As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 2015
1933 Act File No. 033-11387
1940 Act File No. 811-04984
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 | x | ||
Pre-Effective Amendment No. | ¨ | ||
Post-Effective Amendment No. 237 | x | ||
and/or | |||
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 | x | ||
Amendment No. 238 | x | ||
(Check appropriate box or boxes.) | |||
AMERICAN BEACON FUNDS
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
220 East Las Colinas Boulevard, Suite 1200
Irving, Texas 75039
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (817) 391-6100
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
x | immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) |
¨ | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b) |
¨ | 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |
¨ | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |
¨ | 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) |
¨ | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485 |
If appropriate, check the following box:
¨ | This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment. |
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American Beacon |
PROSPECTUS
December 11, 2015
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Share Class |
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A |
C |
Y |
Institutional |
Investor |
SP |
American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund |
SOUAX |
SOUCX |
SPFYX |
SPFLX |
SPFPX |
SPFRX |
This Prospectus contains important information you should know about investing, including information about risks. Please read it before you invest and keep it for future reference.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of the prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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Additional Information About Investment Policies and Strategies |
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Back Cover
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American Beacon
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Investment Objective
The Fund's investment objective is to seek to provide a high level of current income consistent with strong risk-adjusted returns.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales discounts if you and your eligible family members invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in all classes of the American Beacon Funds on an aggregated basis. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in "Choosing Your Share Class" on page 13 of the Prospectus and "Additional Purchase and Sale Information for A Class Shares" on page 24 of the statement of additional information ("SAI").
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Share Class |
A |
C |
Y |
Institutional |
Investor |
SP |
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Maximum sales charge imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) |
2.50 |
% |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
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Maximum deferred sales charge (as a percentage of the lower of original offering price or redemption proceeds) |
0.50 |
% 1 |
1.00 |
% |
None |
None |
None |
None |
1 |
A contingent deferred sales charge (''CDSC'') of 0.50% will be charged on certain purchases of $250,000 or more of A Class shares that are redeemed in whole or part within 18 months of purchase. |
2 |
Other Expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are based on estimated expenses for the current fiscal year. |
3 |
The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of the Fund's A Class, C Class, Y Class, Institutional Class, Investor Class and SP Class shares, as applicable, through December 31, 2017 to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses exceed 1.24% for the A Class, 1.99% for the C Class, 0.94% for the Y Class, 0.84% for the Institutional Class, 1.22% for the Investor Class, and 1.15% for the SP Class (excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, securities lending fees, expenses associated with securities sold short, litigation, and other extraordinary expenses). The contractual expense reimbursement can be changed only with the approval of a majority of the Fund's Board of Trustees. The Manager can be reimbursed by the Fund for any contractual fee waivers or expense reimbursements if reimbursement to the Manager (a) occurs within three years after the Manager's own waiver or reimbursement and (b) does not cause the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses of a class to exceed the contractual percentage limit in effect at the time of the waiver/reimbursement. |
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same, except that the example reflects the fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangement for each share class through December 31, 2017. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
Share Class |
1 Year |
3 Years |
A |
$374 |
$748 |
C |
$303 |
$739 |
Y |
$97 |
$418 |
Institutional |
$87 |
$386 |
Investor |
$125 |
$504 |
SP |
$118 |
$476 |
Assuming no redemption of shares:
Share Class |
1 Year |
3 Years |
C |
$203 |
$739 |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or ''turns over'' its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. The Fund's portfolio turnover rate for the Fund's last fiscal year is not provided because the Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus.
1 |
Prospectus – Fund Summary |
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in income producing floating rate loans and other floating rate debt securities, which may include bonds, notes and debentures issued by corporations, debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, and commercial paper. The Fund invests primarily in senior floating rate loans ("Floating Rate Loans") which are made by banks and other large financial institutions to various companies and are senior in the borrowing companies' capital structure. Floating Rate Loans typically are of below investment grade quality (sometimes referred to as "high yield" or "junk" bonds) and have below investment grade credit ratings, which ratings are associated with securities having high risk, speculative characteristics, or are unrated but deemed by the sub-advisor to be of equivalent quality.
The sub-advisor utilizes a bottom-up, fundamental, research intensive approach to achieve the Fund's objective by identifying fundamentally attractive Floating Rate Loans or variable-rate investments, which it considers under-valued, which pay interest at variable-rates and are determined periodically, on the basis of a floating base lending rate, such as the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), with or without a floor plus a fixed spread and other investments, including senior secured and unsecured bonds, and by creating a portfolio with an optimal blend of these assets. In managing the Fund, the sub-advisor seeks to invest in a portfolio of Floating Rate Loans that it believes will be less volatile over time than the general loan market. The sub-advisor considers preservation of capital when consistent with the Fund's investment objective. The Fund invests in securities without regard to maturity or duration.
The sub-advisor focuses on relative value across industries, within industries and within individual capital structures. Given the focus on relative value, the Fund has a target investment life-cycle of 3 to 12 months and does not employ a "buy-and-hold to maturity" strategy. Therefore, the Fund may have high portfolio turnover. The sub-advisor generally sells a security when it believes its projected future return becomes unattractive relative to the rest of the portfolio or the investable universe.
The interest rates payable on Floating Rate Loans and other floating rate debt securities are not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. The Floating Rate Loans in which the Fund invests typically have multiple reset periods during the year with each reset period applicable to a designated portion of the loan. As short-term interest rates decline, interest payable to the Fund typically should decrease. Alternatively, during periods of increasing interest rates, changes in the interest rates of floating rate securities may lag behind changes in market rates or may have limits on the maximum increases in interest rates. The amount of time that will pass before the Fund experiences the effects of changing short-term interest rates will depend on the dollar-weighted average time until the next interest rate adjustment on the Fund's portfolio of loans. Loans usually have mandatory and optional prepayment provisions. Because of prepayments, the actual remaining maturity of a loan may be considerably less than its stated maturity. If a loan is prepaid, the Fund will have to reinvest the proceeds in other loans or securities, which may have a lower fixed spread over its base rate. In such a case, the amount of interest paid to the Fund would likely decrease.
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it may invest a high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers.
The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in high quality fixed-income securities, money market instruments, money market mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, or hold cash or cash equivalents in such amounts as the sub-advisor deems appropriate under certain circumstances, including when the sub-advisor believes the Fund needs to retain cash. Money market instruments, exchange-traded funds, or short-term debt securities held by the Fund for cash management or defensive investing purposes can fluctuate in value.
Principal Risks
There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you could lose part or all of your investment in the Fund. The Fund is not designed for investors who need an assured level of income and is intended to be a long-term investment. The Fund is not a complete investment program and may not be appropriate for all investors. Investors should carefully consider their own investment goals and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are:
Callable Securities Risk
The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities with call features. A call feature allows the issuer of the security to redeem
or call the security prior to its stated maturity date. In periods of falling interest rates, issuers may be more likely to
call in securities that are paying higher coupon rates than prevailing interest rates. In the event of a call, the Fund would
lose the income that would have been earned to maturity on that security, and the proceeds received by the Fund may be invested
in securities paying lower coupon rates. Thus, the Fund's income could be reduced as a result of a call.
Credit Risk
The Fund is subject to the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a debt security, or the counterparty to a derivatives contract
or a loan will fail to make timely payment of interest or principal or otherwise honor its obligations or default completely.
Credit risk is typically greater for securities with ratings that are below investment grade (commonly referred to as "junk
bonds"). Since the Fund can invest significantly in lower-quality debt securities considered speculative in nature, this risk
will be substantial.
Floating Rate Securities Risk
The interest rates payable on floating rate securities are not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates.
The interest rate on a floating rate security is a variable rate which is tied to another interest rate, such as a money-market
index or Treasury bill rate. Floating rate securities are subject to interest rate risk and credit risk.
As short-term interest rates decline, interest payable on floating rate securities typically should decrease. Alternatively, during periods of increasing interest rates, changes in the interest rates of floating rate securities may lag behind changes in market rates or may have limits on the maximum increases in interest rates. The value of floating rate securities may decline if their interest rates do not rise as much, or as quickly, as interest rates in general. Conversely, floating rate securities will not generally increase in value if interest rates decline.
High Portfolio Turnover
Risk
Portfolio turnover is a measure of the Fund's trading activity over a one-year period. A portfolio turnover rate of 100%
would indicate that the Fund sold and replaced the entire value of its securities holdings during the period. High portfolio
turnover could increase the Fund's transaction costs and possibly have a negative impact on performance, and generate higher
capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
High Yield Securities Risk
Investing in high yield, below investment-grade securities (commonly referred to as "junk bonds") generally involves significantly
greater risks of loss of your money than an investment in investment grade securities. High yield debt securities may fluctuate
more widely in price and yield and may fall in price when the economy is weak or expected to become weak. High yield securities
are considered to be speculative with respect to an issuer's ability to pay interest and principal and carry a greater risk
that the issuers of lower-rated securities will default on the timely payment of principal and interest. Below investment
grade securities may experience greater price volatility and less liquidity than investment grade securities.
Prospectus – Fund Summary |
2 |
Interest Rate Risk
The Fund is subject to the risk that the market value of fixed income securities it holds will decline due to changes in
interest rates. As of the date of this Prospectus, interest rates are at or near historic lows, but may rise substantially
and/or rapidly, potentially resulting in substantial losses to the Fund. Generally, the value of investments with interest
rate risk, such as fixed income securities, will move in the opposite direction to movements in interest rates. The prices
of fixed income securities are also affected by their durations. Fixed income securities with longer duration generally have
greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates. For example, if a bond has a duration of four years, a 1% increase in interest
rates could be expected to result in a 4% decrease in the value of the bond. An increase in interest rates can impact markets
broadly as well. For example, some investors buy securities with borrowed money; an increase in interest rates can cause a
decline in those markets.
Investment Risk
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or any other government agency. When you sell your shares of the Fund, they could be worth less than what you
paid for them. Therefore, you may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Issuer Risk
The value of, and/or the return generated by, a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the
issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer's goods or services, as well
as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets.
Liquidity Risk
The Fund is susceptible to the risk that certain investments held by the Fund may have limited marketability or be subject
to restrictions on sale, and may be difficult to sell at favorable times or prices. The Fund could lose money if it is unable
to dispose of an investment at a time that is most beneficial to the Fund.
Loan Interests Risk
Unlike publicly traded common stocks which trade on national exchanges, there is no central place or exchange for loans to
trade. Loans trade in an over-the-counter market, and confirmation and settlement, which are effected through standardized
procedures and documentation, may take significantly longer than seven days to complete. Extended trade settlement periods
may, in unusual market conditions with a high volume of shareholder redemptions, present a risk to shareholders regarding
the Fund's ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time periods stated in its prospectus. The secondary market
for floating rate loans also may be subject to irregular trading activity and wide bid/ask spreads. The lack of an active
trading market for certain floating rate loans may impair the ability of the Fund to sell its loan interests at a time when
it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may require the Fund to sell them at prices that are less than what the Fund regards
as their fair market value and may make it difficult to value such loans. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged
companies or transactions, such as corporate acquisitions, may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or
market conditions.
Market Risk
Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic
sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Fund's shares. The Fund's fixed-income investments
are subject to the risk that the lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the Fund's ability
to purchase and sell the debt securities. Such events may cause the value of securities owned by the Fund to go up or down,
sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, and may lead to increased redemptions, which could cause the Fund to experience a loss
when selling securities to meet redemption requests by shareholders. Turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity
in credit, fixed-income, or equity markets may negatively affect many issuers worldwide which could adversely affect the Fund.
Non-Diversification Risk
The Fund is non-diversified, which means the Fund may focus its investments in the securities of a comparatively small number
of issuers. Investment in securities of a limited number of issuers exposes the Fund to greater market risk and potential
losses than if assets were diversified among the securities of a greater number of investments.
Other Investment Companies Risk
The Fund may invest in shares of other registered investment companies, including money market funds. To the extent that
the Fund invests in shares of other registered investment companies, the Fund will indirectly bear the fees and expenses charged
by the underlying funds in addition to the Fund's direct fees and expenses and will be subject to the risks associated with
investments in those funds. For example, money market funds are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, and market risk.
Prepayment Risk
Prepayment risk is the risk that the principal amount of the underlying collateral may be repaid prior to the bond's maturity
date. Due to a decline in interest rates or excess cash flow, a debt security may be called or otherwise prepaid before maturity.
If this occurs, no additional interest will be paid on the investment and the Fund may have to invest at a lower rate, may
not benefit from an increase in value that may result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire
the security.
Redemption Risk
Due to a rise in interest rates or other changing government policies that may cause investors to move out of fixed income
securities on a large scale, the Fund may experience periods of heavy redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets
at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value.
Reliance on Corporate Management and Financial Reporting Risk
The Fund may trade various corporate debt instruments and collateralized debt securities. The sub-advisor may select investments
for the Fund in part on the basis of information and data made directly available to the sub-advisor by the issuers of securities
or through sources other than the issuers such as collateral pool servicers. The sub-advisor is dependent upon the integrity
of the management of these issuers and of such servicers and the financial and collateral performance reporting processes
in general.
Sector Risk
Sector risk is the risk associated with the Fund holding a significant amount of investments in similar businesses, which
could be affected by the same economic or market conditions.
Securities Selection Risk
Securities selected by a sub-advisor or the Manager for the Fund may not perform to expectations. It may not be possible
to predict or to hedge against a widening in the yield of the securities selected by the sub-advisor. This could result in
the Fund's underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives.
3 |
Prospectus – Fund Summary |
Unrated Securities Risk
Because the Fund may purchase securities that are not rated by any rating organization, a sub-advisor may internally assign
ratings to certain of those securities, after assessing their credit quality, in categories of those similar to those of rating
organizations. Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may be difficult to value, which means the
Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price.
U.S. Government Securities and Government Sponsored Enterprises Risk
A security backed by the U.S. Treasury or the full faith and credit of the United States is guaranteed by the applicable
entity only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity. The market prices for such securities
are not guaranteed and will fluctuate. Securities held by the Fund that are issued by government-sponsored enterprises, such
as the Federal National Mortgage Association (''Fannie Mae''), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (''Freddie Mac''),
Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, and the Tennessee Valley Authority are not guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury
and are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. U.S. Government securities and securities of government
sponsored entities are also subject to credit risk, interest rate risk and market risk.
Fund Performance
The bar chart and table below provide an indication of the risk of investing in the Fund . The table discloses how the Fund's performance for the past calendar year and since inception period through December 31, 2014 compares to a broad-based market index, which is the Fund's benchmark index and was the benchmark index of the Fund's predecessor.
The SP Class shares and Institutional Class shares of the Fund have adopted the performance history and financial statements of the Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares, respectively, of the Fund's predecessor. The chart below shows the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class shares for all periods. The table below shows the performance of the Fund's SP Class and Institutional Class shares for all periods. The performance shown for the SP Class shares represents the performance of the predecessor Fund's Institutional Class shares from December 31, 2013 through May 30, 2014 and the performance of the predecessor Fund's Investor Class shares from May 31, 2014 through December 31, 2014. The predecessor Fund's Institutional Class shares would have had similar annual returns to its Investor Class shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio securities. However, the Institutional Class shares had different expenses than the Investor Class shares.
