Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 9, 2014
Securities Act of 1933 File No. 002-80859
Investment Company Act of 1940 File No. 811-03651
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 x
Pre-Effective Amendment No.
Post-Effective Amendment No. 108
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 x
Amendment No. 108
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) Zip Code
Registrants Telephone Number, including Area Code: (513) 878-4066
Jill T. McGruder, 303 Broadway, Suite 1100 Cincinnati, OH 45202
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
With Copies to:
Deborah Bielicke Eades, Esq.
Renee M. Hardt
Vedder Price P.C.
222 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 609-7661
It is proposed that this filing will become effective
(check appropriate box)
x immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
o on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
o 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
o on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
o 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
o on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.
o This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the Touchstone Strategic Trust (the Trust) relates to the creation of new series of the Trust: Touchstone Large Cap Fund. The prospectus and statement of additional information for the existing series of the Trust are not changed by the filing of this Post-Effective Amendment.
July 9, 2014
Prospectus
Touchstone Strategic Trust
|
|
Class A |
|
Class C |
|
Class Y |
|
Institutional |
Touchstone Large Cap Fund |
|
TACLX |
|
TFCCX |
|
TLCYX |
|
TLCIX |
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Table of Contents
|
Page |
TOUCHSTONE LARGE CAP FUND SUMMARY |
3 |
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS |
6 |
THE FUNDS MANAGEMENT |
7 |
CHOOSING A CLASS OF SHARES |
9 |
DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS |
11 |
INVESTING WITH TOUCHSTONE |
12 |
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES |
21 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
23 |
TOUCHSTONE LARGE CAP FUND SUMMARY
The Funds Investment Goal
The Touchstone Large Cap Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investors with long-term capital growth.
The Funds Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts for Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 or more in Touchstone Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional, in the section entitled Choosing a Class of Shares in the Funds prospectus on page 9, and in the Funds Statement of Additional Information (SAI) on page 20.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
Class A |
|
Class C |
|
Class Y |
|
Institutional |
|
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) |
|
5.75% |
|
None |
|
None |
|
None |
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or the amount redeemed, whichever is less) |
|
None |
|
1.00% |
|
None |
|
None |
|
Wire Redemption Fee |
|
Up to $15 |
|
Up to $15 |
|
Up to $15 |
|
Up to $15 |
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Management Fees |
|
0.70% |
|
0.70% |
|
0.70% |
|
0.70% |
|
Distribution or Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
0.25% |
|
1.00% |
|
None |
|
None |
|
Other Expenses |
|
0.44% |
|
0.73% |
|
0.37% |
|
0.27% |
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses |
|
1.39% |
|
2.43% |
|
1.07% |
|
0.97% |
|
Fee Waiver or Expense Reimbursement(1) |
|
(0.27)% |
|
(0.56)% |
|
(0.20)% |
|
(0.20)% |
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver or Expense Reimbursement |
|
1.12% |
|
1.87% |
|
0.87% |
|
0.77% |
|
(1)Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and the Trust have entered into an expense limitation agreement whereby Touchstone Advisors will waive a portion of its fees or reimburse certain Fund expenses (excluding dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales; interest; taxes; brokerage commissions; other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; the cost of Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, if any; and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business) in order to limit annual fund operating expenses to 1.12%, 1.87%, 0.87%, and 0.77%, of average monthly net assets for Classes A, C, Y, and Institutional Class shares, respectively. This agreement will remain in effect through at least July 9, 2015, but can be terminated by a vote of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board) if it deems the termination to be beneficial to the Fund. The terms of Touchstone Advisors expense limitation agreement provide that Touchstone Advisors is entitled to recoup, subject to approval by the Board, such amounts waived or reimbursed for a period of up to three years from the year in which Touchstone Advisors reduced its compensation or assumed expenses for the Fund. No recoupment will occur unless the Funds expenses are below the expense limitation amount in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement. See the discussion entitled Expense Limitation Agreement under the section entitled The Advisor in the Funds SAI for more information.
Example. This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then, except as indicated, redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Funds operating expenses remain the same (including the expense limit). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
|
Assuming Redemption at End of Period |
|
Assuming No Redemption |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
Class A |
|
Class C |
|
Class Y |
|
Institutional |
|
Class C |
|
|||||
1 Year |
|
$ |
683 |
|
$ |
190 |
|
$ |
89 |
|
$ |
79 |
|
$ |
290 |
|
3 Years |
|
$ |
966 |
|
$ |
704 |
|
$ |
321 |
|
$ |
289 |
|
$ |
704 |
|
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities ( i.e. , turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Funds performance. The Fund is a new series and therefore it does not yet have a portfolio turnover rate.
The Funds Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in common stocks of large capitalization U.S. listed companies. This is a nonfundamental investment policy that the Fund can change upon 60-day prior notice to shareholders. For purposes of the Fund, a large capitalization company has a market capitalization within the range represented in the Russell 1000 ® Index (between $1.01 billion and $494 billion as of February 28, 2014) at the time of purchase. The size of the companies in the Russell 1000 ® Index will change with market conditions.
The Funds sub-advisor, London Company of Virginia d/b/a/ The London Company (the Sub-Advisor) seeks to purchase financially stable large-cap companies that it believes are consistently generating high returns on unleveraged operating capital, run by shareholder-oriented management, and trading at a discount to the companys respective private market values. Guiding principles of the Sub-Advisors large-cap philosophy include: (1) a focus on cash return on tangible capital, not earnings per share; (2) balance sheet optimization; (3) optimal allocation of investments is essential to good investment results; and (4) low turnover and tax sensitivity enhances real returns. The Sub-Advisor utilizes a bottom-up approach in the security selection process. The firm screens a large-cap universe against an internally developed quantitative model, scoring companies along several dimensions including return on capital, earnings to enterprise value ratio, and free cash flow yield. The portfolio management team seeks companies that are trading at 30-40% discount to intrinsic value. The Sub-Advisor looks at a companys corporate governance structure and management incentives to try to ascertain whether managements interests are aligned with shareholders interests. The Sub-Advisor seeks to identify the sources of a companys competitive advantage as well as what levers management has at its disposal to increase shareholder value. Securities are ultimately added to the Fund when the Sub-Advisor determines that the risk/reward profile of the security has made it attractive to warrant purchase.
The Fund is non-diversified and will typically hold approximately 30 to 40 securities. The Sub-Advisor invests for the long term and attempts to minimize turnover in an effort to reduce transaction costs and taxes.
The Sub-Advisor generally sells a security when: it becomes overvalued and has reached its price target; the issuers fundamentals deteriorate; there is significant trading activity by insiders; or there is a more promising alternative. The Sub-Advisor may also sell a security to adjust the Funds overall portfolio risk.
The Funds Principal Risks
The Funds share price will fluctuate. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund and the Fund could also return less than other investments. The Fund is subject to the principal risks summarized below.
Equity Securities Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that equity prices will decrease, which could result in a decline in the value of the Funds shares. This price volatility and the Funds unsecured ownership status as an equity holder are the principal risks to its equity investments.
· Large-Cap Risk: Stocks of larger companies may underperform relative to those of small- and mid-sized companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.
Management Risk: In managing the Funds portfolio, Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the Advisor) engages one or more sub-advisors to make investment decisions on a portion of or the entire portfolio. There is a risk that the Advisor may be unable to identify and retain sub-advisors who achieve superior investment returns relative to other similar sub-advisors. The value of your investment may decrease if a sub-advisor incorrectly judges the attractiveness, value, or market trends affecting a particular security, issuer, industry, or sector.
Non-Diversification Risk: The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it may invest a significant percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or limited number of issuers.
This Fund should only be purchased by investors seeking long-term capital growth who can withstand the share price volatility of equity investing. As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment goal.
The Funds Performance
The Funds performance information is only shown when it has had a full calendar year of operations. Since the Fund is a new series, there is no performance information included in this summary prospectus. For a discussion on the Prior Performance for Similar Accounts Managed by the Sub-Advisor see the Funds prospectus on page 8.
The Funds Management
Investment Advisor
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
Sub-Advisor |
|
Portfolio
|
|
Investment Experience
|
|
Primary Title with
|
London Company of Virginia d/b/a/ The London Company |
|
Stephen Goddard, CFA |
|
Managing the Fund since its inception in July 2014 |
|
President, CIO and Lead Portfolio Manager |
Buying and Selling Fund Shares
Minimum Investment Requirements
|
|
Classes A, C, and Y |
|
||||
|
|
Initial
|
|
Additional
|
|
||
Regular Account |
|
$ |
2,500 |
|
$ |
50 |
|
Retirement Account or Custodial Account under the Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act |
|
$ |
1,000 |
|
$ |
50 |
|
Investments through the Automatic Investment Plan |
|
$ |
100 |
|
$ |
50 |
|
|
|
Institutional Class |
|
||||
|
|
Initial
|
|
Additional
|
|
||
Regular Account |
|
$ |
500,000 |
|
$ |
50 |
|
You may buy and sell shares in the Fund on a day when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. Classes A and C shares may be purchased and sold directly from Touchstone Securities, Inc. or through your financial intermediary. Class Y shares are available only through your financial intermediary. Institutional Class shares are available through Touchstone Securities, Inc. or your financial intermediary. Shares may be purchased or sold through Touchstone Securities by writing to it at P.O. Box 9878, Providence, RI 02940, calling 1.800.543.0407, or visiting the Touchstone Funds website: www.TouchstoneInvestments.com. You may only sell shares over the telephone or via the internet if the amount is less than or equal to $100,000. Shares held in IRA accounts and qualified retirement plans cannot be sold by telephone or via the internet. If your shares are held by a financial intermediary you will need to follow its purchase and redemption procedures.
Tax Information
The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains except when shares are held through a tax-deferred account, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Shares that are held in a tax-deferred account may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains once they are withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediarys website for more information.
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
Can the Fund Depart From Its Principal Investment Strategies?
In addition to the investments and strategies described in this prospectus, the Touchstone Large Cap Fund (the Fund or Large Cap Fund) also may invest in other securities, use other strategies, and engage in other investment practices. These investments and strategies are described in detail in the Funds Statement of Additional Information Touchstone Strategic (the SAI).
The Funds investment goal is non-fundamental and may be changed by the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board) without shareholder approval. You would be notified at least 60 days before any change takes effect.
The investments and strategies described throughout this prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. For temporary defensive purposes ( e.g. , attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions), the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, repurchase agreements, and short-term obligations ( i.e. , fixed- and variable-rate securities and high quality debt securities of corporate and government issuers) that would not ordinarily be consistent with the Funds goals. This defensive investing may increase the Funds taxable income, and when the Fund is invested defensively it may not achieve its investment objectives. The Fund will do so only if its sub-advisor believes that the risk of loss in using the Funds normal strategies and investments outweighs the opportunity for gains. Of course, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment goal.
Portfolio Composition. The Fund has adopted a policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets in certain types of investments suggested by its name (the 80% Policy). For purposes of the 80% Policy, the term assets means net assets plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes. The Fund must comply with its 80% Policy at the time it invests its assets. Accordingly, when the Fund no longer meets the 80% requirement as a result of circumstances beyond its control, such as changes in the value of portfolio holdings, it would not have to sell its holdings, but would have to make any new investments in such a way as to comply with the 80% Policy.
Change in Market Capitalization. The Fund specifies in its principal investment strategy a market capitalization range for acquiring large-cap securities. If a security that is within the range for the Fund at the time of purchase later falls outside the range, which is most likely to happen because of market fluctuation, the Fund may continue to hold the security if, in the sub-advisors judgment, the security remains otherwise consistent with the Funds investment goal and strategies. However, this change could affect the Funds flexibility in making new investments.
Does The Fund Have Other Investment Strategies In Addition To Its Principal Investment Strategies?
Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), the rules thereunder and applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) staff interpretations thereof, or applicable exemptive relief.
Lending of Portfolio Securities. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to financial intermediaries under guidelines adopted by the Board, including a requirement that the Fund receive collateral equal to no less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities. The risk in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of credit, consists of possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower financially fail. In determining whether to lend securities, Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the Advisor or Touchstone Advisors) will consider all relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower. More information on securities lending is available in the SAI.
What are the Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund?
The following is a list of principal risks that may apply to your investment in the Fund. Further information about investment risks is available in the Funds SAI:
Equity Securities Risk: The Funds equity investments are subject to factors specific to the issuer and, more broadly, the market. These factors include the economic results of the issuer or other events affecting it, and generally economic, political, or regulatory events affecting the issuers industry or equity markets. Equity prices tend to be more volatile than fixed-income prices.
Equity securities tend to underperform fixed-income securities in recessionary or slower-growth market environments. Such environments have historically moved in cycles. Also, equity securities represent an unsecured ownership interest in the issuer and therefore have a lower position relative to secured creditors in the event of the issuers liquidation.
· Large-Cap Risk : Stocks of larger companies may underperform relative to those of small- and mid-sized companies. Large-cap companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during
extended periods of economic expansion.
Management Risk: In managing the Funds portfolio, the Advisor engages one or more sub-advisors to make investment decisions on a portion of or the entire portfolio. There is a risk that the Advisor may be unable to identify and retain sub-advisors who achieve superior investment returns relative to other similar sub-advisors. The value of your investment may decrease if the sub-advisor incorrectly judges the attractiveness, value, or market trends affecting a particular security, issuer, industry, or sector.
Non-Diversification Risk: Subject to federal income tax restrictions relating to the Funds qualification as a regulated investment company, as a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest a significant percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or limited number of issuers. As a result, the Fund may be more sensitive to economic, political, and regulatory developments relating to the issuer or group of issuers in which it invests. This may increase the volatility of the Funds investment performance.
Where Can I Find Information About the Funds Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policies?
A description of the Funds policies and procedures for disclosing portfolio securities to any person is available in the SAI and can also be found on the Touchstone Funds website: www.TouchstoneInvestments.com.
THE FUNDS MANAGEMENT
Investment Advisor
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Touchstone Advisors has been a registered investment advisor since 1994. As of March 31, 2014, Touchstone Advisors had approximately $21 billion in assets under management. As the Funds investment advisor, Touchstone Advisors reviews, supervises, and administers the Funds investment programs and also oversees compliance with the Funds investment policies and guidelines.
Touchstone Advisors is responsible for selecting the Funds sub-advisor(s), subject to approval by the Board. Touchstone Advisors selects a sub-advisor that has shown good investment performance in its areas of expertise. Touchstone Advisors considers various factors in evaluating a sub-advisor, including:
· level of knowledge and skill;
· performance as compared to its peers or benchmark;
· consistency of performance over 5 years or more;
· level of compliance with investment rules and strategies;
· employees facilities and financial strength; and
· quality of service.
Touchstone Advisors will also monitor each sub-advisors performance through various analyses and through in-person, telephone, and written consultations with each sub-advisor. Touchstone Advisors discusses its expectations for performance with each sub-advisor and provides evaluations and recommendations to the Board, including whether or not a sub-advisors contract should be renewed, modified, or terminated.
The SEC has granted an exemptive order that permits the Trust or Touchstone Advisors, under certain conditions, to select or change unaffiliated sub-advisors, enter into new sub-advisory agreements or amend existing sub-advisory agreements without first obtaining shareholder approval. The Fund must still obtain shareholder approval of any sub-advisory agreement with a sub-advisor affiliated with the Trust or Touchstone Advisors other than by reason of serving as a sub-advisor to one or more Funds. Shareholders of the Fund will be notified of any changes in its sub-advisory arrangements.
Two or more sub-advisors may manage a Fund, with each managing a portion of the Funds assets. If a Fund has more than one sub-advisor, Touchstone Advisors allocates how much of a Funds assets are managed by each sub-advisor. Touchstone Advisors may change these allocations from time to time, often based upon the results of its evaluations of the sub-advisors.
Touchstone Advisors is also responsible for running all of the operations of the Fund, except those that are subcontracted to a sub-advisor, custodian, transfer agent, sub-administrative agent, or other parties. For its services, Touchstone Advisors is entitled to receive a base investment advisory fee from the Fund as listed below at an annualized rate, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. The Annual Fee Rate below is the fee that the Fund expects to pay Touchstone Advisors for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2014 and ending June 30, 2015. Touchstone Advisors pays the sub-advisory fee to the sub-advisor from the advisory fee.
Fund |
|
Annual Fee Rate |
Large Cap Fund |
|
0.70% of average daily net assets |
Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreement Approval. A discussion of the basis for the Boards approval of the Funds advisory and sub-advisory agreements will be found in the Trusts semi-annual report dated December 31, 2014.
Sub-Advisor and Portfolio Manager
Listed below are the Funds sub-advisor and portfolio manager, who has responsibility for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. A brief biographical description of the portfolio manager is also provided.
London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company (The London Company or TLC) , located at 1801 Bayberry Court, Suite 301, Richmond, VA, 23226, serves as sub-advisor to the Touchstone Small Cap Core Fund, Touchstone Mid Cap Fund, and Touchstone Large Cap Fund. As sub-advisor, TLC makes investment decisions for each Fund and also ensures compliance with the Funds investment policies and guidelines. TLC was founded in 1994 and is majority employee owned. Stephen Goddard may be deemed to be a control person of TLC through his ownership in TLC Holdings LLC, which owns 75% of TLC. As of December 31, 2013, TLC had approximately $8.4 billion in assets under management.
Large Cap Fund
Stephen Goddard , CFA, President, CIO and Lead Portfolio Manager, founded The London Company in 1994. Previously, he held Senior Portfolio Management positions at CFB Advisory and Flippin, Bruce & Porter. He has over 24 years of investment experience.
Additional Information. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers compensation structure, his other managed accounts and ownership of securities in his managed Funds.
Prior Performance for Similar Accounts Managed by the Sub-Advisor
The following tables set forth composite performance data relating to the historical performance of all accounts managed by the Sub-Advisor for the periods indicated with investment objectives, policies, strategies, and risks substantially similar to those of the Fund. The data is provided to illustrate the past performance of the Sub-Advisor in managing substantially similar accounts as measured against market indices and does not represent the performance of the Fund.
The TLC Large Cap accounts (the Accounts) comprising the composite are not subject to the same types of expenses to which the Fund is subject, certain investment limitations, diversification requirements, and other restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, each as amended. Thus, the performance results for the Accounts could have been adversely affected if the Accounts had been regulated as investment companies under federal securities and tax laws. You should not consider this performance data as an indication of future performance of the Fund.
Average Annual Total Returns
For the period ended December 31, 2013
|
|
1 Year |
|
5 Years |
|
10 Years |
|
The London Company Large Cap Composite |
|
28.61 |
% |
18.78 |
% |
9.21 |
% |
Russell 1000® Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes) |
|
33.11 |
% |
18.59 |
% |
7.78 |
% |
The composite is managed by The London Company and Stephen Goddard. The composites performance was calculated using the standardized SEC method to calculate the performance. The composite returns are net of actual fees and expenses and reflect the reinvestment of all income. The returns and The London Company have been independently verified for the periods June 30, 1994 through June 30, 2013 by ACA Performance Services. Verification assesses whether (1) the firm has complied with all the composite construction requirements of the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS) on a firm-wide basis and (2) the firms policies and procedures are designed to calculate and present performance in compliance with GIPS.
Composite returns have been reduced by the amount of the highest fee charged to any client of the Sub-Advisor invested in a substantially similar strategy for the period under consideration. Actual fees may vary depending on, among other things, the applicable management fee schedule and portfolio size. The returns shown are net of all fees and expenses. The fees and expenses of the composite are lower than the anticipated operating expenses of the Fund and accordingly, the performance results of the composite are higher than what the Funds performance would have been. The Funds fees are reflected in its fee table in the Summary of this prospectus.
CHOOSING A CLASS OF SHARES
Share Class Offerings. Each class of shares has different sales charges and distribution fees. The amount of sales charges and distribution fees you pay will depend on which class of shares you decide to purchase.
Class A Shares
The offering price of Class A shares of the Fund is equal to its net asset value (NAV) plus a front-end sales charge that you pay when you buy your shares. The front-end sales charge is generally deducted from the amount of your investment. Class A shares are subject to a Rule 12b-1 distribution fee of up to 0.25% of the Funds average daily net assets allocable to Class A shares.
Class A Sales Charge. The following table shows the amount of front-end sales charge you will pay on purchases of Class A shares for the Fund. The amount of front-end sales charge is shown as a percentage of offering price and the net amount invested after the charge has been subtracted. Note that the front-end sales charge gets lower as your investment amount gets larger.
Amount of Your Investment |
|
Sales Charge as % of
|
|
Sales Charge as % of
|
|
Dealer Reallowance as Percentage
|
|
Under $50,000 |
|
5.75 |
% |
6.10 |
% |
5.00 |
% |
$50,000 but less than $100,000 |
|
4.50 |
% |
4.71 |
% |
3.75 |
% |
$100,000 but less than $250,000 |
|
3.50 |
% |
3.63 |
% |
2.75 |
% |
$250,000 but less than $500,000 |
|
2.95 |
% |
3.04 |
% |
2.25 |
% |
$500,000 but less than $1 million |
|
2.25 |
% |
2.30 |
% |
1.75 |
% |
$1 million or more |
|
None |
|
None |
|
None |
|
Waiver of Class A Sales Charge. There is no front-end sales charge if you invest $1 million or more in Class A shares of the Fund. If you redeem shares that were part of the $1 million breakpoint purchase within one year of that purchase, you may pay a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) of up to 1% on the shares redeemed if a commission was paid by Touchstone Securities, Inc. (the Distributor or Touchstone Securities) to a participating unaffiliated broker dealer. There is no front-end sales charge on exchanges between Touchstone Funds with the same load schedule or from a higher load schedule to a lower load schedule. In addition, there is no front-end sales charge on the following purchases:
· Purchases by registered representatives or other employees (and their immediate family members*) of broker-dealers, or other financial intermediaries having selling agreements with Touchstone Securities.
· Purchases in accounts as to which a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary charges an asset management fee economically comparable to a sales charge, provided the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary has a selling agreement with Touchstone Securities.
· Purchases by a trust department of any financial intermediary serving in a fiduciary capacity as trustee to any trust over which it has discretionary trading authority.
· Purchases through a broker-dealer, investment advisor, or financial planner that has agreements with Touchstone Securities, or whose programs are available through financial intermediaries that have agreements with Touchstone Securities relating to mutual fund supermarket programs, fee-based wrap programs, or asset allocation programs.
· Purchases by an employee benefit plan having more than 25 eligible employees or a minimum of $250,000 in plan assets. This waiver applies to any investing employee benefit plan meeting the minimum eligibility requirements and whose transactions are executed through a financial intermediary that has entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to use the Touchstone Funds in connection with the plans accounts. The term employee benefit plan applies to qualified pension, profit-sharing, or other employee benefit plans.
· Purchases by an employee benefit plan that is provided administrative services by a third party administrator that has entered into a special service arrangement with Touchstone Securities.
· Reinvestment of redemption proceeds from Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund if the reinvestment occurs within 90 days of redemption.
* Immediate family members are defined as the spouse, parents, siblings, domestic partner, natural or adopted children, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law of a registered representative or employee. The term employee includes current and retired employees.
In addition, Class A shares may be purchased with no front-end sales charge through certain mutual fund programs sponsored by qualified intermediaries, such as broker-dealers and investment advisors. Examples of these programs include mutual fund supermarkets and wrap programs. In each case, the financial intermediary has entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to include the Touchstone Fund in their program without the imposition of a sales charge. The financial intermediary provides investors
participating in its program with additional services, including advisory, asset allocation, and recordkeeping. You should ask your financial intermediary if it offers and you are eligible to participate in such a mutual fund program and whether participation in the program is consistent with your investment goals. The intermediaries sponsoring or participating in these mutual fund programs also may offer their clients other classes of shares of the Fund and investors may receive different levels of services or pay different fees depending upon the class of shares included in the program. Investors should consider carefully any separate transaction and other fees charged by these programs in connection with investing in each available share class before selecting a share class.
To qualify for the sales charge waiver an investor must mark the appropriate section on the investment application and complete the Special Account Options form. You can obtain the application and form by calling Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407 or by visiting the Touchstone Funds website: https://www.touchstoneinvestments.com/home/formslit/appsforms.php. Purchases at NAV may be made for investment only, and the shares may not be resold except through redemption by or on behalf of the Fund. At the option of the Fund, the front-end sales charge may be included on future purchases.
Reduced Class A Sales Charge. You may also purchase Class A shares of the Fund at the reduced sales charges shown in the table above through the Rights of Accumulation Program or by signing a Letter of Intent. The following purchasers (Qualified Purchasers) may qualify for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program or Letter of Intent:
· an individual, an individuals spouse, an individuals children under the age of 21; or
· a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing shares for a single fiduciary account although more than one beneficiary is involved; or
· employees of a common employer, provided that economies of scale are realized through remittances from a single source and quarterly confirmation of such purchases are provided; or
· an organized group, provided that the purchases are made through a central administrator, a single dealer or other means which result in economy of sales effort or expense.
The following accounts (Qualified Accounts) held in Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund sold with a front-end sales charge may be grouped together to qualify for the reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program or Letter of Intent:
· Individual accounts
· Joint tenant with rights of survivorship accounts
· Uniform gift to minor accounts (UGTMA)
· Trust accounts
· Estate accounts
· Guardian/Conservator accounts
· Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), including Traditional, Roth, Simplified Employee Pension Plans (SEP), and Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE)
· Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (Education IRAs)
Rights of Accumulation Program. Under the Rights of Accumulation Program, you may qualify for a reduced sales charge by aggregating all of your investments held in a Qualified Account. You or your financial intermediary must notify Touchstone Securities at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program and must provide either a list of account numbers or copies of account statements verifying your qualification.
If your shares are held directly in a Touchstone Fund or through a financial intermediary, you may combine the historical cost or current NAV (whichever is higher) of your existing Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund sold with a front-end sales charge with the amount of your current purchase in order to take advantage of the reduced sales charge. Historical cost is the price you actually paid for the shares you own, plus your reinvested dividends and capital gains. If you are using historical cost to qualify for a reduced sales charge, you should retain any records to substantiate your historical costs since the Fund, its transfer agent, or your financial intermediary may not maintain this information.
If your shares are held through financial intermediaries or in a retirement account (such as a 401(k) or employee benefit plan), you may combine the current NAV of your existing Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund sold with a front-end sales charge with the amount of your current purchase in order to take advantage of the reduced sales charge.
Upon receipt of the above referenced supporting documentation, Touchstone Securities will calculate the combined value of all of the Qualified Purchasers Qualified Accounts to determine if the current purchase is eligible for a reduced sales charge. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts (securities held in the name of a dealer or another nominee such as a bank trust department
instead of the customer) may not be aggregated with purchases for other accounts and may not be aggregated with other nominee or street name accounts unless otherwise qualified as described above.
Letter of Intent. If you plan to invest at least $50,000 (excluding any reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions) during the next 13 months in Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund sold with a front-end sales charge, you may qualify for a reduced sales charge by completing the Letter of Intent section of your account application. A Letter of Intent indicates your intent to purchase at least $50,000 in Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund sold with a front-end sales charge over the next 13 months in exchange for a reduced sales charge indicated on the above chart. The minimum initial investment under a Letter of Intent is $10,000. You are not obligated to purchase additional shares if you complete a Letter of Intent. However, if you do not buy enough shares to qualify for the projected level of sales charge by the end of the 13-month period (or when you sell your shares, if earlier), your sales charge will be recalculated to reflect your actual purchase level. During the term of the Letter of Intent, shares representing 5% of your intended purchase will be held in escrow. If you do not purchase enough shares during the 13-month period to qualify for the projected reduced sales charge, the additional sales charge will be deducted from your escrow account. If you have purchased Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund sold with a front-end sales charge within 90 days prior to signing a Letter of Intent, they may be included as part of your intended purchase, however, previous purchase transactions will not be recalculated with the proposed new breakpoint. You must provide either a list of account numbers or copies of account statements verifying your purchases within the past 90 days.
Other Information. Information about sales charges and breakpoints is also available in a clear and prominent format on the Touchstone Funds website: www.TouchstoneInvestments.com. You can access this information by selecting Sales Charges and Breakpoints under the Pricing and Performance link. For more information about qualifying for a reduced or waived sales charge, contact your financial intermediary or contact Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407.
Class C Shares
Class C shares are sold at NAV, without an initial sales charge and are subject to a CDSC of 1.00% on redemptions of Class C shares made within one year of their purchase. The CDSC will be a percentage of the dollar amount of shares redeemed and will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of the NAV at the time of purchase of the Class C shares being redeemed, or the NAV of such Class C shares being redeemed. A CDSC will not be imposed upon redemptions of Class C shares held for at least one year. Class C shares are subject to an annual Rule 12b-1 fee of up to 1.00% of the Funds average daily net assets allocable to Class C shares. The Touchstone Securities intends to pay a commission of 1.00% of the purchase amount to your broker at the time you purchase Class C shares.
Because in most cases it is more advantageous to purchase Class A shares for amounts of $1 million or more, a request to purchase Class C shares for $1 million or more will be considered as a purchase request for Class A shares or declined.
Class Y Shares
Class Y shares are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge so that the full amount of your purchase payment may be immediately invested in the Fund. Class Y shares are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee or CDSC. Class Y shares are offered through certain financial intermediaries that have distribution agreements with Touchstone Securities. These agreements are generally limited to discretionary managed, asset allocation, or wrap products offered by financial intermediaries and may be subject to fees by the participating financial intermediaries.
Institutional Class Shares
Institutional Class shares are sold at NAV, without an initial sales charge and are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee or CDSC, but are subject to higher initial investment requirements than other classes of shares of the Fund. Institutional Class shares are offered through certain financial intermediaries that have distribution agreements with Touchstone Securities.
DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS
Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plans. The Fund has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The plan allows the Fund to pay distribution and other fees for the sale and distribution of its shares and for services provided to shareholders. Under the Class A plan, the Fund pays an annual fee of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets that are attributable to Class A shares. Under the Class C plan, the Fund pays an annual fee of up to 1.00% of average daily net assets that are attributable to Class C shares (of which up to 0.75% is a distribution fee and up to 0.25% is a shareholder servicing fee). Because these fees are paid out of the Funds assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment and over time may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. Class Y shares and Institutional Class shares are not subject to a fee pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 plan.
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries. Touchstone Securities, the Trusts principal underwriter, at its expense (from a designated percentage of its income) currently provides additional compensation to certain financial intermediaries. Touchstone Securities pursues a focused distribution strategy with a limited number of financial intermediaries who have sold shares
of the Fund or other Touchstone Funds. Touchstone Securities reviews and makes changes to the focused distribution strategy on a periodic basis. These payments are generally based on a prorata share of a financial intermediarys sales. Touchstone Securities may also provide compensation in connection with conferences, sales or training programs for employees, seminars for the public, advertising, and other dealer-sponsored programs.
Touchstone Advisors, at its own expense, may also provide additional compensation to certain financial intermediaries or service providers for distribution, administrative, sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency or shareholder servicing activities. These additional cash payments are payments over and above sales commissions or reallowances, distribution fees or servicing fees (including networking, administration, and sub-transfer agency fees) payable to a financial intermediary. These additional cash payments also may be made as an expense reimbursement in cases where the financial intermediary bears certain costs in connection with providing shareholder services. Touchstone Advisors may also reimburse Touchstone Securities for making these payments.
Touchstone Advisors and its affiliates may also pay cash compensation in the form of finders fees or referral fees that vary depending on the dollar amount of shares sold. The amount and value of additional cash payments vary for each financial intermediary. The additional cash payment arrangement between a particular financial intermediary and Touchstone Advisors or its affiliates may provide for increased rates of compensation as the dollar value of the Funds shares or particular class of shares sold or invested through such financial intermediary increases. The availability of these additional cash payments, the varying fee structure within a particular additional cash payment arrangement and the basis for and manner in which a financial intermediary compensates its sales representatives may create a financial incentive for a particular financial intermediary and its sales representatives to recommend a Funds shares over the shares of other mutual funds based, at least in part, on the level of compensation paid. You should consult with your financial advisor and review carefully any disclosure by the financial intermediary firm as to compensation received by your financial advisor. Although the Fund may use brokerage firms that sell the Funds shares to effect portfolio transactions for the Fund, it and Touchstone Advisors will not consider the sale of a Funds shares as a factor when choosing brokerage firms to effect those transactions. For more information on payment arrangements, please see the section entitled The Distributor in the SAI.
INVESTING WITH TOUCHSTONE
Choosing the Appropriate Investments to Match Your Goals. Investing well requires a plan. We recommend that you meet with your financial advisor to plan a strategy that will best meet your financial goals.
Purchasing Your Shares
Please read this prospectus carefully and then determine how much you want to invest.
· Classes A and C shares may be purchased directly through Touchstone Securities or through your financial advisor.
