UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number

811-09891

 

 

 

BNY Mellon Opportunity Funds

 

 

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

 

 

 

 

c/o BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc.

240 Greenwich Street

New York, New York  10286

 

 

(Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip code)

 

 

 

 

 

Bennett A. MacDougall, Esq.

240 Greenwich Street

New York, New York  10286

 

 

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 

(212) 922-6400

 

 

Date of fiscal year end:

 

10/31

 

Date of reporting period:

10/31/19

 

 

 

 

             

 

The following N-CSR relates only to the Registrant's series listed below and does not relate to any series of the Registrant with a different fiscal year end and, therefore, different N-CSR reporting requirements.  A separate N-CSR will be filed for any series with a different fiscal year end, as appropriate.

 

BNY Mellon Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund

 

 


 

FORM N-CSR

Item 1.             Reports to Stockholders.

 


 

BNY Mellon Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund

 

ANNUAL REPORT

October 31, 2019

 

 

 

Save time. Save paper. View your next shareholder report online as soon as it’s available. Log into www.bnymellonim.com/us and sign up for eCommunications. It’s simple and only takes a few minutes.

 

The views expressed in this report reflect those of the portfolio manager(s) only through the end of the period covered and do not necessarily represent the views of BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. or any other person in the BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. organization. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. disclaims any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a fund in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any fund in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds.

 

Not FDIC-Insured • Not Bank-Guaranteed • May Lose Value

 

Contents

THE FUND

 

 

A Letter from the President of

 

BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc.

2

Discussion of Fund Performance

3

Fund Performance

6

Understanding Your Fund’s Expenses

9

Comparing Your Fund’s Expenses

 

With Those of Other Funds

9

Statement of Investments

10

Statement of Investments

 

in Affiliated Issuers

30

Statement of Forward Foreign

 

Currency Exchange Contracts

31

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

32

Statement of Operations

33

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

34

Financial Highlights

36

Notes to Financial Statements

40

Report of Independent Registered

 

Public Accounting Firm

53

Important Tax Information

54

Information About the Renewal of

 

the Fund’s Management and

 

Sub-Investment Advisory

 

Agreements

55

Board Members Information

59

Officers of the Fund

62

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

Back Cover

 

       
 


BNY Mellon Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund

 

The Fund

A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF BNY MELLON INVESTMENT ADVISER, INC.

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to present this annual report for BNY Mellon Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund (formerly, Dreyfus Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund), covering the 12-month period from November 1, 2018 through October 31, 2019. For information about how the fund performed during the reporting period, as well as general market perspectives, we provide a Discussion of Fund Performance on the pages that follow.

Equity markets weakened in the fourth quarter of 2018, as concerns about rising interest rates, trade tensions and slowing global growth provided downward pressure on returns. In December 2018, stocks experienced a sharp sell-off, as it appeared that the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) would maintain its hawkish stance on monetary policy. In January 2019, a pivot in stance from the Fed helped stimulate a rebound across equity markets that continued into the second quarter. Escalating trade tensions disrupted equity markets again in May. The dip was short-lived, as markets rose once again in June and July of 2019, when a trade deal appeared more likely, and the pace of U.S. economic growth remained steady. Nevertheless, concerns continued to emerge over slowing global growth, resulting in bouts of market volatility in August 2019. Stocks rebounded in September and continued an upward path through most of October 2019, supported in part by central bank policy and consistent consumer spending.

In fixed-income markets, a risk-off mentality prevailed to start the period, fueled in part by equity market volatility. A flight to quality supported price increases for U.S. Treasuries, which continued through the end of 2018, leading to a flattening yield curve. After the Fed’s supportive statements in January 2019, other developed-market central banks followed suit and reiterated their abilities to bolster flagging growth by continuing accommodative policies. This further buoyed fixed-income instrument prices. The Fed cut rates in July, September and October of 2019, for a total 75-basis-point reduction in the federal funds rate during the 12 months. Concerns about the pace of global economic growth also fueled demand for fixed-income instruments during much of the reporting period, resulting in positive bond market returns.

We believe that over the near term, the outlook for the U.S. remains positive, but we will monitor relevant data for any signs of a change. As always, we encourage you to discuss the risks and opportunities in today’s investment environment with your financial advisor.

Thank you for your continued confidence and support.

Sincerely,

Renee LaRoche-Morris
President
BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc.
November 15, 2019

2

 

DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited)

For the period from November 1, 2018 through October 31, 2019, as provided by portfolio managers Peter D. Goslin, CFA and Syed A. Zamil, CFA, of Mellon Investments Corporation, Sub-Investment Adviser

Market and Fund Performance Overview

For the 12-month period ended October 31, 2019, BNY Mellon Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund’s (formerly, Dreyfus Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund) Class A shares produced a total return of 6.62%, Class C shares returned 5.82%, Class I shares returned 6.99% and Class Y shares returned 6.93%.1 In comparison, the fund’s benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (the “Index”), produced a total return of 11.86% for the same period.2

Emerging markets encountered pockets of volatility during the reporting period, but posted gains for the 12 months, due in part to continued accommodative monetary policies from major central banks and optimism regarding a U.S.-China trade resolution. The fund produced lower returns than the Index, mainly due to stock selection in the consumer discretionary and industrials sectors.

The Fund’s Investment Approach

The fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in common stocks and other equity securities of companies organized or with their principal place of business, or a majority of assets or business, in emerging-market countries.

The fund’s portfolio managers use a proprietary methodology designed to rank and select stocks of emerging-market companies based on fundamental company information. In this manner, the portfolio managers employ a “strategic-beta” strategy to select and weight stocks for the fund’s portfolio, using characteristics other than market capitalization. The portfolio managers first weight each stock based on the company’s economic size, determined by a combination of accounting metrics, including sales, earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), and net total payout (including dividends and share repurchases). Next, companies are ranked based on the quality and growth of their earnings. These metrics seek to identify high-quality companies with sustainable and growing earnings and consistency of performance relative to the stocks of emerging-market companies in general. A company’s sales, earnings quality and earnings growth contribute, in part, to its overall beta. The final step in the portfolio construction process is to exclude companies with the lowest expected performance based on the above metrics of earnings quality and earnings growth.

The fund’s portfolio managers manage risk by diversifying across companies and industries. The fund’s portfolio is rebalanced semiannually.

Markets Pivot on Central Bank and Trade Policy

Concerns over the U.S.-China trade dispute depressed Chinese asset prices early in the fourth quarter of 2018, but we saw a relief rally in November 2018, in the lead-up to the G20 meeting, from which a more constructive tone emerged. However, in December, global equities plumbed new lows for the year, as the tone of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s (the “Fed”) forward-looking commentary once again unnerved investors. Political concerns in developed

3

 

DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited) (continued)

as well as emerging markets contributed to the broader malaise. However, emerging-market equities outperformed U.S. and broader developed markets toward the end of 2018, but they were not immune to the fourth-quarter pullback. China, in particular, suffered declines. In contrast, the first quarter of 2019 heralded a rebound in equity markets from the lows of late 2018. Despite fears over moderating economic growth in emerging markets and the world at large, markets rose on improving sentiment regarding the U.S.-China trade talks, although no agreement had been met by the end of the period. The market rise over the period is also attributable to interest-rate cuts by the Fed and some emerging-market central banks.

China, following a steady sell-off through 2018, was the best-performing major market in the first three months of 2019. However, third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth fell, as both the domestic and export sides of the economy remained under pressure. China’s central bank cut large banks’ reserve-requirement ratios. The Indian market rallied through November 2018 and remained resilient in December, but lagged over the first quarter of 2019, despite a dramatic rise in March, as uncertainty weighed around upcoming elections—and a rising oil price added some pressure. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s subsequent re-election was seen as a positive political development, but economic news generally disappointed, with the GDP growth rate softening in the latter half of the period. However, a series of interest-rate cuts, as inflationary pressures subsided, and a cut in corporate tax rates in September 2019 provided a market fillip. Brazil outperformed the wider emerging-market index over the review period, after the election of right-wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro to the presidency raised expectations of economic reform and greater stability. Brazil’s central bank also cut interest rates. Conversely, Argentina was the worst-performing market, with the country gripped by economic and political crisis, and with the government implementing currency controls to support the peso and stem currency outflows.

Fund Returns Driven by Security Selection

Stock selections within the consumer discretionary and industrials sectors contributed to the fund’s underperformance. The fund held an overweight to China Petroleum & Chemical during the reporting period, which was one of the largest detractors from relative results. The largest oil refiner in Asia saw its shares drop after an analyst downgrade. The company also announced a smaller-than-expected dividend payout. Investors are concerned by the potential for future regulations, which would cut refining margins. An underweight to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing also was among the top overall detractors. An overweight to South Korea-based steel manufacturer POSCO also provided a headwind to results. This large steel producer experienced a drop in operating profits, which put downward pressure on the stock price. From a country perspective, other companies located in China and South Korea also weighed on relative results during the 12 months.

Conversely, the fund’s relative performance was helped during the reporting period by its positioning in the health care and communication services sectors. A holding in Russia-based gas company Gazprom was among the top individual contributors to performance. An overweight to the gas company helped returns, as the stock rose significantly after the company announced an increase in its dividend. An underweight to Chinese search-engine company Baidu also provided a tailwind to performance during the 12 months. The company’s stock price fell after analysts cut its price target. Slowing Chinese GDP growth also provided downward pressure on the price. A position in Taiwan-based Hon Hai Precision Industry was among the top-performing stocks. The company assembles

4

 

consumer electronics, such as the iPhone. Its stock price rallied after a fourth-quarter profit that beat analyst estimates. From a country perspective, Russia and Chile were the two largest contributors for the reporting period.

A Model-Driven Strategy

We continue to position the portfolio based on our stock-selection model. Although we focus on the valuations, earnings quality and earnings momentum of individual companies and not broader macroeconomic or market trends, we believe that the long-term structural growth outlook for many emerging markets, particularly those in Asia, continues to be supported by demographics, technological innovation and government reforms. We continue to look for opportunities and names that fit our profile and are currently finding opportunities with companies within the energy and materials sectors, as well as in companies based in South Korea and Russia. Based on our model outputs, we have found fewer opportunities in consumer discretionary and financials companies, as well as companies located in China and Saudi Arabia.

November 15, 2019

1 Total return includes reinvestment of dividends and any capital gains paid and does not take into consideration the maximum initial sales charge in the case of Class A shares, or the applicable contingent deferred sales charges imposed on redemptions in the case of Class C shares. Had these charges been reflected, returns would have been lower. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Share price, yield, and investment return fluctuate such that upon redemption, fund shares may be worth more or less than their original cost. The fund’s figures provided reflect the absorption of certain fund expenses by BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. pursuant to an agreement in effect through March 1, 2020, at which time it may be extended, terminated or modified. Had these expenses not been absorbed, the fund’s returns would have been lower.

2 Source: Lipper Inc. — The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted, market capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of emerging markets. It reflects reinvestment of net dividends and, where applicable, capital gain distributions. Investors cannot invest directly in any index.

Please note: the position in any security highlighted with italicized typeface was sold during the reporting period.

Equities are subject generally to market, market sector, market liquidity, issuer and investment style risks, among other factors, to varying degrees, all of which are more fully described in the fund’s prospectus.

Emerging markets tend to be more volatile than the markets of more mature economies and generally have less diverse and less mature economic structures and less stable political systems than those of developed countries. The securities of companies located in emerging markets are often subject to rapid and large changes in price. An investment in this fund should be considered only as a supplement to a complete investment program for those investors willing to accept the greater risks associated with investing in emerging-market countries.

Investing internationally involves special risks, including changes in currency exchange rates, political, economic, and social instability, a lack of comprehensive company information, differing auditing and legal standards and less market liquidity. These risks generally are greater with emerging-market countries than with more economically and politically established foreign countries.

5

 

FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited)



Comparison of change in value of a $10,000 investment in Class A shares, Class C shares and Class I shares of BNY Mellon Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund with a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (the “Index”)

 Source: Lipper Inc.

Past performance is not predictive of future performance.

The above graph compares a hypothetical $10,000 investment made in the Class A, Class C and Class I shares of BNY Mellon Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund on 9/15/14 (inception date) to a hypothetical investment of $10,000 made in the Index on that date. All dividends and capital gain distributions are reinvested.

The fund’s performance shown in the line graph above takes into account the maximum initial sales charge on Class A shares and all other applicable fees and expenses on Class A, Class C and Class I shares. The Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure equity market performance of emerging markets. Unlike a mutual fund, the Index is not subject to charges, fees and other expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in any index. Further information relating to fund performance, including expense reimbursements, if applicable, is contained in the Financial Highlights section of the prospectus and elsewhere in this report.

6

 

 

Comparison of change in value of a $1,000,000 investment in Class Y shares of BNY Mellon Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund with a hypothetical investment of $1,000,000 in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (the “Index”)

 Source: Lipper Inc.

Past performance is not predictive of future performance.

The above graph compares a hypothetical $1,000,000 investment made in Class Y shares of BNY Mellon Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund on 9/15/14 (inception date) to a hypothetical investment of $1,000,000 made in the Index on that date. All dividends and capital gain distributions are reinvested.

The fund’s performance shown in the line graph above takes into account all applicable fees and expenses of the fund’s Class Y shares. The Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure equity market performance of emerging markets. Unlike a mutual fund, the Index is not subject to charges, fees and other expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in any index. Further information relating to fund performance, including expense reimbursements, if applicable, is contained in the Financial Highlights section of the prospectus and elsewhere in this report.

7

 

FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited) (continued)

         

Average Annual Total Returns as of 10/31/19

 

Inception
Date

1 Year

5 Year

From
Inception

Class A shares

       

with maximum sales charge (5.75%)

9/15/14

0.51%

1.72%

0.86%

without sales charge

9/15/14

6.62%

2.93%

2.02%

Class C shares

       

with applicable redemption charge

9/15/14

4.82%

2.12%

1.22%

without redemption

9/15/14

5.82%

2.12%

1.22%

Class I shares

9/15/14

6.99%

3.18%

2.28%

Class Y shares

9/15/14

6.93%

3.12%

2.22%

MSCI Emerging Markets Index

8/31/14

11.86%

2.93%

1.55%††

 The maximum contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is 1% for shares redeemed within one year of the date of purchase.

†† For comparative purposes, the value of the Index as of 8/31/14 is used as the beginning value on 9/15/14.

The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Share price and investment return fluctuate and an investor’s shares may be worth more or less than original cost upon redemption. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Go to www.bnymellonim.com/us for the fund’s most recent month-end returns.

The fund’s performance shown in the graphs and table does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. In addition to the performance of Class A shares shown with and without a maximum sales charge, the fund’s performance shown in the table takes into account all other applicable fees and expenses on all classes.

8

 

UNDERSTANDING YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES (Unaudited)

As a mutual fund investor, you pay ongoing expenses, such as management fees and other expenses. Using the information below, you can estimate how these expenses affect your investment and compare them with the expenses of other funds. You also may pay one-time transaction expenses, including sales charges (loads) and redemption fees, which are not shown in this section and would have resulted in higher total expenses. For more information, see your fund’s prospectus or talk to your financial adviser.

Review your fund’s expenses

The table below shows the expenses you would have paid on a $1,000 investment in BNY Mellon Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund from May 1, 2019 to October 31, 2019. It also shows how much a $1,000 investment would be worth at the close of the period, assuming actual returns and expenses.