Performance information of A Class, C Class, Y Class and Investor Class shares of the Fund is not provided because these share classes of the Fund did not commence operations prior to the date of this Prospectus. You may obtain updated performance information on the Fund's website at www.americanbeaconfunds.com. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Calendar year total returns. Year Ended 12/31 * |
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Highest Quarterly Return:
Lowest Quarterly Return:
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* |
The year-to-date return as of September 30, 2015 was 5.19%. |
Average annual total returns for periods ended December 31, 2014 |
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1 Year |
Since Inception (December 3, 2012) |
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Institutional Class |
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Returns Before Taxes |
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4.21 |
% |
6.49 |
% |
Returns After Taxes on Distributions |
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1.33 |
% |
3.84 |
% |
Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sales of Fund Shares |
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2.45 |
% |
3.77 |
% |
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1 Year |
Since Inception (May 31, 2014) |
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Share Class (Before Taxes) |
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SP |
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4.21 |
% |
6.49 |
% |
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1 Year |
Since Inception (December 3, 2012) |
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Index (Reflects no deduction for fees expenses or taxes) |
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Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index |
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2.06 |
% |
4.28 |
% |
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local income taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. The return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit from any losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the measurement period. If you hold your Fund shares through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as an individual retirement account ("IRA") or a 401(k) plan, the after-tax returns do not apply to your situation. After-tax returns are shown for the Fund's Institutional Class shares: after-tax returns for other share classes will vary.
Prospectus – Fund Summary |
4 |
Management
The Manager
The Fund has retained American Beacon Advisors, Inc. to serve as its Manager.
Sub-Advisor
The Fund's investment sub-advisor is Sound Point Capital Management, LP.
Portfolio Managers
Sound Point
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Stephen Ketchum
*
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Rick Richert
*
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* |
Includes Predecessor Fund. |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may buy or sell shares of the Fund through a direct mutual fund account, through a retirement account, through an investment professional or another financial intermediary. As a direct mutual fund account shareholder, you may buy or sell shares in various ways:
Internet |
www.americanbeaconfunds.com |
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Phone |
To reach an American Beacon representative call 1-800-658-5811, option 1
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American Beacon Funds
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Overnight Delivery:
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You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open, at the Fund's NAV per share next calculated after your order is received in proper form, subject to any applicable sales charge.
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New Account |
Existing Account |
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Share Class |
Minimum |
Purchase/Redemption Minimum by Check/ACH/Exchange |
Purchase/Redemption Minimum by Wire |
C |
$1,000 |
$50 |
$250 |
SP * |
$1,000 |
$50 |
None |
A, Investor |
$2,500 |
$50 |
$250 |
Y |
$100,000 |
$50 |
None |
Institutional |
$250,000 |
$50 |
None |
* |
SP Class shares are offered to retail investors who invest directly through a financial intermediary, such as a broker, or through employee directed benefit plans and were formerly shareholders of the Investor Class shares of the Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund prior to its reorganization into the American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund. |
Tax Information
Dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, that you receive from the Fund are subject to federal income tax and may also be subject to state and local income taxes, unless you are a tax-exempt entity or your account is tax deferred (in which case you may be taxed later, upon the withdrawal of your investment from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and the Fund's distributor or the Manager may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your individual financial adviser to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your individual financial adviser or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
5 |
Prospectus – Fund Summary |
Additional Information About the Fund
To help you better understand the Fund, this section provides a detailed discussion of the Fund's investment policies, its principal strategies and risks and performance benchmark(s). However, this Prospectus does not describe all of the Fund's investment practices. For additional information, please see the Fund's SAI, which is available at www.americanbeaconfunds.com or by contacting us via telephone at 1-800-658-5811, by U.S. mail at P.O. Box 219643, Kansas City, MO 64121-9643, or by e-mail at americanbeaconfunds@ambeacon.com.
Additional Information About Investment Policies and Strategies
Investment Objective
The Fund's investment objective is to provide a high level of current income consistent with strong risk-adjusted returns.
The Fund's investment objective is "non-fundamental", which means that it may be changed by the Fund's Board of Trustees ("Board") without the approval of Fund shareholders.
Temporary Defensive Policy
The Fund may depart from its principal investment strategy by taking temporary defensive positions in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. During these times, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.
Additional Information About the Management of the Fund
The Fund has retained American Beacon Advisors, Inc. to serve as its Manager. The Manager provides or oversees the provision of all administrative, investment advisory and portfolio management services to the Fund:
develops overall investment strategies for the Fund,
monitors and evaluates the sub-advisors' investment performance,
monitors the sub-advisors' compliance with the Fund's investment objectives, policies and restrictions, and
oversees the Fund's securities lending activities and actions taken by the securities lending agent to the extent applicable.
The assets of the Fund are allocated by the Manager to one sub-advisor, Sound Point Capital Management, L.P. ("Sound Point") Sound Point has full discretion to purchase and sell securities for the Fund in accordance with the Fund's objectives, policies, restrictions and more specific strategies provided by the Manager. The Manager oversees the sub-advisor but does not reassess individual security selections made by the sub-advisor for the Fund.
Although the Manager has no current intention to do so, the Fund's assets may be allocated among one or more additional sub-advisors in the future by the Manager. The Fund operates in a manager of managers structure. The Fund and the Manager have received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") that permits the Fund, subject to certain conditions and approval by the Board, to hire and replace sub-advisors that are unaffiliated with the Manager without approval of shareholders. The Manager has ultimate responsibility, subject to oversight by the Board, to oversee sub-advisors and recommend their hiring, termination and replacement. The order also exempts the Fund from disclosing the advisory fees paid by the Fund to individual sub-advisors that are unaffiliated with the Manager in various documents filed with the SEC and provided to shareholders. Instead, the fees payable to unaffiliated sub-advisors are aggregated, and fees payable to sub-advisors that are affiliated with the Manager, if any, would be aggregated with fees payable to the Manager. Disclosure of the separate fees paid to an affiliated sub-advisor would be required. Whenever a sub-advisor change is proposed in reliance on the order, in order for the change to be implemented, the Board, including a majority of its "non-interested" trustees, must approve the change. In addition, the Fund is required to provide shareholders with certain information regarding any new sub-advisor within 90 days of the hiring of any new sub-advisor.
Additional Information About Investments
This section provides more detailed information regarding certain of the investments the Fund may invest in as well as information regarding the Fund's strategy with respect to investment of cash balances.
Bank Loans and Senior Loans
Bank loans are fixed and floating rate loans arranged through private negotiations between a company or a non-U.S. government and one or more financial institutions (lenders). The Fund may invest in senior loans, which are floating rate loans, sometimes referred to as adjustable rate loans that hold a senior position in the capital structure of U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships or other business entities. Under normal circumstances, senior loans have priority of claim ahead of other obligations of a borrower in the event of liquidation. Bank loans and senior loans may be collateralized or uncollateralized. They pay interest at rates that float above, or are adjusted periodically based on, a benchmark that reflects current interest rates. The Fund may invest in such loans in the form of participations in loans and assignments of all or a portion of loans from third parties. In connection with purchasing participations in such instruments, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower, and the Fund may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation. When the Fund purchases assignments from lenders, it will acquire direct rights against the borrower on the loan.
The Fund may acquire bank and senior loan assignments or participations. The purchaser of an assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations of the assigning institution and becomes a lender under the credit agreement with respect to the debt obligation; however, the purchaser's rights can be more restricted than those of the assigning institution, and, in any event, the Fund may not be able to unilaterally enforce all rights and remedies under the loan and with regard to any associated collateral. A participation typically results in a contractual relationship only with the institution participating out the interest, not with the borrower. In purchasing participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement against the borrower, and the Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the debt obligation in which it has purchased the participation. As a result, the Fund will be exposed to the credit risk of both the borrower and the institution selling the participation.
Cash Management Investments
The Fund may invest cash balances in money market funds that are registered as investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the ''Investment Company Act''), including money market funds that are advised by the Manager or a sub-advisor, and in futures contracts. If the Fund invests in money market funds, shareholders will bear their proportionate share of the expenses, including, for example, advisory and administrative fees, of the money market funds in which the Fund invests, such as advisory fees charged by the Manager to any applicable money market funds advised by the Manager. Shareholders also would be exposed to the risks associated with money market funds and the portfolio investments of such money market funds, including that a money market fund's yield will be lower than the return that the Fund would have derived from other investments that would provide liquidity.
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To gain market exposure on cash balances or reduce market exposure in anticipation of liquidity needs, the Fund also may purchase and sell futures contracts on a daily basis that relate to securities in which they may invest directly and indices comprised of such securities. A futures contract is a contract to purchase or sell a particular security, or the cash value of an index, at a specified future date at a price agreed upon when the contract is made. Under such contracts, no delivery of the actual securities is required. Rather, upon the expiration of the contract, settlement is made by exchanging cash in an amount equal to the difference between the contract price and the closing price of a security or index at expiration, net of the variation margin that was previously paid. As cash balances are invested in securities, the Fund may invest simultaneously those balances in futures contracts until the cash balances are delivered to settle the securities transactions. Because the Fund will have market exposure simultaneously in both the invested securities and futures contracts, the Fund may have more than 100% of its assets exposed to the markets. This can magnify gains and losses in the Fund. The Fund also may have to sell assets at inopportune times to satisfy its settlement or collateral obligations. The risks associated with the use of futures contracts also include that there may be an imperfect correlation between the changes in market value of the securities held by the Fund and the prices of futures contracts and that there may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract.
Fixed Income Investments
The Fund may hold debt, including government and corporate debt, and other fixed-income securities. Typically, the values of fixed-income securities change inversely with prevailing interest rates. Therefore, a fundamental risk of fixed-income securities is interest rate risk, which is the risk that their value will generally decline as prevailing interest rates rise, which may cause the Fund's net asset value to likewise decrease, and vice versa. How specific fixed-income securities may react to changes in interest rates will depend on the specific characteristics of each security. For example, while securities with longer maturities tend to produce higher yields, they also tend to be more sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates and are therefore more volatile than shorter-term securities and are subject to greater market fluctuations as a result of changes in interest rates. Fixed-income securities are also subject to credit risk, which is the risk that the credit strength of an issuer of a fixed-income security will weaken and/or that the issuer will be unable to make timely principal and interest payments and that the security may go into default.
Floating Rate Securities
The interest rates payable on certain fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest are not fixed and may fluctuate
based upon changes in market rates. Floating rate obligations are less effective than fixed rate instruments at locking in
a particular yield. Nevertheless, such obligations may fluctuate in value in response to interest rate changes if there is
a delay between changes in market interest rates and the interest reset date for the obligation, or for other reasons.
The Fund may invest in floating rate debt instruments ("floaters") and engage in credit spread trades. The interest rate
on a floater is a variable rate which is tied to another interest rate, such as a money-market index or Treasury bill rate.
The interest rate on a floater resets periodically, typically every six months. While, because of the interest rate reset
feature, floaters provide the Fund with a certain degree of protection against rises in interest rates, the Fund will participate
in any declines in interest rates as well. A credit spread trade is an investment position relating to a difference in the
prices or interest rates of two securities or currencies, where the value of the investment position is determined by movements
in the difference between the prices or interest rates, as the case may be, of the respective securities or currencies.
High Yield Bonds
High yield, non-investment grade bonds (also known as "junk bonds") are low-quality, high-risk corporate bonds that generally offer a high level of current income. These bonds are considered speculative by rating organizations. For example, Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch, Inc. rate them below Baa 3 and BBB-, respectively. Please see "Appendix C Ratings Definitions" in the SAI for an explanation of the ratings applied to high yield bonds. High yield bonds are often issued as a result of corporate restructurings, such as leveraged buyouts, mergers, acquisitions, or other similar events. They may also be issued by smaller, less creditworthy companies or by highly leveraged firms, which are generally less able to make scheduled payments of interest and principal than more financially stable firms. Because of their low credit quality, high-yield bonds must pay higher interest to compensate investors for the substantial credit risk they assume.
Other Investment Companies Securities
The Fund at times may invest in shares of other investment companies, including money market funds. The Fund may invest in investment company securities advised by the Manager or the sub-advisor. Investments in the securities of other investment companies may involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. By investing in another investment company, the Fund becomes a shareholder of that investment company. As a result, Fund shareholders indirectly will bear the Fund's proportionate share of the fees and expenses paid by shareholders of the other investment company, in addition to the fees and expenses Fund shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund's own operations. These other fees and expenses are reflected as Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses and are included in the Fees and Expenses Table for the Fund in this Prospectus. Investment in other investment companies may involve the payment of substantial premiums above the value of such issuer's portfolio securities.
The Fund can invest free cash balances in registered open-end investment companies regulated as money market funds under the Investment Company Act, to provide liquidity or for defensive purposes. The Fund would invest in money market funds rather than purchasing individual short-term investments. If the Fund invests in money market funds, shareholders will bear their proportionate share of the expenses, including for example, advisory and administrative fees, of the money market funds in which the Fund invests, including advisory fees charged by the Manager to any applicable money market funds advised by the Manager.
Additional Information About Risks
The greatest risk of investing in a mutual fund is that its returns will fluctuate and you could lose money. The following section provides additional information regarding the Fund's principal risk factors in light of its principal investment strategies.
Callable Securities Risk
The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities with call features. A call feature allows the issuer of the security to redeem or call the security prior to its stated maturity date. In periods of falling interest rates, issuers may be more likely to call in securities that are paying higher coupon rates than prevailing interest rates. In the event of a call, the Fund would lose the income that would have been earned to maturity on that security, and the proceeds received by the Fund may be invested in securities paying lower coupon rates. Thus, the Fund's income could be reduced as a result of a call. In addition, the market value of a callable security may decrease if it is perceived by the market as likely to be called, which could have a negative impact on the Fund's total return.
Credit Risk
The Fund is subject to the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a debt security or the counterparty to a derivatives contract or a loan will fail to make timely payment of interest or principal or otherwise honor its obligations or default completely. The strategies utilized by the sub-advisor require accurate and
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detailed credit analysis of issuers and there can be no assurance that its analysis will be accurate or complete. The Fund may be subject to substantial losses in the event of credit deterioration or bankruptcy of one or more issuers in its portfolio. Financial strength and solvency of an issuer are the primary factors influencing credit risk. In addition, inadequacy of collateral or credit enhancement for a debt instrument may affect its credit risk. Credit risk may change over the life of an instrument and debt obligations which are rated by rating agencies may be subject to downgrade. The credit ratings of debt instruments and investments represent the rating agencies' opinions regarding their credit quality and are not a guarantee of future credit performance of such securities. Rating agencies attempt to evaluate the safety of the timely payment of principal and interest (or preferred dividends) and do not evaluate the risks of fluctuations in market value. The ratings assigned to securities by rating agencies do not purport to fully reflect the true risks of an investment. Further, in recent years many highly rated structured securities have been subject to substantial losses as the economic assumptions on which their ratings were based proved to be materially inaccurate. A decline in the credit rating of an individual security held by the Fund may have an adverse impact on its price and make it difficult for the Fund to sell it. Rating agencies might not always change their credit rating on an issuer or security in a timely manner to reflect events that could affect the issuer's ability to make timely payments on its obligations. Credit risk is typically greater for securities with ratings that are below investment grade. Since the Fund can invest significantly in lower-quality investments considered speculative in nature, this risk will be substantial.
Floating Rate Securities Risk
The interest rates payable on certain fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest are not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. The interest rate on a floating rate security is a variable rate which is tied to another interest rate, such as a money-market index or Treasury bill rate. Additionally, such securities are subject to interest rate risk and may fluctuate in value in response to interest rate changes if there is a delay between changes in market interest rates and the interest reset date for the obligation, or for other reasons. As short-term interest rates decline, interest payable on floating rate securities typically should decrease. Alternatively, during periods of increasing interest rates, changes in the interest rates of floating rate securities may lag behind changes in market rates or may have limits on the maximum increases in interest rates. The value of floating rate securities may decline if their interest rates do not rise as much, or as quickly, as interest rates in general. Conversely, floating rate securities will not generally increase in value if interest rates decline. Floating rate securities are less effective at locking in a particular yield and are subject to credit risk.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk
Portfolio turnover is a measure of the Fund's trading activity over a one-year period. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% would indicate that the Fund sold and replaced the entire value of its securities holdings during the period. High portfolio turnover could increase the Fund's transaction costs, have a negative impact on performance , and generate higher capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate. Frequent trading by the Fund could also result in increased realized net capital gains, distributions of which are taxable to the Fund's shareholders (including net short-term capital gain distributions, which are taxable to them as ordinary income).