· Class Y shares are available through certain financial intermediaries who have appropriate selling agreements in place with Touchstone Securities.
· Institutional Class shares may be purchased directly through Touchstone Securities or through your financial intermediary.
In order to open an account you must complete an investment application. You can obtain an investment application from Touchstone Securities, your financial advisor, your financial intermediary, or by visiting the Touchstone Funds website: www.TouchstoneInvestments.com. You may purchase shares in the Fund on a day when the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open for trading (Business Day). For more information about how to purchase shares, call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407.
Investor Alert: Each Touchstone Fund reserves the right to restrict or reject any purchase request, including exchanges from other Touchstone Funds, which it regards as disruptive to efficient portfolio management. For example, a purchase request could be rejected because of the timing of the investment or because of a history of excessive trading by the investor. (See Market Timing Policy in this prospectus.) Touchstone Securities may change applicable initial and additional investment minimums at any time.
Important Information About Procedures for Opening an Account. Federal law requires all financial intermediaries to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. When you open an account we will ask for your name, residential address, date of birth, government identification number and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your drivers license or other identifying documents. If we do not receive these required pieces of information, there will be a delay in processing your investment request, which could subject your investment to market risk. If we are unable to immediately verify your identity, the Fund may restrict further investment until your identity is verified. However, if we are unable to completely verify your identity through our verification process, the Fund reserves the right to close your account without notice and return your investment to you at the price determined at the end of business (usually 4:00 p.m. eastern time (ET)), on the day that your account is closed. If we close your account because we are unable to completely verify your identity, your investment will be subject to market fluctuation, which could result in a loss of a portion of your principal investment.
Investing in the Fund
By mail or through your financial advisor
· Please make your check (drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. dollars) payable to Touchstone Funds. We do not accept third-party checks for initial investments.
· Send your check with the completed investment application by regular mail to Touchstone Investments, P.O. Box 9878, Providence, RI 02940, or by overnight mail to Touchstone Investments, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581.
· Your application will be processed subject to your check clearing. If your check is returned for insufficient funds or uncollected funds, you may be charged a fee and you will be responsible for any resulting loss to the Fund.
· You may also open an account through your financial advisor.
By wire or Automated Clearing House (ACH)
· You may open an account by purchasing shares by wire or ACH transfer. Call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407 for wire or ACH instructions.
· Touchstone Securities will not process wire or ACH purchases until it receives a completed investment application.
· There is no charge imposed by the Fund to make a wire or ACH purchase. Your bank, financial intermediary, or processing organization may charge a fee to send a wire or ACH purchase to Touchstone Securities.
Through your financial intermediary
· You may invest in certain share classes by establishing an account through financial intermediaries that have appropriate selling agreements with Touchstone Securities.
· Your financial intermediary will act as the shareholder of record of your shares.
· Financial intermediaries may set different minimum initial and additional investment requirements, may impose other restrictions or may charge you fees for their services.
· Financial intermediaries may designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and sales orders on the Funds behalf.
· Your financial intermediary may receive compensation from the Fund, Touchstone Securities, Touchstone Advisors, or their affiliates.
· Before investing in the Fund through your financial intermediary, you should read any materials provided by it together with this prospectus.
By exchange
· Class A shares may be exchanged into Class A shares of any other Touchstone Fund at NAV and may be exchanged into any Touchstone money market fund, except the Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund and Institutional Class shares of the Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund.
· Class C shares of the Fund may be exchanged into Class C shares of any other Touchstone Fund and may be exchanged into any Touchstone money market fund, except the Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund and the Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund Institutional Class shares.
· Class Y shares and Institutional Class shares of the Fund are exchangeable for Class Y shares and Institutional Class shares any of other Touchstone Fund, respectively, as long as investment minimums and proper selling agreement requirements are met. Class Y shares may be available through financial intermediaries that have appropriate selling agreements with Touchstone Securities, or through processing organizations ( e.g ., mutual fund supermarkets) that purchase shares for their customers.
· Classes A, C, and Y shareholders who are eligible to invest in Institutional Class shares are eligible to exchange their Class A shares, Class C shares, and Class Y shares for Institutional Class shares of the same fund, if offered in their state; such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial intermediary. Please see the SAI for more information on Choosing a Class of Shares.
· You do not have to pay any fee for your exchange, but if you exchange from a fund with a lower load schedule to a fund with a higher load schedule you may be charged the load differential.
· Shares otherwise subject to a CDSC will not be charged a CDSC in an exchange. However, when you redeem the shares acquired through the exchange, the shares you redeem may be subject to a CDSC, depending on when you originally purchased the exchanged shares. For purposes of computing the CDSC, the length of time you have owned your shares will be measured from the date of original purchase and will not be affected by any exchange.
· If you exchange Class C shares for Class A shares of any Touchstone money market fund, the amount of time you hold shares of the money market fund will not be added to the holding period of your original shares for the purpose of calculating the CDSC, if you later redeem the exchanged shares. However, if you exchange back into your original Class C shares, the prior holding period of your Class C shares will be added to your current holding period of Class C shares in calculating the CDSC.
· If you purchased Class A shares for $1 million or more at NAV and compensation was paid to a dealer and you exchange all or a portion of the shares into any Touchstone money market fund within 12 months of the original purchase, the amount of time you hold shares of the money market fund will not be added to the holding period of your original shares for the purpose of calculating the CDSC, if you later redeem the exchanged shares. However if you exchange back into Class A shares, the prior holding period of your Class A shares will be added to your current holding period of Class A shares in calculating the CDSC.
· You may realize taxable gain if you exchange shares of the Fund for shares of another Fund. See Federal Tax Income Information for more information and the tax consequences of such an exchange.
· Shares of the Touchstone Ultra Short Duration Fixed Income Fund, which are offered in a separate prospectus, may not be exchanged for shares of any other Touchstone Fund.
Through retirement plans. You may invest in certain Touchstone Funds through various retirement plans. These include individual retirement plans and employer sponsored retirement plans.
Individual Retirement Plans
· Traditional IRAs
· SIMPLE IRAs
· Spousal IRAs
· Roth IRAs
· Education IRAs
· SEP IRAs
Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans
· Defined benefit plans
· Defined contribution plans (including 401(k) plans, profit sharing plans and money purchase plans)
· 457 plans
To determine which type of retirement plan is appropriate for you, please contact your tax advisor.
For further information about any of the plans, agreements, applications and annual fees, contact Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407 or contact your financial intermediary.
Through A Processing Organization
You may also purchase shares of the Fund through a processing organization, ( e.g., a mutual fund supermarket) which is financial intermediary that purchases shares for its customers. Some of the Touchstone Funds have authorized certain processing organizations (Authorized Processing Organizations) to receive purchase and sales orders on their behalf. Before investing in the Funds through a processing organization, you should read any materials provided by the processing organization together with this prospectus. You should also ask the processing organization if they are authorized by Touchstone Securities to receive purchase and sales orders on their behalf. If the processing organization is not authorized, then your purchase order could be rejected which could subject your investment to market risk. When shares are purchased with an Authorized Processing Organization, there may be various differences compared to investing directly with Touchstone Securities. The Authorized Processing Organization may:
· charge a fee for its services;
· act as the shareholder of record of the shares;
· set different minimum initial and additional investment requirements;
· impose other charges and restrictions; or
· designate intermediaries to accept purchase and sales orders on the Funds behalf.
Touchstone Securities considers a purchase or sales order as received when an Authorized Processing Organization, or its authorized designee, receives the order in proper form.
Shares held through an Authorized Processing Organization may be transferred into your name following procedures established by your Authorized Processing Organization and Touchstone Securities. Certain Authorized Processing Organizations may receive compensation from the Fund, Touchstone Securities, Touchstone Advisors, or their affiliates.
It is the responsibility of an Authorized Processing Organization to transmit properly completed orders so that they will be received by Touchstone Securities in a timely manner.
Pricing of Purchases
Purchase orders received in good form by Touchstone Securities, an Authorized Processing Organization, or a financial intermediary, by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. ET, are processed at that days public offering price (NAV plus any applicable sales charge). Purchase orders received after the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE are processed at the public offering price determined on the following business day. It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization to transmit orders that will be received by Touchstone Securities in good form and in a timely manner.
Adding to Your Account
By check
· Complete the investment form provided with a recent account statement.
· Make your check (drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. dollars) payable to Touchstone Funds.
· Write your account number on the check.
· Either: mail the check with the investment form to Touchstone Securities; or to your financial intermediary at the address printed on your account statement. Your financial intermediary is responsible for forwarding payment promptly to Touchstone Securities.
· If your check is returned for insufficient funds or uncollected funds, you may be charged a fee and you will be responsible for any resulting loss to the Fund.
Through Touchstone Securities By telephone or internet
· You can exchange your shares over the telephone, unless you have specifically declined this option. To exchange your shares by telephone, call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407. If you do not wish to have this ability, you must mark the appropriate section of the investment application.
· You may also exchange your shares online via the Touchstone Funds website: www.TouchstoneInvestments.com.
· You may only exchange shares over the telephone or via the Internet if the amount is less than $100,000.
· In order to protect your investment assets, Touchstone Securities will only follow instructions received by telephone that it reasonably believes to be genuine. However, there is no guarantee that the instructions relied upon will always be genuine and Touchstone Securities will not be liable, in those cases. Touchstone Securities has certain procedures to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine. If it does not follow such procedures in a particular case, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Some of these procedures may include:
· Requiring personal identification.
· Making checks payable only to the owner(s) of the account shown on Touchstone Securities records.
· Mailing checks only to the account address shown on Touchstone Securities records.
· Directing wires only to the bank account shown on Touchstone Securities records.
· Providing written confirmation for transactions requested by telephone.
· Digitally recording instructions received by telephone.
By wire or ACH
· Contact Touchstone Securities or your financial intermediary for further instructions.
· Contact your bank and ask to wire or ACH funds to Touchstone Securities. Specify your name and account number when remitting the funds.
· Your bank may charge a fee for handling wire transfers. ACH transactions take 2-3 business days, but can be transferred from most banks without a fee.
· If you hold your shares directly with Touchstone Securities and have ACH instructions on file for your non-retirement individual or joint account you may initiate a purchase transaction through the Touchstone Funds website: www.TouchstoneInvestments.com.
· Purchases in the Fund will be processed at that days NAV (or public offering price, if applicable) if Touchstone Securities receives a wire or ACH in proper form by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. ET, on a day when the NYSE is open for regular trading.
By exchange
· You may add to your account by exchanging shares from another Touchstone Fund.
· For information about how to exchange shares among the Touchstone Funds, see Investing in the Fund - By exchange in this prospectus.
· Exchange transactions can also be initiated for non-retirement individual or joint accounts via the Touchstone Funds website: www.TouchstoneInvestments.com.
Purchases with Securities
Shares may be purchased by tendering payment in-kind in the form of marketable securities provided the acquisition of such securities is consistent with the Funds investment goal and is otherwise acceptable to Touchstone Advisors. Before purchasing shares by tendering payment in-kind, an investor is urged to consult with the investors tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the transaction. Portfolio securities that are issued in an in-kind redemption will be readily marketable. The Trust has filed an irrevocable election with the SEC under Rule 18f-1 of the 1940 Act wherein the Funds are committed to pay redemptions in cash, rather than in-kind, to any shareholder of record of a Fund who redeems during any 90-day period, the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of a Funds NAV at the beginning of such period.
Automatic Investment Options
The various ways that you can automatically invest in the Fund are outlined below. Touchstone Securities does not charge any fees for these services. For further details about these services, call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407. If you hold your shares through a financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization, please contact them for further details on automatic investment options.
Automatic Investment Plan. You can pre-authorize monthly investments in the Fund of $50 or more to be processed electronically from a checking or savings account. You will need to complete the appropriate section in the investment application or special account options to do this. Amounts that are automatically invested in the Fund will not be available for redemption until three business days after the automatic reinvestment. For Institutional Class shares, this option is available only once the initial minimum investment amount of $500,000 has been met.
Reinvestment/Cross Reinvestment. Dividends and capital gains can be automatically reinvested in the Fund that pays them or in another Touchstone Fund within the same class of shares without a fee or sales charge. Dividends and capital gains will be reinvested in the Fund that pays them unless you indicate otherwise on your investment application. You may also choose to have your dividends or capital gains paid to you in cash. Dividends are taxable whether you reinvest such dividends in additional shares of the Fund or choose to receive cash. If you elect to receive dividends and distributions in cash and the payment is returned and marked as undeliverable or is not cashed for six months, your cash election will be changed automatically and future dividends will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of payment. In addition, any undeliverable checks or checks that are not cashed for six months will be cancelled and then reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of cancellation.
Direct Deposit Purchase Plan. You may automatically invest Social Security checks, private payroll checks, pension pay outs, or any other pre-authorized government or private recurring payments in the Fund.
Dollar Cost Averaging. Our dollar cost averaging program allows you to diversify your investments by investing the same amount on a regular basis. You can set up periodic automatic exchanges of at least $50 from one Touchstone Fund to any other. The applicable sales charge, if any, will be assessed.
Selling Your Shares
If you elect to receive your redemption proceeds in cash and the payment is not cashed for six months, your account will be coded as a lost shareholder account and correspondence will be sent to you requesting that you contact the Fund in order to remove this coding. If the Fund does not hear from you within 30 days of the mailing of this notice, the redemption check will be cancelled and then reinvested in the Fund at the per share net asset value determined as of the date of cancellation.
Through Touchstone Securities - By telephone or internet
· You can sell your shares over the telephone by calling Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407, unless you have specifically declined this option. If you do not wish to have this ability, you must mark the appropriate section of the investment application.
· You may also sell your shares online via the Touchstone Funds website: www.TouchstoneInvestments.com.
· The proceeds of sales of shares in the Touchstone Money Market Fund, which are offered in a separate prospectus, may be wired to you on the same day of your telephone request, if your request is properly made by 12:30 p.m. ET. The proceeds of sales of shares in the Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund may be wired to you on the same day of your telephone request, if your request is properly made by 3:30 p.m. ET. A wire redemption fee of up to $15 may apply.
· Interruptions in telephone service or internet could prevent you from selling your shares when you want to. When you have difficulty making telephone or internet sales, you should mail to Touchstone Securities (or send by overnight delivery), a written request for the sale of your shares.
· In order to protect your investment assets, Touchstone Securities will only follow instructions received by telephone that it reasonably believes to be genuine. However, there is no guarantee that the instructions relied upon will always be genuine and Touchstone Securities will not be liable in those cases. Touchstone Securities has certain procedures to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine. Some of these procedures may include:
· Requiring personal identification.
· Making checks payable only to the owner(s) of the account shown on Touchstone Securities records.
· Mailing checks only to the account address shown on Touchstone Securities records.
· Directing wires only to the bank account shown on Touchstone Securities records.
· Providing written confirmation for transactions requested by telephone.
· Digitally recording instructions received by telephone.
Through Touchstone Securities - By mail
· Write to Touchstone Securities.
· Indicate the number of shares or dollar amount to be sold.
· Include your name and account number.
· Sign your request exactly as your name appears on your investment application.
· You may be required to have your signature guaranteed (See Signature Guarantees in this prospectus for more information).
Through Touchstone Securities - By wire
· Complete the appropriate information on the investment application.
· If your proceeds are $1,000 or more, you may request that Touchstone Securities wire them to your bank account.
· You may be charged a fee of up to $15 by the Fund or its Authorized Processing Organization for wiring redemption proceeds. You may also be charged a fee by your bank.
· Your redemption proceeds may be deposited directly into your bank account through an ACH transaction. There is no fee imposed by the Fund for ACH transactions, however you may be charged a fee by your bank to receive an ACH transaction.
· If you hold your shares directly with Touchstone Securities and have ACH or wire instructions on file for your non-retirement account you may transact through Touchstone Funds website: www.TouchstoneInvestments.com
Through Touchstone Securities - Through a systematic withdrawal plan
· For most accounts, you may elect to receive, or send to a third party, withdrawals of $50 or more if your account value is at least $5,000; accounts in a retirement plan my elect a systematic withdrawal plan regardless of the retirement accounts balance.
· Withdrawals can be made monthly, quarterly, semiannually, or annually.
· There is no fee for this service.
Through your financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization
· You may also sell shares by contacting your financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization, which may charge you a fee for this service. Shares held in street name must be sold through your financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization.
· Your financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization is responsible for making sure that sale requests are transmitted to Touchstone Securities in proper form and in a timely manner.
· Your financial intermediary may charge you a fee for selling your shares.
· Redemption proceeds will only be wired to your account at the financial intermediary.
Investor Alert: Unless otherwise specified, proceeds will be sent to the owner at the address shown on Touchstone Securities records.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC)
If you purchase $1 million or more in Class A shares at NAV and a commission was paid by Touchstone Securities to a participating dealer, a CDSC of up to 1.00% may be charged on redemptions made within 1 year of your purchase. Additionally, when a 1% upfront commission is paid to a participating dealer on transactions of $1 million or more in Class A Shares, the Fund will withhold any 12b-1 fee for the first 12 months following the purchase date. If you redeem Class C shares within 12 months of your purchase, a CDSC of 1.00% will be charged.
The CDSC will not apply to redemptions of shares you received through reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions and may be waived under certain circumstances described below. The CDSC will be assessed on the lesser of your shares NAV at the time of redemption or the time of purchase. The CDSC is paid to Touchstone Securities to reimburse expenses incurred in providing distribution-related services to the Fund.
All sales charges imposed on redemptions are paid to Touchstone Securities. In determining whether the CDSC is payable, it is assumed that shares not subject to the CDSC are the first redeemed followed by other shares held for the longest period of time. The CDSC will not be imposed upon shares representing reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions, or upon amounts representing share appreciation.
No CDSC is applied if:
· The redemption is due to the death or post-purchase disability of a shareholder. Touchstone Securities may require documentation prior to waiver of the charge.
· Any partial or complete redemption following death or disability (as defined in the IRC) of a shareholder (including one who owns the shares with his or her spouse as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship) from an account in which the deceased or disabled is named. Touchstone Securities may require documentation prior to waiver of the charge, including death certificates, physicians certificates, etc.
· Redemptions from a systematic withdrawal plan. If the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed dollar amount or number of shares, systematic withdrawal redemptions are limited to no more than 10% of your account value or number of shares per year, as of the date the transfer agent receives your request. If the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed percentage of your account value, each redemption is limited to an amount that would not exceed 10% of your annual account value at the time of withdrawal.
· Redemptions from retirement plans qualified under Section 401 of the IRC. The CDSC will be waived for benefit payments made by Touchstone Securities directly to plan participants. Benefit payments will include, but are not limited to, payments resulting from death, disability, retirement, separation from service, required minimum distributions (as described under Section 401(a)(9) of the IRC), in-service distributions, hardships, loans, and qualified domestic relations orders. The CDSC waiver will not apply in the event of termination of the plan or transfer of the plan to another financial institution.
· The redemption is for a mandatory withdrawal from a traditional IRA account after age 70½.
The above mentioned CDSC waivers do not apply to redemptions made within one year for purchases of $1 million or more in Class A shares of the Touchstone Funds where a commission was paid by Touchstone Securities to a participating broker dealer. The SAI contains further details about the CDSC and the conditions for waiving it.
Signature Guarantees
Some circumstances require that your request to sell shares be made in writing accompanied by an original Medallion Signature Guarantee. A Medallion Signature Guarantee helps protect you against fraud. You can obtain one from most banks or securities dealers, but not from a notary public. The Fund reserves the right to require a signature guarantee for any request related to your account including, but not limited to:
· Proceeds to be paid when information on your account has been changed within the last 30 days (including a change in your name or your address, or the name or address of a payee).
· Proceeds are being sent to an address other than the address of record.
· Proceeds or shares are being sent/transferred from unlike registrations such as a joint account to an individuals account.
· Sending proceeds via wire or ACH when bank instructions have been added or changed within 30 days of your redemption request.
· Proceeds or shares are being sent/transferred between accounts with different account registrations.
Market Timing Policy
Market timing or excessive trading in accounts that you own or control may disrupt portfolio investment strategies, may increase brokerage and administrative costs, and may negatively impact investment returns for all shareholders, including long-term shareholders who do not generate these costs. The Fund will take reasonable steps to discourage excessive short-term trading and will not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions of its shares by shareholders. The Board has adopted the following policies and procedures with respect to market timing of the Fund by shareholders. The Fund will monitor selected trades on a daily basis in an effort to deter excessive short-term trading. If the Fund has reason to believe that a shareholder has engaged in excessive short-term trading, the Fund may ask the shareholder to stop such activities or restrict or refuse to process purchases or exchanges in the shareholders accounts. While the Fund cannot assure the prevention of all excessive trading and market timing, by making these judgments the Fund believes it is acting in a manner that is in the best interests of its shareholders. However, because the Fund cannot prevent all market timing, shareholders may be subject to the risks described above.
Generally, a shareholder may be considered a market timer if he or she has (i) requested an exchange or redemption out of any of the Touchstone Funds within 2 weeks of an earlier purchase or exchange request out of any Touchstone Fund, or (ii) made more than 2 round-trip exchanges within a rolling 90-day period. A round-trip exchange occurs when a shareholder exchanges from one Touchstone Fund to another Touchstone Fund and back to the original Touchstone Fund. If a shareholder exceeds these limits, the Fund may restrict or suspend that shareholders exchange privileges and subsequent exchange requests during the suspension will not be processed. The Fund may also restrict or refuse to process purchases by the shareholder. These exchange limits and excessive trading policies generally do not apply to purchases and redemptions of money market funds (except in situations where excessive trading may have a detrimental or disruptive effect on share prices or portfolio management of these funds), systematic purchases and redemptions.
Financial intermediaries often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. If the Fund identifies excessive trading in such an account, the Fund may instruct the intermediary to restrict the investor responsible for the excessive trading from further trading in the Fund. In accordance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, the Fund has entered into information sharing agreements with certain financial intermediaries. Under these agreements, a financial intermediary is obligated to: furnish the Fund, upon their request, with information regarding customer trading activities in shares of the Fund; and enforce the Funds market-timing policy with respect to customers identified by the Fund as having engaged in market timing. When information regarding transactions in the Funds shares is requested by the Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an indirect intermediary), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing the Funds shares on behalf of other persons.
The Fund applies these policies and procedures uniformly to all shareholders believed to be engaged in market timing or excessive trading. The Fund has no arrangements to permit any investor to trade frequently in its shares, nor will they enter into any such arrangements in the future.
Householding Policy. (Only applicable for shares held directly through Touchstone Securities)
The Fund will send one copy of its prospectus and shareholder reports to households containing multiple shareholders with the same last name. This process, known as householding, reduces costs and provides a convenience to shareholders. If you share the same last name and address with another shareholder and you prefer to receive separate prospectuses and shareholder reports, call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407 and it will begin separate mailings to you within 30 days of your request.
Receiving Sale Proceeds
Touchstone Securities will forward the proceeds of your sale to you (or to your financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization) within 7 days (normally within 3 business days) after receipt of a proper request.
Proceeds Sent to Financial Intermediaries or Authorized Processing Organizations. Proceeds that are sent to your financial intermediaries or Authorized Processing Organizations will not usually be reinvested for you unless you provide specific instructions to do so. Therefore, the financial intermediaries or Authorized Processing Organizations may benefit from the use of your money.
Fund Shares Purchased by Check. (Only applicable for shares held directly through Touchstone Securities) We may delay the processing and payment of redemption proceeds for shares you recently purchased by check until your check clears, which may take up to 15 days. If you believe you may need your money sooner, you should have your proceeds be delivered bank wire.
Reinstatement Privilege. (Classes A and C shares Only) You may, within 90 days of redemption, reinvest all or part of your sale proceeds by sending a written request and a check to Touchstone Securities. If the redemption proceeds were from the sale of your
Class A shares, and the sales load incurred on the initial purchase is equal to or exceeds the sales load of your reinvestment, you can reinvest into Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund at NAV. If the redemption proceeds were from the sale of Class A shares and the sales load that you incurred on the initial purchase is less than the sales charge for the Fund in which you are reinvesting, you will incur a sales charge representing the difference. Reinvestment will be at the NAV next calculated after Touchstone Securities receives your request in proper form. If the proceeds were from the sale of your Class C shares, you can reinvest those proceeds into Class C shares of any Touchstone Fund. If you paid a CDSC on the reinstated amount, that CDSC will be reimbursed to you upon reinvestment.
Low Account Balances. (Only applicable for shares held directly through Touchstone Securities) If your balance falls below the minimum amount required for your account, based on actual amounts you have invested (as opposed to a reduction from market changes), your account may be subject to an annual account maintenance fee or Touchstone Securities may sell your shares and send the proceeds to you. This involuntary sale does not apply to retirement accounts or custodian accounts under the Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act (UGTMA). Touchstone Securities will notify you if your shares are about to be sold and you will have 30 days to increase your account balance to the minimum amount.
Delay of Payment. It is possible that the payment of your sale proceeds could be postponed or your right to sell your shares could be suspended during certain circumstances. These circumstances can occur:
· When the NYSE is closed on days other than customary weekends and holidays;
· When trading on the NYSE is restricted; or
· During any other time when the SEC, by order, permits.
Redemption in-Kind. Under unusual circumstances, when the Board deems it appropriate, the Fund may make payment for shares redeemed in portfolio securities of the Fund taken at current value. Shareholders may incur transaction and brokerage costs when they sell these portfolio securities, including federal income tax. Until such time as the shareholder sells the securities they receive in-kind, the securities are subject to market risk.
Pricing of Fund Shares
The Funds share price (also called NAV) and public offering price (NAV plus a sales charge, if applicable) is determined as of the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m. ET) every day the NYSE is open. The Fund calculates its NAV per share, generally using market prices, by dividing the total value of its net assets by the number of shares outstanding.
The Funds equity investments are valued based on market value or, if no market value is available, based on fair value as determined by the Board (or under their direction). The Fund may use pricing services to determine market value for investments. Some specific pricing strategies follow:
· All short-term dollar-denominated investments that mature in 60 days or less are valued on the basis of amortized cost which the Board has determined as fair value.
· Securities mainly traded on a U.S. exchange are valued at the last sale price on that exchange or, if no sales occurred during the day, at the current quoted bid price.
Any foreign securities held by the Fund will be priced as follows:
· All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currency values will be converted into U.S. dollar values.
· Securities mainly traded on a non-U.S. exchange are generally valued according to the preceding closing values on that exchange. However, if an event that may change the value of a security occurs after the time that the closing value on the non-U.S. exchange was determined, but before the close of regular trading on the NYSE, the security may be priced based on fair value. This may cause the value of the security on the books of the Fund to be significantly different from the closing value on the non-U.S. exchange and may affect the calculation of the NAV.
· Because portfolio securities that are primarily listed on a non-U.S. exchange may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its shares, the Funds NAV may change on days when shareholders will not be able to buy or sell shares.
Securities held by the Fund that do not have readily available market quotations, or securities for which the available market quotation is not reliable, are priced at their fair value using procedures approved by the Board. Any debt securities held by the Fund for which market quotations are not readily available are generally priced at their most recent bid prices as obtained from one or more of the major market makers for such securities. The Fund may use fair value pricing under the following circumstances, among others:
· If the value of a security has been materially affected by events occurring before the Funds pricing time but after the close of the primary markets on which the security is traded.
· If a security, such as a small-cap or micro-cap security, is so thinly traded that reliable market quotations are unavailable due to infrequent trading.
· If the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closes early or if trading in a particular portfolio security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the Funds NAV calculation.
The use of fair value pricing has the effect of valuing a security based upon the price a Fund might reasonably expect to receive if it sold that security but does not guarantee that the security can be sold at the fair value price. The Fund has established fair value policies and procedures that delegate fair value responsibilities to the Advisor. These policies and procedures outline the fair value method for the Advisor. The Advisors determination of a securitys fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors established by the Board, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that the Fund assigns to a security may be higher or lower than the securitys value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available. With respect to any portion of a Funds assets that is invested in other mutual funds, that portion of the Funds NAV is calculated based on the NAV of that mutual fund. The prospectus for the other mutual fund explains the circumstances and effects of fair value pricing for that fund.
DISTRIBUTION AND TAXES
The Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders substantially all of its net investment income and capital gains. The Fund annually distributes to shareholders any income. Distributions, if any, of net short-term capital gain and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over the short-term capital loss) realized by the Fund, after deducting any available capital loss carryovers are declared and paid to its shareholders annually. If you own shares on the Funds distribution record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.
You will receive income dividends and distributions of capital gains in the form of additional shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payments, you must notify the Fund in writing or by phone prior to the date of distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after we receive your notice. To cancel your election, simply send written notice to Touchstone Investments, P.O. Box 9878, Providence, RI 02940, or by overnight mail to Touchstone Investments, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581, or call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407. If you hold your shares through a financial intermediary, you must contact that intermediary to elect cash payment. If you elect to receive dividends and distributions in cash and the payment (1) is returned and marked as undeliverable or (2) is not cashed for six months, your cash election will be changed automatically and future dividends will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share net asset value determined as of the date of payment.
A Funds dividends and other distributions are taxable to shareholders (other than retirement plans and other tax-exempt investors) whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund. A dividend or distribution paid by a Fund, has the effect of reducing the NAV per share on the ex-dividend date by the amount of the dividend distribution. A dividend or distribution declared shortly after a purchase of shares by an investor would, therefore, represent, in substance, a return of capital to the shareholder with respect to such shares even though it would be subject to federal income taxes.
For most shareholders, a statement will be sent to you within 60 days after the end of each year detailing the tax status of your distributions. Please see Federal Tax Information below for more information on the federal income tax consequences of dividends and other distributions made by a Fund.
Federal Income Tax Information
The tax information in this prospectus is provided only for general information purposes for U.S. taxpayers and should not be considered as tax advice or relied on by a shareholder or prospective investor.
General. The Fund intends to qualify annually to be treated as regulated investment companies (RICs) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). As such, the Fund will not be subject to federal income taxes on the earnings they distribute to shareholders provided they satisfy certain requirements and restrictions of the Code, one of which is to distribute to the Funds shareholders substantially all of the Funds income gains each year. If for any taxable year the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC: (1) it will be subject to tax in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and thus will be subject to taxation on a graduated basis at the corporate tax rate; and (2) distributions from its earnings and profits (as determined under federal income tax principles) will be taxable as ordinary dividend income eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders and the non-corporate shareholder long-term capital gains tax rate for qualified dividend income and ordinary rates for all other distributions that are not a return of capital.
Distributions. The Fund will make distributions to you that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains (which may be taxed at different rates depending on the length of time the Fund holds its assets). The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions are taxable whether you reinvest such distributions in additional shares of the Fund or choose to receive cash. Taxable distributions are taxable to a shareholder even if the distributions are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund prior to the shareholders investment and, thus, were included in the price the shareholder paid for the shares. For example, a shareholder who purchases shares on or just before the record date of the Fund distribution will pay full price for the shares and may receive a portion of the investment as a taxable distribution.
Ordinary Income. Net investment income, except for qualified dividend income and income designated as tax-exempt, and short-term capital gains (based on the Funds holding period) that are distributed to you are taxable as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes regardless of how long you have held your shares. Certain dividends distributed to non-corporate shareholders in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013 and designated by the Fund as qualified dividend income are eligible for the long-term capital gains rate . Short-term capital gains that are distributed to you are taxable as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes regardless of how long you have held your shares.
Net Capital Gains. Net capital gains ( i.e ., the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) distributed to you, if any, are taxable as long-term capital gains (based on the Funds holding period) for federal income tax purposes regardless of how long you have held your shares.
Sale or Exchange of Shares. It is a taxable event for you if you sell shares of the Fund or exchange shares of the Fund for shares of another Touchstone Fund. Depending on the purchase price and the sale price of the shares you sell or exchange, you may have a taxable gain or loss on the transaction.
Returns of Capital. If the Funds distributions exceed its taxable income and capital gains realized during a taxable year, all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be re-characterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholders cost basis in the Fund and result in a higher reported capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold.
Backup Withholding. The Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax on all taxable distributions and sales payable to shareholders who fail to provide their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that they are subject to backup withholding.
Medicare Tax. An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including dividends and distributions received from a Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such persons modified adjusted gross income (in the case of an individual) or adjusted gross income (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds a threshold amount.
Foreign Taxes. Income received by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes. If a Fund qualifies (by having more than 50% of the value of its total assets at the close of the taxable year consist of stock or securities in foreign corporations or by being a qualified fund of funds) and elects to pass through foreign taxes paid on its investments during the year, such taxes will be reported to you as income. You may, however, be able to claim an offsetting tax credit or deduction on your federal income tax return, depending on your particular circumstances and provided you meet certain holding period and other requirements. Tax-exempt holders of Fund shares, such as qualified tax-deferred retirement plans, will not benefit from such a deduction or credit.
