times 1.5%). If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of TIPS, even during a period of deflation, although the inflation-adjusted principal received could be less than the inflation-adjusted principal that had accrued to the bond at the time of purchase. However, the current market value of the bonds is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. Other inflation-related bonds exist which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.
The value of inflation-linked securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates in turn are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if the rate of inflation rises at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-linked securities. While inflation-linked securities are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bonds inflation measure. The periodic adjustment of U.S. inflation-linked securities is tied to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), which is not seasonably adjusted and which is calculated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI-U is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation and energy. Inflation-linked securities issued by a foreign government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index calculated by that government. There can be no assurance that the CPI-U or a foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-linked security will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though investors do not receive their principal until maturity.
Interfund Borrowing and Lending Program . Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the fund may lend money to, and borrow money from, other funds advised by Fidelity Management & Research Company (FMR) or its affiliates (which would include Strategic Advisers). The fund will borrow through the program only when the costs are equal to or lower than the cost of bank loans, and will lend through the program only when the returns are higher than those available from an investment in repurchase agreements. Interfund loans and borrowings normally extend overnight, but can have a maximum duration of seven days. Loans may be called on one days notice. The fund may have to borrow from a bank at a higher interest rate if an interfund loan is called or not renewed. Any delay in repayment to a lending fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional borrowing costs.
Inverse Floaters have variable interest rates that typically move in the opposite direction from movements in prevailing short-term interest rate levels - rising when prevailing short-term interest rates fall, and vice versa. The prices of inverse floaters can be considerably more volatile than the prices of bonds with comparable maturities.
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Investment-Grade Debt Securities . Investment-grade debt securities include all types of debt instruments that are of medium and high-quality. Investment-grade debt securities include repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government securities as well as repurchase agreements collateralized by equity securities, non-investment-grade debt, and all other instruments in which a fund can perfect a security interest, provided the repurchase agreement counterparty has an investment-grade rating. Some investment-grade debt securities may possess speculative characteristics and may be more sensitive to economic changes and to changes in the financial conditions of issuers. An investment-grade rating means the security or issuer is rated investment-grade by Moodys ® Investors Service, Standard & Poors ® (S&P ® ), Fitch Inc., Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited, or another credit rating agency designated as a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) by the SEC, or is unrated but considered to be of equivalent quality by JPMIM.
Loans and Other Direct Debt Instruments . Direct debt instruments are interests in amounts owed by a corporate, governmental, or other borrower to lenders or lending syndicates (loans and loan participations), to suppliers of goods or services (trade claims or other receivables), or to other parties. Direct debt instruments involve a risk of loss in case of default or insolvency of the borrower and may offer less legal protection to the purchaser in the event of fraud or misrepresentation, or there may be a requirement that the fund supply additional cash to a borrower on demand.
Purchasers of loans and other forms of direct indebtedness depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of interest and repayment of principal. If scheduled interest or principal payments are not made, the value of the instrument may be adversely affected. Loans that are fully secured provide more protections than an unsecured loan in the event of failure to make scheduled interest or principal payments. However, there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the borrowers obligation, or that the collateral could be liquidated. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative. Borrowers that are in bankruptcy or restructuring may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. Direct indebtedness of developing countries also involves a risk that the governmental entities responsible for the repayment of the debt may be unable, or unwilling, to pay interest and repay principal when due.
Investments in loans through direct assignment of a financial institutions interests with respect to a loan may involve additional risks. For example, if a loan is foreclosed, the purchaser could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. In addition, it is conceivable that under emerging legal theories of lender liability, a purchaser could be held liable as a co-lender. Direct debt instruments may also involve a risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other intermediary.
A loan is often administered by a bank or other financial institution that acts as agent for all holders. The agent administers the terms of the loan, as specified in the loan agreement. Unless, under the terms of the loan or other indebtedness, the purchaser has direct recourse against the borrower, the purchaser may have to rely on the agent to apply appropriate credit remedies against a borrower. If assets held by the agent for the benefit of a purchaser were determined to be subject to the claims of the agents general creditors, the purchaser might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on the loan or loan participation and could suffer a loss of principal or interest.
Direct indebtedness may include letters of credit, revolving credit facilities, or other standby financing commitments that obligate purchasers to make additional cash payments on demand. These commitments may have the effect of requiring a purchaser to increase its investment in a borrower at a time when it would not otherwise have done so, even if the borrowers condition makes it unlikely that the amount will ever be repaid.
The fund limits the amount of total assets that it will invest in any one issuer or in issuers within the same industry (see the funds investment limitations). For purposes of these limitations, the fund generally will treat the borrower as the issuer of indebtedness held by the fund. In the case of loan participations where a bank or other lending institution serves as financial intermediary between the fund and the borrower, if the participation does not shift to the fund the direct debtor-creditor relationship with the borrower, SEC interpretations require the fund, in appropriate circumstances, to treat both the lending bank or other lending institution and the borrower as issuers for these purposes. Treating a financial intermediary as an issuer of indebtedness may restrict the funds ability to invest in indebtedness related to a single financial intermediary, or a group of intermediaries engaged in the same industry, even if the underlying borrowers represent many different companies and industries.
Lower-Quality Debt Securities . Lower-quality debt securities include all types of debt instruments that have poor protection with respect to the payment of interest and repayment of principal, or may be in default. These securities are often considered to be speculative and involve greater risk of loss or price changes due to changes in the issuers capacity to pay. The market prices of lower-quality debt securities may fluctuate more than those of higher-quality debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty, which may follow periods of rising interest rates.
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The market for lower-quality debt securities may be thinner and less active than that for higher-quality debt securities, which can adversely affect the prices at which the former are sold. Adverse publicity and changing investor perceptions may affect the liquidity of lower-quality debt securities and the ability of outside pricing services to value lower-quality debt securities.
The fund may choose, at its expense or in conjunction with others, to pursue litigation or otherwise to exercise its rights as a security holder to seek to protect the interests of security holders if it determines this to be in the best interest of the funds shareholders.
Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) . Certain companies are organized as master limited partnerships in which ownership interests are publicly traded. MLPs often own several properties or businesses (or directly own interests) that are related to real estate development and oil and gas industries, but they also may finance motion pictures, research and development and other projects. Generally, a MLP is operated under the supervision of one or more managing general partners. Limited partners (like the fund if it invests in a MLP) are not involved in the day-to-day management of the partnership. They are allocated income and capital gains associated with the partnership project in accordance with the terms established in the partnership agreement.
The risks of investing in a MLP are generally those inherent in investing in a partnership as opposed to a corporation. For example, state law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be less protections afforded investors in a MLP than investors in a corporation. Additional risks involved with investing in a MLP are risks associated with the specific industry or industries in which the partnership invests, such as the risks of investing in real estate, or oil and gas industries.
Money Market Securities are high-quality, short-term obligations. Money market securities may be structured to be, or may employ a trust or other form so that they are, eligible investments for money market funds. For example, put features can be used to modify the maturity of a security or interest rate adjustment features can be used to enhance price stability. If a structure fails to function as intended, adverse tax or investment consequences may result. Neither the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) nor any other regulatory authority has ruled definitively on certain legal issues presented by certain structured securities. Future tax or other regulatory determinations could adversely affect the value, liquidity, or tax treatment of the income received from these securities or the nature and timing of distributions made by the fund.
Mortgage Dollar Rolls . When the fund enters into mortgage dollar rolls, it sells securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts with the same counterparty to repurchase similar (same type, coupon and maturity) but not identical securities on a specified future date. When the fund enters into mortgage dollar rolls, the fund will earmark and reserve until the settlement date fund assets, in cash or liquid securities, in an amount equal to the forward purchase price. The fund benefits to the extent of:
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any difference between the price received for the securities sold and the lower forward price for the future purchase (often referred to as the drop); or |
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fee income plus the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the securities sold until the settlement date of the forward purchase. |
Unless such benefits exceed the income, capital appreciation or gains on the securities sold as part of the mortgage dollar roll, the investment performance of the fund will be less than what the performance would have been without the use of mortgage dollar rolls. The benefits of mortgage dollar rolls may depend upon JPMIMs ability to predict mortgage prepayments and interest rates. There is no assurance that mortgage dollar rolls can be successfully employed. The fund currently intends to enter into mortgage dollar rolls that are accounted for as a financing transaction. For purposes of diversification and investment limitations, mortgage dollar rolls are considered to be mortgage-backed securities.
Mortgage Securities are issued by government and non-government entities such as banks, mortgage lenders, or other institutions. A mortgage security is an obligation of the issuer backed by a mortgage or pool of mortgages or a direct interest in an underlying pool of mortgages. Some mortgage securities, such as collateralized mortgage obligations (or CMOs), make payments of both principal and interest at a range of specified intervals; others make semiannual interest payments at a predetermined rate and repay principal at maturity (like a typical bond). Mortgage securities are based on different types of mortgages, including those on commercial real estate or residential properties. Stripped mortgage securities are created when the interest and principal components of a mortgage security are separated and sold as individual securities. In the case of a stripped mortgage security, the holder of the principal-only security (PO) receives the principal payments made by the underlying mortgage, while the holder of the interest-only security (IO) receives interest payments from the same underlying mortgage.
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Fannie Maes and Freddie Macs are pass-through securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, respectively. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which guarantee payment of interest and repayment of principal on Fannie Maes and Freddie Macs, respectively, are federally chartered corporations supervised by the U.S. Government that act as governmental instrumentalities under authority granted by Congress. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are authorized to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations. Fannie Maes and Freddie Macs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
The value of mortgage securities may change due to shifts in the markets perception of issuers and changes in interest rates. In addition, regulatory or tax changes may adversely affect the mortgage securities market as a whole. Non-government mortgage securities may offer higher yields than those issued by government entities, but also may be subject to greater price changes than government issues. Mortgage securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the risk that early principal payments made on the underlying mortgages, usually in response to a reduction in interest rates, will result in the return of principal to the investor, causing it to be invested subsequently at a lower current interest rate. Alternatively, in a rising interest rate environment, mortgage security values may be adversely affected when prepayments on underlying mortgages do not occur as anticipated, resulting in the extension of the securitys effective maturity and the related increase in interest rate sensitivity of a longer-term instrument. The prices of stripped mortgage securities tend to be more volatile in response to changes in interest rates than those of non-stripped mortgage securities.
To earn additional income for the fund, JPMIM may use a trading strategy that involves selling (or buying) mortgage securities and simultaneously agreeing to purchase (or sell) mortgage securities on a later date at a set price. This trading strategy may increase interest rate exposure and result in an increased turnover of the funds portfolio which increases costs and may increase taxable gains.
Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loans (ARMs) . The fund may invest in ARMs. ARMs eligible for inclusion in a mortgage pool will generally provide for a fixed initial mortgage interest rate for a specified period of time. Thereafter, the interest rates (the Mortgage Interest Rates) may be subject to periodic adjustment based on changes in the applicable index rate (the Index Rate). The adjusted rate would be equal to the Index Rate plus a gross margin, which is a fixed percentage spread over the Index Rate established for each ARM at the time of its origination.
Adjustable interest rates can cause payment increases that some borrowers may find difficult to make. However, certain ARMs may provide that the Mortgage Interest Rate may not be adjusted to a rate above an applicable lifetime maximum rate or below an applicable lifetime minimum rate for such ARM. Certain ARMs may also be subject to limitations on the maximum amount by which the Mortgage Interest Rate may adjust for any single adjustment period (the Maximum Adjustment). Other ARMs (Negatively Amortizing ARMs) may provide instead or as well for limitations on changes in the monthly payment on such ARMs. Limitations on monthly payments can result in monthly payments which are greater or less than the amount necessary to amortize a Negatively Amortizing ARM by its maturity at the Mortgage Interest Rate in effect in any particular month. In the event that a monthly payment is not sufficient to pay the interest accruing on a Negatively Amortizing ARM, any such excess interest is added to the principal balance of the loan, causing negative amortization and will be repaid through future monthly payments. It may take borrowers under Negatively Amortizing ARMs longer periods of time to achieve equity and may increase the likelihood of default by such borrowers. In the event that a monthly payment exceeds the sum of the interest accrued at the applicable Mortgage Interest Rate and the principal payment which would have been necessary to amortize the outstanding principal balance over the remaining term of the loan, the excess (or accelerated amortization) further reduces the principal balance of the ARM. Negatively Amortizing ARMs do not provide for the extension of their original maturity to accommodate changes in their Mortgage Interest Rate. As a result, unless there is a periodic recalculation of the payment amount (which there generally is), the final payment may be substantially larger than the other payments. These limitations on periodic increases in interest rates and on changes in monthly payment protect borrowers from unlimited interest rate and payment increases.
Certain adjustable rate mortgage loans may provide for periodic adjustments of scheduled payments in order to amortize fully the mortgage loan by its stated maturity. Other adjustable rate mortgage loans may permit their stated maturity to be extended or shortened in accordance with the portion of each payment that is applied to interest as affected by the periodic interest rate adjustments.
There are two main categories of indices which provide the basis for rate adjustments on ARMs: those based on U.S. Treasury securities and those derived from a calculated measure such as a cost of funds index or a moving average of mortgage rates. Commonly utilized indices include the one-year, three-year and five-year constant maturity Treasury bill rates, the three-month Treasury bill rate, the 180-day Treasury bill rate, rates on longer-term Treasury securities, the 11th District Federal Home Loan Bank Cost of Funds, the National Median Cost of Funds, the one-month, three-month, six-month or one-year London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the prime rate of a specific bank, or commercial paper rates. Some
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indices, such as the one-year constant maturity Treasury rate, closely mirror changes in market interest rate levels. Others, such as the 11th District Federal Home Loan Bank Cost of Funds index, tend to lag behind changes in market rate levels and tend to be somewhat less volatile. The degree of volatility in the market value of the funds portfolio and therefore in the net asset value of the funds shares will be a function of the length of the interest rate reset periods and the degree of volatility in the applicable indices.
In general, changes in both prepayment rates and interest rates will change the yield on mortgage-backed securities. The rate of principal prepayments with respect to ARMs has fluctuated in recent years. As is the case with fixed mortgage loans, ARMs may be subject to a greater rate of principal prepayments in a declining interest rate environment. For example, if prevailing interest rates fall significantly, ARMs could be subject to higher prepayment rates than if prevailing interest rates remain constant because the availability of fixed rate mortgage loans at competitive interest rates may encourage mortgagors to refinance their ARMs to lock-in a lower fixed interest rate. Conversely, if prevailing interest rates rise significantly, ARMs may prepay at lower rates than if prevailing rates remain at or below those in effect at the time such ARMs were originated. As with fixed rate mortgages, there can be no certainty as to the rate of prepayments on the ARMs in either stable or changing interest rate environments. In addition, there can be no certainty as to whether increases in the principal balances of the ARMs due to the addition of deferred interest may result in a default rate higher than that on ARMs that do not provide for negative amortization.
Other factors affecting prepayment of ARMs include changes in mortgagors housing needs, job transfers, unemployment, mortgagors net equity in the mortgage properties and servicing decisions.
Risk Factors of Mortgage-Related Securities . The following is a summary of certain risks associated with Mortgage-Related Securities:
Guarantor Risk. There can be no assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac if necessary in the future. Although certain mortgage-related securities are guaranteed by a third party or otherwise similarly secured, the market value of the security, which may fluctuate, is not so secured.
Interest Rate Sensitivity. If the fund purchases a mortgage-related security at a premium, that portion may be lost if there is a decline in the market value of the security whether resulting from changes in interest rates or prepayments in the underlying mortgage collateral. As with other interest-bearing securities, the prices of such securities are inversely affected by changes in interest rates. However, though the value of a mortgage-related security may decline when interest rates rise, the converse is not necessarily true since in periods of declining interest rates the mortgages underlying the securities are prone to prepayment. For this and other reasons, a mortgage-related securitys stated maturity may be shortened by unscheduled prepayments on the underlying mortgages and, therefore, it is not possible to predict accurately the securitys return to the fund. In addition, regular payments received in respect of mortgage-related securities include both interest and principal. No assurance can be given as to the return the fund will receive when these amounts are reinvested.
Market Value. The market value of the funds adjustable rate Mortgage-Backed Securities may be adversely affected if interest rates increase faster than the rates of interest payable on such securities or by the adjustable rate mortgage loans underlying such securities. Furthermore, adjustable rate Mortgage-Backed Securities or the mortgage loans underlying such securities may contain provisions limiting the amount by which rates may be adjusted upward and downward and may limit the amount by which monthly payments may be increased or decreased to accommodate upward and downward adjustments in interest rates.
Prepayments. Adjustable rate Mortgage-Backed Securities have less potential for capital appreciation than fixed rate Mortgage-Backed Securities because their coupon rates will decline in response to market interest rate declines. The market value of fixed rate Mortgage-Backed Securities may be adversely affected as a result of increases in interest rates and, because of the risk of unscheduled principal prepayments, may benefit less than other fixed rate securities of similar maturity from declining interest rates. Finally, to the extent Mortgage-Backed Securities are purchased at a premium, mortgage foreclosures and unscheduled principal prepayments may result in some loss of the funds principal investment to the extent of the premium paid. On the other hand, if such securities are purchased at a discount, both a scheduled payment of principal and an unscheduled prepayment of principal will increase current and total returns and will accelerate the recognition of income.
Yield Characteristics. The yield characteristics of Mortgage-Backed Securities differ from those of traditional fixed income securities. The major differences typically include more frequent interest and principal payments, usually monthly, and the possibility that prepayments of principal may be made at any time. Prepayment rates are influenced by changes in current interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors and cannot be predicted with certainty. As with fixed rate mortgage loans, adjustable rate mortgage loans may be subject to a greater prepayment rate in a declining
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interest rate environment. The yields to maturity of the Mortgage-Backed Securities in which the fund invests will be affected by the actual rate of payment (including prepayments) of principal of the underlying mortgage loans. The mortgage loans underlying such securities generally may be prepaid at any time without penalty. In a fluctuating interest rate environment, a predominant factor affecting the prepayment rate on a pool of mortgage loans is the difference between the interest rates on the mortgage loans and prevailing mortgage loan interest rates taking into account the cost of any refinancing. In general, if mortgage loan interest rates fall sufficiently below the interest rates on fixed rate mortgage loans underlying mortgage pass-through securities, the rate of prepayment would be expected to increase. Conversely, if mortgage loan interest rates rise above the interest rates on the fixed rate mortgage loans underlying the mortgage pass-through securities, the rate of prepayment may be expected to decrease.
Mortgages (Directly Held) . Mortgages are debt instruments secured by real property. Unlike mortgage-backed securities, which generally represent an interest in a pool of mortgages, direct investments in mortgages involve prepayment and credit risks of an individual issuer and real property. Consequently, these investments require different investment and credit analysis by JPMIM.
Directly placed mortgages may include residential mortgages, multifamily mortgages, mortgages on cooperative apartment buildings, commercial mortgages, and sale-leasebacks. These investments are backed by assets such as office buildings, shopping centers, retail stores, warehouses, apartment buildings and single-family dwellings. In the event that the fund forecloses on any non-performing mortgage, and acquires a direct interest in the real property, the fund will be subject to the risks generally associated with the ownership of real property. There may be fluctuations in the market value of the foreclosed property and its occupancy rates, rent schedules and operating expenses. There may also be adverse changes in local, regional or general economic conditions, deterioration of the real estate market and the financial circumstances of tenants and sellers, unfavorable changes in zoning, building, environmental and other laws, increased real property taxes, rising interest rates, reduced availability and increased cost of mortgage borrowings, the need for unanticipated renovations, unexpected increases in the cost of energy, environmental factors, acts of God and other factors which are beyond the control of the fund or JPMIM. Hazardous or toxic substances may be present on, at or under the mortgaged property and adversely affect the value of the property. In addition, the owners of property containing such substances may be held responsible, under various laws, for containing, monitoring, removing or cleaning up such substances. The presence of such substances may also provide a basis for other claims by third parties. Costs of clean up or of liabilities to third parties may exceed the value of the property. In addition, these risks may be uninsurable. In light of these and similar risks, it may be impossible to dispose profitably of properties in foreclosure.
Municipal Securities are issued to raise money for a variety of public or private purposes, including general financing for state and local governments, or financing for specific projects or public facilities. They may be issued in anticipation of future revenues and may be backed by the full taxing power of a municipality, the revenues from a specific project, or the credit of a private organization. The value of some or all municipal securities may be affected by uncertainties in the municipal market related to legislation or litigation involving the taxation of municipal securities or the rights of municipal securities holders. A municipal security may be owned directly or through a participation interest.
Preferred Stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred securities and common stock.
Put Features entitle the holder to sell a security back to the issuer or a third party at any time or at specified intervals. In exchange for this benefit, the fund may accept a lower interest rate. Securities with put features are subject to the risk that the put provider is unable to honor the put feature (purchase the security). Put providers often support their ability to buy securities on demand by obtaining letters of credit or other guarantees from other entities. Demand features, standby commitments, and tender options are types of put features.
Real Estate Investment Trusts . Equity real estate investment trusts own real estate properties, while mortgage real estate investment trusts make construction, development, and long-term mortgage loans. Their value may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property of the trusts, the creditworthiness of the issuer, property taxes, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements, such as those relating to the environment. Both types of trusts are dependent upon management skill, are not diversified, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status of income under the Internal Revenue Code and failing to maintain exemption from the 1940 Act.
Real estate investment trusts issue debt securities to fund the purchase and/or development of commercial properties. The value of these debt securities may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the trusts, the creditworthiness of the trusts, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements. Real estate investment trusts are dependent upon management skill and the cash flow generated by the properties owned by the trusts. Real estate investment trusts are at the risk of the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status of income under the Internal Revenue Code and failing to maintain exemption from the 1940 Act.
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Repurchase Agreements involve an agreement to purchase a security and to sell that security back to the original seller at an agreed-upon price. The resale price reflects the purchase price plus an agreed-upon incremental amount which is unrelated to the coupon rate or maturity of the purchased security. As protection against the risk that the original seller will not fulfill its obligation, the securities are held in a separate account at a bank, marked-to-market daily, and maintained at a value at least equal to the sale price plus the accrued incremental amount. The value of the security purchased may be more or less than the price at which the counterparty has agreed to purchase the security. In addition, delays or losses could result if the other party to the agreement defaults or becomes insolvent. The fund will engage in repurchase agreement transactions with parties whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by JPMIM or, under certain circumstances, by Strategic Advisers or a Strategic Advisers affiliate.
Restricted Securities are subject to legal restrictions on their sale. Difficulty in selling securities may result in a loss or be costly to the fund. Restricted securities generally can be sold in privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (1933 Act), or in a registered public offering. Where registration is required, the holder of a registered security may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expense and a considerable period may elapse between the time it decides to seek registration and the time it may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the holder might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when it decided to seek registration of the security.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements . In a reverse repurchase agreement, the fund sells a security to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase that security at an agreed-upon price and time. The fund will enter into reverse repurchase agreements with parties whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by JPMIM or, under certain circumstances, by Strategic Advisers or a Strategic Advisers affiliate.
Such transactions may increase fluctuations in the market value of fund assets and the funds yield and may be viewed as a form of leverage.
Securities of Other Investment Companies , including shares of closed-end investment companies, unit investment trusts, and open-end investment companies, represent interests in professionally managed portfolios that may invest in any type of instrument. Investing in other investment companies involves substantially the same risks as investing directly in the underlying instruments, but may involve additional expenses at the investment company-level, such as portfolio management fees and operating expenses. Certain types of investment companies, such as closed-end investment companies, issue a fixed number of shares that trade on a stock exchange or over-the-counter at a premium or a discount to their NAV. Others are continuously offered at NAV, but may also be traded in the secondary market.
The extent to which the fund can invest in securities of other investment companies is limited by federal securities laws.
Short Sales Against the Box are short sales of securities that the fund owns or has the right to obtain (equivalent in kind or amount to the securities sold short). If the fund enters into a short sale against the box, it will be required to set aside securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short (or securities convertible or exchangeable into such securities) and will be required to hold such securities while the short sale is outstanding. The fund will incur transaction costs, including interest expenses, in connection with opening, maintaining, and closing short sales against the box.
Short Sales . Stocks underlying the funds convertible security holdings can be sold short. For example, if JPMIM anticipates a decline in the price of the stock underlying a convertible security held by the fund, it may sell the stock short. If the stock price subsequently declines, the proceeds of the short sale could be expected to offset all or a portion of the effect of the stocks decline on the value of the convertible security. The fund currently intends to hedge no more than 15% of its total assets with short sales on equity securities underlying its convertible security holdings under normal circumstances.
The fund will be required to set aside securities equivalent in kind and amount to those sold short (or securities convertible or exchangeable into such securities) and will be required to hold them aside while the short sale is outstanding. The fund will incur transaction costs, including interest expenses, in connection with opening, maintaining, and closing short sales.
Short-Term Funding Agreements . Short-term funding agreements issued by insurance companies are sometimes referred to as Guaranteed Investment Contracts (GICs), while those issued by banks are referred to as Bank Investment Contracts (BICs). Pursuant to such agreements, the fund makes cash contributions to a deposit account at a bank or insurance company. The bank or insurance company then credits to the fund on a monthly basis guaranteed interest at either a fixed, variable or floating rate. These contracts are general obligations of the issuing bank or insurance company (although they may be the obligations of an insurance company separate account) and are paid from the general assets of the issuing entity.
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The fund will purchase short-term funding agreements only from banks and insurance companies which, at the time of purchase, are rated in one of the three highest rating categories and have assets of $1 billion or more. Generally, there is no active secondary market in short-term funding agreements. Therefore, short-term funding agreements may be considered by the fund to be illiquid investments. To the extent that a short-term funding agreement is determined to be illiquid, such agreements will be acquired by the fund only if, at the time of purchase, no more than 10% of the funds net assets will be invested in short-term funding agreements and other illiquid securities.