High Yield Securities Risk
Investing in below-investment grade securities (commonly referred to as ''junk bonds'') generally involves significantly greater risks of loss of your money than an investment in investment-grade securities. Compared with issuers of investment grade securities, high yield securities are more likely to encounter financial difficulties and to be materially affected by these difficulties. Rising interest rates may compound these difficulties and reduce an issuer's ability to repay principal and interest obligations. Issuers of lower-rated securities also have a greater risk of default or bankruptcy. Below-investment-grade securities may experience greater price volatility and less liquidity than investment-grade securities.
Lower-rated securities are subject to certain risks that may not be present with investments in higher-grade securities. Investors should consider carefully their ability to assume the risks associated with lower-rated securities before investing in the Fund. The lower rating of certain high yielding corporate income securities reflects a greater possibility that the financial condition of the issuer or adverse changes in general economic conditions may impair the ability of the issuer to pay income and principal. Changes by rating agencies in their ratings of a fixed income security also may affect the value of these investments. The prices of these high yielding securities tend to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher-rated investments, but more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual corporate developments. During economic downturns or periods of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress that adversely affects their ability to service principal and interest payment obligations, to meet projected business goals or to obtain additional financing, and the markets for their securities may be more volatile. If an issuer defaults, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. Additionally, accruals of interest income for the Fund may have to be adjusted in the event of default. In the event of an issuer's default, the Fund may write off prior income accruals for that issuer, resulting in a reduction in the Fund's current dividend payment. Frequently, the higher yields of high-yielding securities may not reflect the value of the income stream that holders of such securities may expect, but rather the risk that such securities may lose a substantial portion of their value as a result of their issuer's financial restructuring or default. Additionally, an economic downturn or an increase in interest rates could have a negative effect on the high-yield securities market and on the market value of the high-yield securities held by the Fund, as well as on the ability of the issuers of such securities to repay principal and interest on their borrowings.
Interest Rate Risk
Investments in fixed-income securities or derivatives that are influenced by interest rates are subject to interest rate risk. Floating rate securities generally are less sensitive to interest rate changes. The Fund may be particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates if it invests in debt securities with intermediate and long terms to maturity. Debt securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates, usually making them more volatile than debt securities with shorter durations. For example, if a bond has a duration of four years, a 1% increase in interest rates could be expected to result in a 4% decrease in the value of the bond. Yields of debt securities will fluctuate over time. Since the financial crisis that started in 2008, the Federal Reserve has attempted to stabilize the economy and support the economic recovery by keeping the federal funds rate (the interest rate at which depository institutions lend reserve balances to other depository institutions overnight) at or near zero percent. When the Federal Reserve raises the federal funds rate, which is expected to occur, interest rates are expected to rise. As of the date of this Prospectus, interest rates are at or near historic lows, but may rise significantly and/or rapidly, potentially resulting in substantial losses to the Fund.
Investment Risk
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund should not be relied upon as a complete investment program. The share price of the Fund fluctuates, which means that when you sell your shares of the Fund, they could be worth less than what you paid for them. Therefore, you may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Issuer Risk
The value, and/or the return generated by, a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer's goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets. When the issuer of a security implements strategic initiatives, including mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, there is the risk that the market response to such initiatives will cause the price of the issuer's securities to fall.
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Liquidity Risk
When there is little or no active trading market for specific types of securities, it can become more difficult to sell the securities at or near their perceived value. During such periods, certain investments held by the Fund may be difficult to sell at favorable times or prices. As a result, the Fund may have to lower the price on certain securities that it is trying to sell, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance. Redemptions by a few large investors in the Fund at such times may have a significant adverse effect on the Fund's NAV and remaining Fund shareholders. The Fund may lose money if it is forced to sell certain investments to meet redemption requests or other cash needs.
Loan Interests Risk
Unlike publicly traded common stocks which trade on national exchanges, there is no central place or exchange for loans to trade. Loans trade in an over-the-counter market, and confirmation and settlement, which are effected through standardized procedures and documentation, may take significantly longer than seven days to complete. Extended trade settlement periods may, in unusual market conditions with a high volume of shareholder redemptions, present a risk to shareholders regarding the Fund's ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time periods stated in its prospectus. The secondary market for floating rate loans also may be subject to irregular trading activity and wide bid/ask spreads. The lack of an active trading market for certain floating rate loans may impair the ability of the Fund to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may require the Fund to sell them at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value and may make it difficult to value such loans. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or transactions, such as corporate acquisitions, may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions.
Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In most loan agreements there is no formal requirement to pledge additional collateral. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund's access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second lien secured loans will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower's obligations to the first lien secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. In addition, if a secured loan is foreclosed, the Fund would likely bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. The collateral may be difficult to sell and the Fund would bear the risk that the collateral may decline in value while the Fund is holding it.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor.
Alternatively, the Fund may acquire a participation interest in a loan that is held by another party. When the Fund's loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and it normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. As a participant, the Fund also would be subject to the risk that the party selling the participation interest would not remit the Fund's pro rata share of loan payments to the Fund. It may be difficult for the Fund to obtain an accurate picture of a lending bank's financial condition.
Loan interests may not be considered "securities," and purchasers, such as the Fund, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws.
The Fund also may be in possession of material non-public information about a borrower as a result of its ownership of a loan instrument of such borrower. Because of prohibitions on trading in securities of issuers while in possession of such information, the Fund might be unable to enter into a transaction in a security of that borrower when it would otherwise be advantageous to do so. Any steps taken to ensure that the Fund does not receive material non-public information about a security may have the effect of causing the Fund to have less information than other investors about certain interests in which it seeks to invest
Market Risk
Market risks, including political, regulatory, market, and economic or other developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Fund's shares.
The Fund is subject to the risk that the prices of, and the income generated by, fixed income securities held by the Fund may decline significantly and/or rapidly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, general economic and market conditions, or other developments, such as regional or global economic instability (including terrorism and related geopolitical risks), interest rate fluctuations, and those events directly involving the issuers that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment. Events in the fixed income markets may lead to periods of volatility, unusual liquidity issues and, in some cases, credit downgrades and increased likelihood of default. Such events may cause the value of securities owned by the Fund to go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. There is a risk that the lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the Fund's ability to purchase and sell the debt securities. Changes in the economic climate, investor perceptions and stock market volatility also can cause the prices of the Fund's fixed-income investments to decline regardless of the conditions of the issuers held by the Fund. There is also a risk that policy changes by the U.S. Government and/or Federal Reserve, such as increasing interest rates, could cause increased volatility in financial markets and higher levels of Fund redemptions, which could have a negative impact on the Fund. These events may lead to periods of volatility and increased redemptions, which could cause the Fund to experience a loss when selling securities to meet redemption requests by shareholders. The risk of loss increases if the redemption requests are unusually large or frequent.
Non-Diversification Risk
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it may invest a high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. When the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers it may be more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a more diversified portfolio might be. Some of those issuers also may present substantial credit or other risks. Since the Fund is non-diversified, its NAV and total return may also fluctuate more or be subject to declines in weaker markets than a diversified mutual fund.
Other Investment Companies Risk
The Fund may invest in shares of other registered investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds. To the extent that the Fund invests in shares of other registered investment companies, the Fund will indirectly bear fees and expenses, including for example, advisory and administrative fees, charged by the underlying funds in addition to the Fund's direct fees and expenses and will be subject to the risks associated with investments in those funds. These investments are also subject to the risk that the value of the investment may be eroded over time by inflation.
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Prepayment Risk
When interest rates fall, borrowers may repay principal due on debt securities or repay the loans that underlie certain debt securities, especially mortgage-related and other types of asset backed securities, more quickly than expected, potentially leading to the issuer of the security to repay the principal prior to the expected maturity date. Under such circumstances, the Fund may need to reinvest the proceeds at a lower interest rate, reducing its income. Securities subject to prepayment risk generally offer less potential for gains when prevailing interest rates fall. If the Fund buys those securities at a premium, accelerated prepayments on those securities could cause the Fund to lose a portion of its principal investment. The impact of prepayments on the price of a security may be difficult to predict and may increase the security's price volatility. Interest-only and principal-only securities are especially sensitive to interest rate changes, which can affect not only the prices but can also change the income flows and repayment assumptions about those investments.
Redemption Risk
The Fund may experience periods of heavy redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund, have short investment horizons, or have unpredictable cash flow needs. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from mutual funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities. This, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets, and heightened redemption risk. Heavy redemptions, whether by a few large investors or many smaller investors, could hurt the Fund's performance.
Reliance on Corporate Management and Financial Reporting Risk
The Fund may trade various corporate debt instruments and collateralized debt securities. The sub-advisor may select investments for the Fund in part on the basis of information and data made directly available to the sub-advisor by the issuers of securities or through sources other than the issuers such as collateral pool servicers. The sub-advisor is dependent upon the integrity of the management of these issuers and of such servicers and the financial and collateral performance reporting processes in general. Recent events have demonstrated the material losses which investors, such as the Fund, can incur as a result of corporate mismanagement, fraud and accounting irregularities.
Sector Risk
Companies that are invested in similar businesses may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events, which may, in certain circumstances, cause the value of the equity and debt securities of companies in a particular sector of the market to change. To the extent the Fund has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.
Securities Selection Risk
Securities selected by the sub-advisor for the Fund may decline substantially in value or may not perform to expectations. The sub-advisor's judgments about the attractiveness, value and anticipated price movements of a particular asset class or individual security may be incorrect and there is no guarantee that individual securities will perform as anticipated. The price of an individual security can be more or less volatile than the market as a whole or the Fund's relative value approach may fail to produce the intended results. The sub-adviser's assessment of relative value may be wrong or even if its estimate of relative value is correct, it may take a long period of time before the price and intrinsic value converge. It may not be possible to predict, or to hedge against, a widening in the yield of the securities selected by the sub-advisor.This could result in the Fund's underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives.
Unrated Securities Risk
Because the Fund may purchase securities that are not rated by any rating organization, the sub-advisor may internally assign ratings to certain of those securities, after assessing their credit quality, in categories of those similar to those of rating organizations. Investing in unrated securities involves the risk that the sub-advisor may not accurately evaluate the security's comparative credit rating. To the extent that the Fund invests in unrated securities, the Fund's success in achieving its investment objective may depend more heavily on the sub-advisors' credit analysis than if the Fund invested exclusively in rated securities. Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may be difficult to value, which means the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price.
U.S. Government Securities and Government Sponsored Enterprises Risk
A security backed by the U.S. Treasury or the full faith and credit of the United States is only guaranteed by the applicable entity only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity. The market prices for such securities are not guaranteed and will fluctuate. Investments in securities issued by government-sponsored enterprises are debt obligations issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government. These obligations vary in the level of support they receive from the U.S. Government. They may be: (i) supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, such as those of the Government National Mortgage Association (''Ginnie Mae''); (ii) supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Federal Farm Credit Banks; (iii) supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency obligations, such as those of the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae") and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac") or (iv) supported only by the credit of the issuer, such as those of the Federal Farm Credit Bureau. The U.S. Government may choose not to provide financial support to U.S. Government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities if it is not legally obligated to do so. In such circumstances, if the issuer defaulted, the Fund may not be able to recover its investment from the U.S. Government. Like all bonds, U.S. Government securities and Government-sponsored enterprise bonds are also subject to credit risk.
Additional Information About Performance Benchmarks
The Fund's annual total return has been compared to the Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index. Set forth below is additional information regarding the index to which the Fund's performance is compared.
The Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index is an index designed to mirror the investable universe of the $US-denominated leveraged loan market. New loans are added to the index on their effective date if they qualify according to the following criteria: Loans must be rated "5B" or lower; only fully- funded term loans are included; the tenor must be at least one year; and the Issuers must be domiciled in developed countries (Issuers from developing countries are excluded). Fallen angels are added to the index subject to the new loan criteria. Loans are removed from the index when they are upgraded to investment grade, or when they exit the market (for example, at maturity, refinancing or bankruptcy workout). Note that issuers remain in the index following default. Total return of the index is the sum of three components: principal, interest, and reinvestment return. The cumulative return assumes that coupon payments are reinvested into the index at the beginning of each period.
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Fund Management
The Manager
AMERICAN BEACON ADVISORS, INC. (the "Manager") serves as the Manager and administrator of the Fund(s). The Manager, located at 220 East Las Colinas Boulevard, Suite 1200, Irving, Texas 75039, is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Astro AB Holdings, LLC, which is owned primarily by Kelso Investment Associates VIII, L.P., KEP VI, LLC and Estancia Capital Partners L.P.
The Manager was organized in 1986 to provide investment management, advisory, and administrative services. The Manager is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The Manager is not registered as a commodity pool operator ("CPO") with respect to the Fund. On behalf of the Fund, the Manager has filed a notice claiming the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") Regulation 4.5 exclusion from CPO registration. The Manager is also exempt from registration as a commodity trading advisor under CFTC Regulation 4.14(a)(8) with respect to the Fund.
The Fund's Management Agreement with the Manager provides for the Fund to pay the Manager an annualized management fee equal to 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
The Investment Advisory Agreement among the Trust on behalf of the Fund, the Manager and the sub-advisor provides for the Fund to pay the sub-advisor an annualized investment advisory fee equal to 0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
The Manager also may receive up to 25% of the net monthly income generated from the Fund's securities lending activities as compensation for oversight of the Fund's securities lending program, including the securities lending agent, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Currently, the Manager is authorized to receive 10% of any such income. The SEC has granted exemptive relief that permits the Fund to invest cash collateral received from securities lending transactions in shares of one or more private or registered investment companies managed by the Manager. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund does not intend to engage in securities lending activities.
A discussion of the Board's consideration and approval of the Management Agreement between the Fund and the Manager and the Investment Advisory Agreement among the Fund, the sub-advisor and the Manager is available in the Fund's semi-annual report for the period ended February 29, 2016.
The Manager has contractually agreed from time to time to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses for the Fund in order to maintain competitive expense ratios for the Fund. The Board has approved a policy whereby the Manager may seek repayment for any contractual or voluntary fee waivers or expense reimbursements if reimbursement to the Manager (a) occurs within three years after the Manager's own waiver or reimbursement and (b) does not cause the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses of a class to exceed the contractual percentage limit.
The Sub-Advisor
Set forth below is a brief description of the sub-advisor and the portfolio managers with primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund. The Fund's SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including other accounts they manage, their ownership in the Fund and their compensation.
SOUND POINT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LP (''Sound Point''), Sound Point, a Delaware limited partnership, serves as investment sub-advisor to the Fund. The Advisor has been registered as an investment adviser with the SEC since July 2011. The address of Sound Point is 375 Park Ave, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10152. As of September 30, 2015, Sound Point had approximately $7 billion assets under management.
Stephen Ketchum is Managing Partner and CIO. Mr. Ketchum is the principal owner of Sound Point Capital Management, LP, which he founded in 2008. Mr. Ketchum is a co-portfolio manager of the Fund.
Rick Richert is a Portfolio Manager at Sound Point. Mr. Richert has been at Sound Point since May 2011, and is co-portfolio manager for the Fund. Prior to joining Sound Point, Mr. Richert was a Principal in the collateralized loan obligation ("CLO") group at American Capital where for 4 years he served as a senior member of a team managing $725 million in bank loan assets. His primary role was managing the cash flow CLO and directly covered over 40 names in the Aerospace & Defense, Building Materials, Chemical, Electronics, Metals & Mining and Oil & Gas industries.
Ryan Kohan is a Portfolio Manager at Sound Point. Mr. Kohan joined Sound Point Capital as a senior credit analyst for the bank loan team in 2013, and is a Co-Portfolio Manager for the Fund. Prior to joining Sound Point, Mr. Kohan spent over 4 years as a senior investment analyst for Doral Leveraged Asset Management ("DLAM"). He was a founding and key member of the team responsible for the establishment and management of $1.5 billion of performing loan assets across three 2.0 CLOs and one total return vehicle. In addition, Mr. Kohan's coverage responsibilities at DLAM included over 50 names in the Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Food & Beverage, and Industrial industries.