Non-U.S. Shareholders. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax as a result of an investment in the Fund. This prospectus does not discuss the U.S. or foreign country tax consequences of an investment by a non-U.S. shareholder in the Fund. Accordingly, non-U.S. shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisors as to the U.S. and foreign country tax consequences of an investment in the Fund.
Statements and Notices. You will receive an annual statement outlining the tax status of your distributions. You may also receive written notices of certain foreign taxes and distributions paid by the Fund during the prior taxable year.
Important Tax Reporting Considerations. The Fund is required to report cost basis and holding period information to both the IRS and shareholders for gross proceeds from the sales of Fund shares. This information will be reported on Form 1099-B. The average cost method will be used to determine the cost basis of Fund shares unless the shareholder instructs the Fund in writing that the shareholder wants to use another available method for cost basis reporting (for example, First In, First Out (FIFO), Last In, First Out (LIFO), Specific Lot Identification (SLID) or High Cost, First Out (HIFO)). If the shareholder designates SLID as the shareholders tax cost basis method, the shareholder will also need to designate a secondary cost basis method (Secondary Method).
If a Secondary Method is not provided, the Fund will designate FIFO as the Secondary Method and will use the Secondary Method with respect to systematic withdrawals. If you hold shares of the Fund through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary will be responsible for this reporting and the financial intermediarys default cost basis method may apply. Please consult your tax adviser for additional information regarding cost basis reporting and your situation.
Redemptions by S corporations of Fund shares are required to be reported to the IRS on Form 1099-B. If a shareholder is a corporation and has not instructed the Fund that it is a C corporation in its Account Application or by written instruction, the Fund will treat the shareholder as an S corporation and file a Form 1099-B.
This section is only a summary of some important federal income tax considerations that may affect your investment in the Fund. More information regarding these considerations is included in the Funds SAI. You are urged and advised to consult your own tax advisor regarding the effects of an investment in a Fund on your tax situation, including the application of foreign, state, local, and other tax laws to your particular situation.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights for the Fund are not included because it did not commence operations until July 9, 2014.
TOUCHSTONE INVESTMENTS*
DISTRIBUTOR
Touchstone Securities, Inc.*
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, OH 45202-4203
1.800.638.8194
www.TouchstoneInvestments.com
INVESTMENT ADVISOR
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.*
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, OH 45202-4203
TRANSFER AGENT
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
1.800.543.0407
*A Member of Western & Southern Financial Group
The following are federal trademark registrations and applications owned by IFS Financial Services, Inc., a member of Western & Southern Financial Group: Touchstone, Touchstone Funds, Touchstone Investments, Touchstone Family of Funds and Touchstone Select.
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, OH 45202-4203
Go paperless, sign up today at:
www.TouchstoneInvestments.com/home
For investors who want more information about the Fund, the following documents are available free upon request:
Statement of Additional Information (SAI): The SAI provides more detailed information about the Fund and is incorporated herein by reference, which means it is legally a part of this prospectus.
Annual/Semiannual Reports (Financial Reports): The Funds Financial Reports provide additional information about its investments. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds performance during its last fiscal year.
You can get free copies of the SAI, the Financial Reports, other information and answers to your questions about the Fund by contacting your financial advisor or by contacting Touchstone Investments at 1.800.543.0407. The SAI and Financial Reports are also available on the Touchstone Investments website at: www.TouchstoneInvestments.com/home/formslit/
Information about the Fund (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the SECs Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You can receive information about the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1.202.551.8090.
Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR database of the SECs internet site at http://www.sec.gov. For a fee, you can get text-only copies of reports and other information by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520 or by sending an e-mail request to: publicinfo@sec.gov.
Investment Company Act file no. 811-03651
TSF-54BB-TST-LC-1407
TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
July 9, 2014
|
|
Class A |
|
Class C |
|
Class Y |
|
Institutional |
Touchstone Large Cap Fund |
|
TACLX |
|
TFCCX |
|
TLCYX |
|
TLCIX |
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus and relates only to the above-referenced fund (the Fund), which commenced operations on July 9, 2014. It is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of Touchstone Strategic Trust (the Trust) and should be read together with the Funds prospectus dated July 9, 2014, as may be amended. A copy of the prospectus and annual report may be obtained without charge by writing to the Trust at P.O. Box 9878, Providence, RI 02940, by calling the Trust at 1-800-543-0407, or by downloading a copy at www.TouchstoneInvestments.com.
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
PAGE |
|
|
|
THE TRUST |
|
3 |
PERMITTED INVESTMENTS AND RISK FACTORS |
|
3 |
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS |
|
5 |
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS |
|
6 |
THE ADVISOR |
|
11 |
THE SUB-ADVISOR AND PORTFOLIO MANAGER |
|
13 |
THE ADMINISTRATOR |
|
14 |
TOUCHSTONE SECURITIES |
|
14 |
DISTRIBUTION PLANS AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS |
|
15 |
BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS |
|
16 |
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES |
|
17 |
CODE OF ETHICS |
|
17 |
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER |
|
18 |
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS |
|
18 |
DETERMINIATION OF NET ASSET VALUE |
|
19 |
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES |
|
19 |
CHOOSING A CLASS OF SHARES |
|
20 |
OTHER PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION |
|
21 |
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES |
|
23 |
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SECURITY HOLDERS |
|
32 |
CUSTODIAN |
|
33 |
LEGAL COUNSEL |
|
33 |
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
|
33 |
TRANSFER AND SUB-ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT |
|
33 |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
33 |
APPENDIX A-DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS |
|
34 |
APPENDIX B-PROXY VOTING POLICIES |
|
44 |
THE TRUST
Touchstone Strategic Trust (the Trust), an open-end management investment company, was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on November 18, 1982. The Touchstone Large Cap Fund (the Large Cap Fund or the Fund) is a nondiversified series of the Trust.
Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the Advisor) is the investment advisor and administrator for the Fund. The Advisor has selected a sub-advisor to manage, on a daily basis, the assets of the Fund. The Advisor has sub-contracted certain administrative and accounting services to BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (BNY Mellon or Sub-Administrator). Touchstone Securities, Inc. (the Distributor) is the principal underwriter of the Funds shares. Touchstone Securities is an affiliate of the Advisor.
The Fund offers four separate classes of shares: Classes A, Classes C, Classes Y, and Institutional Class. The shares of the Fund represent an interest in the same assets of the Fund.
The shares have the same rights and are identical in all material respects except that (i) each class of shares may bear different (or no) distribution fees; (ii) each class of shares may be subject to different (or no) sales charges; (iii) certain other class specific expenses will be borne solely by the class to which such expenses are attributable, including transfer agent fees, printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing materials, registration fees, the expenses of administrative personnel and services required to support the shareholders of a specific class, litigation or other legal expenses, Trustees fees or expenses incurred as a result of issues relating to a specific class of shares and accounting fees and expenses relating to a specific class of shares; (iv) each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to matters relating to its own distribution arrangements; and (v) certain classes offer different features and services to shareholders and may have different investment minimums. The Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board) may classify and reclassify the shares of the Fund into additional classes of shares at a future date.
Under Massachusetts law, under certain circumstances shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust could be deemed to have the same type of personal liability for the obligations of the Trust as does a partner of a partnership. However, numerous investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) have been formed as Massachusetts business trusts and the Trust is not aware of an instance where such a result has occurred. In addition, the Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust and provides for the indemnification out of the Trust property for all losses and expenses of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. Moreover, it provides that the Trust will, upon request, assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust and satisfy any judgment thereon. As a result, and particularly because the Trust assets are readily marketable and ordinarily substantially exceed liabilities, management believes that the risk of shareholder liability is slight and limited to circumstances in which the Trust itself would be unable to meet its obligations. Management believes that, in view of the above, the risk of personal liability is remote.
History of the Fund
The Large Cap Fund commenced operations on July 9, 2014.
PERMITTED INVESTMENTS AND RISK FACTORS
The Funds principal investment strategies and principal risks are described in its prospectus. The following supplements the information contained in the prospectus concerning the Funds principal investment strategies and principal risks. In addition, although not principal strategies of the Fund, the Fund may invest in other types of securities and engage in other investment practices as described in the prospectus or in this SAI. Unless otherwise indicated, the Fund is permitted to invest in each of the investments listed below, or engage in each of the investment techniques listed below consistent with the Funds investment goals, policies and strategies. The investment limitations below are considered to be non-fundamental policies which may be changed at any time by a vote of the Board, unless designated as a Fundamental policy. In addition, any stated percentage limitations are measured at the time of a securitys purchase.
ADRs, ADSs, GDRs, EDRs and CDRs. American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and American Depositary Shares (ADSs) are U.S. dollar-denominated receipts typically issued by domestic banks or trust companies that represent the deposit with those entities of securities of a foreign issuer. They are publicly traded on exchanges or over-the-counter in the United States. European Depositary Receipts (EDRs), which are sometimes referred to as Continental Depositary Receipts (CDRs), and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) may also be purchased by the Fund. EDRs, CDRs and GDRs are
generally issued by foreign banks and evidence ownership of either foreign or domestic securities. Certain institutions issuing ADRs, ADSs, GDRs or EDRs may not be sponsored by the issuer of the underlying foreign securities. A non-sponsored depositary may not provide the same shareholder information that a sponsored depositary is required to provide under its contractual arrangements with the issuer of the underlying foreign securities. Holders of an unsponsored depositary receipt generally bear all the costs of the unsponsored facility. The Depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through to the holders of the receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.
Common Stocks. Common stocks are securities that represent units of ownership in a company. Common stocks usually carry voting rights and earn dividends. Unlike preferred stocks, which are described below, dividends on common stocks are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the board of directors of the issuing company.
Investment Company Shares. These investments are subject to limitations prescribed by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, applicable SEC staff interpretations thereof, or applicable exemptive relief granted by the SEC. The 1940 Act limitations currently provide, in part, that the Fund may not purchase shares of an investment company if (a) such a purchase would cause the Fund to own in the aggregate more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the investment company or (b) such a purchase would cause the Fund to have more than 5% of its total assets invested in the investment company or (c) more than 10% of the Funds total assets would be invested in the aggregate in all investment companies. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund. The Funds purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying Fund expenses.
The shares of closed-end investment companies will generally be exchange-traded and are not redeemable. Closed-end fund shares often trade at a substantial discount (or premium) from their net asset value (NAV). Therefore, there can be no assurance that a share of a closed-end fund, when sold, will be sold at a price that approximates its NAV. The Fund may also invest in closed-end investment companies in transactions not involving a public offering. These shares will be restricted securities and the Fund may be required to hold such shares until the closed-end funds termination unless redeemed earlier.
Over-The-Counter Stocks. The Fund may invest in over-the-counter stocks. In contrast to the securities exchanges, the over-the-counter market is not a centralized facility that limits trading activity to securities of companies which initially satisfy certain defined standards. Generally, the volume of trading in an unlisted or over-the-counter common stock is less than the volume of trading in a listed stock. This means that the depth of market liquidity of some stocks in which the Fund invests may not be as great as that of other securities and, if the Fund were to dispose of such a stock, they might have to offer the shares at a discount from recent prices, or sell the shares in small lots over an extended period of time.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). The Fund may invest in REITs, which pool investors money for investment in income producing commercial real estate or real estate related loans or interests.
A REIT is not taxed on income distributed to its shareholders or unitholders if it complies with regulatory requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets and income, and with a regulatory requirement that it distribute to its shareholders or unitholders at least 90% of its taxable income for each taxable year. Generally, REITs can be classified as Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs and Hybrid REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents and capital gains from appreciation realized through property sales. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive their income primarily from interest payments. Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both Equity and Mortgage REITs. A shareholder in the Fund should realize that by investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, he or she will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also indirectly, similar expenses of underlying REITs.
The Fund may be subject to certain risks associated with the direct investments of the REITs. REITs may be affected by changes in their underlying properties and by defaults by borrowers or tenants. Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of the credit extended. Furthermore, REITs are dependent on specialized management skills. Some REITs may have limited diversification and may be subject to risks inherent in financing a limited number of properties. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders, and may be subject to defaults by borrowers and to self-liquidations. In addition, the performance of a REIT may be affected by its failure to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the IRC or its failure to maintain exemption from registration under the 1940 Act.
Securities Lending. In order to generate additional income, the Fund may lend its securities pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by collateral consisting of: (1) cash in U.S. dollars; (2) securities issued or fully guaranteed by the United States government or issued and unconditionally guaranteed by any agencies thereof; or (3) irrevocable performance letters of credit issued by banks approved by the Fund. All collateral must equal at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities. The Fund continues to receive interest on the loaned securities while simultaneously earning interest on the investment of cash collateral. Collateral is marked to market daily. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially or become insolvent. In addition, cash collateral invested by the lending Fund is subject to investment risk and the Fund may experience losses with respect to its collateral investments. The SEC currently requires that the following conditions must be met whenever the Funds portfolio securities are loaned: (1) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral from the borrower; (2) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (3) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities, and any increase in market value; (5) the Fund may pay only reasonable custodian fees approved by the Board in connection with the loan; (6) while voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, the Board must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs, and (7) the Fund may not loan its portfolio securities so that the value of the loaned securities is more than one-third of its total asset value, including collateral received from such loans. The lending of securities is considered a form of leverage that is included in a lending Funds investment limitation related to borrowings. See Investment Limitations below.
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
Fundamental investment limitations. The following investment limitations are fundamental policies of the Fund which cannot be changed with respect to the Fund without the consent of the holders of a majority of the Funds outstanding shares.
The term majority of the outstanding shares means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Funds shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Funds outstanding shares, whichever is less. Except for the limitations on illiquid securities and bank borrowings, if a percentage restriction on investment or use of assets set forth below is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentage resulting from changing market values or other circumstances will not be considered a deviation from this policy.
Several of these fundamental investment limitations include the defined term 1940 Act Laws, Interpretations, and Exemptions. This term means the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as such statutes, rules, and regulations are amended from time to time or are interpreted from time to time by the SECs staff; all subject to any exemptive order or similar relief granted to a registered investment company.
The following fundamental investment limitations apply to the Large Cap Fund:
1. Borrowing Money. The Fund may not engage in borrowing except as permitted by 1940 Act Laws, Interpretations, and Exemptions.
2. Underwriting. The Fund may not underwrite securities issued by other persons, except to the extent that, in connection with the sale or disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under certain federal securities laws or in connection with investments in other investment companies.
3. Loans. The Fund may not make loans to other persons except that it may (1) engage in repurchase agreements, (2) lend portfolio securities, (3) purchase debt securities, (4) purchase commercial paper, and (5) enter into any other lending arrangement permitted by the 1940 Act Laws, Interpretations, and Exemptions.
4. Real Estate. The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate except that the Fund may (1) hold and sell real estate acquired as a result of the Funds ownership of securities or other instruments (2) purchase or sell securities or other instruments backed by real estate or interests in real estate and (3) purchase or sell securities of entities or investment vehicles, including real estate investment trusts that invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests in real estate.
5. Commodities. The Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities except that it may (1) hold and sell physical commodities acquired as a result of its ownership of securities or other instruments, (2) purchase or sell securities or
other instruments backed by physical commodities, (3) purchase or sell options, and (4) purchase or sell futures contracts.
6. Concentration of Investments. The Fund may not purchase the securities of an issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its agencies or its 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.
7. Senior Securities. The Fund may not issue senior securities except as permitted by the 1940 Act Laws, Interpretations, and Exemptions.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The following is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust, the length of time served, principal occupations for the past 5 years, and for the Trustees, number of funds overseen in the Touchstone Fund Complex and other directorships held. All funds managed by the Advisor are part of the Touchstone Fund Complex. The Touchstone Fund Complex consists of the Trust, Touchstone Funds Group Trust, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust, Touchstone Investment Trust, Touchstone Tax-Free Trust, and Touchstone Variable Series Trust. The Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as Independent Trustees.
Interested Trustees(1):
Name
|
|
Position
|
|
Term of
|
|
Principal
|
|
Number of
|
|
Other
|
Jill T. McGruder(4)
Year of Birth: 1955 |
|
Trustee and President |
|
Until retirement at age 75 or until she resigns or is removed Trustee since 1999 |
|
President and CEO of IFS Financial Services, Inc. (a holding company). |
|
49 |
|
Director of LaRosas (a restaurant chain), Capital Analysts Incorporated (an investment advisor and broker-dealer), IFS Financial Services, Inc. (a holding company), Integrity and National Integrity Life Insurance Co., Touchstone Securities (the Trusts distributor), Touchstone Advisors (the Trusts investment advisor and administrator), W&S Brokerage Services (a brokerage company) and W&S Financial Group Distributors (a distribution company). |
Independent Trustees:
Name
|
|
Position
|
|
Term of
|
|
Principal
|
|
Number of
|
|
Other
|
Phillip R. Cox
Year of Birth: 1947 |
|
Trustee |
|
Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed Trustee since 1999 |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer of Cox Financial Corp. (a financial services company). |
|
49 |
|
Director of Cincinnati Bell (a communications company), Bethesda Inc. (a hospital), Timken Co. (a manufacturing company), Diebold (a technology solutions company), and Ohio Business Alliance for Higher Education. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William C. Gale(4)
Year of Birth: 1952 |
|
Trustee |
|
Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed Trustee since 2013 |
|
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cintas Corporation (a business service company) from 1995 to the present. |
|
49 |
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Susan J. Hickenlooper(4)
Year of Birth: 1946 |
|
Trustee |
|
Until retirement at age 75 or until she resigns or is removed Trustee since 2009 |
|
Financial Analyst for Impact 100 (Charitable Organization) from 11/2012 to present. |
|
49 |
|
Trustee of Gateway Trust (a mutual fund) from 2006 2009; Trustee of Cincinnati Parks Foundation (a charitable organization) from 2000 to present; Trustee of Episcopal Retirement Homes Foundation from 1998 -2011. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin A. Robie(4)
Year of Birth: 1956 |
|
Trustee |
|
Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed Trustee since 2013 |
|
Vice President of Portfolio Management at Soin International LLC (a private multinational holding company) from 2004 to present. |
|
49 |
|
Director of Buckeye EcoCare, Inc. (a lawn care company) from 2013 to present; Trustee of Dayton Region New Market Fund, LLC (a private fund) from 2010 to present; Trustee of the Entrepreneurs Center, Inc. (a small business incubator) from 2006 to present; and Director of Interventional Imaging, Inc. (a medical device company) from 2004 to 2011. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edward J. VonderBrink(4)
Year of Birth: 1944 |
|
Trustee |
|
Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed Trustee since 2013 |
|
Consultant, VonderBrink Consulting LLC from 2000 to present. |
|
49 |
|
Director of Streamline Health Solutions, Inc. (healthcare IT) from 2006 to present; BASCO Shower Enclosures (a design and manufacturing company) from 2010 to present; Mercy Health Foundation from 2008 to present; and Pelican Sound Golf and River Club from 2012 to present. |
(1)Ms. McGruder, as a director of the Advisor and Touchstone Securities, and an officer of affiliates of the Advisor and Touchstone Securities, is an interested person of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
(2)As of July 9, 2014, the Touchstone Fund Complex consists of 18 series of the Trust, 13 series of Touchstone Funds Group Trust, 1 series of Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust, 4 series of Touchstone Investment Trust, 3 series of Touchstone Tax-Free Trust, and 10 variable annuity series of Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
(3)Each Trustee is also a Trustee of Touchstone Funds Group Trust, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust, Touchstone Investment Trust, Touchstone Tax-Free Trust, and Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
(4)Except for Mr. Cox, each Trustees address is: C/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc., 303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Mr. Cox s address is 105 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, OH, 45202.
Principal Officers:
Name
|
|
Position
|
|
Term of Office and Length of
|
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Jill T. McGruder
Year of Birth: 1955 |
|
President |
|
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
President since 2004; President from 2000-2002 |
|
See biography above. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven M. Graziano
Year of Birth: 1954 |
|
Vice President |
|
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
Vice President since 2009 |
|
President of Touchstone Advisors, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Timothy D. Paulin
Year of Birth: 1963 |
|
Vice President |
|
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
Vice President since 2010 |
|
Senior Vice President of Investment Research and Product Management of Touchstone Advisors, Inc.; Director of Product Design of Klein Decisions, Inc. 2003-2010. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Timothy S. Stearns
Year of Birth: 1963 |
|
Chief Compliance Officer |
|
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
Chief Compliance Officer since 2013 |
|
Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer of Envestnet Asset Management, Inc. (2009 to 2013). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Terrie A. Wiedenheft
Year of Birth: 1962 |
|
Controller and Treasurer |
|
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
Controller since 2000
Treasurer since 2003 |
|
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer of IFS Financial Services, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elizabeth R. Freeman
Year of Birth: 1962 |
|
Secretary |
|
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
Secretary since 2011 |
|
Managing Director and Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. |
(1)The address for all officers except Ms. Freeman is: Touchstone Advisors Inc., 303 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH. Ms Freemans address is BNY Mellon Investing Servicing (US) Inc., 201 Washington Street, Boston, MA.
(2)Each officer also holds the same office with Touchstone Funds Group Trust, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust, Touchstone Investment Trust, Touchstone Tax-Free Trust, and Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
Additional Information About the Trustees. The Board believes that each Trustees experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that the Trustees possess the requisite experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills to serve on the Board. The Board believes that this conclusion is supported by the Trustees ability to review, evaluate, question, and discuss information provided to them; to interact effectively with the Advisor, sub-advisors, other service providers, counsel, and independent auditors; and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties. The Board has also considered the contributions that each Trustee can make to the Board and the Fund. In addition, the following specific experience, qualifications, attributes, and
skills apply as to each Trustee: Ms. McGruder has experience as a chief executive officer of a financial services company and a director of various other businesses, as well as executive and leadership roles within the Advisor; Mr. Cox has experience as a chief executive officer of a financial services company and director of companies from varied industries; Mr. Gale has executive and accounting experience as chief financial officer of a major public corporation; Ms. Hickenlooper has executive and board experience at various businesses, foundations, and charitable organizations; Mr. Robie has portfolio management experience at a private multinational holding company; and Mr. VonderBrink has experience as a consultant and director of other corporations. In its periodic self-assessment of its effectiveness, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Boards overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the Fund. References to the qualifications, attributes, and skills of Trustees are pursuant to requirements of the SEC, do not constitute holding out the Board or any Trustee as having any special expertise or experience, and shall not impose any greater responsibility on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.
Board Structure. The Board is composed of five Independent Trustees and one Interested Trustee, Jill T. McGruder, who is Chair of the Board. The Board has appointed Phillip R. Cox to serve as the Lead Independent Trustee. Ms. McGruder oversees the day-to-day business affairs of the Trust and communicates with Mr. Cox regularly on various Trust issues, as appropriate. Mr. Cox, among other things, chairs meetings of the Independent Trustees, serves as a spokesperson for the Independent Trustees, and serves as a liaison between the Independent Trustees and the Trusts management outside of the Board. Except for any duties specified in this SAI, the designation of Lead Independent Trustee does not generally impose on such Independent Trustee any duties, obligations, or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations, or liability imposed on any other member of the Board. The Independent Trustees are advised at these meetings, as well as at other times, by separate, independent legal counsel.
The Board holds four regular meetings each year to consider and address matters involving the Trust and its Funds. The Board also may hold special meetings to address matters arising between regular meetings. The Independent Trustees also regularly meet outside the presence of management. These meetings may take place in-person or by telephone.
The Board has established a committee structure that includes an Audit Committee and a Governance Committee (discussed in more detail below). The Board conducts much of its work through these Committees. Each Committee is comprised entirely of Independent Trustees, which ensures that the Fund has effective and independent governance and oversight.
The Board reviews its structure regularly and believes that its leadership structure, including having a super-majority of Independent Trustees, coupled with an Interested Chair and a Lead Independent Trustee, is appropriate and in the best interests of the Trust because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over matters under its purview, and it allocates areas of responsibility among committees and the Board in a manner that enhances effective oversight. The Board believes that having an Interested Chair is appropriate and in the best interests of the Trust given: (1) the extensive oversight provided by the Trusts Advisor over the affiliated and unaffiliated sub-advisors that conduct the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund; (2) the extent to which the work of the Board is conducted through the standing committees; (3) the extent to which the Independent Trustees meet regularly, together with independent legal counsel, in the absence of the Interested Chair; and (4) the Interested Chairs additional roles as a director of the Advisor and Touchstone Securities and senior executive of IFS Financial Services, Inc., the Advisors parent company, and of other affiliates of the Advisor, which enhance the Boards understanding of the operations of the Advisor and the role of the Trust and the Advisor within Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. The Board also believes that the role of the Lead Independent Trustee within the leadership structure is integral to promoting independent oversight of the Funds operations and meaningful representation of the shareholders interests. In addition, the Board believes its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the Independent Trustees from the Trusts management.
Board Oversight of Risk. Consistent with its responsibilities for oversight of the Trust and its Funds, the Board, among other things, oversees risk management of the Funds investment program and business affairs directly and through the committee structure that it has established. Risks to the Fund include, among others, investment risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, valuation risk, and operational risk. The Board has adopted, and periodically reviews, policies and procedures designed to address these risks. Under the overall oversight of the Board, the Advisor, sub-advisors, and other key service providers to the Fund, including the administrator, Touchstone Securities, the transfer agent, the custodian, and the independent auditors, have also implemented a variety of processes, procedures, and controls to address these risks. Different processes, procedures, and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. These processes include those that are embedded in the conduct of regular business by the Board and in the responsibilities of officers of the Trust and other service providers.
The Board requires senior officers of the Trust, including the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), to report to the Board on a variety of matters at regular and special meetings of the Board, including matters relating to risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee receive regular reports from the Trusts independent auditors on internal control and financial reporting matters. On at least a quarterly basis, the Board meets with the Trusts CCO, including meetings in executive sessions, to discuss compliance issues and, on at least an annual basis, receives a report from the CCO regarding the effectiveness of the Trusts compliance program. In addition, the Board also receives reports from the Advisor on the investments and securities trading of the Fund, including their investment performance and asset weightings compared to appropriate benchmarks, as well as reports regarding the valuation of those investments. The Board also receives reports from the Trusts primary service providers on a periodic or regular basis, including the sub-advisors to the Fund.
Standing Committees of the Board. The Board is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and other applicable laws and the Trusts Declaration of Trust. The Board has established the following Committees to assist in its oversight functions. Each Committee is composed entirely of Independent Trustees.
Audit Committee. All of the Independent Trustees are members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Gale serves as the Committee Chair. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the Trusts accounting and financial reporting policies, practices, and internal controls. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, the Audit Committee held four meetings.
Governance Committee. All of the Independent Trustees are members of the Governance Committee. Ms. Hickenlooper serves as the Committee Chair. The Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing the Trusts compliance program and compliance issues, procedures for valuing securities and responding to any pricing issues. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, the Governance Committee held four meetings.
In addition, the Governance Committee is responsible for recommending candidates to serve on the Board. The Governance Committee will consider shareholder recommendations for nomination to the Board only in the event that there is a vacancy on the Board. Shareholders who wish to submit recommendations for nominations to the Board to fill the vacancy must submit their recommendations in writing to Susan J. Hickenlooper, Chair of the Governance Committee, c/o Touchstone Funds, 303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Shareholders should include appropriate information on the background and qualifications of any person recommended to the Governance Committee ( e.g. , a resume), as well as the candidates contact information and a written consent from the candidate to serve if nominated and elected. Shareholder recommendations for nominations to the Board will be accepted on an ongoing basis and such recommendations will be kept on file for consideration in the event of a future vacancy on the Board.
Trustee Ownership in the Touchstone Funds. The following table reflects the Trustees beneficial ownership in the Fund* and the Touchstone Fund Complex as of December 31, 2013.
|
|
Dollar Range of
|
|
Aggregate Dollar
|
Interested Trustee |
|
|
|
|
Jill T. McGruder |
|
$0 |
|
Over $100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Independent Trustees |
|
|
|
|
Phillip R. Cox |
|
$0 |
|
$1 $10,000 |
William C. Gale |
|
$0 |
|
$0 |
Susan J. Hickenlooper |
|
$0 |
|
Over $100,000 |
Kevin A. Robie |
|
$0 |
|
$0 |
Edward J. VonderBrink |
|
$0 |
|
$0 |
(1)The Large Cap Fund did not commence operations until July 9, 2014.
(2)As of December 31, 2013, the Touchstone Fund Complex consisted of 18 series of the Trust, 13 series of Touchstone Funds Group Trust, 1 series of Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust, 4 series of Touchstone Investment Trust, 3 series of Touchstone Tax-Free Trust, and 10 variable annuity series of Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
Trustee Compensation. The following table shows the compensation paid to the Trustees by the Trust and the aggregate compensation paid by the Touchstone Fund Complex during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013.
(1)The Independent Trustees are eligible to participate in the Touchstone Trustee Deferred Compensation Plan that allows the Independent Trustees to defer payment of a specific amount of their Trustee compensation, subject to a minimum quarterly reduction of $1,000. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued by the Independent Trustees from the Touchstone Funds during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 is $4,000.
(2)As of July 9, 2014, the Touchstone Fund Complex consisted of 18 series of the Trust, 13 series of Touchstone Funds Group Trust, 1 series of Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust, 4 series of Touchstone Investment Trust, 3 series of Touchstone Tax-Free Trust, and 10 variable annuity series of Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
(3)Messrs. Gale, Robie, and VonderBrink did not assume their position as Trustee until after June 30, 2013.
The following table shows the Trustee quarterly compensation schedule:
|
|
Quarterly Retainer |
|
Governance Committee |
|
Audit Committee |
|
Board Meeting Fees |
|
||||
Beginning 1/1/14 |
|
$ |
13,500 |
|
$ |
4,500 |
|
$ |
4,500 |
|
$ |
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Lead Trustee Fees |
|
$ |
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Committee Chair Fees |
|
$ |
1,000 |
|
$ |
1,500 |
|
$ |
1,500 |
|
|
|
|
Telephonic Meeting Attendance Fee = $1,500
All fees are split equally among the Fund comprising the Touchstone Fund Complex.
THE ADVISOR
Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is the Funds investment advisor under the terms of an advisory agreement (the Advisory Agreement) dated May 1, 2000. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Funds investment program, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Board. The Advisor determines the appropriate allocation of assets to the Funds sub-advisor(s) (the Sub-Advisor).
The Advisory Agreement provides that the Advisor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in carrying out its duties, but shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its obligations or duties thereunder.
The Advisor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of IFS Financial Services, Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Western-Southern Life Assurance Company. Western-Southern Life Assurance Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Western & Southern Financial
Group, Inc. Western & Southern Financial Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company (collectively, Western & Southern). Western and Southern is located at 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Ms. Jill T. McGruder may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Advisor because she is a Director of the Advisor and an officer of affiliates of the Advisor. Ms. McGruder, by reason of these affiliations, may directly or indirectly receive benefits from the advisory fees paid to the Advisor.
Manager-of-Managers Structure. The SEC has granted an exemptive order that permits the Trust or the Advisor, under certain circumstances, to select or change unaffiliated sub-advisors, enter into new sub-advisory agreements, or amend existing sub-advisory agreements without first obtaining shareholder approval (a manager-of-managers structure). The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, seeks to achieve its investment goal by using a manager-of-managers structure. Under a manager-of-managers structure, the Advisor acts as investment advisor, subject to direction from and oversight by the Board, to allocate and reallocate the Funds assets among sub-advisors, and to recommend that the Board hire, terminate, or replace unaffiliated sub-advisors. By reducing the number of shareholder meetings that may have to be held to approve new or additional sub-advisors for the Fund, the Trust anticipates that there will be substantial potential cost savings, as well as the opportunity to achieve certain management efficiencies. Shareholders of the Fund will be notified of any changes in its sub-advisory agreement.
Fees Paid to the Advisor and Sub-Advisor. For its services, the Advisor is entitled to receive an investment advisory fee from the Fund at an annualized rate, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund, as set forth below. The Funds advisory fee is accrued daily and paid monthly, based on the Funds average net assets during the current month.
Fund |
|
Investment Advisory Fee |
Large Cap Fund |
|
0.70% on first $500 million of assets; 0.64% on next $500 million of assets; and 0.60% on assets over $1 billion |
The Fund shall pay the expenses of its operation, including but not limited to (i) charges and expenses of outside pricing services, (ii) the charges and expenses of auditors; (iii) the charges and expenses of its custodian, transfer agent, and administrative agent appointed by the Trust with respect to the Fund; (iv) brokers commissions, and issue and transfer taxes chargeable to the Fund in connection with its securities transactions; (v) insurance premiums, interest charges, dues and fees for membership in trade associations, and all taxes and fees payable to federal, state, or other governmental agencies; (vi) fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registrations of the Fund with the SEC, state, or blue sky securities agencies and foreign countries; (vii) all expenses of meetings of Trustees and of shareholders of the Trust and of preparing, printing, and distributing prospectuses, notices, proxy statements, and all reports to shareholders and to governmental agencies; (viii) charges and expenses of legal counsel to the Trust and Independent Trustees; (ix) compensation of the Independent Trustees of the Trust; (x) compliance fees and expenses; and (xi) interest on borrowed money, if any. The compensation and expenses of any officer, Trustee, or employee of the Trust who is an affiliated person of the Advisor is paid by the Advisor.