             

Expenses and Value of a $1,000 Investment

 

Assume actual returns for the six months ended October 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

Class C

Class I

Class Y

 

Expense paid per $1,000

$5.00

$8.74

$3.76

$3.76

 

Ending value (after expenses)

$985.40

$982.30

$987.80

$987.00

 

COMPARING YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES
WITH THOSE OF OTHER FUNDS
(Unaudited)

Using the SEC’s method to compare expenses

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has established guidelines to help investors assess fund expenses. Per these guidelines, the table below shows your fund’s expenses based on a $1,000 investment, assuming a hypothetical 5% annualized return. You can use this information to compare the ongoing expenses (but not transaction expenses or total cost) of investing in the fund with those of other funds. All mutual fund shareholder reports will provide this information to help you make this comparison. Please note that you cannot use this information to estimate your actual ending account balance and expenses paid during the period.

             

Expenses and Value of a $1,000 Investment

 

Assuming a hypothetical 5% annualized return for the six months ended October 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

Class C

Class I

Class Y

 

Expense paid per $1,000

$5.09

$8.89

$3.82

$3.82

 

Ending value (after expenses)

$1,020.16

$1,016.38

$1,021.42

$1,021.42

 

Expenses are equal to the fund’s annualized expense ratio of 1.00% for Class A, 1.75% for Class C, .75% for Class I and .75% for Class Y, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

9

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS

October 31, 2019

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1%

         

Argentina - .0%

         

Pampa Energia

     

700

a

10,899

 

Brazil - 5.2%

         

Ambev

     

27,900

 

120,769

 

Atacadao

     

2,700

 

12,919

 

B3 - Brasil Bolsa Balcao

     

7,150

 

86,306

 

Banco Bradesco

     

7,520

 

61,690

 

Banco do Brasil

     

6,800

 

81,403

 

Banco Santander Brasil

     

3,500

 

41,384

 

BB Seguridade Participacoes

     

6,700

 

56,717

 

BRF

     

6,100

a

53,707

 

CCR

     

3,900

 

16,143

 

Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras

     

1,100

 

10,889

 

Cia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo

     

2,100

 

28,637

 

Cia Siderurgica Nacional

     

12,100

 

35,752

 

Cielo

     

17,000

 

31,792

 

Cogna Educacao

     

2,200

 

5,316

 

Cosan

     

3,400

 

48,747

 

Embraer

     

3,300

 

14,350

 

Engie Brasil Energia

     

1,250

 

14,026

 

Equatorial Energia

     

600

 

15,205

 

Hypera

     

400

 

3,433

 

IRB Brasil Resseguros

     

2,700

 

25,367

 

JBS

     

22,200

 

156,598

 

Klabin

     

300

 

1,198

 

Localiza Rent a Car

     

1,575

 

16,887

 

Lojas Renner

     

1,694

 

21,496

 

M Dias Branco

     

300

 

2,828

 

Multiplan Empreendimentos Imobiliarios

     

300

 

2,181

 

OdontoPrev

     

1,000

 

3,718

 

Petrobras Distribuidora

     

7,400

 

52,402

 

Porto Seguro

     

800

 

11,438

 

Raia Drogasil

     

400

 

10,967

 

Sul America

     

3,307

 

40,281

 

Suzano

     

1,791

 

14,643

 

Tim Participacoes

     

10,300

 

29,150

 

Ultrapar Participacoes

     

7,300

 

34,238

 

Vale

     

22,500

 

265,029

 

WEG

     

1,430

 

9,171

 
       

1,436,777

 

10

 

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

Cayman Islands - .1%

         

Trip.Com Group

     

600

a

19,794

 

Chile - 1.0%

         

AES Gener

     

12,585

 

2,698

 

Aguas Andinas, Cl. A

     

12,449

 

5,707

 

Banco de Chile

     

72,263

 

9,306

 

Banco de Credito e Inversiones

     

50

 

2,784

 

Banco Santander Chile

     

204,192

 

12,668

 

Cencosud

     

12,964

 

17,604

 

Cia Cervecerias Unidas

     

1,254

 

12,513

 

Colbun

     

46,936

 

8,098

 

Empresas CMPC

     

3,406

 

7,762

 

Empresas Copec

     

2,222

 

19,868

 

Enel Americas

     

728,857

 

136,120

 

Enel Chile

     

293,194

 

24,113

 

LATAM Airlines Group

     

1,438

 

15,900

 
       

275,141

 

China - 18.0%

         

3SBio

     

500

a,b

935

 

AAC Technologies Holdings

     

800

 

5,207

 

Agile Property Holdings

     

12,000

 

16,233

 

Agricultural Bank of China, Cl. H

     

145,300

 

59,893

 

Air China, Cl. H

     

28,000

 

24,799

 

Alibaba Group Holding, ADR

     

800

a

141,336

 

Aluminum Corp. of China, Cl. H

     

40,300

a

11,983

 

Angang Steel, Cl. H

     

13,000

 

4,363

 

Anhui Conch Cement, Cl. H

     

11,500

 

68,904

 

ANTA Sports Products

     

3,200

 

31,363

 

AviChina Industry & Technology, Cl. H

     

5,600

 

2,651

 

BAIC Motor, Cl. H

     

49,500

b

30,827

 

Bank of China, Cl. H

     

643,200

 

263,487

 

Bank of Communications, Cl. H

     

108,200

 

74,012

 

Beijing Capital International Airport, Cl. H

     

3,600

 

3,414

 

CGN Power, Cl. H

     

70,800

b

18,432

 

China Cinda Asset Management, Cl. H

     

22,800

 

4,743

 

China CITIC Bank, Cl. H

     

62,000

 

36,001

 

China Coal Energy, Cl. H

     

72,000

 

28,760

 

China Communications Construction, Cl. H

     

78,800

 

60,036

 

China Communications Services, Cl. H

     

22,500

 

13,926

 

China Conch Venture Holdings

     

500

 

1,959

 

China Construction Bank, Cl. H

     

480,050

 

386,566

 

China Everbright Bank, Cl. H

     

10,000

 

4,607

 

11

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

China - 18.0% (continued)

         

China Evergrande Group

     

31,000

a

75,720

 

China Huishan Dairy Holdings

     

1,900

a,c

0

 

China Life Insurance, Cl. H

     

45,000

 

117,152

 

China Longyuan Power Group, Cl. H

     

21,500

 

11,634

 

China Medical System Holdings

     

1,200

 

1,632

 

China Merchants Bank, Cl. A

     

200

 

1,009

 

China Merchants Bank, Cl. H

     

17,900

 

85,663

 

China Minsheng Banking, Cl. H

     

58,500

 

40,986

 

China National Building Material, Cl. H

     

115,600

 

97,662

 

China Pacific Insurance Group, Cl. H

     

23,600

 

85,835

 

China Petroleum & Chemical, Cl. H

     

280,800

 

161,257

 

China Railway Construction, Cl. H

     

54,700

 

59,894

 

China Railway Group, Cl. H

     

88,200

 

53,240

 

China Resources Pharmaceutical Group

     

28,500

b

26,369

 

China Shenhua Energy, Cl. H

     

31,500

 

64,078

 

China Telecom, Cl. H

     

223,000

 

95,052

 

China Tower, Cl. H

     

106,000

b

23,402

 

China Vanke, Cl. H

     

20,400

 

74,587

 

Chongqing Changan Automobile, Cl. B

     

2,400

 

989

 

CIFI Holdings Group

     

14,000

 

9,380

 

CNOOC

     

159,500

 

239,374

 

Cosco Shipping Holdings, Cl. H

     

26,500

a

9,943

 

Country Garden Holdings

     

67,100

 

93,509

 

Country Garden Services Holdings

     

2,885

 

9,812

 

CRRC, Cl. H

     

9,600

 

6,432

 

CSPC Pharmaceutical Group

     

5,500

 

14,143

 

Datang International Power Generation, Cl. H

     

82,000

 

16,220

 

Dongfeng Motor Group, Cl. H

     

25,500

 

25,643

 

ENN Energy Holdings

     

5,700

 

65,322

 

Fosun International

     

3,400

 

4,460

 

Fuyao Glass Industry Group, Cl. H

     

400

b

1,133

 

GF Securities, Cl. H

     

1,100

 

1,150

 

Gome Retail Holdings

     

67,200

d

6,089

 

Great Wall Motor, Cl. H

     

15,500

 

12,620

 

Guangzhou Automobile Group, Cl. H

     

12,880

 

12,903

 

Guangzhou R&F Properties, Cl. H

     

22,900

 

35,595

 

Haitian International Holdings

     

1,800

 

4,259

 

Haitong Securities, Cl. H

     

20,000

 

20,495

 

Hengan International Group

     

7,000

 

48,954

 

Huadian Power International, Cl. H

     

30,000

 

11,256

 

Huaneng Power International, Cl. H

     

88,700

 

42,222

 

Huaneng Renewables, Cl. H

     

20,100

 

7,695

 

12

 

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

China - 18.0% (continued)

         

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, Cl. H

     

111,700

 

80,397

 

Inner Mongolia Yitai Coal, Cl. B

     

35,600

 

31,079

 

JD.com, ADR

     

3,500

a

109,025

 

Jiangsu Expressway, Cl. H

     

6,700

 

8,909

 

Jiangxi Copper, Cl. H

     

41,400

 

48,554

 

Kingsoft

     

600

a,d

1,386

 

Legend Holdings, Cl. H

     

13,000

b

28,668

 

Lenovo Group

     

251,000

 

175,535

 

Longfor Group Holdings

     

14,200

b

59,076

 

Metallurgical Corporation of China, Cl. H

     

76,000

 

16,100

 

NetEase, ADR

     

400

 

114,344

 

New China Life Insurance, Cl. H

     

4,600

 

17,934

 

New Oriental Education & Technology Group, ADR

     

100

a

12,206

 

PetroChina, Cl. H

     

215,000

 

105,635

 

Ping An Insurance Group Company of China, Cl. H

     

21,400

 

247,839

 

Semiconductor Manufacturing International

     

4,510

a

5,750

 

Shanghai Electric Group, Cl. H

     

12,200

 

3,737

 

Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group, Cl. H

     

500

 

1,417

 

Shanghai Lujiazui Finance & Trade Zone Development, Cl. B

     

2,256

 

2,486

 

Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding, Cl. H

     

5,700

 

10,315

 

Shenzhou International Group Holdings

     

1,600

 

22,175

 

Shui On Land

     

116,500

 

23,490

 

SINA

     

50

a

1,980

 

Sino-Ocean Group Holding

     

34,500

 

12,724

 

Sinopec Engineering Group, Cl. H

     

21,900

 

12,549

 

Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical, Cl. H

     

30,900

 

8,597

 

Sinopharm Group, Cl. H

     

18,000

 

64,664

 

Sinotrans, Cl. H

     

14,900

 

4,392

 

SOHO China

     

20,000

 

6,840

 

Sunac China Holdings

     

8,600

 

39,181

 

Sunny Optical Technology Group

     

1,000

 

16,182

 

Tencent Holdings

     

5,700

 

233,355

 

Tingyi Cayman Islands Holding

     

14,000

 

18,653

 

TravelSky Technology, Cl. H

     

1,800

 

4,112

 

Vipshop Holdings, ADR

     

4,900

a

56,546

 

Want Want China Holdings

     

55,200

 

46,634

 

Weichai Power, Cl. H

     

27,400

 

43,289

 

Yanzhou Coal Mining, Cl. H

     

33,000

 

33,565

 

13

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

China - 18.0% (continued)

         

Yum China Holdings

     

2,100

 

89,250

 

Zhejiang Expressway, Cl. H

     

7,700

 

6,318

 

Zhongsheng Group Holdings

     

4,000

 

13,298

 

Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric, Cl. H

     

600

 

2,232

 

Zijin Mining Group, Cl. H

     

42,200

 

14,595

 

ZTE, Cl. H

     

3,200

 

8,984

 
       

4,933,204

 

Colombia - .4%

         

Cementos Argos

     

669

 

1,510

 

Corporacion Financiera Colombiana

     

174

 

1,498

 

Ecopetrol

     

81,792

 

73,564

 

Grupo Argos

     

1,015

 

5,495

 

Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana

     

575

 

5,818

 

Interconexion Electrica

     

2,689

 

15,513

 
       

103,398

 

Czech Republic - .3%

         

CEZ

     

973

 

22,196

 

Komercni Banka

     

348

 

11,763

 

Moneta Money Bank

     

11,318

b

37,614

 
       

71,573

 

Egypt - .1%

         

Commercial International Bank Egypt

     

7,779

 

39,040

 

Talaat Moustafa Group

     

1,540

 

949

 
       

39,989

 

Greece - .4%

         

Eurobank Ergasias

     

2,148

a

2,175

 

FF Group

     

119

a,c

0

 

Hellenic Telecommunications Organization

     

2,178

 

33,036

 

JUMBO

     

387

 

7,553

 

Motor Oil Hellas Corinth Refineries

     

1,027

 

25,359

 

OPAP

     

3,418

 

37,168

 
       

105,291

 

Hong Kong - 3.9%

         

Beijing Enterprises Holdings

     

5,800

 

27,350

 

Beijing Enterprises Water Group

     

8,600

 

4,500

 

Brilliance China Automotive Holdings

     

1,200

 

1,329

 

China Agri-Industries Holdings

     

29,000

 

9,585

 

China Everbright

     

2,400

 

3,565

 

China Everbright International

     

2,400

 

1,816

 

China Gas Holdings

     

4,300

 

18,356

 

China Jinmao Holdings Group

     

34,000

 

22,693

 

China Mengniu Dairy

     

7,800

 

31,206

 

14

 

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

Hong Kong - 3.9% (continued)

         

China Mobile

     

31,100

 

253,215

 

China Overseas Land & Investment

     

16,000

 

50,638

 

China Power International Development

     

18,700

 

3,914

 

China Resources Beer Holdings

     

4,000

 

20,597

 

China Resources Cement Holdings

     

10,000

 

10,975

 

China Resources Gas Group

     

2,400

 

14,487

 

China Resources Land

     

11,000

 

46,957

 

China Resources Power Holdings

     

12,500

 

15,745

 

China State Construction International Holdings

     

1,900

 

1,751

 

China Taiping Insurance Holdings

     

21,900

 

49,468

 

China Unicom Hong Kong

     

51,000

 

50,571

 

CITIC

     

113,000

 

148,533

 

Far East Horizon

     

2,900

 

2,750

 

Geely Automobile Holdings

     

22,900

 

43,544

 

Guangdong Investment

     

15,300

 

33,193

 

Haier Electronics Group

     

4,900

 

14,007

 

Kingboard Holdings

     

11,000

 

29,409

 

Kunlun Energy

     

50,000

 

46,644

 

Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing

     

10,000

 

5,577

 

Nine Dragons Paper Holdings

     

9,700

 

8,442

 

Shanghai Industrial Holdings

     

3,800

 

7,080

 

Shanghai Industrial Urban Development Group

     

3,800

 

475

 

Shimao Property Holdings

     

17,900

 

60,192

 

Sino Biopharmaceutical

     

11,250

 

16,826

 

Sun Art Retail Group

     

10,400

 

10,631

 

Yuexiu Property

     

50,000

 

11,039

 
       

1,077,060

 

Hungary - .4%

         

MOL Hungarian Oil & Gas

     

5,241

 

51,804

 

OTP Bank

     

1,174

 

54,076

 

Richter Gedeon

     

369

 

6,839

 
       

112,719

 

Indonesia - 1.8%

         

Adaro Energy

     

322,500

 

30,097

 

Astra International

     

141,400

 

70,010

 

Bank Central Asia

     

15,700

 

35,176

 

Bank Danamon Indonesia

     

9,800

 

2,932

 

Bank Mandiri

     

84,000

 

42,039

 

Bank Negara Indonesia

     

19,400

 

10,607

 

Bank Rakyat Indonesia

     

207,900

 

62,354

 

Charoen Pokphand Indonesia

     

16,300

 

7,316

 

15

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

Indonesia - 1.8% (continued)

         

Gudang Garam

     

3,200

 

12,789

 

Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna

     

16,200

 

2,458

 

Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper

     

7,300

 

3,783

 

Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa

     

4,100

 

5,842

 

Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur

     

5,400

 

4,472

 

Indofood Sukses Makmur

     

61,600

 

33,791

 

Jasa Marga

     

7,700

 

2,990

 

Kalbe Farma

     

40,500

 

4,602

 

Matahari Department Store

     

3,300

 

856

 

Media Nusantara Citra

     

10,600

 

993

 

Pakuwon Jati

     

14,100

 

628

 

Perusahaan Gas Negara

     

283,500

 

42,615

 

Surya Citra Media

     

8,600

 

747

 

Telekomunikasi Indonesia

     

241,700

 

70,769

 

Tower Bersama Infrastructure

     

8,100

 

3,650

 

Unilever Indonesia

     

2,900

 

9,033

 

United Tractors

     

12,700

 

19,611

 

Waskita Karya

     

6,900

 

764

 
       

480,924

 

Malaysia - .9%

         

AirAsia

     

11,000

 

5,028

 

Astro Malaysia Holdings

     

6,300

 

2,035

 

British American Tobacco Malaysia

     

600

 

2,702

 

CIMB Group Holdings

     

6,700

 

8,418

 

Dialog Group

     

2,300

 

1,916

 

Digi.Com

     

24,400

 

27,445

 

FGV Holdings

     

4,400

a

1,158

 

Genting

     

11,700

 

16,268

 

Genting Malaysia

     

4,800

 

3,687

 

HAP Seng Consolidated

     

600

 

1,433

 

IOI

     

12,300

 

12,864

 

IOI Properties Group

     

1,500

 

373

 

Kuala Lumpur Kepong

     

1,300

 

6,739

 

Malayan Banking

     

14,800

 

30,461

 

Malaysia Airports Holdings

     

900

 

1,706

 

Maxis

     

11,800

 

15,221

 

Petronas Chemicals Group

     

12,400

 

22,168

 

Petronas Dagangan

     

800

 

4,511

 

Petronas Gas

     

3,800

 

15,133

 

Public Bank

     

6,800

 

33,036

 

Sime Darby

     

33,900

 

18,416

 

Sime Darby Plantation

     

4,900

 

5,758

 

Sime Darby Property

     

4,900

 

850

 

16

 

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

Malaysia - .9% (continued)

         

Westports Holdings

     

2,000

 

2,049

 

YTL

     

17,442

 

3,632

 
       

243,007

 

Mexico - 4.2%

         

ALEATICA

     

4,000

 

4,159

 

Alfa, Cl. A

     

108,700

 

94,593

 

America Movil, Ser. L

     

415,700

 

329,120

 

Arca Continental

     

800

 

4,472

 

Banco Santander Mexico Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santand

     

22,000

 

29,598

 

Cemex

     

187,648

 

70,527

 

Coca-Cola Femsa

     

5,300

 

29,161

 

El Puerto de Liverpool

     

240

 

1,223

 

Fibra Uno Administracion

     

1,900

 

2,888

 

Fomento Economico Mexicano

     

12,000

 

106,666

 

Gentera

     

3,800

 

3,753

 

Gruma, Cl. B

     

930

 

9,731

 

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, Cl. B

     

3,100

 

32,493

 

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, Cl. B

     

430

 

7,041

 

Grupo Bimbo

     

4,900

 

9,145

 

Grupo Carso, Ser. A1

     

900

 

3,004

 

Grupo Financiero Banorte, Cl. O

     

12,100

 

66,160

 

Grupo Lala

     

1,100

 

1,082

 

Grupo Mexico, Ser. B

     

43,100

 

113,797

 

Grupo Televisa

     

25,800

 

57,014

 

Industrias Penoles

     

755

 

8,992

 

Infraestructura Energetica Nova

     

500

a

2,209

 

Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, Cl. A

     

6,500

 

13,060

 

Orbia Advance

     

9,947

 

21,532

 

Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura

     

345

 

3,189

 

Wal-Mart de Mexico

     

44,000

 

131,864

 
       

1,156,473

 

Netherlands - .0%

         

Prosus

     

59

a

4,069

 

Peru - .2%

         

Credicorp

     

150

 

32,106

 

Southern Copper

     

400

 

14,232

 
       

46,338

 

Philippines - .5%

         

Aboitiz Power

     

3,200

 

2,519

 

Altus San Nicolas

     

27

a,e

3

 

Ayala

     

570

 

9,660

 

17

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

Philippines - .5% (continued)

         

Ayala Land

     

6,500

 

6,219

 

Bank of the Philippine Islands

     

510

 

975

 

BDO Unibank

     

1,100

 

3,358

 

Energy Development

     

32,900

a,e

4,700

 

Globe Telecom

     

320

 

11,502

 

GT Capital Holdings

     

189

 

3,330

 

International Container Terminal Services

     

960

 

2,246

 

JG Summit Holdings

     

5,070

 

7,618

 

Jollibee Foods

     

540

 

2,469

 

Manila Electric

     

2,570

 

17,138

 

Megaworld

     

13,400

 

1,275

 

Metro Pacific Investments

     

21,100

 

1,996

 

PLDT

     

1,795

 

38,910

 

Robinsons Land

     

1,400

 

702

 

SM Investments

     

655

 

13,295

 

SM Prime Holdings

     

5,500

 

4,227

 

Universal Robina

     

950

 

2,827

 
       

134,969

 

Poland - 1.2%

         

Bank Millennium

     

1,480

a

2,380

 

Bank Pekao

     

1,714

 

48,361

 

CCC

     

22

 

643

 

Eurocash

     

444

 

2,547

 

Grupa Lotos

     

581

 

14,507

 

Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa

     

257

 

1,302

 

KGHM Polska Miedz

     

1,138

a

24,913

 

mBank

     

24

a

2,398

 

Orange Polska

     

11,636

 

19,035

 

PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna

     

6,722

a

14,409

 

Polski Koncern Naftowy ORLEN

     

2,091

 

57,137

 

Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo

     

10,116

 

12,455

 

Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski

     

4,850

 

48,390

 

Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen

     

7,419

 

71,750

 

Santander Bank Polska

     

71

 

5,820

 
       

326,047

 

Qatar - .4%

         

Barwa Real Estate

     

2,300

 

2,160

 

Ezdan Holding Group

     

10,100

a

1,742

 

Industries Qatar

     

11,290

 

32,589

 

Masraf Al Rayan

     

22,790

 

23,472

 

Ooredoo

     

10,480

 

21,012

 

18

 

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

Qatar - .4% (continued)

         

Qatar Electricity & Water

     

930

 

4,036

 

Qatar Fuel

     

3,850

 

23,369

 

Qatar Insurance

     

1,060

 

894

 
       

109,274

 

Romania - .0%

         

NEPI Rockcastle

     

55

 

479

 

Russia - 9.1%

         

Alrosa

     

49,050

 

56,996

 

Gazprom

     

158,190

 

641,419

 

Inter RAO UES

     

833,200

 

56,134

 

LUKOIL

     

6,603

 

609,559

 

Magnit, GDR

     

5,517

 

62,673

 

Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works

     

48,300

 

27,516

 

MMC Norilsk Nickel

     

1,186

 

330,854

 

Mobile TeleSystems

     

6,000

 

26,668

 

Mobile Telesystems, ADR

     

7,200

 

64,440

 

Moscow Exchange MICEX-RTS

     

3,260

 

4,831

 

Novatek, GDR

     

171

 

36,252

 

Novolipetsk Steel

     

24,620

 

48,009

 

PhosAgro, GDR

     

2,656

 

33,412

 

Polyus

     

188

 

21,898

 

Rostelecom

     

3,380

 

4,138

 

RusHydro

     

538,400

 

4,281

 

Sberbank of Russia

     

27,200

 

99,638

 

Severstal

     

5,490

 

75,532

 

Sistema, GDR

     

2,772

 

12,513

 

Surgutneftegas

     

101,600

 

68,132

 

Tatneft

     

15,850

 

184,942

 

X5 Retail Group, GDR

     

1,030

 

34,487

 
       

2,504,324

 

South Africa - 4.7%

         

Absa Group

     

4,685

 

48,020

 

Anglo American Platinum

     

97

 

7,239

 

AngloGold Ashanti

     

3,241

 

70,864

 

Aspen Pharmacare Holdings

     

686

a

4,790

 

Bid

     

1,733

 

40,429

 

Capitec Bank Holdings

     

40

 

3,635

 

Clicks Group

     

1,176

 

19,128

 

Exxaro Resources

     

3,474

 

28,350

 

FirstRand

     

13,687

 

59,148

 

Gold Fields

     

6,515

 

40,072

 

Growthpoint Properties

     

2,134

 

3,123

 

Hyprop Investments

     

633

 

2,472

 

19

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

South Africa - 4.7% (continued)

         

Investec

     

1,094

 

6,221

 

Kumba Iron Ore

     

750

 

18,264

 

Liberty Holdings

     

442

 

3,404

 

Life Healthcare Group Holdings

     

3,147

 

4,969

 

Massmart Holdings

     

900

 

2,555

 

Mr Price Group

     

1,280

 

13,537

 

MTN Group

     

34,408

 

213,113

 

MultiChoice Group

     

9,853

a

82,180

 

Naspers, Cl. N

     

59

 

8,378

 

Nedbank Group

     

3,572

 

54,176

 

Netcare

     

14,932

 

16,908

 

Old Mutual

     

38,565

 

50,151

 

Pick n Pay Stores

     

7,911

 

34,606

 

Pioneer Foods Group

     

322

 

2,295

 

PSG Group

     

50

 

781

 

Rand Merchant Investment Holdings

     

1,549

d

3,061

 

Redefine Properties

     

5,501

 

2,745

 

Remgro

     

628

 

7,201

 

Resilient Reit

     

82

 

365

 

RMB Holdings

     

995

 

5,233

 

Sanlam

     

10,485

 

55,213

 

Sappi

     

4,026

 

10,338

 

Shoprite Holdings

     

1,598

 

14,320

 

Standard Bank Group

     

11,369

 

130,517

 

Steinhoff International Holdings

     

7,351

a,d

477

 

Telkom

     

4,108

 

18,797

 

The Bidvest Group

     

2,261

 

30,833

 

The Foschini Group

     

968

 

11,147

 

The SPAR Group

     

4,353

 

58,488

 

Tiger Brands

     

464

 

6,590

 

Truworths International

     

1,558

 

5,523

 

Tsogo Sun Gaming

     

2,137

 

1,758

 

Vodacom Group

     

5,658

 

49,370

 

Woolworths Holdings

     

8,675

 

33,005

 
       

1,283,789

 

South Korea - 15.7%

         

Amorepacific

     

82

 

5,963

 

Amorepacific

     

29

 

4,786

 

BGF

     

38

 

188

 

BGF Retail

     

20

 

3,060

 

BNK Financial Group

     

1,120

 

6,690

 

Cheil Worldwide

     

552

 

11,743

 

CJ

     

676

 

47,877

 

20

 

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

South Korea - 15.7% (continued)

         

CJ CheilJedang

     

192

 

37,709

 

CJ ENM

     

15

 

2,127

 

CJ Logistics

     

12

a

1,624

 

Daelim Industrial

     

423

 

33,085

 

Daewoo Engineering & Construction

     

529

a

1,980

 

DB Insurance

     

403

 

17,492

 

DGB Financial Group

     

436

 

2,634

 

Dongsuh

     

40

 

602

 

Doosan Bobcat

     

1,068

 

28,916

 

E-MART

     

107

 

10,254

 

GS Engineering & Construction

     

571

 

15,165

 

GS Holdings

     

774

 

33,030

 

GS Retail

     

112

 

3,682

 

Hana Financial Group

     

2,186

 

63,319

 

Hankook Tire & Technology

     

367

 

9,794

 

Hanmi Pharm

     

2

 

573

 

Hanmi Science

     

1

 

37

 

Hanon Systems

     

469

 

4,676

 

Hanssem

     

10

 

545

 

Hanwha

     

2,743

 

55,994

 

Hanwha Chemical

     

770

 

10,821

 

Hanwha Life Insurance

     

1,531

 

2,935

 

HDC Holdings

     

176

 

1,793

 

HDC Hyundai Development Co-Engineering & Construction

     

245

 

6,517

 

Hotel Shilla

     

360

 

23,980

 

Hyosung Advanced Materials

     

27

a

2,541

 

Hyosung Chemical

     

19

 

2,703

 

Hyosung Heavy Industries

     

56

a

1,362

 

Hyosung TNC

     

26

 

3,587

 

Hyundai Construction Equipment

     

36

 

863

 

Hyundai Department Store

     

36

 

2,287

 

Hyundai Electric & Energy System

     

36

a

331

 

Hyundai Engineering & Construction

     

885

 

32,671

 

Hyundai Glovis

     

384

 

49,838

 

Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings

     

130

 

38,158

 

Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance

     

1,236

 

26,825

 

Hyundai Mobis

     

728

 

148,923

 

Hyundai Motor

     

2,300

 

241,179

 

Hyundai Steel

     

1,058

 

28,918

 

Industrial Bank of Korea

     

1,905

 

19,321

 

Kangwon Land

     

267

 

7,195

 

KB Financial Group

     

2,030

 

73,195

 

21

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

South Korea - 15.7% (continued)

         

KCC

     

39

 

7,576

 

Kia Motors

     

4,428

 

161,942

 

Korea Aerospace Industries

     

660

 

21,557

 

Korea Gas

     

742

 

25,064

 

Korea Investment Holdings

     

260

 

15,152

 

Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering

     

373

a

39,113

 

Korea Zinc

     

96

 

35,852

 

Korean Air Lines

     

1,256

 

26,881

 

KT

     

699

 

15,921

 

KT&G

     

765

 

65,753

 

Kumho Petrochemical

     

191

 

11,492

 

LG Display

     

3,832

 

44,958

 

LG Electronics

     

2,667

 

153,356

 

LG Household & Health Care

     

38

 

41,186

 

LG Innotek

     

122

 

12,688

 

LG Uplus

     

1,474

 

17,040

 

Lotte

     

22

 

690

 

Lotte Confectionery

     

3

 

362

 

Lotte Shopping

     

314

 

33,601

 

Meritz Securities

     

4,108

 

15,924

 

Mirae Asset Daewoo

     

2,297

 

14,116

 

NCSoft

     

24

 

10,644

 

NH Investment & Securities

     

1,273

 

13,239

 

OCI

     

117

 

6,325

 

Orange Life Insurance

     

343

b

8,255

 

Ottogi

     

3

 

1,457

 

POSCO

     

1,331

 

241,958

 

Posco International

     

1,192

 

18,698

 

S-1

     

48

 

3,866

 

Samsung C&T

     

707

 

60,768

 

Samsung Card

     

66

 

1,903

 

Samsung Electro-Mechanics

     

238

 

23,116

 

Samsung Electronics

     

26,156

 

1,133,063

 

Samsung Engineering

     

1,626

a

24,877

 

Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance

     

357

 

66,432

 

Samsung Life Insurance

     

635

 

38,533

 

Samsung SDI

     

101

 

19,749

 

Samsung SDS

     

85

 

14,721

 

Samsung Securities

     

343

 

9,906

 

Shinhan Financial Group

     

3,288

 

120,108

 

Shinsegae

     

108

 

21,907

 

SK Holdings

     

833

 

185,079

 

22

 

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

South Korea - 15.7% (continued)

         

SK Hynix

     

3,351

 

236,179

 

SK Telecom

     

145

 

29,537

 

Woongjin Coway

     

596

 

47,026

 

Woori Financial Group

     

5,920

 

59,788

 

Yuhan

     

15

 

2,894

 
       

4,289,740

 

Taiwan - 12.2%

         

Acer

     

45,000

 

26,314

 

Advantech

     

1,099

 

10,885

 

ASE Technology Holding

     

20,000

 

52,233

 