Sources of Liquidity or Credit Support . Issuers may employ various forms of credit and liquidity enhancements, including letters of credit, guarantees, swaps, puts, and demand features, and insurance provided by domestic or foreign entities such as banks and other financial institutions. For purposes of making initial and ongoing minimal credit risk determinations, JPMIM and its affiliates may rely on their evaluation of the credit of the issuer or the credit of the liquidity or credit enhancement provider. In evaluating the credit of a foreign bank or other foreign entities, factors considered may include whether adequate public information about the entity is available and whether the entity may be subject to unfavorable political or economic developments, currency controls, or other government restrictions that might affect its ability to honor its commitment. Changes in the credit quality of the entity providing the enhancement could affect the value of the security or the funds share price.
Sovereign Debt Obligations are issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or their agencies, including debt of Latin American nations or other developing countries. Sovereign debt may be in the form of conventional securities or other types of debt instruments such as loans or loan participations. Sovereign debt of developing countries may involve a high degree of risk, and may be in default or present the risk of default. Governmental entities responsible for repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal and pay interest when due, and may require renegotiation or rescheduling of debt payments. In addition, prospects for repayment of principal and payment of interest may depend on political as well as economic factors. Although some sovereign debt, such as Brady Bonds, is collateralized by U.S. Government securities, repayment of principal and payment of interest is not guaranteed by the U.S. Government.
Stripped Securities are the separate income or principal components of a debt security. The risks associated with stripped securities are similar to those of other debt securities, although stripped securities may be more volatile, and the value of certain types of stripped securities may move in the same direction as interest rates. U.S. Treasury securities that have been stripped by a Federal Reserve Bank are obligations issued by the U.S. Treasury.
Privately stripped government securities are created when a dealer deposits a U.S. Treasury security or other U.S. Government security with a custodian for safekeeping. The custodian issues separate receipts for the coupon payments and the principal payment, which the dealer then sells.
Because the SEC does not consider privately stripped government securities to be U.S. Government securities for purposes of Rule 2a-7, the fund must evaluate them as it would non-government securities pursuant to regulatory guidelines applicable to money market funds.
Structured Investments. A structured investment is a security having a return tied to an underlying index or other security or asset class. Structured investments generally are individually negotiated agreements and may be traded over-the-counter. Structured investments are organized and operated to restructure the investment characteristics of the underlying security. This restructuring involves the deposit with or purchase by an entity, such as a corporation or trust, or specified instruments (such as commercial bank loans) and the issuance by that entity or one or more classes of securities (structured securities) backed by, or representing interests in, the underlying instruments. The cash flow on the underlying instruments may be apportioned among the newly issued structured securities to create securities with different investment characteristics, such as varying maturities, payment priorities and interest rate provisions, and the extent of such payments made with respect to structured securities is dependent on the extent of the cash flow on the underlying instruments. Because structured securities typically involve no credit enhancement, their credit risk generally will be equivalent to that of the underlying instruments. Investments in structured securities are generally of a class of structured securities that is either subordinated or unsubordinated to the right of payment of another class. Subordinated structured securities typically have higher yields and present greater risks than unsubordinated structured securities. Structured securities are typically sold in private placement transactions, and there currently is no active trading market for structured securities. Investments in government and government-related restructured debt instruments are subject to special risks, including the inability or unwillingness to repay principal and interest, requests to reschedule or restructure outstanding debt and requests to extend additional loan amounts.
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Structured instruments that are registered under the federal securities laws may be treated as liquid. In addition, many structured instruments may not be registered under the federal securities laws. In that event, the funds ability to resell such a structured instrument may be more limited than its ability to resell other fund securities. The fund will treat such instruments as illiquid, and will limit its investments in such instruments to no more than 10% of the funds net assets, when combined with all other illiquid investments of the fund.
Temporary Defensive Policies . The fund reserves the right to invest without limitation in preferred stocks, investment-grade debt instruments, cash and cash equivalents for temporary, defensive purposes.
Treasury Receipts . The fund may purchase interests in separately traded interest and principal component parts of U.S. Treasury obligations that are issued by banks or brokerage firms and are created by depositing U.S. Treasury notes and U.S. Treasury bonds into a special account at a custodian bank. Receipts include Treasury Receipts (TRs), Treasury Investment Growth Receipts (TIGRs), and Certificates of Accrual on Treasury Securities (CATS). Receipts in which an entity other than the government separates the interest and principal components are not considered government securities unless such securities are issued through the Treasury Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities (STRIPS) program.
Variable and Floating Rate Securities provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate paid on the security. Variable rate securities provide for a specified periodic adjustment in the interest rate, while floating rate securities have interest rates that change whenever there is a change in a designated benchmark rate or the issuers credit quality. Some variable or floating rate securities are structured with put features that permit holders to demand payment of the unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest from the issuers or certain financial intermediaries.
Synthetic Variable Rate Instruments generally involve the deposit of a long-term tax exempt bond in a custody or trust arrangement and the creation of a mechanism to adjust the long-term interest rate on the bond to a variable short-term rate and a right (subject to certain conditions) on the part of the purchaser to tender it periodically to a third party at par. JPMIM reviews the structure of synthetic variable rate instruments to identify credit and liquidity risks (including the conditions under which the right to tender the instrument would no longer be available) and will monitor those risks. In the event that the right to tender the instrument is no longer available, the risk to the fund will be that of holding the long-term bond. In the case of some types of instruments credit enhancement is not provided, and if certain events, which may include (a) default in the payment of principal or interest on the underlying bond, (b) downgrading of the bond below investment grade or (c) a loss of the bonds tax exempt status, occur, then (i) the put will terminate and (ii) the risk to the fund will be that of holding a long-term bond.
Warrants and Rights . Warrants are instruments which entitle the holder to buy an equity security at a specific price for a specific period of time. Changes in the value of a warrant do not necessarily correspond to changes in the value of its underlying security. The price of a warrant may be more volatile than the price of its underlying security, and a warrant may offer greater potential for capital appreciation as well as capital loss. Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a short duration and are distributed directly by the issuer to its shareholders.
Warrants and rights do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the underlying security and do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuing company. A warrant or right ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date. These factors can make warrants and rights more speculative than other types of investments.
When-Issued and Forward Purchase or Sale Transactions involve a commitment to purchase or sell specific securities at a predetermined price or yield in which payment and delivery take place after the customary settlement period for that type of security. Typically, no interest accrues to the purchaser until the security is delivered.
When purchasing securities pursuant to one of these transactions, the purchaser assumes the rights and risks of ownership, including the risks of price and yield fluctuations and the risk that the security will not be issued as anticipated. Because payment for the securities is not required until the delivery date, these risks are in addition to the risks associated with the funds investments. If the fund remains substantially fully invested at a time when a purchase is outstanding, the purchases may result in a form of leverage. When the fund has sold a security pursuant to one of these transactions, the fund does not participate in further gains or losses with respect to the security. If the other party to a delayed-delivery transaction fails to deliver or pay for the securities, the fund could miss a favorable price or yield opportunity or suffer a loss.
The fund may renegotiate a when-issued or forward transaction and may sell the underlying securities before delivery, which may result in capital gains or losses for the fund.
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Zero Coupon Bonds, Pay-in-Kind and Deferred Payment Securities . Zero coupon securities are securities that are sold at a discount to par value and on which interest payments are not made during the life of the security. Upon maturity, the holder is entitled to receive the par value of the security. Pay-in-kind securities are securities that have interest payable by delivery of additional securities. Upon maturity, the holder is entitled to receive the aggregate par value of the securities. The fund accrues income with respect to zero coupon and pay-in-kind securities prior to the receipt of cash payments. Deferred payment securities are securities that remain zero coupon securities until a predetermined date, at which time the stated coupon rate becomes effective and interest becomes payable at regular intervals. While interest payments are not made on such securities, holders of such securities are deemed to have received phantom income. Because the fund will distribute phantom income to shareholders, to the extent that shareholders elect to receive dividends in cash rather than reinvesting such dividends in additional shares, the fund will have fewer assets with which to purchase income-producing securities. Zero coupon and pay-in-kind securities may be subject to greater fluctuation in value and lesser liquidity in the event of adverse market conditions than comparably rated securities paying cash interest at regular interest payment periods.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Strategic Advisers has granted investment management authority to JPMIM (see the section entitled Management Contract) and JPMIM is authorized to provide the services described in the sub-advisory agreement, and will do so in accordance with the policies described in this section.
All orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities are placed on behalf of the fund by JPMIM pursuant to authority contained in the sub-advisory agreement. JPMIM may also be responsible for the placement of portfolio transactions for other investment companies and investment accounts for which they or their affiliates have investment discretion. Allocation of transactions, including their frequency, to various broker-dealers (including affiliates of Strategic Advisers) is determined by JPMIM based on its best judgment and in a manner deemed fair and reasonable to shareholders. The primary consideration is prompt execution of orders in an effective manner at the most favorable price. Subject to this consideration, in selecting broker-dealers to execute a particular transaction, and in evaluating the best overall terms available, JPMIM is authorized to consider the brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) provided to the fund and/or other accounts over which JPMIM exercises investment discretion. JPMIM may cause the fund to pay a broker-dealer (who are not affiliates of Strategic Advisers) that furnishes brokerage and research services a higher commission than that which might be charged by another broker-dealer for effecting the same transaction, provided that JPMIM determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either the particular transaction or the overall responsibilities of JPMIM to the fund. The term brokerage and research services includes (i) advice as to the value of securities; (ii) the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities; (iii) the availability of securities or of purchasers or sellers of securities; (iv) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issues, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts; and (v) effecting securities, transactions and performing functions incidental thereto, such as clearance and settlement. Under JPMIMs policy, soft dollar services refer to arrangements that fall within the safe harbor requirements of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which allow JPMIM to allocate client brokerage transactions to a broker-dealer in exchange for products or services that are research and brokerage-related and enhance the investment decision-making process. These services include third party research, market data services, and proprietary broker-dealer research. The fund does not participate in soft dollar arrangements for market data services and third-party research. However, the fund receives proprietary research where broker-dealers typically incorporate the cost of such research into their commission structure. Shareholders of the fund should understand that the services provided by such brokers may be useful to JPMIM in connection with its services to other clients and not all the services may be used by JPMIM in connection with the fund.
Purchases and sales of securities on a securities exchange are effected through brokers who receive compensation for their services. Compensation may also be paid in connection with riskless principal transactions (in both OTC securities and securities listed on an exchange) and agency OTC transactions executed with an electronic communications network (ECN) or an alternative trading system.
Securities may be purchased from underwriters at prices that include underwriting fees.
Generally, compensation relating to investments traded on foreign exchanges will be higher than for investments traded on U.S. exchanges and may not be subject to negotiation.
Futures transactions are executed and cleared through FCMs who receive compensation for their services.
JPMIM may place trades with certain brokers, including National Financial Services LLC (NFS), with which Strategic Advisers is under common control, provided it determines that these affiliates trade execution abilities and costs are comparable to those of non-affiliated, qualified brokerage firms. JPMIM does not allocate trades to NFS in exchange for brokerage and research products and services of the type sometimes known as soft dollars. JPMIM trades with Strategic Advisers affiliated brokers on an execution-only basis.
21
Subject to the overriding objective of obtaining the best execution of orders, JPMIM may allocate a portion of the funds brokerage transactions to affiliates of JPMIM. Under the 1940 Act, persons affiliated with the fund and persons who are affiliated with such persons are prohibited from dealing with the fund as principal in the purchase and sale of securities unless an exemptive order allowing such transactions is obtained from the SEC. An affiliated person of the fund may serve as its broker in listed or over-the-counter transactions conducted on an agency basis provided that, among other things, the fee or commission received by such affiliated broker is reasonable and fair compared to the fee or commission received by non-affiliated brokers in connection with comparable transactions.
The Trustees of the fund periodically review Strategic Advisers or JPMIMs performance of their responsibilities in connection with the placement of portfolio transactions on behalf of the fund and review the compensation paid by the fund over representative periods of time to determine if they are reasonable in relation to the benefits to the fund.
The fund may pay compensation including both commissions and spreads in connection with the placement of portfolio transactions. Significant changes in brokerage commissions paid by the fund from year to year may result from changing asset levels throughout the year, shareholder activity, and/or portfolio turnover.
[The Trustees of the fund have approved procedures in conformity with Rule 10f-3 under the 1940 Act whereby the fund may purchase securities that are offered in underwritings in which an affiliate of FMR or Strategic participates. These procedures prohibit the fund from directly or indirectly benefiting an FMR affiliate or a Strategic affiliate in connection with such underwritings. In addition, for underwritings where an FMR affiliate or a Strategic affiliate participates as a principal underwriter, certain restrictions may apply that could, among other things, limit the amount of securities that the fund could purchase in the underwritings.]
From time to time the Trustees will review whether the recapture for the benefit of the fund of some portion of the compensation paid by the fund on portfolio transactions is legally permissible and advisable. The Trustees intend to continue to review whether recapture opportunities are available and are legally permissible and, if so, to determine in the exercise of their business judgment whether it would be advisable for the fund to participate, or continue to participate, in the commission recapture program.
Investment decisions for the fund are made by JPMIM and are independent from those of other funds or investment accounts (including proprietary accounts) managed by Strategic Advisers, JPMIM or their affiliates. The same security is often held in the portfolio of more than one of these funds or investment accounts. Simultaneous transactions are inevitable when several funds and investment accounts are managed by the same investment adviser, particularly when the same security is suitable for the investment objective of more than one fund or investment account.
When two or more funds or investment accounts are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security, including a futures contract, the prices and amounts are allocated in accordance with procedures believed to be appropriate and equitable to the fund or investment account. In some cases this system could have a detrimental effect on the price or value of the security as far as the fund is concerned. In other cases, however, the ability of the fund to participate in volume transactions will produce better executions and prices for the fund. It is the current opinion of the Trustees that the desirability of retaining Strategic Advisers as investment adviser and JPMIM as sub-adviser to the fund outweighs any disadvantages that may be said to exist from exposure to simultaneous transactions.
Orders for funds and investment accounts are not typically combined or blocked. However, JPMIM may, when feasible and when consistent with the fair and equitable treatment of all funds and investment accounts and best execution, block orders of various funds and investment accounts for order entry and execution.
JPMIM has established allocation policies for its various funds and investment accounts to ensure allocations are appropriate given its clients differing investment objectives and other considerations.
When a purchase or sale of the same security is made at substantially the same time on behalf of the fund and another fund, investment company or account, the transaction will be averaged as to price, and available investments allocated as to amount, in a manner which JPMIM believes to be equitable to the fund and such other investment company or account. In some instances, this procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by the fund or the size of the position obtained by the fund.
22
VALUATION
Each classs NAV is the value of a single share. The NAV of each class is computed by adding the classs pro rata share of the value of the applicable funds investments, cash, and other assets, subtracting the classs pro rata share of the applicable funds liabilities, subtracting the liabilities allocated to the class, and dividing the result by the number of shares of that class that are outstanding.
Portfolio securities are valued by various methods depending on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. Most equity securities for which the primary market is the United States are valued at the official closing price, last sale price or, if no sale has occurred, at the closing bid price. Most equity securities for which the primary market is outside the United States are valued using the official closing price or the last sale price in the principal market in which they are traded. If the last sale price (on the local exchange) is unavailable, the last evaluated quote or closing bid price normally is used. Securities of other open-end investment companies are valued at their respective NAVs.
Debt securities and other assets for which market quotations are readily available may be valued at market values determined by such securities most recent bid prices (sales prices if the principal market is an exchange) in the principal market in which they normally are traded, as furnished by recognized dealers in such securities or assets. Or, debt securities and convertible securities may be valued on the basis of information furnished by a pricing service that uses a valuation matrix which incorporates both dealer-supplied valuations and electronic data processing techniques. Use of pricing services has been approved by the Board of Trustees. A number of pricing services are available, and the fund may use various pricing services or discontinue the use of any pricing service.
Futures contracts and options are valued on the basis of market quotations, if available.
Independent brokers or quotation services provide prices of foreign securities in their local currency. Fidelity Service Company, Inc. (FSC) gathers all exchange rates daily at the close of the NYSE using the last quoted price on the local currency and then translates the value of foreign securities from their local currencies into U.S. dollars. Any changes in the value of forward contracts due to exchange rate fluctuations and days to maturity are included in the calculation of NAV. If an event that is expected to materially affect the value of a portfolio security occurs after the close of an exchange or market on which that security is traded, then that security will be valued in good faith by a committee appointed by the Board of Trustees.
Short-term securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less for which market quotations and information furnished by a pricing service are not readily available are valued either at amortized cost or at original cost plus accrued interest, both of which approximate current value.
The procedures set forth above need not be used to determine the value of the securities owned by the fund if, in the opinion of a committee appointed by the Board of Trustees, some other method would more accurately reflect the fair value of such securities. For example, securities and other assets for which there is no readily available market value may be valued in good faith by a committee appointed by the Board of Trustees. In making a good faith determination of the value of a security, the committee may review price movements in futures contracts and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), market and trading trends, the bid/ask quotes of brokers and off-exchange institutional trading.
BUYING AND SELLING INFORMATION
Under certain circumstances (for example, at the request of a shareholder), the fund may make redemption payments in whole or in part in readily marketable securities or other property pursuant to procedures approved by the Trustees if Strategic Advisers determines it is in the best interests of the fund. Such securities or other property will be valued for this purpose as they are valued in computing each classs NAV. Shareholders that receive securities or other property will realize, upon receipt, a gain or loss for tax purposes, and will incur additional costs and be exposed to market risk prior to and upon sale of such securities or other property.
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The following information is only a summary of some of the tax consequences affecting insurance company separate accounts invested in the fund. No attempt has been made to discuss tax consequences affecting variable product owners. Variable product owners seeking to understand the tax consequences of their investment should consult with their tax advisers or the insurance company that issued their variable product, or refer to their variable annuity or variable life insurance product prospectus.
23
The fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code so that it will not be liable for federal tax on income and capital gains distributed to insurance company separate accounts invested in the fund. In order to qualify as a regulated investment company, and avoid being subject to federal income or excise taxes at the fund level, the fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains within each calendar year as well as on a fiscal year basis, and intends to comply with other tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies. If the fund failed to qualify as a regulated investment company in any year, among other consequences, each insurance company separate account invested in the fund would fail to satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund also intends to satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder. These diversification requirements, which are in addition to the diversification requirements of Subchapter M, place certain limitations on the assets of an insurance company separate account that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer or a certain number of issuers. Because Section 817(h) and the regulations thereunder treat the assets of the fund as the assets of the related insurance company separate account, the fund must also satisfy these requirements. If the fund failed to satisfy these requirements, a variable annuity or variable life insurance product supported by an insurance company separate account invested in the fund would not be treated as an annuity or as life insurance for tax purposes and would no longer be eligible for tax deferral.
Foreign governments may withhold taxes on dividends and interest earned by the fund with respect to foreign securities. Foreign governments may also impose taxes on other payments or gains with respect to foreign securities. If, at the close of its fiscal year, more than 50% of the funds total assets is invested in securities of foreign issuers, the fund may elect to pass through eligible foreign taxes paid and thereby allow shareholders to take a deduction or, if they meet certain holding period requirements with respect to fund shares, a credit on their tax returns.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The Trustees and executive officers of the fund are listed below. The Board of Trustees governs the fund and is responsible for protecting the interests of shareholders. The Trustees are experienced executives who meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the funds activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the fund, and review the funds performance. Except for Mr. Howard E. Cox, Jr. and Ms. Karen Kaplan, each of the Trustees oversees ten funds advised by Strategic Advisers or an affiliate. Mr. Cox and Ms. Kaplan oversee five funds advised by Strategic Advisers or an affiliate.
The Trustees hold office without limit in time except that (a) any Trustee may resign; (b) any Trustee may be removed by written instrument, signed by at least two-thirds of the number of Trustees prior to such removal; (c) any Trustee who requests to be retired or who has become incapacitated by illness or injury may be retired by written instrument signed by a majority of the other Trustees; and (d) any Trustee may be removed at any special meeting of shareholders by a two-thirds vote of the outstanding voting securities of the trust. The executive officers hold office without limit in time, except that any officer may resign or may be removed by a vote of a majority of the Trustees at any regular meeting or any special meeting of the Trustees. Except as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the past five years.
Interested Trustees *:
Correspondence intended for each Trustee who is an interested person may be sent to Fidelity Investments, 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
Name. Age: Principal Occupation
Roger T. Servison (61)
|
Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
|
Mr. Servison is Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Servison serves as President of Strategic New Business Development for Fidelity Investments (1995-present), and oversees Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company (FILI) and Strategic Advisers (May 2005-present). He also serves as President and a Director of Fidelity Brokerages Services (Japan), LLC (1996-present), a Director of Fidelity Investments Asia Funding Corp. (2000-present), and a Director of Strategic Advisers (1999-present). Previously, he served as President of Fidelity Investments Retail Marketing Company and Fidelity Brokerage Services, Inc. (1991-1995), President of Monarch Capital (1990-1991), Senior Vice President of Fidelity Capital (1989-1990), Senior Vice President of Fidelitys New Business Development Group (1987-1989), and Senior Vice President of Fidelity Brokerage Services (1980-1987); and he served as a Director of FBSI Investments, Inc. (1993-2003), FMR Brokerage Holdings, Inc. (1999-2003), and Fidelity Partners Management Corp. (1997-2003). |
24
Abigail P. Johnson (44)
|
Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
|
Ms. Johnson serves as President of Fidelity Employer Services Company (FESCO) (2005-present). She is President and a Director of Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. (2001-present), FMR Co., Inc. (2001-present), and a Director of FMR Corp. Previously, Ms. Johnson served as President and a Director of FMR (2001-2005), a Trustee of other investment companies advised by FMR (2001-2005), Senior Vice President of the Fidelity funds (2001-2005), and managed a number of Fidelity funds. |
Richard A. Spillane Jr. (55)
|
Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
|
Mr. Spillane serves as President of Strategic Advisers (2005-present). Previously, he served as Executive Vice President and Head of Global Investment Strategy for Fidelity Investments (2002-2005), Senior Vice President of FMRs Income Growth and International Groups (1997-2002) and Head of U.S. equities (2001-2002). Mr. Spillane serves as Director of Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company (2000-present), Vice Chairman of Fidelitys Political Action Committee (2001-present), and a Member of the Board of Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company (2000-present). Mr. Spillane also serves as Chairman of the Board of Xaverian Brothers High School (1998-present). Mr. Spillane is a Chartered Financial Analyst (1985-present). |
|
|
* |
Trustees have been determined to be Interested Trustees by virtue of, among other things, their affiliation with the trusts or various entities under common control with Strategic Advisers. |
Independent Trustees:
Correspondence intended for each Independent Trustee (that is, the Trustees other than the Interested Trustees) may be sent to Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 55235, Boston, Massachusetts 02205-5235.
Name. Age; Principal Occupation
Peter C. Aldrich (62)
|
Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
|
From January 1997 through December 2004, Mr. Aldrich was Chairman and Managing Member of AEIGIS, LLC. (foreign private investment). From 1999 through December 2004, he was Faculty Chairman of The Research Council on Global Investment of The Conference Board (business and professional education non-profit). From 1998 through December 2004, Mr. Aldrich was Managing Member of Poseidon, LLC (foreign private investment). Previously, he was Co-Chairman of AEW Capital Management, L.P., a real estate investment advisor (1997-1998), and a founder and Managing Partner of Aldrich, Eastman & Waltch, Inc., a real estate investment advisor (1981-1996). Mr. Aldrich serves as a Member of the Board of the National Bureau of Economic Research (1994), a Member of the Board of Zipcar, Inc. (car sharing, 2002), and a Member of the Board of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (2003). |
Howard E. Cox, Jr. (62)
|
Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
|
Mr. Howard Cox is as a Partner of Greylock, a national venture capital firm, with which he has been associated since 1971. Prior to joining Greylock, Mr. Cox served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (1968-1971). He is currently a Director of Stryker Corporation (medical products and services). He has previously served on the boards of numerous public and private companies, including: The Boston Globe, American Medical Systems (acquired by Pfizer), AMISYS (acquired by McKessonHBOC), APPEX (acquired by EDS), Arbor (acquired by Extendicare), BMR Financial Group, Centene, Checkfree, Cogito Data Systems, Compdent (acquired by APPS), Execucom, HPR (acquired by McKessonHBOC), ISSCO (acquired by Computer Associates), Landacorp, Lunar (acquired by GE), Multimate, Rehab Systems (acquired by Novacare), Share Development (acquired by United Healthcare), United Publishers (acquired by NYNEX), VHA Long Term Care (acquired by ServiceMaster), and Vincam (acquired by ADP). Mr. Cox is a Director and former Chairman of the National Venture Capital Association. Mr. Howard Cox and Mr. Ralph Cox are not related. |
25
Ralph F. Cox (74)
|
Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
|
Mr. Cox is President of RABAR Enterprises (management consulting for the petroleum industry, 1998-present). Previously, he was President of Greenhill Petroleum Corporation (petroleum exploration and production). Until March 1990, Mr. Cox was President and Chief Operating Officer of Union Pacific Resources Company (exploration and production). He is a Director of CH2M Hill Companies (engineering), and Abraxas Petroleum (petroleum exploration and production, 1999). In addition, he is a member of advisory boards of Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Ralph Cox and Mr. Howard Cox are not related. |
Karen Kaplan (45)
|
Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
|
Ms. Kaplan is President of Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos Inc., a subsidiary of The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (group of advertising and specialized marketing and communication services companies). She has been with Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos Inc. since 1982. Ms. Kaplan is Vice President of the Massachusetts Womens Forum and Vice Chair of the Board of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. She serves as a Director of the Executive Committee of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, a Member of the Presidents Council of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, serves on the Advisory Council of the Urban Improv, and a Member of the Board of Mentors of Community Servings. Ms. Kaplan also serves as a Director of ADVO (direct mail marketing services), Tweeter Home Entertainment Group, and Delta Dental Plan of Massachusetts. |
Executive Officers:
Correspondence intended for each executive officer may be sent to Fidelity Investments, 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
Name. Age; Principal Occupation
Eric D. Roiter (57)
|
Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
|
Chief Legal Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value. He also serves as Secretary of other Fidelity funds; Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of FMR Co., Inc. (2001-present) and FMR; Assistant Secretary of Fidelity Management & Research (U.K.) Inc. (2001-present), Fidelity Research & Analysis Company (2001-present), and Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. (2001-present). Mr. Roiter is an Adjunct Member, Faculty of Law, at Boston College Law School (2003-present). Previously, Mr. Roiter served as Vice President and Secretary of Fidelity Distributors Corporation (FDC) (1998-2005). |
Stuart Fross (47)
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
|
Secretary of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value. Mr. Fross also serves as Assistant Secretary of other Fidelity funds (2003-present). Mr. Fross previously served as Vice President and Secretary of FDC and is a Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel of FMR. |
Stephen D. Fisher (43)
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
|
Assistant Secretary of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value. Mr. Fisher previously served as Vice President and Director of Fidfunds Mutual Limited (1998-2003) and is a Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel of FMR. |
26
Mark Osterheld (51)
|
Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
|
President and Treasurer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value. Mr. Osterheld also serves as Assistant Treasurer of other Fidelity funds (2002) and is an employee of FMR. |
Charles V. Senatore (52)
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
|
Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value. He also serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for the Fidelity Risk Oversight Group (2003-present). Before joining Fidelity Investments, Mr. Senatore served as Co-Head of Global Compliance (2002-2003), Head of Private Client Compliance (2000-2002), and Head of the Regulatory Affairs Group (1999-2000) at Merrill Lynch. Mr. Senatore serves as a Member of the SIA Compliance and Legal Division Executive Committee (2004-present), a Member of the SIA Self Regulation and Supervisory Practices Committee (2004-present), a Member of the New York Stock Exchange Compliance Advisory Committee (2000-2003; 2005), and a Member of the Securities Industry/Regulatory Council on Continuing Education (2004-present). He previously served as a Member (2001-2003) and Chair (2003) of the NASDs District 10 Business Committee in New York. |
Kathleen Tucker (47)
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
|
Chief Financial Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value. She also serves as Senior Vice President of Accounting and Pricing Operations for Fidelity Pricing & Cash Management Services (1999-present). Previously, Ms. Tucker worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (1981-1999), where she was most recently a partner in the investment management practice. |
John H. Costello (60)
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
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Assistant Treasurer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value. Mr. Costello also serves as Assistant Treasurer of other Fidelity funds and is an employee of FMR. |
Peter L. Lydecker (52)
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Year of Election or Appointment: 2006 |
|
Assistant Treasurer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value. Mr. Lydecker also serves as Assistant Treasurer of other Fidelity funds (2004) and is an employee of FMR. |
Standing Committees of the Funds Trustees . The Board of Trustees has established various committees to support the Independent Trustees in acting independently in pursuing the best interests of the fund and its shareholders. The committees facilitate the timely and efficient consideration of all matters of importance to Independent Trustees, the fund, and fund shareholders and to facilitate compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Currently, the Board of Trustees has two standing committees. The members of each committee are Independent Trustees.