By its terms, the Funds Advisory Agreement will remain in force for an initial period of two years and from year-to-year thereafter, subject to annual approval by (a) the Board or (b) a vote of the majority of the Funds outstanding voting securities; provided that in either event continuance is also approved by a majority of the Independent Trustees, by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting such approval. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated at any time, on 60-day written notice, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board, by a vote of a majority of the Funds outstanding voting securities, or by the Advisor. The Advisory Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment, as defined by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. Each class of shares of the Fund pays its respective pro rata portion of the advisory fee payable by the Fund.
Expense Limitation Agreement. The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to ensure certain Funds total annual operating expenses (excluding dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the cost of Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, if any, other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business) do not exceed the contractual limits set forth in the prospectus fee table. The contractual limits set forth in the Funds prospectus include Rule 12b-1 fees, shareholder servicing fees, and other anticipated class specific expenses, if applicable. Fee waivers or expense reimbursements are calculated and applied monthly, based on the Funds average net assets during such month. The terms of contractual expense limitation agreement provide that the Advisor is entitled to recoup, subject to approval by the Board, such amounts waived or reimbursed for a period of up to three years
from the year in which the Advisor reduced its compensation or assumed expenses for the Fund. No recoupment will occur unless the Funds operating expenses are below the expense limitation amount in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement.
Advisory Fees and Fee Waivers or Reimbursements. The Fund will report the paid advisory fees and received waivers or reimbursements after its first fiscal year ending June 30, 2015.
THE SUB-ADVISOR AND PORTFOLIO MANAGER
The Advisor has selected a sub-advisor to manage all or a portion of the Funds assets. The sub-advisor makes the investment decisions for the Funds assets allocated to it, and continuously review, supervise, and administer a separate investment program, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Board.
The Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that the sub-advisor shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties; or from reckless disregard of its obligations or duties thereunder.
For its services, the sub-advisor receives a fee from the Advisor. As described in the prospectus, the sub-advisor receives sub-advisory fees with respect to the Fund that it sub-advises. The sub-advisors base fee with respect the Fund is accrued daily and paid monthly, based on the Funds average net assets allocated to the sub-advisor during the current month.
Sub-Advisor Control. London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company (TLC), a SEC-registered investment advisor located at 1801 Bayberry Court, Suite 301, Richmond, Virginia, 23226, serves as sub-advisor to the Touchstone Large Cap Fund. TLC was founded in 1994 and is majority employee owned. Stephen Goddard may be deemed to be a control person of TLC through his ownership in TLC Holdings LLC, which owns 75% of TLC.
The following charts list the Funds portfolio manager, the number of his other managed accounts per investment category, the total assets in each category of managed accounts and his beneficial ownership in his managed Funds as of September 30, 2013. Listed below the charts is (i) a description of the portfolio managers compensation structure as of September 30, 2013, and (ii) a description of any material conflicts that may arise in connection with the portfolio managers management of the Funds investments and the investments of the other accounts included in the chart and any material conflicts in allocation of investment opportunities between the Fund and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager as of September 30, 2013. Also as of September 30, 2013, the portfolio manager managed accounts subject to both an advisory and a performance fee.
Large Cap Fund
Sub-Advisor: London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company (TLC).
Portfolio Manager/Types of Accounts |
|
Total
|
|
Total Other
|
|
Number of
|
|
Total Other Assets
|
|
||
Stephen Goddard |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Registered Investment Companies |
|
3 |
|
$ |
1,109 |
|
0 |
|
N/A |
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
|
0 |
|
N/A |
|
0 |
|
N/A |
|
||
Other Accounts |
|
634 |
|
$ |
5,619 |
|
2 |
|
$ |
6.1 |
|
Compensation. The portfolio manager is compensated through salary and bonus. In addition to base salaries, he is eligible to receive bonus compensation based on contribution to the research effort as well as client retention, sales, and overall firm performance.
Conflicts of Interest. Actual or potential conflicts of interest may arise when the portfolio manager has management responsibilities for more than one client account including and not limited to the execution and allocation of investment opportunities, use of soft dollars and other brokerage practices, and personal securities trading. TLC has adopted policies and procedures it believes are reasonably designed to address such conflicts.
Ownership of Shares of the Fund.
Portfolio Managers |
|
Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned |
Stephen Goddard |
|
None |
THE ADMINISTRATOR
The Advisor entered into an Administration Agreement with the Trust, whereby the Advisor is responsible for: supplying executive and regulatory compliance services; supervising the preparation of tax returns; coordinating the preparation of reports to shareholders and reports to, and filings with, the SEC and state securities authorities, as well as materials for meetings of the Board of Trustees; calculating the daily net asset value per share; and maintaining the financial books and records of the Fund. For its services, the Advisor receives an annual fee of 0.20% on the first $6 billion of the aggregate average daily net assets of the Touchstone Fund Complex (excluding Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust, and Touchstone Variable Series Trust); 0.16% of the next $4 billion of aggregate average daily net assets; and 0.12% of the aggregate average daily net assets of all such assets in excess of $10 billion. The fee is allocated among the Touchstone Fund Complex (excluding Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust, and Touchstone Variable Series Trust) on the basis of relative daily net assets.
The Advisor has engaged BNY Mellon as the Sub-Administrator to the Trust. BNY Mellon provides sub-administrator and accounting services to the Trust and is compensated directly by the Administrator, not the Trust. (See Transfer and Sub-Administrative Agent in this SAI).
TOUCHSTONE SECURITIES
Touchstone Securities, Inc. (Touchstone Securities), and the Trust are parties to a distribution agreement (the Distribution Agreement) with respect to the Fund. Touchstone Securities principal place of business is 303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Touchstone Securities is the principal underwriter of the Fund and is a registered broker-dealer, and an affiliate of the Advisor by reason of common ownership. Touchstone Securities is obligated to sell the shares on a best efforts basis only against purchase orders for the shares. Shares of the Fund are offered to the public on a continuous basis. Touchstone Securities currently allows concessions to dealers who sell shares of the Fund. Touchstone Securities retains that portion of the sales charge that is not re-allowed to dealers who sell shares of the Fund. Touchstone Securities retains the entire sales charge on all direct initial investments in the Fund and on all investments in accounts with no designated dealer of record.
The Fund will report aggregate underwriting commissions on sales of the Fund, including the amounts Touchstone Securities paid to unaffiliated broker-dealers, the amounts Touchstone Securities earned as a broker-dealer in the selling network, and the amounts of underwriting commissions retained by Touchstone Securities, each as of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015.
Ms. McGruder is an affiliate of Touchstone Securities because she is a Director of Touchstone Securities and an officer of affiliates of Touchstone Securities. Ms. McGruder, by reason of such affiliation, may directly or indirectly be deemed to receive benefits from the underwriting fees paid to Touchstone Securities.
The Distribution Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of two years after the effective date of the agreement and is from year-to-year thereafter, subject to annual approval by (a) the Board or (b) a vote of the majority of the Funds outstanding voting securities; provided that in either event continuance is also approved by a majority of the Independent Trustees, by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting such approval. The Distribution Agreement may be terminated by Touchstone Securities, by a majority vote of the Independent Trustees or by a majority vote of the outstanding securities of the Trust upon not more than 60-day written notice by either party or upon assignment by Touchstone Securities.
Touchstone Securities may pay from its own resources cash bonuses or other incentives to selected dealers in connection with the sale of shares of the Fund. On some occasions, such bonuses or incentives may be conditioned upon the sale of a specified minimum dollar amount of the shares of the Fund or other funds in the Touchstone Fund complex during a specific period of time.
Touchstone Securities, at its expense, may provide additional compensation to financial intermediaries who sell or arrange for the sale of shares of the Touchstone Funds. Other compensation may be offered to the extent not prohibited by federal or state laws or any self-regulatory agency, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Touchstone Securities makes payments for entertainment events it deems appropriate, subject to its guidelines and applicable law. These payments may vary depending upon the nature of the event or the relationship. As of June 30, 2014, Touchstone Securities anticipates that the following broker-dealers or their affiliates will receive additional payments as described in the Funds prospectus and this SAI:
Name of Broker-Dealer
American Enterprise Investment Services Inc.
Fifth Third Securities Inc.
First Clearing LLC / Wells Fargo Advisors LLC
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
Lincoln Investment Planning Inc.
LPL Financial Services
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Pershing LLC
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
RBC Capital Markets Corporation
UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Vanguard Brokerage Services
Touchstone Securities is motivated to make payments to the broker-dealers described above because they promote the sale of Fund shares and the retention of those investments by clients of financial advisors. To the extent financial advisors sell more shares of the Fund or retain shares of the Fund in their clients accounts, the Advisor benefits from the incremental management and other fees paid to the Advisor by the Fund with respect to those assets.
Your financial advisor may charge you additional fees or commissions other than those disclosed in this SAI. You can ask your financial advisor about any payments it receives from Touchstone Securities or the Fund, as well as about fees or commissions it charges. You should consult disclosures made by your financial advisor at the time of purchase.
The Fund may compensate dealers, including Touchstone Securities and its affiliates, based on the average balance of all accounts in the Fund for which the dealer is designated as the party responsible for the account.
DISTRIBUTION PLANS AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
The Fund has adopted a distribution and shareholder servicing plan for certain classes of shares which permits it to pay for expenses incurred in the distribution and promotion of its shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and account maintenance and other shareholder services in connection with maintaining such account. Touchstone Securities may provide those services itself or enter into arrangements under which third parties provide such services and are compensated by Touchstone Securities.
Class A Shares. With respect to its Class A shares, the Fund has adopted a plan of distribution and shareholder service (the Class A Plan) under which Touchstone Securities is paid up to, but not exceeding, twenty-five basis points (0.25%) for distribution payments. Of the total compensation authorized, the Fund may pay for shareholder services in an amount up to 0.25%.
Class C Shares. With respect to its Class C Shares, the Fund has adopted a plan of distribution and shareholder service (the Class C Plan and together with the Class A Plan, the Plans) under which Touchstone Securities is paid up to, but not exceeding, one hundred basis points (1.00%) in the aggregate, with twenty-five basis points (0.25%) for shareholder service fees and seventy-five basis points (0.75%) for distribution payments.
General Information. In connection with the distribution of shares, Touchstone Securities may use the payments for: (i) compensation for its services in distribution assistance; or (ii) payments to financial intermediaries such as banks, savings
and loan associations, insurance companies, investment counselors, broker-dealers, mutual fund supermarkets and Touchstone Securities affiliates and subsidiaries as compensation for services or reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with distribution assistance.
In addition, Touchstone Securities may use payments to provide or enter into written agreements with service providers who will provide shareholder services, including: (i) maintaining accounts relating to shareholders that invest in shares; (ii) arranging for bank wires; (iii) responding to client inquiries relating to the services performed by Touchstone Securities or service providers; (iv) responding to inquiries from shareholders concerning their investment in shares; (v) assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; (vi) providing information periodically to shareholders showing their position in shares; (vii) forwarding shareholder communications from the Fund such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual reports, dividend distribution and tax notices to shareholders; (viii) processing purchase, exchange and redemption requests from shareholders and placing orders with the Fund or the service providers; (ix) processing dividend payments from the Fund on behalf of shareholders; and (x) providing such other similar services as the Fund may reasonably request.
Agreements implementing the Plans (the Implementation Agreements), including agreements with dealers wherein such dealers agree for a fee to act as agents for the sale of the Funds shares, are in writing and have been approved by the Board of Trustees. All payments made pursuant to the Plans are made in accordance with written Implementation Agreements. Some financial intermediaries charge fees in excess of the amounts available under the Plans, in which case the Advisor pays the additional fees.
The continuance of the Plans and the Implementation Agreements must be specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board and by a vote of the Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plans or any Implementation Agreement at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance. A Plan may be terminated at any time by a vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund or the applicable class of the Fund. In the event a Plan is terminated in accordance with its terms, the Fund (or class) will not be required to make any payments for expenses incurred by Touchstone Securities after the termination date. Each Implementation Agreement terminates automatically in the event of its assignment and may be terminated at any time by a vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund (or the applicable class) on not more than 60-day written notice to any other party to the Implementation Agreement. The Plans may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for distribution without shareholder approval. All material amendments to the Plans must be approved by a vote of the Board and by a vote of the Independent Trustees.
In approving the Plans, the Board determined, in the exercise of its business judgment and in light of its fiduciary duties, that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plans will benefit the Fund and its shareholders. The Board believes that expenditure of the Funds assets for distribution expenses under the Plans should assist in the growth of the Fund, which will benefit the Fund and its shareholders through increased economies of scale, greater investment flexibility, greater portfolio diversification, and less chance of disruption of planned investment strategies. The Plans will be renewed only if the Board makes a similar determination for each subsequent year of the Plans. There can be no assurance that the benefits anticipated from the expenditure of the Funds assets for distribution will be realized. While the Plans are in effect, all amounts spent by the Fund pursuant to the Plans and the purposes for which such expenditures were made must be reported quarterly to the Board for its review. Distribution expenses attributable to the sale of more than one class of shares of the Fund will be allocated at least annually to each class of shares based upon the ratio in which the sales of each class of shares bears to the sales of all the shares of the Fund. In addition, the selection and nomination of those Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust are committed to the discretion of the Independent Trustees during such period.
Jill T. McGruder, as an interested person of the Trust, may be deemed to have a financial interest in the operation of the Plans and the Implementation Agreements due to her affiliation with Touchstone Securities.
BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS
Decisions to buy and sell securities for the Fund and the placing of the Funds securities transactions and negotiation of commission rates where applicable are made by the sub-advisors and are subject to review by the Advisor and the Board of Trustees. In the purchase and sale of portfolio securities, the sub-advisors primary objective will be to obtain the most favorable price and execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as the overall direct net economic result to the Fund (including commissions, which may not be the lowest available but ordinarily should not be higher than the generally
prevailing competitive range), the financial strength and stability of the broker, the efficiency with which the transaction will be effected, the ability to effect the transaction at all where a large block is involved and the availability of the broker or dealer to stand ready to execute possibly difficult transactions in the future.
The sub-advisor is specifically authorized to pay a broker who provides research services to the sub-advisor an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker would have charged for effecting such transaction, in recognition of such additional research services rendered by the broker or dealer, but only if the sub-advisor determines in good faith that the excess commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer viewed in terms of the particular transaction or the sub-advisors overall responsibilities with respect to discretionary accounts that it manages, and that the Fund derives or will derive a reasonably significant benefit from such research services.
Research services include securities and economic analyses, reports on issuers financial conditions and future business prospects, newsletters and opinions relating to interest trends, general advice on the relative merits of possible investment securities for the Fund and statistical services and information with respect to the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities. Although this information is useful to the Fund and the sub-advisors, it is not possible to place a dollar value on it. Research services furnished by brokers through whom the Fund effects securities transactions may be used by the sub-advisor in servicing all of its accounts and not all such services may be used by the sub-advisor in connection with the Fund.
The Fund has no obligation to deal with any broker or dealer in the execution of securities transactions. However, the Fund may effect securities transactions that are executed on a national securities exchange or transactions in the over-the-counter market conducted on an agency basis. The Fund will not effect any brokerage transactions in its portfolio securities with an affiliated broker if such transactions would be unfair or unreasonable to its shareholders. Over-the-counter transactions will be placed either directly with principal market makers or with broker-dealers. Although the Fund does not anticipate any ongoing arrangements with other brokerage firms, brokerage business may be transacted with other firms. Affiliated broker-dealers of the Trust will not receive reciprocal brokerage business as a result of the brokerage business transacted by the Fund with other brokers. The Fund may direct transactions to certain brokers in order to reduce brokerage commissions through a commission recapture program offered by Frank Russell Securities, Inc.
In certain instances there may be securities that are suitable for the Fund as well as for one or more of the respective sub-advisors other clients. Investment decisions for the Fund and for the sub-advisors other clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives. It may develop that a particular security is bought or sold for only one client even though it might be held by, or bought or sold for, other clients. Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more clients are selling that same security. Some simultaneous transactions are inevitable when several clients receive investment advice from the same investment advisor, particularly when the same security is suitable for the investment objectives of more than one client. When two or more clients are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security, the securities are allocated among clients in a manner believed to be equitable to each. It is recognized that in some cases this system could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security as far as the Fund is concerned. However, it is believed that the ability of the Fund to participate in volume transactions will produce better executions for the Fund.
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES
The Fund has adopted the sub-advisors policies and procedures for voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund, including procedures used when a vote presents a conflict between the interests of the Funds shareholders and those of the sub-advisor or its affiliates. A copy of the sub-advisors proxy voting policies is included in Appendix B. Information regarding how those proxies were voted during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 will be available without charge by calling toll free 1.800.543.0407 or on the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Trust, the Advisor, the sub-advisor, and Touchstone Securities have each adopted a Code of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that permits Fund personnel to invest in securities for their own accounts and may permit personnel to invest in securities that may be purchased by the Fund. The Code of Ethics adopted by each of the Trust, the Advisor, the sub-advisor, and Touchstone Securities is on public file with, and is available from, the SEC.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The Funds portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by the Fund. High turnover may result in the Fund recognizing greater amounts of income and capital gains, which would increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders and increase the amount of commissions paid by the Fund. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all of the Funds portfolio securities were replaced once within a one-year period. The rate of portfolio turnover will depend upon market and other conditions, and will not be a limiting factor when the sub-advisor believes that portfolio changes are appropriate.
The Fund will report its portfolio turnover rate following its fiscal year ending June 30, 2015.
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Touchstone Funds have adopted policies and procedures for disclosing the Funds portfolio holdings to any person requesting this information. These policies and procedures are monitored by the Board through periodic reporting by the Funds Chief Compliance Officer.
No compensation will be received by the Fund, the Advisor, any sub-advisor, or any other party in connection with the disclosure of information about portfolio securities.
The procedures prohibit the disclosure of portfolio holdings except under the following conditions:
1) A request made by a sub-advisor for the Fund (or that portion of the Fund) that it manages.
2) A request by executive officers of the Advisor for routine oversight and management purposes.
3) For use in preparing and distributing routine shareholder reports, including disclosure to the Funds independent registered public accounting firm, typesetter and printer. Routine shareholder reports are filed with the SEC within 60 days after the quarter end of each calendar quarter, and routine shareholder reports are distributed to shareholders within 60 days after the applicable six-month semi-annual period. The Fund provides their full holdings to their independent registered public accounting firm annually, as of the end of its fiscal year, within 1 to 10 business days after fiscal year end. The Fund provides their full holdings to its typesetter at least 50 days after the end of the calendar quarter. The Fund provides its full holdings to their printer at least 50 days after the applicable six-month semi-annual period.
4) A request by service providers to fulfill its contractual duties relating to the Fund, subject to approval by the Chief Compliance Officer.
5) A request by a newly hired sub-advisor or sub-advisor candidate prior to the commencement of its duties to facilitate its transition as a new sub-advisor, subject to the conditions set forth in Item 8.
6) A request by a potential merger candidate for the purpose of conducting due diligence, subject to the conditions set forth in Item 8.
7) A request by a rating or ranking agency, subject to the conditions set forth in Item 8.
Other portfolio holdings disclosure policies of the Fund include:
· The Fund provides its top ten holdings on its publicly available website and to market data agencies monthly, as of the end of a calendar month, at least seven business days after month end.
· The Fund provides its full holdings on its publicly available website, and to market data agencies, their typesetter and printer, quarterly, as of the end of a calendar quarter, at least 15 days after quarter end.
You may access the public website at www.TouchstoneInvestments.com.
8) The Chief Compliance Officer may authorize disclosing non-public portfolio holdings to third parties more frequently or at different periods than as described above prior to when such information is made public, provided that certain conditions are met. The third-party must (i) specifically request in writing the more current non-public portfolio holdings, providing a reasonable basis for the request; (ii) execute an agreement to keep such information confidential, to only use the information for the authorized purpose, and not to use the information for their personal benefit; (iii) agree not to trade on such information, either directly or indirectly; and (iv) unless specifically approved by the Chief Compliance Officer in writing for good reason, the non-public portfolio holdings are subject to a ten day time delay before dissemination. Any non-public portfolio holdings that are disclosed will not include any material information about the Funds trading strategies or pending portfolio transactions.
As of June 30, 2014, one or more Touchstone Funds may currently disclose portfolio holdings information based on ongoing arrangements to the following parties:
Bloomberg, LP
CMS Bondedge
Morningstar, Inc
Employees of the Advisor and the Funds sub-advisor that are access persons under the Funds Code of Ethics have access to Fund holdings on a regular basis, but are subject to confidentiality requirements and trading prohibitions in the Code of Ethics. In addition, custodians of the Funds assets and the Funds accounting services agent, each of whose agreements contains a confidentiality provision (which includes a duty not to trade on non-public information), has access to the current Fund holdings on a daily basis.
The Chief Compliance Officer is authorized to determine whether disclosure of the Funds portfolio securities is for a legitimate business purpose and is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Any conflict between the interests of shareholders and the interests of the Advisor, Touchstone Securities, or any affiliates, will be reported to the Board, which will make a determination that is in the best interests of shareholders.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The securities of the Fund are valued under the direction of the Administrator and under the general oversight of the Board. The Administrator or its delegates may use independent pricing services to obtain valuations of securities. The pricing services rely primarily on prices of actual market transactions as well as on trade quotations obtained from third parties. Prices are generally determined using readily available market prices. If market prices are unavailable or believed to be unreliable, the Sub-Administrator will initiate a process by which the Trusts Fair Value Committee will make a good faith determination as to the fair value of the security using procedures approved by the Board. The pricing services may use a matrix system to determine valuations of fixed-income securities when market prices are not readily available. This system considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings, and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. The procedures used by any such pricing service and its valuation results are reviewed by the officers of the Trust under the general oversight of the Board.
The Fund may hold portfolio securities that are listed on foreign exchanges. Under certain circumstance these investments may be valued under the Funds fair value policies and procedures, such as when U.S. exchanges are open but the foreign exchange is closed.
Securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less will be valued by the amortized cost method, which involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter (absent unusual circumstances) assuming a constant amortization of maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the impact of fluctuations in general market rates of interest on the value of the instrument. While this method provides certainty in valuation, it may result in periods during which value, as determined by this method, is higher or lower than the price the Fund would receive if it sold the instrument.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
The Trusts Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Funds and shares of the Fund. Each share of the Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that Fund with each other share. Upon liquidation, shares are entitled
to a prorata share in the net assets of the Fund, after taking into account additional distribution, shareholder servicing expenses, and other calls level expenses attributable to the Class. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Board may create additional series of shares or separate classes of funds. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any portfolio or separate class and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that portfolio or separate class and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto. Share certificates representing shares will not be issued.
The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a Massachusetts business trust. The Trusts Declaration of Trust states that neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any shareholder, nor, except as specifically provided therein, 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.
The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful defaults and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents, employees or investment advisors, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust unless it is determined in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.
Each whole share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. Shares issued by the Fund have no preemptive, conversion, or subscription rights. Voting rights are not cumulative. The Fund, as a separate series of the Trust, votes separately on matters affecting only that Fund. Shareholders of each class of the Fund will vote separately on matters pertaining solely to that Fund or that class. The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders, but approval will be sought for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of Trustees under certain circumstances.
Finally, a Trustee may be removed by a written instruments signed by either two thirds of the remaining Trustees or by shareholders collectively owning at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Trust.
CHOOSING A CLASS OF SHARES
The Fund participates in fund supermarket arrangements. In such an arrangement, a program is made available by a broker or other institution (a sponsor) that allows investors to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund through the sponsor of the fund supermarket. In connection with these supermarket arrangements, the Fund has authorized one or more brokers to accept on its behalf purchase and redemption orders. In turn, the brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on the Funds behalf. As such, the Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a brokers authorized designee, accepts the order. The customer order will be priced at the Funds NAV next computed after acceptance by an authorized broker or the brokers authorized designee. In addition, a broker may charge transaction fees on the purchase or sale of Fund shares. Also in connection with fund supermarket arrangements, the performance of a participating Fund may be compared in publications to the performance of various indices and investments for which reliable performance data is available and compared in publications to averages, performance rankings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services. The Trusts annual report contains additional performance information and will be made available to investors upon request and without charge.
Class A shares. For initial purchases of Class A shares of $1 million or more and subsequent purchases further increasing the size of an individual shareholder account, participating dealers may receive compensation of up to 1.00% of such purchases from Touchstone Securities according to the following schedule:
Amount of Investment |
|
Dealer Fee |
|
$1 million but less than $3 million |
|
1.00 |
% |
$3 million but less than $5 million |
|
0.75 |
% |
$5 million but less than $25 million |
|
0.50 |
% |
$25 million or more |
|
0.25 |
% |
Touchstone Securities does not have an annual reset for these fees. In determining a dealers eligibility for such commission, purchases of Class A shares of the Fund may be aggregated with concurrent purchases of Class A shares of other Touchstone Funds. Dealers should contact Touchstone Securities for more information on the calculation of the dealers commission in the case of combined purchases.
An exchange from other Touchstone Funds will not qualify for payment of the dealers commission unless the exchange is from a Touchstone Fund with assets as to which a dealers commission or similar payment has not been previously paid. No commission will be paid if the purchase represents the reinvestment of a redemption from the Fund made during the previous 12 months. Redemptions of Class A shares may result in the imposition of a CDSC if the dealers commission described in this paragraph was paid in connection with the purchase of such shares. See CDSC for Certain Redemptions of Class A shares below.
Share Class Conversions. Class A and Class C shareholders who are eligible to invest in Class Y shares are eligible to exchange their Class A shares and/or Class C shares for Class Y shares of the same fund, if offered in their state and such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial institution. Class A, Class C, and Class Y shareholders who are eligible to invest in Institutional Class shares are eligible to exchange their Class A, Class C, and/or Class Y shares for Institutional Class shares of the same fund, if offered in their state, they meet the initial investment minimum for Institutional Class shares, and such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial institution. Class Y shares may be available through financial institutions that have appropriate selling agreements with Touchstone Securities, or through processing organizations ( e.g. , mutual fund supermarkets) that purchase shares for their customers. No front end sales charges will apply to any such exchange, however, if the C share assets have been held less than 12 months and a 1% commission was paid to the broker at the time of purchase, a 1% CDSC will be assessed on the exchange transaction, which may be processed as a liquidation and a purchase. For federal income tax purposes, exchanges of one share class for a different share class of the same fund (even if processed as a liquidation and a purchase) should not result in the realization by the investor of a capital gain or loss. There can be no assurance of any particular tax treatment, however, and you are urged and advised to consult with your own tax advisor before entering into a share class exchange.
If the share class conversion(s) mentioned above is being initiated by a financial institution, processing organization or intermediary as it relates to Touchstone Fund availability on a particular platform, Touchstone Securities should be contacted at least 60 days in advance by the financial institution, intermediary or processing organization to request approval for the share class conversion.
CDSC for Certain Redemptions of Class A Shares . A CDSC is imposed upon certain redemptions of Class A shares of the Fund (or shares into which such Class A shares were exchanged) purchased at NAV in amounts totaling $1 million or more, if the dealers commission described above was paid by Touchstone Securities and the shares are redeemed within one year from the date of purchase. The CDSC will be paid to Touchstone Securities and will be equal to the commission percentage paid at the time of purchase as applied to the lesser of (1) the NAV at the time of purchase of the Class A shares being redeemed, or (2) the NAV of such Class A shares at the time of redemption. If a purchase of Class A shares is subject to the CDSC, you will be notified on the confirmation you receive for your purchase. Redemptions of such Class A shares of the Fund held for at least one year will not be subject to the CDSC.
Examples . The following example will illustrate the operation of the CDSC. Assume that you open an account and purchase 1,000 shares at $10 per share and that six months later the NAV per share is $12 and, during such time, you have acquired 50 additional shares through reinvestment of distributions. If at such time you should redeem 450 shares (proceeds of $5,400), 50 shares will not be subject to the charge because of dividend reinvestment. With respect to the remaining 400 shares, the charge is applied only to the original cost of $10 per share and not to the increase in NAV of $2 per share. Therefore, $4,000 of the $5,400 redemption proceeds will pay the charge. At the rate of 1.00%, the CDSC would be $40 for redemptions of Class C shares. In determining whether an amount is available for redemption without incurring a deferred sales charge, the purchase payments made for all shares in your account are aggregated.
OTHER PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION
Waiver of Minimum Investment Requirements. The minimum and subsequent investment requirements for purchases in the Fund may not apply to:
1. Any director, officer or other employee (and their immediate family members, as defined below) of Western & Southern Financial Group, any of its affiliates, or any portfolio advisor or service provider to the Trust.
2. Any employee benefit plan that is provided administrative services by a third-party administrator that has entered into a special service arrangement with Touchstone Securities.
The minimum investment waivers are not available for Institutional Class shares of the Fund.
Waiver of Class A Sales Charges. In addition to the categories of purchasers described in each prospectus from whom the sales charge on purchases of Class A shares of the Fund may be waived, Class A shares issued or purchased in the following transactions are not subject to sales charges (and no concessions are paid by Touchstone Securities on such purchases):
1. purchases into the Fund by any director, officer, employee (and their immediate family members, as defined below), or current separate account client of or referral by a sub-advisor to that particular Fund;
2. purchases by any director, officer or other employee (and their immediate family members, as defined below) of Western & Southern Financial Group or any of its affiliates; and
3. purchases by any employees of BNY Mellon, who provide services for the Touchstone Funds.
Exemptions must be qualified in advance by Touchstone Securities. At the option of the Trust, the front-end sales charge may be included on purchases by such persons in the future.
Immediate family members are defined as the spouse, parents, siblings, domestic partner, natural or adopted children, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law of a director, officer, or employee. The term employee is deemed to include current and retired employees.
Waiver of Class A Sales Charge for Clients of Financial Intermediaries. Touchstone Securities has agreed to waive the Class A sales charge for clients of financial intermediaries that have entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to offer shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee to their customers.
Waiver of Large Cap Growth Fund Class A Sales Charge for Former Navellier Shareholders. Effective October 6, 2003, sales charges do not apply to Class A shares of the Large Cap Growth Fund purchased by former shareholders of the Navellier Performance Large Cap Growth Portfolio who are purchasing additional shares for their account or opening new accounts in the Large Cap Growth Fund.
Waiver of Class A Sales Charge for former Constellation Shareholders. Shareholders who owned shares of the Touchstone Fund Group Trust as of November 17, 2006 who are purchasing additional shares for their accounts or opening new accounts in any Touchstone Fund are not subject to the front-end sales charge for purchases of Class A Shares. If you are purchasing shares through a financial intermediary, you must notify the intermediary at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a sales load waiver and you may be required to provide copies of account statements verifying your qualification.
Shareholders who are eligible for the sales charge waivers listed above may open an account with the Fund directly to receive the sales charge waiver.
Class Y Shares Grandfather Clause. New purchases of the Class Y shares are no longer available directly through Touchstone Securities. Those shareholders who owned Class Y shares purchased directly through Touchstone Securities prior to February 2, 2009 or those former Old Mutual Shareholders who owned Class Z shares which became Class Y shares on April 16, 2012, may continue to hold Class Y shares of the corresponding Fund(s). In addition, those shareholders may continue to make subsequent purchases into existing accounts of Class Y shares of the Fund(s) they owned prior to February 2, 2009 and April 16, 2012, respectively.
Undeliverable Checks. Dividend and distribution checks issued from non-retirement accounts for less than $25.00 will be automatically reinvested in the Fund that pays them. If you elect to receive your dividends and distributions of $25.00 or more in cash, and the payment is returned as undeliverable, the outstanding payment on your account will be cancelled and the proceeds will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of cancellation. If your redemption proceeds are returned as undeliverable, your account will be considered a lost shareholder, correspondence will be sent to you requesting that you contact the Fund, and the outstanding payment will be deposited into an account for
potential escheatment to your state of residence. Upon contact, the Fund will no longer consider your account will no longer be considered a lost shareholder account, and your outstanding payment will be reissued to your corrected address.