Asia Cement

     

16,000

 

22,628

 

AU Optronics

     

118,000

 

30,236

 

Catcher Technology

     

2,000

 

16,951

 

Chailease Holding

     

6,262

 

28,286

 

Chang Hwa Commercial Bank

     

8,677

 

6,770

 

Cheng Shin Rubber Industry

     

5,000

 

7,860

 

Chicony Electronics

     

13,055

 

40,614

 

China Airlines

     

15,000

 

4,464

 

China Development Financial Holding

     

69,000

 

21,534

 

China Life Insurance

     

23,652

a

19,502

 

China Steel

     

112,000

 

86,280

 

Compal Electronics

     

187,000

 

111,805

 

Delta Electronics

     

14,000

 

61,628

 

E.Sun Financial Holding

     

8,639

 

7,819

 

Eclat Textile

     

1,000

 

13,452

 

EVA Airways

     

12,251

 

5,735

 

Evergreen Marine

     

6,300

a

2,587

 

Far Eastern New Century

     

56,000

 

54,454

 

Far EasTone Telecommunications

     

9,000

 

21,583

 

Feng Tay Enterprise

     

1,232

 

8,337

 

First Financial Holding

     

11,225

 

8,242

 

Formosa Chemicals & Fibre

     

18,000

 

52,391

 

Formosa Petrochemical

     

10,000

 

31,833

 

Formosa Plastics

     

19,000

 

61,044

 

Formosa Taffeta

     

3,000

 

3,415

 

Foxconn Technology

     

3,060

 

6,554

 

Giant Manufacturing

     

1,000

 

7,424

 

Highwealth Construction

     

6,100

 

9,368

 

Hon Hai Precision Industry

     

247,804

 

656,133

 

Hotai Motor

     

2,000

 

35,348

 

Hua Nan Financial Holdings

     

9,990

 

7,187

 

Innolux

     

166,000

 

36,919

 

Inventec

     

53,000

 

38,478

 

23

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

Taiwan - 12.2% (continued)

         

Lite-On Technology

     

31,000

 

51,123

 

MediaTek

     

10,000

 

134,032

 

Mega Financial Holding

     

27,000

 

26,521

 

Micro-Star International

     

5,000

 

14,783

 

Nan Ya Plastics

     

25,000

 

59,132

 

Nanya Technology

     

1,000

 

2,300

 

Novatek Microelectronics

     

7,000

 

45,072

 

Pegatron

     

41,000

 

79,871

 

Phison Electronics

     

1,000

 

9,116

 

Pou Chen

     

26,000

 

34,806

 

Powertech Technology

     

11,000

 

34,691

 

President Chain Store

     

4,000

 

39,947

 

Quanta Computer

     

50,000

 

96,089

 

Realtek Semiconductor

     

2,000

 

14,882

 

Ruentex Industries

     

600

 

1,443

 

Shin Kong Financial Holding

     

63,907

 

20,196

 

SinoPac Financial Holdings

     

42,000

 

17,247

 

Standard Foods

     

1,154

 

2,328

 

Synnex Technology International

     

39,600

 

47,288

 

Taishin Financial Holding

     

19,557

 

9,091

 

Taiwan Business Bank

     

6,076

 

2,565

 

Taiwan Cement

     

33,815

 

44,934

 

Taiwan Cooperative Financial Holding

     

6,861

 

4,722

 

Taiwan Mobile

     

15,000

 

55,929

 

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

     

36,760

 

360,469

 

The Shanghai Commercial & Savings Bank

     

22,000

 

37,943

 

Transcend Information

     

1,000

 

2,171

 

Uni-President Enterprises

     

48,360

 

119,468

 

United Microelectronics

     

116,000

 

53,350

 

Vanguard International Semiconductor

     

4,000

 

8,568

 

Wistron

     

165,020

 

151,519

 

WPG Holdings

     

46,880

 

59,446

 

Yageo

     

2,000

 

20,630

 

Yuanta Financial Holding

     

48,000

 

30,039

 

Zhen Ding Technology Holding

     

6,000

 

28,580

 
       

3,336,584

 

Thailand - 3.3%

         

Advanced Info Service

     

12,800

 

97,076

 

Airports of Thailand

     

5,000

 

12,957

 

Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, Cl. F

     

27,200

 

21,619

 

Bangkok Expressway & Metro

     

3,700

 

1,323

 

Banpu

     

40,800

 

15,674

 

24

 

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

Thailand - 3.3% (continued)

         

BEC World

     

4,000

a

881

 

Berli Jucker

     

1,200

 

1,937

 

BTS Group Holdings

     

42,900

 

19,038

 

Bumrungrad Hospital

     

400

 

1,596

 

Central Pattana

     

1,100

 

2,332

 

Charoen Pokphand Foods

     

46,000

 

38,467

 

CP ALL

     

25,200

 

65,097

 

Delta Electronics Thailand

     

1,100

 

1,603

 

Electricity Generating

     

300

 

3,448

 

Glow Energy

     

6,900

 

20,566

 

Home Product Center

     

7,400

 

4,215

 

Indorama Ventures

     

48,100

 

44,603

 

Intouch Holdings

     

18,800

 

41,093

 

IRPC

     

100,600

 

11,328

 

Kasikornbank

     

3,500

 

16,112

 

KCE Electronics

     

800

 

389

 

Krung Thai Bank

     

6,900

 

3,793

 

Minor International

     

2,100

 

2,504

 

PTT

     

120,969

 

181,283

 

PTT Exploration & Production

     

19,200

 

76,622

 

PTT Global Chemical

     

48,300

 

81,580

 

Robinson

     

1,000

 

2,161

 

Thai Oil

     

41,500

 

94,146

 

Thai Union Group

     

39,200

 

18,954

 

The Siam Commercial Bank

     

3,600

 

13,353

 

TMB Bank

     

23,200

 

1,106

 

True

     

9,900

 

1,639

 
       

898,495

 

Turkey - 1.2%

         

Akbank

     

16,289

a

19,687

 

Arcelik

     

1,727

a

5,353

 

BIM Birlesik Magazalar

     

2,878

 

23,820

 

Cola-Cola Icecek

     

276

 

1,508

 

Emlak Konut Gayrimenkul Yatirim Ortakligi

     

3,413

 

722

 

Enka Insaat ve Sanayi

     

1

 

1

 

Eregli Demir ve Celik Fabrikalari

     

17,938

 

20,519

 

Ford Otomotiv Sanayi

     

325

 

3,667

 

Haci Omer Sabanci Holding

     

29,872

 

43,210

 

KOC Holding

     

19,370

 

63,457

 

Petkim Petrokimya Holding

     

4,031

a

2,425

 

TAV Havalimanlari Holding

     

1,077

 

4,913

 

Tofas Turk Otomobil Fabrikasi

     

834

 

3,265

 

25

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

               
 

Description

     

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Common Stocks - 86.1% (continued)

         

Turkey - 1.2% (continued)

         

Tupras Turkiye Petrol Rafinerileri

     

1,514

 

32,969

 

Turk Hava Yollari

     

13,366

a

27,212

 

Turk Telekomunikasyon

     

2,544

 

2,585

 

Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri

     

13,571

 

29,837

 

Turkiye Garanti Bankasi

     

14,511

a

23,351

 

Turkiye Halk Bankasi

     

2,736

a

2,508

 

Turkiye Is Bankasi, Cl. C

     

27,468

a

27,866

 

Ulker Biskuvi Sanayi

     

335

 

1,078

 

Yapi ve Kredi Bankasi

     

3,046

a

1,215

 
       

341,168

 

United Arab Emirates - .9%

         

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

     

16,038

 

34,061

 

Aldar Properties

     

42,342

 

27,092

 

DP World

     

537

 

7,137

 

Dubai Islamic Bank

     

1,543

 

2,222

 

Emaar Development

     

6,479

 

7,145

 

Emaar Malls

     

8,075

 

4,287

 

Emaar Properties

     

49,096

 

57,080

 

Emirates Telecommunications Group

     

21,536

 

97,103

 

First Abu Dhabi Bank

     

4,921

 

20,393

 
       

256,520

 

Total Common Stocks (cost $21,438,619)

     

23,598,045

 
               

Exchange-Traded Funds - 7.1%

         

United States - 7.1%

         

iShares India 50 ETF

     

5,300

 

199,227

 

iShares MSCI India ETF

     

38,391

 

1,330,248

 

KraneShares Bosera MSCI China A ETF

     

13,900

d

428,954

 

Total Exchange-Traded Funds (cost $1,760,679)

     

1,958,429

 
   

Preferred Dividend
Yield (%)

         

Preferred Stocks - 2.7%

         

Brazil - 1.7%

         

Banco Bradesco

 

6.14

 

17,000

 

149,505

 

Braskem, Cl. A

 

2.79

 

4,400

 

30,346

 

Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras, Cl. B

 

3.79

 

1,100

 

11,237

 

Cia Brasileira de Distribuicao

 

1.49

 

2,700

 

55,771

 

Cia Energetica de Minas Gerais

 

4.60

 

11,800

 

40,044

 

Gerdau

 

1.83

 

10,400

 

34,827

 

Itau Unibanco Holding

 

4.86

 

4,100

 

37,069

 

Itausa - Investimentos Itau

 

5.32

 

15,760

 

53,837

 

26

 

               
 

Description

 

Preferred Dividend
Yield (%)

 

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Preferred Stocks - 2.7% (continued)

         

Brazil - 1.7% (continued)

         

Telefonica Brasil

 

6.77

 

3,800

 

50,285

 
       

462,921

 

Chile - .1%

         

Embotelladora Andina, Cl. B

 

4.99

 

705

 

2,034

 

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile, Cl. B

 

4.68

 

711

 

18,887

 
       

20,921

 

Colombia - .2%

         

Bancolombia

 

2.43

 

1,851

 

24,162

 

Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores

 

4.00

 

55,097

 

22,577

 

Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana

 

1.90

 

254

 

2,328

 
       

49,067

 

Russia - .2%

         

Surgutneftegas

 

19.99

 

47,000

 

27,618

 

Transneft

 

6.08

 

10

 

25,966

 
       

53,584

 

South Korea - .5%

         

Amorepacific

 

1.31

 

26

 

2,152

 

CJ

 

0.00

 

71

a

3,716

 

Hyundai Motor

 

4.96

 

235

 

16,017

 

LG Chem

 

3.46

 

19

 

2,809

 

LG Household & Health Care

 

1.24

 

9

 

5,717

 

Samsung Electronics

 

3.35

 

3,556

 

125,466

 
       

155,877

 

Total Preferred Stocks (cost $647,868)

     

742,370

 
       

Number of Rights

     

Rights - .0%

         

Hong Kong - .0%

         

Legend Holdings

     

362

e

5

 

Thailand - .0%

         

TMB Bank

     

16,061

 

5

 

Total Rights (cost $0)

     

10

 
   

Maturity
Date

 

Number of Warrants

     

Warrants - .0%

         

Thailand - .0%

         

Minor International
(cost $0)

 

12/31/21

 

105

 

11

 

27

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (continued)

               
 

Description

 

1-Day
Yield (%)

 

Shares

 

Value ($)

 

Investment of Cash Collateral for Securities Loaned - .1%

         

Registered Investment Companies - .1%

         

Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Government Plus Money Market Fund
(cost $21,251)

 

1.79

 

21,251

f

21,251

 

Total Investments (cost $23,868,417)

 

96.0%

 

26,320,116

 

Cash and Receivables (Net)

 

4.0%

 

1,086,084

 

Net Assets

 

100.0%

 

27,406,200

 

ADR—American Depository Receipt

ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund

GDR—Global Depository Receipt

MICEX—Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange

REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust

RTS—Russian Trading System

a Non-income producing security.

b Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At October 31, 2019, these securities were valued at $234,711 or .86% of net assets.

c The fund held Level 3 securities at October 31, 2019, these securities were valued at $0 or .0% of net assets.

d Security, or portion thereof, on loan. At October 31, 2019, the value of the fund’s securities on loan was $21,573 and the value of the collateral was $22,716, consisting of cash collateral of $21,251 and U.S. Government & Agency securities valued at $1,465.

e The valuation of this security has been determined in good faith by management under the direction of the Board of Trustees. At October 31, 2019, the value of this security amounted to $4,708 or .02% of net assets.

f Investment in affiliated issuer. The investment objective of this investment company is publicly available and can be found within the investment company’s prospectus.

28

 

   

Portfolio Summary (Unaudited)

Value (%)

Technology Hardware & Equipment

11.7

Energy

11.6

Banks

11.4

Materials

9.3

Investment Companies

7.2

Telecommunication Services

6.8

Capital Goods

5.2

Insurance

3.9

Food, Beverage & Tobacco

3.7

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

3.5

Utilities

3.3

Automobiles & Components

2.9

Real Estate

2.9

Food & Staples Retailing

2.4

Retailing

2.3

Media & Entertainment

1.9

Diversified Financials

1.4

Consumer Durables & Apparel

1.3

Transportation

1.2

Consumer Services

.6

Household & Personal Products

.5

Health Care Equipment & Services

.4

Pharmaceuticals Biotechnology & Life Sciences

.3

Software & Services

.2

Commercial & Professional Services

.1

 

96.0

 Based on net assets.

See notes to financial statements.

29

 

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATED ISSUERS

             

Investment Company

Value
10/31/18 ($)

Purchases ($)

Sales ($)

Value
10/31/19 ($)

Net
Assets (%)

Dividends/
Distributions ($)

Registered
Investment
Companies;

       

Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Government Plus Money Market Fund

100,253

19,387,852

19,488,105

-

-

15,174

Investment of Cash
Collateral for
Securities Loaned;

       

Dreyfus Institutional Preferred Government Plus Money Market Fund

-

2,982,070

2,960,819

21,251

.1

-

Total

100,253

22,369,922

22,448,924

21,251

.1

15,174

See notes to financial statements.

30

 

STATEMENT OF FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS October 31, 2019

           

Counterparty/ Purchased
Currency

Purchased Currency
Amounts

Currency
Sold

Sold
Currency
Amounts

Settlement Date

Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)($)

HSBC

     

United States Dollar

4,671

Hungarian Forint

1,377,897

11/5/19

(7)

United States Dollar

11,460

Polish Zloty

43,726

11/5/19

15

United States Dollar

7,267

Emirati Dirham

26,689

11/4/19

-

United States Dollar

49,625

South African Rand

744,769

11/4/19

367

United States Dollar

263,007

Hong Kong Dollar

2,061,234

11/4/19

(33)

J.P. Morgan Securities

     

United States Dollar

69,378

Mexican Peso

1,325,422

11/1/19

489

United States Dollar

69,626

Brazilian Real

280,611

11/1/19

(339)

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

     

United States Dollar

15,346

Indonesian Rupiah

215,233,982

11/4/19

20

United States Dollar

48,629

Thai Baht

1,467,627

11/4/19

23

Gross Unrealized Appreciation

   

914

Gross Unrealized Depreciation

   

(379)

See notes to financial statements.