Valuation of Shares
The price of the Fund's shares is based on its NAV per share. The Fund's NAV is computed by adding total assets, subtracting all of the Fund's liabilities, and dividing the result by the total number of shares outstanding.
The NAV of each class of the Fund's shares is determined based on a pro rata allocation of the Fund's investment income, expenses and total capital gains and losses. The Fund's NAV per share is determined each business day as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time which normally coincides with the close of the New York Stock Exchange (''NYSE''). If the NYSE has an early close, scheduled or unscheduled, the Fund's share price would still be determined as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Foreign exchanges may permit trading in foreign securities on days when the Fund is not open for business, which may result in the Fund's portfolio investments being affected when you are unable to buy or sell shares.
Equity securities and certain derivative instruments that are traded on an exchange are valued based on market value. Certain derivative instruments (other than short-term securities) usually are valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service. The price of debt securities generally is determined using pricing services or quotes obtained from broker/dealers who may consider a number of inputs and factors, such as comparable characteristics, yield curve, credit spreads, estimated default rates, coupon rates, underlying collateral and estimated cash flow. Investments in other mutual funds are valued at the closing NAV per share of the mutual funds on the day of valuation. Equity securities, including shares of closed-end funds and ETFs are valued at the last sale price or official closing price.
The valuation of securities traded on foreign markets and certain fixed income securities will generally be based on prices determined as of the earlier closing time of the markets on which they primarily trade, unless a significant event has occurred. When the Fund holds securities or other assets that are denominated in a foreign currency, the Fund will normally use the currency exchange rates as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Securities may be valued at fair value, as determined in good faith and pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees, under certain limited circumstances. For example, fair value pricing will be used when market quotations are not readily available or reliable, as determined by the Manager, such as when (i) trading for a security is restricted or stopped; (ii) a security's trading market is closed (other than customary closings); or (iii) a security has been de-
11 |
Prospectus – Fund Management |
listed from a national exchange. A security with limited market liquidity may require fair value pricing if the Manager determines that the available price does not reflect the security's true market value. In addition, if a significant event that the Manager determines to affect the value of one or more securities held by the Fund occurs after the close of a related exchange but before the determination of the Fund's NAV, fair value pricing may be used on the affected security or securities. Securities of small capitalization companies are also more likely to require a fair value determination using these procedures because they are more thinly traded and less liquid than the securities of larger capitalization companies. In addition, the Fund may invest in illiquid securities requiring these procedures.
Attempts to determine the fair value of securities introduce an element of subjectivity to the pricing of securities. As a result, the price of a security determined through fair valuation techniques may differ from the price quoted or published by other sources and may not accurately reflect the market value of the security when trading resumes. If a reliable market quotation becomes available for a security formerly valued through fair valuation techniques, the Manager compares the new market quotation to the fair value price to evaluate the effectiveness of the Fund's fair valuation procedures. If any significant discrepancies are found, the Manager may adjust the Fund's fair valuation procedures. You may view the Fund's most recent NAV per share at www.americanbeaconfunds.com by clicking on ''Quick Links'' and then ''Daily NAVs.''
Prospectus – Fund Management |
12 |
About Your Investment
Choosing Your Share Class
Each share class of the Fund represents an investment in the same portfolio of securities for the Fund, but each class has its own sales charge and expense structure, allowing you to choose the class that best fits your situation.
Factors you should consider when choosing a class of shares include:
How long you expect to own the shares;
How much you intend to invest;
Total expenses associated with owning shares of each class;
Whether you qualify for any reduction or waiver of sales charges;
Whether you plan to take any distributions in the near future; and
Availability of share classes.
Each investor's financial considerations are different. You should speak with your financial adviser to help you decide which share class is best for you.
The Fund offers various classes of shares. Each class has a different combination of purchase restrictions, sales charges and ongoing fees, allowing you to choose the class that best meets your needs. The following table and sections explain the sales charges or other fees you may pay when investing in each class.
* |
SP Class shares are offered to retail investors who invest directly through a financial intermediary, such as a broker, or through employee directed benefit plans and were formerly shareholders of the Investor Class shares of the Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund prior to its reorganization into the American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund. |
A Class Charges and Waivers
The table below shows the amount of sales charges you will pay on purchases of A Class shares of the Fund both as a percentage of offering price and as a percentage of the amount you invest. The sales charge differs depending upon the amount you invest and may be reduced or eliminated for larger purchases as indicated below. If you invest more, the sales charge will be lower.
Any applicable sales charge will be deducted directly from your investment. Because of rounding of the calculation in determining the sales charges, you may pay more or less than what is shown in the table below. Shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions are not subject to a front-end sales charge. You may qualify for a reduced sales charge or the sales charge may be waived as described below in ''A Class Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers.''
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No initial sales charge applies on purchases of $250,000 or more. A CDSC of 0.50% of the offering price will be charged on purchases of $250,000 or more that are redeemed in whole or in part within eighteen (18) months of purchase. |
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See ''Dealer Concessions on A Class Purchases Without a Front-End Sales Charge''. |
Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the ''Distributor'') retains any portion of the commissions that are not paid to financial intermediaries to solely pay distribution-related expenses.
A Class Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers
A shareholder may qualify for a waiver or reduction in sales charges under certain circumstances. To receive a waiver or reduction in your A Class sales charge, you must advise the Fund's transfer agent, your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary of your eligibility at the time of purchase. If you or your financial intermediary do not let the Fund's transfer agent know that you are eligible for a reduction, you may not receive a sales charge discount to which you are otherwise entitled.
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Prospectus – About Your Investment |
Waiver of Sales Charges
There is no sales charge if you invest $250,000 or more in A Class shares.
Sales charges also may be waived for certain shareholders or transactions, such as:
The Manager or its affiliates;
Present and former directors, trustees, officers, employees of the Manager, the Manager's parent company, and the American Beacon Funds (and their ''immediate family'' as defined in the SAI), and retirement plans established by them for their employees;
Registered representatives or employees of intermediaries that have selling agreement with the Funds;
Shares acquired through merger or acquisition;
Insurance company separate accounts;
Employer-sponsored retirement plans;
Dividend reinvestment programs;
Purchases through certain fee-based programs under which investors pay advisory fees that may be offered through selected registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, and other financial intermediaries;
Shareholders that purchase a Fund through a financial intermediary that offers our A Class shares uniformly on a ''no load'' (or reduced load) basis to you and all similarly situated customers of the intermediary in accordance with the intermediary's prescribed fee schedule for purchases of fund shares; and
Reinvestment of proceeds within 90 days of a redemption from A Class account (see Redemption Policies for more information).
The availability of A Class shares charge waivers may depend upon the policies, procedures, and trading platform of your financial intermediary.
Reduced Sales Charges
Under a ''Rights of Accumulation Program,'' a ''Letter of Intent'' or through ''Concurrent Purchases'' you may be eligible to buy A Class shares of the Fund at the reduced sales charge rates that would apply to a larger purchase. The Fund reserves the right to modify or to cease offering these programs at any time.
This information is available, free of charge, on the Fund's website, www.americanbeaconfunds.com or call (800) 658-5811 or consult with your financial advisor.
Dealer Concessions on A Class Purchases Without a Front-End Sales Charge
Brokers who initiate and are responsible for purchases of $250,000 or more of Class A shares of the Fund may receive a dealer concession from the Fund's Distributor of 0.50% of the offering price. If a client or broker is unable to provide account verification on purchases of $250,000 or more, the dealer concession will be forfeited by the broker and front-end sales loads will apply. Dealer concessions will not be paid on shares purchased by exchange or shares that were previously subject to a front-end sales charge or dealer concession. Dealer concessions will be paid only on eligible purchases where the applicability of the CDSC can be monitored. Purchases eligible for sales charge waivers as described under ''A Class Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers'' are not eligible for dealer concessions on purchases of $250,000 or more.
Rights of Accumulation Program
Under the Rights of Accumulation Program, you may qualify for a reduced sales charge by aggregating all of your investments held in certain accounts (''Qualified Accounts''). The following Qualified Accounts holding any share class of the American Beacon Funds may be grouped together to qualify for the reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program or Letter of Intent:
Accounts owned by you, your spouse or your minor children under the age of 21, including trust or other fiduciary accounts in which you, your spouse or your minor children are the beneficiary;
Uniform transfer or gift to minor accounts (''UTMA/UGTMA'');
Individual retirement accounts (''IRAs''), including traditional, Roth, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs; and
Coverdell Education Savings Accounts or qualified 529 plans.
A fiduciary can apply a right of accumulation to all shares purchased for a trust, estate or other fiduciary account that has multiple accounts.
You must notify your financial intermediary or the Fund's transfer agent, in the case of shares held directly with the Fund, at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program. In addition, you must provide either a list of account numbers or copies of account statements verifying your qualification. You may combine the historical cost or current value, as of the day prior to your additional American Beacon Funds' purchase (whichever is higher) of your existing American Beacon Funds' mutual fund with the amount of your current purchase in order to take advantage of the reduced sales charge. Historical cost is the price you actually paid for the shares you own, plus your reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions. If you are using historical cost to qualify for a reduced sales charge, you should retain any records to substantiate your historical costs since the Fund, its transfer agent or your financial intermediary may not maintain this information.
If your shares are held through financial intermediaries and/or in a retirement account (such as a 401(k) or employee benefit plan), you may combine the current NAV of your existing American Beacon Funds mutual fund investment with the amount of your current purchase in order to take advantage of the reduced sales charge. You or your financial intermediary must notify the Funds' transfer agent at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a reduced sales charge and provide copies of account statements dated within three months of your current purchase verifying your qualification.
Upon receipt of the above referenced supporting documentation, the financial intermediary or the Fund's transfer agent will calculate the combined value of all of your Qualified Accounts to determine if the current purchase is eligible for a reduced sales charge. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts (securities held in the name of a dealer or another nominee such as a bank trust department instead of the customer) may not be aggregated with purchases for other accounts and may not be aggregated with other nominee or street name accounts unless otherwise qualified as described above.
Letter of Intent
If you plan to invest at least $50,000 (excluding any reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions) during the next 13 months in any class of the Fund, you may qualify for a reduced sales charge for purchases of A Class shares by completing the Letter of Intent section of your account application.
A Letter of Intent indicates your intent to purchase at least $50,000 in any class of the American Beacon Funds over the next 13 months in exchange for a reduced A Class sales charge indicated on the above tables. The minimum initial investment under a Letter of Intent is $2,500. You are not obligated to purchase additional shares if you complete a Letter of Intent. However, if you do not buy enough shares to qualify for the projected level of sales charge by the end of the 13-month period (or when you sell your shares, if earlier), your sales charge will be recalculated to reflect your actual purchase level. During the
Prospectus – About Your Investment |
14 |
term of the Letter of Intent, shares representing 5% of your intended purchase will be held in escrow. If you do not purchase enough shares during the 13- month period to qualify for the projected reduced sales charge, the additional sales charge will be deducted from your account. If you have purchased shares of any American Beacon mutual fund within 90 days prior to signing a Letter of Intent, they may be included as part of your intended purchase, however, previous purchase transactions will not be recalculated with the proposed new breakpoint. You must provide either a list of account numbers or copies of account statements verifying your purchases within the past 90 days.
Concurrent Purchases
You may combine simultaneous purchases in shares of any of the American Beacon Funds to qualify for a reduced charge.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (''CDSC'') — A Class Shares
Unless a waiver applies, investors who purchase $250,000 or more of A Class shares of the Fund (and, thus, pay no initial sales charge) will be subject to a 0.50% CDSC if those shares are redeemed within 18 months after they are purchased. The CDSC does not apply if you are otherwise eligible to purchase A Class shares without an initial sales charge or are eligible for one of the waivers described herein or in the SAI.
CDSC— C Class Shares
If you redeem C Class shares within 12 months of purchase, you may be charged a CDSC of 1%. The CDSC generally will be deducted from your redemption proceeds. In some circumstances, you may be eligible for one of the waivers described herein or in the SAI. You must advise the transfer agent of your eligibility for a waiver when you place your redemption request.
How CDSCs will be Calculated
The amount of the CDSC will be based on the NAV of the redeemed shares at the time of the redemption or the original NAV, whichever is lower. Because of the rounding of the calculation in determining the CDSC, you may pay more or less than the indicated rate. Your CDSC holding period is based upon the date of your purchase. The CDSCs will be deducted from the proceeds of your redemption, not from amounts remaining in your account. A CDSC is not imposed on any increase in NAV over the initial purchase price or shares you received through the reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions.
To keep your CDSC as low as possible, each time you place a request to sell shares, the Fund will redeem your shares in the following order:
shares acquired by the reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions;
other shares that are not subject to the CDSC;
shares held the longest during the holding period.
Waiver of CDSCs — A and C Class Shares
A shareholder may qualify for a CDSC waiver under certain circumstances. To have your CDSC waived, you must advise the Fund's transfer agent, your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary of your eligibility at the time of redemption. If you or your financial intermediary do not let the Fund's transfer agent know that you are eligible for a waiver, you may not receive a waiver to which might otherwise be otherwise entitled.
The CDSC may be waived if:
The redemption is due to a shareholder's death or post-purchase disability;
The redemption is from a systematic withdrawal plan and represents no more than 10% of your annual account value;
The redemption is a benefit payment made from a qualified retirement plan, unless the redemption is due to the termination of the plan or the transfer of the plan to another financial institution;
The redemption is for a mandatory withdrawal from a traditional IRA after age 70 1/2 ;
The redemption is due to involuntary redemptions by the Fund as a result of your account not meeting the minimum balance requirements, the termination and liquidation of the Fund, or other actions;
The redemption is from accounts for which the broker-dealer of record has entered into a written agreement with the Distributor (or Manager) allowing this waiver;
The redemption is to return excess contributions made to a retirement plan; or
The redemption is to return contributions made due to a mistake of fact.
The SAI contains further details about the CDSC and the conditions for waiving the CDSC.
Information regarding CDSC waivers for A and C Class shares is available, free of charge, on the Fund's website. Please visit www.americanbeaconfunds.com. You may also call (800) 658-5811 or consult with your financial advisor.
Purchase and Redemption of Shares
Eligibility
The A Class, C Class, Y Class, Institutional Class, Investor Class, and SP Class shares offered in this Prospectus are available to eligible investors who meet the minimum initial investment. American Beacon Funds do not accept accounts registered to foreign individuals or entities, including foreign correspondent accounts. The Fund does not conduct operations and is not offered for purchase outside of the United States.
Subject to your eligibility, you may invest in the Fund directly or through intermediary organizations, such as broker-dealers, insurance companies, plan sponsors, third party administrators, and retirement plans.
If you invest directly with the Fund, the fees and policies with respect to the Fund's shares that are outlined in this Prospectus are set by the Fund. The Manager and the Fund are not responsible for determining the suitability of the Fund or share class for any investor.
Because in most cases it is more advantageous for investors using an intermediary to purchase A Class shares than C Class shares for amounts of $1,000,000 or more, the Fund will decline a request to purchase C Class shares for $1,000,000 or more.
If you invest through a financial intermediary, most of the information you will need for managing your investment will come from your financial intermediary. This includes information on how to buy, sell and exchange shares of the Fund. If you establish an account through a financial intermediary, the investment minimums described in this section may not apply. Investors investing in the Fund through a financial intermediary should consult with their financial intermediary to ensure they obtain any proper ''breakpoint'' discount and regarding the differences between available share classes. Your broker-dealer or
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Prospectus – About Your Investment |
financial intermediary also may charge fees that are in addition to those described in this Prospectus. Please contact your intermediary for information regarding investment minimums, how to purchase and redeem shares and applicable fees.