The Audit Committee is composed of ______, _____ (Chair), and ______. All committee members must be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a companys balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. The committee normally meets in conjunction with in person meetings of the Board of Trustees, or more frequently as called by the Chair. The committee meets separately periodically with the funds Treasurer, with personnel responsible for the internal audit function of FMR Corp., and with the funds outside auditors. The committee has direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of the work of the outside auditors employed by the fund. The committee assists the Trustees in overseeing and monitoring: (i) the systems of internal accounting and financial controls of the fund and the funds service providers, (ii) the financial reporting processes of the fund, (iii) the independence, objectivity and qualification of the auditors to the fund, (iv) the annual audits of the funds financial statements, and (v) the accounting policies and disclosures of the fund. The committee considers and acts upon (i) the provision by any outside auditor of any non-audit services for any fund, and (ii) the provision by any outside auditor of certain non audit services to fund service providers and their affiliates to the extent that such approval (in the case of this clause (ii)) is required under applicable regulations of the SEC. In furtherance of the foregoing, the committee has adopted (and may from time to time amend or supplement) and provides oversight of policies and procedures for non-audit engagements by outside auditors of
27
the fund. It is responsible for approving all audit engagement fees and terms for the fund, resolving disagreements between the fund and any outside auditor regarding the funds financial reporting, and has sole authority to hire and fire any auditor. Auditors of the fund report directly to the committee. The committee will obtain assurance of independence and objectivity from the outside auditors, including a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the auditor and the fund and any service providers consistent with Independent Standards Board Standard No. 1. The committee will receive reports of compliance with provisions of the Auditor Independence Regulations relating to the hiring of employees or former employees of the outside auditors. It oversees and receives reports on the funds service providers internal controls and reviews with management, internal auditors, and outside counsel the adequacy and effectiveness of the service providers accounting and financial controls, including: (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect the funds ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data; (ii) any change in the funds internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the funds internal control over financial reporting; and (iii) any fraud, whether material or not, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the funds or service providers internal controls over financial reporting. The committee reviews at least annually a report from the outside auditor describing any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality control, peer review, or Public Company Accounting Oversight Board examination of the auditing firm and any material issues raised by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities of the auditing firm and in each case any steps taken to deal with such issues. The committee will oversee and receive reports on the funds financial reporting process, will discuss with Strategic Advisers, the funds Treasurer, outside auditors and, if appropriate, internal audit personnel of FMR Corp. their qualitative judgments about the appropriateness and acceptability of accounting principles and financial disclosure practices used or proposed for adoption by the fund, and will review with Strategic Advisers, the funds Treasurer, outside auditor, and internal auditor personnel of FMR Corp. (to the extent relevant) the results of audits of the funds financial statements. The committee will review periodically the funds major internal controls exposures and the steps that have been taken to monitor and control such exposures. The committee also plays an oversight role in respect of the funds compliance with its name test and investment restrictions, the code of ethics relating to personal securities transactions, the code of ethics applicable to certain senior officers of the fund, and anti-money laundering requirements.
The Governance and Nominating Committee is composed of [________] (Chair) and [_______________]. The committee meets as called by the Chair. With respect to fund governance and board administration matters, the committee periodically reviews procedures of the Board of Trustees and its committees (including committee charters) and periodically reviews the compensation of Independent Trustees. The committee monitors corporate governance matters and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees on the frequency and structure of the Board of Trustee meetings and on any other aspect of Board procedures. It reviews the performance of legal counsel employed by the fund and the Independent Trustees. On behalf of the Independent Trustees, the committee will make such findings and determinations as to the independence of counsel for the Independent Trustees as may be necessary or appropriate under applicable regulations or otherwise. The committee is also responsible for Board administrative matters applicable to Independent Trustees, such as expense reimbursement policies and compensation for attendance at meetings, conferences and other events. The committee monitors compliance with, acts as the administrator of, and makes determinations in respect of, the provisions of the code of ethics and any supplemental policies regarding personal securities transactions applicable to the Independent Trustees. The committee monitors the functioning of each Board committee and makes recommendations for any changes, including the creation or elimination of standing or ad hoc Board committees. The committee monitors regulatory and other developments to determine whether to recommend modifications to the committees responsibilities or other Trustee policies and procedures in light of rule changes, reports concerning best practices in corporate governance and other developments in mutual fund governance. The committee recommends that the Board establish such special or ad hoc Board committees as may be desirable or necessary from time to time in order to address ethical, legal, or other matters that may arise. The committee also oversees the annual self-evaluation of the Board of Trustees and establishes procedures to allow it to exercise this oversight function. In conducting this oversight, the committee shall address all matters that it considers relevant to the performance of the Board of Trustees and shall report the results of its evaluation to the Board of Trustees, including any recommended amendments to the principles of governance, and any recommended changes to the funds or the Board of Trustees policies, procedures, and structures. The committee reviews periodically the size and composition of the Board of Trustees as a whole and recommends, if necessary, measures to be taken so that the Board of Trustees reflects the appropriate balance of knowledge, experience, skills, expertise, and diversity required for the Board as a whole and contains at least the minimum number of Independent Trustees required by law. The committee makes nominations for the election or appointment of Independent Trustees and for membership on committees. The committee shall have authority to retain and terminate any third-party advisers, including authority to approve fees and other retention terms. Such advisers may include search firms to identify Independent Trustee candidates and board compensation consultants. The committee may conduct or authorize investigations into or studies of matters within the committees scope of responsibilities, and may retain, at the
28
funds expense, such independent counsel or other advisers as it deems necessary. The committee will consider nominees to the Board of Trustees recommended by shareholders based upon the criteria applied to candidates presented to the committee by a search firm or other source. Recommendations, along with appropriate background material concerning the candidate that demonstrates his or her ability to serve as an Independent Trustee of the fund, should be submitted to the Chair of the committee at the address maintained for communications with Independent Trustees. If the committee retains a search firm, the Chair will generally forward all such submissions to the search firm for evaluation.
The following table sets forth information describing the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee in the fund and in all funds in the aggregate within the same fund family overseen by the Trustee for the calendar year ended December 31, 2006.
Interested Trustees
DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES |
|
Abigail P. Johnson |
|
Roger T. Servison |
|
Richard A.
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value |
|
|
None |
|
|
None |
|
|
None |
|
AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES IN ALL FUNDS OVERSEEN WITHIN FUND FAMILY |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
Independent Trustees
DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES |
|
Peter C. Aldrich |
|
Howard E. Cox, Jr. |
|
Ralph F. Cox |
|
Karen Kaplan |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value |
|
|
None |
|
|
None |
|
|
None |
|
|
None |
|
AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES IN ALL FUNDS OVERSEEN WITHIN FUND FAMILY |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
The following table sets forth information describing the compensation of each Trustee for his or her services for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.
Compensation Table 1
AGGREGATE COMPENSATION FROM A FUND |
|
Peter C. Aldrich |
|
Howard E. Cox, Jr. |
|
Ralph F. Cox |
|
Karen Kaplan |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value+ |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
TOTAL COMPENSATION FROM THE FUND COMPLEX |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
|
1 |
Abigail P. Johnson, Roger T. Servison and Richard A. Spillane Jr. are interested persons and are compensated by Strategic Advisers or an affiliate (including FMR). |
|
|
+ |
Estimated for the funds first full year. |
As of the public offering of shares of the fund, 100% of the funds outstanding securities were held by Strategic Advisers or an affiliate. FMR Corp. is the ultimate parent company of Strategic Advisers and this affiliate.
29
CONTROL OF INVESTMENT ADVISERS
FMR Corp., organized in 1972, is the ultimate parent company of Strategic Advisers. The voting common stock of FMR Corp. is divided into two classes. Class B is held predominantly by members of the Edward C. Johnson 3d family and is entitled to 49% of the vote on any matter acted upon by the voting common stock. Class A is held predominantly by non-Johnson family member employees of FMR Corp. and its affiliates and is entitled to 51% of the vote on any such matter. The Johnson family group and all other Class B shareholders have entered into a shareholders voting agreement under which all Class B shares will be voted in accordance with the majority vote of Class B shares. Under the 1940 Act, control of a company is presumed where one individual or group of individuals owns more than 25% of the voting stock of that company. Therefore, through their ownership of voting common stock and the execution of the shareholders voting agreement, members of the Johnson family may be deemed, under the 1940 Act, to form a controlling group with respect to FMR Corp.
At present, the primary business activities of FMR Corp. and its subsidiaries are: (i) the provision of investment advisory, management, shareholder, investment information and assistance and certain fiduciary services for individual and institutional investors; (ii) the provision of securities brokerage services; (iii) the management and development of real estate; and (iv) the investment in and operation of a number of emerging businesses.
JPMIM, a registered investment adviser, has its principal office at 245 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10167. JPMIM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JPMorgan Asset Management Holdings Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., a bank holding company.
Strategic Advisers and JPMIM (collectively, the Investment Advisers), FDC, and the fund have adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that set forth employees fiduciary responsibilities regarding the fund, establish procedures for personal investing, and restrict certain transactions. Employees subject to the codes of ethics, including the Investment Advisers investment personnel, may invest in securities for their own investment accounts, including securities that may be purchased or held by the fund.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACT
The fund has entered into a management contract with Strategic Advisers, pursuant to which Strategic Advisers furnishes investment advisory and other services.
Pursuant to an SEC exemptive order, Strategic Advisers intends to act as a manager of managers with respect to the fund, meaning that Strategic Advisers has the responsibility to oversee sub-advisers and recommend their hiring, termination, and replacement. Subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of the fund but without shareholder approval, Strategic Advisers may replace or hire unaffiliated sub-advisers or amend the terms of their existing sub-advisory agreements, if any. In the event of approval of a new unaffiliated sub-adviser, shareholders of the fund will be provided with information about the new sub-adviser and sub-advisory agreement within ninety days of appointment.
Management and Sub-Advisory Services . Strategic Advisers provides the fund with all necessary office facilities and personnel for servicing the funds investments, compensates all officers of the fund and all Trustees who are interested persons of the trusts or of Strategic Advisers, and all personnel of the fund or Strategic Advisers performing services relating to research, statistical and investment activities.
In addition, Strategic Advisers or its affiliates, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, provide the management and administrative services necessary for the operation of the fund. These services include providing facilities for maintaining the funds organization; supervising relations with custodians, transfer and pricing agents, accountants, underwriters and other persons dealing with the fund; preparing all general shareholder communications and conducting shareholder relations; maintaining the funds records and the registration of the funds shares under federal securities laws and making necessary filings under state laws; developing management and shareholder services for the fund; and furnishing reports, evaluations and analyses on a variety of subjects to the Trustees.
JPMIM serves as sub-adviser of the fund. Under its management contract with the fund, Strategic Advisers acts as investment adviser. Under the sub-advisory agreement, and subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, JPMIM directs the investments of the fund in accordance with its investment objective, policies, and limitations.
Management-Related Expenses . In addition to the management fee payable to Strategic Advisers and the fees payable to the transfer, dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing agent and pricing and bookkeeping agent, and the costs associated with securities lending, as applicable, the fund or each class thereof, as applicable, pays all of its expenses that are not assumed by those parties. The fund pays for the typesetting, printing, and mailing of its proxy materials to shareholders, legal expenses, and the fees of the custodian, auditor, and Independent Trustees. The funds management contract further provides that the fund will pay for typesetting, printing, and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, notices, and reports to shareholders; however, under the terms of the funds transfer agent agreement, the transfer agent bears these costs. Other expenses paid by the fund include interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, the funds proportionate share of
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insurance premiums and Investment Company Institute dues, and the costs of registering shares under federal securities laws and making necessary filings under state securities laws. The fund is also liable for such nonrecurring expenses as may arise, including costs of any litigation to which the fund may be a party, and any obligation it may have to indemnify its officers and Trustees with respect to litigation. The fund also pays the costs related to the solicitation of fund proxies from variable product owners.
Management Fees . For the services of Strategic Advisers under the management contract, the fund has a monthly management fee which is payable to Strategic Advisers at the annual rate of [___]% of its average net assets throughout the month.
Sub-Adviser - JPMIM . The fund and Strategic Advisers have entered into a sub-advisory agreement with JPMIM. Pursuant to the sub-advisory agreement, Strategic Advisers has granted JPMIM investment management authority as well as the authority to buy and sell securities.
Under the sub-advisory agreement, for providing investment management services to the fund, Strategic Advisers pays JPMIM fees at an annual rate of [___] of the average net assets of the fund.
Strategic Advisers may, from time to time, voluntarily reimburse all or a portion of a classs operating expenses (exclusive of interest, taxes, certain securities lending costs, brokerage commissions, and extraordinary expenses), which is subject to revision or discontinuance. Strategic Advisers retains the ability to be repaid for these expense reimbursements in the amount that expenses fall below the limit prior to the end of the fiscal year.
Expense reimbursements by Strategic Advisers will increase a classs returns, and repayment of the reimbursement by a class will lower its returns.
Jonathan Kendrew Llewelyn Simon, Lawrence E. Playford and Gloria Fu are the portfolio managers for the fund and receive compensation for their services. JPMIMs portfolio managers participate in a competitive compensation program that is designed to attract and retain outstanding people and closely link the performance of investment professionals to client investment objectives. The total compensation program includes a base salary fixed from year to year and a variable performance bonus consisting of cash incentives and restricted stock and may include mandatory notional investments (as described below) in selected mutual funds advised by JPMIM or its affiliates. These elements reflect individual performance and the performance of JPMIMs business as a whole.
Each portfolio managers performance is formally evaluated annually based on a variety of factors including the aggregate size and blended performance of the portfolios such portfolio manager manages. Individual contribution relative to client goals carries the highest impact. Portfolio manager compensation is primarily driven by meeting or exceeding clients risk and return objectives, relative performance to competitors or competitive indices and compliance with firm policies and regulatory requirements. In evaluating each portfolio managers performance with respect to the mutual funds he or she manages, the funds pre-tax performance is compared to the appropriate market peer group and to the funds benchmark index listed in the funds prospectus over one, three and five year periods (or such shorter time as the portfolio manager has managed the fund). Investment performance is generally more heavily weighted to the long-term.
Awards of restricted stock are granted as part of an employees annual performance bonus and comprise from 0% to 35% of a portfolio managers total bonus. As the level of incentive compensation increases, the percentage of compensation awarded in restricted stock also increases. Up to 50% of the restricted stock portion of a portfolio managers bonus may instead be subject to mandatory notional investment in selected mutual funds advised by JPMIM or its affiliates. When these awards vest over time, the portfolio manager receives cash equal to the market value of the notional investment in the selected mutual funds.
The following table provides information relating to other accounts managed by Mr. Simon as of September 30, 2006:
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Registered
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Other Pooled
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|
Other
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|
|||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Accounts Managed |
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|
14 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
26 |
|
Number of Accounts Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees |
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|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
Assets Managed (in millions) |
|
$ |
11,577 |
|
$ |
2,417 |
|
$ |
3,570 |
|
Assets Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees (in millions) |
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|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
As of September 30, 2006, the dollar range of shares of the fund beneficially owned by Mr. Simon was none.
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The following table provides information relating to other accounts managed by Mr. Playford as of September 30, 2006:
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Registered
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Other Pooled
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|
Other
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|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Accounts Managed |
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|
9 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
26 |
|
Number of Accounts Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
Assets Managed (in millions) |
|
$ |
9,977 |
|
|
0 |
|
$ |
3,570 |
|
Assets Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees (in millions) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
As of September 30, 2006, the dollar range of shares of the fund beneficially owned by Mr. Playford was none.
The following table provides information relating to other accounts managed by Mr. Fu as of September 30, 2006:
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Registered
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|
Other Pooled
|
|
Other
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Accounts Managed |
|
|
6 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
26 |
|
Number of Accounts Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
Assets Managed (in millions) |
|
$ |
9,187 |
|
|
0 |
|
$ |
3,570 |
|
Assets Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees (in millions) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
As of September 30, 2006, the dollar range of shares of the fund beneficially owned by Ms. Fu was none.
The potential for conflicts of interest exists when portfolio managers manage other accounts with similar investment objectives and strategies as the fund (Similar Accounts). Potential conflicts may include, for example, conflicts between investment strategies and conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities.
Responsibility for managing JPMIM and its affiliates clients portfolios is organized according to investment strategies within asset classes. Generally, client portfolios with similar strategies are managed by portfolio managers in the same portfolio management group using the same objectives, approach and philosophy. Underlying sectors or strategy allocations within a larger portfolio are likewise managed by portfolio managers who use the same approach and philosophy as similarly managed portfolios. Therefore, portfolio holdings, relative position sizes and industry and sector exposures tend to be similar across similar portfolios and strategies, which minimizes the potential for conflicts of interest.
JPMIM and/or its affiliates may receive more compensation with respect to certain Similar Accounts than that received with respect to the fund or may receive compensation based in part on the performance of certain Similar Accounts. This may create a potential conflict of interest for JPMIM and its affiliates or the portfolio managers by providing an incentive to favor these Similar Accounts when, for example, placing securities transactions. In addition, JPMIM or its affiliates could be viewed as having a conflict of interest to the extent that JPMIM or an affiliate has a proprietary investment in Similar Accounts, the portfolio managers have personal investments in Similar Accounts or the Similar Accounts are investment options in JPMIMs or its affiliates employee benefit plans. Potential conflicts of interest may arise with both the aggregation and allocation of securities transactions and allocation of investment opportunities because of market factors or investment restrictions imposed upon JPMIM and its affiliates by law, regulation, contract or internal policies. Allocations of aggregated trades, particularly trade orders that were only partially completed due to limited availability and allocation of investment opportunities generally, could raise a potential conflict of interest, as JPMIM or its affiliates may have an incentive to allocate securities that are expected to increase in value to favored accounts. Initial public offerings, in particular, are frequently of very limited availability. JPMIM and its affiliates may be perceived as causing accounts they manage to participate in an offering to increase JPMIMs and its affiliates overall allocation of securities in that offering. A potential conflict of interest also may be perceived to arise if transactions in one account closely follow related transactions in a different account, such as when a purchase increases the value of securities previously purchased by another account, or when a sale in one account lowers the sale price received in a sale by a second account. If JPMIM or its affiliates manage accounts that engage in short sales of securities of the type in which the fund invests, JPMIM or its affiliates could be seen as harming the performance of the fund for the benefit of the accounts engaging in short sales if the short sales cause the market value of the securities to fall.
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As an internal policy matter, JPMIM or its affiliates may from time to time maintain certain overall investment limitations on the securities positions or positions in other financial instruments JPMIM or its affiliates will take on behalf of its various clients due to, among other things, liquidity concerns and regulatory restrictions. It should be recognized that such policies may preclude the fund from purchasing particular securities or financial instruments, even if such securities or financial instruments would otherwise meet the funds objectives.
The goal of JPMIM and its affiliates is to meet their fiduciary obligation with respect to all clients. JPMIM and its affiliates have policies and procedures designed to manage the conflicts. JPMIM and its affiliates monitor a variety of areas, including compliance with fund guidelines, review of allocation decisions and compliance with JPMIMs Code of Ethics and JPMCs Code of Conduct. With respect to the allocation of investment opportunities, JPMIM and its affiliates also have certain policies designed to achieve fair and equitable allocation of investment opportunities among its clients over time. For example:
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Orders for the same equity security traded through a single trading desk or system are aggregated on a continual basis throughout each trading day consistent with JPMIMs and its affiliates duty of best execution for its clients. If aggregated trades are fully executed, accounts participating in the trade will be allocated their pro rata share on an average price basis. Partially completed orders generally will be allocated among the participating accounts on a pro-rata average price basis, subject to certain limited exceptions. For example, accounts that would receive a de minimis allocation relative to their size may be excluded from the order. Another exception may occur when thin markets or price volatility require that an aggregated order be completed in multiple executions over several days. If partial completion of the order would result in an uneconomic allocation to an account due to fixed transaction or custody costs, JPMIM and its affiliates may exclude small orders until 50% of the total order is completed. Then the small orders will be executed. Following this procedure, small orders will lag in the early execution of the order, but will be completed before completion of the total order. |
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Purchases of money market instruments and fixed income securities cannot always be allocated pro-rata across the accounts with the same investment strategy and objective. However, JPMIM and its affiliates attempt to mitigate any potential unfairness by basing non-pro rata allocations traded through a single trading desk or system upon an objective predetermined criteria for the selection of investments and a disciplined process for allocating securities with similar duration, credit quality and liquidity in the good faith judgment of JPMIM or its affiliates so that fair and equitable allocation will occur over time. |
PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
The Board of Trustees has delegated to JPMIM proxy voting authority with respect to the funds portfolio securities. To ensure that the proxies of portfolio companies are voted in the best interests of the fund, the funds Board of Trustees has adopted JPMIMs detailed proxy voting procedures (the Procedures) that incorporate guidelines (Guidelines) for voting proxies on specific types of issues.
JPMIM is part of a global asset management organization with the capability to invest in securities of issuers located around the globe. Because the regulatory framework and the business cultures and practices vary from region to region, the Guidelines are customized for each region to take into account such variations. Separate Guidelines cover the regions of (1) North America, (2) Europe, Middle East, Africa, Central America and South America, (3) Asia (ex-Japan) and (4) Japan, respectively.
Notwithstanding the variations among the Guidelines, all of the Guidelines have been designed with the uniform objective of encouraging corporate action that enhances shareholder value. As a general rule, in voting proxies of a particular security, JPMIM will apply the Guidelines of the region in which the issuer of such security is organized. Except as noted below, proxy voting decisions will be made in accordance with the Guidelines covering a multitude of both routine and non-routine matters that JPMIM has encountered globally, based on many years of collective investment management experience.
To oversee and monitor the proxy-voting process, JPMIM has established a proxy committee and appointed a proxy administrator in each global location where proxies are voted. The primary function of each proxy committee is to review periodically general proxy-voting matters, review and approve the Guidelines annually, and provide advice and recommendations on general proxy-voting matters as well as on specific voting issues. The procedures permit an independent voting service, currently Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (ISS) in the United States, to perform certain services otherwise carried out or coordinated by the proxy administrator.
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Although for many matters the Guidelines specify the votes to be cast, for many others, the Guidelines contemplate case-by-case determinations. In addition, there will undoubtedly be proxy matters that are not contemplated by the Guidelines. For both of these categories of matters and to override the Guidelines, the Procedures require a certification and review process to be completed before the vote is cast. That process is designed to identify actual or potential material conflicts of interest (between the fund on the one hand, and the funds sub-adviser, principal underwriter or an affiliate of any of the foregoing, on the other hand) and ensure that the proxy vote is cast in the best interests of the fund. When a potential material conflict of interest has been identified, the proxy administrator and a subgroup of proxy committee members (composed of a member from the Investment Department and one or more members from the Legal, Compliance or Risk Management Departments) will evaluate the potential conflict of interest and determine whether such conflict actually exists, and if so, will recommend how JPMIM will vote the proxy. In addressing any material conflict, JPMIM may take one or more of the following measures (or other appropriate action): removing or walling off from the proxy voting process certain JPMIM personnel with knowledge of the conflict, voting in accordance with any applicable Guideline if the application of the Guideline would objectively result in the casting of a proxy vote in a predetermined manner, or deferring the vote to ISS, which will vote in accordance with its own recommendation.