31

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

October 31, 2019

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Assets ($):

 

 

 

 

Investments in securities—See Statement of Investments
(including securities on loan, valued at $21,573)—Note 1(c):

 

 

 

Unaffiliated issuers

23,847,166

 

26,298,865

 

Affiliated issuers

 

21,251

 

21,251

 

Cash denominated in foreign currency

 

 

78,881

 

78,735

 

Receivable for investment securities sold

 

1,172,702

 

Dividends, interest and securities lending income receivable

 

27,203

 

Tax reclaim receivable

 

4,580

 

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign
currency exchange contracts—Note 4

 

914

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

 

 

37,364

 

 

 

 

 

 

27,641,614

 

Liabilities ($):

 

 

 

 

Due to BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. and affiliates—Note 3(c)

 

34,451

 

Cash overdraft due to Custodian

 

 

 

 

24,657

 

Payable for shares of Beneficial Interest redeemed

 

70,751

 

Liability for securities on loan—Note 1(c)

 

21,251

 

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign
currency exchange contracts—Note 4

 

379

 

Trustees fees and expenses payable

 

183

 

Other accrued expenses

 

 

 

 

83,742

 

 

 

 

 

 

235,414

 

Net Assets ($)

 

 

27,406,200

 

Composition of Net Assets ($):

 

 

 

 

Paid-in capital

 

 

 

 

26,356,012

 

Total distributable earnings (loss)

 

 

 

 

1,050,188

 

Net Assets ($)

 

 

27,406,200

 

           

Net Asset Value Per Share

Class A

Class C

Class I

Class Y

 

Net Assets ($)

7,028,520

50,644

2,141,747

18,185,289

 

Shares Outstanding

546,798

3,963

165,576

1,409,657

 

Net Asset Value Per Share ($)

12.85

12.78

12.94

12.90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

32

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Year Ended October 31, 2019

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Income ($):

 

 

 

 

Income:

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends (net of $145,889 foreign taxes withheld at source):

 

Unaffiliated issuers

 

 

993,154

 

Affiliated issuers

 

 

15,174

 

Income from securities lending—Note 1(c)

 

 

915

 

Total Income

 

 

1,009,243

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

Management fee—Note 3(a)

 

 

167,218

 

Custodian fees—Note 3(c)

 

 

107,107

 

Professional fees

 

 

106,012

 

Registration fees

 

 

63,067

 

Shareholder servicing costs—Note 3(c)

 

 

32,320

 

Prospectus and shareholders’ reports

 

 

11,104

 

Trustees’ fees and expenses—Note 3(d)

 

 

2,140

 

Loan commitment fees—Note 2

 

 

706

 

Distribution fees—Note 3(b)

 

 

356

 

Miscellaneous

 

 

24,892

 

Total Expenses

 

 

514,922

 

Less—reduction in expenses due to undertaking—Note 3(a)

 

 

(284,000)

 

Net Expenses

 

 

230,922

 

Investment Income—Net

 

 

778,321

 

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments—Note 4 ($):

 

 

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency transactions

(435,933)

 

Net realized gain (loss) on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

(10,058)

 

Capital gain distributions on unaffiliated issuers

2,255

 

Net Realized Gain (Loss)

 

 

(443,736)

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments
and foreign currency transactions

960,607

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on
forward foreign currency exchange contracts

535

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

 

 

961,142

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

 

 

517,406

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

 

1,295,727

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

         

33

 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

                   

 

 

 

 

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

Operations ($):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment income—net

 

 

778,321

 

 

 

464,199

 

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

 

(443,736)

 

 

 

229,180

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation
(depreciation) on investments

 

961,142

 

 

 

(2,679,795)

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Resulting from Operations

1,295,727

 

 

 

(1,986,416)

 

Distributions ($):

 

Distributions to shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

 

(91,992)

 

 

 

(4,923)

 

Class C

 

 

(790)

 

 

 

(332)

 

Class I

 

 

(5,750)

 

 

 

(11,676)

 

Class Y

 

 

(402,840)

 

 

 

(374,029)

 

Total Distributions

 

 

(501,372)

 

 

 

(390,960)

 

Beneficial Interest Transactions ($):

 

Net proceeds from shares sold:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

 

11,723,973

 

 

 

678,584

 

Class C

 

 

20,601

 

 

 

-

 

Class I

 

 

2,337,121

 

 

 

74,186

 

Class Y

 

 

2,216,179

 

 

 

2,656,121

 

Distributions reinvested:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

 

91,028

 

 

 

4,356

 

Class C

 

 

319

 

 

 

-

 

Class I

 

 

5,094

 

 

 

11,058

 

Class Y

 

 

402,840

 

 

 

374,029

 

Cost of shares redeemed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

 

(5,457,790)

 

 

 

(216,608)

 

Class I

 

 

(312,272)

 

 

 

(607,031)

 

Class Y

 

 

(3,244,695)

 

 

 

(1,255,127)

 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
from Beneficial Interest Transactions

7,782,398

 

 

 

1,719,568

 

Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

8,576,753

 

 

 

(657,808)

 

Net Assets ($):

 

Beginning of Period

 

 

18,829,447

 

 

 

19,487,255

 

End of Period

 

 

27,406,200

 

 

 

18,829,447

 

34

 

                   

 

 

 

 

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

Capital Share Transactions (Shares):

 

Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares sold

 

 

926,667

 

 

 

48,609

 

Shares issued for distributions reinvested

 

 

7,630

 

 

 

316

 

Shares redeemed

 

 

(441,069)

 

 

 

(15,843)

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

493,228

 

 

 

33,082

 

Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares sold

 

 

1,691

 

 

 

-

 

Shares issued for distributions reinvested

 

 

27

 

 

 

-

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

1,718

 

 

 

-

 

Class I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares sold

 

 

183,478

 

 

 

5,590

 

Shares issued for distributions reinvested

 

 

425

 

 

 

805

 

Shares redeemed

 

 

(24,486)

 

 

 

(42,544)

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

159,417

 

 

 

(36,149)

 

Class Y

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares sold

 

 

175,166

 

 

 

190,825

 

Shares issued for distributions reinvested

 

 

33,711

 

 

 

27,202

 

Shares redeemed

 

 

(260,551)

 

 

 

(94,342)

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares Outstanding

(51,674)

 

 

 

123,685

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

               

35

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following tables describe the performance for each share class for the fiscal periods indicated. All information (except portfolio turnover rate) reflects financial results for a single fund share. Total return shows how much your investment in the fund would have increased (or decreased) during each period, assuming you had reinvested all dividends and distributions. These figures have been derived from the fund’s financial statements.

                   
         
   
 

Year Ended October 31,

Class A Shares

 

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

Per Share Data ($):

           

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

12.34

13.88

11.37

10.25

11.99

Investment Operations:

           

Investment income—neta

 

.37

.29

.20

.09

.23

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

 

.43

(1.58)

2.53

1.11

(1.92)

Total from Investment Operations

 

.80

(1.29)

2.73

1.20

(1.69)

Distributions:

           

Dividends from
investment income—net

 

(.29)

(.25)

(.22)

(.08)

(.05)

Dividends from net realized
gain on investments

 

-

-

-

-

(.00)b

Total Distributions

 

(.29)

(.25)

(.22)

(.08)

(.05)

Net asset value, end of period

 

12.85

12.34

13.88

11.37

10.25

Total Return (%)c

 

6.62

(9.46)

24.63

11.80

(14.11)

Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):

           

Ratio of total expenses
to average net assets

 

2.03

2.88

4.21

4.70

4.50

Ratio of net expenses
to average net assets

 

1.00

1.00

1.00

1.00

1.00

Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets

 

2.82

2.05

1.90

.91

2.04

Portfolio Turnover Rate

 

78.68

35.64

47.92

80.13

32.52

Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)

 

7,029

661

284

592

105

a Based on average shares outstanding.

b Amount represents less than $.01 per share.

c Exclusive of sales charge.

See notes to financial statements.

36

 

                 
         
     
 

Year Ended October 31,

Class C Shares

 

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

Per Share Data ($):

           

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

12.29

13.82

11.30

10.17

11.98

Investment Operations:

           

Investment income—neta

 

.24

.17

.15

.07

.13

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

 

.46

(1.55)

2.46

1.06

(1.90)

Total from Investment Operations

 

.70

(1.38)

2.61

1.13

(1.77)

Distributions:

           

Dividends from
investment income—net

 

(.21)

(.15)

(.09)

-

(.04)

Dividends from net realized
gain on investments

 

-

-

-

-

(.00)b

Total Distributions

 

(.21)

(.15)

(.09)

-

(.04)

Net asset value, end of period

 

12.78

12.29

13.82

11.30

10.17

Total Return (%)c

 

5.82

(10.12)

23.35

11.11

(14.83)

Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):

           

Ratio of total expenses
to average net assets

 

3.19

3.69

4.24

4.92

5.12

Ratio of net expenses
to average net assets

 

1.75

1.75

1.75

1.75

1.75

Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets

 

1.85

1.27

1.25

.72

1.18

Portfolio Turnover Rate

 

78.68

35.64

47.92

80.13

32.52

Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)

 

51

28

31

25

81

a Based on average shares outstanding.

b Amount represents less than $.01 per share.

c Exclusive of sales charge.

See notes to financial statements.

37

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

                         
               
     
 

Year Ended October 31,

Class I Shares

 

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

Per Share Data ($):

           

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

12.39

13.89

11.40

10.27

12.00

Investment Operations:

           

Investment income—neta

 

.42

.21

.47

.07

.25

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

 

.42

(1.43)

2.25

1.16

(1.92)

Total from Investment Operations

 

.84

(1.22)

2.72

1.23

(1.67)

Distributions:

           

Dividends from
investment income—net

 

(.29)

(.28)

(.23)

(.10)

(.06)

Dividends from net realized
gain on investments

 

-

-

-

-

(.00)b

Total Distributions

 

(.29)

(.28)

(.23)

(.10)

(.06)

Net asset value, end of period

 

12.94

12.39

13.89

11.40

10.27

Total Return (%)

 

6.99

(9.01)

24.50

12.19

(13.99)

Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):

           

Ratio of total expenses
to average net assets

 

1.90

2.60

2.99

2.71

4.08

Ratio of net expenses
to average net assets

 

.75

.75

.75

.75

.75

Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets

 

3.30

1.84

3.37

.91

2.19

Portfolio Turnover Rate

 

78.68

35.64

47.92

80.13

32.52

Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)

 

2,142

76

587

26

6,328

a Based on average shares outstanding.

b Amount represents less than $.01 per share.

See notes to financial statements.

38

 

               
     
     
 

Year Ended October 31,

Class Y Shares

 

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

Per Share Data ($):

           

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

12.36

13.89

11.40

10.27

12.00

Investment Operations:

           

Investment income—neta

 

.35

.31

.29

.23

.09

Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments

 

.48

(1.56)

2.43

1.00

(1.76)

Total from Investment Operations

 

.83

(1.25)

2.72

1.23

(1.67)

Distributions:

           

Dividends from
investment income—net

 

(.29)

(.28)

(.23)

(.10)

(.06)

Dividends from net realized
gain on investments

 

-

-

-

-

(.00)b

Total Distributions

 

(.29)

(.28)

(.23)

(.10)

(.06)

Net asset value, end of period

 

12.90

12.36

13.89

11.40

10.27

Total Return (%)

 

6.93

(9.23)

24.49

12.19

(13.99)

Ratios/Supplemental Data (%):

           

Ratio of total expenses
to average net assets

 

1.76

2.51

3.11

4.65

2.09

Ratio of net expenses
to average net assets

 

.75

.75

.75

.75

.75

Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets

 

2.75

2.28

2.33

2.28

.98

Portfolio Turnover Rate

 

78.68

35.64

47.92

80.13

32.52

Net Assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)

 

18,185

18,064

18,584

12,378

15,390

a Based on average shares outstanding.

b Amount represents less than $.01 per share.

See notes to financial statements.

39

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1—Significant Accounting Policies:

BNY Mellon Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund (the “fund”) is a separate diversified series of BNY Mellon Opportunity Funds (the “Company”), which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), as an open-end management investment company and operates as a series company currently offering three series, including the fund. The fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation. BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. (the “Adviser”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (“BNY Mellon”), serves as the fund’s investment adviser. Effective January 2, 2019, BNY Mellon Asset Management North America Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BNY Mellon and an affiliate of the Adviser that serves as the fund’s sub-investment adviser, was renamed Mellon Investments Corporation (the “Sub-Adviser”).

Effective June 3, 2019, the fund changed its name from Dreyfus Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund to BNY Mellon Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund and the Company changed its name from Dreyfus Opportunity Funds to BNY Mellon Opportunity Funds. In addition, The Dreyfus Corporation, the fund’s investment adviser, changed its name to “BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc.”, MBSC Securities Corporation, the fund’s distributor, changed its name to “BNY Mellon Securities Corporation” and Dreyfus Transfer, Inc., the fund’s transfer agent, changed its name to “BNY Mellon Transfer, Inc.”

BNY Mellon Securities Corporation (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, is the distributor of the fund’s shares. The fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of $.001 par value shares of Beneficial Interest in each of the following classes of shares: Class A, Class C, Class I, Class T and Class Y. Class A and Class T shares generally are subject to a sales charge imposed at the time of purchase. Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) imposed on Class C shares redeemed within one year of purchase. Class C shares automatically convert to Class A shares ten years after the date of purchase, without the imposition of a sales charge. Class I and Class Y shares are sold at net asset value per share generally to institutional investors. As of the date of this report, the fund did not offer Class T shares for purchase. Other differences between the classes include the services offered to and the expenses borne by each class, the allocation of certain transfer agency costs, and certain voting rights. Income, expenses (other than expenses attributable to a specific class), and realized and

40

 

unrealized gains or losses on investments are allocated to each class of shares based on its relative net assets.

As of October 31, 2019, MBC Investments Corp., an indirect subsidiary of BNY Mellon, held 2,245 Class C shares of the fund.

The Company accounts separately for the assets, liabilities and operations of each series. Expenses directly attributable to each series are charged to that series’ operations; expenses which are applicable to all series are allocated among them on a pro rata basis.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) is the exclusive reference of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities. Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under authority of federal laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. The fund is an investment company and applies the accounting and reporting guidance of the FASB ASC Topic 946 Financial Services-Investment Companies. The fund’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP, which may require the use of management estimates and assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Company enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. The fund does not anticipate recognizing any loss related to these arrangements.

(a) Portfolio valuation: The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e., the exit price). GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs of valuation techniques used to measure fair value. This hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

Additionally, GAAP provides guidance on determining whether the volume and activity in a market has decreased significantly and whether such a decrease in activity results in transactions that are not orderly. GAAP requires enhanced disclosures around valuation inputs and techniques used during annual and interim periods.

41

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the fund’s investments relating to fair value measurements. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

Level 1—unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments.

Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).

Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. Valuation techniques used to value the fund’s investments are as follows:

Investments in equity securities are valued at the last sales price on the securities exchange or national securities market on which such securities are primarily traded. Securities listed on the National Market System for which market quotations are available are valued at the official closing price or, if there is no official closing price that day, at the last sales price. For open short positions, asked prices are used for valuation purposes. Bid price is used when no asked price is available. Registered investment companies that are not traded on an exchange are valued at their net asset value. All of the preceding securities are generally categorized within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

Securities not listed on an exchange or the national securities market, or securities for which there were no transactions, are valued at the average of the most recent bid and asked prices. These securities are generally categorized within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Fair valuing of securities may be determined with the assistance of a pricing service using calculations based on indices of domestic securities and other appropriate indicators, such as prices of relevant ADRs and futures. Utilizing these techniques may result in transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

When market quotations or official closing prices are not readily available, or are determined not to accurately reflect fair value, such as when the value of a security has been significantly affected by events after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded (for

42

 

example, a foreign exchange or market), but before the fund calculates its net asset value, the fund may value these investments at fair value as determined in accordance with the procedures approved by the Company’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). Certain factors may be considered when fair valuing investments such as: fundamental analytical data, the nature and duration of restrictions on disposition, an evaluation of the forces that influence the market in which the securities are purchased and sold, and public trading in similar securities of the issuer or comparable issuers. These securities are either categorized within Level 2 or 3 of the fair value hierarchy depending on the relevant inputs used.