Uncashed checks. All uncashed checks on your account will appear with your monthly or quarterly statement for your convenience. If your redemption proceeds, dividend, or distribution check is not cashed within six months (an outstanding payment), the outstanding payment on your account will be cancelled and the proceeds will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of cancellation. In the event the proceeds represent a full liquidation or a distribution from a retirement account, the proceeds will be deposited into a nonretirement account for you and invested in the Touchstone Money Market Fund. In addition, if the payment was for dividends or distributions, your cash election will be automatically changed and future dividends and distributions will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of payment.
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
The following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders. This discussion is for general information only and does not purport to consider all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that might be relevant to beneficial owners of shares of the Fund. Therefore, this summary should not be considered to be individual tax advice and may not be relied upon by any shareholder. The summary is based upon current provisions of the IRC, applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the Regulations), and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, which change could be retroactive, and may affect the conclusions expressed herein. The summary applies only to beneficial owners of the Funds shares in whose hands such shares are capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the IRC, and may not apply to certain types of beneficial owners of the Funds shares, including, but not limited to insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, shareholders holding the Funds shares through tax-advantaged accounts (such as an IRA, a 401(k) plan account, or other qualified retirement account), financial institutions, pass-through entities, broker-dealers, entities that are not organized under the laws of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, persons who are neither a citizen nor resident of the United States, shareholders holding the Funds shares as part of a hedge, straddle, or conversion transaction, and shareholders who are subject to the alternative minimum tax. Persons who may be subject to tax in more than one country should consult the provisions of any applicable tax treaty to determine the potential tax consequences to them.
No Fund has requested nor will any Fund request an advance ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) as to the federal income tax matters described below. The IRS could adopt positions contrary to those discussed below and such positions could be sustained. In addition, the following discussion applicable to shareholders of the Fund addresses only some of the federal income tax considerations generally affecting investments in the Fund.
Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences of the ownership, purchase and disposition of an investment in the Fund including, but not limited to, the applicability of state, local, foreign and other tax laws affecting the particular shareholder and to possible effects of changes in federal, or other tax laws.
General. For federal income tax purposes, the Fund is treated as a separate corporation. The Fund has elected, and intends to continue to qualify for, taxation as a regulated investment company (a RIC) under the IRC. By qualifying as a RIC, the Fund (but not the shareholders) will not be subject to federal income tax on that portion of its investment company taxable income and realized net capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders.
Shareholders should be aware that investments made by the Fund, some of which are described below, may involve complex tax rules some of which may result in income or gain recognition by the Fund without the concurrent receipt of cash. Although the Fund seeks to avoid significant noncash income, such noncash income could be recognized by the Fund, in which case it may distribute cash derived from other sources in order to meet the minimum distribution requirements described below. Cash to make the required minimum distributions may be obtained from sales proceeds of securities held by the Fund (even if such sales are not advantageous) or, if permitted by its governing documents and other regulatory restrictions, through borrowing the amounts required.
Qualification As A Regulated Investment Company. Qualification as a RIC under the IRC requires, among other things, that the Fund: (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and (ii) net income from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships
(together with (i), the Qualifying Income Requirement); (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the close of each quarter of the taxable year: (i) at least 50% of the value of its assets is comprised of cash, cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with those other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of its total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of other RICs) of two or more issuers controlled by it and engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (together with (i) the Diversification Requirement); and (c) distribute for each taxable year at least the sum of (i) 90% of its investment company taxable income (which includes dividends, taxable interest, taxable original issue discount income, market discount income, income from securities lending, net short-term capital gain in excess of net long-term capital loss, certain net realized foreign currency exchange gains, and any other taxable income other than net capital gain as defined below and is reduced by deductible expenses) determined without regard to any deduction for dividends paid; and (ii) 90% of its tax-exempt interest, if any, net of certain expenses allocable thereto (net tax-exempt interest).
The U.S. Treasury Department is authorized to promulgate regulations under which gains from foreign currencies (and options, futures, and forward contracts on foreign currency) would constitute qualifying income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Requirement only if such gains are directly related to the principal business of the Fund of investing in stock or securities or options and futures with respect to stock or securities. To date, such regulations have not been issued.
As a RIC, the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of its income and capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders in any taxable year for which it distributes, in compliance with the IRCs timing and other requirements at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest. The Fund may retain for investment all or a portion of its net capital gain ( i.e. , the excess of its net long-term capital gain over its net short-term capital loss). If the Fund retains any investment company taxable income or net capital gain, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed net capital gain in a notice to its shareholders, who will be (i) required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount; and (ii) entitled to credit their proportionate shares of tax paid by the Fund against their federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of the shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in the shareholders gross income and decreased by the federal income tax paid by the Fund on that amount of capital gain.
The qualifying income and asset requirements that must be met under the IRC in order for the Fund to qualify as a RIC, as described above, may limit the extent to which it will be able to engage in derivative transactions. Rules governing the federal income tax aspects of derivatives, including swap agreements, are not entirely clear in certain respects, particularly in light of two IRS revenue rulings issued in 2006. Revenue Ruling 2006-1 held that income from a derivative contract with respect to a commodity index is not qualifying income for a RIC. Subsequently, the IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2006-31 in which it stated that the holding in Revenue Ruling 2006-1 was not intended to preclude a conclusion that the income from certain instruments (such as certain structured notes) that create a commodity exposure for the holder is qualifying income. Accordingly, the Funds ability to invest in commodity related derivative transactions and other derivative transactions may be limited by the Qualifying Income Requirement. The Fund will account for any investments in commodity derivative transactions in a manner it deems to be appropriate; the IRS, however, might not accept such treatment. If the IRS did not accept such treatment, the status of the Fund as a RIC might be jeopardized.
In general, for purposes of the Qualifying Income Requirement described above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized directly by the RIC. However, all of the net income of a RIC derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (defined as a partnership (x) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof, and (y) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in clause (i) of the Qualifying Income Requirement described above) will be treated as qualifying income. In general, such entities will be treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes if they meet the passive income requirement under Section 7704(c)(2) of the IRC. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the IRC do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.
For purposes of the Diversification Requirement described above, the term outstanding voting securities of such issuer will include the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership.
If the Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income Requirement or the Diversification Requirement in any taxable year, it may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures to satisfy the Diversification Requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period of time. If the applicable relief provisions are not available or cannot be met, the Fund will fail to qualify as a RIC and will be subject to tax in the same manner as an ordinary corporation subject to tax on a graduated basis with a maximum tax rate of 35% and all distributions from earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles) to its shareholders will be taxable as ordinary dividend income eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders and for qualified dividend income treatment for non-corporate shareholders.
Excise Tax. If the Fund fails to distribute by December 31 of each calendar year an amount equal to the sum of (1) at least 98% of its taxable ordinary income (excluding capital gains and losses) for such year, (2) at least 98.2% of the excess of its capital gains over its capital losses (as adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the 12 month period ending on October 31 of such year, and (3) all taxable ordinary income and the excess of capital gains over capital losses for the prior year that were not distributed during such year and on which it did not pay federal income tax, the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax (the Excise Tax) on the undistributed amounts. A distribution will be treated as paid on December 31 of the calendar year if it is declared by the Fund in October, November, or December of that year to shareholders of record on a date in such month and paid by it during January of the following year. Such distributions will be taxable to shareholders (other than those not subject to federal income tax) in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received. The Fund generally intends to actually distribute or be deemed to have distributed substantially all of its net income and gain, if any, by the end of each calendar year in compliance with these requirements so that it will generally not be required to pay the Excise Tax. The Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate its investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid the Excise Tax liability at a time when its Advisor might not otherwise have chosen to do so. Liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Fund to satisfy the requirements for qualification as a RIC. However, no assurances can be given that the Fund will not be subject to the Excise Tax and, in fact, in certain instances if warranted, the Fund may choose to pay the Excise Tax as opposed to making an additional distribution.
Capital Loss Carryforwards. The Fund may carry capital losses forward indefinitely. For capital losses realized, the excess of the Funds net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gain is treated as short-term capital losses arising on the first day of the Funds next taxable year and the excess of the Funds net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gain is treated as long-term capital losses arising on the first day of the Funds next taxable year. If future capital gains are offset by carried forward capital losses, such future capital gains are not subject to Fund-level federal income taxation, regardless of whether they are distributed to shareholders. The Fund cannot carry back or carry forward any net operating losses.
Original Issue Discount and Market Discount. The Fund may acquire debt securities that are treated as having original issue discount (OID) (generally a debt obligation with a purchase price less than its principal amount, such as a zero coupon bond). Generally, the Fund will be required to include the OID in income over the term of the debt security, even though it will not receive cash payments for such OID until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having OID which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income. Inflation-protected bonds generally can be expected to produce OID income as their principal amounts are adjusted upward for inflation. A portion of the OID includible in income with respect to certain high-yield corporate debt securities may be treated as a dividend for federal income tax purposes.
A debt security acquired in the secondary market by the Fund may be treated as having market discount if acquired at a price below redemption value or adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount. Market discount generally is accrued ratably, on a daily basis, over the period from the date of acquisition to the date of maturity even though no cash will be received. Absent an election by the Fund to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on its disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount. In addition, pay-in-kind securities will give rise to income which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund holding such securities receives no interest payments in cash on such securities during the year.
The Fund generally will be required to make distributions to shareholders representing the income accruing on the securities, described above, that is currently includable in income, even though cash representing such income may not have been received by the Fund. Cash to pay these distributions may be obtained from sales proceeds of securities held by the Fund (even if such sales are not advantageous) or, if permitted by the Funds governing documents, through borrowing the amounts required to be distributed. In the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution, if any, than they would have in the absence of such transactions.
Options, Futures, and Forward Contracts. The writing (selling) and purchasing of options and futures contracts and entering into forward currency contracts, involves complex rules that will determine for federal income tax purposes the amount, character and timing of recognition of the gains and losses the Fund realizes in connection with such transactions.
Gains and losses on the sale, lapse, or other termination of options and futures contracts, options thereon and certain forward contracts (except certain foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts) will generally be treated as capital gains and losses. Some regulated futures contracts, certain foreign currency contracts, and certain non-equity options (such as certain listed options or options on broad based securities indexes) held by the Fund (Section 1256 contracts), other than contracts on which it has made a mixed-straddle election, will be required to be marked-to-market for federal income tax purposes, that is, treated as having been sold at their market value on the last day of the Funds taxable year. These provisions may require the Fund to recognize income or gains without a concurrent receipt of cash. Any gain or loss recognized on actual or deemed sales of Section 1256 contracts will be treated as 60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss, although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary income or loss as described below. Transactions that qualify as designated hedges are exempt from the mark-to-market rule, but may require the Fund to defer the recognition of losses on futures contracts, foreign currency contracts, and certain options to the extent of any unrecognized gains on related positions held by it.
The tax provisions described above applicable to options, futures, and forward contracts may affect the amount, timing, and character of the Funds distributions to its shareholders. For example, the Section 1256 rules described above may operate to increase the amount the Fund must distribute to satisfy the minimum distribution requirement for the portion treated as short-term capital gain which will be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income, and to increase the net capital gain it recognizes, without, in either case, increasing the cash available to it. The Fund may elect to exclude certain transactions from the operation of Section 1256, although doing so may have the effect of increasing the relative proportion of net short-term capital gain (taxable as ordinary income) and thus increasing the amount of dividends it must distribute. Section 1256 contracts also may be marked-to-market for purposes of the Excise Tax.
When a covered call or put option written (sold) by the Fund expires the Fund will realize a short-term capital gain equal to the amount of the premium it received for writing the option. When the Fund terminates its obligations under such an option by entering into a closing transaction, it will realize a short-term capital gain (or loss), depending on whether the cost of the closing transaction is less than (or exceeds) the premium received when it wrote the option. When a covered call option written by the Fund is exercised, it will be treated as having sold the underlying security, producing long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending upon the holding period of the underlying security and whether the sum of the option price received upon the exercise plus the premium received when it wrote the option is more or less than the basis of the underlying security.
Straddles. Section 1092 of the IRC deals with the taxation of straddles which also may affect the taxation of options in which the Fund may invest. Offsetting positions held by the Fund involving certain derivative instruments, such as options, futures and forward currency contracts, may be considered, for federal income tax purposes, to constitute straddles. Straddles are defined to include offsetting positions in actively traded personal property. In certain circumstances, the rules governing straddles override or modify the provisions of Section 1256, described above. If the Fund is treated as entering into a straddle and at least one (but not all) of its positions in derivative contracts comprising a part of such straddle is governed by Section 1256, then such straddle could be characterized as a mixed straddle. The Fund may make one or more elections with respect to mixed straddles. Depending on which election is made, if any, the results with respect to the Fund may differ. Generally, to the extent the straddle rules apply to positions established by the Fund, losses realized by it may be deferred to the extent of unrealized gain in any offsetting positions. Moreover, as a result of the straddle rules, short-term capital loss on straddle positions may be characterized as long-term capital loss, and long-term capital gain may be characterized as short-term capital gain. In addition, the existence of a straddle may affect the holding period of the offsetting positions and cause such sales to be subject to the wash sale and short sale rules. As a result, the straddle rules could cause distributions that would otherwise constitute qualified dividend income to fail to satisfy the applicable holding period requirements, described below, and therefore to be taxed as ordinary income. Further, the Fund may be required to capitalize, rather than
deduct currently, any interest expense and carrying charges applicable to a position that is part of a straddle. Because the application of the straddle rules may affect the character and timing of gains and losses from affected straddle positions, the amount which must be distributed to shareholders, and which will be taxed to shareholders as ordinary income or long-term capital gain, may be increased or decreased substantially as compared to the situation where the Fund had not engaged in such transactions.
In circumstances where the Fund has invested in certain pass-through entities, the amount of long-term capital gain that it may recognize from certain derivative transactions with respect to interests in such pass-through entities is limited under the IRCs constructive ownership rules. The amount of long-term capital gain is limited to the amount of such gain the Fund would have had if it directly invested in the pass-through entity during the term of the derivative contract. Any gain in excess of this amount is treated as ordinary income. An interest charge is imposed on the amount of gain that is treated as ordinary income.
Swaps and Derivatives. As a result of entering into swap or derivative agreements, the Fund may make or receive periodic net payments. The Fund may also make or receive a payment when a swap or derivative is terminated prior to maturity through an assignment of the swap or derivative or other closing transaction. Periodic net payments will generally constitute ordinary income or deductions, while termination of a swap or derivative will generally result in capital gain or loss (which will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the Fund has been a party to a swap or derivative for more than one year). With respect to certain types of swaps or derivatives, the Fund may be required to currently recognize income or loss with respect to future payments on such swaps or derivatives or may elect under certain circumstances to mark such swaps or derivatives to market annually for tax purposes as ordinary income or loss.
Rules governing the tax aspects of swap or derivative agreements are not entirely clear in certain respects, in particular whether income generated is Qualifying Income. Accordingly, while the Fund intends to account for such transactions in a manner it deems appropriate, the IRS might not accept such treatment. If the IRS did not accept such treatment, the status of the Fund as a RIC might be adversely affected. The Fund intends to monitor developments in this area. Certain requirements that must be met under the IRC in order for the Fund to qualify as a RIC may limit the extent to which the Fund will be able to engage in swap agreements and certain derivatives.
Constructive Sales. Certain rules may affect the timing and character of gain if the Fund engages in transactions that reduce or eliminate its risk of loss with respect to appreciated financial positions. If the Fund enters into certain transactions (including a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract, a futures, or forward contract, or other transactions identified in Treasury regulations) in property while holding an appreciated financial position in substantially identical property, it will be treated as if it had sold and immediately repurchased the appreciated financial position and will be taxed on any gain (but not loss) from the constructive sale. The character of gain from a constructive sale will depend upon the Funds holding period in the appreciated financial position. Loss from a constructive sale would be recognized when the position was subsequently disposed of, and its character would depend on the Funds holding period and the application of various loss deferral provisions of the IRC.
In addition, if the appreciated financial position is itself a short sale, acquisition of the underlying property or substantially identical property by the Fund will be deemed a constructive sale. The foregoing will not apply, however, to the Funds transaction during any taxable year that otherwise would be treated as a constructive sale if the transaction is closed within 30 days after the end of that year and the Fund holds the appreciated financial position unhedged for 60 days after that closing ( i.e. , at no time during that 60-day period is the Funds risk of loss regarding the position reduced by reason of certain specified transactions with respect to substantially identical or related property, such as having an option to sell, being contractually obligated to sell, making a short sale, or granting an option to buy substantially identical stock or securities).
Wash Sales. The Fund may in certain circumstances be impacted by special rules relating to wash sales. In general, the wash sale rules prevent the recognition of a loss by the Fund from the disposition of stock or securities at a loss in a case in which identical or substantially identical stock or securities (or an option to acquire such property) is or has been acquired by it within 30 days before or after the sale.
Short Sales. The Fund may make short sales of securities. Short sales may increase the amount of short-term capital gain realized by the Fund, which is taxed as ordinary income when distributed to its shareholders. Short sales also may be subject to the Constructive Sales rules, discussed above.
Tax Credit Bonds. If the Fund holds (directly or indirectly) one or more tax credit bonds (defined below) on one or more specified dates during its taxable year, and it satisfies the minimum distribution requirement, it may elect for U.S. federal income tax purposes to pass through to shareholders tax credits otherwise allowable to it for that year with respect to such tax credit bonds. A tax credit bond is defined in the IRC as a qualified tax credit bond (which includes a qualified forestry conservation bond, a new clean renewable energy bond, a qualified energy conservation bond, or a qualified zone academy bond, each of which must meet certain requirements specified in the IRC), a build America bond (which includes certain qualified bonds issued before January 1, 2011) or certain other bonds specified in the IRC. If the Fund were to make an election, a shareholder of the Fund would be required to include in gross income an amount equal to such shareholders proportionate share of the interest income attributable to such credits and would be entitled to claim as a tax credit an amount equal to a proportionate share of such credits. Certain limitations may apply on the extent to which the credit may be claimed.
Other Regulated Investment Companies. Generally, the character of the income or capital gains that the Fund receives from another investment company will pass through to the Funds shareholders as long as the Fund and the other investment company each qualify as regulated investment companies under the IRC. However, to the extent that another investment company that qualifies as a RIC realizes net losses on its investments for a given taxable year, the Fund will not be able to recognize its share of those losses until it disposes of shares of such investment company. Moreover, even when the Fund does make such a disposition, a portion of its loss may be recognized as a long-term capital loss, which will not be treated as favorably for federal income tax purposes as an ordinary deduction. In particular, the Fund will not be able to offset any capital losses from its dispositions of shares of other investment companies against its ordinary income. As a result of the foregoing rules, and certain other special rules, it is possible that the amounts of net investment income and net capital gains that the Fund will be required to distribute to shareholders will be greater than such amounts would have been had the Fund invested directly in the securities held by the investment companies in which it invests, rather than investing in shares of the investment companies. For similar reasons, the character of distributions from the Fund ( e.g. , long-term capital gain, qualified dividend income, etc.) will not necessarily be the same as it would have been had the Fund invested directly in the securities held by the investment companies in which it invests.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in a non-U.S. corporation, which could be treated as a passive foreign investment company (a PFIC) or become a PFIC under the IRC. A PFIC is generally defined as a foreign corporation that meets either of the following tests: (1) at least 75% of its gross income for its taxable year is income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties, or capital gains); or (2) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the production of, such passive income. If the Fund acquires any equity interest in a PFIC, it could be subject to federal income tax and interest charges on excess distributions received with respect to such PFIC stock or on any gain from the sale of such PFIC stock (collectively PFIC income), plus interest thereon even if the Fund distributes the PFIC income as a taxable dividend to its shareholders. The balance of the PFIC income will be included in the Funds investment company taxable income and, accordingly, will not be taxable to it to the extent it distributes that income to its shareholders. The Funds distributions of PFIC income will be taxable as ordinary income even though, absent the application of the PFIC rules, some portion of the distributions may have been classified as capital gain.
The Fund will not be permitted to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for taxes and interest charges incurred with respect to a PFIC. Payment of this tax would therefore reduce the Funds economic return from its investment in PFIC shares. To the extent the Fund invests in a PFIC, it may elect to treat the PFIC as a qualified electing fund (QEF), then instead of the tax and interest obligation described above on excess distributions, the Fund would be required to include in income each taxable year its pro rata share of the QEFs annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain. As a result of a QEF election, the Fund would likely have to distribute to its shareholders an amount equal to the QEFs annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain to satisfy the IRCs minimum distribution requirement described herein and avoid imposition of the Excise Tax even if the QEF did not distribute those earnings and gain to the Fund. In most instances it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to make this election because of certain requirements in making the election.
The Fund may elect to mark-to-market its stock in any PFIC. Marking-to-market, in this context, means including in ordinary income each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the PFIC stock over the Funds adjusted basis therein as of the end of that year. Pursuant to the election, the Fund also may deduct (as an ordinary, not capital, loss) the excess, if any, of its adjusted basis in the PFIC stock over the fair market value thereof as of the taxable year-end, but only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains with respect to that stock it included in income for prior taxable years under the election. The Funds adjusted basis in its PFIC stock subject to the election would be adjusted to reflect the amounts of income included and deductions taken thereunder. In either case, the Fund may be required to recognize taxable income or gain without the concurrent receipt of cash.
Foreign Currency Transactions. Foreign currency gains and losses realized by the Fund in connection with certain transactions involving foreign currency-denominated debt instruments, certain options, futures contracts, forward contracts, and similar instruments relating to foreign currency, foreign currencies, and foreign currency-denominated payables and receivables are subject to Section 988 of the IRC, which causes such gains and losses to be treated as ordinary income or loss and may affect the amount and timing of recognition of the Funds income. In some cases elections may be available that would alter this treatment, but such elections could be detrimental to the Fund by creating current recognition of income without the concurrent recognition of cash. If a foreign currency loss treated as an ordinary loss under Section 988 were to exceed the Funds investment company taxable income (computed without regard to such loss) for a taxable year the resulting loss would not be deductible by it or its shareholders in future years. The foreign currency income or loss will also increase or decrease the Funds investment company income distributable to its shareholders.
Foreign Taxation. Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more than 50% of the Funds total assets at the close of any taxable year consist of stock or securities of foreign corporations and it meets the distribution requirements described above, the Fund may file an election (the pass-through election) with the IRS pursuant to which shareholders of the Fund would be required to (i) include in gross income (in addition to taxable dividends actually received) their pro rata shares of foreign income taxes paid by the Fund even though not actually received by such shareholders; and (ii) treat such respective pro rata portions as foreign income taxes paid by them. The Fund will furnish its shareholders with a written statement providing the amount of foreign taxes paid by the Fund that will pass-through for the year, if any.
Generally, a credit for foreign taxes is subject to the limitation that it may not exceed the shareholders U.S. tax attributable to his or her total foreign source taxable income. For this purpose, if the pass-through election is made, the source of the Funds income will flow through to shareholders. The limitation on the foreign tax credit is applied separately to foreign source passive income, and to certain other types of income. Shareholders may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of their proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund. Various limitations, including a minimum holding period requirement, apply to limit the credit and deduction for foreign taxes for purposes of regular federal income tax and alternative minimum tax.
REITs. The Fund may invest in REITs. Investments in REIT equity securities may require the Fund to accrue and distribute taxable income without the concurrent receipt of cash. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. The Funds investments in REIT equity securities may at other times result in its receipt of cash in excess of the REITs earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to its shareholders for federal income tax purposes. Dividends received by the Fund from a REIT generally will not constitute qualified dividend income.
The Fund may invest in REITs that hold residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs) or taxable mortgage pools (TMPs), or such REITs may themselves constitute TMPs. Under an IRS notice, and Treasury regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively, a portion of the Funds income from a REIT that is attributable to the REITs residual interest in a REMIC or a TMP (referred to in the IRC as an excess inclusion) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a RIC, such as the Fund, will be allocated to shareholders of the RIC in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest or invested in the TMP directly. As a result, the Fund may not be a suitable investment for certain tax exempt-shareholders, including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan and other tax-exempt entities. See Tax-Exempt Shareholders.
Distributions. Distributions paid out of the Funds current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined at the end of the year), whether reinvested in additional shares or paid in cash, are generally taxable and must be reported by each shareholder who is required to file a federal income tax return. Distributions in excess of the Funds current and accumulated earnings and profits, as computed for federal income tax purposes, will first be treated as a return of capital up to the amount of a shareholders tax basis in his or her shares and then as capital gain.
For federal income tax purposes, distributions of net investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income, and distributions of gains from the sale of investments that the Fund owned for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income. Distributions designated by the Fund as capital gain dividends (distributions from the excess of net long-term
capital gain over short-term capital losses) will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain regardless of the length of time they have held their shares of the Fund. Such dividends do not qualify as dividends for purposes of the dividends received deduction or for qualified dividend income purposes as described below.
Distributions of qualified dividend income received by noncorporate shareholders of the Fund may be eligible for the long-term capital gain rate. The Funds distribution will be treated as qualified dividend income and therefore eligible for the long-term capital gain rate to the extent it receives dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met. A corporate shareholder of the Fund may be eligible for the dividends received deduction on the Funds distributions attributable to dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations, which, if received directly by the corporate shareholder, would qualify for such a deduction. For eligible corporate shareholders, the dividends received deduction may be subject to certain reductions, and a distribution by the Fund attributable to dividends of a domestic corporation will be eligible for the deduction only if certain holding period and other requirements are met.
Shareholders may also be subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on net investment income including interest (but not tax-exempt interest), dividends, and capital gains of U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) and of estates and trusts.
The Fund will furnish a statement to shareholders providing the federal income tax status of its dividends and distributions including the portion of such dividends, if any, that qualifies as long-term capital gain.
Different tax treatment, including penalties on certain excess contributions and deferrals, certain pre-retirement and post-retirement distributions, and certain prohibited transactions, is accorded to accounts maintained as qualified retirement plans.
Purchases of Fund Shares. Prior to purchasing shares in the Fund, the impact of dividends or distributions which are expected to be or have been declared, but not paid, should be carefully considered. Any dividend or distribution declared shortly after a purchase of shares of the Fund prior to the record date will have the effect of reducing the per share net asset value by the per share amount of the dividend or distribution, and to the extent the distribution consists of the Funds taxable income, the purchasing shareholder will be taxed on the taxable portion of the dividend or distribution received even though some or all of the amount distributed is effectively a return of capital.
Sales, Exchanges, or Redemptions. Upon the disposition of shares of the Fund (whether by redemption, sale or exchange), a shareholder may realize a capital gain or loss. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term or short-term depending upon the shareholders holding period for the shares. The capital gain will be long-term if the shares were held for more than 12 months and short-term if held for 12 months or less. If a shareholder sells or exchanges Fund shares within 90 days of having acquired such shares and if, before January 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year of the sale or exchange, as a result of having initially acquired those shares, the shareholder subsequently pays a reduced sales charge on a new purchase of shares of the Fund or another Fund, the sales charge previously incurred in acquiring the Funds shares generally shall not be taken into account (to the extent the previous sales charges do not exceed the reduction in sales charges on the new purchase) for the purpose of determining the amount of gain or loss on the disposition, but generally will be treated as having been incurred in the new purchase. Any loss realized on a disposition will be disallowed under the wash sale rules to the extent that the shares disposed of by the shareholder are replaced by the shareholder (including through dividend reinvestment) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss realized by a shareholder on a disposition of shares held by the shareholder for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of capital gain dividends received by the shareholder and disallowed to the extent of any distributions of exempt-interest dividends received by the shareholder with respect to such shares. Capital losses are generally deductible only against capital gains except that individuals may deduct up to $3,000 of capital losses against ordinary income.
The 3.8% Medicare contribution tax (described above) will apply to gains from the sale or exchange of the Funds shares.
Backup Withholding. The Fund generally is required to withhold, and remit to the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain exemptions, an amount equal to 28% of all distributions and redemption proceeds paid or credited to a shareholder of the Fund if (i) the shareholder fails to furnish the Fund with the correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) certified under penalties of perjury, (ii) the shareholder fails to provide a certified statement that the shareholder is not subject to backup withholding, or (iii) the IRS or a broker has notified the Fund that the number furnished by the shareholder is incorrect or that the shareholder is subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report interest or dividend income. If the backup
withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions or proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against a shareholders U.S. federal income tax liability.
State and Local Taxes. State and local laws often differ from federal income tax laws with respect to the treatment of specific items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit. Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisors for more information.
Non-U.S. Shareholders. Distributions made to non-U.S. shareholders attributable to net investment income generally are subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding at a 30% rate (or such lower rate provided under an applicable income tax treaty).
If a distribution described above is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by a non-U.S. shareholder within the United States (or, if an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States), federal income tax withholding and exemptions attributable to foreign persons will not apply and such distribution will be subject to the federal income tax, reporting and withholding requirements generally applicable to U.S. persons described above.
Under U.S. federal tax law, a non-U.S. shareholder is not, in general, subject to federal income tax or withholding tax on capital gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on the sale of shares of the Fund or on capital gain dividends, provided that the Fund obtains a properly completed and signed certificate of foreign status, unless (i) such gains or distributions are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by the non-U.S. shareholder within the United States (or, if an income tax treaty applies, are attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States of the non-U.S. shareholder); (ii) in the case of an individual non-U.S. shareholder, the shareholder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale and certain other conditions are met; or (iii) the shares of the Fund constitute U.S. real property interests (USRPIs), as described below.
Special rules apply to foreign persons who receive distributions from the Fund that are attributable to gain from United States real property interests (USRPIs). The IRC defines USRPIs to include direct holdings of U.S. real property and any interest (other than an interest solely as a creditor) in a United States real property holding corporation or former United States real property holding corporation. The IRC defines a United States real property holding corporation as any corporation whose USRPIs make up 50% or more of the fair market value of its USRPIs, its interests in real property located outside the United States, plus any other assets it uses in a trade or business. In general, if the Fund is a United States real property holding company (determined without regard to certain exceptions), distributions by the Fund that are attributable to (a) gains realized on the disposition of USRPIs by the Fund and (b) distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier RIC or REIT that the Fund is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands will retain their character as gains realized from USRPIs in the hands of the foreign persons. (However, absent the enactment of legislation this look-through treatment for distributions by the Fund to foreign persons applies only to such distributions that are attributable to distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier REIT and are required to be treated as USRPI gain in the Funds hands.) If the foreign shareholder holds (or has held at any time during the prior year) more than a 5% interest in a class of stock of the Fund, such distributions received by the shareholder with respect to such class of stock will be treated as gains effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business, and subject to tax at graduated rates. Moreover, such shareholders will be required to file a U.S. income tax return for the year in which the gain was recognized and the Fund will be required to withhold 35% of the amount of such distribution. In the case of all other foreign persons ( i.e. , those whose interest in the Fund did not exceed 5% at any time during the prior year), the USRPI distribution will be treated as ordinary income (regardless of any designation by the Fund that such distribution is qualified short-term gain or net capital gain) and the Fund must withhold 30% (or a lower applicable treaty rate) of the amount of the distribution paid to such foreign persons.
In addition, if the Fund is a United States real property holding corporation or former United States real property holding corporation, the Fund may be required to withhold U.S. tax upon a redemption of shares by a greater-than-5% shareholder that is a foreign person, and that shareholder would be required to file a U.S. income tax return for the year of the disposition of the USRPI and pay any additional tax due on the gain. As of January 1, 2014, such withholding is required, without regard to whether the Fund or any RIC in which it invests is domestically controlled.
Subject to the additional rules described herein, federal income tax withholding will apply to distributions attributable to dividends and other investment income distributed by the Fund. The federal income tax withholding rate may be reduced (and, in some cases, eliminated) under an applicable tax treaty between the United States and the non-U.S. shareholders
country of residence or incorporation. In order to qualify for treaty benefits, a non-U.S. shareholder must comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its foreign status (generally by providing the Fund with a properly completed Form W-8BEN).
All non-U.S. shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of an investment in the Fund.
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) generally requires the Fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders. If a shareholder fails to provide this information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA, the Fund may be required to withhold under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on the Funds dividends and distributions and on the proceeds of the sale, redemption, or exchange of the Funds shares. The Fund may disclose the information that it receives from (or concerning) its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA, related intergovernmental agreements or other applicable law or regulation.
IRS rules require the reporting to the IRS of direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts and foreign entities by U.S. persons. Failure to provide this required information can result in a 30% withholding tax on certain U.S.-source payments, including dividends, interest, and gross proceeds from the sale or other disposal of property that can produce U.S. source interest or dividends (Withholding Payments).
Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts and Foreign Financial Assets Reporting Requirements. A shareholder that owns directly or indirectly more than 50% by vote or value of the Fund, is urged and advised to consult its own tax adviser regarding its filing obligations with respect to IRS Form TD F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. Shareholders may be subject to substantial penalties for failure to comply with these reporting requirements.
Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisers to determine whether these reporting requirements are applicable to them.
Tax-Exempt Shareholders. A tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of its investment in the Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of IRC Section 514(b).
It is possible that a tax-exempt shareholder of the Fund will also recognize UBTI if the Fund recognizes excess inclusion income (as described above) derived from direct or indirect investments in REMIC residual interests or TMPs. Furthermore, any investment in a residual interest of a CMO that has elected to be treated as a REMIC can create complex tax consequences, especially if the Fund has state or local governments or other tax-exempt organizations as shareholders.
In addition, special tax consequences apply to charitable remainder trusts (CRTs) that invest in RICs that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or in TMPs.
Tax-exempt shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of an investment in the Fund.
Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayers treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences of an investment in the Fund including, but not limited to, the applicability of state, local, foreign, and other tax laws affecting the particular shareholder and to possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SECURITY HOLDERS
Persons or organizations beneficially owning 25% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund are presumed to control the Fund. As a result, those persons or organizations could have the ability to take action with respect to the Fund without the consent or approval of other shareholders.
As of July 9, 2014, no entity or person owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of any class of the Fund.
As of July 9, 2014, the Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group owned of record or beneficially less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust and of the Fund (or class thereof).
CUSTODIAN
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (BBH), 50 Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02110, serves as the Trusts custodian. BBH acts as the Trusts depository, safe keeps its portfolio securities, collects all income and other payments with respect thereto, disburses funds as instructed, and maintains records in connection with its duties.
LEGAL COUNSEL
Vedder Price P.C., located at 222 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601, serves as counsel to the Trust.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Ernst & Young LLP, 312 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202, will serve as independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014 and is expected to serve the Trust for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015. Ernst & Young LLP will perform an audit of these Funds financial statements for its fiscal year end and advise the Trust as to certain accounting matters.
TRANSFER AND SUB-ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Transfer Agent. The Trusts transfer agent, BNY Mellon, is located at 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581. BNY Mellon maintains the records of each shareholders account, answers shareholders inquiries concerning their accounts, processes purchases and redemptions of the Funds shares, acts as dividend and distribution disbursing agent and performs other shareholder service functions. For providing transfer agent and shareholder services to the Trust, BNY Mellon receives a monthly per account fee from the Fund, plus out of-pocket expenses.
The Fund may also pay a fee to certain servicing organizations (such as broker-dealers and financial institutions) that provide sub-transfer agency services. These services include maintaining shareholder records, processing shareholder transactions and distributing communications to shareholders.
Sub-Administrative Agent. The Advisor has sub-contracted certain accounting and administrative services to BNY Mellon. The sub-administrative services sub-contracted to BNY Mellon include accounting and pricing services, SEC and state security filings, providing executive and administrative services, and providing reports for meetings of the Board. The Advisor pays BNY Mellon a sub-administrative fee out of its administration fee.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Fund did not commence operations until July 9, 2014 and therefore its first audited financial statements will be for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015.
APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS(1)
Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys), Standard & Poors ® (S&P), Fitch Ratings, Inc. (Fitch) and Dominion Bond Rating Service, Limited (Dominion) are private services that provide ratings of the credit quality of debt obligations. A description of the ratings assigned by Moodys, S&P, Fitch and Dominion are provided below. These ratings represent the opinions of these rating services as to the quality of the securities that they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. The Advisor and/or sub-advisor attempts to discern variations in credit rankings of the rating services and to anticipate changes in credit ranking. However, subsequent to purchase by the Fund, an issue of securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum rating required for purchase by the Fund. In that event, the Advisor and/or sub-advisor will consider whether it is in the best interest of the Fund to continue to hold the securities.
Moodys credit ratings are current opinions of the relative future credit risk of entities, credit commitments, or debt or debt-like securities. Moodys defines credit risk as the risk that an entity may not meet its contractual, financial obligations as they come due and any estimated financial loss in the event of default. Credit ratings do not address any other risk, including but not limited to: liquidity risk, market value risk, or price volatility. Credit ratings are not statements of current or historical fact. Credit ratings do not constitute investment or financial advice, and credit ratings are not recommendations to purchase, sell, or hold particular securities. Credit ratings do not comment on the suitability of an investment for any particular investor. Moodys issues its credit ratings with the expectation and understanding that each investor will make its own study and evaluation of each security that is under consideration for purchase, holding, or sale.
An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&Ps view of the obligors capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.
Fitch credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, and repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving their money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested. Fitchs credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.
Dominion ratings are opinions based on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of information sourced and received by Dominion, which information is not audited or verified by Dominion. Ratings are not buy, hold or sell recommendations and they do not address the market price of a security. Ratings may be upgraded, downgraded, placed under review, confirmed and discontinued.
Short-Term Credit Ratings
Moodys
Moodys short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations. Ratings may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs or to individual short-term debt instruments. Such obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.
Moodys employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:
P-1 - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
P-2 - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
P-3 - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
NP - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
Note: Canadian issuers rated P-1 or P-2 have their short-term ratings enhanced by the senior-most long-term rating of the issuer, its guarantor, or support-provider.
S&P
S&Ps short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 daysincluding commercial paper. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. The result is a dual rating, in which the short-term rating addresses the put feature, in addition to the usual long-term rating.
The following summarizes the rating categories used by S&P for short-term issues:
A-1 - Obligations are rated in the highest category and indicate that the obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
A-2 - Obligations are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
A-3 - Obligations exhibit adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B - Obligations are regarded as vulnerable and having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligors inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
C - Obligations are currently vulnerable to nonpayment and are dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
D - Obligations are in payment default. The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Country risk considerations are a standard part of S&Ps analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligors capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign governments own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues. Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.
Fitch
A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream, and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as short term based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.
The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:
F1 Highest short-term credit quality. This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added + to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2 Good short-term credit quality. This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
F3 Fair short-term credit quality. This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.
B Speculative short-term credit quality. This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C High short-term default risk. This designation indicates that default is a real possibility.
RD Restricted default. This designation indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Or, the default of a specific short-term obligation.
D Default. This designation indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of all short-term obligations.
Specific limitations relevant to the Short-Term Ratings scale include:
· The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.
· The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuers securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.
· The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuers securities or stock.
· The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an obligation default.
· The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer or transactions profile other than the agencys opinion on the relative vulnerability to default of the rated issuer or obligation.
Ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings articulate an opinion on discrete and specific areas of risk. The above list is not exhaustive.
Dominion
The Dominion short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims. The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the subcategories (high), (middle) and (low).
R-1 (high)
Highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high. Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.
R-1 (middle)
Superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high. Differs from R-1 (high) by a relatively modest degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.
R-1 (low)
Good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial. Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories. May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.
R-2 (high)
Upper end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.
R-2 (middle)
Adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.
R-2 (low)
Lower end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events. A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuers ability to meet such obligations.
R-3
Lowest end of adequate credit quality. There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due. May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.
R-4
Speculative credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.
R-5
Highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.
D
A financial obligation has not been met or it is clear that a financial obligation will not be met in the near future, or a debt instrument has been subject to a distressed exchange. A downgrade to D may not immediately follow an insolvency or restructuring filing as grace periods, other procedural considerations, or extenuating circumstance may exist.
Long-Term Credit Ratings
Moodys
Moodys long-term ratings are opinions of the relative credit risk of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more. They address the possibility that a financial obligation will not be honored as promised. Such ratings use Moodys Global Scale and reflect both the likelihood of default and any financial loss suffered in the event of default.
The following summarizes the ratings used by Moodys for long-term debt:
Aaa - Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.
Aa - Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
A - Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
Baa - Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
Ba - Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.
B - Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
Caa - Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
Ca - Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
C - Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
Note: Moodys appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.
S&P
Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&Ps analysis of the following considerations:
· Likelihood of paymentcapacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;
· Nature of and provisions of the obligation;
· Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors rights.
Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)
The following summarizes the ratings used by S&P for long-term issues:
AAA - An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
AA - An obligation rated AA differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
A - An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
BBB - An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
Obligations rated BB, B, CCC, CC, and C are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
BB - An obligation rated BB is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which could lead to the obligors inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B - An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial or economic conditions will likely impair the obligors capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CCC - An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CC - An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
C - A C rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the C rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instruments terms or when preferred stock is the subject of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.
D - An obligation rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within five business days, irrespective of any grace period. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. An obligations rating is lowered to D upon completion of a distressed exchange
offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.
Plus (+) or minus (-) - The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
NR - This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Country risk considerations are a standard part of S&Ps analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligors capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign governments own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues. Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.
Fitch
Rated entities in a number of sectors, including financial and non-financial corporations, sovereigns and insurance companies, are generally assigned Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs). IDRs opine on an entitys relative vulnerability to default on financial obligations. The threshold default risk addressed by the IDR is generally that of the financial obligations whose non-payment would best reflect the uncured failure of that entity. As such, IDRs also address relative vulnerability to bankruptcy, administrative receivership or similar concepts, although the agency recognizes that issuers may also make pre-emptive and therefore voluntary use of such mechanisms.
In aggregate, IDRs provide an ordinal ranking of issuers based on the agencys view of their relative vulnerability to default, rather than a prediction of a specific percentage likelihood of default. For historical information on the default experience of Fitch-rated issuers, please consult the transition and default performance studies available from the Fitch Ratings website.
The following summarizes long-term IDR categories used by Fitch:
AAA Highest credit quality. AAA ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA Very high credit quality. AA ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A High credit quality. A ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB Good credit quality. BBB ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
BB Speculative. BB ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists which supports the servicing of financial commitments.
B Highly speculative. B ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.
CCC Substantial credit risk. CCC ratings indicate that default is a real possibility.
CC Very high levels of credit risk. CC ratings indicate default of some kind appears probable.
C Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. C ratings indicate default is imminent or inevitable, or the issuer is in standstill. Conditions that are indicative of a C category rating for an issuer include:
a. the issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation;
b. the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; or
c. Fitch otherwise believes a condition of RD or D to be imminent or inevitable, including through the formal announcement of a distressed debt exchange.
RD - Restricted default. RD ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitchs opinion has experienced an uncured payment default on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation but which has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, and which has not otherwise ceased business. This would include:
a. the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;
b. the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation;
c. the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; or
d. execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations.
D Default. D ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, or which has otherwise ceased business.
Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period, unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a distressed debt exchange.
Imminent default typically refers to the occasion where a payment default has been intimated by the issuer, and is all but inevitable. This may, for example, be where an issuer has missed a scheduled payment, but (as is typical) has a grace period during which it may cure the payment default. Another alternative would be where an issuer has formally announced a distressed debt exchange, but the date of the exchange still lies several days or weeks in the immediate future.
In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agencys opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings, and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuers financial obligations or local commercial practice.
Note: The modifiers + or - may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the AAA Long-Term IDR category, or to Long-Term IDR categories below B.
Specific limitations relevant to the issuer credit rating scale include:
· The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.
· The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuers securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.
· The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuers securities or stock.
· The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an issuer default.
· The ratings do not opine on the suitability of an issuer as a counterparty to trade credit.
· The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuers business, operational or financial profile other than the agencys opinion on its relative vulnerability to default.
Ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings articulate an opinion on discrete and specific areas of risk. The above list is not exhaustive.
Dominion
The Dominion long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default. That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligations has been issued. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims. All rating categories
other than AAA and D also contain subcategories (high) and (low). The absence of either a (high) or (low) designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category.
AAA
Highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.
AA
Superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high. Credit quality differs from AAA only to a small degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.
A
Good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than AA. May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.
BBB
Adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.
BB
Speculative, non investment-grade credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain. Vulnerable to future events.
B
Highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.
CCC / CC / C
Very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations. There is little difference between these three categories, although CC and C ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the CCC to B range. Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the C category.
D
A financial obligation has not been met or it is clear that a financial obligation will not be met in the near future or a debt instrument has been subject to a distressed exchange. A downgrade to D may not immediately follow an insolvency or restructuring filing as grace periods or extenuating circumstances may exist.
Municipal Note Ratings
Moodys
Moodys uses three rating categories for short-term municipal obligations that are considered investment grade. These ratings are designated as Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) and are divided into three levels - MIG 1 through MIG 3. In addition, those short-term obligations that are of speculative quality are designated SG, or speculative grade. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation.
The following summarizes the ratings used by Moodys for these short-term obligations:
MIG 1 - This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
MIG 2 - This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.
MIG 3 - This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
SG - This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
In the case of variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), a two-component rating is assigned: a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moodys evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moodys evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (demand feature). The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or VMIG scale.
When either the long- or short-term aspect of a VRDO is not rated, that piece is designated NR, e.g. , Aaa/NR or NR/VMIG 1.
VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issues specific structural or credit features.
VMIG 1 - This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
VMIG 2 - This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
VMIG 3 - This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
SG - This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
S&P
An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&Ps opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&Ps analysis will review the following considerations:
· Amortization schedulethe larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and
· Source of paymentthe more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.
Note rating symbols are as follows:
SP-1 - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit a strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service are given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2 - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
SP-3 - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
Fitch
Fitch uses the same ratings for municipal securities as described above for other short-term credit ratings.
(1) This may contain information obtained from third parties, including ratings from credit ratings agencies such as Standard & Poors. Reproduction and distribution of third party content in any form is prohibited except with the prior written permission of the related third party. Third party content providers do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or availability of any information, including ratings, and are not responsible for any errors or omissions (negligent or otherwise), regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of such content. THIRD PARTY CONTENT PROVIDERS GIVE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. THIRD PARTY CONTENT PROVIDERS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, COMPENSATORY, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, COSTS, EXPENSES, LEGAL FEES, OR LOSSES (INCLUDING LOST INCOME OR PROFITS AND OPPORTUNITY COSTS OR LOSSES CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE) IN CONNECTION WITH ANY USE OF THEIR CONTENT, INCLUDING RATINGS. Credit ratings are statements of opinions and are not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold or sell securities. They do not address the suitability of securities or the suitability of securities for investment purposes, and should not be relied on as investment advice.
APPENDIX B
PROXY VOTING POLICIES
LONDON COMPANY OF VIRGINIA D/B/A THE LONDON COMPANY
I. POLICY
The London Company of Virginia (the Advisor) acts as discretionary investment adviser for various clients, including clients governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and registered open-end investment companies (mutual funds). The Advisors authority to vote proxies is established through the delegation of discretionary authority under its investment advisory contracts. Therefore, unless a client (including a named fiduciary under ERISA) specifically reserves the right, in writing, to vote its own proxies, the Adviser will vote all proxies in a timely manner as part of its full discretionary authority over client assets in accordance with these Policies and Procedures.
When voting proxies, the Advisors utmost concern is that all decisions be made solely in the best interest of the client (and for ERISA accounts, plan beneficiaries and participants, in accordance with the letter and spirit of ERISA). The Advisor will act in a prudent and diligent manner intended to enhance the economic value of the assets of the clients account.
II. PURPOSE
The purpose of these Policies and Procedures is to memorialize the procedures and policies adopted by the Advisor to enable it to comply with its fiduciary responsibilities to clients and the requirements of Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the Advisers Act). These Policies and Procedures also reflect the fiduciary standards and responsibilities set forth by the Department of Labor for ERISA accounts.
III. PROCEDURES
A. The Advisor is ultimately responsible for ensuring that all proxies received by the Adviser are voted in a timely manner and in a manner consistent with the Advisors determination of the clients best interests. Although many proxy proposals can be voted in accordance with the Advisers established guidelines (see Section V. Guidelines below), the Advisor recognizes that some proposals require special consideration which may dictate that the Advisor makes an exception to the Guidelines. The Advisor will vote the recommendation of Glass Lewis on all proxy votes, unless otherwise directed by the Portfolio Managers
B. Conflicts of Interest
Where a proxy proposal raises a material conflict between the Advisors interests and a clients interest, including a mutual fund client, the Adviser will resolve such a conflict in the manner described below:
1. Vote in Accordance with the Guidelines . To the extent that the Advisor has little or no discretion to deviate from the Guidelines with respect to the proposal in question, the Advisor shall vote in accordance with such pre-determined voting policy.
2. Obtain Consent of Clients . To the extent that the Advisor has discretion to deviate from the Guidelines with respect to the proposal in question, the Advisor will disclose the conflict to the relevant clients and obtain their consent to the proposed vote prior to voting the securities. The disclosure to the client will include sufficient detail regarding the matter to be voted on and the nature of the Advisors conflict that the client would be able to make an informed decision regarding the vote. If a client does not respond to such a conflict disclosure request or denies the request, the Advisor will abstain from voting the securities held by that clients account.
3. Client Directive to Use an Independent Third Party . Alternatively, a client may, in writing, specifically direct the Advisor to forward all proxy matters in which the Advisor has a conflict of interest regarding the clients securities to an identified independent third party for review and recommendation. Where such independent third partys recommendations are received on a timely basis, the Advisor will vote all such
proxies in accordance with such third partys recommendation. If the third partys recommendations are not timely received, the Advisor will abstain from voting the securities held by that clients account.
The Advisor will review the proxy proposal for conflicts of interest as part of the overall vote review process. All material conflict of interest so identified by the Adviser will be addressed as described above in this Section III.A.
C. Limitations
In certain circumstances, in accordance with a clients investment advisory contract (or other written directive) or where the Advisor has determined that it is in the clients best interest, the Advisor will not vote proxies received. The following are certain circumstances where the Advisor will limit its role in voting proxies:
1. Client Maintains Proxy Voting Authority : Where client specifies in writing that it will maintain the authority to vote proxies itself or that it has delegated the right to vote proxies to a third party, the Advisor will not vote the securities and will direct the relevant custodian to send the proxy material directly to the client. If any proxy material is received by the Advisor, it will promptly be forwarded to the client or specified third party.
2. Terminated Account : Once a client account has been terminated with the Advisor in accordance with its investment advisory agreement, the Advisor will not vote any proxies received after the termination. However, the client may specify in writing that proxies should be directed to the client (or a specified third party) for action.
3. Limited Value : If the Adviser determines that the value of a clients economic interest or the value of the portfolio holding is indeterminable or insignificant, the Advisor may abstain from voting a clients proxies. The Advisor also will not vote proxies received for securities which are no longer held by the clients account.
4. Securities Lending Programs : When securities are out on loan, they are transferred into the borrowers name and are voted by the borrower, in its discretion. However, where the Advisor determines that a proxy vote (or other shareholder action) is materially important to the clients account, the Advisor may recall the security for purposes of voting.
5. Unjustifiable Costs : In certain circumstances, after doing a cost-benefit analysis, the Advisor may abstain from voting where the cost of voting a clients proxy would exceed any anticipated benefits to the client of the proxy proposal.
IV. RECORDKEEPING
In accordance with Rule 204-2 under the Advisers Act, the Advisor will maintain for the time periods set forth in the Rule (i) these proxy voting procedures and policies, and all amendments thereto; (ii) all proxy statements received regarding client securities (provided however, that the Advisor may rely on the proxy statement filed on EDGAR as its records); (iii) a record of all votes cast on behalf of clients; (iv) records of all client requests for proxy voting information; (v) any documents prepared by the Advisor that were material to making a decision how to vote or that memorialized the basis for the decision; and (vi) all records relating to requests made to clients regarding conflicts of interest in voting the proxy.
The Advisor will describe in its Part II of Form ADV (or other brochure fulfilling the requirement of Rule 204-3) its proxy voting policies and procedures and will inform clients how they may obtain information on how the Advisor voted proxies with respect to the clients portfolio securities. Clients may obtain information on how their securities were voted or a copy of the Advisors Policies and Procedures by written request addressed to the Advisor. The Advisor will coordinate with all mutual fund clients to assist in the provision of all information required to be filed by such mutual funds on Form N-PX.
V. GUIDELINES
The Glass Lewis Investment Manager Guidelines are designed to maximize returns for investment managers by voting in a manner consistent with such managers active investment decision-making. The guidelines are designed
to increase investors potential financial gain through the use of the shareholder vote, while also allowing management and the board discretion to direct the operations, including governance and compensation, of the firm. The guidelines will ensure that all issues brought to shareholders are analyzed in light of the fiduciary responsibilities unique to investment advisors and investment companies on behalf of individual investor clients including mutual fund shareholders. The guidelines will encourage the maximization of return for such clients through identifying and avoiding financial, audit and corporate governance risks.
Management Proposals
Election of Directors
In analyzing directors and boards, Glass Lewis Investment Manager Guidelines generally support the election of incumbent directors, except when a majority of the companys directors are not independent or where directors fail to attend at least 75% of board and committee meetings. In a contested election, we will apply the standard Glass Lewis recommendation.
Auditor
The Glass Lewis Investment Manager Guidelines will generally support auditor ratification, except when the non-audit fees exceed the audit fees paid to the auditor, there have been recent restatements
Compensation
Glass Lewis recognizes the importance in designing appropriate executive compensation plans that truly reward pay for performance. We evaluate equity compensation plans based upon their specific features and will vote against plans than would result in total overhang greater than 20% or that allow the re-pricing of options without shareholder approval. The Investment Manager Guidelines will support management advisory votes on compensation with the belief that an independent compensation committee is in the best position to design an appropriate compensation program for the company.
Authorized Shares
Having sufficient available authorized shares allows management to avail itself of rapidly developing opportunities as well as to effectively operate the business. However, we believe that for significant transactions management should seek shareholders approval to justify the use of additional shares.
Therefore shareholders should not approve the creation of a large pool of unallocated shares without some rational of the purpose of such shares. Accordingly, where we find that the company has not provided an appropriate plan for use of the proposed shares, or where the number of shares far exceeds those needed to accomplish a detailed plan, we typically vote against the authorization of additional shares. We also vote against the creation of or increase in (i) blank check preferred shares and (ii) dual or multiple class capitalizations.
Shareholder Rights
Glass Lewis Investment Manager Guidelines will generally support proposals increasing or enhancing shareholder rights such as declassifying the board, allowing shareholders to call a special meeting, eliminating supermajority voting and adopting majority voting for the election of directors. Similarly, the Investment Manager Guidelines will generally vote against proposals to eliminate or reduce shareholder rights.
Mergers/Acquisitions
Glass Lewis undertakes a thorough examination of the economic implications of a proposed merger or acquisition to determine the transactions likelihood of maximizing shareholder return. We examine the process used to negotiate the transaction as well as the terms of the transaction in making our voting recommendation. The Glass Lewis Investment Manager Guidelines will vote in accordance with the standard Glass Lewis policy recommendation on mergers, acquisitions and other financing transactions.
Shareholder Proposals
We review and vote on shareholder proposals on a case-by-case basis. We recommend supporting shareholder proposals if the requested action would increase shareholder value, mitigate risk or enhance shareholder rights but generally recommend voting against those that would not ultimately impact performance.
Governance
The Glass Lewis Investment Manager Guidelines will support reasonable initiatives that seek to enhance shareholder rights, such as the introduction of majority voting to elect directors, elimination in/reduction of supermajority provisions, the declassification of the board and requiring the submission of shareholder rights plans to a shareholder vote. The guidelines generally support reasonable, well-targeted proposals to allow increased shareholder participation at shareholder meetings through the ability to call special meetings and ability for shareholders to nominate director candidates to a companys board of directors. However, the Investment Manager Guidelines will vote against proposals to require separating the roles of CEO and chairman.
Compensation
The Glass Lewis Investment Manager Guidelines will generally oppose any shareholder proposals seeking to limit compensation in amount or design. However, the guidelines will vote for reasonable and properly-targeted shareholder initiatives such as to require shareholder approval to re-price options, to link pay with performance, to eliminate or require shareholder approval of golden coffins, to allow a shareholder vote on excessive golden parachutes ( i.e., greater than 2.99 times annual compensation) and to clawback unearned bonuses. The Investment Manager Guidelines will vote against requiring companies to allow shareholders an advisory compensation vote.
Environment
Glass Lewis Investment Manager Guidelines vote against proposals seeking to cease a certain practice or take certain action related to a companys activities or operations with environmental. Further, the Glass Lewis
Investment Manager Guidelines generally vote against proposals regarding enhanced environment disclosure and reporting, including those seeking sustainability reporting and disclosure about companys greenhouse gas emissions, as well as advocating compliance with international environmental conventions and adherence to environmental principles like those promulgated by CERES.
Social
Glass Lewis Investment Manager Guidelines generally oppose proposals requesting companies adhere to labor or worker treatment codes of conduct, such as those espoused by the International Labor Organization, relating to labor standards, human rights conventions and corporate responsibility at large conventions and principles. The guidelines will also vote against proposals seeking disclosure concerning the rights of workers, impact on local stakeholders, workers rights and human rights in general. Furthermore, the Investment Manager Guidelines oppose increased reporting and review of a companys political and charitable spending as well as its lobbying practices.
TSF-54BB-TST-SAI-1407
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits:
(a)(1) |
|
Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated May 19, 1993 and Amendment No. 1 dated May 24, 1994, Amendment No. 2 dated February 28, 1997 and Amendment No. 3 dated August 11, 1997, are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 36 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 002-80859), filed with the SEC on July 31, 1998. |
|
|
|
(a)(2) |
|
Amendment No. 4 to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated February 12, 1998 and Amendments to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated March 16, 2000 and April 6, 2000 are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 002-80859), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2000. |
|
|
|
(a)(3) |
|
Amendments to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated September 21, 2000 and March 27, 2001 are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2001. |
|
|
|
(a)(4) |
|
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 28, 2002 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on September 6, 2002. |
|
|
|
(a)(5) |
|
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated November 7, 2002 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2003. |
|
|
|
(a)(6) |
|
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated April 14, 2004 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 30, 2004. |
|
|
|
(a)(7) |
|
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 3, 2006 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 1, 2006. |
|
|
|
(a)(8) |
|
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated September 30, 2004 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on February 2, 2009. |
|
|
|
(a)(9) |
|
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated February 22, 2006 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(9) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on February 2, 2009. |
|
|
|
(a)(10) |
|
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 15, 2006 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on February 2, 2009. |
|
|
|
(a)(11) |
|
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated March 22, 2007 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on |
|
|
February 2, 2009. |
|
|
|
(a)(12) |
|
Amendments to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (1)(l) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on November 30, 2011. |
|
|
|
(a)(13) |
|
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(13) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012. |
|
|
|
(a)(14) |
|
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated July 31, 2013 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(14) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 22, 2014. |
|
|
|
(a)(15) |
|
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated July 9, 2014 is filed herewith. |
|
|
|
(b) |
|
By-Laws and Amendments to By-Laws dated July 17, 1984 and April 5, 1989 are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 36 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 31, 1998. |
|
|
|
(c) |
|
Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (c) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012. |
|
|
|
(d)(1)(i) |
|
Advisory Agreement with Touchstone Advisors, Inc. dated May 1, 2000, is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2007. |
|
|
|
(d)(1)(ii) |
|
Amended Schedule 1 dated July 9, 2014 to the Advisory Agreement dated May 1, 2000 between Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is filed herewith. |
|
|
|
(d)(1)(iii) |
|
Amendment to the Advisory Agreement with Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(c) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-182177), filed with the SEC on October 12, 2012. |
|
|
|
(d)(2) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. with respect to the Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2008. |
|
|
|
(d)(3)(i) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Navellier & Associates, Inc. for the Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 29, 2009. |
|
|
|
(d)(3)(ii) |
|
Amendment to Sub-Advisory Agreement with Navellier & Associates, Inc. for the Large Cap Growth Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(vi)(b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 2, 2005. |
|
|
|
(d)(4) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. with respect to the Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 29, 2010. |
|
|
|
(d)(5) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 16, 2012 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC with respect to the Touchstone Value Fund is herein incorporated |
|
|
by reference to Exhibit (6)(n) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012. |
|
|
|
(d)(6) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 16, 2012 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Copper Rock Capital Partners, LLC with respect to the Touchstone International Small Cap Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(o) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012. |
|
|
|
(d)(7) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 16, 2012 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Ibbotson Associates, Inc. with respect to the Touchstone Balanced Allocation Fund, Touchstone Conservative Allocation Fund, Touchstone Growth Allocation Fund and Touchstone Moderate Growth Allocation Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(9) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 20, 2012. |
|
|
|
(d)(8) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 16, 2012 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC with respect to the Touchstone Small Cap Value Opportunities Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(r) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012. |
|
|
|
(d)(9) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 16, 2012 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. with respect to the Touchstone Focused Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(s) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012. |
|
|
|
(d)(10)(i) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and ClearArc Capital Inc. (formerly Fifth Third Asset Management, Inc.) with respect to the Touchstone Flexible Income Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(w) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-182177), filed with the SEC on October 12, 2012. |
|
|
|
(d)(10)(ii) |
|
Amendment to Sub-Advisory Agreement dated May 31, 2013 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and ClearArc Capital, Inc. (formerly Fifth Third Asset Management, Inc.) with respect to the Touchstone Flexible Income Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(18)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 98 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 29, 2013. |
|
|
|
(d)(11) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC with respect to the Touchstone International Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(y) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-182177), filed with the SEC on October 12, 2012. |
|
|
|
(d)(12) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 26, 2013 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Apex Capital Management, Inc. with respect to the Touchstone Small Cap Growth Value Fund, is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 29, 2013. |
|
|
|
(d)(13) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated December 31, 2012 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Analytic Investors, LLC with respect to the Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 98 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 29, 2013. |
|
|
|
(d)(14) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated December 31, 2012 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Ashfield Capital Partners, LLC with respect to the Touchstone Capital Growth Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 98 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 29, 2013. |
|
|
|
(d)(15) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 23, 2014 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Sands Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund is |
|
|
herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 23, 2014. |
|
|
|
(d)(16) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company with respect to the Touchstone Large Cap Fund is filed herewith. |
|
|
|
(e)(1) |
|
Distribution Agreement with Touchstone Securities, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2001. |
|
|
|
(e)(2) |
|
Form of Underwriters Dealer Agreement is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on September 10, 2004. |
|
|
|
(f) |
|
Touchstone Trustee Deferred Compensation Plan is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (f) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 29, 2009. |
|
|
|
(g)(1) |
|
Custodian Agreement with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2008. |
|
|
|
(g)(2) |
|
Amended Schedule of Global Services & Charges to the Custody Agreement between the Trust and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(1)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 25, 2013. |
|
|
|
(h)(1) |
|
Recordkeeping Agreement is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(vii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 5, 2004. |
|
|
|
(h)(2) |
|
Amended Administration Agreement with Touchstone Advisors, Inc. dated January 1, 2007 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2007. |
|
|
|
(h)(3)(i) |
|
Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012. |
|
|
|
(h)(3)(ii) |
|
Amendment to the Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (13)(d) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012. |
|
|
|
(h)(3)(iii) |
|
Amended and Restated Exhibit A dated September 6, 2012 to the Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement dated November 5, 2011 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (13)(p) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-182177), filed with the SEC on October 12, 2012. |
|
|
|
(h)(4)(i) |
|
Transfer Agency and Shareholder Services Agreement with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012. |
|
|
|
(h)(4)(ii) |
|
Amendment to the Transfer Agency and Shareholder Services Agreement with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (13)(f) of Post-Effective |
|
|
Amendment No. 2 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012. |
|
|
|
(h)(4)(iii) |
|
Amended and Restated Schedule B dated September 6, 2012 to the Transfer Agency and Shareholder Services Agreement dated December 5, 2011 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (13)(n) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-182177), filed with the SEC on October 12, 2012. |
|
|
|
(h)(5)(i) |
|
State Filing Services Agreement between the Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., dated December 5, 2011 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012. |
|
|
|
(h)(5)(ii) |
|
Amended and Restated Schedule A to the State Filing Services Agreement between the Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (13)(h) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012. |
|
|
|
(h)(5)(iii) |
|
Amended and Restated Schedule A dated September 6, 2012 to the State Filing Services Agreement dated December 5, 2011 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (13)(o) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-182177), filed with the SEC on October 12, 2012. |
|
|
|
(h)(6) |
|
Allocation Agreement for Allocation of Fidelity Bond Proceeds is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012. |
|
|
|
(h)(7)(i) |
|
Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 22, 2014. |
|
|
|
(h)(7)(ii) |
|
Schedule A dated April 23, 2014 to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 23, 2014. |
|
|
|
(h)(7)(iii) |
|
Amended Schedule B dated July 9, 2014 to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is filed herewith. |
|
|
|
(h)(7)(iv) |
|
Form of Schedule C to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 22, 2014. |
|
|
|
(h)(8) |
|
Securities Lending Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. dated February 1, 2013 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(13) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 25, 2013. |
|
|
|
(i) |
|
Legal opinion will is filed herewith. |
|
|
|
(j) |
|
Not applicable. |
|
|
|
(k) |
|
Not applicable. |
|
|
|
(l) |
|
Copy of Letter of Initial Stockholder, which was filed as an Exhibit to Registrants Pre-Effective |
|
|
Amendment No. 1, is hereby incorporated by reference. |
|
|
|
(m)(1) |
|
Registrants Plans of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class A shares and Class C shares are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (m)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2000. |
|
|
|
(m)(2) |
|
Registrants Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class B shares is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (m)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2001. |
|
|
|
(m)(3) |
|
Registrants Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class A shares with respect to the Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund, Touchstone Emerging Growth Fund, Touchstone International Equity Fund, Touchstone Conservative Allocation Fund, Touchstone Balanced Allocation Fund, Touchstone Moderate Growth Allocation Fund, Touchstone Growth Allocation Fund, Touchstone U.S. Long/Short Fund, Touchstone Value Fund, Touchstone International Small Cap Fund, Touchstone Capital Growth Fund, Touchstone Mid Cap Value Opportunities Fund, Touchstone Small Cap Value Opportunities Fund, Touchstone Focused Fund, Touchstone Micro Cap Value Fund, Touchstone Small Company Value Fund, Touchstone International Value Fund and Touchstone Flexible Income Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (m)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012. |
|
|
|
(m)(4) |
|
Registrants Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class C shares with respect to the Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund, Touchstone Emerging Growth Fund, Touchstone International Equity Fund, Touchstone Conservative Allocation Fund, Touchstone Balanced Allocation Fund, Touchstone Moderate Growth Allocation Fund, Touchstone Growth Allocation Fund, Touchstone U.S. Long/Short Fund, Touchstone Value Fund, Touchstone International Small Cap Fund, Touchstone Capital Growth Fund, Touchstone Mid Cap Value Opportunities Fund, Touchstone Small Cap Value Opportunities Fund, Touchstone Focused Fund, Touchstone Micro Cap Value Fund, Touchstone Small Company Value Fund, Touchstone International Value Fund and Touchstone Flexible Income Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (m)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012. |
|
|
|
(n)(1) |
|
Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (n) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012. |
|
|
|
(n)(2) |
|
Amended Schedule A dated July 9, 2014 to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan is filed herewith |
|
|
|
(o) |
|
Reserved. |
|
|
|
(p)(1) |
|
Code of Ethics for Touchstone Advisors, Inc., Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Securities, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 98 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 29, 2013. |
|
|
|
(p)(2) |
|
Code of Ethics for Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012. |
|
|
|
(p)(3) |
|
Code of Ethics for Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 29, 2013. |
|
|
|
(p)(4) |
|
Code of Ethics for Navellier & Associates is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) of Post- |
|
|
Effective Amendment No. 54 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 30, 2004. |
|
|
|
(p)(5) |
|
Code of Ethics for Analytic Investors, LLC is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012. |
|
|
|
(p)(6) |
|
Code of Ethics for Ibbotson Associates, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012. |
|
|
|
(p)(7) |
|
Code of Ethics for Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012. |
|
|
|
(p)(8) |
|
Code of Ethics for Copper Rock Capital Partners, LLC is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012. |
|
|
|
(p)(9) |
|
Code of Ethics for Ashfield Capital Partners, LLC is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012. |
|
|
|
(p)(10) |
|
Code of Ethics for Thompson Siegel & Walmsley, LLC is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012. |
|
|
|
(p)(11) |
|
Code of Ethics for ClearArc Capital, Inc. (formerly Fifth Third Asset Management, Inc.) is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(13) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012. |
|
|
|
(p)(12) |
|
Code of Ethics for Apex Capital Management, Inc. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(13) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 29, 2013. |
|
|
|
(p)(13) |
|
Code of Ethics for Sands Capital Management, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(12) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to Touchstone Funds Group Trusts Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 033-70958 and 811-08104), filed with the SEC on August 6, 2004. |
|
|
|
(p)(14) |
|
Code of Ethics for London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(14) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 105 to Touchstone Strategic Trusts Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 033-c0859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 25, 2014. |
|
|
|
(q) |
|
Power of Attorney dated January 3, 2014 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (q) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 22, 2014. |
Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Registrant
None.