Minimum Initial Investment by Share Class
|
New Account |
Existing Account |
|
Share Class |
Minimum |
Purchase/Redemption Minimum by check/ACH/Exchange |
Purchase/Redemption Minimum by Wire |
C |
$1,000 |
$50 |
$ 250 |
SP |
$1,000 |
$50 |
None |
A; Investor |
$2,500 |
$50 |
$ 250 |
Y |
$100,000 |
$50 |
None |
Institutional |
$250,000 |
$50 |
None |
SP Class shares are offered to retail investors who invest directly through a financial intermediary, such as a broker, or through employee directed benefit plans and were formerly shareholders of the Investor Class shares of the Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund prior to its reorganization into the American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund.
Investor Class shares are also available to traditional IRA and Roth IRA shareholders investing directly in the Fund. The minimum investment is $2,500.
The Manager may allow a reasonable period of time after opening an account for a Y Class or Institutional Class investor to meet the initial investment requirement. In addition, for investors such as trust companies and financial advisors who make investments for a group of clients, the minimum initial investment can be met through an aggregated purchase order for more than one client.
Opening an Account
You may open an account through your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information on how to open an account. Shares you purchase through your broker dealer will normally be held in your account with that firm.
To open an account directly with the Fund, a completed, signed application is required. You may obtain an account application from the Fund's website www.americanbeaconfunds.com or by calling 1-800-658-5811. Institutional shareholders should call 1-800-967-9009.
Complete the application, sign it and send it:
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. When you open an account, you will be asked for information that will allow the Fund or your financial institution to identify you. Non-public corporations and other entities may be required to provide articles of incorporation, trust or partnership agreements, and Social Security or other taxpayer identification numbers on the account or other documentation. The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.
The Fund reserves the right to liquidate a shareholder's account at the current day's NAV and remit proceeds via check if the Fund or a financial institution are unable to verify the shareholder's identity within three days of account opening.
Purchase Policies
Shares of the Fund are offered and purchase orders are typically accepted until 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time or the close of the NYSE (whichever comes first) on each day on which the NYSE is open for business. If a purchase order is received by the Fund in good order prior to the Fund's deadline, the purchase price will be the NAV per share next determined on that day, plus any applicable sales charges. If a purchase order is received in good order after the applicable deadline, the purchase price will be the NAV per share of the following day that the Fund is open for business plus any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund will only be issued against full payment, as described more fully in this Prospectus and SAI.
The Fund has authorized certain third party financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, insurance companies, third party administrators and trust companies, to receive purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund and to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund. The Fund is deemed to have received such orders when they are received by the financial intermediaries or their designees. Thus, an order to purchase or sell Fund shares will be priced at the Fund's next determined NAV after receipt by the financial intermediary or its designee. It is the responsibility of your broker-dealer or financial intermediary to transmit orders that will be received by the Fund in proper form and in a timely manner.
Fund shares may be purchased only in U.S. States and Territories in which they can be legally sold. Prospective investors should inquire as to whether shares of the Fund are available for offer and sale in their jurisdiction. The Fund reserves the right to refuse purchases if, in the judgment of the Fund, the transaction would adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund has the right to reject any purchase order or cease offering any or all classes of shares at any time. Checks to purchase shares are accepted subject to collection at full face value in U.S. funds and must be drawn in U.S. dollars on a U.S. bank. The Fund will not accept ''starter'' checks, credit card checks, money orders, cashier's checks, or third party checks.
If your payment is not received and collected, your purchase may be canceled and you could be liable for any losses or fees the Fund or the Manager has incurred.
Under applicable anti-money laundering regulations and other federal regulations, purchase orders may be suspended, restricted or canceled and the monies may be withheld.
Please refer to the section titled ''Frequent Trading and Market Timing'' for information on the Fund's policies regarding frequent purchases, redemptions, and exchanges.
Prospectus – About Your Investment |
16 |
Redemption Policies
If you purchased shares of the Fund through your financial intermediary, please contact your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary to sell shares of the Fund.
The redemption price will be the NAV next determined after a redemption request is received in good order, minus any applicable CDSC and/or redemption fees. In order to receive the redemption price calculated on a particular business day, redemption requests must be received in good order by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time or by the close of the NYSE (whichever comes first).
Wire proceeds from redemption requests received in good order by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time or by the close of the NYSE (whichever comes first) generally are transmitted to shareholders on the next day the Fund is open for business. In any event, proceeds from a redemption request will typically be transmitted to a shareholder by no later than seven days after the receipt of a redemption request in good order. Delivery of proceeds from shares purchased by check or pre-authorized automatic investment may be delayed until the funds have cleared, which may take up to ten days.
You may, within 90 days of redemption, reinvest all or part of the proceeds of your redemption of A or C Class shares of the Fund, without incurring any applicable additional sales charge, in the same class of another American Beacon Fund, by sending a written request and a check to your financial intermediary or directly to the Fund. Reinvestment must be into the same account from which you redeemed the shares or received the distribution. Proceeds from a redemption and all dividend payments and capital gain distributions will be reinvested in the same share class from which the original redemption or distribution was made. Reinvestment will be at the NAV next calculated after the Fund receives your request. You must notify the Fund and your financial intermediary at the time of investment if you decide to exercise this privilege.
The Fund reserves the right to suspend redemptions or postpone the date of payment for more than seven days (i) when the NYSE is closed (other than for customary weekend and holiday closings); (ii) when trading on the NYSE is restricted; (iii) when the SEC determines that an emergency exists so that disposal of the Fund's investments or determination of its NAV is not reasonably practicable; or (iv) by order of the SEC for protection of the Fund's shareholders.
Although the Fund intends to redeem shares in cash, the Fund reserves the right to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of securities or other assets held by the Fund. To the extent that the Fund redeems its shares in this manner, the shareholder assumes the risk of a subsequent change in the market value of those securities, the cost of liquidating the securities and the possibility of a lack of a liquid market for those securities.
Please refer to the section titled ''Frequent Trading and Market Timing'' for information on the Fund's policies regarding frequent purchases, redemptions, and exchanges.
Exchange Policies
If you purchased shares of the Fund through your financial intermediary, please contact your financial intermediary to determine if you may take advantage of the exchange policies described in this section and for its policies to effect an exchange.
Shares of any class of the Fund may be exchanged for shares of the same class of another American Beacon Fund under certain limited circumstances. Shares of any class of the Fund may be exchanged for shares of another class of the same fund under certain limited circumstances. Since an exchange involves a concurrent purchase and redemption, please review the sections titled ''Purchase Policies'' and ''Redemption Policies'' for additional limitations that apply to purchase and redemptions. There is no front-end sales charge on exchanges between A Class shares of the Fund for A Class shares of another fund. Shares otherwise subject to a CDSC will not be charged a CDSC in an exchange to shares of another fund having CDSC however, shares exchanged between funds that impose a CDSC will be charged a CDSC if redeemed within 12 months or 18 months, as applicable, of the purchase of the initial shares.
Before exchanging shares, shareholders should consider how the exchange may affect any CDSC that might be imposed on the subsequent redemption of remaining shares.
If shares were purchased by check, a shareholder must have owned shares of the redeeming fund for at least ten days prior to exchanging out of one fund and into another.
The eligibility and minimum investment requirement must be met for the class into which the shareholder is exchanging. Fund shares may be acquired through exchange only in U.S. states and Territories in which they can be legally sold. The Fund reserves the right to charge a fee and to modify or terminate the exchange privilege at any time. The Fund reserves the right to refuse exchange requests if, in the judgment of the Fund, the transaction would adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. Please refer to the section titled "Frequent Trading and Market Timing" for information on the Fund's policies regarding frequent purchases, redemptions, and exchanges.
For federal income tax purposes, the conversion of shares of one share class for shares of a different share class of the Fund will not result in the realization of a capital gain or loss. However, an exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of a different American Beacon Fund is considered a sale and a purchase, respectively, and may result in a gain or loss for those purposes. There can be no assurance of any particular tax treatment, however, and you are urged and advised to consult with your own tax advisor regarding a share class conversion or exchange of Fund shares.
How to Purchase, Redeem or Exchange Shares
If your account is through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, please contact them directly to purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund. Your broker-dealer or financial intermediary can help you open a new account, review your financial needs and formulate long-term investment goals and objectives. Your broker dealer or financial intermediary will transmit your request to the Fund and may charge you a fee for this service. The Fund will not accept a purchase order of $1,000,000 or more for C Class shares if the purchase is known to be on behalf of a single investor (not including dealer "street name" or omnibus accounts). Dealers, other financial intermediaries or fiduciaries purchasing shares for their customers are responsible for determining the suitability of a particular share class for an investor. You should include the following information with any order:
Your name/account registration
Your account number
Type of Transaction requested
Name(s) and fund number(s) of funds and class(es)
Dollar amount or number of shares
Transactions for direct shareholders are conducted through:
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Prospectus – About Your Investment |
Internet |
www.americanbeaconfunds.com |
|
Phone |
To reach an American Beacon representative call 1-800-658-5811, option 1
|
|
|
American Beacon Funds
|
Overnight Delivery:
|
Purchases by Wire:
Send a bank wire to State Street Bank and Trust Co. with these instructions:
ABA# 0110-0002-8; AC-9905-342-3,
Attn: American Beacon Funds
the fund name and fund number, and
shareholder account number and registration.
Redemption Proceeds will be mailed to account of record or transmitted to commercial bank designated on the account application form.
|
New Account |
Existing Account |
|
Class |
Minimum |
Purchase/Redemption Minimum by check/ACH/Exchange |
Purchase/Redemption Minimum by Wire |
C |
$1,000 |
$50 |
$250 |
SP |
$1,000 |
$50 |
None |
A, Investor |
$2,500 |
$50 |
$250 |
Y |
$100,000 |
$50 |
None |
Institutional |
$250,000 |
$50 |
None |
Supporting documents may be required for redemptions by estates, trusts, guardianships, custodians, corporations, and welfare, pension and profit sharing plans. Redemption requests must also include authorized signature(s) of all persons required to sign for the account. Call 1-800-658-5811 for instructions.
To protect the Fund and your account from fraud, a STAMP 2000 Medallion signature guarantee is required for redemption orders:
with a request to send the proceeds to an address or commercial bank account other than the address or commercial bank account designated on the account application, or
for an account whose address has changed within the last 30 days if proceeds are sent by check.
for amounts greater than $100,000.
The Fund only accepts STAMP 2000 Medallion signature guarantees, which may be obtained at participating banks broker-dealers and credit unions. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee. Call 1-800-658-5811 for instructions and further assistance.
Payments to Financial Intermediaries
The Fund and its affiliates (at their own expense) may pay compensation to financial intermediaries for shareholder-related services and, if applicable, distribution-related services, including administrative, sub-transfer agency type, recordkeeping and shareholder communication services. For example, compensation may be paid to make Fund shares available to sales representatives and/or customers of a fund supermarket platform or similar program sponsor or for services provided in connection with such fund supermarket platforms and programs.
The amount of compensation paid to different financial intermediaries may differ. The compensation paid to a financial intermediary may be based on a variety of factors, including average assets under management in accounts distributed and/or serviced by the financial intermediary, gross sales by the financial intermediary and/or the number of accounts serviced by the financial intermediary that invest in the Fund. To the extent that the Fund pays any such compensation, it is designed to compensate the financial intermediary for providing services that would otherwise be provided by the Manager, the Fund or its transfer agent. To the extent the Fund affiliate pays such compensation, it would likely include amounts from that affiliate's own resources and constitute what is sometimes referred to as ''revenue sharing.''
Compensation received by a financial intermediary from the Manager or another Fund affiliate may include payments for marketing and/or training expenses incurred by the financial intermediary, including expenses incurred by the financial intermediary in educating (itself and) its salespersons with respect to Fund shares. For example, such compensation may include reimbursements for expenses incurred in attending educational seminars regarding the Fund, including travel and lodging expenses. It may also cover costs incurred by financial intermediaries in connection with their efforts to sell Fund shares, including costs incurred compensating (registered) sales representatives and preparing, printing and distributing sales literature.
Any compensation received by a financial intermediary, whether from the Fund or its affiliate(s), and the prospect of receiving it may provide the financial intermediary with an incentive to recommend the shares of the Fund, or a certain class of shares of the Fund, over other potential investments. Similarly, the compensation may cause financial intermediaries to elevate the prominence of the Fund within its organization by, for example, placing it on a list of preferred funds. You should ask your financial intermediary for details about any such payments it receives from the Manager or the Distributor, or any other fees, expenses, or commissions your financial intermediary may charge you in addition to those disclosed in this Prospectus.
Prospectus – About Your Investment |
18 |
General Policies
If a shareholder's account balance falls below the following minimum levels, the shareholder may be asked to increase the balance.
Share Class |
Account Balance |
A |
$ 2,500 |
C |
$ 1,000 |
SP |
$ 1,000 |
Investor |
$ 2,500 |
Y |
$25,000 |
Institutional |
$75,000 |
If the account balance remains below the applicable minimum account balance after 45 days, the Fund reserves the right to close the account and send the proceeds to the shareholder. IRAs will be charged an annual maintenance fee of $15.00 by the Custodian for maintaining either a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. The Fund reserves the authority to modify minimum account balances in its discretion.
A Signature Validation Program (''SVP'') stamp may be required in order to change an account's registration or banking instructions. You may obtain a SVP stamp at participating banks, broker-dealers and credit unions, but not from a notary public. The SVP stamp is analogous to the STAMP 2000 Medallion guarantee in that it is provided at similar institutions. However, it is used only for non-financial transactions.
The following policies apply to instructions you may provide to the Fund by telephone:
The Fund, its officers, trustees, employees, or agents are not responsible for the authenticity of instructions provided by telephone, nor for any loss, liability, cost or expense incurred for acting on them.
The Fund employs procedures reasonably designed to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine.
Due to the volume of calls or other unusual circumstances, telephone redemptions may be difficult to implement during certain time periods.
The Fund reserves the right to:
liquidate a shareholder's account at the current day's NAV and remit proceeds via check if the Fund or a financial institution are unable to verify the shareholder's identity within three business days of account opening,
seek reimbursement from the shareholder for any related loss incurred by the Fund if payment for the purchase of Fund shares by check does not clear the shareholder's bank, and
reject a purchase order and seek reimbursement from the shareholder for any related loss incurred by the Fund if funds are not received by the applicable wire deadline.
A shareholder will not be required to pay a CDSC when the registration for A Class or C Class shares is transferred to the name of another person or entity. The transfer may occur by absolute assignment, gift or bequest, as long as it does not involve, directly or indirectly, a public sale of the shares. When A Class or C Class shares are transferred, any applicable CDSC will continue to apply to the transferred shares and will be calculated as if the transferee had acquired the shares in the same manner and at the same time as the transferring shareholder.
Escheatment
Please be advised that certain state escheatment laws may require the Fund to turn over your mutual fund account to the state listed in your account registration as abandoned property unless you contact the Fund. Many states have added ''inactivity'' or the absence of customer initiated contact as a component of their rules and guidelines for the escheatment of unclaimed property. These states consider property to be abandoned when there is no shareholder initiated activity on an account for at least three (3) to five (5) years.
Depending on the laws in your jurisdiction, customer initiated contact might be achieved by one of the following methods:
Send a letter to American Beacon Funds via the United States Post Office,
Speak to a Customer Service Representative on the phone after you go through a security verification process. For residents of certain states, contact cannot be made by phone but must be in writing or through the fund's secure web application.
Access your account through the fund's secure web application,
Cashing checks that are received and are made payable to the owner of the account.
The Fund, the Manager, and the Transfer Agent will not be liable to shareholders or their representatives for good faith compliance with escheatment laws. To learn more about the escheatment rules for your particular state, please contact your attorney or State Treasurer's and/or Controller's Offices. If you do not hold your shares directly with the Fund, you should contact your broker-dealer, retirement plan, or other third party intermediary regarding applicable state escheatment laws.