For restricted securities where observable inputs are limited, assumptions about market activity and risk are used and such securities are generally categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Investments denominated in foreign currencies are translated to U.S. dollars at the prevailing rates of exchange.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“forward contracts”) are valued at the forward rate and are generally categorized within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of October 31, 2019 in valuing the fund’s investments:

         
 

Level 1 - Unadjusted Quoted Prices

Level 2 – Other
Significant
Observable Inputs

Level 3 -Significant Unobservable Inputs

Total

Assets ($)

     

Investments in Securities:

     

Equity Securities -
Common Stocks

22,812,399

785,646††

0

23,598,045

Equity Securities -
Preferred Stocks

742,370

-

-

742,370

Exchange-Traded Funds

1,958,429

-

-

1,958,429

Investment Companies

21,251

-

-

21,251

Rights

-

10††

-

10

Warrants

-

11††

-

11

Other Financial Instruments:

     

Forward Foreign Currency
Exchange Contracts†††

-

914

-

914

43

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

         
 

Level 1 - Unadjusted Quoted Prices

Level 2 – Other
Significant
Observable Inputs

Level 3 -Significant Unobservable Inputs

Total

Liabilities ($)

     

Other Financial Instruments:

     

Forward Foreign Currency
Exchange Contracts†††

-

(379)

-

(379)

 See Statement of Investments for additional detailed categorizations, if any.

†† Securities classified within Level 2 at period end as the values were determined pursuant to the fund’s fair valuation procedures.

††† Amount shown represents unrealized appreciation (depreciation) at period end, but only variation margin on exchanged traded and centrally cleared derivatives, if any, are reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities .

The following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:

     

Equity Securities-Foreign ($)

Balance as of 10/31/2018

 

0

Realized gain (loss)

 

-

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

 

-

Purchases

 

-

Sales

 

-

Transfers into Level 3

 

-

Transfers out of Level 3

 

-

Balance as of 10/31/2019

 

0

The amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to investments still held at 10/31/2019

 

-

 Securities deemed as Level 3 have been determined to be worthless by managements own assessment.

(b) Foreign currency transactions: The fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized on securities transactions between trade and settlement date, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities other than investments resulting from changes in exchange rates. Foreign currency gains and losses

44

 

on foreign currency transactions are also included with net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

(c) Securities transactions and investment income: Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date and interest income, including, where applicable, accretion of discount and amortization of premium on investments, is recognized on the accrual basis.

Pursuant to a securities lending agreement with The Bank of New York Mellon, a subsidiary of BNY Mellon and an affiliate of the Adviser, the fund may lend securities to qualified institutions. It is the fund’s policy that, at origination, all loans are secured by collateral of at least 102% of the value of U.S. securities loaned and 105% of the value of foreign securities loaned. Collateral equivalent to at least 100% of the market value of securities on loan is maintained at all times. Collateral is either in the form of cash, which can be invested in certain money market mutual funds managed by the Adviser, or U.S. Government and Agency securities. The fund is entitled to receive all dividends, interest and distributions on securities loaned, in addition to income earned as a result of the lending transaction. Should a borrower fail to return the securities in a timely manner, The Bank of New York Mellon is required to replace the securities for the benefit of the fund or credit the fund with the market value of the unreturned securities and is subrogated to the fund’s rights against the borrower and the collateral. Additionally, the contractual maturity of security lending transactions are on an overnight and continuous basis. During the period ended October 31, 2019, The Bank of New York Mellon earned $178 from the lending of the fund’s portfolio securities, pursuant to the securities lending agreement.

(d) Affiliated issuers: Investments in other investment companies advised by the Adviser are considered “affiliated” under the Act.

Certain affiliated investment companies may also invest in the fund. At October 31, 2019, BNY Mellon Diversified Emerging Markets Fund, an affiliate of the fund, held 1,359,141 Class Y shares representing approximately 64.0% of the fund’s net assets.

(e) Risk: Investing in foreign markets may involve special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in the U.S. These risks include revaluation of currencies, high rates of inflation, repatriation restrictions on income and capital, and adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities issued in these markets may be less

45

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

liquid, subject to government ownership controls and delayed settlements, and their prices may be more volatile than those of comparable securities in the U.S.

(f) Dividends and distributions to shareholders: Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Dividends from investment income-net and dividends from net realized capital gains, if any, are normally declared and paid annually, but the fund may make distributions on a more frequent basis to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). To the extent that net realized capital gains can be offset by capital loss carryovers, it is the policy of the fund not to distribute such gains. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.

(g) Federal income taxes: It is the policy of the fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company, if such qualification is in the best interests of its shareholders, by complying with the applicable provisions of the Code, and to make distributions of taxable income and net realized capital gain sufficient to relieve it from substantially all federal income and excise taxes.

As of and during the period ended October 31, 2019, the fund did not have any liabilities for any uncertain tax positions. The fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations. During the period ended October 31, 2019, the fund did not incur any interest or penalties.

Each tax year in the four-year period ended October 31, 2019 remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities.

At October 31, 2019, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows: undistributed ordinary income $691,588, accumulated capital losses $1,976,750 and unrealized appreciation $2,335,350.

The fund is permitted to carry forward capital losses for an unlimited period. Furthermore, capital loss carryovers retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses.

The accumulated capital loss carryover is available for federal income tax purposes to be applied against future net realized capital gains, if any, realized subsequent to October 31, 2019. The fund has $1,321,840 of short-term capital losses and $654,910 of long-term capital losses which can be carried forward for an unlimited period.

46

 

The tax character of distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal periods ended October 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018 were as follows: ordinary income $501,372 and $390,960, respectively.

(h) New Accounting Pronouncements: Effective June 1, 2019, the fund adopted Accounting Standards Update 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”). The update provides guidance that eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The adoption of ASU 2018-13 had no impact on the operations of the fund for the period ended October 31, 2019.

NOTE 2—Bank Lines of Credit:

The fund participates with other long-term open-end funds managed by the Adviser in a $1.030 billion unsecured credit facility led by Citibank, N.A. (the “Citibank Credit Facility”) and a $300 million unsecured credit facility provided by The Bank of New York Mellon (the “BNYM Credit Facility”), each to be utilized primarily for temporary or emergency purposes, including the financing of redemptions (each, a “Facility”). The Citibank Credit Facility is available in two tranches: (i) Tranche A is in an amount equal to $830 million and is available to all long-term open-ended funds, including the fund, and (ii) Tranche B is in amount equal to $200 million and is available only to BNY Mellon Floating Rate Income Fund, a series of BNY Mellon Investment Funds IV, Inc. In connection therewith, the fund has agreed to pay its pro rata portion of commitment fees for Tranche A of the Citibank Credit Facility and the BNYM Credit Facility. Interest is charged to the fund based on rates determined pursuant to the terms of the respective Facility at the time of borrowing. During the period ended October 31, 2019, the fund did not borrow under the Facilities.

NOTE 3—Management Fee, Sub-Investment Advisory Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates:

(a) Pursuant to a management agreement with the Adviser, the management fee is computed at the annual rate of .60% of the value of the fund’s average daily net assets and is payable monthly. The Adviser has contractually agreed, from November 1, 2018 through March 1, 2020, to waive receipt of its fees and/or assume the direct expenses of the fund, so that the direct expenses of none of the classes (excluding Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan fees, Shareholder Services Plan fees, taxes, interest expense, brokerage commissions, commitment fees on borrowings and extraordinary expenses) exceed .75% of the value of the fund’s average daily net assets. On or after March 1, 2020, the Adviser may terminate this

47

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

expense limitation of any time. The reduction in expenses, pursuant to the undertaking, amounted to $284,000 during the period ended October 31, 2019.

Pursuant to a sub-investment advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser serves as the fund’s sub-investment adviser responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund’s portfolio. The Adviser pays the sub-investment adviser a monthly fee at an annual percentage of the value of the fund’s average daily net assets. The Adviser has obtained an exemptive order from the SEC (the “Order”), upon which the fund may rely, to use a manager of managers approach that permits the Adviser, subject to certain conditions and approval by the Board, to enter into and materially amend sub-investment advisory agreements with one or more sub-investment advisers who are either unaffiliated with the Adviser or are wholly-owned subsidiaries (as defined under the Act) of the Adviser’s ultimate parent company, BNY Mellon, without obtaining shareholder approval. The Order also allows the fund to disclose the sub-investment advisory fee paid by the Adviser to any unaffiliated sub-investment adviser in the aggregate with other unaffiliated sub-investment advisers in documents filed with the SEC and provided to shareholders. In addition, pursuant to the Order, it is not necessary to disclose the sub-investment advisory fee payable by the Adviser separately to a sub-investment adviser that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BNY Mellon in documents filed with the SEC and provided to shareholders; such fees are to be aggregated with fees payable to the Adviser. The Adviser has ultimate responsibility (subject to oversight by the Board) to supervise any sub-investment adviser and recommend the hiring, termination, and replacement of any sub-investment adviser to the Board.

During the period ended October 31, 2019, the Distributor retained $8 from commissions earned on sales of the fund’s Class A shares.

(b) Under the Distribution Plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, Class C shares pay the Distributor for distributing its shares at an annual rate of .75% of the value of its average daily net assets. During the period ended October 31, 2019, Class C shares were charged $356 pursuant to the Distribution Plan.

(c) Under the Shareholder Services Plan, Class A and Class C shares pay the Distributor at an annual rate of .25% of the value of their average daily net assets for the provision of certain services. The services provided may include personal services relating to shareholder accounts, such as answering shareholder inquiries regarding the fund and providing reports and other information, and services related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts. The Distributor may make payments to Service

48

 

Agents (securities dealers, financial institutions or other industry professionals) with respect to these services. The Distributor determines the amounts to be paid to Service Agents. During the period ended October 31, 2019, Class A and Class C shares were charged $20,718 and $119, respectively, pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan.

The fund has an arrangement with the transfer agent whereby the fund may receive earnings credits when positive cash balances are maintained, which are used to offset transfer agency fees. The fund had an arrangement with the custodian to receive earnings credits when positive cash balances were maintained, which were used to offset custody fees. Effective February 1, 2019, the arrangement with the custodian changed whereby the fund will no longer receive earnings credits to offset its custody fees and will receive interest income or overdraft fees going forward. For financial reporting purposes, the fund includes net earnings credits, if any, as an expense offset in the Statement of Operations.

The fund compensates BNY Mellon Transfer, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a transfer agency agreement for providing transfer agency and cash management services for the fund. The majority of transfer agency fees are comprised of amounts paid on a per account basis, while cash management fees are related to fund subscriptions and redemptions. During the period ended October 31, 2019, the fund was charged $1,052 for transfer agency services. These fees are included in Shareholder servicing costs in the Statement of Operations.

The fund compensates The Bank of New York Mellon under a custody agreement for providing custodial services for the fund. These fees are determined based on net assets, geographic region and transaction activity. During the period ended October 31, 2019, the fund was charged $107,107 pursuant to the custody agreement.

During the period ended October 31, 2019, the fund was charged $11,610 for services performed by the Chief Compliance Officer and his staff. These fees are included in Miscellaneous in the Statement of Operations.

The components of “Due to BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. and affiliates” in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities consist of: management fees of $14,135, Distribution Plan fees of $32, Shareholder Services Plan fees of $1,631, custodian fees of $45,409, Chief Compliance Officer fees of $4,504 and transfer agency fees of $206, which are offset against an expense reimbursement currently in effect in the amount of $31,466.

(d) Each Board member also serves as a Board member of other funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds complex. Annual retainer fees and attendance fees are allocated to each fund based on net assets.

49

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

(e) A 2% redemption fee is charged and retained by the fund on certain shares redeemed within sixty days following the date of issuance subject to certain exceptions, including redemptions made through use of the fund’s exchange privilege. During the period ended October 31, 2019, redemption fees charged and retained by the fund amounted to $4,908.

NOTE 4—Securities Transactions:

The aggregate amount of purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and forward contracts, during the period ended October 31, 2019, amounted to $28,142,509 and $20,991,027, respectively.

Derivatives: A derivative is a financial instrument whose performance is derived from the performance of another asset. The fund enters into International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements or similar agreements (collectively, “Master Agreements”) with its over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivative contract counterparties in order to, among other things, reduce its credit risk to counterparties. Master Agreements include provisions for general obligations, representations, collateral and events of default or termination. Under a Master Agreement, the fund may offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment in the event of default or termination.

Each type of derivative instrument that was held by the fund during the period ended October 31, 2019 is discussed below.

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts: The fund enters into forward contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings, to settle foreign currency transactions or as a part of its investment strategy. When executing forward contracts, the fund is obligated to buy or sell a foreign currency at a specified rate on a certain date in the future. With respect to sales of forward contracts, the fund incurs a loss if the value of the contract increases between the date the forward contract is opened and the date the forward contract is closed. The fund realizes a gain if the value of the contract decreases between those dates. With respect to purchases of forward contracts, the fund incurs a loss if the value of the contract decreases between the date the forward contract is opened and the date the forward contract is closed. The fund realizes a gain if the value of the contract increases between those dates. Any realized or unrealized gains or losses which occurred during the period are reflected in the Statement of Operations. The fund is exposed to foreign currency risk as a result of changes in value of underlying financial instruments. The fund is also

50

 

exposed to credit risk associated with counterparty nonperformance on these forward contracts, which is generally limited to the unrealized gain on each open contract. This risk may be mitigated by Master Agreements, if any, between the fund and the counterparty and the posting of collateral, if any, by the counterparty to the fund to cover the fund’s exposure to the counterparty. Forward contracts open at October 31, 2019 are set forth in the Statement of Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts.

The provisions of ASC Topic 210 “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities” require disclosure on the offsetting of financial assets and liabilities. These disclosures are required for certain investments, including derivative financial instruments subject to Master Agreements which are eligible for offsetting in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and require the fund to disclose both gross and net information with respect to such investments. For financial reporting purposes, the fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to Master Agreements in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

At October 31, 2019, derivative assets and liabilities (by type) on a gross basis are as follows:

           

Derivative Financial Instruments:

 

Assets ($)

 

Liabilities ($)

 

Forward contracts

 

914

 

(379)

 

Total gross amount of derivative

 

 

 

 

 

assets and liabilities in the

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

914

 

(379)

 

Derivatives not subject to

 

 

 

 

 

Master Agreements

 

-

 

-

 

Total gross amount of assets

 

 

 

 

 

and liabilities subject to

 

 

 

 

 

Master Agreements

 

914

 

(379)

 

The following tables present derivative assets and liabilities net of amounts available for offsetting under Master Agreements and net of related collateral received or pledged, if any, as of October 31, 2019:

             

 

 

 

Financial

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

and Derivatives

 

 

 

 

Gross Amount of

 

Available

Collateral

 

Net Amount of

Counterparty

Assets ($)

1

for Offset ($)

Received ($)

 

Assets ($)

HSBC

382

 

(40)

-

 

342

J.P. Morgan Securities

489

 

(339)

-

 

150

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

43

 

-

-

 

43

Total

914

 

(379)

-

 

535

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

51

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

             

 

 

 

Financial

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

and Derivatives

 

 

 

 

Gross Amount of

 

Available

Collateral

 

Net Amount of

Counterparty

Liabilities ($)

1

for Offset ($)

Pledged ($)

 

Liabilities ($)

HSBC

(40)

 

40

-

 

-

J.P. Morgan Securities

(339)

 

339

-

 

-

Total

(379)

 

379

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Absent a default event or early termination, OTC derivative assets and liabilities are presented at gross amounts
and are not offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The following summarizes the average market value of derivatives outstanding during the period ended October 31, 2019:

     

 

 

Average Market Value ($)

Forward contracts

 

189,871

 

 

 

At October 31, 2019, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $23,986,019; accordingly, accumulated net unrealized appreciation on investment inclusive of derivative contracts was $2,334,632 consisting of $4,182,542 gross unrealized appreciation and $1,847,910 gross unrealized depreciation.