The following summarizes some of the more noteworthy types of proxy voting policies of the non-U.S. Guidelines:
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Corporate governance procedures differ among the countries. Because of time constraints and local customs, it is not always possible for JPMIM to receive and review all proxy materials in connection with each item submitted for a vote. Many proxy statements are in foreign languages. Proxy materials are generally mailed by the issuer to the sub-custodian which holds the securities for the client in the country where the portfolio company is organized, and there may not be sufficient time for such materials to be transmitted to JPMIM in time for a vote to be cast. In some countries, proxy statements are not mailed at all, and in some locations, the deadline for voting is two to four days after the initial announcement that a vote is to be solicited. JPMIM also considers the cost of voting in light of the expected benefit of the vote. |
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Where proxy issues concern corporate governance, takeover defense measures, compensation plans, capital structure changes and so forth, JPMIM pays particular attention to managements arguments for promoting the prospective change JPMIMs sole criterion in determining its voting stance is whether such changes will be to the economic benefit of the beneficial owners of the shares. |
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JPMIM is in favor of a unitary board structure of the type found in the United Kingdom as opposed to tiered board structures. Thus, JPMIM will generally vote to encourage the gradual phasing out of tiered board structures, in favor of unitary boards. However, since tiered boards are still very prevalent in markets outside of the United Kingdom, local market practice will always be taken into account. |
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JPMIM will use its voting powers to encourage appropriate levels of board independence, taking into account local market practice. |
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JPMIM will usually vote against discharging the board from responsibility in cases of pending litigation, or if there is evidence of wrongdoing for which the board must be held accountable. |
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JPMIM will vote in favor of increases in capital which enhance a companys long-term prospects. JPMIM will also vote in favor of the partial suspension of preemptive rights if they are for purely technical reasons (e.g., rights offers which may not be legally offered to shareholders in certain jurisdictions). However, JPMIM will vote against increases in capital which would allow the company to adopt poison pill takeover defense tactics, or where the increase in authorized capital would dilute shareholder value in the long term. |
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JPMIM will vote in favor of proposals which will enhance a companys long-term prospects. JPMIM will vote against an increase in bank borrowing powers which would result in the company reaching an unacceptable level of financial leverage, where such borrowing is expressly intended as part of a takeover defense, or where there is a material reduction in shareholder value. |
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JPMIM reviews shareholder rights plans and poison pill proposals on a case-by-case basis; however, JPMIM will generally vote against such proposals and vote for revoking existing plans. |
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Where social or environmental issues are the subject of a proxy vote, JPMIM will consider the issue on a case-by-case basis, keeping in mind at all times the best economic interests of its clients. |
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With respect to Asia, for routine proxies (e.g., in respect of voting at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders) JPMIMs position is to neither vote in favor or against. For Extraordinary General Meetings of Shareholders, however, where specific issues are put to a shareholder vote, these issues are analyzed by the respective country specialist concerned. A decision is then made based on his or her judgment. |
The following summarizes some of the more noteworthy types of proxy voting policies of the U.S. Guidelines:
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JPMIM considers votes on director nominees on a case-by-case basis. Votes generally will be withheld from directors who: (a) attend less than 75% of board and committee meetings without a valid excuse; (b) implement or renew a dead-hand poison pill; (c) are affiliated directors who serve on audit, compensation or nominating committees or are affiliated directors and the full board serves on such committees or the company does not have such committees; or (d) ignore a shareholder proposal that is approved for two consecutive years by a majority of either the shares outstanding or the votes cast. |
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JPMIM votes proposals to classify boards on a case-by-case basis, but will vote in favor of such proposal if the issuers governing documents contain each of eight enumerated safeguards (for example, a majority of the board is composed of independent directors and the nominating committee is composed solely of such directors). |
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JPMIM also considers management poison pill proposals on a case-by-case basis, looking for shareholder-friendly provisions before voting in favor. |
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JPMIM votes against proposals for a super-majority vote to approve a merger. |
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JPMIM considers proposals to increase common and/or preferred shares and to issue shares as part of a debt restructuring plan on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the extent of dilution and whether the transaction will result in a change in control. |
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JPMIM votes proposals on a stock option plan based primarily on a detailed, quantitative analysis that takes into account factors such as estimated dilution to shareholders equity and dilution to voting power. JPMIM generally considers other management compensation proposals on a case-by-case basis. |
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JPMIM also considers on a case-by-case basis proposals to change an issuers state of incorporation, mergers and acquisitions and other corporate restructuring proposals and certain social and environmental issue proposals. |
To view the funds proxy voting record for the most recent 12 month period ended June 30, if applicable, visit www.fidelity.com/proxyvotingresults or visit the SECs web site at www.sec.gov.
DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
The fund has entered into a distribution agreement with FDC, an affiliate of Strategic Advisers. The principal business address of FDC is 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. FDC is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. The distribution agreement calls for FDC to use all reasonable efforts, consistent with its other business, to secure purchasers for shares of the fund, which are continuously offered at NAV. Promotional and administrative expenses in connection with the offer and sale of shares are paid by Strategic Advisers.
35
The Trustees have approved Distribution and Service Plans on behalf of Initial Class and Investor Class (the Plans) pursuant to Rule 12b-l under the 1940 Act (the Rule). The Rule provides in substance that a mutual fund may not engage directly or indirectly in financing any activity that is primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of the fund except pursuant to a plan approved on behalf of the fund under the Rule. The Plans, as approved by the Trustees, allow Initial Class, Investor Class and Strategic Advisers to incur certain expenses that might be considered to constitute direct or indirect payment by the fund of distribution expenses.
The Rule 12b-1 Plan adopted for Initial Class and Investor Class of the fund is described in the prospectus for that class.
Under the Initial Class Plan, if the payment of management fees by the fund to Strategic Advisers is deemed to be indirect financing by the fund of the distribution of its shares, such payment is authorized by the Initial Class Plan. The Initial Class Plan specifically recognizes that Strategic Advisers may use its management fee revenue, as well as its past profits or its other resources, to pay FDC for expenses incurred in connection with providing services intended to result in the sale of Initial Class shares and/or support services that benefit variable product owners. In addition, the Initial Class Plan provides that Strategic Advisers, directly or through FDC, may pay significant amounts to intermediaries, primarily insurance companies or their affiliated broker-dealers or other service-providers, that provide those services. Currently, the Board of Trustees has authorized such payments for Initial Class shares.
Under the Investor Class Plan, if the payment of management fees by the fund to Strategic Advisers is deemed to be indirect financing by the fund of the distribution of its shares, such payment is authorized by the Investor Class Plan. The Investor Class Plan specifically recognizes that Strategic Advisers may use its management fee revenue, as well as its past profits or its other resources, to pay FDC for expenses incurred in connection with providing services intended to result in the sale of Investor Class shares and/or support services that benefit variable product owners. In addition, the Investor Class Plan provides that Strategic Advisers, directly or through FDC, may pay significant amounts to intermediaries, primarily insurance companies or their affiliated broker-dealers or other service-providers, that provide those services. Currently, the Board of Trustees has authorized such payments for Investor Class shares.
Prior to approving each Plan, the Trustees carefully considered all pertinent factors relating to the implementation of each Plan, and determined that there is a reasonable likelihood that each Plan will benefit the applicable class of the fund and variable product owners. In particular, the Trustees noted that each Plan does not authorize payments by the applicable class of the fund other than those made to Strategic Advisers under its management contract with the fund. To the extent that each Plan gives Strategic Advisers and FDC greater flexibility in connection with the distribution of class shares, additional sales of class shares or stabilization of cash flows may result. Furthermore, certain support services that benefit variable product owners may be provided more effectively under the Plans by insurance companies and their affiliates with whom variable product owners have other relationships.
The fund may execute portfolio transactions with, and purchase securities issued by, depository institutions that receive payments under the Plans. No preference for the instruments of such depository institutions will be shown in the selection of investments.
FDC or an affiliate may compensate intermediaries (primarily insurance companies or their affiliated broker-dealers or their service-providers) that distribute and/or service the fund. A number of factors are considered in determining whether to pay these additional amounts. Such factors may include, without limitation, the level or type of services provided by the intermediary, the level or expected level of assets or sale of shares, the placing of the fund on a preferred or recommended fund list, access to an intermediarys personnel, and other factors. [The total amount paid to intermediaries in the aggregate currently will not exceed [___]% of the total assets of [________] on an annual basis.] In addition to such payments, FDC or an affiliate may offer other incentives such as sponsorship of educational or client seminars relating to current products and issues, assistance in training and educating intermediaries personnel, payments or reimbursements for travel and related expenses associated with due diligence trips that an intermediary may undertake in order to explore possible business relationships with affiliates of FDC, and/or payments of costs and expenses associated with attendance at seminars, including travel, lodging, entertainment and meals. FDC anticipates that payments will be made to over a hundred intermediaries, including some of the largest broker-dealers and other financial firms, and these payments may be significant to the intermediaries. As permitted by SEC and National Association of Securities Dealers rules and other applicable laws and regulations, FDC or an affiliate may pay or allow other incentives or payments to intermediaries.
These additional payments and expenses, which are sometimes referred to as revenue sharing may represent a premium over payments made by other fund families, and investment professionals may have added incentive to sell or recommend a fund or a share class over others offered by competing fund families.
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The funds transfer agent may also make payments and reimbursements from their own resources to certain intermediaries for performing recordkeeping and other services. Please see Transfer and Service Agent Agreements in this SAI for more information.
TRANSFER AND SERVICE AGENT AGREEMENTS
Each class of the fund has entered into a transfer agent agreement with Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Co., Inc. (FIIOC), an affiliate of Strategic Advisers, which is located at 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. Under the terms of the agreements, FIIOC (or an agent, including an affiliate) performs transfer agency, dividend disbursing, and shareholder services for each class of the fund.
For providing transfer agency services, FIIOC receives an asset-based fee paid monthly with respect to each account in the fund.
The asset-based fees are subject to adjustment if the year-to-date total return of the S&P 500 exceeds a positive or negative 15%.
FIIOC pays out-of-pocket expenses associated with providing transfer agent services. In addition, FIIOC bears the expense of typesetting, printing, and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, and all other reports, notices, and statements to existing shareholders, with the exception of proxy statements.
FIIOC or an affiliate may make payments out of its own resources to intermediaries for transfer agency and related recordkeeping services with respect to insurance contract owners accounts. Because intermediaries may be paid varying amounts for recordkeeping and administrative services, such payments may provide incentives for intermediaries to favor one fund family over another.
The fund has also entered into a service agent agreement with Fidelity Service Company, Inc. (FSC), an affiliate of Strategic Advisers (or an agent, including an affiliate). The fund has also entered into a securities lending administration agreement with FSC. Under the terms of the agreements, FSC calculates the NAV and dividends for each class of the fund, maintains the funds portfolio and general accounting records, and administers the funds securities lending program.
For providing pricing and bookkeeping services, FSC receives a monthly fee based on the funds average daily net assets throughout the month.
The annual rates for pricing and bookkeeping services for the fund are 0.0375% of the first $500 million of average net assets, 0.0265% of average net assets between $500 million and $3.5 billion, 0.0040% of average net assets between $3.5 billion and $25 billion, and 0.0018% of average net assets in excess of $25 billion.
In addition, the fund is subject to a multiple class surcharge of 10% of the asset-based fee.
For administering the funds securities lending program, FSC is paid based on the number and duration of individual securities loans.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST
Trust Organization . Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value Portfolio is a fund of Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II, an open-end management investment company created under an initial trust instrument dated March 8, 2006. Currently, there are two funds offered in the trust: Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value Portfolio and Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap Portfolio. The Trustees are permitted to create additional funds in the trust and to create additional classes of the funds.
The assets of the trust received for the issue or sale of shares of each fund and all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, subject to the rights of creditors, are allocated to such fund, and constitute the underlying assets of such fund. The underlying assets of each fund in a trust shall be charged with the liabilities and expenses attributable to such fund, except that liabilities and expenses may be allocated to a particular class. Any general expenses of the trust shall be allocated between or among any one or more of the funds or classes.
Shareholder Liability . The trust is a statutory trust organized under Delaware law. Delaware law provides that, except to the extent otherwise provided in the Trust Instrument, shareholders shall be entitled to the same limitations of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the general corporation law of Delaware. The courts of some states, however, may decline to apply Delaware law on this point. The Trust Instrument contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for the debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses of the trust. The Trust Instrument provides that the trust shall not have any claim against shareholders except for the payment of the purchase price
37
of shares and requires that each agreement, obligation, or instrument entered into or executed by the trust or the Trustees relating to the trust shall include a provision limiting the obligations created thereby to the trust or to one or more funds and its or their assets. The Trust Instrument further provides that shareholders of the fund shall not have a claim on or right to any assets belonging to any other fund.
The Trust Instrument provides for indemnification out of each funds property of any shareholder or former shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the fund solely by reason of his or her being or having been a shareholder and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other reason. The Trust Instrument also provides that each fund shall, upon request, assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of the fund and satisfy any judgment thereon. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which Delaware law does not apply, no contractual limitation of liability was in effect, and a fund is unable to meet its obligations. Strategic Advisers believes that, in view of the above, the risk of personal liability to shareholders is extremely remote. Claims asserted against one class of shares may subject holders of another class of shares to certain liabilities.
Voting Rights . Each funds capital consists of shares of beneficial interest. As a shareholder, you are entitled to one vote for each dollar of net asset value you own. The voting rights of shareholders can be changed only by a shareholder vote. Shares may be voted in the aggregate, by fund, and by class.
The shares have no preemptive or conversion rights. Shares are fully paid and nonassessable, except as set forth under the heading Shareholder Liability above.
The trust or a fund or a class may be terminated upon the sale of its assets to, or merger with, another open-end management investment company, series, or class thereof, or upon liquidation and distribution of its assets. The Trustees may reorganize, terminate, merge, or sell all or a portion of the assets of the trust or a fund or a class without prior shareholder approval. In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the trust, shareholders of each of its funds are entitled to receive the underlying assets of such fund available for distribution. In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of a fund or a class, shareholders of that fund or that class are entitled to receive the underlying assets of the fund or class available for distribution.
Custodians . State Street Bank and Trust Company, 2 Avenue de Lafayette, Lafayette Corporate Center, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02109, is custodian of the assets of the fund. The custodian is responsible for the safekeeping of the funds assets and the appointment of any subcustodian banks and clearing agencies. JPMorgan Chase Bank, headquartered in New York, also may serve as a special purpose custodian of certain assets of the fund in connection with repurchase agreement transactions. State Street also may serve as a special purpose custodian of certain assets of the fund in connection with repurchase agreement transactions.
[Strategic Advisers, its officers and directors, its affiliated companies, and Members of the Board of Trustees may, from time to time, conduct transactions with various banks, including banks serving as custodians for certain funds advised by Strategic Advisers.]
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms . ________________, independent registered public accounting firm, examines financial statements for the fund and provides other audit, tax, and related services.
FUND HOLDINGS INFORMATION
[The fund views holdings information as sensitive and limits its dissemination. The Board authorized Strategic Advisers, in consultation with FMR, to establish and administer guidelines for the dissemination of fund holdings information, which may be amended at any time without prior notice. FMRs Disclosure Policy Committee (comprising executive officers of FMR) evaluates disclosure policy with the goal of serving the funds best interests by striking an appropriate balance between providing information about the funds portfolio and protecting the fund from potentially harmful disclosure. The Board reviews the administration and modification of these guidelines and receives reports from the funds chief compliance officer periodically.
1. |
The fund will provide a full list of holdings as of the end of the funds fiscal quarter on www.advisor.fidelity.com 60 days after its fiscal quarter-end. |
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2. |
The fund will provide its top ten holdings (excluding cash and futures) as of the end of the calendar quarter on Fidelitys web site 15 or more days after the calendar quarter-end. [This information may also be provided to insurance companies via an electronic reporting tool at that time.] |
38
This information will be available on the web site until updated for the next applicable period.
The fund may also from time to time provide specific fund level performance attribution information and statistics to the Board or third parties, such as fund shareholders or prospective fund shareholders, members of the press, consultants, and ratings and rankings organizations.
The Use of Holdings In Connection With Fund Operations . Material non-public holdings information may be provided as part of the investment activities of the fund to: entities which, by explicit agreement or by virtue of their respective duties to the fund, are required to maintain the confidentiality of the information disclosed; other parties if legally required; or persons Strategic Advisers believes will not misuse the disclosed information. These entities, parties, and persons include: the funds trustees; the funds manager, its sub-advisers and their affiliates whose access persons are subject to a code of ethics; contractors who are subject to a confidentiality agreement; the funds auditors; the funds custodians; proxy voting service providers; financial printers; pricing service vendors; broker-dealers in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or requests for price quotations or bids on one or more securities; securities lending agents; counsel to the fund or their Independent Trustees; regulatory authorities; stock exchanges and other listing organizations; parties to litigation; an issuer, regarding the number of shares of the issuer (or percentage of outsourcing shares) held by the fund; and third-parties in connection with a bankruptcy proceeding relating to the fund holding. Non-public holdings information may also be provided to issuers regarding the number or percentage of its shares that are owned by the fund and in connection with redemptions in kind.
Other Uses Of Holdings Information . In addition, the fund may provide material non-public holdings information to (i) third-parties that calculate information derived from holdings for use by Strategic Advisers or its affiliates, (ii) third parties that supply their analyses of holdings (but not the holdings themselves) to their clients (including sponsors of retirement plans or their consultants), (iii) ratings and rankings organizations, and (iv) an investment adviser, trustee, or their agents to whom holdings are disclosed for due diligence purposes or in anticipation of a merger involving the fund. Each individual request is reviewed by the Disclosure Policy Committee which must find, in its sole discretion that, based on the specific facts and circumstances, the disclosure appears unlikely to be harmful to the fund. Entities receiving this information must have in place control mechanisms to reasonably ensure or otherwise agree that, (a) the holdings information will be kept confidential, (b) no employee shall use the information to effect trading or for their personal benefit, and (c) the nature and type of information that they, in turn, may disclose to third-parties is limited. Strategic Advisers relies primarily on the existence of non-disclosure agreements and/or control mechanisms when determining that disclosure is not likely to be harmful to the fund.
At this time, the entities receiving information described in the preceding paragraph are: Factset Research Systems Inc. (full holdings daily, on the next business day); Kynex Inc. (full holdings weekly, one business day after the end of the week); Thomson Vestek (full holdings, as of the end of the calendar quarter, 15 calendar days after the calendar quarter-end); S&P (full holdings weekly, four or more calendar days after the end of the week); Moodys Investor Service (full holdings weekly, four or more calendar days after the end of the week); and Anacomp Inc. (full or partial holdings daily, on the next business day).
Strategic Advisers, its affiliates, or the fund will not enter into any arrangements with third-parties from which they derive consideration for the disclosure of material non-public holdings information. If, in the future, Strategic Advisers desired to make such an arrangement, it would seek prior Board approval and any such arrangements would be disclosed in the funds SAI
There can be no assurance that the funds policies and procedures with respect to disclosure of fund portfolio holdings will prevent the misuse of such information by individuals and firms that receive such information.]
APPENDIX
Fidelity, Strategic Advisers and Fidelity Investments & (Pyramid) Design are registered trademarks of FMR Corp.
The third party marks appearing above are the marks of their respective owners.
39
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 23. |
Exhibits |
(a) |
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Trust Instrument, dated March 8, 2006, is filed herein as Exhibit (a). |
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(b) |
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Bylaws of Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II, dated March 8, 2006, is filed herein as Exhibit (b). |
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(c) |
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Not applicable. |
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(d) |
(1) |
Management Contract between Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap Portfolio and Strategic Advisers, Inc., dated __________, 2006. (1) |
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(d) |
(2) |
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Strategic Advisers, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., on behalf of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value Portfolio.(1) |
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(d) |
(3) |
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Strategic Advisers, Inc. and OppenheimerFunds, Inc., on behalf of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap Portfolio.(1) |
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(e) |
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General Distribution Agreement between Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II and Fidelity Distributors Corporation on behalf of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value Portfolio and Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap Portfolio.(1) |
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(f) |
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None. |
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(g) |
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Form of Custodian Agreement between Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II and State Street Bank & Trust Company.(1). |
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(h) |
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Not applicable. |
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(i) |
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Legal Opinion of Dechert LLP for Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value Portfolio and Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap Portfolio.(1) |
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(j) |
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Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.(1) |
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(k) |
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Not applicable. |
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(l) |
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Not applicable . |
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(m) |
(1) |
Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value Portfolio: Initial Class.(1) |
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(m) |
(2) |
Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap Portfolio: Investor Class. (1) |
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(m) |
(3) |
Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value Portfolio: Initial Class.(1) |
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(m) |
(4) |
Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap Portfolio: Investor Class. (1) |
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(n) |
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Form of Multiple Class of Shares Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 for Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II, on behalf of Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value Portfolio and Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap Portfolio.(1) |
(p) |
(1) |
Code of Ethics, dated ________________, adopted by each Fund and [Strategic Advisers, Inc. and Fidelity Distributors Corporation] pursuant to Rule 17j-1.(1) |
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(p) |
(2) |
Code of Ethics adopted by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.(1) |
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(p) |
(3) |
Code of Ethics adopted by OppenheimerFunds, Inc.(1) |
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(1) To be filed by subsequent amendment. |
Item 24. |
Trusts Controlled by or Under Common Control with this Trust |
The Board of Trustees of the trust is not the same as the board of the other Fidelity funds, each of which has Fidelity Management & Research Company, or an affiliate, as its adviser. The officers of the Trust are elected separately but are substantially similar to those of the other Fidelity funds. The Trust takes the position that it is not under common control with the other Fidelity funds because the power residing in the respective boards and officers arises as the result of an official position with the respective trusts.
Item 25. |
Indemnification |
Pursuant to Del. Code Ann. title 12 § 3817, a Delaware statutory trust may provide in its governing instrument for the indemnification of its officers and trustees from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever. Article X, Section 10.02 of the Trust Instrument sets forth the reasonable and fair means for determining whether indemnification shall be provided to any past or present Trustee or officer. It states that the Trust shall indemnify any present or past trustee or officer to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability, and all expenses reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he or she is involved by virtue of his or her service as a trustee or officer and against any amount incurred in settlement thereof. Indemnification will not be provided to a person adjudged by a court or other adjudicatory body to be liable to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties (collectively, disabling conduct), or not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in the best interest of the Trust. In the event of a settlement, no indemnification may be provided unless there has been a determination, as specified in the Trust Instrument, that the officer or trustee did not engage in disabling conduct.
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Distribution Agreement, the Trust agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Distributor and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act against any loss, liability, claim, damages or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damages, or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising by reason of any person acquiring any shares, based upon the ground that the registration statement, Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, shareholder reports or other information filed or made public by the Trust (as from time to time amended) included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated or necessary in order to make the statements not misleading under the 1933 Act, or any other statute or the common law. However, the Trust does not agree to indemnify the Distributor or hold it harmless to the extent that the statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Trust by or on behalf of the Distributor. In no case is the indemnity of the Trust in favor of the Distributor or any person indemnified to be deemed to protect the Distributor or any person against any liability to the Issuer or its security holders to which the Distributor or such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
Pursuant to the agreement by which Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc. (FIIOC) is appointed transfer agent, the Registrant agrees to indemnify and hold FIIOC harmless against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) resulting from:
(1) any claim, demand, action or suit brought by any person other than the Registrant, including by a shareholder, which names FIIOC and/or the Registrant as a party and is not based on and does not result from FIIOCs willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence or reckless disregard of duties, and arises out of or in connection with FIIOCs performance under the Transfer Agency Agreement; or
(2) any claim, demand, action or suit (except to the extent contributed to by FIIOCs willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence or reckless disregard of duties) which results from the negligence of the Registrant, or from FIIOCs acting upon any instruction(s) reasonably believed by it to have been executed or communicated by any person duly authorized by the Registrant, or as a result of FIIOCs acting in reliance upon advice reasonably believed by FIIOC to have been given by counsel for the Registrant, or as a result of FIIOCs acting in reliance upon any instrument or stock certificate reasonably believed by it to have been genuine and signed, countersigned or executed by the proper person.
Item 26. |
Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser |
(1) STRATEGIC ADVISERS, INC.
Strategic Advisers, Inc. serves as investment adviser to the funds and provides investment supervisory services to individuals, banks, thrifts, pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business organizations, and provides a variety of publications on investment and personal finance. The directors and officers of Strategic Advisers have held, during the past two fiscal years, the following positions of a substantial nature.
Richard A. Spillane Jr. |
President of Strategic Advisers, Inc. (2005). |
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Jeffrey Carney |
Director of Strategic Advisers, Inc. (2005); President and Director of FDC (2003). |
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Bart Grenier |
Previously serves as President and Director of Strategic Advisers, Inc., Senior Vice President of FMR and FMRC,
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William V. Harlow III |
Director of Strategic Advisers, Inc.; Previously served as Chief Investment Officer of Strategic Advisers, Inc. (2005). |
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Philip Bullen |
Previously served as Director of Strategic Advisers, Inc. (2005); Senior Vice President of FMR and FMRC; Vice President of certain Equity funds advised by FMR; President and Director of FMR Far East and FMR U.K. |
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G. Robert Bristow |
Previously served as Senior Vice President of Strategic Advisers, Inc. (2004). |
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Ren Y. Cheng |
Previously served as Vice President of Strategic Advisers, Inc. (2005). |
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William Eigen |
Previously served as Vice President of Strategic Advisers, Inc. (2005); Vice President of FMR, FMRC, and funds advised by FMR. |
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Jay Freedman |
Secretary of Strategic Advisers, Inc., FMR U.K., FMR Far East, FIMM, and FMR Corp.; Assistant Secretary of FMR, FMRC, and FDC. |
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Howard Galligan |
Vice President of Strategic Advisers, Inc. (2004). |
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Scott B. Kuldell |
Vice President of Strategic Advisers, Inc. (2006). |
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Boyce I. Greer |
Previously served as Director and Managing Director of Strategic Advisers, Inc. (2005). |
(2) J.P. MORGAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.