Contact information:
American Beacon Funds
P.O. Box 219643
Kansas City, MO 64121-9643
1-800-658-5811
www.americanbeaconfunds.com
Frequent Trading and Market Timing
Frequent trading by Fund shareholders poses risks to other shareholders in the Fund, including (i) the dilution of the Fund's NAV, (ii) an increase in the Fund's expenses, and (iii) interference with the portfolio managers' ability to execute efficient investment strategies. Frequent, short-term trading of Fund shares in an attempt to profit from day-to-day fluctuations in the Fund's NAV is known as market timing.
The Fund's Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures intended to discourage frequent trading and market timing. Shareholders may transact up to one ''round trip'' in the Fund in any rolling 90-day period. A ''round trip'' is defined as two transactions, each in an opposite direction. A round trip may involve either (i) a purchase or exchange into the Fund followed by a redemption or exchange out of the Fund or (ii) a redemption or exchange out of the Fund followed by a purchase or exchange into the Fund. If the Manager detects that a shareholder has exceeded one round trip in the Fund in any rolling 90- day period, the Manager, without prior notice to the shareholder, may prohibit the shareholder from making further purchases of the Fund. In general, the Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order, terminate the exchange privilege, or liquidate the account of any shareholder that the Manager determines has engaged in frequent trading or market timing, regardless of whether the shareholder's activity violates any policy stated in this Prospectus.
19 |
Prospectus – About Your Investment |
Additionally, the Manager may in its discretion, reject any purchase or exchange into the Fund from any individual investor, institutional investor, or group whose trading activity could disrupt the management of the Fund or dilute the value of the Fund's shares, including collective trading (e.g. following the advice of an investment newsletter). Such investors may be barred from future purchases of American Beacon Funds.
The round-trip limit does not apply to the following transaction types:
shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends and other distributions;
systematic purchases and redemptions;
shares redeemed to return excess IRA contributions; or
certain transactions made within a retirement or employee benefit plan, such as payroll contributions, minimum required distributions, loans, and hardship withdrawals, or other transactions that are initiated by a party other than the plan participant.
Financial intermediaries that offer Fund shares, such as broker-dealers, third party administrators of retirement plans, and trust companies, will be asked to enforce the Fund's policies to discourage frequent trading and market timing by investors. However, certain intermediaries that offer Fund shares have informed the Fund that they are currently unable to enforce the Fund's policies on an automated basis. In those instances, the Manager will monitor trading activity of the intermediary in an attempt to detect patterns of activity that indicate frequent trading or market timing by underlying investors. In some cases, intermediaries that offer Fund shares have their own policies to deter frequent trading and market timing that differ from the Fund's policies. The Fund may defer to an intermediary's policies. For more information, please contact the financial intermediary through which you invest in the Fund.
The Manager monitors trading activity in the Fund to attempt to identify shareholders engaged in frequent trading or market timing. The Manager may exclude transactions below a certain dollar amount from monitoring and may change that dollar amount from time to time. The ability of the Manager to detect frequent trading and market timing activity by investors who own shares through an intermediary is dependent upon the intermediary's provision of information necessary to identify transactions by the underlying investors. The Fund has entered into agreements with the intermediaries that service the Fund's investors, pursuant to which the intermediaries agree to provide information on investor transactions to the Fund and to act on the Fund's instructions to restrict transactions by investors who the Manager has identified as having violated the Fund's policies and procedures to deter frequent trading and market timing.
Wrap programs offered by certain intermediaries may be designated ''Qualified Wrap Programs'' by the Fund based on specific criteria established by the Fund and a certification by the intermediary that the criteria have been met. A Qualified Wrap Program is a wrap program whose sponsoring intermediary: (i) certifies that it has investment discretion over $50 million or more in client assets invested in mutual funds at the time of the certification, (ii) certifies that it directs transactions in accounts participating in the wrap program(s) in concert with changes in a model portfolio; (iii) provides the Manager a description of the wrap program(s); and (iv) managed by an intermediary that agrees to provide the Manager sufficient information to identify individual accounts in the intermediary's wrap program(s). For purposes of applying the round-trip limit, transactions initiated by clients invested in a Qualified Wrap Program will not be matched to transactions initiated by the intermediary sponsoring the Qualified Wrap Program. For example, a client's purchase of the Fund followed within 90 days by the intermediary's redemption of the same Fund would not be considered a round trip. However, transactions initiated by a Qualified Wrap Program client are subject to the round-trip limit and will be matched to determine if the client has exceeded the round-trip limit. In addition, the Manager will monitor transactions initiated by Qualified Wrap Program intermediaries to determine whether any intermediary has engaged in frequent trading or market timing. If the Manager determines that an intermediary has engaged in activity that is harmful to the Fund, the Manager will revoke the intermediary's Qualified Wrap Program status. Upon termination of status as a Qualified Wrap Program, all account transactions will be matched for purposes of testing compliance with the Fund's frequent trading and market timing policies, including any applicable redemption fees.
The Fund reserves the right to modify the frequent trading and market timing policies and procedures and grant or eliminate waivers to such policies and procedures at any time without advance notice to shareholders. There can be no assurance that the Fund's policies and procedures to deter frequent trading and market timing will have the intended effect nor that the Manager will be able to detect frequent trading and market timing.
Distributions and Taxes
The Fund distributes most or all of its net earnings in the form of dividends from net investment income ("dividends") and distributions of realized net capital gains ("capital gain distributions") and net gains from foreign currency transactions (sometimes referred to below collectively as "distributions"). The Fund does not have a fixed dividend rate and does not guarantee that it will pay any distributions in any particular period. Distributions paid by the Fund with respect to each class of shares are calculated in the same manner and at the same time, but dividends on different classes of shares may be different as a result of the services and/or fees applicable to certain classes of shares. Any dividends are paid monthly and any other distributions are paid annually.
Options for Receiving Dividends and other Distributions
When you open your Fund account, you can specify on your application how you want to receive distributions. To change that option, you must notify the transfer agent. Unless your account application instructs otherwise, distributions payable to you will be reinvested in additional Fund shares of the distributing class. There are four payment options available:
Reinvest All Distributions. You can elect to reinvest all distributions in additional shares of the distributing class of the Fund.
Reinvest Only Some Distributions. You can elect to reinvest some types of distributions in additional shares of the distributing class of the Fund while receiving the other types of distributions by check or having them sent to your bank account by ACH ("in cash"). Different tax treatment applies to different types of distributions (as described in the table below).
Receive All Distributions in Cash. You can elect to receive all distributions by check or have them sent to your bank account by ACH.
Reinvest Your Distributions in another American Beacon Fund. You can reinvest all of your distributions in shares of the same class of another American Beacon Fund that is available for exchanges. You must have an existing account in the same share class of the selected fund.
If you invest directly with the Fund, any election to receive distributions payable by check will only apply to distributions totaling $10.00 or more. Any distribution totaling less than $10.00 will be reinvested in Fund shares of the distributing class and will not be paid to you by check. This policy does not apply to you if you have elected to receive distributions that are directly deposited into your bank account by ACH.
If you elect to receive a distribution payable by check and the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver your check, or if your check remains uncashed for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest the amount of your check, and to reinvest all subsequent distributions, in shares of the Fund of the distributing class at the NAV on the day of the reinvestment. Interest will not accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distribution or redemption checks.
Shareholders investing in the Fund through a financial intermediary should discuss their options for receiving distributions with the intermediary.
Prospectus – About Your Investment |
20 |
Taxes
Any Fund distributions are taxable to shareholders other than tax-qualified retirement accounts and other tax-exempt investors. However, the portion of the Fund's dividends derived from its investments in U.S. Government obligations, if any, is generally exempt from state and local income taxes. The following table outlines the typical status of transactions in taxable accounts:
Type of Transaction |
Federal Tax Status |
Dividends from net investment income * |
Ordinary income ** |
Distributions of the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss * |
Ordinary income |
Distributions of net gains from certain foreign currency transactions * |
Ordinary income |
Distributions of the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss ("net capital gain'') * |
Long-term capital gains |
Redemptions or exchanges of shares owned for more than one year |
Long-term capital gains or losses |
Redemptions or exchanges of shares owned for one year or less |
Net gains are taxed at the same rate as ordinary income; net losses are subject to special rules |
* |
Whether reinvested or taken in cash. |
** |
Except for dividends that are attributable to ''qualified dividend income'' (as described below). |
To the extent distributions are attributable to net capital gain that the Fund recognizes on sales or exchanges of capital assets, they are subject to a 15% maximum federal income tax rate for individual and certain other non-corporate shareholders (each, an ''individual'') (20% for individuals with taxable income exceeding certain thresholds, which are indexed for inflation annually), regardless of how long the shareholder held his or her Fund shares.
A portion of the dividends the Fund pays to individuals may be ''qualified dividend income'' (''QDI'') and thus eligible for the preferential rates that apply to net capital gain. QDI is the aggregate of dividends the Fund receives on shares of most domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations with respect to which the Fund satisfies certain holding period and other restrictions. To be eligible for those rates, a shareholder must meet similar restrictions with respect to his or her Fund shares.
A portion of the distributions the Fund pays may also be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations, subject to similar holding period and other restrictions, but the eligible portion may not exceed the aggregate dividends the Fund receives from domestic corporations only. However, dividends that a corporate shareholder receives and deducts pursuant to the dividends-received deduction may be subject indirectly to the federal alternative minimum tax.
A shareholder may realize a taxable gain or loss when redeeming or exchanging shares. That gain or loss is treated as a short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, depending on how long the redeemed or exchanged shares were held. Any capital gain an individual shareholder recognizes on a redemption or exchange of Fund shares that have been held for more than one year will qualify for the maximum federal income tax rates mentioned above.
A shareholder who wants to use an acceptable basis determination method with respect to Fund shares other than the average basis method (the Fund's default method) must elect to do so in writing, which may be electronic. The Fund, or its administrative agent, must report to the Internal Revenue Service and furnish to its shareholders the basis information for dispositions of Fund shares. See "Tax Information" in the SAI for a description of the rules regarding that election and the Fund's reporting obligation.
An individual must pay a 3.8% tax on the lesser of (1) the individual's ''net investment income,'' which generally includes distributions the Fund pays and net gains realized on the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, or (2) the excess of the individual's ''modified adjusted gross income'' over a threshold amount ($250,000 for married persons filing jointly and $200,000 for single taxpayers). This tax is in addition to any other taxes due on that income. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers regarding the effect, if any, this tax may have on their investment in Fund shares.
Each year, the Fund's shareholders will receive tax information to assist them in preparing their income tax returns.
The foregoing is only a summary of some of the important federal income tax considerations that may affect Fund shareholders, who should consult their tax advisers regarding specific questions as to the effect of federal, state and local income taxes on an investment in the Fund.
21 |
Prospectus – About Your Investment |
Additional Information
The Fund's Board of Trustees oversees generally the operations of the Fund. The Trust enters into contractual arrangements
with various parties, including among others, the Fund's manager, sub-advisor, custodian, transfer agent, and accountants,
who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to any such contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any shareholder any right
to enforce them directly against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them directly against the service providers.
This Prospectus provides information concerning the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase Fund shares. Neither this Prospectus nor the Statement of Additional Information is intended, or should be read, to be or create an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any investor, or to create any rights in any shareholder or other person other than any rights under federal or state law that may not be waived.
Distribution and Service Plans
The Fund has adopted separate Distribution Plans for its A Class, C Class and SP Class shares in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act, which allows the A Class, C Class and SP Class shares to pay distribution and other fees for the sale of Fund shares and for other services provided to shareholders. Each Plan also authorizes the use of any fees received by the Manager in accordance with the Administration and Management Agreements, and any fees received by the sub-advisors pursuant to their Investment Advisory Agreements with the Manager, to be used for the sale and distribution of Fund shares. The Plans provide that the A Class and SP Class shares of the Fund will pay up to 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets attributable to the A Class and SP Class shares, respectively, and the C Class shares of the Fund will pay up to 1.00% per annum of the average daily net assets attributable to the C Class, to the Manager (or another entity approved by the Board).
The Fund has also adopted a shareholder services plan for its A Class, C Class, Y Class, and Investor Class shares for certain non-distribution shareholder services provided by financial intermediaries. The shareholder services plan authorizes annual payment of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the A Class shares, up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the C Class shares, up to 0.375% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Investor Class shares, and up to 0.10% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Y Class shares of the Fund. Because these distribution and service plan fees are paid out of the Fund's A Class, C Class, Y Class, and Investor Class assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may result in costs higher than other types of sales charges.
Portfolio Holdings
A complete list of the Fund's holdings is made available on the Fund's website on a monthly basis. The holdings information is generally posted to the website approximately twenty days after the end of the month and remains available for six months thereafter. A list of the Fund's ten largest holdings is made available on the Fund's website on a quarterly basis. The ten largest holdings of the Fund is generally posted to the website approximately fifteen days after the end of each calendar quarter and remain available until the next quarter. To access the holdings information, go to www.americanbeaconfunds.com . The Fund's ten largest holdings may also be accessed by selecting a particular Fund's fact sheet.
A description of the Fund's policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of portfolio holdings is available in the Fund's SAI, which you may access on the Fund's website at www.americanbeaconfunds.com or call 1-800-658-5811 to request a free copy.
Delivery of Documents
If you are interested in electronic delivery of the Fund's summary prospectus or shareholder reports, please go to www.americanbeaconfunds.com and click on ''Quick Links'' and then ''Register for E-Delivery.''
To reduce expenses, your financial institution may mail only one copy of the summary prospectus, Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents, please contact your financial institution. Delivery of individual copies will commence thirty days after receiving your request.
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the period of the Fund's operation.
The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions).
The financial highlights of the Fund shown below for Institutional Class and SP Class shares of the Fund represent the financial history of the Institutional Class and Investor Class shares, respectively, of the Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund ("Sound Point Fund"), a series of Trust for Advised Portfolios, which was acquired by the Fund in a reorganization on December 11, 2015. The information in the financial highlights has been audited by the Sound Point Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. Prior to reorganizing to the Trust for Advised Portfolios on May 31, 2014, the Fund was organized as a closed-end investment company under the same name (the "Predecessor Fund"). The information for the period December 1, 2012 through August 31, 2013 was audited by the Predecessor Fund's independent registered accounting firm.
Prospectus – Additional Information |
22 |
Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Investor Class
For a capital share outstanding throughout each period. | |||||||||
For the Period | |||||||||
May 31, 2014* | |||||||||
For the Year Ended | through | ||||||||
August 31, 2015 | August 31, 2014 | ||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | $ | 10.49 | $ | 10.62 | (1) | ||||
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: | |||||||||
Net investment income | 0.43 | (5) | 0.13 | ||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | 0.12 | (0.00 | ) (4) | ||||||
Total Income from Investment Operations | 0.55 | 0.13 | |||||||
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: | |||||||||
From net investment income | (0.49) | (0.26 ) | |||||||
From net realized gain on investments | (0.17) | — | |||||||
Total Distributions | (0.66 | ) | (0.26 | ) | |||||
Net Asset Value, End of Period | $ | 10.38 | $ | 10.49 | |||||
Total Return | 5.53 | % | 1.19 | % (2) | |||||
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS: | |||||||||
Net assets, end of period | $ | 125,577 | $ | 1,138 | |||||
Ratio of expenses to average net assets | |||||||||
Before fees waived by the Adviser | 1.74 | % | 1.95 | % (3) | |||||
After fees waived by the Adviser | 1.15 | % | 1.15 | % (3) | |||||
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | |||||||||
After fees waived by the Adviser | 4.18 | % | 4.50 | % (3) | |||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 196 | % | 165 | % (2) |
* | Commencement of operations |
(1) | NAV at Class inception |
(2) | Not annualized |
(3) | Annualized |
(4) | Amount is less than $0.01 per share. The net realized and unrealized loss per share does not accord with the amount presented in the Statement of Operations due to the Investor Class shares commencing operations on May 31, 2014. |
(5) | Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method. |
Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Institutional Class
For a capital share outstanding throughout each period.