52

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Trustees of BNY Mellon Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund (formerly, Dreyfus Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund)

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of BNY Mellon Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund (the “Fund”) (formerly, Dreyfus Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund) (one of the funds constituting BNY Mellon Opportunity Funds), including the statements of investments, investments in affiliated issuers and forward foreign currency exchange contracts, as of October 31, 2019, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund (one of the funds constituting BNY Mellon Opportunity Funds) at October 31, 2019, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and its financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2019, by correspondence with the custodian and others or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from others were not received. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds since at least 1957, but we are unable to determine the specific year.

New York, New York
December 23, 2019

53

 

IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION (Unaudited)

In accordance with federal tax law, the fund elects to provide each shareholder with their portion of the fund’s foreign taxes paid and the income sourced from foreign countries. Accordingly, the fund hereby reports the following information regarding its fiscal year ended October 31, 2019:

- the total amount of taxes paid to foreign countries was $145,889.

- the total amount of income sourced from foreign countries was $1,105,028.

Where required by Federal tax law rules, shareholders will receive notification of their proportionate share of foreign taxes paid and foreign sourced income for the 2019 calendar year with Form 1099-DIV which will be mailed in early 2020.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019, certain dividends paid by the fund may be subject to a maximum tax rate of 15%, as provided for by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. Of the distributions paid during the fiscal year, $435,003 represents the maximum amount that may be considered qualified dividend income.

54

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE RENEWAL OF THE FUND’S MANAGEMENT AND SUB-INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENTS (Unaudited)

At a meeting of the fund’s Board of Trustees held on July 23-24, 2019, the Board considered the renewal of the fund’s Management Agreement, pursuant to which the Adviser provides the fund with investment advisory and administrative services (the “Agreement”), and the Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement (together, the “Agreements”), pursuant to which Mellon Investments Corporation (the “Subadviser”) provides day-to-day management of the fund’s investments. The Board members, a majority of whom are not “interested persons” (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) of the fund, were assisted in their review by independent legal counsel and met with counsel in executive session separate from representatives of the Adviser and the Subadviser. In considering the renewal of the Agreements, the Board considered all factors that it believed to be relevant, including those discussed below. The Board did not identify any one factor as dispositive, and each Board member may have attributed different weights to the factors considered.

Analysis of Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services Provided to the Fund. The Board considered information provided to it at the meeting and in previous presentations from representatives of the Adviser regarding the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided to funds in the BNY Mellon fund complex. The Adviser provided the number of open accounts in the fund, the fund’s asset size and the allocation of fund assets among distribution channels. The Adviser also had previously provided information regarding the diverse intermediary relationships and distribution channels of funds in the BNY Mellon fund complex (such as retail direct or intermediary, in which intermediaries typically are paid by the fund and/or the Adviser) and the Adviser’s corresponding need for broad, deep, and diverse resources to be able to provide ongoing shareholder services to each intermediary or distribution channel, as applicable to the fund.

The Board also considered research support available to, and portfolio management capabilities of, the fund’s portfolio management personnel and that the Adviser also provides oversight of day-to-day fund operations, including fund accounting and administration and assistance in meeting legal and regulatory requirements. The Board also considered the Adviser’s extensive administrative, accounting and compliance infrastructures, as well as the Adviser’s supervisory activities over the Subadviser. The Board also considered portfolio management’s brokerage policies and practices (including policies and practices regarding soft dollars) and the standards applied in seeking best execution.

Comparative Analysis of the Fund’s Performance and Management Fee and Expense Ratio. The Board reviewed reports prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), an independent provider of investment company data, which included information comparing (1) the fund’s performance with the performance of a group of comparable funds (the “Performance Group”) and with a broader group of funds (the “Performance Universe”), all for various periods ended May 31, 2019, and (2) the fund’s actual and contractual management fees and total expenses with those of a group of

55

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE RENEWAL OF THE FUND’S MANAGEMENT AND SUB-INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)

comparable funds (the “Expense Group”) and with a broader group of funds (the “Expense Universe”), the information for which was derived in part from fund financial statements available to Broadridge as of the date of its analysis. The Adviser previously had furnished the Board with a description of the methodology Broadridge used to select the Performance Group and Performance Universe and the Expense Group and Expense Universe.

Representatives of the Adviser stated that the usefulness of performance comparisons may be affected by a number of factors, including different investment limitations and policies that may be applicable to the fund and comparison funds. The Board discussed with representatives of the Adviser, its affiliates and/or the Subadviser the results of the comparisons and considered that the fund’s total return performance was above the Performance Group and Performance Universe medians for all periods, except for the two-year period when the fund’s total return performance was below the Performance Group and Performance Universe medians. The Board considered the proximity of the fund’s performance to the Performance Universe median for the two-year period. The Adviser also provided a comparison of the fund’s calendar year total returns to the returns of the fund’s benchmark index, and it was considered that the fund’s returns were above the returns of the index in three of the four calendar years shown.

The Board also reviewed the range of actual and contractual management fees and total expenses of the Expense Group and Expense Universe funds and discussed the results of the comparisons. The Board considered that the fund’s contractual management fee was below the Expense Group median (lowest in the Expense Group), the fund’s actual management fee (which was zero) was at the Expense Group median and below the Expense Universe median (lowest in the Expense Universe) and the fund’s total expenses were below the Expense Group and Expense Universe medians (lowest in the Expense Group).

Representatives of the Adviser stated that the Adviser has contractually agreed, until March 1, 2020, to waive receipt of its fees and/or assume the direct expenses of the fund so that the direct expenses of none of its classes (excluding Rule 12b-1 fees, shareholder services fees, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, commitment fees on borrowings and extraordinary expenses) exceed .75% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Representatives of the Adviser reviewed with the Board the management or investment advisory fees (1) paid by funds advised or administered by the Adviser that are in the same Lipper category as the fund and (2) paid to the Adviser or the Subadviser or its affiliates for advising any separate accounts and/or other types of client portfolios that are considered to have similar investment strategies and policies as the fund (the “Similar Clients”), and explained the nature of the Similar Clients. They discussed differences in fees paid and the relationship of the fees paid in light of any differences in the services provided and other relevant factors. The Board considered the relevance of the fee information provided for the Similar Clients to evaluate the appropriateness of the fund’s management fee.

56

 

The Board considered the fee to the Subadviser in relation to the fee paid to the Adviser by the fund and the respective services provided by the Subadviser and the Adviser. The Board also took into consideration that the Subadviser’s fee is paid by the Adviser (out of its fee from the fund) and not the fund.

Analysis of Profitability and Economies of Scale. Representatives of the Adviser reviewed the expenses allocated and profit received by the Adviser and its affiliates and the resulting profitability percentage for managing the fund and the aggregate profitability percentage to the Adviser and its affiliates for managing the funds in the BNY Mellon fund complex, and the method used to determine the expenses and profit. The Board concluded that the profitability results were not unreasonable, given the services rendered and service levels provided by the Adviser. The Board also considered the expense limitation arrangement and its effect on the profitability of the Adviser and its affiliates. The Board also had been provided with information prepared by an independent consulting firm regarding the Adviser’s approach to allocating costs to, and determining the profitability of, individual funds and the entire BNY Mellon fund complex. The consulting firm also had analyzed where any economies of scale might emerge in connection with the management of a fund.

The Board considered on the advice of its counsel the profitability analysis (1) as part of its evaluation of whether the fees under the Agreements, considered in relation to the mix of services provided by the Adviser and the Subadviser, including the nature, extent and quality of such services, supported the renewal of the Agreements and (2) in light of the relevant circumstances for the fund and the extent to which economies of scale would be realized if the fund grows and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale for the benefit of fund shareholders. Since the Adviser, and not the fund, pays the Subadviser pursuant to the Sub-Investment Advisory Agreement, the Board did not consider the Subadviser’s profitability to be relevant to its deliberations. Representatives of the Adviser stated that a discussion of economies of scale is predicated on a fund having achieved a substantial size with increasing assets and that, if a fund’s assets had been stable or decreasing, the possibility that the Adviser may have realized any economies of scale would be less. Representatives of the Adviser also stated that, as a result of shared and allocated costs among funds in the BNY Mellon fund complex, the extent of economies of scale could depend substantially on the level of assets in the complex as a whole, so that increases and decreases in complex-wide assets can affect potential economies of scale in a manner that is disproportionate to, or even in the opposite direction from, changes in the fund’s asset level. The Board also considered potential benefits to the Adviser and the Subadviser from acting as investment adviser and sub-investment adviser, respectively, and took into consideration the soft dollar arrangements in effect for trading the fund’s investments.

At the conclusion of these discussions, the Board agreed that it had been furnished with sufficient information to make an informed business decision with respect to the renewal of the Agreements. Based on the discussions and considerations as described above, the Board concluded and determined as follows.

57

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE RENEWAL OF THE FUND’S MANAGEMENT AND SUB-INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)

· The Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and the Subadviser are adequate and appropriate.

· The Board generally was satisfied with the fund’s performance, particularly considering that the fund has been in operation for four full years.

· The Board concluded that the fees paid to the Adviser and the Subadviser continued to be appropriate under the circumstances and in light of the factors and the totality of the services provided as discussed above

· The Board determined that the economies of scale which may accrue to the Adviser and its affiliates in connection with the management of the fund had been adequately considered by the Adviser in connection with the fee rate charged to the fund pursuant to the Agreement and that, to the extent in the future it were determined that material economies of scale had not been shared with the fund, the Board would seek to have those economies of scale shared with the fund.

In evaluating the Agreements, the Board considered these conclusions and determinations and also relied on its previous knowledge, gained through meetings and other interactions with the Adviser and its affiliates and the Subadviser, of the Adviser and the Subadviser and the services provided to the fund by the Adviser and the Subadviser. The Board also relied on information received on a routine and regular basis throughout the year relating to the operations of the fund and the investment management and other services provided under the Agreements, including information on the investment performance of the fund in comparison to similar mutual funds and benchmark performance indices; general market outlook as applicable to the fund; and compliance reports. In addition, the Board’s consideration of the contractual fee arrangements for this fund had the benefit of a number of years of reviews of the Agreements for the fund, or substantially similar agreements for other BNY Mellon funds that the Board oversees, during which lengthy discussions took place between the Board and representatives of the Adviser. Certain aspects of the arrangements may receive greater scrutiny in some years than in others, and the Board’s conclusions may be based, in part, on their consideration of the fund’s arrangements, or substantially similar arrangements for other BNY Mellon funds that the Board oversees, in prior years. The Board determined to renew the Agreements.

58

 

BOARD MEMBERS INFORMATION (Unaudited)

INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBERS

Joseph S. DiMartino (76)

Chairman of the Board (2000)

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Corporate Director and Trustee (1995-Present)

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years:

· CBIZ, Inc., a public company providing professional business services, products and solutions, Director (1997-Present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 120

———————

Francine J. Bovich (68)

Board Member (2015)

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Trustee, The Bradley Trusts, private trust funds (2011-Present)

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years:

· Annaly Capital Management, Inc., a real estate investment trust, Director (2014-Present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 70

———————

J. Charles Cardona (64)

Board Member (2014)

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· President of the Adviser (2008-2016)

· Chairman (2013-2016) and Executive Vice President (1997-2013) of the Distributor

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years:

· BNY Mellon Liquidity Funds, Chairman and Director (2019-Present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 33

———————

Gordon J. Davis (78)

Board Member (2012)

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Partner in the law firm of Venable LLP (2012-Present)

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years:

· Consolidated Edison, Inc., a utility company, Director (1989-2014)

· The Phoenix Companies, Inc., a life insurance company, Director (2000-2014)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 53

———————

59

 

BOARD MEMBERS INFORMATION (Unaudited) (continued)
INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBERS (continued)

Andrew J. Donohue (69)

Board Member (2019)

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Of Counsel, Shearman & Sterling LLP (2017-2019)

· Chief of Staff to the Chair of the SEC (2015-2017)

· Managing Director and Investment Company General Counsel of Goldman Sachs (2012-2015)

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years:

· Oppenheimer Funds (58 funds), Director (2017-2019)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 56

———————

Isabel P. Dunst (72)

Board Member (2014)

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Senior Counsel, Hogan Lovells LLP (2018-2019); Of Counsel, (2015-2018), Partner, (1990-2014)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 33

———————

Nathan Leventhal (76)

Board Member (2009)

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· President Emeritus of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (2001-Present)

· President of the Palm Beach Opera (2016-Present)

· Chairman of the Avery Fisher Artist Program, Lincoln Center (1997-2014)

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years:

· Movado Group, Inc., a public company that designs, sources, markets and distributes watches Director (2003-Present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 47

———————

Robin A. Melvin (56)

Board Member (2014)

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Co-chairman, Mentor Illinois, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the quantity and quality of mentoring services in Illinois (2014-Present); Board member (2013-Present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 97

———————

60

 

Roslyn M. Watson (70)

Board Member (2014)

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Principal, Watson Ventures, Inc., a real estate investment company (1993-Present)

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years:

· American Express Bank, FSB, Director (1993-2018)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 56

———————

Benaree Pratt Wiley (73)

Board Member (2009)

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:

· Principal, The Wiley Group, a firm specializing in strategy and business development (2005-Present)

Other Public Company Board Memberships During Past 5 Years:

· CBIZ, Inc., a public company providing professional business services, products and solutions, Director (2008-Present)

· Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Director (2004-Present)

No. of Portfolios for which Board Member Serves: 76

———————

Once elected all Board Members serve for an indefinite term, but achieve Emeritus status upon reaching age 80. The address of the Board Members and Officers is c/o BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286. Additional information about the Board Members is available in the fund’s Statement of Additional Information which can be obtained from the Adviser free of charge by calling this toll free number: 1-800-373-9387.


Clifford L. Alexander, Jr., Emeritus Board Member
Whitney I. Gerard, Emeritus Board Member
George L. Perry, Emeritus Board Member

61

 

OFFICERS OF THE FUND (Unaudited)

RENEE LAROCHE-MORRIS, President since May 2019.

President and a director of BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. since January 2018. She is an officer of 63 investment companies (comprised of 120 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. She is 48 years old and has been an employee of BNY Mellon since 2003.

JAMES WINDELS, Treasurer since November 2001.

Director- BNY Mellon Fund Administration, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 143 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. He is 61 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since April 1985.

BENNETT A. MACDOUGALL, Chief Legal Officer since October 2015.

Chief Legal Officer of the Adviser and Associate General Counsel and Managing Director of BNY Mellon since June 2015; Director and Associate General Counsel of Deutsche Bank – Asset & Wealth Management Division from June 2005 to June 2015, and as Chief Legal Officer of Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. from June 2012 to May 2015. He is an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 143 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. He is 48 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since June 2015.

DAVID DIPETRILLO, Vice President since May 2019.

Head of North America Product, BNY Mellon Investment Management since January 2018, Director of Product Strategy, BNY Mellon Investment Management from January 2016 to December 2017; Head of US Retail Product and Channel Marketing, BNY Mellon Investment Management from January 2014 to December 2015. He is an officer of 63 investment companies (comprised of 120 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. He is 41 years old and has been an employee of BNY Mellon since 2005.

JAMES BITETTO, Vice President since August 2005 and Secretary since February 2018.

Senior Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon since November 2019; Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon from April 2014 to November 2019; Secretary of the Adviser, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 143 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. He is 53 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since December 1996.

SONALEE CROSS, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since March 2018.

Counsel of BNY Mellon since October 2016; Associate at Proskauer Rose LLP from April 2016 to September 2016; Attorney at EnTrust Capital from August 2015 to February 2016; Associate at Sidley Austin LLP from September 2013 to August 2015. She is an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 143 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. She is 32 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since October 2016.

DEIRDRE CUNNANE, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since March 2019.

Counsel of BNY Mellon since August 2018; Senior Regulatory Specialist at BNY Mellon Investment Management Services from February 2016 to August 2018; Trustee Associate at BNY Mellon Trust Company (Ireland) Limited from August 2013 to February 2016. She is an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 143 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. She is 29 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since August 2018.