J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. serves as investment sub-adviser to the Fidelity Strategic Advisers Mid Cap Value Portfolio. The directors and officers of J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. have held, during the past two fiscal years, the following positions of a substantial nature.
[to be provided by amendment]
(3) OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC.
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. serves as investment sub-adviser to the Fidelity Strategic Advisers Small Cap Portfolio. There is set forth below information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name and Current Position
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Other Business and Connections During the Past Two Years |
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Timothy L. Abbuhl,
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Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. |
Emeline S. Adwers,
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None |
Robert Agan,
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Senior Vice President of Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. and Shareholders Services, Inc.; Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc., Centennial Asset Management Corporation and OFI Private Investments, Inc. |
Carl Algermissen,
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Formerly Associate Counsel & Legal Compliance Officer at Great West-Life & Annuity Insurance Co. (February 2004-October 2004). |
Michael Amato,
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None |
Erik Anderson,
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None |
Tracey Beck
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None |
Janette Aprilante,
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Secretary (since December 2001) of: Centennial Asset Management Corporation, OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc., HarbourView Asset Management Corporation (since June 2003), Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc., Shareholder Financial Services, Inc., Shareholder Services, Inc., Trinity Investment Management Corporation (since January 2005), OppenheimerFunds Legacy Program, OFI Private Investments, Inc. (since June 2003) and OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc. (since June 2003). Assistant Secretary of OFI Trust Company (since December 2001). |
Hany S. Ayad,
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None |
Robert Baker,
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None |
James F. Bailey,
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Senior Vice President of Shareholder Services, Inc. (since March 2006). Formerly Vice President at T. Row Price Group (September 2000 January 2006). |
Michael Baldwin,
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President and Director of Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. and Shareholder Services, Inc. Formerly Managing Director at Deutsche Bank (March 2001 March 2005). |
John Michael Banta,
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None |
Joanne Bardell,
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None |
Adam Bass,
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None |
Kevin Baum,
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None |
Jeff Baumgartner,
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None |
Marc Baylin,
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Formerly Portfolio Manager at J.P. Morgan (June 2002-August 2005. |
Todd Becerra,
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None |
Lalit K. Behal
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Assistant Secretary of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation. |
Kathleen Beichert,
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Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. |
Gerald B. Bellamy,
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Assistant Vice President (Sales Manager of the International Division) of OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc. |
Erik S. Berg,
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None |
Robert Bertucci,
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None |
Rajeev Bhaman,
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None |
Craig Billings,
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None |
Mark Binning,
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None |
Robert J. Bishop,
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Treasurer (since October 2003) of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. and Centennial Asset Management Corporation. |
Beth Bleimehl,
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None |
John R. Blomfield,
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None |
Lisa I. Bloomberg,
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Formerly First Vice President & Associate General Counsel of UBS Financial Services Inc. (May 1999-May 2004). |
Veronika Boesch, Assistant Vice President |
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None |
Chad Boll,
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None |
Antulio N. Bomfim,
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None |
John C. Bonnell,
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Vice President of Centennial Asset Management Corporation. Formerly a Portfolio Manager at Strong Financial Corporation (May 1999-May 2004). |
Michelle Borre Massick,
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None |
Lori E. Bostrom,
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Formerly Vice President & Corporate Counsel at Prudential Financial Inc. (October 2002 November 2004). |
Lisa Bourgeois,
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Assistant Vice President of Shareholder Services, Inc. |
John Boydell,
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None |
Michael Bromberg,
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None |
Joan Brunelle,
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None |
Kristine Bryan-Levin,
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Formerly Senior Vice President at Brown Brothers Harriman (November 2002 May 2005). |
Stephanie Bullington,
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Formerly Fund Accounting Manager at Madison Capital Management Company (July 2005 October 2005 and Fund Accounting Officer at Butterfield Fund Services (Bermuda) Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank of NT Butterfield & Sons) (September 2003 June 2005). |
Paul Burke,
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None |
Mark Burns,
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None |
Geoffrey Caan,
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None |
Patrick Campbell,
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None |
Catherine Carroll,
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None |
Debra Casey,
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None |
Maria Castro,
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None |
Lisa Chaffee,
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None |
Charles Chibnik,
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None |
Patrick Sheng Chu,
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None |
Brett Clark,
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None |
H.C. Digby Clements,
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None |
Peter V. Cocuzza,
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None |
Gerald James Concepcion,
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Formerly (until November 2004) an RIA Marketing Associate of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. |
Robert Corbett,
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None |
Susan Cornwell,
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Senior Vice President of Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. and Shareholder Services, Inc.; Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc., Centennial Asset Management Corporation and OppenheimerFunds Legacy Program. |
Cheryl Corrigan,
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None |
Belinda J. Cosper,
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None |
Scott Cottier,
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None |
Laura Coulston,
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None |
George Curry,
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Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. |
Julie C. Cusker,
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None |
Kevin Dachille,
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Formerly Fixed Income Director at National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust (May 2003 May 2005). |
John Damian,
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None |
Richard Demarco,
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None |
Craig P. Dinsell,
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None |
Randall C. Dishmon,
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None |
Gavin Dobson,
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Formerly President at Britannic Asset Management International (September 2001 May 2005). |
Rebecca K. Dolan,
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None |
Steven D. Dombrower,
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Senior Vice President of OFI Private Investments, Inc.; Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. |
Thomas Doyle,
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None |
Bruce C. Dunbar,
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None |
Brian Dvorak,
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None |
Richard Edmiston,
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None |
A. Taylor Edwards,
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Formerly Associate at Dechert LLP (September 2000 December 2005). |
Venkat Eleswarapu,
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Formerly Associate Professor of Finance at Texas Tech University (July 2005 December 2005) and Assistant Professor of Finance at Southern Methodist University (January 1999 May 2005). |
Daniel R. Engstrom,
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None |
James Robert Erven
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None |
George R. Evans,
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None |
Edward N. Everett,
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None |
Kathy Faber,
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None |
David Falicia,
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Assistant Secretary (as of July 2004) of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation. |
Matthew Farkas,
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Formerly Associate at Epstein Becker & Grenn, P.C. (September 2000 March 2006). |
Kristie Feinberg,
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None |
Emmanuel Ferreira,
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None |
Ronald H. Fielding,
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Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.; Director of ICI Mutual Insurance Company; Governor of St. Johns College; Chairman of the Board of Directors of International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House. |
Bradley G. Finkle,
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Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. Formerly Head of Business Management/Proprietary Distribution at Citigroup Asset Management (August 1986-September 2004). |
John E. Forrest,
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Senior Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. |
David Foxhoven,
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Assistant Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Legacy Program. |
Colleen M. Franca,
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None |
Barbara Fraser,
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Formerly Attorney in Private Practice (April 2000 November 2005). |
Thomas Frengillo,
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Formerly Continuous Improvement Manager at RR Donnelley & Sons (February 1988 June 2004). |
Dominic Freud,
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None |
Dan Gagliardo,
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None |
Hazem Gamal,
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None |
Seth Gelman,
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Formerly an Associate in the Asset Management Legal Department at Goldman Sachs & Co. (February 2003 - August 2004). |
Timothy Gerlach,
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None |
Subrata Ghose,
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None |
Charles W. Gilbert,
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None |
Kurt Gibson,
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Formerly Manager at Barclays Capital (January 2002 April 2006). |
Phillip S. Gillespie,
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Formerly First Vice President of Merrill Lynch Investment Management (2001 to September 2004). |
Alan C. Gilston,
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None |
Jacqueline Girvin-Harkins,
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None |
Jill E. Glazerman,
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None |
Benjamin J. Gord,
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Vice President of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation and of OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc. |
Leyla Greengard,
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None |
Robert B. Grill,
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None |
Carol Guttzeit,
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None |
Robert Haley,
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None |
Marilyn Hall,
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None |
Kelly Haney,
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None |
Steve Hauenstein,
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None |
Robert W. Hawkins,
|
|
Formerly an Associate at Shearman and Sterling LLP (July 2004 - August 2005) and Dechert LLP (September 2000 -June 2004). |
Thomas B. Hayes,
|
|
None |
Jennifer Heathwood,
|
|
None |
Heidi Heikenfeld,
|
|
None |
Annika Helgerson,
|
|
None |
Edward Henderson,
|
|
Formerly Director of Corporate Purchasing and Risk Management at StarTek Inc. (January 2003 May 2005). |
Daniel Hermann,
|
|
None |
Dennis Hess,
|
|
None |
Joseph Higgins,
|
|
Vice President of OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc. |
Dorothy F. Hirshman,
|
|
None |
Daniel Hoelscher,
|
|
None |
Brian Hourihan,
|
|
Assistant Secretary of OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc. (since April 2006). Formerly Vice President and Senior Counsel at Massachusetts Financial Service Company (June 2004 March 2006). |
Edward Hrybenko,
|
|
Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. |
Scott T. Huebl,
|
|
Assistant Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Legacy Program. |
Margaret Hui,
|
|
None |
Dana Hunter,
|
|
None |
John Huttlin,
|
|
Senior Vice President (Director of the International Division) (since January 2004) of OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc.; Director (since June 2003) of OppenheimerFunds (Asia) Limited. |
James G. Hyland,
|
|
None |
Kelly Bridget Ireland,
|
|
Vice President (since January 2004) of OppenheimerFunds Distributor Inc. |
Kathleen T. Ives,
|
|
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. and Shareholder Services, Inc.; Assistant Secretary of Centennial Asset Management Corporation, OppenheimerFunds Legacy Program and Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. |
William Jaume,
|
|
Senior Vice President of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation and OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc.; Director of OFI Trust Company. |
Frank V. Jennings,
|
|
None |
John Jennings,
|
|
None |
John Michael Johnson,
|
|
None |
Lisa Kadehjian,
|
|
Formerly Vice President, Compensation Manager at The Bank of New York (November 1996-November 2004). |
Charles Kandilis,
|
|
None |
Rezo Kanovich,
|
|
None |
Thomas W. Keffer,
|
|
None |
Michael Keogh,
|
|
Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. |
John Kiernan,
|
|
Formerly Vice President and Senior Compliance Officer, Guardian Trust Company, FSB at The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (since February 1998 November 2005). |
Martin S. Korn,
|
|
Formerly a Senior Vice President at Bank of America (Wealth and Investment Management Technology Group) (March 2002-August 2004). |
Dimitrios Kourkoulakos,
|
|
None |
Brian Kramer,
|
|
None |
Paul Kunz,
|
|
None |
Gloria LaFond,
|
|
None |
Lisa Lamentino,
|
|
None |
Tracey Lange,
|
|
Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. and OFI Private Investments, Inc. |
Jeffrey P. Lagarce,
|
|
President & Chief Marketing Officer of OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc. as of January 2005. Formerly Executive Vice President-Head of Fidelity Tax-Exempt Services Business at Fidelity Investments (August 1996-January 2005). |
John Latino,
|
|
None |
Kristina Lawrence,
|
|
None |
Gayle Leavitt,
|
|
None |
Christopher M. Leavy,
|
|
None |
Kevin Lee,
|
|
Formerly Vice President at Delaware Investments (October 2000 February 2005). |
Randy Legg,
|
|
None |
Laura Leitzinger,
|
|
Senior Vice President of Shareholder Services, Inc. and Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. |
Justin Leverenz,
|
|
Formerly, a research/technology analyst at Goldman Sachs, Taiwan (May 2002-May 2004). |
Michael S. Levine,
|
|
None |
Brian Levitt,
|
|
None |
Gang Li,
|
|
None |
Shanquan Li,
|
|
None |
Julie A. Libby,
|
|
Senior Vice President of OFI Private Investment, Inc. Formerly Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Fred Alger Management, Inc. (July 1996 February 2005). |
Daniel Lifshey,
|
|
Formerly a Marketing Manager at PIMCO Advisors (January 2002-September 2004). |
Mitchell J. Lindauer,
|
|
None |
Bill Linden,
|
|
None |
Malissa B. Lischin,
|
|
Assistant Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. |
David P. Lolli,
|
|
None |
Daniel G. Loughran
|
|
None |
Patricia Lovett,
|
|
Vice President of Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. and Senior Vice President of Shareholder Services, Inc. |
Misha Lozovik,
|
|
Formerly Senior Director at Clinical Development Capital LLC/Care Capital LLC (August 2002 October 2005). |
Steven Lucaccini,
|
|
Formerly Director and High Yield Analyst at UBS Global Asset Management (November 2001 April 2005). |
Dongyan Ma,
|
|
None |
Steve Macchia,
|
|
None |
Mark H. Madden,
|
|
Formerly Senior Vice President & Senior Portfolio Manager with Pioneer Investments, Inc. (July 1990 - July 2004). |
Jerry Mandzij,
|
|
None |
Angelo G. Manioudakis
|
|
Senior Vice President of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation and of OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc. |
Susan Mattisinko,
|
|
Assistant Secretary of Centennial Asset Management Corporation, HarbourView Asset Management Corporation, Trinity Investment Management Corporation, OppenheimerFunds Legacy Program, OFI Private Investments, Inc., OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc. and Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. |
Carolyn Maxson,
|
|
None |
William T. Mazzafro,
|
|
Formerly self-employed as a consultant securities (January 2004 December 2005). |
Trudi McKenna,
|
|
Formerly Leadership Development Supervisor at JetBlue Airways (July 2003 October 2005). |
Jay Mewhirter,
|
|
Formerly Director of Application Development at AMVESCAP (September 1999 March 2005). |
Elizabeth McCormack,
|
|
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation. |
Joseph McDonnell,
|
|
Formerly Senior Vice President at Lehman Bros. (April 1995 March 2006). |
Joseph McGovern,
|
|
None |
Charles L. McKenzie,
|
|
Chairman of the Board, Director, Chief Executive Officer and President of OFI Trust Company; Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Director of OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc.; Chief Executive Officer, President, Senior Managing Director and Director of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation; Chairman, President; Director of Trinity Investment Management Corporation and Vice President of Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. |
Michael Medev,
|
|
None |
Lucienne Mercogliano,
|
|
None |
Andrew J. Mika, Senior
|
|
None |
Jan Miller,
|
|
Formerly a Supervisor at Janus (May 2004-October 2004). |
Rejeev Mohammed,
|
|
None |
Nikolaos D. Monoyios,
|
|
None |
Jill Mulachy,
|
|
None |
John V. Murphy,
|
|
President and Management Director of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp.; President and Director of Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc.; Chairman and Director of Shareholder Services, Inc. and Shareholder Financial Services, Inc.; Director of Centennial Asset Management Corporation, OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc., OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc., Trinity Investment Management Corporation, Tremont Capital Management, Inc., HarbourView Asset Management Corporation and OFI Private Investments, Inc.; Executive Vice President of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company; Director of DLB Acquisition Corporation; a member of the Investment Company Institutes Board of Governors. |
Meaghan Murphy,
|
|
Formerly Marketing Professional, RFP Writer at JP Morgan Fleming Asset Management (May 2002 October 2004). |
Suzanne Murphy,
|
|
None |
Thomas J. Murray,
|
|
None |
Kenneth Nadler,
|
|
None |
Paul Newman,
|
|
None |
Richard Nichols,
|
|
None |
William Norman,
|
|
None |
James B. OConnell,
|
|
Formerly a Senior Designer Manager of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (April 2002 December 2004). |
Matthew ODonnell,
|
|
None |
Tony Oh,
|
|
Formerly Director of SEC Reporting at Teletech Holdings (July 2004 April 2005. Audit Manager at Deloitte & Touche (January 1997 June 2004). |
John OHare,
|
|
None |
John J. Okray,
|
|
Formerly Vice President, Head of Trust Operations at Lehman Brothers (June 2004-October 2004) prior to which he was an Assistant Vice President, Director of Trust Services at Cambridge Trust Company (October 2002-June 2004). |
Lerae A. Palumbo,
|
|
None |
Anthony Parish,
|
|
None |
Kathleen Patton,
|
|
None |
David P. Pellegrino,
|
|
None |
Allison C. Pells,
|
|
None |
Robert H. Pemble,
|
|
None |
Lori L. Penna,
|
|
Formerly an RFP Manager/Associate at JPMorgan Chase & Co. (June 2001-September 2004). |
Brian Petersen,
|
|
None |
Marmeline Petion-Midy,
|
|
Formerly a Senior Financial Analyst with General Motors, NY Treasurers Office (July 2000-August 2004). |
David Pfeffer,
|
|
Senior Vice President of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation since February 2004. |
Sanjeev Phansalkar,
|
|
Formerly Consultant at The Solomon-Page Group (October 2004 September 2005). |
James F. Phillips,
|
|
None |
Scott Phillips,
|
|
Formerly Vice President at Merrill Lynch Investment Management (June 2000-July 2004). |
Gary Pilc,
|
|
None |
John Piper,
|
|
Assistant Vice President of Shareholder Services, Inc. |
Jeaneen Pisarra,
|
|
None |
Nicolas Pisciotti,
|
|
Formerly Assistant Vice President at ING (April 2002 May 2005). |
Jason Pizzorusso,
|
|
None |
David Poiesz,
|
|
Formerly a Senior Portfolio Manager at Merrill Lynch (October 2002-May 2004). |
Sergei Polevikov,
|
|
None |
Semyon Polyak,
|
|
Formerly Vice President and Co-Portfolio Manager at Pioneer Investments (June 1998 August 2005). |
Jeffrey Portnoy,
|
|
None |
David Preuss,
|
|
None |
Ellen Puckett,
|
|
Formerly Sennior Program Manager at Dendant Telecommunications (May 2002-September 2004). |
Jane C. Putnam,
|
|
None |
Paul Quarles,
|
|
Formerly a Principal at AIM Management Group, Inc. (October 1997-October 2004). |
Michael E. Quinn,
|
|
None |
Julie S. Radtke,
|
|
None |
Norma J. Rapini,
|
|
None |
Corry E. Read,
|
|
None |
Marc Reinganum,
|
|
None |
Jill Reiter,
|
|
None |
Eric Rhodes,
|
|
None |
Eric Richter,
|
|
Vice President of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation. Formerly Investment Officer at Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (April 2005 February 2006); Vice President at Loomis Sayles & Co. (July 1997 April 2005). |
Claire Ring,
|
|
None |
Grace Roberts,
|
|
None |
David Robertson,
|
|
Senior Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. |
Robert Robis,
|
|
Formerly a Proprietary Trader at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (May 2004-May 2005). |
Antoinette Rodriguez,
|
|
None |
Stacey Roode,
|
|
None |
Jeffrey S. Rosen,
|
|
None |
Stacy Roth,
|
|
None |
James H. Ruff,
|
|
President & Director of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. and Centennial Asset Management Corporation; Executive Vice President of OFI Private Investments, Inc. |
Adrienne Ruffle,
|
|
Formerly an Associate with Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP (September 2002-February 2005). |
Kim Russomanno,
|
|
None |
Gerald Rutledge,
|
|
None |
Julie Anne Ryan,
|
|
None |
Timothy Ryan,
|
|
Formerly a research analyst in the large equities group at Credit Suisse Asset Management (August 2001-June 2004). |
Rohit Sah,
|
|
None |
Valerie Sanders,
|
|
None |
Karen Sandler,
|
|
None |
Rudi W. Schadt,
|
|
None |
Ellen P. Schoenfeld,
|
|
None |
Scott A. Schwegel,
|
|
None |
Allan P. Sedmak
|
|
None |
Jennifer L. Sexton,
|
|
Senior Vice President of OFI Private Investments, Inc. |
Asutosh Shah,
|
|
Formerly Vice President at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (February 2002 February 2006). |
Kamal Shah,
|
|
Formerly Senior Vice President Chief Technology Officer at Tremont Capital Management (March 1998 July 2005). |
Nava Sharma,
|
|
None |
Satvinder Singh,
|
|
None |
Thomas Siomades,
|
|
Formerly Vice President, Portfolio Management at Curian Capital LLC (December 2002 September 2005). |
David C. Sitgreaves,
|
|
None |
Edward James Sivigny
|
|
None |
Enrique H. Smith,
|
|
None |
Louis Sortino,
|
|
None |
Keith J. Spencer,
|
|
None |
Marco Antonio Spinar,
|
|
None |
Richard A. Stein,
|
|
None |
Arthur P. Steinmetz,
|
|
Senior Vice President of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation. |
Jennifer Stevens,
|
|
None |
John P. Stoma,
|
|
Senior Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. |
Amy Sullivan, Assistant Vice President |
|
None |
Deborah A. Sullivan,
|
|
Secretary of OFI Trust Company. |
Michael Sussman,
|
|
Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. |
Thomas Swaney,
|
|
None |
Brian C. Szilagyi,
|
|
Director of Financial Reporting and Compliance at First Data Corporation (April 2003-June 2004). |
Matthew Tartaglia,
|
|
None |
Martin Telles,
|
|
Senior Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. |
Vincent Toner,
|
|
None |
Melinda Trujillo,
|
|
Formerly Senior Manager at CoBank, ACB (January 2004 April 2006). |
Leonid Tsvayg,
|
|
None |
Keith Tucker,
|
|
None |
Cameron Ullyat,
|
|
None |
Angela Uttaro,
|
|
None |
Mark S. Vandehey,
|
|
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc., Centennial Asset Management Corporation and Shareholder Services, Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation, Real Asset Management, Inc., Shareholder Financial Services, Inc., Trinity Investment Management Corporation, OppenheimerFunds Legacy Program, OFI Private Investments Inc. and OFI Trust Company and OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc. |
Maureen Van Norstrand,
|
|
None |
Nancy Vann,
|
|
Formerly Assistant General Counsel at Reserve Management Company, Inc. (April to December 2004). |
Rene Vecka,
|
|
None |
Vincent Vermette,
|
|
Assistant Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. |
Elaine Villas-Obusan,
|
|
None |
Carol E. Wolf,
|
|
Senior Vice President of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation and of Centennial Asset Management Corporation; serves on the Board of the Colorado Ballet. |
Oliver Wolff,
|
|
None |
Kurt Wolfgruber,
|
|
Director of Tremont Capital Management, Inc., HarbourView Asset Management Corporation and OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc. (since June 2003). Management Director of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. (since December 2005). |
Caleb C. Wong,
|
|
None |
Edward C. Yoensky,
|
|
None |
Lucy Zachman,
|
|
None |
Robert G. Zack
|
|
General Counsel of Centennial Asset Management Corporation; General Counsel and Director of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.; Senior Vice President and General Counsel of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation and OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc.; Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Director of Shareholder Financial Services, Inc., Shareholder Services, Inc., OFI Private Investments, Inc. and OFI Trust Company; Director and Assistant Secretary of OppenheimerFunds International Ltd and OppenheimerFunds plc; Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp.; Director of Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. and OppenheimerFunds (Asia) Limited); Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Legacy Program. |
Neal A. Zamore,
|
|
None |
Anna Zatulovskaya,
|
|
None |
Mark D. Zavanelli,
|
|
None |
Alex Zhou, Assistant
|
|
None |
Arthur J. Zimmer,
|
|
Senior Vice President of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation. |
|
The Oppenheimer Funds include the following: |
|
|
|
|
|
Centennial California Tax Exempt Trust |
|
|
Centennial Government Trust |
|
|
Centennial Money Market Trust |
|
|
Centennial New York Tax Exempt Trust |
|
|
Centennial Tax Exempt Trust |
|
|
Limited Term New York Municipal Fund (a series of Rochester Portfolio Series) |
|
|
OFI Tremont Core Strategies Hedge Fund |
|
|
OFI Tremont Market Neutral Hedge Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer AMT-Free Municipals |
|
|
Oppenheimer AMT-Free New York Municipals |
|
|
Oppenheimer Balanced Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer California Municipal Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Capital Income Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Cash Reserves |
|
|
Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund (a series of Bond Fund Series) |
|
|
Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund (a series of Oppenheimer Integrity Funds) |
|
|
Oppenheimer Developing Markets Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Discovery Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Dividend Growth Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Emerging Growth Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Emerging Technologies Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Equity Fund, Inc. |
|
|
Oppenheimer Global Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Global Opportunities Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Growth Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer High Yield Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer International Bond Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer International Diversified Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer International Small Company Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer International Value Fund (a series of Oppenheimer International Value Trust) |
|
|
Oppenheimer Limited Term California Municipal Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Limited-Term Government Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Limited Term Municipal Fund (a series of Oppenheimer Municipal Fund) |
|
|
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund (a series of Oppenheimer Main Street Funds, Inc.) |
|
|
Oppenheimer Main Street Opportunity Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer MidCap Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. |
|
|
Oppenheimer Multi-State Municipal Trust (3 series): |
|
|
|
Oppenheimer New Jersey Municipal Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Pennsylvania Municipal Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Rochester National Municipals |
|
Oppenheimer Portfolio Series (4 series) |
|
|
|
Active Allocation Fund |
|
|
Aggressive Investor Fund |
|
|
Conservative Investor Fund |
|
|
Moderate Investor Fund |
|
Oppenheimer Principal Protected Main Street Fund (a series of Oppenheimer Principal Protected Trust) |
|
|
Oppenheimer Principal Protected Main Street Fund II (a series of Oppenheimer Principal Protected Trust II) |
|
|
Oppenheimer Principal Protected Main Street Fund III (a series of Oppenheimer Principal Protected Trust III) |
|
|
Oppenheimer Quest Capital Value Fund, Inc. |
|
|
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (3 series) |
|
|
|
Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Small- & Mid- Cap Value Fund |
|
Oppenheimer Quest International Value Fund, Inc. |
|
|
Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc. |
|
|
Oppenheimer Real Asset Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Real Estate Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Select Value Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Senior Floating Rate Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Series Fund, Inc. (1 series): |
|
|
|
Oppenheimer Value Fund |
|
Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund |
|
|
Oppenheimer Tremont Market Neutral Fund, LLC |
|
|
Oppenheimer Tremont Opportunity Fund, LLC |
|
|
Oppenheimer U.S. Government Trust |
|
|
Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds (11 series): |
|
|
|
Oppenheimer Balanced Fund/VA |
|
|
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA |
|
|
Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund/VA |
|
|
Oppenheimer Global Securities Fund/VA |
|
|
Oppenheimer High Income Fund/VA |
|
|
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA |
|
|
Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA |
|
|
Oppenheimer MidCap Fund/VA |
|
|
Oppenheimer Money Fund/VA |
|
|
Oppenheimer Strategic Bond Fund/VA |
|
|
Oppenheimer Value Fund/VA |
|
Panorama Series Fund, Inc. (4 series): |
|
|
|
Government Securities Portfolio |
|
|
Growth Portfolio |
|
|
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA |
|
|
Total Return Portfolio |
|
Rochester Fund Municipals |
The address of the Oppenheimer funds listed above, Shareholder Financial Services, Inc., Shareholder Services, Inc., OppenheimerFunds Services, Centennial Asset Management Corporation, Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. and OppenheimerFunds Legacy Program is 6803 South Tucson Way, Centennial, Colorado 80112-3924.