Item 30. Indemnification
(a) Article VI of the Registrants Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification of officers and Trustees as follows:
Section 6.4 Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc.
The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees and officers, including persons who serve at the Trusts request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a Covered Person) against all liabilities, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and expenses, including reasonable accountants and counsel fees, incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Trustee or officer, director or trustee, and except that no Covered Person shall be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Persons office (disabling conduct). Anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, no Covered Person shall be indemnified for any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject unless (1) a final decision on the merits is made by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that the Covered Person to be indemnified was not liable by reason of disabling conduct or, (2) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination is made, based upon a review of the facts, that the Covered Person was not liable by reason of disabling conduct, by (a) the vote of a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither interested persons of the Company as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended nor parties to the proceeding disinterested, non-party Trustees), or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
Section 6.5 Advances of Expenses.
The Trust shall advance attorneys fees or other expenses incurred by a Covered Person in defending a proceeding, upon the undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered Person to repay the advance unless it is ultimately determined that such Covered Person is entitled to indemnification, so long as one of the following conditions is met: (i) the Covered Person shall provide security for his undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the disinterested non-party Trustees of the Trust, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall determine, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
Section 6.6 Indemnification Not Exclusive, etc.
The right of indemnification provided by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in this Article VI, Covered Person shall include such persons heirs, executors and administrators, an interested Covered Person is one against whom the action, suit or other proceeding in question or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending or threatened, and a disinterested person is a person against whom none of such actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending or threatened. Nothing contained in this article shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees and officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any such person.
(b) The Registrant maintains a mutual fund and investment advisory professional and directors and officers liability policy. The policy provides coverage to the Registrant, its trustees and officers and includes losses by reason of any act, error, omission, misstatement, misleading statement, neglect or breach of duty. The Registrant may not pay for insurance that protects the Trustees and officers against liabilities arising from action involving willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of their offices.
The advisory agreements and the sub-advisory agreements provide that Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (or a sub-advisor) shall not be liable for any act or omission in the course of rendering services, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence or reckless disregard by Touchstone (or a sub-advisor) of its obligations under the agreement.
Item 31. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISORS
A. Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the Advisor) is a registered investment advisor that provides investment advisory services to the Touchstone Fund Complex. The following list sets forth the business and other connections of the directors and executive officers of the Advisor. Unless otherwise noted, the address of the corporations listed below is 303 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
*The address is 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
(1) Jill T. McGruder CEO and Director Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a) President and Chief Executive Officer - IFS Financial Services, Inc.
(b) President and Chief Executive Officer - Integrity Life Insurance Co.
(c) President and Chief Executive Officer - National Integrity Life Insurance Co.
(d) Director, President and Chief Executive Officer - Cincinnati Analysts, Inc.
(e) President - Touchstone Fund Complex
(f) Senior Vice President - Western & Southern Financial Group*
(g) Senior Vice President - W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*
(h) Director Western & Southern Financial Group*, Cincinnati Analysts, Inc., IFS Financial Services, Inc., Integrity Life Insurance Co., National Integrity Life Insurance Company, Touchstone Securities, Inc., Western & Southern Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*, LaRosas, Inc. (2334 Boudinot Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45238)
(2) Donald J. Wuebbling Director - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a) Director - AM Concepts, Inc.*, Touchstone Securities, Inc., IFS Agency Services, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, Eagle Realty Investments, Inc.*, Cincinnati Analysts, Inc., Integrity Life Insurance Company,* National Integrity Life Insurance Company,* WestAd Inc.*, Eagle Realty Group, LLC*, IFS Financial Services, Inc., Western & Southern Agency Services, Inc.*, Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*, Columbus Life Insurance Company*, IIS Broadway*
(3) James J. Vance - Vice President and Treasurer - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a) Vice President and Treasurer - Western & Southern Life Insurance Company*, Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., IFS Financial Services, Inc., IFS Agency Services, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, Touchstone Securities, Inc., Columbus Life Insurance Company*, Eagle Realty Group, LLC*, Eagle Realty Investments, Inc.*, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, Lafayette Life Insurance Company, WestAd Inc.*, AM Concepts, Inc.*
(b) Treasurer Cincinnati Analysts, Inc., W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*, Fort Washington Capital Partners, LLC, Insurance Profillment Solutions*, Tristate Ventures, LLC*
(4) Terrie A. Wiedenheft Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a) Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer - IFS Financial Services, Inc.
(b) Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.* and Touchstone Securities, Inc.
(c) Chief Financial Officer - Cincinnati Analysts, Inc.
(d) Senior Vice President - Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
(e) Vice President, Commission Accounting and Finance - Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company.
(f) Treasurer and Controller - Touchstone Fund Complex
(5) James N. Clark Director - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a) Vice President, Director and Secretary - Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company*, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc.*, Western & Southern Life Assurance Company*, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company.*
(b) Director - Columbus Life Insurance Company*, Eagle Realty Group, LLC*, Eagle Realty Investments, Inc.*, IFS Agency Services, Inc., Touchstone Securities, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, Cincinnati Analysts, Inc., AM Concepts*, IFS Financial Services, Western & Southern Agency Services, Inc.*, WestAd, Inc.*, Lafayette Life Insurance Company*, Western & Southern Agency Services, Inc.
(6) Rhonda S. Malone - Secretary - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a) Secretary - Touchstone Securities, Inc., W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*, W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, IFS Agency Services Inc.
(b) Senior Counsel Securities - Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc.*
(7) Steven M. Graziano President - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a) Vice President - Touchstone Fund Complex
(b) President Touchstone Securities, Inc.
(8) Timothy S. Stearns Chief Compliance Officer - Touchstone Advisors, Inc., Touchstone Fund Complex
(9) Timothy D. Paulin Senior Vice President, Investment Research and Product Management Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a) Vice President - Touchstone Fund Complex
B. Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. (Fort Washington) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Focused Fund. Fort Washington serves as the sub-advisor to the Touchstone Investment Trust, Touchstone Tax-Free Trust, Touchstone Funds Group Trust and certain series of the Touchstone Variable Series Trust. Fort Washington also provides investment advice to institutional and individual clients. The address of Fort Washington is 303 Broadway, Cincinnati OH 45202. *The address is 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
The following list sets forth the business and other connections of the directors and executive officers of Fort Washington.
(1) Maribeth S. Rahe, President & Chief Executive Officer and Director
(a) Board Member, Executive/Foundation Committee of Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber; Leadership Development, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce; Life Trustee, New York Landmarks Conservancy; Life Trustee, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Lukes Medical Center; Board Member, Consolidated Communications Illinois Holdings Inc.; Chair, Audit Committee, Consolidated Communications Illinois Holdings, Inc.; Member, Nominating/Governance and Compensation Committees, Consolidated Communications Illinois Holdings, Inc.; Vice Chairman, Executive/Finance Committee, Cincinnati Arts Association; Advisory Board, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur; Advisory Board, Williams College of Business, Xavier University; Advisory Board, CincyTech USA; Member, Partner-In-Action; Investment Committee, United Way of Cincinnati; Board Member, First Financial Bank; Member, Audit/Trust/M&A Committees, First Financial Bank; Executive Committee, Commonwealth Club
(b) President & CEO of Tristate Ventures, LLC*
(c) President, Buckeye Venture Partners, LLC
(d) Director, Eagle Realty Group, Eagle Realty Investments
(e) President, W&S Investment Holdings, LLC
(f) Manager, President & CEO, Peppertree Partners, LLC
(g) Director, Chairman of the Board - Cincinnati Analysts, Inc.
(h) President & CEO of Fort Washington Capital Partners, LLC
(2) Nicholas P. Sargen, Chief Investment Officer and Director
(a) Senior Vice President & Chief Investment Officer, Western & Southern Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Life Assurance Company, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company, Lafayette Life Insurance Company
(b) Chief Investment Officer
1. Tristate Ventures, LLC*
2. Peppertree Partners, LLC
3. Buckeye Venture Partners, LLC
4. Fort Washington Capital Partners, LLC
5. W&S Investment Holdings, LLC
(c) Board of Trustees & Treasurer, Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation
(d) Advisory Board, Xavier Department of Economics
(3) John F. Barrett, Chairman and Director
(a) Chairman of Board & CEO, Western & Southern Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Life Assurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company
(b) Director & Chairman, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company; Lafayette Life Insurance Company
(c) Director, Eagle Realty Group, Eagle Realty Investments
(d) Director, Chairman, President & CEO, WestAd, Inc.
(e) President & Trustee, Western & Southern Financial Fund
(f) Board Member, Convergys Corp, Cintas Corporation
(g) Director, American Council of Life Insurers; Director, Financial Services Roundtable; Board Member, Americans for the Arts; Member & Executive Committee, Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation; Board of Governors, Cincinnati USA Partnership for Economic Development; Member, Cincinnati Business Committee; Co-Chairman, Greater Cincinnati Scholarship Association; Member, Cincinnati Equity Fund; Honorary Trustee, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation; Chairman, Medical Center Fund, UC; Advisory Board, Barrett Cancer Center; Vice Chairman, UC Foundation Capital Campaign; Honorary Chairman, UC Presidential Bicentennial Commission
(4) Brendan M. White, Managing Director & Sr. Portfolio Manager
(5) James A. Markley, Managing Director
(a) Trustee & Board Member, Corbett Foundation
(6) Roger M. Lanham, Managing Director & Head Fixed Income Group
(7) John J. OConnor, Managing Director
(a) Board of Directors, Friars Club Foundation, SC Ministry Foundation
(b) Investment Committee, Province of St. John the Baptist
(8) Timothy J. Policinksi, Managing Director & Sr. Portfolio Manager
(9) Michele Hawkins, Chief Compliance Officer & Managing Director
(a) Advisory Board Member, Xavier University Cintas Institute for Business Ethics & Social Responsibility
(b) Chief Compliance Officer, Peppertree Partners, LLC
(10) Margaret C. Bell, Managing Director
(11) Robert L. Walker, Director
(a) Director, Eagle Realty Group, Eagle Realty Investments, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, Insurance Profillment Solutions, LLC, Western & Southern Agency, Inc.
(b) Board Member, Computer Services, Inc.; Board Member & Chairman, Tri-Health
(c) Director, Sr. Vice President, & Chief Financial Officer, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Lafayette Life Insurance Company
(d) Sr. Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Western & Southern Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Life Assurance Company, W&S Financial Group, Inc., W&S Mutual Holding Company
(e) Board of Trustees, Bethesda, Inc.
(12) Richard R. Jandrain III, Managing Director & Sr. Portfolio Manager
(13) Terrie A. Wiedenheft, Sr. Vice President & Chief Financial Officer See biography above
(14) James J. Vance, Vice President & Treasurer See biography above
(15) Stephen A. Baker, Managing Director & Deputy Head of Private Equity
(a) Board of Trustees, Walnut Hills High School Alumni Foundation, CH Mack, Inc.
(b) Vice President, Buckeye Venture Partners, LLC
(c) Manager, Peppertree Partners, LLC
(16) John P. Bessone, Vice President
(a) Board Member, Lumidign, Inc., Earthstone International
(17) Paul D. Cohn, Managing Director
(18) Rance G. Duke, Vice President Head Investment Grade Credit & Sr. Portfolio Manager
(a) Board Member & Chairman, Spring Grove Cemetery
(b) Treasurer, Bethesda Foundation; Board Member, Bethesda, Inc.
(c) Investment Committee, YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, Bethesda, Inc.
(d) Member, United Way, Red Cross Partnership Committee
(19) Thomas L. Finn, Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager
(a) Board Member, Cincinnati Foundation for the Aged, Beechwood Foundation.
(b) Investment Committee, YMCA
(20) Mark A. Frietch, Managing Director
(21) John J. Goetz, Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager
(a) Investment Company Institute MMFunds Advisory Committee
(22) Charles A. Ulbricht, Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager
(a) AVP Investments, Lafayette Life Foundation
(23) Scott D. Weston, Managing Director & Sr. Portfolio Manager
(a) Financial Advisory Board & Foundation Board Member, Mariemont School District
(24) Martin W. Flesher, Vice President
(25) Jeffrey D. Meek, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
(a) Treasurer, Buckeye Venture Partners, LLC, Peppertree Partners, LLC
(b) Vice President & Sr. Financial Officer, Tri-State Ventures, LLC
(c) Vice President, Western & Southern Investment Holdings, LLC
(26) Jonathan D. Niemeyer, Sr. Vice President & General Counsel
(a) Board of Directors, The Pro Foundation Inc., Board of Advisors, David Pollacks Empower Foundation
(b) Sr. Vice President & General Counsel, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Lafayette Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Life Assurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company
(c) Assistant Secretary, Peppertree Partners, LLC
(d) Secretary, W&S Investment Holdings, LLC
(e) Director, Insurance Profillment Solutions, LLC
(f) Board Member, Association of Life Insurance Counsel
(27) James E. Wilhelm, Managing Director & Sr. Portfolio Manager
(a) Board Member, Xavier Student Investment Fund
(28) Donald J. Wuebbling, Director
(a) Secretary & Counsel, Western & Southern Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Life Assurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Western & Southern Mutual Holding Co., Columbus Life Insurance Company, Lafayette Life Insurance Company
(b) Director, Touchstone Advisors, Inc., Touchstone Securities, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc., IFS Financial Services, Inc., IFS Holdings, Inc., Integrity Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Brokerage Services, Inc., Eagle Realty Group, Eagle Realty Investments, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, WestAd, Inc., Western & Southern Brokerage Services, Inc. Western & Southern Agency, Inc.
(29) William G. Creviston, Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager
(30) Douglas E. Kelsey, Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager
(31) Jeremiah R. Moore, Vice President & Deputy Head of Wealth Management
(32) Barry D. Pavlo, Vice President
(33) William T. Sena Jr., Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager
(34) P. Gregory Williams, Vice President
(35) Eric J. Walzer, Vice President
(36) William T. Sena Sr., Managing Director
(37) Joseph B. Michael, Managing Director
(a) Vice President, Peppertree Partners, LLC
(38) Timothy J. Jossart, Vice President & Assistant Portfolio Manager
(39) Alexander S. Fischer, Vice President & Regional Business Development Officer
(40) Daniel J. Carter, Assistant Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager
(41) S. Zulfi Ali, Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Manager
(42) Joseph A. Woods, Managing Director& Sr. Investment Manager
(43) Richard A. Krawczeski, Vice President of Financial Planning
(44) William H. Bunn, Vice President & Senior Credit Analyst
(45) Kevin M. Bass, Assistant Vice President & Senior Equity Research Manager
(46) Bernard M. Casey, Assistant Vice President & Senior Credit Analyst
(47) Joe Don Cole, Assistant Vice President
(48) Connie L. Krebs, Assistant Vice President and Director of Relationship Management/Client Service
(49) Anthony L. Longi, Assistant Vice President & Senior Credit Analyst
(50) Michael R. Maeder, Assistant Vice President and Senior Investment Manager
(51) Kenneth J. Ryan, Assistant Vice President
(52) James K. Seagraves, Assistant Vice President
(53) David W. Walters, Vice President, Portfolio Manager, &Asset & Liability Management
(54) Chris C. Zehetmaier, Assistant Vice President, Marketing
(55) Kathleen A. Cornelius, Assistant Treasurer
(56) Douglas B. Perry, Assistant Treasurer
(57) Timothy D. Speed, Assistant Treasurer
(58) Cheryl J. Stotts, Assistant Treasurer
C. Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. (Westfield) is a registered investment advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund and Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund. The address of Westfield is One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111. The following are executive officers and directors of Westfield:
Westfield is 100% employee owned. Strategic business decisions are managed and controlled by an executive management committee composed of William A. Muggia, Morton L. Fearey, II, Hamlen Thompson, Bruce Jacobs, Richard Lee, Robert Flores, Ethan Meyers and John Montgomery.
D. Navellier & Associates, Inc. (Navellier) is a registered advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund. The address of Navellier is One East Liberty Street, Suite 504, Reno, Nevada 89501. The following are officers of Navellier.
(1) Louis G. Navellier, Chief Executive Officer
(2) Arjen P. Kuyper, President, Chief Operating Officer, & Chief Compliance Officer
(3) Keith M. Basso, Vice President
(4) David Machen, Chief Financial Officer
E. Analytic Investors, LLC (Analytic) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund. The address of Analytic is 555 West Fifth Street, 50th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90013.
The directors and officers of Analytic are provided on Analytics most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 104963; SEC File No. 801-07082), which is incorporated herein by reference. The only employment of a substantial nature of each of Analytics directors and officers is with Analytic and its affiliated companies, except as noted below.
Roger Clarke: President of Ensign Peak Advisors (since 9/2007), Director of Bonneville Holding Corporation (since 2000), Director of Deseret Mutual Insurance Company (since 2006) and Deseret Trust Company (since 1996).
F. Ashfield Capital Partners, LLC (Ashfield) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Capital Growth Fund. The address of Ashfield is 750 Battery Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94111.
The directors and officers of Ashfield are provided on Ashfields most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 142580; SEC File No. 801-67426), which is incorporated herein by reference. The only employment of a substantial nature of each of Ashfields directors and officers is with Ashfield and its affiliated companies.
G. Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss LLC (Barrow Hanley) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Value Fund and Touchstone International Value Fund. The address of Barrow Hanley is 2200 Ross Avenue, 31st Floor Dallas, TX 75201.
The directors and officers of Barrow Hanley are provided on Barrow Hanleys most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 105519; SEC File No. 801-31237), which is incorporated herein by reference. The only employment of a substantial nature of each of Barrow Hanleys directors and officers is with Barrow Hanley and its affiliated companies.
H. Copper Rock Capital Partner LLC (Copper Rock) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone International Small Cap Fund. The address of Copper Rock is 200 Clarendon Street, 51st Floor Boston, MA 02116.
The directors and officers of Copper Rock are provided on Copper Rocks most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 134176; SEC File No. 801-63900), which is incorporated herein by reference. The only employment of a substantial nature of each of Copper Rocks directors and officers is with Copper Rock and its affiliated companies.
I. Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC (TS&W) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Small Cap Value Opportunities Fund. The address of TS&W is 6806 Paragon Place, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23230.
The directors and officers of TS&W are provided on TS&Ws most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 105726; SEC File No. 801-06273), which is incorporated herein by reference. The only employment of a substantial nature of each of TS&Ws directors and officers is with TS&W and its affiliated companies.
J. Ibbotson Associates, Inc. (Ibbotson) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Conservative Allocation Fund, Touchstone Balanced Allocation Fund, Touchstone Moderate Growth Allocation Fund and Touchstone Growth Allocation Fund. The address of Ibbotson is 22 West Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602.
The directors and officers of Ibbotson are provided on Ibbotsons most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 111057; SEC File No. 801-57505), which is incorporated herein by reference. The only employment of a substantial nature of each of Ibbotsons directors and officers is with Ibbotson and its affiliated companies.
K. DePrince, Race & Zollo, Inc. (DRZ) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Small Company Value Fund. The address of DRZ is 250 Park Avenue South, Suite 250, Winter Park, FL 32789.
The directors and officers of DRZ are provided on DRZs most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 112099; SEC File No. 801-48779), which is incorporated herein by reference. The only employment of a substantial nature of each of DRZs directors and officers is with DRZ.
L. ClearArc Capital Inc. (ClearArc) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Flexible Income Fund. The address of ClearArc is 580 Walnut Street, 6 th Floor,, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
The directors and officers of ClearArc are provided on ClearArcs most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 104650; SEC File No. 801-11184), which is incorporated herein by reference.
M. Apex Capital Management, Inc. (Apex) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Small Cap Growth Value Fund. The Address of Apex is 8163 Old Yankee Road, Suite E, Dayton, OH 45458.
The directors and officers of Apex are provided on Apexs most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 107075; SEC File No. 801-42460), which is incorporated herein by reference. The only employment of a substantial nature of each of Apexs directors and officers is with Apex.
N. Sands Capital Management, Inc. (Sands Capital) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund. The Address of Sands Capital is 1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 2300, Arlington, VA 22209. No director, officer, or partner of Sands Capital has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
O. London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company (TLC) is a registered advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Large Cap Fund. The address of TLC is 1801 Bayberry Court, Suite 301, Richmond, Virginia, 23226. No director, officer or partner of TLC has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
Item 32. Principal Underwriters
(a) Touchstone Securities, Inc. also acts as underwriter for Touchstone Investment Trust, Touchstone Tax-Free Trust, Touchstone Variable Series Trust, Touchstone Funds Group Trust and Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust.
(b) Unless otherwise noted, the address of the persons named below is 303 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202. *The address is 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202
|
|
POSITION WITH |
|
POSITION WITH |
NAME |
|
UNDERWRITER |
|
REGISTRANT |
Steven M. Graziano |
|
President |
|
Vice President |
Jill T. McGruder |
|
Director & CEO |
|
Trustee/President |
James N. Clark* |
|
Director |
|
None |
Donald J. Wuebbling* |
|
Director |
|
None |
Patricia J. Wilson |
|
Vice President |
|
None |
James J. Vance* |
|
Vice President and Treasurer |
|
None |
Terrie A. Wiedenheft |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
Controller/Treasurer |
Timothy S. Stearns |
|
Chief Compliance Officer |
|
Chief Compliance Officer |
Rhonda Malone* |
|
Secretary |
|
None |
Sharon L. Karp |
|
Vice President |
|
None |
Kathleen A. Cornelius |
|
Assistant Treasurer |
|
None |
Douglas B. Perry |
|
Assistant Treasurer |
|
None |
Timothy D. Speed |
|
Assistant Treasurer |
|
None |
Cheryl J. Stotts |
|
Assistant Treasurer |
|
None |
(c) None.
Item 33. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
Books or 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 as follows:
(a) With respect to Rules 31a-1(a); 31a-1(b)(1); (2)(a) and (b); (3); (6); (8); (12); and 31a-1(d), the required books and records will be maintained at the offices of Registrants Custodian:
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
40 Water Street
Boston, MA 02109
(b) With respect to Rules 31a-1(a); 31a-1(b)(1), (4); (2)(C) and (D); (4); (5); (6); (8); (9); (10); (11); and 31a-1(f), the required books and records are maintained at the offices of the Registrants Administrator and Sub-Administrator.
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, OH 45202
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
201 Washington Street, 34 th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
(c) With respect to Rules 31a-1(b)(5), (6), (9) and (10) and 31a-1(f), the required books and records are maintained at the principal offices of the Registrants investment advisors:
All Funds:
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Touchstone Focused Fund
Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway, Suite 1200
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund and Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
One Financial Center
Boston, MA 02111
Touchstone Large Cap Fund
London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company (TLC)
1801 Bayberry Court, Suite 301
Richmond, VA 23226
Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund
Navellier & Associates, Inc.
One East Liberty, Suite 504
Reno, NV 89501
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund
Analytic Investors, LLC
555 West Fifth Street, 50 th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Touchstone Capital Growth Fund
Ashfield Capital Partners, LLC
750 Battery Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94111
Touchstone Value Fund and Touchstone International Value Fund
Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss LLC
2200 Ross Avenue, 31st Floor
Dallas, TX 75201
Touchstone International Small Cap Fund
Copper Rock Capital Partner LLC
200 Clarendon Street, 51st Floor
Boston, MA 02116
Touchstone Small Cap Value Opportunities Fund
Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC
6806 Paragon Place, Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23230
Touchstone Conservative Allocation Fund, Touchstone Balanced Allocation Fund, Touchstone Moderate Growth Allocation Fund and Touchstone Growth Allocation Fund
Ibbotson Associates, Inc.
22 West Washington Street
Chicago, IL 60602
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund
ClearArc Capital Inc.
580 Walnut Street, 6 th Floor
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund
Sands Capital Management, LLC
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirement for effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment (PEA) No. 108 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and has duly caused this PEA to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Cincinnati, State of Ohio on July 9, 2014.
|
TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST |
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Jill T. McGruder |
|
|
Jill T. McGruder |
|
|
President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this PEA No. 108 to the Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
* |
|
Trustee |
|
July 9, 2014 |
|
Phillip R. Cox |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Trustee |
|
July 9, 2014 |
|
William C. Gale |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Trustee |
|
July 9, 2014 |
|
Susan J. Hickenlooper |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Trustee |
|
July 9, 2014 |
|
Kevin A. Robie |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Trustee |
|
July 9, 2014 |
|
Edward J. VonderBrink |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Jill T. McGruder |
|
Trustee and President |
|
July 9, 2014 |
|
Jill T. McGruder |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Controller, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer |
|
July 9, 2014 |
|
Terrie A. Wiedenheft |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*By: |
/s/ Terrie A. Wiedenheft |
|
|
|
July 9, 2014 |
|
Terrie A. Wiedenheft |
|
|
|
|
|
(Attorney-in-Fact Pursuant to Power of Attorney filed with PEA No. 103) |
|
|
EXHIBIT INDEX
(a)(15) |
|
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated July 9, 2014 |
|
|
|
(d)(1)(ii) |
|
Amended Schedule 1 dated July 9, 2014 to the Advisory Agreement dated May 1, 2000 |
|
|
|
(d)(16) |
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company |
|
|
|
(h)(7)(iii) |
|
Amended Schedule B dated July 9, 2014 to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 |
|
|
|
(i) |
|
Legal Opinion |
|
|
|
(n)(2) |
|
Amended Schedule A dated July 9, 2014 to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan |
Exhibit 99.(a)(15)
TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST
AMENDMENT TO RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
The undersigned hereby certifies that she is a duly elected officer of Touchstone Strategic Trust (the Trust) and pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Trusts Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the Declaration), dated May 19, 1993, as amended, the Trustees at a meeting on February 13, 2014 at which a quorum was present, unanimously adopted the following resolutions:
RESOLVED, that one new series of shares of Touchstone Strategic Trust (the Trust) be, and hereby is, established and that such new series be, and hereby is, designated the Touchstone Large Cap Fund (the Fund); and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the shares of the Fund be, and they hereby are, established, with an indefinite and unlimited number of shares, designated as Class A shares, Class C shares, Class Y shares, and Institutional Class shares; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the relative rights and preferences of the Fund shall be those rights and preferences set forth in Article IV of the Trusts Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Trust be, and it hereby is, authorized to issue and sell Class A shares, Class C shares, Class Y shares, and Institutional Class shares of the Fund from time to time at a price per share of not less than the net asset value thereof; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers of the Fund are authorized and directed to issue one Class A share, one Class C share, one Class Y share, and one Institutional Class share of beneficial interest, with no par value per share, of the Fund to Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the Advisor) at a purchase price to be determined; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that when any of the Class A shares, Class C shares, Class Y shares, and Institutional Class shares of the Fund shall have been so issued and sold, they shall be deemed to be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable by the Trust; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Officers of the Trust are authorized to take any actions and to execute any documents and instruments, which any one of them in his or her sole discretion deem necessary, appropriate, or desirable to implement the foregoing resolutions.
The undersigned certifies that the actions to effect the foregoing Amendment were duly taken in the manner provided by the Declaration, that said Amendment is to be effective as of
February 13, 2014, and that she is causing this Certificate to be signed and filed as provided in Section 7.4 of the Declaration.
WITNESS my hand this 21st day of May 2014.
|
/s/ Jill T. McGruder |
|
Jill T. McGruder, President |
Exhibit 99.(d)(1)(ii)
Amended Schedule 1
Dated July 9, 2014
to the
Investment Advisory Agreement
Touchstone Strategic Trust
Dated May 1, 2000
Listing of Funds and Advisory Fee Rates
Name of Fund |
|
Annual Basic Fee Rate |
|
|
|
Touchstone Capital Growth Fund |
|
0.70% on the first $300 million of assets; 0.685% on the next $200 million of assets; 0.675% on the next $500 million of assets; 0.625% on the next $500 million of assets; 0.575% on the next $500 million of assets; and 0.525% on assets over $2 billion |
|
|
|
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund |
|
0.85% on the first $300 million of assets; 0.80% on the next $200 million of assets; 0.75% on the next $250 million of assets; 0.70% on the next $250 million of assets; 0.65% on the next $500 million of assets; 0.60% on the next $500 million of assets; and 0.55% on assets over $2 billion |
|
|
|
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund |
|
0.70% on the first $500 million of assets; and 0.60% on assets over $500 million |
|
|
|
Touchstone Focused Fund |
|
0.70% on the first $100 million of assets; 0.65% on the next $400 million of assets; and 0.60% on assets over $500 million |
|
|
|
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund |
|
0.75% on the first $500 million of assets; 0.70% on the next $500 million of assets; and 0.65% on assets over $1 billion |
|
|
|
Touchstone International Small Cap Fund |
|
0.95% on the first $300 million of assets; 0.90% on the next $200 million of assets; 0.85% on the next $250 million of assets; 0.80% on the next $250 million of assets; 0.75% on the next $500 million of assets; 0.70% on the next $500 million of assets; and 0.65% on assets over $2 billion |
|
|
|
Touchstone International Value Fund |
|
1.00% on all assets |
|
|
|
Touchstone Large Cap Fund |
|
0.70% on the first $500 million of assets; 0.64% on the next $500 million of assets; and 0.60% on assets over $1 billion |
|
|
|
Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund |
|
0.75% on the first $200 million of assets; 0.70% on the next $800 million of assets; and 0.65% on assets over $1 billion |
|
|
|
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund |
|
0.75% on the first $500 million of assets; 0.70% on the next $500 million of assets; and 0.65% on assets over $1 billion |
|
|
|
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets |
|
1.15% on all assets |
This Schedule 1 to the Investment Advisory Agreement is signed as of the date first set forth above.
|
TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Terrie Wiedenheft |
|
|
|
Name: |
Terrie Wiedenheft |
|
|
Title: |
Controller and Treasurer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS, INC. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Jill McGruder |
|
|
|
Name: |
Jill T. McGruder |
|
|
Title: |
CEO |
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Terrie Wiedenheft |
|
|
|
Name: |
Terrie Wiedenheft |
|
|
Title: |
CFO |
Exhibit 99.(d)(16)
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Touchstone Large Cap Fund
A series of
Touchstone Strategic Trust
This Sub-Advisory Agreement (the Agreement) is made as of July 9, 2014, between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the Advisor), and London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company (the Sub-Advisor).