For the Period | ||||||||||||||
December 1, 2012* | ||||||||||||||
For the Year Ended | For the Year Ended | through | ||||||||||||
August 31, 2015 | August 31, 2014 | August 31, 2013 | ||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | $ | 10.49 | $ | 10.58 | $ | 10.00 | ||||||||
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT | ||||||||||||||
OPERATIONS: | ||||||||||||||
Net investment income | 0.52 | (4) | 0.57 | 0.14 | ||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments | 0.06 | 0.14 | 0.50 | |||||||||||
Total Income from Investment Operations | 0.58 | 0.71 | 0.64 | |||||||||||
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS: | ||||||||||||||
From net investment income | (0.52 | ) | (0.58 | ) | (0.06 | ) | ||||||||
From net realized gain on investments | (0.17 | ) | (0.22 | ) | 0.00 | |||||||||
Total Distributions | (0.69 | ) | (0.80 | ) | (0.06 | ) | ||||||||
Net Asset Value, End of Period | $ | 10.38 | $ | 10.49 | $ | 10.58 | ||||||||
Total Return | 5.75 | % | 6.92 | % | 6.40 | % (1) | ||||||||
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS: | ||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | $ | 42,903 | $ | 19,578 | $ | 17,779 | ||||||||
Ratio of expenses to average net assets | ||||||||||||||
Before fees waived by the Adviser | 1.88 | % | 2.37 | % | 3.33 | % (2) | ||||||||
After fees waived by the Adviser | 0.90 | % | 1.58 | % (3) | 2.08 | % (2) | ||||||||
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | ||||||||||||||
After fees waived by the Adviser | 5.04 | % | 5.35 | % | 2.11 | % (2) | ||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 196 | % | 165 | % | 197 | % (1) |
* | Commencement of Operations |
(1) | Not annualized |
(2) | Annualized |
(3) | See Note 3 — Investment Advisory and Other Agreements |
(4) | Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method. |
Additional Information
Additional information about the Fund is found in the documents listed below. Request a free copy of these documents by calling 1-800-658-5811 or you may access them on the Fund's website at www.americanbeaconfunds.com.
Annual Report/Semi-Annual Report
The Fund's Annual and Semi-Annual Reports list the Fund's actual investments as of the report's date. They also include a discussion by the Manager of market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance. The report of the Fund's Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm is included in the Annual Report. Reports will be available approximately 60 days after the Fund passes its first year end and semi-annual reporting period.
Statement of Additional Information (''SAI'')
The SAI contains more details about the Fund and its investment policies. The SAI is incorporated in this prospectus by reference (it is legally part of this prospectus). A current SAI is on file with the SEC.
To obtain more information about the Fund or to request a copy of the documents listed above:
By Telephone: |
Call
|
By Mail: |
American Beacon Funds
|
By E-mail: |
americanbeaconfunds@ambeacon.com |
On the Internet: |
Visit our website at www.americanbeaconfunds.com
|
The SAI and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov. Copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic mail to publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. The SAI and other information about the Fund may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room. Information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090.
American Beacon is a registered service mark of American Beacon Advisors, Inc. The American Beacon Funds and American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund are service marks of American Beacon Advisors, Inc. |
|
SEC File Number 811-04984
American Beacon Funds SM
Statement of Additional Information
December 11, 2015
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Share Class |
A |
C |
Y |
Institutional |
Investor |
SP |
American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund |
SOUAX |
SOUCX |
SPFYX |
SPFLX |
SPFPX |
SPFRX |
This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated December 11, 2015 (the "Prospectus") for the American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund (the "Fund"), a series of American Beacon Funds, a Massachusetts business trust. Copies of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by calling (800) 658-5811. You also may obtain copies of the Prospectus without charge by visiting the Fund's website at www.americanbeaconfunds.com. This SAI is incorporated by reference into the Fund's Prospectus. In other words, it is legally a part of the Prospectus. This SAI is not a prospectus and is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only if preceded or accompanied by a current Prospectus. Capitalized terms in this SAI have the same definition as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise defined.
The Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date hereof. Accordingly, financial statements for the Fund are not available. Copies of the Fund's Annual Report may be obtained when available, without charge, upon request by calling (800) 658-5811 or visiting www.americanbeaconfunds.com.
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Additional Information About Investment Strategies and Risks |
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Additional Information Regarding Contingent Deferred Sales Charges |
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Appendix A: Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures for the Trust |
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ORGANIZATION AND HISTORY OF THE FUND
The Fund is a separate series of the American Beacon Funds (the "Trust"), an open- end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on January 16, 1987. The Fund constitutes a separate investment portfolio with a distinct investment objective and distinct purpose and strategy. The Fund is non-diversified. The Fund is comprised of multiple classes of shares designed to meet the needs of different groups of investors. This SAI relates to the A Class, C Class, Y Class, Institutional Class, Investor Class and SP Class shares of the Fund.
On December 11, 2015, the Fund acquired all the assets and assume all the liabilities of the Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund (the "Acquired Sound Point Fund"), a series of Trust For Advised Portfolios. Since the Acquired Sound Point Fund's objective and policies are the same in all material respects as the Fund, and since the Fund has engaged the investment advisor that previously provided services to the Acquired Sound Point Fund, Sound Point Capital Management, LP., as sub-advisor, the Fund has adopted the prior performance and financial history of the Acquired Sound Point Fund.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
The investment objective and principal investment strategies and risks of the Fund are described in the Prospectus. This section contains additional information about the Fund's investment policies and risks and types of investments the Fund may purchase. The composition of the Fund's portfolio and the strategies that the Fund may use in selecting investments may vary over time. The Fund is not required to use all of the investment strategies described below in pursuing its investment objectives. It may use some of the investment strategies only at some times or it may not use them at all.
Asset-Backed Securities — Asset-backed securities are securities issued by trusts and special purpose entities that are backed by pools of assets, such as automobile and credit-card receivables and home equity loans, which pass through the payments on the underlying obligations to the security holders (less servicing fees paid to the originator or fees for any credit enhancement). Typically, loans or accounts receivable paper are transferred from the originator to a specially created trust, which repackages the trust's interests as securities with a minimum denomination and a specific term. The securities are then privately placed or publicly offered. Examples include certificates for automobile receivables and so called plastic bonds, backed by credit card receivables. The Fund is permitted to invest in asset-backed securities, subject to the Fund's rating and quality requirements.
The value of an asset-backed security is affected by, among other things, changes in the market's perception of the asset backing the security, the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the loan pool, the originator of the loans and the financial institution providing any credit enhancement. Payments of principal and interest passed through to holders of asset-backed securities are frequently supported by some form of credit enhancement, such as a letter of credit, surety bond, limited guarantee by another entity or by having a priority to certain of the borrower's other assets. The degree of credit enhancement varies, and generally applies to only a portion of the asset-backed security's par value. Value is also affected if any credit enhancement has been exhausted.
Cash Equivalents — Cash equivalents include certificates of deposit, time deposits, bearer deposit notes, bankers' acceptances, government obligations, commercial paper, short-term corporate debt securities and repurchase agreements.
Bankers' acceptances are short-term credit instruments designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then "accepted" by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less.
Certificates of deposit ("CDs") are issued against funds deposited in an eligible bank (including its domestic and foreign branches, subsidiaries and agencies), are for a definite period of time, earn a specified rate of return and are normally negotiable. U.S. dollar denominated CDs issued by banks abroad are known as Eurodollar CDs. CDs issued by foreign branches of U.S. banks are known as Yankee CDs.
Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained at a banking institution for a specified period of time at a specified interest rate.
Common Stock — Common stock generally takes the form of shares in a corporation which represent an ownership interest. It ranks below preferred stock and debt securities in claims for dividends and for assets of the company in a liquidation or bankruptcy. The value of a company's common stock may fall as a result of factors directly relating to that company, such as decisions made by its management or decreased demand for the company's products or services. A stock's value may also decline because of factors affecting not just the company, but also companies in the same industry or sector. The price of a company's stock may also be affected by changes in financial markets that are relatively unrelated to the company, such as changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates or industry regulation. Companies that elect to pay dividends on their common stock generally only do so after they invest in their own business and make required payments to bondholders and on other debt and preferred stock. Therefore, the value of a company's common stock will usually be more volatile than its bonds, other debt and preferred stock. Common stock may be exchange-traded or over-the-counter ("OTC"). OTC stock may be less liquid than exchange-traded stock.
Convertible Securities — Convertible securities include corporate bonds, notes, preferred stock or other securities that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or dividends paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. While no securities investment is without some risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than the issuer's common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income security. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to increase as interest rates decline. While convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non- convertible debt securities of similar quality, they do enable the investor to benefit from increases in the market price of the underlying common stock. Holders of convertible securities have a claim on the assets of the issuer prior to the common stockholders, but may be subordinated to holders of
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similar non-convertible securities of the same issuer. Because of the conversion feature, certain convertible securities may be considered equity equivalents.
Corporate Actions — From time to time, the Fund may voluntarily participate in actions (for example, rights offerings, conversion privileges, exchange offers, credit event settlements, etc.) where the issuer or counterparty offers securities or instruments to holders or counterparties, such as the Fund, and the acquisition is determined to be beneficial to Fund shareholders ("Voluntary Action"). Notwithstanding any percentage investment limitation listed under the "Investment Restrictions" section or any percentage investment limitation of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act" or "1940 Act") or rules thereunder, if the Fund has the opportunity to acquire a permitted security or instrument through a Voluntary Action, and the Fund will exceed a percentage investment limitation following the acquisition, it will not constitute a violation if, prior to the receipt of the securities or instruments and after announcement of the offering, the Fund sells an offsetting amount of assets that are subject to the investment limitation in question at least equal to the value of the securities or instruments to be acquired.
Cover and Asset Segregation — The Fund may make investments or employ trading practices that obligate the Fund, on a fixed or contingent basis, to deliver an asset or make a cash payment to another party in the future. The Fund will comply with guidance from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and other applicable regulatory bodies with respect to coverage of certain investments and trading practices. This guidance requires segregation (which may include earmarking) by the Fund of cash or liquid assets with its custodian or a designated sub-custodian to the extent the Fund's obligations with respect to these strategies are not otherwise "covered" through ownership of the underlying security or financial instrument or by offsetting portfolio positions.
For example, if the Fund enters into a currency forward contract to sell foreign currency on a future date, the Fund may cover its obligation to deliver the foreign currency by segregating cash or liquid assets having a value at least equal to the value of the deliverable currency. Alternatively, the Fund could cover its obligation by entering into an offsetting transaction to acquire, on or before the date such foreign currency must be delivered, an amount of foreign currency at least equal to the deliverable amount at a price at or below the sale price to be received by the Fund under the currency forward contract.
The Fund's approach to asset coverage may vary among different types of investments. For example, if the Fund's forward obligation on the transaction is only to make a cash payment equal to the amount, if any, by which the value of the Fund's position is less than that of its counterparty, the Fund will segregate cash or liquidate assets equal to that difference calculated on a daily marked-to-market basis (a "net amount"). Additionally, if the Fund is a protection seller in a credit default swap, the Fund, depending on how the credit default swap is settled, usually will segregate assets equal to the full notional value of the swap. If the Fund is protection buyer in a credit default swap, depending on how the credit default swap is settled, it usually will cover the total amount of required premium payments plus the prepayment penalty.
Inasmuch as the Fund covers its obligations under these transactions as described above, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (the "Manager") and the Fund believe such obligations do not constitute senior securities. Earmarking or otherwise segregating a large percentage of the Fund's assets could impede the sub-advisor's ability to manage the Fund's portfolio.
Creditor Liability and Participation on Creditors Committees — When the Fund holds bonds or other similar fixed income securities of an issuer, the Fund becomes a creditor of the issuer. If the Fund is a creditor of an issuer it may be subject to challenges related to the securities that it holds, either in connection with the bankruptcy of the issuer or in connection with another action brought by other creditors of the issuer, shareholders of the issuer or the issuer itself. The Fund may from time to time participate on committees formed by creditors to negotiate with the management of financially troubled issuers of securities held by the Fund. Such participation may subject the Fund to expenses such as legal fees and may make the Fund an "insider" of the issuer for purposes of the federal securities laws, and therefore may restrict such Fund's ability to trade in or acquire additional positions in a particular security when it might otherwise desire to do so. Participation on such committees also may expose the Fund to potential liabilities under the federal bankruptcy laws or other laws governing the rights of creditors and debtors.
Cyber-Security Risk — The Fund, and its service providers, may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber-attacks. Cyber-attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber-attacks affecting the Fund or its sub-advisor(s), custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund. For instance, cyber-attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund's ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. While the Fund's service providers have established business continuity plans in the event of, and risk management systems to prevent, such cyber-attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. Furthermore, the Fund cannot control the cyber security plans and systems put in place by its service providers or any other third parties whose operations may affect the Fund or its shareholders. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issues or securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund's investment in such companies to lose value.
Depositary Receipts — American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) — ADRs are depositary receipts for foreign issuers in registered form traded in U.S. securities markets. Depositary receipts may not be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted. Investing in depositary receipts entails substantially the same risks as direct investment in foreign securities. There is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies and there may be less governmental regulation and supervision of foreign stock exchanges, brokers and listed companies. In addition, such companies may use different accounting and financial standards. In addition, the Fund may invest in unsponsored depositary receipts, the issuers of which are not obligated to disclose material information about the underlying securities to investors in the United States. Ownership of unsponsored depositary receipts may not entitle the Fund to the same benefits and rights as ownership of a sponsored depositary receipt or the underlying security. Please see "Foreign Securities" below for a description of the risks associated with investments in foreign securities.
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Derivatives — Generally a derivative is a financial arrangement, the value of which is based on, or "derived" from, a traditional security, asset, currency, or market index. Some derivatives are in many respects like any other investment, although they may be more volatile or less liquid than more traditional debt securities. There are, in fact, many different types of derivatives and many different ways to use them. The value of certain derivative securities is linked to other equity securities (such as depositary receipts), currencies, interest rates, indices or other financial indicators (reference assets).
The Fund may invest in various types of derivatives, including among others, options (including non-deliverable options), futures, forward currency and other forwards (including non-deliverable forwards), forwards for currency hedges, warrants, structured products (including credit-linked and structured notes), interest rate caps, floors, collars, reverse collars, and credit default swaps. The enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act") resulted in historic and comprehensive reform relating to derivatives, including the manner in which they are entered into, reported, recorded, executed, and settled or cleared. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act the SEC and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") have promulgated a broad range of new regulations with respect to security-based swaps (e.g., derivatives based on a single security or narrow-based securities index), which are regulated by the SEC), and other swaps, which are regulated by the CFTC and the markets in which these instruments trade.
Until recently, advisers of registered investment companies, like the Fund, that trade commodity interests (such as futures contracts, options on futures contracts, non-deliverable forwards and swaps), have been excluded from regulation as commodity pool operators ("CPOs") pursuant to CFTC Regulation 4.5. In 2012, the CFTC amended Regulation 4.5 to dramatically narrow this exclusion. Under the amended Regulation 4.5 exclusion, in order to rely on the exclusion the Fund's commodity interests – other than those used for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined by the CFTC) – must be limited such that the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish the positions (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions and excluding the amount by which options that are "in-the-money" at the time of purchase) does not exceed 5% of the Fund's NAV, or alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of the positions, determined at the time the most recent position was established, does not exceed 100% of the Fund's NAV (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). Further, to qualify for the exclusion in amended Regulation 4.5, the Fund must satisfy a marketing test, which requires, among other things, that the Fund not hold itself out as a vehicle for trading commodity interests. The Fund's ability to use these instruments also may be limited by tax considerations. See the section entitled "Tax Information."