The address of OppenheimerFunds, Inc., OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc., HarbourView Asset Management Corporation, Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., OFI Private Investments Inc., OFI Institutional Asset Management, Inc. and Oppenheimer Trust Company is Two World Financial Center, 225 Liberty Street, 11 th Floor, New York, New York 10281-1008.
The address of Tremont Capital Management, Inc. is 555 Theodore Fremd Avenue, Suite 206-C, Rye, New York 10580.
The address of OppenheimerFunds International Ltd. is Bloc C, Irish Life Center, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1, Ireland.
The address of Trinity Investment Management Corporation is 301 North Spring Street, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823.
The address of OppenheimerFunds (Asia) Limited is Central Tower, 28 Queens Road, Suite 1601, Central, Hong Kong.
The address of Oppenheimer Capital LLC is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 49 th Floor, New York, New York 10105-4800.
Principal business addresses of the investment adviser, sub-advisers and affiliates. |
|
Fidelity Management & Research Company (FMR) |
One Federal Street |
Boston, MA 02109 |
|
FMR Co., Inc. (FMRC) |
One Federal Street |
Boston, MA 02109 |
|
Fidelity Management & Research (U.K.) Inc. (FMR U.K.) |
One Federal Street |
Boston, MA 02109 |
|
Fidelity Management & Research (Far East) Inc. (FMR Far East) |
One Federal Street |
Boston, MA 02109 |
|
Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. (FIMM) |
One Spartan Way |
Merrimack, NH 03054 |
|
Fidelity International Investment Advisors (FIIA) |
Pembroke Hall, |
42 Crow Lane, |
Pembroke HM19, Bermuda |
|
Fidelity International Investment Advisors (U.K.) Limited (FIIA(U.K.)L) |
25 Cannon Street |
London, England EC4M5TA |
|
Fidelity Investments Japan Limited (FIJ) |
Shiroyama JT Mori Building, 19th Floor |
4-3-1, Toranomon, Minato-ku, |
Tokyo, Japan 105-6019 |
|
Fidelity Gestion (FIGEST) |
Washington Plaza |
29 rue de Berri |
Paris, France 75008 |
|
Strategic Advisers, Inc. |
82 Devonshire Street |
Boston, MA 02109 |
|
FMR Corp. |
82 Devonshire Street |
Boston, MA 02109 |
Fidelity Distributors Corporation (FDC) |
82 Devonshire Street |
Boston, MA 02109 |
|
Fidelity Management Trust Company |
82 Devonshire Street |
Boston, MA 02109 |
|
Fidelity Investors Management LLC |
82 Devonshire Street |
Boston, MA 02109 |
|
J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. |
245 Park Avenue |
New York, NY 10167 |
|
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. |
Two World Financial Center |
225 Liberty Street, 11 th Floor |
New York, NY 10281-1008 |
Item 27. Principal Underwriters
(a) Fidelity Distributors Corporation (FDC) acts as distributor for all funds advised by Strategic Advisers, Inc. or an affiliate.
(b)
Name and Principal
|
|
Positions and Offices
|
|
Positions and Offices
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey Carney |
|
Director and President (2003) |
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
Susan Boudrot |
|
Chief Compliance Officer (2004) |
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
Scott Goebel |
|
Vice President and Secretary (2006) |
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
Jane Greene |
|
Treasurer and Controller |
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
John J. Hitt |
|
Assistant Secretary (2006) |
|
None |
|
|
|
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Craig Huntley |
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Executive Vice President (2006) |
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None |
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William F. Loehning |
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Executive Vice President (2003) |
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None |
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Ellyn A. McColgan |
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Director |
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None |
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Susan Sturdy |
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Assistant Secretary |
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None |
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J. Gregory Wass |
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Assistant Treasurer |
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None |
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* |
82 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02109 |
(c) Not applicable.
Item 28. Location of Accounts and Records
All accounts, books, and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder are maintained by Strategic Advisers, Inc., Fidelity Service Company, Inc. or Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc., 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02109, or the funds custodian, State Street Bank & Trust Company, 1776 Heritage Drive, Quincy, MA 02171. JPMorgan Chase Bank, headquartered in New York, also may serve as a special purpose custodian of certain assets.
Item 29. Management Services
None.
Item 30. Undertakings
Not applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Boston, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the 15th day of December 2006.
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Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II |
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By: |
/s/ Mark Osterheld |
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Mark Osterheld, President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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Title |
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Date |
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/s/ Mark Osterheld |
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President and Treasurer
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December 15, 2006 |
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Mark Osterheld |
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/s/ Kathleen Tucker |
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Chief Financial Officer
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December 15, 2006 |
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Kathleen Tucker |
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/s/ Peter C. Aldrich* |
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Trustee |
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December 15, 2006 |
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Peter C. Aldrich |
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/s/ Howard E. Cox, Jr.* |
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Trustee |
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December 15, 2006 |
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Howard E. Cox, Jr. |
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/s/ Ralph F. Cox* |
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Trustee |
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December 15, 2006 |
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Ralph F. Cox |
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/s/ Abigail P. Johnson |
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Trustee |
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December 15, 2006 |
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Abigail P. Johnson |
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/s/ Karen Kaplan |
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Trustee |
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December 15, 2006 |
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Karen Kaplan |
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/s/ Roger T. Servison |
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Trustee |
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December 15, 2006 |
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Roger T. Servison |
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/s/ Richard A. Spillane Jr. |
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Trustee |
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December 15, 2006 |
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Richard A. Spillane Jr. |
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* By: /s/ Joseph R. Fleming |
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December 15, 2006 |
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Joseph R. Fleming, attorney in fact |
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POWER OF ATTORNEY
We, the undersigned Trustees of Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II (the Trust), pursuant to the authority granted to the Trusts Board of Trustees in Section 4.01(l) of Article IV of the Trusts Trust Instrument dated March 8, 2006, hereby constitute and appoint Joseph R. Fleming our true and lawful attorney-in-fact to sign for us and in our names in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Trust on Form N-1A, Form N-8A or any successor thereto, any and all subsequent Amendments, Pre-Effective Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statements on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, any Registration Statements on Form N-14, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in our names and on our behalf in connection therewith as said attorney-in-fact deems necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of (i) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any related rules, regulations, orders or other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, (ii) the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and any related rules, regulations, orders or other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and (iii) state or municipal securities, business entities and tax laws, and any related requirements of such states or municipalities. We hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorney-in-fact may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney is effective for all documents filed on or after December 7, 2006.
WITNESS our hands on this 7 th day of December, 2006.
/s/ Peter C. Aldrich |
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/s/ Howard E. Cox, Jr. |
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Peter C. Aldrich |
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Howard E. Cox, Jr. |
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/s/ Ralph F. Cox |
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Ralph F. Cox |
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Exhibit (a)
TRUST INSTRUMENT
Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II
TRUST INSTRUMENT, made March 8, 2006 by each of the Trustees whose signature is affixed hereto (the Trustees).
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees declare that all money and property contributed to the Trust hereunder shall be held and managed in trust under this Trust Instrument as herein set forth below.
ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
NAME
Section 1.01 . The name of the Trust created hereby is Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II.
DEFINITIONS.
Section 1.02 . Wherever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:
(a) Bylaws means the Bylaws referred to in Article IV, Section 4.01(e) hereof, as from time to time amended;
(b) The term Commission has the meaning given it in the 1940 Act. The terms Affiliated Person, Assignment, Interested Person and Principal Underwriter shall have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act, as modified by or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the Commission or any rules or regulations adopted or interpretive releases of the Commission thereunder. Majority Shareholder Vote shall have the same meaning as the term vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities is given in the 1940 Act, as modified by or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the Commission or any rules or regulations adopted or interpretive releases of the Commission thereunder;
(c) The Delaware Act refers to Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code entitled Treatment of Delaware Statutory Trusts, as it may be amended from time to time;
(d) Net Asset Value means the net asset value of each Series of the Trust determined in the manner provided in Article IX, Section 9.03 hereof;
(e) Outstanding Shares means those Shares shown from time to time in the books of the Trust or its Transfer Agent as then issued and outstanding, but shall not include Shares which have been redeemed or repurchased by the Trust and which are at the time held in the treasury of the Trust;
(f) Series means a series of Shares of the Trust established in accordance with the provisions of Article II, Section 2.06 hereof;
(g) Shareholder means a record owner of Outstanding Shares of the Trust;
(h) Shares means the equal proportionate transferable units of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest of each Series of the Trust or class thereof shall be divided and may include fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares;
(i) The Trust refers to Fidelity Commonwealth Trust II and reference to the Trust, when applicable to one or more Series of the Trust, shall refer to any such Series;
(j) The Trustees means the person or persons who has or have signed this Trust Instrument, so long as he or they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other persons who may from time to time be duly qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof and reference herein to a Trustee or to the Trustees shall refer to the individual Trustees in their capacity as Trustees hereunder;
(k) Trust Property means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of one or more of the Trust or any Series, or the Trustees on behalf of the Trust or any Series; and
(l) The 1940 Act refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.
ARTICLE II
BENEFICIAL INTEREST
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Section 2.01 . The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided into such transferable Shares of one or more separate and distinct Series or classes of a Series as the Trustees shall from time to time create and establish. The number of Shares of each Series, and class thereof, authorized hereunder is unlimited. Each Share shall have no par value. All Shares issued hereunder, including without limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split or reverse split of Shares, shall be fully paid and nonassessable.
ISSUANCE OF SHARES
Section 2.02 . The Trustees in their discretion may, from time to time, without vote of the Shareholders, issue Shares, in addition to the then issued and outstanding Shares and Shares held in the treasury, to such party or parties and for such amount and type of consideration, subject to applicable law, including cash or securities, at such time or times and on such terms as the Trustees may deem appropriate, and may in such manner acquire other assets (including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection with, the assumption of liabilities) and businesses. In connection with any issuance of Shares, the Trustees may issue fractional Shares and Shares held in the treasury. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interests in the Trust. Contributions to the Trust may be accepted for, and Shares shall be redeemed as, whole Shares and/or 1/1,000th of a Share or integral multiples thereof.
REGISTER OF SHARES AND SHARE CERTIFICATES
Section 2.03 . A register shall be kept at the principal office of the Trust or an office of the Trusts transfer agent which shall contain the names and addresses of the Shareholders of each Series, the number of Shares of that Series (or any class or classes thereof) held by them respectively and a record of all
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transfers thereof. As to Shares for which no certificate has been issued, such register shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of the Shares and who shall be entitled to receive dividends or other distributions or otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights of Shareholders. No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution, nor to have notice given to him as herein or in the Bylaws provided, until he has given his address to the transfer agent or such other officer or agent of the Trustees as shall keep the said register for entry thereon. The Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize the issuance of share certificates and promulgate appropriate rules and regulations as to their use. Such certificates may be issuable for any purpose limited in the Trustees discretion. In the event that one or more certificates are issued, whether in the name of a shareholder or a nominee, such certificate or certificates shall constitute evidence of ownership of Shares for all purposes, including transfer, assignment or sale of such Shares, subject to such limitations as the Trustees may, in their discretion, prescribe.
TRANSFER OF SHARES
Section 2.04 . Except as otherwise provided by the Trustees, Shares shall be transferable on the records of the Trust only by the record holder thereof or by his agent thereunto duly authorized in writing, upon delivery to the Trustees or the Trusts transfer agent of a duly executed instrument of transfer, together with a Share certificate, if one is outstanding, and such evidence of the genuineness of each such execution and authorization and of such other matters as may be required by the Trustees. Upon such delivery the transfer shall be recorded on the register of the Trust. Until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder and neither the Trustees nor the Trust, nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of the proposed transfer.
TREASURY SHARES
Section 2.05 . Shares held in the treasury shall, until reissued pursuant to Section 2.02 hereof, not confer any voting rights on the Trustees, nor shall such Shares be entitled to any dividends or other distributions declared with respect to the Shares.
ESTABLISHMENT OF SERIES
Section 2.06 . The Trust created hereby shall consist of one or more Series and separate and distinct records shall be maintained by the Trust for each Series and the assets associated with any such Series shall be held and accounted for separately from the assets of the Trust or any other Series. The Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their sole discretion, and without obtaining any prior authorization or vote of the Shareholders of any Series of the Trust, to establish and designate and to change in any manner any such Series of Shares or any classes of initial or additional Series and to fix such preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges of such Series or classes thereof as the Trustees may from time to time determine, to divide or combine the Shares or any Series or classes thereof into a greater or lesser number, to classify or reclassify any issued Shares or any Series or classes thereof into one or more Series or classes of Shares, and to take such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem desirable. The establishment and designation of any Series shall be effective upon the adoption of a resolution by a majority of the Trustees setting forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of the Shares of such Series, whether directly in such resolution or by reference to, or approval of, another document that sets forth such relative rights and preferences of the Shares of such Series including, without limitation, any registration statement of the Trust, or as otherwise provided in such resolution. A Series may issue any number of Shares and need not issue shares. At any time that there are no Shares outstanding of any particular Series previously established and designated, the Trustees may by a majority vote abolish that Series and the establishment and designation thereof.
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All references to Shares in this Trust Instrument shall be deemed to be Shares of any or all Series, or classes thereof, as the context may require. All provisions herein relating to the Trust shall apply equally to each Series of the Trust, and each class thereof, except as the context otherwise requires.
Each Share of a Series of the Trust shall represent an equal beneficial interest in the net assets of such Series. Each holder of Shares of a Series shall be entitled to receive his pro rata share of distributions of income and capital gains, if any, made with respect to such Series. Upon redemption of his Shares, such Shareholder shall be paid solely out of the funds and property of such Series of the Trust.
INVESTMENT IN THE TRUST
Section 2.07 . The Trustees shall accept investments in any Series of the Trust from such persons and on such terms as they may from time to time authorize. At the Trustees discretion, such investments, subject to applicable law, may be in the form of cash or securities in which the affected Series is authorized to invest, valued as provided in Article IX, Section 9.03 hereof. Investments in a Series shall be credited to each Shareholders account in the form of full Shares at the Net Asset Value per Share next determined after the investment is received; provided, however, that the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, (a) fix the Net Asset Value per Share of the initial capital contribution, (b) impose a sales charge or other fee upon investments in the Trust in such manner and at such time determined by the Trustees or (c) issue fractional Shares.
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF SERIES
Section 2.08 . All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall be held and accounted for separately from the other assets of the Trust and of every other Series and may be referred to herein as assets belonging to that Series. The assets belonging to a particular Series shall belong to that Series for all purposes, and to no other Series, subject only to the rights of creditors of that Series. In addition, any assets, income, earnings, profits or funds, or payments and proceeds with respect thereto, which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series shall be allocated by the Trustees between and among one or more of the Series in such manner as the Trustees, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes, and such assets, income, earnings, profits or funds, or payments and proceeds with respect thereto shall be assets belonging to that Series. The assets belonging to a particular Series shall be so recorded upon the books of the Trust, and shall be held by the Trustees in trust for the benefit of the holders of Shares of that Series. The assets belonging to each particular Series shall be charged with the liabilities of that Series and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series. Any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees between or among any one or more of the Series in such manner as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes. Without limitation of the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.08, but subject to the right of the Trustees in their discretion to allocate general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves as herein provided, the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular Series shall be enforceable against the assets of such Series only, and not against the assets of the Trust generally. Notice of this limitation on inter-Series liabilities may, in the Trustees sole discretion, be set forth in the certificate of trust of the Trust (whether originally or by amendment) as filed or to be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the Delaware Act, and upon the giving of such notice in the certificate of trust, the statutory provisions of Section 3804 of the Delaware Act relating to
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limitations on inter-Series liabilities (and the statutory effect under Section 3804 of setting forth such notice in the certificate of trust) shall become applicable to the Trust and each Series. Any person extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against any Series may look only to the assets of that Series to satisfy or enforce any debt, liability, obligation or expense incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to that Series. No Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series shall have a claim on or any right to any assets allocated or belonging to any other Series.
NO PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS
Section 2.09 . Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust or the Trustees, whether of the same or other Series.
PERSONAL LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS
Section 2.10 . Each Shareholder of the Trust and of each Series shall not be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred by, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to, the Trust or by or on behalf of any Series. The Trustees shall have no power to bind any Shareholder personally or to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay by way of subscription for any Shares or otherwise. Every note, bond, contract or other undertaking issued by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees relating to the Trust or to a Series shall include a recitation limiting the obligation represented thereby to the Trust or to one or more Series and its or their assets (but the omission of such a recitation shall not operate to bind any Shareholder or Trustee of the Trust).
ASSENT TO TRUST INSTRUMENT
Section 2.11 . Every Shareholder, by virtue of having purchased a Share shall become a Shareholder and shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to be bound by the terms hereof.
ARTICLE III
THE TRUSTEES
MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST
Section 3.01 . The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute control over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and business in their own right, but with such powers of delegation as may be permitted by this Trust Instrument. The Trustees shall have power to conduct the business of the Trust and carry on its operations in any and all of its branches and maintain offices both within and without the State of Delaware, in any and all states of the United States of America, in the District of Columbia, in any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies, or possessions of the United States of America, and in any foreign jurisdiction and to do all such other things and execute all such instruments as they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to promote the interests of the Trust although such things are not herein specifically mentioned. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Trust Instrument, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees.
The enumeration of any specific power in this Trust Instrument shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid power. The powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to any court.
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Except for the Trustees named herein or appointed to fill vacancies pursuant to Section 3.04 of this Article III, the Trustees shall be elected by the Shareholders owning of record a plurality of the Shares voting at a meeting of Shareholders. Such a meeting shall be held on a date fixed by the Trustees. In the event that less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been elected by Shareholders, the Trustees then in office will call a Shareholders meeting for the election of Trustees.
INITIAL TRUSTEES
Section 3.02 . The initial Trustees shall be the persons named herein. On a date fixed by the Trustees, the Shareholders shall elect at least three but not more than fourteen Trustees, as specified by the Trustees pursuant to Section 3.06 of this Article III.
TERM OF OFFICE OF TRUSTEES
Section 3.03 . The Trustees shall hold office during the lifetime of this Trust, and until its termination as herein provided; except (a) that any Trustee may resign his trust by written instrument signed by him and delivered to the other Trustees, which shall take effect upon such delivery or upon such later date as is specified therein; (b) that any Trustee may be removed at any time by written instrument, signed by at least two-thirds of the number of Trustees prior to such removal, specifying the date when such removal shall become effective; (c) that any Trustee who requests in writing to be retired or who has died, become physically or mentally incapacitated by reason of disease or otherwise, or is otherwise unable to serve, may be retired by written instrument signed by a majority of the other Trustees, specifying the date of his retirement; and (d) that a Trustee may be removed at any meeting of the Shareholders of the Trust by a vote of Shareholders owning at least two-thirds of the outstanding Shares.
VACANCIES AND APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES
Section 3.04 . In case of the declination to serve, death, resignation, retirement, removal, physical or mental incapacity by reason of disease or otherwise, or a Trustee is otherwise unable to serve, or an increase in the number of Trustees, a vacancy shall occur. Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled, the other Trustees shall have all the powers hereunder and the certificate of the other Trustees of such vacancy shall be conclusive. In the case of an existing vacancy, the remaining Trustees shall fill such vacancy by appointing such other person as they in their discretion shall see fit consistent with the limitations under the 1940 Act. Such appointment shall be evidenced by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees in office or by resolution of the Trustees, duly adopted, which shall be recorded in the minutes of a meeting of the Trustees, whereupon the appointment shall take effect.
An appointment of a Trustee may be made by the Trustees then in office in anticipation of a vacancy to occur by reason of retirement, resignation or increase in number of Trustees effective at a later date, provided that said appointment shall become effective only at or after the effective date of said retirement, resignation or increase in number of Trustees. As soon as any Trustee appointed pursuant to this Section 3.04 shall have accepted this trust, or at such date as may be specified in the acceptance whenever made, the trust estate shall vest in the new Trustee or Trustees, together with the continuing Trustees, without any further act or conveyance, and he shall be deemed a Trustee hereunder. The power to appoint a Trustee pursuant to this Section 3.04 is subject to the provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act.
TEMPORARY ABSENCE OF TRUSTEE
Section 3.05 . Any Trustee may, by power of attorney, delegate his power for a period not exceeding six months at any one time to any other Trustee or Trustees, provided that in no case shall less
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than two Trustees personally exercise the other powers hereunder except as herein otherwise expressly provided.
NUMBER OF TRUSTEES
Section 3.06 . The number of Trustees shall be at least three, and thereafter shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to time by a majority of the Trustees, provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall in no event be more than fourteen (14).
EFFECT OF DEATH, RESIGNATION, ETC. OF A TRUSTEE
Section 3.07 . The declination to serve, death, resignation, retirement, removal, incapacity, or inability of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not operate to terminate the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Trust Instrument.
OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS OF THE TRUST
Section 3.08 . The assets of the Trust and of each Series shall be held separate and apart from any assets now or hereafter held in any capacity other than as Trustee hereunder by the Trustees or any successor Trustees. Legal title in all of the assets of the Trust and the right to conduct any business shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees on behalf of the Trust, except that the Trustees may cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by, or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of any person as nominee. No Shareholder shall be deemed to have a severable ownership in any individual asset of the Trust or of any Series or any right of partition or possession thereof, but each Shareholder shall have, except as otherwise provided for herein, a proportionate undivided beneficial interest in the Trust or Series. The Shares shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth in this Trust Instrument.
ARTICLE IV
POWERS OF THE TRUSTEES
POWERS
Section 4.01 . The Trustees in all instances shall act as principals, and are and shall be free from the control of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall have full power and authority to do any and all acts and to make and execute any and all contracts and instruments that they may consider necessary or appropriate in connection with the management of the Trust. The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by present or future laws or customs in regard to trust investments, but shall have full authority and power to make any and all investments which they, in their sole discretion, shall deem proper to accomplish the purpose of this Trust without recourse to any court or other authority. Subject to any applicable limitation in this Trust Instrument or the Bylaws of the Trust, the Trustees shall have power and authority:
(a) To invest and reinvest cash and other property, and to hold cash or other property uninvested, without in any event being bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investments by Trustees, and to sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, write options on and lease any or all of the assets of the Trust;
(b) To operate as and carry on the business of an investment company, and exercise all the powers necessary and appropriate to the conduct of such operations;
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(c) To borrow money and in this connection issue notes or other evidence of indebtedness; to secure borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the Trust Property; to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of an obligation or engagement of any other Person and to lend Trust Property;
(d) To provide for the distribution of interests of the Trust either through a principal underwriter in the manner hereinafter provided for or by the Trust itself, or both, or otherwise pursuant to a plan of distribution of any kind;
(e) To adopt Bylaws not inconsistent with this Trust Instrument providing for the conduct of the business of the Trust and to amend and repeal them to the extent that they do not reserve that right to the Shareholders; such Bylaws shall be deemed incorporated and included in this Trust Instrument;
(f) To elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate;
(g) To employ one or more banks, trust companies or companies that are members of a national securities exchange or such other entities as the Commission may permit as custodians of any assets of the Trust subject to any conditions set forth in this Trust Instrument or in the Bylaws;
(h) To retain one or more transfer agents and shareholder servicing agents, or both;
(i) To set record dates in the manner provided herein or in the Bylaws;
(j) To delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officers of the Trust and to any investment adviser, manager, custodian, underwriter or other agent or independent contractor;
(k) To sell or exchange any or all of the assets of the Trust, subject to the provisions of Article XI, Sections 11.05, 11.06, and 11.07 hereof;
(l) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(m) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;
(n) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, book entry, unregistered or other negotiable form; or either in the name of the Trust or in the name of a custodian or a nominee or nominees, subject in either case to proper safeguards according to the usual practice of Delaware statutory trusts or investment companies;
(o) To establish separate and distinct Series with separately defined investment objectives and policies and distinct investment purposes in accordance with the provisions of Article II hereof and to establish classes of such Series having relative rights, powers and duties as they may provide consistent with applicable law;
(p) Subject to the provisions of Section 3804 of the Delaware Act, to allocate assets, liabilities and expenses of the Trust to a particular Series or class thereof or to apportion the same between or among two or more Series or classes thereof, provided that any liabilities or expenses incurred
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by a particular Series or class thereof shall be payable solely out of the assets belonging to that Series as provided for in Article II hereof;
(q) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or concern, any security of which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase, or sale of property by such corporation or concern, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;
(r) To compromise, arbitrate, or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy including, but not limited to, claims for taxes;
(s) To make distributions of income and of capital gains to Shareholders in the manner hereinafter provided;
(t) To establish, from time to time, a minimum investment for Shareholders in the Trust or in one or more Series or class, and to require the redemption of the Shares of any Shareholders whose investment is less than such minimum upon giving notice to such Shareholder;
(u) To establish one or more committees, to delegate any of the powers of the Trustees to said committees and to adopt a committee charter providing for such responsibilities, membership (including Trustees, officers or other agents of the Trust therein) and any other characteristics of said committees as the Trustees may deem proper. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article IV, and in addition to such provisions or any other provision of this Trust Instrument or of the Bylaws, the Trustees may by resolution appoint a committee consisting of less than the whole number of Trustees then in office, which committee may be empowered to act for and bind the Trustees and the Trust, as if the acts of such committee were the acts of all the Trustees then in office, with respect to the institution, prosecution, dismissal, settlement, review or investigation of any action, suit or proceeding which shall be pending or threatened to be brought before any court, administrative agency or other adjudicatory body;
(v) To interpret the investment policies, practices or limitations of any Series;
(w) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, to invest all or a portion of the assets of any series in one or more open-end investment companies, including investment by means of a transfer of such assets in an exchange for an interest or interests in such investment company or companies or by any other method approved by the Trustees;
(x) To establish a registered office and have a registered agent in the state of Delaware; and
(y) In general to carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to any of the foregoing powers, to do everything necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of any purpose or the attainment of any object or the furtherance of any power hereinbefore set forth, either alone or in association with others, and to do every other act or thing incidental or appurtenant to or growing out of or connected with the aforesaid business or purposes, objects or powers.