WHEREAS, Touchstone Strategic Trust (the Trust) is a Massachusetts business trust organized pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated May 19, 1993, as amended, and registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act); and
WHEREAS, the Advisor is an investment advisor registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the Advisers Act) and has been retained by the Trust to provide investment advisory services with respect to certain assets of the Touchstone Large Cap Fund (the Fund); and
WHEREAS, the Sub-Advisor also is an investment advisor registered under the Advisers Act; and
WHEREAS, the Advisor desires to retain the Sub-Advisor to furnish it with portfolio management services in connection with the Advisors investment advisory activities on behalf of the Fund, and the Sub-Advisor has agreed to furnish such services to the Advisor and the Fund;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the terms and conditions set forth below, it is agreed as follows:
1. Appointment of the Sub-Advisor. In accordance with and subject to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor, attached as Exhibit A (the Advisory Agreement), the Advisor appoints the Sub-Advisor to manage the investment and reinvestment of that portion of the assets of the Fund allocated to it by the Advisor (the Fund Assets), in conformity with the Funds currently effective registration statement, including its prospectus and statement of additional information, as amended (collectively, the Disclosure Documents), and subject to the control and direction of the Advisor and the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board), for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor accepts such appointment and agrees during such period to render the services and to perform the duties called for by this Agreement for the compensation provided in Section 3 of this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor shall at all times maintain its registration as an investment advisor under the Advisers Act and shall otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal. For purposes of this Agreement, the Sub-Advisor shall be deemed an independent contractor and shall, except as
expressly provided or authorized by written Agreement with the Advisor, Fund, or Trust, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust or the Fund.
2. Duties of the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor will provide the following services and undertake the following duties:
a. The Sub-Advisor will manage the investment and reinvestment of the Fund Assets, subject to and in accordance with the investment objectives, policies, and restrictions of the Fund, and in conformity with the Funds currently effective Disclosure Documents, and, to the extent they do not contradict the Funds currently effective Disclosure Documents, any written directions which the Advisor or the Trusts Board may give pursuant to this Agreement. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Sub-Advisor will make all determinations with respect to the investment of the Fund Assets and the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and shall take such steps as may be necessary or advisable to implement the same. The Sub-Advisor also will determine the manner in which voting rights, rights to consent to corporate action, and any other rights pertaining to the portfolio securities will be exercised.
b. As reasonably requested the Sub-Advisor will render regular reports to the Trusts Board and to the Advisor (or such other service providers as the Advisor shall engage to assist it in the evaluation of the performance and activities of the Sub-Advisor). Such reports shall be made in such form and manner and with respect to such matters regarding the Fund and the Sub-Advisor as the Trust or the Advisor shall reasonably request; provided, however, that in the absence of extraordinary circumstances, the individual primarily responsible for management of Fund Assets for the Sub-Advisor will not be required to attend in-person more than one meeting per year with the Trusts Board.
c. The Sub-Advisor may utilize the services of a third-party service provider to research and vote proxies on its behalf and on behalf of the Fund.
d. The Sub-Advisor shall not have custody of any of the Fund Assets and is not authorized to provide the Fund with legal or tax advice or to engage the Fund in any legal proceedings, including responding to class action claims; provided, however, that the Sub-Advisor shall promptly forward any notices it receives relating to class action claims to the Funds custodian or other duly designated Fund agent. The Sub-Advisor shall assist the custodian or other duly designated Fund agent in evaluating such securities class action claims, as reasonably requested in writing (provided that in so doing the Sub-Advisor shall not incur any extraordinary costs), but the Sub-Advisor will not be responsible for filing such claims. The Advisor acknowledges that the Funds custodian or other duly designated Fund agent will be responsible for evaluating and making all decisions regarding class action claims involving securities presently or formerly held by the Fund.
e. The Sub-Advisor may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations, aggregate purchase and sale orders of securities placed with respect to the Fund Assets with similar orders being made simultaneously for other accounts managed by the Sub-Advisor or its affiliates, if, in the Sub-Advisors reasonable judgment, such aggregation shall result in an overall economic benefit to the Fund. In forming this judgment the Sub-Advisor shall consider the selling or purchase price, brokerage commissions, and other expenses. In the event that a purchase or sale of the Fund Assets occurs as part of any aggregate sale or purchase order, the objective of the Sub-Advisor and any of its affiliates involved in such transaction shall be to allocate the securities so purchased or sold, as well as expenses incurred in the transaction, among the Fund and other accounts in a fair and equitable manner.
f. Whenever the Fund and one or more other investment advisory clients of the Sub-Advisor have available funds for investment, investments suitable and appropriate for each will be allocated in a manner believed by the Sub-Advisor to be fair and equitable to each. Moreover, it is possible that due to differing investment objectives or for other reasons, the Sub-Advisor and its affiliates may purchase securities of an issuer for one client and at approximately the same time recommend selling or sell the same or similar types of securities for another client, including the Fund.
g. The Sub-Advisor will not arrange purchases or sales of securities between the Fund and other accounts advised by the Sub-Advisor or its affiliates unless (a) such purchases or sales are in accordance with applicable law and regulation (including Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act) and the Funds policies and procedures, (b) the Sub-Advisor determines the purchase or sale is in the best interests of the Fund, and (c) the Funds Board has approved these types of transactions.
h. The Sub-Advisor shall promptly notify the Advisor if the Sub-Advisor reasonably believes that the value of any security held by the Fund and reflected on the books and records of the Fund may not reflect fair value. The Sub-Advisor agrees to provide any pricing information of which the Sub-Advisor is aware to the Advisor and any Fund pricing agent to assist in the determination of the fair value of any Fund holdings for which market quotations are not readily available or as otherwise required in accordance with the 1940 Act or the Funds adopted valuation procedures, which may be amended by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties recognize that the Sub-Advisor is not an official pricing source and has no responsibility for calculating the Funds net asset value.
i. Regulatory Compliance.
(i) The Sub-Advisor will comply in all material respects with federal and state securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Securities Act of 1933 (the 1933 Act), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 1934 Act), the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, each as amended, and
the rules and regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, or state securities regulator that are applicable to a registered investment advisor providing services to registered open-end investment companies including, without limitation, Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act.
(ii) The Sub-Advisor shall cause the Fund to comply with the diversification and source of income requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), for qualification as a regulated investment company.
(iii) The Sub-Advisor will cooperate fully with the Trusts Chief Compliance Officers in the execution of his or her responsibilities to monitor service providers to the Trust pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act.
(iv) Subject to the Advisors supervision, the Sub-Advisor will prepare and cause to be filed in a timely manner Form 13F and, if required, Schedule 13G, each under the 1934 Act, with respect to securities held for the account of the Fund.
(v) The Sub-Advisor has adopted a written code of ethics that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act (the Code of Ethics). The Sub-Advisor will provide its code of ethics to the Advisor and the Fund. The Sub-Advisor shall ensure that its Access Persons (as defined in the Sub-Advisors Code of Ethics) comply in all material respects with the Sub-Advisors Code of Ethics, as in effect. Upon request, the Sub-Advisor shall provide the Fund with (i) a copy of the Sub-Advisors current Code of Ethics, as in effect, and (ii) a certification that it has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from engaging in any conduct prohibited by the Sub-Advisors Code of Ethics. No less frequently than annually, the Sub-Advisor shall furnish to the Fund and the Advisor a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, concerning the Sub-Advisors Code of Ethics. The Sub-Advisor shall promptly respond to any requests for information from the Advisor as to violations of the Sub-Advisors Code of Ethics by Access Persons and the sanctions imposed by the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor shall promptly notify the Advisor of any material violation of the Sub-Advisors Code of Ethics, whether or not such violation relates to a security held by the Fund.
(vi) The Sub-Advisor shall notify the Trusts Chief Compliance Officer and Advisor immediately upon detection of (i) any material failure to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and policies or any applicable law; or (ii) any material breach of any of the Funds or the Advisors policies, guidelines, or procedures (to the extent such policies, guidelines, or procedures have been provided to the Sub-Advisor). In addition, the Sub-
Advisor shall provide a quarterly report regarding its compliance with applicable law, including but not limited to the 1940 Act and the Code, and the Funds and the Advisors investment objectives policies, guidelines, or procedures as applicable to the Sub-Advisors obligations under this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor acknowledges and agrees that the Advisor may, in its sole discretion, provide such quarterly compliance certifications to the Board. The Sub-Advisor agrees to correct any such failure promptly and to take any action that the Board or the Advisor may reasonably request in connection with any such breach. The Sub-Advisor shall also provide the officers of the Trust with supporting certifications in connection with certifications of the Funds financial statements and disclosure controls pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended. The Sub-Advisor will promptly notify the Trust in the event (i) the Sub-Advisor is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board, or body, involving the affairs of the Trust (excluding class action suits in which the Fund is a member of the plaintiff class by reason of the Funds ownership of shares in the defendant) or the compliance by the Sub-Advisor with the federal or state securities laws in connection with the services provided to the Fund under this Agreement or (ii) the controlling stockholder of the Sub-Advisor changes or an actual change in control resulting in an assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) has occurred or is otherwise proposed to occur.
(vii) The Sub-Advisor shall maintain separate books and detailed records of all matters pertaining to the Fund Assets advised by the Sub-Advisor as required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act (other than those records being maintained by the Advisor, custodian, or transfer agent appointed by the Fund), and relating to its responsibilities under this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor shall preserve such records for the periods and in a manner prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act (the Fund Books and Records). The Fund Books and Records shall be available to the Advisor and the Board, which shall be delivered upon request to the Trust, at the Advisors expense, upon the termination of this Agreement and shall be available for telecopying without delay during any day the Fund is open for business. The Sub-Advisor may retain a copy of the Fund Books and Records for its own recordkeeping purposes.
j. The Sub-Advisor shall provide support to the Advisor with respect to the marketing of the Fund, including but not limited to: (i) permission to use the Sub-Advisors name as provided in Section 6 of this Agreement; (ii) permission to use the past performance and investment history of the Sub-Advisor with respect to a composite of funds managed by the Sub-Advisor that are comparable, in investment objective and composition, to the Fund; (iii) access to the individual(s) responsible for day-to-day management of the Fund for marketing conferences, teleconferences, and other activities involving the promotion of the Fund, subject to the reasonable request
of the Advisor; and (iv) permission to use biographical and historical data of the Sub-Advisor and individual portfolio manager(s).
k. The Sub-Advisor will, in the name of the Fund, place orders for the execution of all portfolio transactions in accordance with the policies set forth in the Funds Disclosure Documents. When placing orders with brokers and dealers, the Sub-Advisors primary objective shall be to obtain the most favorable price and execution available for the Fund, and in placing such orders the Sub-Advisor may consider a number of factors, including, without limitation, the overall direct net economic result to the Fund (including commissions, which may not be the lowest available but ordinarily should not be higher than the generally prevailing competitive range); the financial strength and stability of the broker; the efficiency with which the transaction will be effected; the ability to effect the transaction at all where a large block is involved; and the availability of the broker or dealer to stand ready to execute possibly difficult transactions in the future. Consistent with the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and subject to seeking most favorable price and execution and compliance with Rule 12b-1(h) under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Advisor may select brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions of the Fund that promote or sell shares of the Fund. The Sub-Advisor is specifically authorized, to the extent authorized by law (including, without limitation, Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act), to pay a broker or dealer who provides research services to the Sub-Advisor an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting such transaction. This excess payment (often referred to as soft dollar payments) in recognition of such additional research services rendered by the broker or dealer shall only be made if the Sub-Advisor determines in good faith that the excess commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer viewed in terms of the particular transaction or the Sub-Advisors overall responsibilities with respect to discretionary accounts that it manages, and that the Fund derives or will derive a reasonable benefit from such research services. The Sub-Advisor will present a written report to the Board, at least quarterly, indicating total brokerage expenses, actual or imputed, as well as the services obtained in consideration for such expenses, broken down by broker-dealer and containing such information as the Board reasonably shall request.
l. The Sub-Advisor shall maintain errors and omissions insurance coverage in an appropriate amount and shall provide prior written notice to the Trust (i) of any material changes in its insurance policies or insurance coverage; or (ii) if any material claims will be made on its insurance policies related to the services provided to the Trust under this Agreement. Furthermore, the Sub-Advisor shall, upon reasonable request, provide the Trust with any information it may reasonably require concerning the amount of or scope of such insurance.
m. In the event of any reorganization or other material change in the Sub-Advisor, the Sub-Advisor shall give the Advisor and the Board written notice of such reorganization or change within a reasonable time (but not later than 30 days) after such reorganization or change.
n. The Sub-Advisor will bear its expenses of providing services to the Fund pursuant to this Agreement except such expenses as are expressly undertaken by the Advisor or the Fund.
o. The Advisor and Sub-Advisor acknowledge and agree that the Sub-Advisor shall be required to provide only the services expressly described in this Agreement, and shall have no responsibility to provide any other services to the Advisor or the Portfolio except as required by law. The Advisor shall remain responsible for the Funds overall compliance with the 1940 Act, the Code, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
p. The Advisor agrees to provide the Sub-Advisor with such assistance as may be reasonably requested by the Sub-Advisor in connection with its activities under this Agreement, including, without limitation, information concerning the Fund; its cash available, or to become available, for investment; and generally as to the conditions of the Fund or its affairs.
q. The Advisor will provide the Sub-Advisor with advance notice of, and the opportunity to comment on, any change in the Funds investment objectives, investment policy risks, and restrictions as stated in the Disclosure Documents, or in any procedures and policies adopted by the Board of the Trust or the Advisor that may affect the Sub-Advisors management of the Fund. The Sub-Advisor shall, in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, manage the Fund Assets in compliance with such changes following reasonable notice of the effectiveness of such changes from the Advisor. In addition to such notice, the Advisor shall provide to the Sub-Advisor a copy of any amendments or supplements to the Disclosure Documents. The Advisor acknowledges and agrees that the Disclosure Documents will at all times be in compliance with all disclosure requirements under all applicable federal and state laws and regulations relating to the Fund.
r. The Advisor acknowledges and agrees that the Sub-Advisor does not guarantee the future performance or any specific level of performance for the Fund Assets, the success of any investment decision or strategy that the Sub-Advisor may use, or the success of the Sub-Advisors overall management of the Fund Assets. The Advisor acknowledges and agrees that investment decisions made with regard to the Fund Assets by the Sub-Advisor are subject to various market, currency, economic, political, and business risks, and that those investment decisions will not always be beneficial to the Fund. Additionally, there may be loss or depreciation of the value of the Fund Assets because of fluctuation of market values. These risks will be disclosed in the Funds Disclosure Documents.
3. Compensation of the Sub-Advisor.
a. As compensation for the services to be rendered and duties undertaken under this Agreement by the Sub-Advisor, the Advisor will pay to the Sub-Advisor a
monthly fee equal on an annual basis to X.XX% on the first $500 million of average daily net assets of the Fund, X.XX% on the next $500 million of average daily net assets of the Fund, and X.XX% on average daily net assets of the Fund over $1 billion; without regard to any total expense limitation or other fee waiver applied by the Trust or the Advisor. Such fee shall be computed and accrued daily. If the Sub-Advisor serves in such capacity for less than the whole of any period specified in Section 12a of this Agreement, the compensation to the Sub-Advisor shall be prorated. For purposes of calculating the Sub-Advisors fee, the daily value of the Fund Assets shall be computed by the same method as the Trust uses to compute the Funds net asset value for purposes of purchases and redemptions of shares.
b. The Sub-Advisor reserves the right to waive all or a part of its fees.
4. Ongoing Reporting of the Sub-Advisor.
a. Financial Reporting. The Sub-Advisor will report to the Board (at regular quarterly meetings and at such other times as the Board reasonably shall request, subject to the limitation on personal attendance at such meetings set forth in Section 2b of this Agreement): (i) the financial condition and financial prospects of the Sub-Advisor, (ii) the nature and amount of transactions that may be reasonably expected to effect the Fund that involve the Sub-Advisor and its affiliates, (iii) information regarding any potential conflicts of interest arising by reason of the Sub-Advisors continuing provision of advisory services to the Fund and to its other accounts, and (iv) such other information including but not limited to the performance of the specific strategy used to manage the Fund Assets and the capacity of the Sub-Advisor as it relates to the continuing ability of the Sub-Advisor to accept additional cash flow from the Advisor into the Fund. Upon request by the Advisor or the Board, the Sub-Advisor agrees to discuss with the Board its plans for the allocation of remaining capacity in the strategy used to manage the Fund, with respect to the Fund and to the Sub-Advisors other clients.
The Sub-Advisor will annually provide the Advisor with the Sub-Advisors financial statements, unless the Funds Board requests reports on a more frequent basis. For purposes of this paragraph 4(a), financial statements shall include the Sub-Advisors balance sheet, income statement, and notes to the financial statements.
b. Key Personnel Reporting. The Sub-Advisor agrees to promptly notify the Advisor upon becoming aware of any incapacity, resignation, termination, or other material change of key personnel. For purposes of this paragraph 4(b), key personnel include: (i) any portfolio manager of the Fund; and (ii) any chief executive officer, chief compliance officer, chief operations officer, chief investment officer, chief financial officer, chief administration officer, or any other principal or officer of similar title or position with the Sub-Advisor; and (iii) any member of its investment (or comparable) committee.
5. Representations of the Advisor and the Trust. The Advisor represents that: (a) the Advisor has been duly appointed by the Board to provide investment services to the Fund Assets as contemplated in this Agreement; (b) the Advisor has all necessary power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform this Agreement on behalf of the Trust, and such execution, delivery, and performance will not violate any applicable law, regulation, organizational document, policy, or agreement binding on the Trust or its property; (c) the Trust has the full power and authority to enter into all transactions contemplated under this Agreement, to perform its obligations under such transactions and to authorize the Advisor to procure the Sub-Advisor to enter into such transactions on the Trusts and Funds behalf; (d) the Advisors decision to appoint the Sub-Advisor was made in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law and the governing documents, contracts, or other material agreements or instruments governing the Funds investment or trading activities; (e) the Advisor will deliver to the Sub-Advisor a true and complete copy of the Funds Disclosure Documents, such other documents or instruments governing the investments of Fund Assets, and such other information as is necessary for the Sub-Advisor to carry out its obligations under this Agreement; and (f) the Trust is a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
6. Use of Names.
a. Neither the Advisor nor the Trust shall use the name of the Sub-Advisor in any prospectus, sales literature, or other material relating to the Advisor or the Trust in any manner not approved in advance by the Sub-Advisor; provided, however, that the Sub-Advisor will approve all uses of its name which merely refer in accurate terms to its appointment or which are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) or a state securities commission; and provided further, that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably withheld.
b. The Sub-Advisor shall not use the name of the Advisor or the Trust in any material relating to the Sub-Advisor in any manner not approved in advance by the Advisor or the Trust, as the case may be; provided, however, that the Advisor and the Trust will each approve all uses of their respective names which merely refer in accurate terms to the appointment of the Sub-Advisor as the Funds Sub-Advisor under this Agreement or which are required by the SEC or a state securities commission; and, provided further, that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably withheld.
c. Upon termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 12, the Advisor shall cease using any references to the Sub-Advisor in Fund and Advisor documents unless such reference is required by law. Similarly, the Sub-Advisor shall cease using any references to the Advisor or Fund in any documents unless such reference is required by law. For purposes of this paragraph, documents include but are not limited to, marketing materials, regulatory filings, and performance reporting.
7. Liability of the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Advisor, and all their affiliated persons (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) and all controlling persons (as described in Section 15 of the 1933 Act) (collectively, the Sub-Advisor Indemnitees) against any and all direct losses, claims, damages,
or liabilities (including reasonable legal and other expenses) (collectively, Losses) incurred by reason of or arising out of: (a) the Sub-Advisor being in material violation of any applicable federal or state law, rule, or regulation or any investment policy or restriction set forth in the Funds Disclosure Documents or any written guidelines or instruction provided in writing by the Board; or (b) the Sub-Advisors willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
8. Liability of the Advisor. The Advisor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Advisor and all affiliated persons (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) and all controlling persons (as described in Section 15 of the 1933 Act) (collectively, the Advisor Indemnitees) against any and all direct Losses incurred by reason of or arising out of: (a) the Advisor being in material violation of any applicable federal or state law, rule, or regulation; or (b) the Advisors willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
9. Limitation of Trusts Liability. The Sub-Advisor acknowledges that it has received notice of and accepts the limitations upon the Trusts liability set forth in its Declaration of Trust. The Sub-Advisor agrees that (i) the Trusts obligations to the Sub-Advisor under this Agreement (or indirectly under the Advisory Agreement) shall be limited in any event to the Fund Assets and (ii) the Sub-Advisor shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders of the Fund, other than the Advisor, nor from any Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust.
10. Force Majeure. The Sub-Advisor shall not be liable for delays or errors occurring by reason of circumstances beyond its control, including but not limited to acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, work stoppages, fire, flood, catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riot, or failure of communication or power supply. In the event of equipment breakdowns beyond its control, the Sub-Advisor shall take all reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions.
11. Confidentiality. Each party expressly undertakes to protect and to preserve the confidentiality of all information and know-how made available under or in connection with this Agreement, or the parties activities that are either designated as being confidential or which, by the nature of the circumstances surrounding the disclosure, ought in good faith to be treated as proprietary or confidential (collectively, the Confidential Information). Each party shall take reasonable security precautions, at least as great as the precautions it takes to protect its own confidential information but in any event using a commercially reasonable standard of care, to keep confidential the Confidential Information. Neither party shall disclose Confidential Information except: (a) to its employees, directors, officers, legal advisors, or auditors having a need to know such Confidential Information; (b) in accordance with a judicial or other governmental order or when such disclosure is required by law, provided that prior to such disclosure the receiving party shall provide the disclosing party with written notice and shall comply with any protective order or equivalent; or (c) in accordance with a regulatory audit or inquiry, without prior notice to the disclosing party, provided that the receiving party shall obtain a confidentiality undertaking from the regulatory agency where possible.
Neither party will make use of any Confidential Information except as expressly authorized in this Agreement or as agreed to in writing between the parties. However, the receiving party shall have no obligation to maintain the confidentiality of information that: (a) it received rightfully from another party prior to its receipt from the disclosing party; (b) the disclosing party discloses generally without any obligation of confidentiality; (c) is or subsequently becomes publicly available without the receiving partys breach of any obligation owed the disclosing party; or (d) is independently developed by the receiving party without reliance upon or use of any Confidential Information. Each partys obligations under this clause shall survive for a period of three years following the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, each party to this Agreement may disclose any information with respect to the United States federal income tax treatment and tax structure (and any fact that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transaction) of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.
12. Renewal, Termination and Amendment.
a. This Agreement shall continue in effect, unless sooner terminated under this Agreement, through July 8, 2016; and it shall thereafter continue for successive annual terms provided that such continuance is specifically approved by the parties and, in addition, at least annually by (i) the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or (ii) by vote of a majority of the Trusts Board including the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either the Advisor or the Sub-Advisor, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
b. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, (i) by the Advisor upon not more than 60-day nor less than 30-day prior written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Sub-Advisor; (ii) by the Sub-Advisor upon not less than 60-day prior written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Advisor; or (iii) by the Trust, upon either (y) the majority vote of the Board or (z) the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
c. This Agreement may be amended at any time by the parties, subject to approval by the Board and, if required by applicable SEC rules and regulations, a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund affected by such change.
d. The terms assignment, interested persons and majority of the outstanding voting securities shall have the meaning set forth for such terms in the 1940 Act.
13. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall become or shall be found to be invalid by a court decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected.
14. Notice. Any notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and sent to the address or facsimile number, as applicable, of the party receiving such notice or instruction and (a) delivered personally; (b) sent by electronic mail (email) or facsimile transmission, with notice or confirmation of receipt received; (c) delivered by a nationally recognized overnight courier; or (d) sent by prepaid first-class mail. Until further notice to the other party, it is agreed that the addresses of the Trust and the Advisor for this purpose shall be 303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 and that the address of the Sub-Advisor shall be 1801 Bayberry Court, Suite 301, Richmond, VA 23226.
15. Miscellaneous. Each party agrees to perform such further actions and execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Ohio. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define or delimit any of the Agreement provisions or otherwise affect their construction or effect. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including any attached Schedules, constitutes the sole and entire agreement of the parties with respect to the Agreements subject matter.
17. Customer Notification . By executing this Agreement, the Advisor acknowledges that as required by the Advisers Act the Sub-Advisor has supplied to the Advisor and the Trust copies of the Sub-Advisors Form ADV with all exhibits and attachments (including the Sub-Advisors statement of financial condition) and will promptly supply to the Advisor copies of all amendments or restatements of such document. Otherwise, the Advisors rights under federal law allow termination of this contract without penalty within five business days after entering into this contract. U.S. law also requires the Sub-Advisor to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or entity that opens an account. The Sub-Advisor will ask for the Trusts legal name, principal place of business address, and Taxpayer Identification or other identification number, and may ask for other identifying information.
Signatures on next page.
The parties duly authorized officers have signed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first above written.
TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS, INC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BY: |
/s/ Steve Graziano |
|
BY: |
/s/ Tim D. Paulin |
|
|
|
|
|
Name: |
Steven M. Graziano |
|
Name: |
Timothy D. Paulin |
|
|
|
|
|
Title: |
President |
|
Title: |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LONDON COMPANY OF VIRGINIA |
|
|
|
|
d/b/a The London Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BY: |
/s/ Melissa Carlucci |
|
BY: |
/s/ Andrew J. Wetzel |
|
|
|
|
|
Name: |
Melissa Carlucci |
|
Name: |
Andrew J. Wetzel |
|
|
|
|
|
Title: |
Chief Operations Officer |
|
Title: |
Chief Compliance Officer |
Exhibit 99.(h)(7)(iii)
Schedule B
Dated July 9, 2014
To The
Expense Limitation Agreement
Dated July 29, 2013
Between
Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
FYE 6/30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Capital Growth Fund |
|
A |
|
1.25 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
|
|
C |
|
2.00 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
|
|
Y |
|
1.00 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
|
|
Institutional |
|
0.90 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
Touchstone International Small Cap |
|
A |
|
1.55 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
|
|
C |
|
2.30 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
|
|
Y |
|
1.30 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
|
|
Institutional |
|
1.18 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
Touchstone Large Cap Fund |
|
A |
|
1.12 |
% |
July 9, 2015 |
|
|
|
C |
|
1.87 |
% |
July 9, 2015 |
|
|
|
Y |
|
0.87 |
% |
July 9, 2015 |
|
|
|
Institutional |
|
0.77 |
% |
July 9, 2015 |
|
Touchstone Small Cap Value Opportunities Fund |
|
A |
|
1.50 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
|
|
C |
|
2.25 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
|
|
Y |
|
1.25 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
|
|
Institutional |
|
1.10 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
Touchstone Value Fund |
|
A |
|
1.08 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
|
|
C |
|
1.83 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
|
|
Y |
|
0.83 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
|
|
Institutional |
|
0.68 |
% |
October 30, 2014 |
|
This Schedule B to the Expense Limitation Agreement is hereby executed as of the date first set forth above.
|
TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Terrie Wiedenheft |
|
|
|
|
|
TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS, INC. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Terrie Wiedenheft |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Tim Paulin |
Exhibit 99.(i)
|
|
July 9, 2014
Touchstone Strategic Trust
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Touchstone Strategic Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the Trust), in connection with the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Trusts registration statement on Form N-1A (the Post-Effective Amendment) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act), on or about the date hereof, registering the issuance of an indefinite number of Class A, Class C, Class Y and Institutional Class shares of beneficial interest, no par value, of Touchstone Large Cap Fund (the Fund), a series of the Trust, which units are classified and designated as Class A, Class C, Class Y and Institutional Class shares (collectively, the Shares).
You have requested our opinion as to the matters set forth below in connection with the filing of the Post-Effective Amendment. In connection with rendering this opinion, we have examined the Post-Effective Amendment, the Trusts Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated May 19, 1993, as amended (Declaration of Trust), the Trusts By-Laws, dated March 31, 1983, as amended (By-Laws), the actions of the Trustees of the Trust related to the authorization and issuance of the Shares, and such other documents as we, in our professional opinion, have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth below. In examining the documents referred to above, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of documents purporting to be originals and the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to questions of fact material to our opinion, we have relied (without investigation or independent confirmation) upon the representations contained in the above-described documents and on certificates and other communications from public officials and officers and Trustees of the Trust.
Our opinion, as set forth herein, is based on the facts in existence and the laws in effect on the date hereof and is limited to the statutory laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as in effect on the date hereof, which, in our experience are normally directly
applicable to the issuance of units of beneficial interest by an entity such as the Trust. We express no opinion with respect to any other laws or regulations.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. However, the Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder liability for acts and obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees or officers of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust also provides for indemnification out of the property of the Trust for all losses and expenses of any shareholder of the Fund held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust, solely by reason of being or having been a shareholder. Thus, the risk of liability is limited to circumstances in which the Trust would be unable to meet its obligations.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that (a) the Shares to be issued pursuant to the Post-Effective Amendment have been duly authorized for issuance by the Trust; and (b) when issued and paid for upon the terms provided in the Post-Effective Amendment, the Shares to be issued pursuant to the Post-Effective Amendment will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
This opinion is rendered solely for your use in connection with the filing of the Post-Effective Amendment. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the SEC in connection with the Post-Effective Amendment. In giving our consent we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder. Except as specifically authorized above in this paragraph, this opinion is not to be quoted in whole or in part or otherwise referred to, nor is it to be filed with any government agency or any other person (except when required to be filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment), without, in each case, our prior written consent. This opinion is given to you as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you of any change that may hereafter be brought to our attention. The opinions expressed herein are matters of professional judgment and are not a guarantee of result.
|
Very truly yours, |
|
|
|
|
|
VEDDER PRICE P.C. |
Exhibit 99.(n)(2)
AMENDED SCHEDULE A
to the
AMENDED AND RESTATED RULE 18F-3
MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN
Dated July 9, 2014
The Trusts Funds and Classes that are currently offered are listed below:
Trust |
|
Funds |
|
Class
|
|
Class
|
|
Class
|
|
Class
|
|
Class
|
|
Institutional
|
|
Class
|
Touchstone Funds Group Trust |
|
Touchstone Total Return Bond Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Emerging Markets Equity Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Global Real Estate Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone International Fixed Income Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Mid Cap Value Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Small Cap Core Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Mid Cap Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Premium Yield Equity Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Sands Capital Select Growth Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Small Cap Value Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Ultra Short Duration Fixed Income Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Merger Arbitrage Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Arbitrage Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
Trust |
|
Funds |
|
Class
|
|
Class
|
|
Class
|
|
Class
|
|
Class
|
|
Institutional |
|
Class
|
Touchstone Strategic Trust |
|
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Balanced Allocation Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Conservative Allocation Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Growth Allocation Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Moderate Growth Allocation Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Value Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Focused Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Capital Growth Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Small Cap Value Opportunities Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone International Small Cap Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund |
|
x |
|
x |
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund |
|
x |
|
x |
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Small Cap Growth Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone International Value Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Large Cap Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
Trust |
|
Funds |
|
Class
|
|
Class
|
|
Class
|
|
Class
|
|
Class
|
|
Institutional |
|
Class
|
Touchstone Investment Trust |
|
Touchstone Active Bond Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone High Yield Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Money Market Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
Touchstone Tax-Free Trust |
|
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
Touchstone Tax-Free Money Market Fund |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
This Amended Schedule A to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan is executed as of the date first set forth above.
|
TOUCHSTONE FUNDS GROUP TRUST,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Terrie Wiedenheft |
|
Name: |
Terrie A. Wiedenheft |
|
Title: |
Treasurer and Controller |