SARAH S. KELLEHER, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since April 2014.

Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon since December 2017, Senior Counsel of BNY Mellon from March 2013 to December 2017. She is an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 143 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. She is 44 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since March 2013.

JEFF PRUSNOFSKY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since August 2005.

Senior Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 143 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. He is 54 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since October 1990.

PETER M. SULLIVAN, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since March 2019.

Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 143 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. He is 51 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since April 2004.

62

 

NATALYA ZELENSKY, Vice President and Assistant Secretary since March 2017.

Managing Counsel of BNY Mellon since November 2019; Counsel of BNY Mellon from May 2016 to November 2019; Attorney at Wildermuth Endowment Strategy Fund/Wildermuth Advisory, LLC from November 2015 to May 2016 and Assistant General Counsel at RCS Advisory Services from July 2014 to November 2015. She is an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 143 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. She is 34 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since May 2016.

GAVIN C. REILLY, Assistant Treasurer since December 2005.

Tax Manager - BNY Mellon Fund Administration, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 143 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. He is 51 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since April 1991.

ROBERT S. ROBOL, Assistant Treasurer since August 2005.

Senior Accounting Manager- BNY Mellon Fund Administration, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 143 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. He is 55 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since October 1988.

ROBERT SALVIOLO, Assistant Treasurer since July 2007.

Senior Accounting Manager – BNY Mellon Fund Administration, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 143 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. He is 52 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since June 1989.

ROBERT SVAGNA, Assistant Treasurer since December 2002.

Senior Accounting Manager – BNY Mellon Fund Administration, and an officer of 64 investment companies (comprised of 143 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. He is 52 years old and has been an employee of the Adviser since November 1990.

JOSEPH W. CONNOLLY, Chief Compliance Officer since October 2004.

Chief Compliance Officer of the Adviser, the BNY Mellon Family of Funds and BNY Mellon Funds Trust (64 investment companies, comprised of 143 portfolios). He is 62 years old and has served in various capacities with the the Adviser since 1980, including manager of the firm’s Fund Accounting Department from 1997 through October 2001.

CARIDAD M. CAROSELLA, Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer since January 2016.

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer of the BNY Mellon Family of Funds and BNY Mellon Funds Trust since January 2016; from May 2015 to December 2015, Interim Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer of the BNY Mellon Family of Funds and BNY Mellon Funds Trust and the Distributor; from January 2012 to May 2015, AML Surveillance Officer of the Distributor. She is an officer of 57 investment companies (comprised of 136 portfolios) managed by the Adviser. She is 51 years old and has been an employee of the Distributor since 1997.

63

 

NOTES

64

 

NOTES

65

 

For More Information

BNY Mellon Strategic Beta Emerging Markets Equity Fund

240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286

Adviser

BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc.
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286

Sub-Adviser

Mellon Investments Corporation
BNY Mellon Center
One Boston Place
Boston, MA 02108-4408

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286

Transfer Agent &
Dividend Disbursing Agent

BNY Mellon Transfer, Inc.
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286

Distributor

BNY Mellon Securities Corporation
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286

   

Ticker Symbols:

Class A: DOFAX           Class C: DOFCX           Class I: DOFIX           Class Y: DOFYX

Telephone Call your financial representative or 1-800-373-9387

Mail The BNY Mellon Family of Funds, 144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, NY 11556-0144

E-mail Send your request to info@bnymellon.com

Internet Information can be viewed online or downloaded at www.bnymellonim.com/us

The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. The fund’s Forms N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

A description of the policies and procedures that the fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information regarding how the fund voted these proxies for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available at www.bnymellonim.com/us and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-373-9387.

   

© 2019 BNY Mellon Securities Corporation
6342AR1019

 


 

 

Item 2.             Code of Ethics.

The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions.  There have been no amendments to, or waivers in connection with, the Code of Ethics during the period covered by this Report.

Item 3.             Audit Committee Financial Expert.

The Registrant's Board has determined that Joseph S. DiMartino, a member of the Audit Committee of the Board, is an audit committee financial expert as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").  Joseph S. DiMartino is "independent" as defined by the SEC for purposes of audit committee financial expert determinations.

Item 4.             Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

(a)  Audit Fees.  The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years (the "Reporting Periods") for professional services rendered by the Registrant's principal accountant (the "Auditor") for the audit of the Registrant's annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the Auditor in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the Reporting Periods, were $47,467 in 2018 and $48,798 in 2019.

 

(b)  Audit-Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for assurance and related services by the Auditor that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Registrant's financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item 4 were $11,336 in 2018 and $9,143 in 2019.  These services consisted of one or more of the following: (i) agreed upon procedures related to compliance with Internal Revenue Code section 817(h), (ii) security counts required by Rule 17f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (iii) advisory services as to the accounting or disclosure treatment of Registrant transactions or events and (iv) advisory services to the accounting or disclosure treatment of the actual or potential impact to the Registrant of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Accounting Standards Boards or other regulatory or standard-setting bodies.

 

The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for non-audit assurance and related services by the Auditor to the Registrant's investment adviser (not including any sub-investment adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant ("Service Affiliates"), that were reasonably related to the performance of the annual audit of the Service Affiliate, which required pre-approval by the Audit Committee were $0 in 2018 and $0 in 2019.

 

(c)  Tax Fees.  The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for professional services rendered by the Auditor for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning ("Tax Services") were $17,838 in 2018 and $24,905 in 2019.  These services consisted of: (i) review or preparation of U.S. federal, state, local and excise tax returns; (ii) U.S. federal, state and local tax planning, advice and assistance regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments; (iii) tax advice regarding tax qualification matters and/or treatment of various financial instruments held or proposed to be acquired or held, and (iv) determination of Passive Foreign Investment Companies.  The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for Tax Services by the Auditor to Service Affiliates, which required pre-approval by the Audit Committee were $0 in 2018 and $0 in 2019.

 


 

(d)  All Other Fees.  The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for products and services provided by the Auditor, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item, were $4 in 2018 and $8 in 2019.  These services consisted of a review of the Registrant's anti-money laundering program.

 

The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for Non-Audit Services by the Auditor to Service Affiliates, other than the services reported in paragraphs (b) through (c) of this Item, which required pre-approval by the Audit Committee, were $0 in 2018 and $0 in 2019. 

 

(e)(1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. The Registrant's Audit Committee has established policies and procedures (the "Policy") for pre-approval (within specified fee limits) of the Auditor's engagements for non-audit services to the Registrant and Service Affiliates without specific case-by-case consideration.  The pre-approved services in the Policy can include pre-approved audit services, pre-approved audit-related services, pre-approved tax services and pre-approved all other services.  Pre-approval considerations include whether the proposed services are compatible with maintaining the Auditor's independence.  Pre-approvals pursuant to the Policy are considered annually.

(e)(2) Note. None of the services described in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item 4 were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

(f) None of the hours expended on the principal accountant's engagement to audit the registrant's financial statements for the most recent fiscal year were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant's full-time, permanent employees.

Non-Audit Fees. The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the Auditor for services rendered to the Registrant, and rendered to Service Affiliates, for the Reporting Periods were $678,320 in 2018 and $616,767 in 2019. 

 

Auditor Independence. The Registrant's Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to Service Affiliates, which were not pre-approved (not requiring pre-approval), is compatible with maintaining the Auditor's independence.

 

Item 5.             Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

                        Not applicable. 

Item 6.             Investments.

(a)                    Not applicable.

Item 7.             Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

                        Not applicable. 

Item 8.             Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.  

Item 9.             Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers.

                        Not applicable. 


 

Item 10.           Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There have been no material changes to the procedures applicable to Item 10.

Item 11.           Controls and Procedures.

(a)        The Registrant's principal executive and principal financial officers have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods and that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in the reports that it files or submits on Form N-CSR is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant's management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b)        There were no changes to the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting. 

Item 12.           Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

Item 13.           Exhibits.

(a)(1)    Code of ethics referred to in Item 2.

(a)(2)    Certifications of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(a)(3)    Not applicable.

(b)        Certification of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.


 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

BNY Mellon Opportunity Funds

By:       /s/ Renee LaRoche-Morris

            Renee LaRoche-Morris

            President (Principal Executive Officer)

 

Date:    December 20, 2019

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:       /s/ Renee LaRoche-Morris

            Renee LaRoche-Morris

            President (Principal Executive Officer)

 

Date:    December 20, 2019

 

By:       /s/ James Windels

            James Windels

            Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)

 

Date:    December 20, 2019

 

 

 


 

EXHIBIT INDEX

(a)(1)    Code of ethics referred to in Item 2.

(a)(2)    Certifications of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.  (EX-99.CERT)

(b)        Certification of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.  (EX-99.906CERT)

THE BNY MELLON FAMILY OF FUNDS

BNY MELLON FUNDS TRUST

 

Principal Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officer

Code of Ethics

I.                Covered Officers/Purpose of the Code

This code of ethics (the "Code"), adopted by the funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds and BNY Mellon Funds Trust (each, a "Fund"), applies to each Fund's Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer or Controller, or other persons performing similar functions, each of whom is listed on Exhibit A (the "Covered Officers"), for the purpose of promoting:

·          honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

·          full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Fund files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and in other public communications made by the Fund;

·          compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations;

·          the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and

·          accountability for adherence to the Code.

Each Covered Officer should adhere to a high standard of business ethics and should be sensitive to situations that may give rise to actual as well as apparent conflicts of interest.

II.              Covered Officers Should Handle Ethically Actual and Apparent Conflicts of Interest

Overview.  A "conflict of interest" occurs when a Covered Officer's private interest interferes with the interests of, or his service to, the Fund.  For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of his family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his position with the Fund.

Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationships between Covered Officers and the Fund and already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Advisers Act").  For example, Covered Officers may not individually engage in certain transactions (such as the purchase or sale of securities or other property) with the Fund because of their status as "affiliated persons" of the Fund.  The compliance programs and procedures of the Fund and the Fund's investment adviser (the "Adviser") are designed to prevent, or identify and correct, violations of these provisions.  The Code does not, and is not intended to, repeat or replace these programs and procedures, and the circumstances they cover fall outside of the parameters of the Code.

Although typically not presenting an opportunity for improper personal benefit, conflicts arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationship between the Fund and the Adviser of which the Covered Officers are also officers or employees.  As a result, the Code recognizes that the Covered Officers, in the ordinary course of their duties (whether formally for the Fund or for the Adviser, or for both), will be involved in establishing policies and implementing decisions that will have different effects on the Adviser and the Fund.  The participation of the Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contractual relationship between the Fund and the Adviser and is consistent with the performance by the Covered Officers of their duties as officers of the Fund and, if addressed in conformity with the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act, will be deemed to have been handled ethically.  In addition, it is recognized by the Fund's Board that the Covered Officers also may be officers or employees of one or more other investment companies covered by this or other codes of ethics.


 

Other conflicts of interest are covered by the Code, even if such conflicts of interest are not subject to provisions in the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act.  Covered Officers should keep in mind that the Code cannot enumerate every possible scenario.  The overarching principle of the Code is that the personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before the interest of the Fund.

Each Covered Officer must:

·          not use his personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence investment decisions or financial reporting by the Fund whereby the Covered Officer would benefit personally to the detriment of the Fund;

·          not cause the Fund to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal benefit of the Covered Officer rather than the benefit of the Fund; and

·          not retaliate against any employee or Covered Officer for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith.

III.            Disclosure and Compliance

·          Each Covered Officer should familiarize himself with the disclosure requirements generally applicable to the Fund within his area of responsibility;

·          each Covered Officer should not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Fund to others, whether within or outside the Fund, including to the Fund's Board members and auditors, and to governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations;

·          each Covered Officer should, to the extent appropriate within his area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of the Fund and the Adviser with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the reports and documents the Fund files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Fund; and

·          it is the responsibility of each Covered Officer to promote compliance with the standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

IV.            Reporting and Accountability

Each Covered Officer must:

·          upon adoption of the Code (or thereafter, as applicable, upon becoming a Covered Officer), affirm in writing to the Board that he has received, read, and understands the Code;

2


 

·          annually thereafter affirm to the Board that he has complied with the requirements of the Code; and

·          notify the Adviser's General Counsel (the "General Counsel") promptly if he knows of any violation of the Code.  Failure to do so is itself a violation of the Code.

The General Counsel is responsible for applying the Code to specific situations in which questions are presented under it and has the authority to interpret the Code in any particular situation.  However, waivers sought by any Covered Officer will be considered by the Fund's Board.

The Fund will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing the Code:

·          the General Counsel will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported to him;

·          if, after such investigation, the General Counsel believes that no violation has occurred, the General Counsel is not required to take any further action;

·          any matter that the General Counsel believes is a violation will be reported to the Board;

·          if the Board concurs that a violation has occurred, it will consider appropriate action, which may include: review of, and appropriate modifications to, applicable policies and procedures; notification to appropriate personnel of the Adviser or its board; or dismissal of the Covered Officer;

·          the Board will be responsible for granting waivers, as appropriate; and

·          any waivers of or amendments to the Code, to the extent required, will be disclosed as provided by SEC rules.

V.              Other Policies and Procedures

The Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the Fund for purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and forms applicable to registered investment companies thereunder.  The Fund's, its principal underwriter's and the Adviser's codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act and the Adviser's additional policies and procedures, including its Code of Conduct, are separate requirements applying to the Covered Officers and others, and are not part of the Code.

VI.            Amendments

Except as to Exhibit A, the Code may not be amended except in written form, which is specifically approved or ratified by a majority vote of the Fund's Board, including a majority of independent Board members.

VII.          Confidentiality

All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to the Code will be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly.  Except as otherwise required by law or the Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the appropriate Funds and their counsel, the appropriate Boards (or Committees) and their counsel and the Adviser.

 

3


 

VIII.       Internal Use

The Code is intended solely for the internal use by the Fund and does not constitute an admission, by or on behalf of the Fund, as to any fact, circumstance, or legal conclusion.

 

Dated as of:  June 3, 2019

4


 

Exhibit A

Persons Covered by the Code of Ethics

 

 

Renee LaRoche-Morris

President

(Principal Executive Officer, BNY Mellon Family of Funds)

 

 

 

Patrick T. Crowe

President

(Principal Executive Officer, BNY Mellon Funds Trust)

 

 

 

James M. Windels

Treasurer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

5

[EX-99.CERT]—Exhibit  (a)(2)

SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION

 

I, Renee LaRoche-Morris, certify that:

1.  I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of BNY Mellon Opportunity Funds;

2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.  The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.  The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

                                                                                          By:         /s/ Renee LaRoche-Morris

                                                                                                         Renee LaRoche-Morris

                                                                                                         President (Principal Executive Officer)

                                                                                          Date:      December 20, 2019


 

SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION

I, James Windels, certify that:

1.  I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of BNY Mellon Opportunity Funds;

2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.  The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.  The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

                                                                                          By:         /s/ James Windels

                                                                                                         James Windels

                                                                                                         Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)

                                                                                          Date:      December 20, 2019

[EX-99.906CERT]

Exhibit (b)

 

 

SECTION 906 CERTIFICATIONS

               In connection with this report on Form N-CSR for the Registrant as furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), the undersigned hereby certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

               (1)          the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as applicable; and

 

               (2)          the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

 

                                                                                          By:         /s/ Renee LaRoche-Morris

                                                                                          Renee LaRoche-Morris

                                                                                                         President (Principal Executive Officer)

                                                                                          Date:      December 20, 2019

 

                                                                                          By:         /s/ James Windels

                                                                                                         James Windels

                                                                                                         Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)

 

                                                                                          Date:      December 20, 2019

 

 

This certificate is furnished pursuant to the requirements of Form N-CSR and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.