The foregoing clauses shall be construed both as objects and powers, and the foregoing enumeration of specific powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the general powers of the Trustees. Any action by one or more of the Trustees in their capacity as such hereunder shall be deemed an action on behalf of the Trust or the applicable Series, and not an action in an individual capacity.
The Trustees shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the possible termination of the Trust.
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No one dealing with the Trustees shall be under any obligation to make any inquiry concerning the authority of the Trustees, or to see to the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trustees or upon their order.
ISSUANCE AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES
Section 4.02 . The Trustees shall have the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, and otherwise deal in Shares and, subject to the provisions set forth in Article II and Article IX, to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation or acquisition of Shares any funds or property of the Trust, or the particular Series of the Trust, with respect to which such Shares are issued.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS AS SHAREHOLDERS
Section 4.03 . Any Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust may acquire, own and dispose of Shares to the same extent as if he were not a Trustee, officer or agent; and the Trustees may issue and sell or cause to be issued and sold Shares to and buy such Shares from any such person or any firm or company in which he is interested, subject only to the general limitations herein contained as to the sale and purchase of such Shares; and all subject to any restrictions which may be contained in the Bylaws.
ACTION BY THE TRUSTEES
Section 4.04 . The Trustees shall act by majority vote at a meeting duly called or by unanimous written consent without a meeting or by telephone meeting provided a quorum of Trustees participate in any such telephone meeting, unless the 1940 Act requires that a particular action be taken only at a meeting at which the Trustees are present in person. At any meeting of the Trustees, a majority of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum. Meetings of the Trustees may be called orally or in writing by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees or by any two other Trustees. Notice of the time, date and place of all meetings of the Trustees shall be given by the party calling the meeting to each Trustee by telephone, telefax, or telegram sent to his home or business address at least twenty-four hours in advance of the meeting or by written notice mailed to his home or business address at least seventy-two hours in advance of the meeting. Notice need not be given to any Trustee who attends the meeting without objecting to the lack of notice or who executes a written waiver of notice with respect to the meeting. Any meeting conducted by telephone shall be deemed to take place at the principal office of the Trust, as determined by the Bylaws or by the Trustees. Subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trustees by majority vote may delegate to any one or more of their number their authority to approve particular matters or take particular actions on behalf of the Trust. Written consents or waivers of the Trustees may be executed in one or more counterparts. Execution of a written consent or waiver and delivery thereof to the Trust may be accomplished by telefax.
CHAIRMAN OF THE TRUSTEES
Section 4.05 . The Trustees shall appoint one of their number to be Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Trustees, shall be responsible for the execution of policies established by the Trustees and the administration of the Trust, and may be (but is not required to be) the chief executive, financial and/or accounting officer of the Trust.
PRINCIPAL TRANSACTIONS
Section 4.06 . Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law, the Trustees may, on behalf of the Trust, buy any securities from or sell any securities to, or lend any assets of the Trust to, any Trustee or
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officer of the Trust or any firm of which any such Trustee or officer is a member acting as principal, or have any such dealings with any investment adviser, distributor or transfer agent for the Trust or with any Interested Person of such person; and the Trust may employ any such person, or firm or company in which such person is an Interested Person, as broker, legal counsel, registrar, investment adviser, distributor, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, custodian or in any other capacity upon customary terms.
ARTICLE V
EXPENSES OF THE TRUST
TRUSTEE REIMBURSEMENT
Section 5.01 . Subject to the provisions of Article II, Section 2.08 hereof, the Trustees shall be reimbursed from the Trust estate or the assets belonging to the appropriate Series for their expenses and disbursements, including, without limitation, fees and expenses of Trustees who are not Interested Persons of the Trust, interest expense, taxes, fees and commissions of every kind, expenses of pricing Trust portfolio securities, expenses of issue, repurchase and redemption of shares, including expenses attributable to a program of periodic repurchases or redemptions, expenses of registering and qualifying the Trust and its Shares under Federal and State laws and regulations or under the laws of any foreign jurisdiction, charges of third parties, including investment advisors, managers, custodians, transfer agents, portfolio accounting and/or pricing agents, and registrars, expenses of preparing and setting up in type prospectuses and statements of additional information and other related Trust documents, expenses of printing and distributing prospectuses sent to existing Shareholders, auditing and legal expenses, reports to Shareholders, expenses of meetings of Shareholders and proxy solicitations therefor, insurance expenses, association membership dues and for such non-recurring items as may arise, including litigation to which the Trust (or a Trustee acting as such) is a party, and for all losses and liabilities by them incurred in administering the Trust, and for the payment of such expenses, disbursements, losses and liabilities the Trustees shall have a lien on the assets belonging to the appropriate Series, or in the case of an expense allocable to more than one Series, on the assets of each such Series, prior to any rights or interests of the Shareholders thereto. This section shall not preclude the Trust from directly paying any of the aforementioned fees and expenses.
ARTICLE VI
INVESTMENT ADVISER, PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER AND TRANSFER AGENT
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Section 6.01 . Subject to applicable requirements of the 1940 Act, as modified by or interpreted by any applicable order of the Commission or any rules or regulations adopted or interpretative releases of the Commission thereunder, the Trustees may in their discretion, from time to time, enter into an investment advisory or management contract or contracts with respect to the Trust or any Series whereby the other party or parties to such contract or contracts shall undertake to furnish the Trustees with such management, investment advisory, statistical and research facilities and services and such other facilities and services, if any, and all upon such terms and conditions, as the Trustees may in their discretion determine. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Instrument, the Trustees may authorize any investment adviser (subject to such general or specific instructions as the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to effect purchases, sales or exchanges of portfolio securities, other investment instruments of the Trust, or other Trust Property on behalf of the Trustees, or may authorize any officer, agent, or Trustee to effect such purchases, sales or exchanges pursuant to recommendations of the investment adviser (and all
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without further action by the Trustees). Any such purchases, sales and exchanges shall be deemed to have been authorized by all of the Trustees.
The Trustees may authorize, subject to applicable requirements of the 1940 Act, including those relating to Shareholder approval, the investment adviser to employ, from time to time, one or more sub-advisors to perform such of the acts and services of the investment adviser, and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the investment adviser and sub-adviser. Any reference in this Trust Instrument to the investment adviser shall be deemed to include such sub-advisors, unless the context otherwise requires.
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
Section 6.02 . The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into an exclusive or non-exclusive underwriting contract or contracts providing for the sale of Shares, whereby the Trust may either agree to sell Shares to the other party to the contract or appoint such other party its sales agent for such Shares. In either case, the contract shall be on such terms and conditions, if any, as may be prescribed in the Bylaws, and such further terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article VI, or of the Bylaws; and such contract may also provide for the repurchase or sale of Shares by such other party as principal or as agent of the Trust.
TRANSFER AGENT
Section 6.03 . The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one or more transfer agency and Shareholder service contracts whereby the other party or parties shall undertake to furnish the Trustees with transfer agency and Shareholder services. The contract or contracts shall be on such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent with the provisions of this Trust Instrument or of the Bylaws.
PARTIES TO CONTRACT
Section 6.04 . Any contract of the character described in Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03 of this Article VI or any contract of the character described in Article VIII hereof may be entered into with any corporation, firm, partnership, trust or association, although one or more of the Trustees or officers of the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee, shareholder, or member of such other party to the contract, and no such contract shall be invalidated or rendered void or voidable by reason of the existence of any relationship, nor shall any person holding such relationship be disqualified from voting on or executing the same in his capacity as Shareholder and/or Trustee, nor shall any person holding such relationship be liable merely by reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under or by reason of said contract or accountable for any profit realized directly or indirectly therefrom, provided that the contract when entered into was not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article VI or Article VIII hereof or of the Bylaws. The same person (including a firm, corporation, partnership, trust, or association) may be the other party to contracts entered into pursuant to Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03 of this Article VI or pursuant to Article VIII hereof, and any individual may be financially interested or otherwise affiliated with persons who are parties to any or all of the contracts mentioned in this Section 6.04.
PROVISIONS AND AMENDMENTS
Section 6.05 . Any contract entered into pursuant to Sections 6.01 or 6.02 of this Article VI shall be consistent with and subject to the requirements of Section 15 of the 1940 Act or other applicable Act of Congress hereafter enacted with respect to its continuance in effect, its termination, and the method of authorization and approval of such contract or renewal thereof, and no amendment to any contract, entered into pursuant to Section 6.01 of this Article VI shall be effective unless assented to in a manner consistent with the requirements of said Section 15, as modified by any applicable rule, regulation or order of the Commission.
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ARTICLE VII
SHAREHOLDERS VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
VOTING POWERS
Section 7.01 . The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the election of Trustees as provided in Article III, Sections 3.01 and 3.02 hereof, (ii) for the removal of Trustees as provided in Article III, Section 3.03(d) hereof, (iii) with respect to any investment advisory or management contract as provided in Article VI, Sections 6.01 and 6.05 hereof, and (iv) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by law, by this Trust Instrument, or the Bylaws or any registration of the Trust with the Commission or any State, or as the Trustees may consider desirable.
On any matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, all Shares shall be voted separately by individual Series, except (i) when required by the 1940 Act, Shares shall be voted in the aggregate and not by individual Series; and (ii) when the Trustees have determined that the matter affects the interests of more than one Series, then the Shareholders of all such Series shall be entitled to vote thereon. The Trustees may also determine that a matter affects only the interests of one or more classes of a Series, in which case any such matter shall be voted on by such class or classes. A shareholder of each Series shall be entitled to one vote for each dollar of net asset value (number of shares owned times net asset value per share) of such Series on any matter on which such shareholder is entitled to vote and each fractional dollar amount shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy or in any manner provided for in the Bylaws. A proxy may be given in writing. The Bylaws may provide that proxies may also, or may instead, be given by any electronic or telecommunications device or in any other manner. Notwithstanding anything else herein or in the Bylaws, in the event a proposal by anyone other than the officers or Trustees of the Trust is submitted to a vote of the Shareholders of one or more Series or of the Trust, or in the event of any proxy contest or proxy solicitation or proposal in opposition to any proposal by the officers or Trustees of the Trust, Shares may be voted only in person or by written proxy. Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required or permitted by law, this Trust Instrument or any of the Bylaws of the Trust to be taken by Shareholders.
MEETINGS
Section 7.02 . The first Shareholders meeting shall be held in order to elect Trustees as specified in Section 3.02 of Article III hereof at the principal office of the Trust or such other place as the Trustees may designate. Meetings may be held within or without the State of Delaware. Special meetings of the Shareholders of any Series may be called by the Trustees and shall be called by the Trustees upon the written request of Shareholders owning at least one-tenth of the Outstanding Shares entitled to vote. Whenever ten or more Shareholders meeting the qualifications set forth in Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act, as the same may be amended from time to time, seek the opportunity of furnishing materials to the other Shareholders with a view to obtaining signatures on such a request for a meeting, the Trustees shall comply with the provisions of said Section 16(c) with respect to providing such Shareholders access to the list of the Shareholders of record of the Trust or the mailing of such materials to such Shareholders of record, subject to any rights provided to the Trust or any Trustees provided by said Section 16(c). Shareholders shall be entitled to at least fifteen (15) days notice of any meeting.
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QUORUM AND REQUIRED VOTE
Section 7.03 . One-third of Shares entitled to vote in person or by proxy shall be a quorum for the transaction of business at a Shareholders meeting, except that where any provision of law or of this Trust Instrument permits or requires that holders of any Series shall vote as a Series (or that holders of a class shall vote as a class), then one-third of the aggregate number of Shares of that Series (or that class) entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by that Series (or that class). Any lesser number shall be sufficient for adjournments. Any adjourned session or sessions may be held, within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting, without the necessity of further notice. Except when a larger vote is required by law or by any provision of this Trust Instrument or the Bylaws, a majority of the Shares voted in person or by proxy shall decide any questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, provided that where any provision of law or of this Trust Instrument permits or requires that the holders of any Series shall vote as a Series (or that the holders of any class shall vote as a class), then a majority of the Shares present in person or by proxy of that Series or, if required by law, a Majority Shareholder Vote of that Series (or class), voted on the matter in person or by proxy shall decide that matter insofar as that Series (or class) is concerned. Shareholders may act by unanimous written consent. Actions taken by Series (or class) may be consented to unanimously in writing by Shareholders of that Series.
DERIVATIVE ACTIONS
Section 7.04 . In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 3816 of the Delaware Act, a Shareholder may bring derivative action on behalf of the Trust only if the Shareholder or Shareholders first make a pre-suit demand upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to bring such action is excused. A demand on the Trustees shall only be excused if a majority of the Board of Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits of such action, has a personal financial interest in the action at issue. A Trustee shall not be deemed to have a personal financial interest in an action or otherwise be disqualified from ruling on a Shareholder demand by virtue of the fact that such Trustee receives remuneration from his service on the Board of Trustees of the Trust or on the boards of one or more investment companies with the same or an affiliated investment advisor or underwriter.
ARTICLE VIII
CUSTODIAN
APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES
Section 8.01 . The Trustees shall at all times employ a bank, a company that is a member of a national securities exchange, or a trust company, each having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least two million dollars ($2,000,000) as custodian with authority as its agent, but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if any, as may be contained in the Bylaws of the Trust:
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(1) to hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver the same upon written order or oral order confirmed in writing, or by such electro-mechanical or electronic devices as are agreed to by the Trust and the custodian, if such procedures have been authorized in writing by the Trust; |
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(2) to receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit the same in its own banking department or else where as the Trustees may direct; |
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(3) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers; |
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and the Trust may also employ such custodian as its agent:
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(4) to keep the books and accounts of the Trust or of any Series or class and furnish clerical and accounting services; and |
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(5) to compute, if authorized to do so by the Trustees, the Net Asset Value of any Series, or class thereof, in accordance with the provisions hereof; |
all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the Trustees and the custodian.
The Trustees may also authorize the custodian to employ one or more sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the custodian, and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees, provided that in every case such sub-custodian shall be a bank, a company that is a member of a national securities exchange, or a trust company organized under the laws of the United States or one of the states thereof and having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least two million dollars ($2,000,000) or such other person as may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act.
CENTRAL CERTIFICATE SYSTEM
Section 8.02 . Subject to such rules, regulations and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct the custodian to deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust in a system for the central handling of securities established by a national securities exchange or a national securities association registered with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or such other person as may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act, pursuant to which system all securities of any particular class or series of any issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of such securities, provided that all such deposits shall be subject to withdrawal only upon the order of the Trust or its custodians, subcustodians or other agents.
ARTICLE IX
DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 9.01 .
(a) The Trustees may from time to time declare and pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any Series. The amount of such dividends or distributions and the payment of them and whether they are in cash or any other Trust Property shall be wholly in the discretion of the Trustees.
(b) Dividends and other distributions may be paid or made to the Shareholders of record at the time of declaring a dividend or other distribution or among the Shareholders of record at such other date or time or dates or times as the Trustees shall determine, which dividends or distributions, at the election of the Trustees, may be paid pursuant to a standing resolution or resolutions adopted only once or with such frequency as the Trustees may determine. The Trustees may adopt and offer to Shareholders such dividend reinvestment plans, cash dividend payout plans or related plans as the Trustees shall deem appropriate.
(c) Anything in this Trust Instrument to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustees may at any time declare and distribute a dividend of stock or other property pro rata among the Shareholders of a particular Series, or class thereof, as of the record date of that Series fixed as provided in Section (b) hereof.
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REDEMPTIONS
Section 9.02 . In case any holder of record of Shares of a particular Series desires to dispose of his Shares or any portion thereof, he may deposit at the office of the transfer agent or other authorized agent of that Series a written request or such other form of request as the Trustees may from time to time authorize, requesting that the Series purchase the Shares in accordance with this Section 9.02; and the Shareholder so requesting shall be entitled to require the Series to purchase, and the Series or the principal underwriter of the Series shall purchase his said Shares, but only at the Net Asset Value thereof (as described in Section 9.03 of this Article IX). The Series shall make payment for any such Shares to be redeemed, as aforesaid, in cash or property from the assets of that Series and payment for such Shares less any applicable deferred sales charge and/or fees shall be made by the Series or the principal underwriter of the Series to the Shareholder of record within seven (7) days after the date upon which the request is effective. Upon redemption, shares shall become Treasury shares and may be re-issued from time to time.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND VALUATION OF PORTFOLIO ASSETS
Section 9.03 . The term Net Asset Value of any Series shall mean that amount by which the assets of that Series exceed its liabilities, all as determined by or under the direction of the Trustees. Such value shall be determined separately for each Series and shall be determined on such days and at such times as the Trustees may determine. Such determination shall be made with respect to securities for which market quotations are readily available, at the market value of such securities; and with respect to other securities and assets, at the fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees; provided, however, that the Trustees, without Shareholder approval, may alter the method of valuing portfolio securities insofar as permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules, regulations and interpretations thereof promulgated or issued by the Commission or insofar as permitted by any Order of the Commission applicable to the Series. The Trustees may delegate any of their powers and duties under this Section 9.03 with respect to valuation of assets and liabilities. The resulting amount, which shall represent the total Net Asset Value of the particular Series, shall be divided by the total number of shares of that Series outstanding at the time and the quotient so obtained shall be the Net Asset Value per Share of that Series. At any time, the Trustees may cause the Net Asset Value per Share last determined to be determined again in similar manner and may fix the time when such redetermined value shall become effective. If, for any reason, the net income of any Series, determined at any time, is a negative amount, the Trustees shall have the power with respect to that Series (i) to offset each Shareholders pro rata share of such negative amount from the accrued dividend account of such Shareholder, or (ii) to reduce the number of Outstanding Shares of such Series by reducing the number of Shares in the account of each Shareholder by a pro rata portion of that number of full and fractional Shares which represents the amount of such excess negative net income, or (iii) to cause to be recorded on the books of such Series an asset account in the amount of such negative net income (provided that the same shall thereupon become the property of such Series with respect to such Series and shall not be paid to any Shareholder), which account may be reduced by the amount, of dividends declared thereafter upon the Outstanding Shares of such Series on the day such negative net income is experienced, until such asset account is reduced to zero; (iv) to combine the methods described in clauses (i) and (ii) and (iii) of this sentence; or (v) to take any other action they deem appropriate, in order to cause (or in order to assist in causing) the Net Asset Value per Share of such Series to remain at a constant amount per Outstanding Share immediately after each such determination and declaration. The Trustees shall also have the power not to declare a dividend out of net income for the purpose of causing the Net Asset Value per Share to be increased. The Trustees shall not be required to adopt, but may at any time adopt, discontinue or amend the practice of maintaining the Net Asset Value per Share of the Series at a constant amount.
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SUSPENSION OF THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION
Section 9.04 . The Trustees may declare a suspension of the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment as permitted under the 1940 Act. Such suspension shall take effect at such time as the Trustees shall specify but not later than the close of business on the business day next following the declaration of suspension, and thereafter there shall be no right of redemption or payment until the Trustees shall declare the suspension at an end. In the case of a suspension of the right of redemption, a Shareholder may either withdraw his request for redemption or receive payment based on the Net Asset Value per Share next determined after the termination of the suspension. In the event that any Series is divided into classes, the provisions of this Section 9.04, to the extent applicable as determined in the discretion of the Trustees and consistent with applicable law, may be equally applied to each such class.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
Section 9.05 . The Trustees may require Shareholders to redeem Shares for any reason under terms set by the Trustees, including, but not limited to, (i) the determination of the Trustees that direct or indirect ownership of Shares of any Series has or may become concentrated in such Shareholder to an extent that would disqualify any Series as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor statute thereto), (ii) the failure of a Shareholder to supply a tax identification number if required to do so, or (iii) the failure of a Shareholder to pay when due for the purchase of Shares issued to him. The redemption shall be effected at the redemption price and in the manner provided in this Article IX.
The holders of Shares shall upon demand disclose to the Trustees in writing such information with respect to direct and indirect ownership of Shares as the Trustees deem necessary to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, or to comply with the requirements of any other taxing authority.
ARTICLE X
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Section 10.01 . Neither a Trustee nor an officer of the Trust when acting in such capacity, shall be personally liable to any person other than the Trust or a beneficial owner for any act, omission or obligation of the Trust, any Trustee or any officer of the Trust. Neither a Trustee nor an officer of the Trust shall be liable for any act or omission or any conduct whatsoever in his capacity as Trustee or officer of the Trust, provided that nothing contained herein or in the Delaware Act shall protect any Trustee or any officer of the Trust against any liability to the Trust or to Shareholders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee or Officer hereunder.
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 10.02 .
(a) Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in Section (b) below:
(i) every Person who is, or has been, a Trustee or officer of the Trust (hereinafter referred to as a Covered Person) shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Trustee or officer and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof;
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(ii) the words claim, action, suit, or proceeding shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal or other, including appeals), actual or threatened while in office or thereafter, and the words liability and expenses shall include, without limitation, attorneys fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
(b) No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:
(i) who shall have been adjudicated by a court or body before which the proceeding was brought (A) to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office or (B) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust; or
(ii) in the event of a settlement, unless there has been a determination that such Trustee or officer did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office,
(A) by the court or other body approving the settlement;
(B) by at least a majority of those Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor are parties to the matter based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); or
(C) by written opinion of independent legal counsel based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry);
provided, however, that any Shareholder may, by appropriate legal proceedings, challenge any such determination by the Trustees or by independent counsel.
(c) The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel, other than Covered Persons, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
(d) Expenses in connection with the preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding of the character described in paragraph (a) of this Section 10.02 may be paid by the Trust or Series from time to time prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person that such amount will be paid over by him to the Trust or Series if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.02; provided, however, that either (a) such Covered Person shall have provided appropriate security for such undertaking, (b) the Trust is insured against losses arising out of any such advance payments or (c) either a majority of the Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a trial-type inquiry or full investigation), that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person will be found entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.02.
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SHAREHOLDERS
Section 10.03 . In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder of such Series and not because of his acts or omissions or for some other reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives, or, in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out of the assets belonging to the applicable Series to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability. The Trust, on behalf of the affected Series, shall, upon request by the Shareholder, assume the defense of any claim made against the Shareholder for any act or obligation of the Series and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets of the Series.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
TRUST NOT A PARTNERSHIP
Section 11.01 . It is the intention of the Trustees to create a statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association, corporation, bailment, or any form of legal relationship other than a statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act. No Trustee hereunder shall have any power to bind personally either the Trusts officers or any Shareholder. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or the Trustees shall look only to the assets of the appropriate Series or (if the Trustees shall have yet to have established Series) of the Trust for payment under such credit, contract or claim; and neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of their agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor. Nothing in this Trust Instrument shall protect a Trustee against any liability to which the Trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee hereunder.
TRUSTEES GOOD FAITH ACTION, EXPERT ADVICE, NO BOND OR SURETY
Section 11.02 . The exercise by the Trustees or the officers of the Trust of their powers and discretions hereunder in good faith and with reasonable care under the circumstances then prevailing shall be binding upon everyone interested. Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof and to Section 11.01 of this Article XI, the Trustees or the officers of the Trust shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees and the officers of the Trust may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Trust Instrument, and subject to the provisions of Article X hereof and Section 11.01 of this Article XI, shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such advice. The Trustees and the officers of the Trust shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is obtained.
ESTABLISHMENT OF RECORD DATES
Section 11.03 . The Trustees may close the Share transfer books of the Trust for a period not exceeding sixty (60) days preceding the date of any meeting of Shareholders, or the date for the payment of any dividends or other distributions, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of Shares shall go into effect; or in lieu of closing the stock transfer books as aforesaid, the Trustees may fix in advance a date, not exceeding sixty (60) days preceding the date of any meeting of Shareholders, or the date for payment of any dividend or other distribution, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of Shares shall go into effect,
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as a record date for the determination of the Shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend or other distribution, or to any such allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of Shares, and in such case such Shareholders and only such Shareholders as shall be Shareholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to such notice of, and to vote at, such meeting, or to receive payment of such dividend or other distribution, or to receive such allotment or rights, or to exercise such rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any Shares on the books of the Trust after any such record date fixed as aforesaid.
DURATION OF THE TRUST
Section 11.04 . This Trust shall continue without limitation of time but subject to the provisions of this Article XI.
TERMINATION OF THE TRUST, A SERIES OR A CLASS
Section 11.05 .
(a) Subject to applicable Federal and state law, the Trust or any Series or class thereof may be terminated (i) by Majority Shareholder Vote of the Trust, each Series affected, or each class affected, as the case may be; or (ii) without the vote or consent of Shareholders by a majority of the Trustees either at a meeting or by written consent. The Trustees shall provide written notice to the affected Shareholders of a termination effected under clause (ii) above. Upon the termination of the Trust or the Series or class, (i) the Trust or the Series or class shall carry on no business except for the purpose of winding up its affairs; (ii) the Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust or the Series or class, and all of the powers of the Trustees under this Trust Instrument shall continue until the affairs of the Trust shall have been wound up, including the power to fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust or the Series or class thereof; collect its assets; sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer, or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust property or Trust property allocated or belonging to such Series or class to one or more persons at public or private sale for consideration that may consist in whole or in part of cash, securities, or other property of any kind; discharge or pay its liabilities; and do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business; provided that any sale, conveyance, assignment, exchange, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all the Trust property or Trust property allocated or belonging to such Series or class (other than as provided in (iii) below) shall require Shareholder approval in accordance with Section 11.06 below; and (iii) after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities, and refunding agreements as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining Trust property or the remaining property of the terminated Series or class, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the Shareholders of the Trust or the Series or class according to their respective rights; and
(b) Upon completion of the distribution of the remaining proceeds or the remaining assets as provided in sub-section (a), the Trust or any affected Series or class thereof shall terminate and the Trustees and the Trust shall be discharged of any and all further liabilities and duties hereunder and the right, title and interest of all parties with respect to the Trust, Series or class shall be cancelled and discharged. Upon termination of the Trust, following completion of winding up of its business, the Trustees shall cause a certificate of cancellation of the Trusts certificate of trust to be filed in accordance with the Delaware Act, which certificate of cancellation may be signed by any one Trustee.
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MERGER; CONSOLIDATION; AND SALE OF ASSETS
Section 11.06 . Subject to applicable Federal and state law and except as otherwise provided in Section 11.07 below, the Trust or any Series or class thereof may merge or consolidate with any other corporation, association, trust, or other organization or may sell, lease, or exchange all or a portion of the Trust property or Trust property allocated or belonging to such Series or class, including its good will, upon such terms and conditions and for such consideration when and as authorized by the Trustees without the vote or consent of Shareholders. Such transactions may be effected through share-for-share exchanges, transfers or sale of assets, shareholder in-kind redemptions and purchases, exchange offers, or any other method approved by the Trustees. Any agreement of merger or consolidation or certificate of merger may be signed by a majority of Trustees and facsimile signatures conveyed by electronic or telecommunication means shall be valid. Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3815(f) of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Trust Instrument, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved by the Trustees in accordance with this Section 11.06 may effect any amendment to the Trust Instrument or effect the adoption of a new Trust Instrument of the Trust if it is the surviving or resulting trust in the merger or consolidation.
INCORPORATION; REORGANIZATION
Section 11.07 . Subject to applicable Federal and state law, the Trustees may without the vote or consent of Shareholders cause to be organized or assist in organizing a corporation or corporations under the laws of any jurisdiction or any other trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, or other organization to take over all or a portion of the Trust property or all or a portion of the Trust property allocated or belonging to such Series or class or to carry on any business in which the Trust shall directly or indirectly have any interest, and to sell, convey and transfer the Trust property or the Trust property allocated or belonging to such Series or class to any such corporation, trust, limited liability company, partnership, association, or organization in exchange for the shares or securities thereof or otherwise, and to lend money to, subscribe for the shares or securities of, and enter into any contracts with any such corporation, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, or organization, or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, association, or organization in which the Trust or such Series holds or is about to acquire shares or any other interest. Subject to applicable Federal and state law, the Trustees may also cause a merger or consolidation between the Trust or any successor thereto or any Series or class thereof and any such corporation, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, or other organization. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as requiring approval of Shareholders for the Trustees to organize or assist in organizing one or more corporations, trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, or other organizations and selling, conveying, or transferring the Trust property or a portion of the Trust property to such organization or entities; provided, however, that the Trustees shall provide written notice to the affected Shareholders of any transaction whereby, pursuant to this Section 11.07, the Trust or any Series or class thereof sells, conveys, or transfers all or a portion of its assets to another entity or merges or consolidates with another entity. Such transactions may be effected through share-for-share exchanges, transfers or sale of assets, shareholder in-kind redemptions and purchases, exchange offers, or any other method approved by the Trustees. Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3815(f) of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Trust Instrument, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved by the Trustees in accordance with this Section 11.07 may effect any amendment to the Trust Instrument or effect the adoption of a new Trust Instrument of the Trust if it is the surviving or resulting trust in the merger or consolidation.
FILING OF COPIES, REFERENCES, HEADINGS
Section 11.08 . The original or a copy of this Trust Instrument and of each amendment hereof or Trust Instrument supplemental hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. A supplemental trust instrument executed by any one Trustee may be relied upon as a Supplement hereof. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer or Trustee of the Trust as to whether or not any such amendments or supplements have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder, and with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a
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copy certified by an officer or Trustee of the Trust to be a copy of this Trust Instrument or of any such amendment or supplemental Trust Instrument. In this Trust Instrument or in any such amendment or supplemental Trust Instrument, references to this Trust Instrument, and all expressions like herein, hereof and hereunder, shall be deemed to refer to this Trust Instrument as amended or affected by any such supplemental Trust Instrument. All expressions like his, he and him, shall be deemed to include the feminine and neuter, as well as masculine, genders. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and in case of any conflict, the text of this Trust Instrument, rather than the headings, shall control. This Trust Instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.
APPLICABLE LAW
Section 11.09 . The trust set forth in this instrument is made in the State of Delaware, and the Trust and this Trust Instrument, and the rights and obligations of the Trustees and Shareholders hereunder, are to be governed by and construed and administered according to the Delaware Act and the laws of said State; provided, however, that there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees or this Trust Instrument (a) the provisions of Section 3540 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code or (b) any provisions of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of Delaware (other than the Delaware Act) pertaining to trusts which relate to or regulate (i) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (ii) affirmative requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (iii) the necessity for obtaining court or other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real or personal property, (iv) fees or other sums payable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (v) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or principal, (vi) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature, amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling, storage or other manner of holding of trust assets, or (vii) the establishment of fiduciary or other standards or responsibilities or limitations on the acts or powers of trustees, which are inconsistent with the limitations or liabilities or authorities and powers of the Trustees set forth or referenced in this Trust Instrument. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a statutory trust, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust under Delaware law. The Trust specifically reserves the right to exercise any of the powers or privileges afforded to trusts or actions that may be engaged in by trusts under the Delaware Act, and the absence of a specific reference herein to any such power, privilege or action shall not imply that the Trust may not exercise such power or privilege or take such actions.
AMENDMENTS
Section 11.10 . Except as specifically provided herein, the Trustees may, without shareholder vote, amend or otherwise supplement this Trust Instrument by making an amendment, a Trust Instrument supplemental hereto or an amended and restated Trust Instrument. Shareholders shall have the right to vote (i) on any amendment which would affect their right to vote granted in Section 7.01 of Article VII hereof, (ii) on any amendment to this Section 11.10, (iii) on any amendment as may be required by law or by the Trusts registration statement filed with the Commission and (iv) on any amendment submitted to them by the Trustees. Any amendment required or permitted to be submitted to Shareholders which, as the Trustees determine, shall affect the Shareholders of one or more Series shall be authorized by vote of the Shareholders of each Series affected and no vote of shareholders of a Series not affected shall be required. Notwithstanding anything else herein, any amendment to Article 10 hereof shall not limit the rights to indemnification or insurance provided therein with respect to action or omission of Covered Persons prior to such amendment.
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FISCAL YEAR
Section 11.11 . The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on a specified date as set forth in the Bylaws, provided, however, that the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, change the fiscal year of the Trust.
USE OF THE WORD FIDELITY
Section 11.12 . Fidelity Management & Research Company (FMR) has consented to, and granted a non-exclusive license for, the use by any Series or by the Trust of the identifying word Fidelity or Spartan in the name of any Series or of the Trust. Such consent is subject to revocation by FMR in its discretion, if FMR or subsidiary or affiliate thereof is not employed as the investment adviser of each Series of the Trust. As between the Trust and FMR, FMR controls the use of the name of the Trust insofar as such name contains the identifying word Fidelity or Spartan. FMR may, from time to time, use the identifying word Fidelity or Spartan in other connections and for other purposes, including, without limitation, in the names of other investment companies, corporations or businesses which it may manage, advise, sponsor or own or in which it may have a financial interest. FMR may require the Trust or any Series thereof to cease using the identifying word Fidelity or Spartan in the name of the Trust or any Series thereof if the Trust or any Series thereof ceases to employ FMR or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof as investment adviser.
PROVISIONS IN CONFLICT WITH LAW
Section 11.13 . The provisions of this Trust Instrument are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Trust Instrument; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Trust Instrument or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination. If any provision of this Trust Instrument shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provisions in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Trust Instrument in any jurisdiction.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being all of the initial Trustees of the Trust, have executed this instrument as of the date set forth above.
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/s/ Abigail P. Johnson |
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Abigail P. Johnson* |
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/s/ Roger T. Servison |
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Roger T. Servison* |
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/s/ Richard Spillane |
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Richard Spillane* |
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* Initial and Interested Trustee |
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The business address of the initial
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Interested Trustees (*): |
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82 Devonshire Street
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Exhibit (b)
September 25, 2006
BYLAWS
of
FIDELITY RUTLAND SQUARE TRUST II
These Bylaws of Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II (the Trust) are subject to the Trust Instrument of the Trust, as from time to time amended, supplemented or restated (the Trust Instrument). Capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Instrument are used as therein defined.
ARTICLE I
PRINCIPAL OFFICE
The principal office of the Trust shall be located in Boston, Massachusetts, or such other location as the Trustees may, from time to time, determine. The Trust may establish and maintain such other offices and places of business as the Trustees may, from time to time, determine.
ARTICLE II
OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION
Officers
Section 1 . The officers of the Trust shall be a President, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and such other officers as the Trustees may from time to time elect. The Trustees may delegate to any officer or committee the power to appoint any subordinate officers or agents. It shall not be necessary for any Trustee or other officer to be a holder of Shares in the Trust.
Election of Officers
Section 2 . The President, Treasurer and Secretary shall be chosen by the Trustees. Subject to the provisions of Section 14 of Article III hereof, the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary shall each hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified and all other officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the Trustees.
Resignations
Section 3 . Any officer of the Trust may resign, notwithstanding Section 2 hereof, by filing a written resignation with the President, the Trustees or the Secretary, which resignation shall take effect on being so filed or at such time as may be therein specified.
ARTICLE III
POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES
Management Of The Trust-General
Section 1 . The business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Trustees, and they shall have all powers necessary and desirable to carry out their responsibilities, so far as such powers are not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware, the Trust Instrument or with these Bylaws.
Executive And Other Committees
Section 2 . The Trustees may elect from their own number an executive committee, which shall have any or all the powers of the Trustees while the Trustees are not in session. The Trustees may also elect from their own number other committees from time to time. The number composing such committees and the powers conferred
upon the same are to be determined by vote of a majority of the Trustees. All members of such committees shall hold such offices at the pleasure of the Trustees. The Trustees may abolish any such committee at any time. Any committee to which the Trustees delegate any of their powers or duties shall keep records of its meetings and shall report its actions to the Trustees. The Trustees shall have power to rescind any action of any committee, but no such rescission shall have retroactive effect.
Compensation
Section 3 . Each Trustee and each committee member may receive such compensation for his services and reimbursement for his expenses as may be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Trustees.
Chairman Of The Trustees
Section 4 . The Trustees shall appoint from among their number a Chairman who shall serve as such at the pleasure of the Trustees. When present, he shall preside at all meetings of the Shareholders and the Trustees, and he may, subject to the approval of the Trustees, appoint a Trustee to preside at meetings of the Trustees in his absence. He shall perform such other duties as the Trustees may from time to time designate.
President
Section 5 . The President shall be the sole chief executive officer of the Trust and, subject to the direction of the Trustees, shall have general administrative responsibilities for the Trust, but shall not have responsibility for the provision of any investment advisory service or management service that is the subject of a management agreement between the Trust (or any Series within the Trust) and an adviser or sub-adviser. The President, together with the Chief Financial Officer, shall be responsible for the design, establishment, maintenance and evaluation of internal controls and certification of any reports to the extent and in the manner required under applicable laws and regulations. Except as the Trustees may otherwise order, the President shall have the power to grant, issue, execute or sign such powers of attorney, proxies, agreements or other documents as may be deemed advisable or necessary in the furtherance of the interests of the Trust or any Series thereof. He shall also have the power to employ attorneys, accountants and other advisors and agents and counsel for the Trust. The President shall perform such duties additional to all of the foregoing as the Trustees may from time to time designate.
Treasurer
Section 6 . The Treasurer shall deliver all funds and securities of the Trust which may come into his hands to such company as the Trustees shall employ as Custodian in accordance with the Trust Instrument and applicable provisions of law. He shall make annual reports regarding the business and condition of the Trust, which reports shall be preserved in Trust records, and he shall furnish such other reports regarding the business and condition of the Trust as the Trustees may from time to time require. The Treasurer shall perform such additional duties as the Trustees may from time to time designate.
Chief Financial Officer
Section 7 . The Chief Financial Officer, together with the President, shall be responsible for the design, establishment, maintenance and evaluation of internal controls and certification of any reports to the extent and in the manner required under applicable laws and regulations. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform such additional duties as the Trustees may from time to time designate.
Secretary
Section 8 . The Secretary shall record in books kept for the purpose all votes and proceedings of the Trustees and the Shareholders at their respective meetings. He shall have the custody of the seal of the Trust. The Secretary shall perform such additional duties as the Trustees may from time to time designate.
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Vice President
Section 9 . Any Vice President of the Trust shall perform such duties as the Trustees or the President may from time to time designate. At the request or in the absence or disability of the President, the Vice President (or, if there are two or more Vice Presidents, then the senior of the Vice Presidents present and able to act) may perform all the duties of the President and, when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President.
Assistant Treasurer
Section 10 . Any Assistant Treasurer of the Trust shall perform such duties as the Trustees or the Treasurer may from time to time designate, and, in the absence of the Treasurer, the senior Assistant Treasurer, present and able to act, may perform all the duties of the Treasurer.
Assistant Secretary
Section 11 . Any Assistant Secretary of the Trust shall perform such duties as the Trustees or the Secretary may from time to time designate, and, in the absence of the Secretary, the senior Assistant Secretary, present and able to act, may perform all the duties of the Secretary.
Subordinate Officers
Section 12 . The Trustees from time to time may appoint such other officers or agents as they may deem advisable, each of whom shall have such title, hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as the Trustees may determine. The Trustees from time to time may delegate to one or more officers or committees of Trustees the power to appoint any such subordinate officers or agents and to prescribe their respective terms of office, authorities and duties.
Surety Bonds
Section 13 . The Trustees may require any officer or agent of the Trust to execute a bond (including, without limitation, any bond required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission)) to the Trust in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Trustees may determine, conditioned upon the faithful performance of his duties to the Trust including responsibility for negligence and for the accounting of any of the Trusts property, funds or securities that may come into his hands.
Removal
Section 14 . Any officer may be removed from office whenever in the judgment of the Trustees the best interest of the Trust will be served thereby, by the vote of a majority of the Trustees given at any regular meeting or any special meeting of the Trustees. In addition, any officer or agent appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 12 hereof may be removed, either with or without cause, by any officer upon whom such power of removal shall have been conferred by the Trustees.
Remuneration
Section 15 . The salaries or other compensation, if any, of the officers of the Trust shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Trustees.
ARTICLE IV
SHAREHOLDERS MEETINGS
Special Meetings
Section 1 . A special meeting of the shareholders shall be called by the Secretary whenever (i) ordered by the Trustees or (ii) requested in writing by the holder or holders of at least 10% of the Outstanding Shares entitled to vote. If the Secretary, when so ordered or requested, refuses or neglects for more than 30 days to call such special meeting, the Trustees or the Shareholders so requesting, may, in the name of the Secretary, call the meeting by
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giving notice thereof in the manner required when notice is given by the Secretary. If the meeting is a meeting of the Shareholders of one or more Series or classes of Shares, but not a meeting of all Shareholders of the Trust, then only special meetings of the Shareholders of such one or more Series or classes shall be called and only the shareholders of such one or more Series or classes shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting.
Notices
Section 2 . Except as above provided, notices of any meeting of the Shareholders shall be given by the Secretary by delivering (by electronic, telephonic, telegraphic, facsimile or computerized means or other alternative means as may be approved by resolutions adopted by the Trustees) or mailing, postage prepaid addressed to such address as may be registered with the Trust, to each Shareholder entitled to vote at said meeting, notification of such meeting at least fifteen (15) days before the meeting. Shareholders shall be provided reasonable notice of any future alternative means of notice delivery approved by resolutions adopted by the Trustees other than electronic, telephonic, telegraphic, facsimile or computerized notice. Notice of any Shareholder meeting need not be given to any Shareholder if a written waiver of notice (including, but not limited to, electronic, telegraphic, facsimile or computerized writings), executed before or after such meeting, is filed with the record of such meeting, or to any Shareholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy. Notice of adjournment of a Shareholders meeting to another time or place need not be given, if such time and place are announced at the meeting or reasonable notice is given to persons present at the meeting and the adjourned meeting is held within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting.
Chairman of the Meetings
Section 3 . When present, the Chairman of the Trustees shall serve as Chairman of, and shall preside at, all meetings of the Shareholders. When the Chairman of the Trustees is not present, the Treasurer shall serve as Chairman of, and shall preside at, all meetings of the Shareholders, and the Treasurer may appoint another officer of the Trust to serve as Chairman of, and to preside at, such meetings in his or her absence.
Conduct of the Meetings
Section 4 . The Trustees shall be entitled to make such rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of the Shareholders as they shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient. Subject to such rules and regulations of the Trustees, if any, the Chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such Chairman, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, establishing: an agenda or order of business for the meeting; rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; limitations on participation in such meeting to Shareholders of record of the Trust and their duly authorized and constituted proxies, and such other persons as the Chairman shall permit; restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; and regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for balloting on matters which are to be voted on by ballot, unless and to the extent the Trustees or the Chairman of the meeting determines that meetings of Shareholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
Voting-Proxies
Section 5 . Subject to the provisions of the Trust Instrument, Shareholders entitled to vote may vote either in person or by proxy, provided that either (i) an instrument authorizing such proxy to act is executed in writing by the Shareholder and dated not more than eleven (11) months before the meeting, unless the instrument specifically provides for a longer period or (ii) the Trustees adopt by resolution an electronic, telephonic, computerized or other alternative form of execution authorizing the proxy to act which authorization is received not more than eleven (11) months before the meeting. Proxies shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Trust or other person responsible for recording the proceedings before being voted. A proxy with respect to Shares held in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by one of them unless at or prior to exercise of such proxy the Trust receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. Unless otherwise specifically limited by their terms, proxies shall entitle the holder thereof to vote at any adjournment of a meeting. A proxy purporting to be exercised by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden or proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. At all meetings of the Shareholders, unless the voting is conducted
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by inspectors, all questions relating to the qualifications of voters, the validity of proxies, and the acceptance or rejection of votes shall be decided by the Chairman of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Trust Instrument, as these Bylaws or such Trust Instrument may be amended or supplemented from time to time, all matters relating to the giving, voting or validity of proxies shall be governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust were a Delaware corporation and the Shareholders were shareholders of a Delaware corporation.
Place Of Meeting
Section 6 . All special meetings of the Shareholders shall be held at the principal place of business of the Trust or at such other place in the United States as the Trustees may designate.
Action Without a Meeting
Section 7 . Any action to be taken by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if all Shareholders entitled to vote on the matter consent to the action in writing and the written consents are filed with the records of meetings of Shareholders of the Trust. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote at a meeting of the Shareholders held at the principal place of business of the Trust.
ARTICLE V
TRUSTEES MEETINGS
Special Meetings
Section 1 . Special meetings of the Trustees may be called orally or in writing by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees or any two other Trustees.
Regular Meetings
Section 2 . Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held at such places and at such times as the Trustees may from time to time determine; each Trustee present at such determination shall be deemed a party calling the meeting and no call or notice will be required to such Trustee provided that any Trustee who is absent when such determination is made shall be given notice of the determination by the Chairman or any two other Trustees, as provided for in the Trust Instrument.
Quorum
Section 3 . A majority of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and an action of a majority of the quorum shall constitute action of the Trustees. If at any meeting of the Trustees there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the Trustees present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be obtained. Notice of an adjourned meeting need not be given.
Notice
Section 4 . Except as otherwise provided, notice of any special meeting of the Trustees shall be given by the party calling the meeting to each Trustee, as provided for in the Trust Instrument. A written notice may be mailed, postage prepaid, addressed to him at his address as registered on the books of the Trust or, if not so registered, at his last known address.
Place Of Meeting
Section 5 . All special meetings of the Trustees shall be held at the principal place of business of the Trust or such other place as the Trustees may designate. Any meeting may adjourn to any place.
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Special Action
Section 6 . When all the Trustees shall be present at any meeting, however called or wherever held, or shall assent to the holding of the meeting without notice, or shall sign a written assent thereto filed with the record of such meeting, the acts of such meeting shall be valid as if such meeting had been regularly held.
Action By Consent
Section 7 . Any action by the Trustees may be taken without a meeting if a written consent thereto is signed by all the Trustees and filed with the records of the Trustees meeting. Such consent shall be treated, for all purposes, as a vote at a meeting of the Trustees held at the principal place of business of the Trustees.
Participation in Meetings By Conference Telephone
Section 8 . Trustees may participate in a meeting of Trustees by conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. Any meeting conducted by telephone shall be deemed to take place at and from the principal office of the Trust.
ARTICLE VI
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Beneficial Interest
Section 1 . The beneficial interest in the Trust shall at all times be divided into such transferable Shares of one or more separate and distinct Series, or classes thereof, as the Trustees shall from time to time create and establish. The number of Shares is unlimited, and each Share of each Series or class thereof shall be without par value and shall represent an equal proportionate interest with each other Share in the Series, none having priority or preference over another, except to the extent that such priorities or preferences are established with respect to one or more classes of shares consistent with applicable law and any rule or order of the Commission.
Transfer of Shares
Section 2 . The Shares of the Trust shall be transferable, so as to affect the rights of the Trust, only by transfer recorded on the books of the Trust, in person or by attorney.
Equitable Interest Not Recognized
Section 3 . The Trust shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any Share or Shares of beneficial interest as the holder in fact thereof, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim or interest in such Share or Shares on the part of any other person except as may be otherwise expressly provided by law.
Share Certificate
Section 4 . No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise authorize. The Trustees may issue certificates to a Shareholder of any Series or class thereof for any purpose and the issuance of a certificate to one or more Shareholders shall not require the issuance of certificates generally. In the event that the Trustees authorize the issuance of Share certificates, such certificate shall be in the form proscribed from time to time by the Trustees and shall be signed by the President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary. Such signatures may be facsimiles if the certificate is signed by a transfer or shareholder services agent or by a registrar, other than a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust. In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Trust with the same effect as if he or she were such officer at the time of its issue.
In lieu of issuing certificates for Shares, the Trustees or the transfer or shareholder services agent may either issue receipts therefor or may keep accounts upon the books of the Trust for the record holders of such Shares, who shall in either case be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be the holders of certificates for such Shares as if they had accepted such certificates and shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof.
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Loss of Certificate
Section 5 . In the case of the alleged loss or destruction or the mutilation of a Share certificate, a duplicate certificate may be issued in place thereof, upon such terms as the Trustees may prescribe.
Discontinuance of Issuance Of Certificates
Section 6 . The Trustees may at any time discontinue the issuance of Share certificates and may, by written notice to each Shareholder, require the surrender of Share certificates to the Trust for cancellation. Such surrender and cancellation shall not affect the ownership or transferability of Shares in the Trust.
ARTICLE VII
OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS OF THE TRUST
The Trustees, acting for and on behalf of the Trust, shall be deemed to hold legal and beneficial ownership of any income earned on securities held by the Trust issued by any business entity formed, organized or existing under the laws of any jurisdiction other than a state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States or the laws of the United States.
ARTICLE VIII
INSPECTION OF BOOKS
The Trustees shall from time to time determine whether and to what extent, and at what times and places, and under what conditions and regulations the accounts and books of the Trust or any of them shall be open to the inspection of the Shareholders; and no Shareholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Trust except as conferred by law or otherwise by the Trustees or by resolution of the Shareholders.
ARTICLE IX
INSURANCE OF OFFICERS, TRUSTEES, AND EMPLOYEES
The Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Covered Person or employee of the Trust, including any Covered Person or employee of the Trust who is or was serving at the request of the Trust as a Trustee, officer or employee of a corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Trustees would have the power to indemnify him against such liability.
The Trust may not acquire or obtain a contract for insurance that protects or purports to protect any Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason or willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
ARTICLE X
SEAL
The seal of the Trust shall be circular in form and bear the name of the trust and the year of its organization. The form of the seal shall be subject to alteration by the Trustees and the seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile to be impressed or affixed or printed or otherwise reproduced.
Any officer or Trustee of the Trust shall have authority to affix the seal of the Trust to any document, instrument or other paper executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Trust; however, unless otherwise required by the Trustees, the seal shall not be necessary to be placed on and its absence shall not impair the validity of any document, instrument, or other paper executed by or on behalf of the Trust.
ARTICLE XI
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of each Series of the Trust shall end on such date as the Trustees shall from time to time determine.
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ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Trustees of the Trust by a majority vote.
ARTICLE XIII
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
The Trustees shall at least semi-annually submit to the Shareholders a written financial report of the Trust including financial statements which shall be certified at least annually by independent public accountants.
XIV
HEADINGS
Headings are placed in these Bylaws for convenience of reference only and in case of any conflict, the text of these Bylaws rather than the headings shall control.
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