The Manager has filed a notice claiming the CFTC Regulation 4.5 exclusion from CPO registration.
Derivatives may involve significant risk. Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund's initial investment. Not all derivative transactions require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose the Fund to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty.
Derivatives may be illiquid and may be more volatile than other types of investments. The Fund may buy and sell derivatives that are neither centrally cleared nor traded on an exchange. Such derivatives may be subject to heightened liquidity and valuation risk.
Transactions in derivatives may expose the Fund to an obligation to another party and, as a result, the Fund may need to "cover" the obligation or segregate liquid assets in compliance with SEC guidelines, as discussed above under "Cover and Asset Segregation."
Delayed Funding Loans and Revolving Credit Facilities — The Fund may enter into, or acquire participations in, delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities are borrowing arrangements in which the lender agrees to make loans up to a maximum amount upon demand by the borrower during a specified term. A revolving credit facility differs from a delayed funding loan in that as the borrower repays the loan, an amount equal to the repayment may be borrowed again during the term of the revolving credit facility. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities usually provide for floating or variable rates of interest. These commitments may have the effect of requiring the Fund to increase its investment in a company at a time when it might not otherwise decide to do so (including at a time when the company's financial condition makes it unlikely that such amounts will be repaid). To the extent that the Fund is committed to advance additional funds, it will at all times segregate or "earmark" assets, determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures established by the Trust's Board of Trustees (the "Board"), in an amount sufficient to meet such commitments.
The Fund may invest in delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities with credit quality comparable to that of issuers of its securities investments. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities may be subject to restrictions on transfer, and only limited opportunities may exist to resell such instruments. As a result, the Fund may be unable to sell such investments at an opportune time or may have to resell them at less than fair market value.
Distressed Investment Risk — The Fund may invest in distressed investments, which are issued by companies that are, or might be, involved in reorganizations or financial restructurings, either out of court or in bankruptcy. These investments may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default at the time of investment. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to an investment, the Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than its original investment. Among the risks inherent in investments in a troubled issuer is that it frequently may be difficult to obtain information as to the true financial condition of the issuer.
Equity Securities — In connection with its purchase or holding of interests in senior floating rate loans ("Floating Rate Loans"), in the event of an in court or out of court restructuring, the Fund may acquire (and subsequently sell) equity securities or exercise warrants that it receives.
Expense Risk — Fund expenses are subject to a variety of factors, including fluctuations in the Fund's net assets. Accordingly, actual expenses may be greater or less than those indicated. For example, to the extent that the Fund's net assets decrease due to market declines or redemptions, the Fund's expenses will increase as a percentage of Fund net assets. During periods of high market volatility, these increases in the Fund's expense ratio could be significant.
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Foreign Securities — The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers. Foreign issuers are issuers organized and doing business principally outside the United States and include corporations, banks, non-U.S. governments, and quasi-governmental organizations. While investments in foreign securities are intended to reduce risk by providing further diversification, such investments involve sovereign and other risks, in addition to the credit and market risks normally associated with domestic securities. These additional risks include the possibility of adverse political and economic developments (including political or social instability, nationalization, expropriation, or confiscatory taxation); the potentially adverse effects of unavailability of public information regarding issuers, less governmental supervision and regulation of financial markets, reduced liquidity of certain financial markets, and the lack of uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards or the application of standards that are different or less stringent than those applied in the United States; different laws and customs governing securities tracking; and possibly limited access to the courts to enforce the Fund's rights as an investor.
Investing in foreign currency denominated securities involves the special risks associated with investing in non-U.S. issuers, as described in the preceding paragraph, and the additional risks of (1) adverse changes in foreign exchange rates and (2) adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations (which could prevent cash from being brought back to the United States). Additionally, dividends and interest payable on foreign securities (and gains realized on disposition thereof) may be subject to foreign taxes, including taxes withheld from those payments.
Commissions on foreign securities exchanges are often at fixed rates and are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges, although the sub-advisor endeavors to achieve the most favorable net results on portfolio transactions.
Foreign securities may trade with less frequency and in less volume than domestic securities and therefore may exhibit greater price volatility. Additional costs associated with an investment in foreign securities may include higher custodial fees than apply to domestic custody arrangements and transaction costs of foreign currency conversions.
Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures. In certain markets, there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of the Fund is not invested and no return is earned thereon. The inability of the Fund to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities. Inability to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement problems could result in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the securities or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser.
Interest rates prevailing in other countries may affect the prices of foreign securities and exchange rates for foreign currencies. Local factors, including the strength of the local economy, the demand for borrowing, the government's fiscal and monetary policies, and the international balance of payments, often affect interest rates in other countries. Individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, and balance of payments position.
Futures Contracts — Futures contracts, including interest rate and U.S. Treasury futures contracts, obligate a purchaser to take delivery of a specific amount of an obligation underlying the futures contract at a specified time in the future for a specified price. Likewise, the seller incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of the underlying obligation against receipt of the specified price. Futures are traded on both U.S. and foreign commodities exchanges. Futures contracts will be traded for the same purposes as entering into forward contracts. The purchase of futures can serve as a long hedge, and the sale of futures can serve as a short hedge.
No price is paid upon entering into a futures contract. Instead, at the inception of a futures contract the Fund is required to deposit "initial margin" consisting of cash or U.S. Government Securities in an amount set by the exchange on which the contract is traded and varying based on the volatility of the underlying asset. Margin must also be deposited when writing a call or put option on a futures contract, in accordance with applicable exchange rules. Unlike margin in securities transactions, initial margin on futures contracts does not represent a borrowing, but rather is in the nature of a performance bond or good-faith deposit that is returned to the Fund at the termination of the transaction if all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Under certain circumstances, such as periods of high volatility, the Fund may be required by a futures exchange to increase the level of its initial margin payment, and initial margin requirements might be increased generally in the future by regulatory action.
Subsequent "variation margin" payments are made to and from the futures broker daily as the value of the futures position varies, a process known as "marking-to-market." Variation margin does not involve borrowing, but rather represents a daily settlement of the Fund's obligations to or from a futures broker. When the Fund purchases or sells a futures contract, it is subject to daily variation margin calls that could be substantial in the event of adverse price movements. If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time when such sales are disadvantageous.
Purchasers and sellers of futures contracts can enter into offsetting closing transactions, by selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument purchased or sold. Positions in futures contracts may be closed only on a futures exchange or board of trade that provides a secondary market. The Fund intends to enter into futures contracts only on exchanges or boards of trade where there appears to be a liquid secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that such a market will exist for a particular contract at a particular time. In such event, it may not be possible to close a futures contract.
Although futures contracts by their terms call for the actual delivery or acquisition of securities or currency, in most cases the contractual obligation is fulfilled before the date of the contract without having to make or take delivery of the securities or currency. The offsetting of a contractual obligation is accomplished by buying (or selling, as appropriate) on a commodities exchange an identical futures contract calling for delivery in the same month. Such a transaction, which is effected through a member of an exchange, cancels the obligation to make or take delivery of the securities or currency. Since all transactions in the futures market are made, offset or fulfilled through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange on which the contracts are traded, the Fund will incur brokerage fees when it purchases or sells futures contracts.
Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract can vary from the previous day's settlement price; once that limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. Daily price limits do not limit potential
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losses because prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing liquidation of unfavorable positions.
If the Fund were unable to liquidate a futures contract due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses. The Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position. In addition, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to maintain the position being hedged by the futures contract or option thereon or to maintain cash or securities in a segregated account.
The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures market, due to differences in the nature of those markets, are subject to distortions. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to initial deposit and variation margin requirements. Rather than meeting additional variation margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions that could distort the normal relationship between the cash and futures markets. Second, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced, thus producing distortion. Third, from the point of view of speculators, the margin deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market. Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the futures market may cause temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of distortion, a correct forecast of securities price or currency exchange rate trends by the sub-advisor may still not result in a successful transaction.
In addition, futures contracts entail risks. Although the use of such contracts may benefit the Fund, if investment judgment about the general direction of, for example, an index is incorrect, the Fund's overall performance would be worse than if it had not entered into any such contract. In addition, there are differences between the securities and futures markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between the markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives.
Illiquid and Restricted Securities — The Fund may invest in illiquid securities. Generally, an illiquid asset is an asset that cannot be disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the price at which it has been valued. Historically, illiquid securities have included securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), securities that are otherwise not readily marketable, and repurchase agreements having a remaining maturity of longer than seven calendar days. Securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act are referred to as private placements or restricted securities and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary market. These securities may be sold only in a privately negotiated transaction or pursuant to an exemption from registration. A large institutional market exists for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, including repurchase agreements, commercial paper, foreign securities, municipal securities and corporate bonds and notes. Institutional investors depend on an efficient institutional market in which the unregistered security can be readily resold or on an issuer's ability to honor a demand for repayment.
Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities, and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven calendar days. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about an issuer, so it may be less able to predict a loss. The Fund also might have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.
In recognition of the increased size and liquidity of the institutional market for unregistered securities and the importance of institutional investors in the formation of capital, the SEC adopted Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Rule 144A is designed to facilitate efficient trading among institutional investors by permitting the sale of certain unregistered securities to qualified institutional buyers. To the extent privately placed securities held by the Fund qualify under Rule 144A and an institutional market develops for those securities, the Fund likely will be able to dispose of the securities without registering them under the Securities Act. To the extent that institutional buyers become, for a time, uninterested in purchasing these securities, investing in Rule 144A securities could increase the level of the Fund's illiquidity. The Manager or a sub-advisor, as applicable, acting under guidelines established by the Trust's Board of Trustees ("Board"), may determine that certain securities qualified for trading under Rule 144A are liquid. Regulation S under the Securities Act permits the sale abroad of securities that are not registered for sale in the United States and includes a provision for U.S. investors, such as the Fund, to purchase such unregistered securities if certain conditions are met.
Securities sold in private placement offerings made in reliance on the "private placement" exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and resold to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the Securities Act ("Section 4(a)(2) securities") are restricted as to disposition under the federal securities laws, and generally are sold to institutional investors, such as the Fund that agree they are purchasing the securities for investment and not with an intention to distribute to the public. Any resale by the purchaser must be pursuant to an exempt transaction and may be accomplished in accordance with Rule 144A. Section 4(a)(2) securities normally are resold to other institutional investors through or with the assistance of the issuer or dealers that make a market in the Section 4(a)(2) securities, thus providing liquidity.
The Manager and the sub-advisor will carefully monitor the Fund's investments in Section 4(a)(2) securities offered and sold under Rule 144A, focusing on such important factors, among others, as valuation, liquidity, and availability of information. Investments in Section 4(a)(2) securities could have the effect of reducing the Fund's liquidity to the extent that qualified institutional buyers no longer wish to purchase these restricted securities.
Indebtedness, Loan Participations and Assignments — Floating rate securities, including loans, provide for automatic adjustment of the interest rate at fixed intervals (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, or semi-annually) or automatic adjustment of the interest rate whenever a specified interest rate or index changes. The interest rate on floating rate securities ordinarily is determined by reference to LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate), a particular bank's prime rate, the 90-day U.S. Treasury Bill rate, the rate of return on commercial paper or bank CDs, an index of short-term tax-exempt rates or some other objective measure.
Loan interests are a form of direct debt instrument in which the Fund may invest by taking an assignment of all or a portion of an interest in a loan previously held by another institution or by acquiring a participation in an interest in a loan that continues to be held by another institution. The Fund may invest in secured and unsecured loans. Many banks have been weakened by the recent financial crisis, and it may be difficult for the Fund to
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obtain an accurate picture of a lending bank's financial condition. Loans are subject to the same risks as other direct debt instruments discussed above and carry additional risks described in this section.
Assignments . When the Fund purchases a loan by assignment, the Fund typically succeeds to the rights of the assigning lender under the loan agreement and becomes a lender under the loan agreement. Subject to the terms of the loan agreement, the Fund typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the loan agreement of the assigning lender. However, assignments may be arranged through private negotiations between potential assignees and potential assignors, and the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of an assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assigning lender.
Participation Interests . The Fund's rights under a participation interest with respect to a particular loan may be more limited than the rights of original lenders or of investors who acquire an assignment of that loan. In purchasing participation interests, the Fund will have the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the lender selling the participation interest (the "participating lender") and only when the participating lender receives the payments from the borrower.
In a participation interest, the Fund will usually have a contractual relationship only with the selling institution and not the underlying borrower. The Fund normally will have to rely on the participating lender to demand and receive payments in respect of the loans, and to pay those amounts on to the Fund; thus, the Fund will be subject to the risk that the lender may be unwilling or unable to do so. In such a case, the Fund would not likely have any rights against the borrower directly. In addition, the Fund generally will have no right to object to certain changes to the loan agreement agreed to by the participating lender.
In buying a participation interest, the Fund might not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the related loan and may be subject to any rights of set off the borrower has against the selling institution. In the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of the borrower, the obligation of the borrower to repay the loan may be subject to certain defenses that can be asserted by the borrower as a result of any improper conduct of the participating lender. As a result, the Fund may be subject to delays, expenses and risks that are greater than those that exist when the Fund is an original lender or assignee.
The Fund's ability to receive payments in connection with loans depends on the financial condition of the borrower. The Manager or the sub-advisor will not rely solely on another lending institution's credit analysis of the borrower, but will perform its own investment analysis of the borrower. The Manager's or the sub-advisor's analysis may include consideration of the borrower's financial strength, managerial experience, debt coverage, additional borrowing requirements or debt maturity schedules, changing financial conditions, and responsiveness to changes in business conditions and interest rates. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative. Borrowers that are in bankruptcy or restructuring may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. In connection with the restructuring of a loan or other direct debt instrument outside of bankruptcy court in a negotiated work-out or in the context of bankruptcy proceedings, equity securities or junior debt securities may be received in exchange for all or a portion of an interest in the security.
In buying a participation interest, the Fund assumes the credit risk of both the borrower and the participating lender. If the participating lender fails to perform its obligations under the participation agreement, the Fund might incur costs and delays in realizing payment and suffer a loss of principal and/or interest. If a participating lender becomes insolvent, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of that lender. As a general creditor, the Fund may not benefit from a right of set off that the lender has against the borrower. The Fund will acquire a participation interest only if the Manager or the sub-advisor determines that the participating lender or other intermediary participant selling the participation interest is creditworthy.
Loan interests may not be rated by independent rating agencies and therefore, investments in a particular loan participation may depend almost exclusively on the credit analysis of the borrower performed by the Manager or the sub-advisor.
Loans are typically administered by a bank, insurance company, finance company or other financial institution (the "agent") for a lending syndicate of financial institutions. In a typical loan, the agent administers the terms of the loan agreement and is responsible for the collection of principal and interest and fee payments from the borrower and the apportionment of these payments to all lenders that are parties to the loan agreement. In addition, an institution (which may be the agent) may hold collateral on behalf of the lenders. Typically, under loan agreements, the agent is given broad authority in monitoring the borrower's performance and is obligated to use the same care it would use in the management of its own property. In asserting rights against a borrower, the Fund normally will be dependent on the willingness of the lead bank to assert these rights, or upon a vote of all the lenders to authorize the action. If an agent becomes insolvent, or has a receiver, conservator, or similar official appointed for it by the appropriate regulatory authority, or becomes a debtor in a bankruptcy proceeding, the agent's appointment may be terminated and a successor agent would be appointed. If an appropriate regulator or court determines that assets held by the agent for the benefit of purchasers of loans are subject to the claims of the agent's general or secured creditors, the Fund might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on a loan or suffer a loss of principal and/or interest. The Fund may be subject to similar risks when it buys a participation interest or an assignment from an intermediary.
Although most of the loans in which the Fund invests are secured, there is no assurance that the collateral can be promptly liquidated, or that its liquidation value will be equal to the value of the debt. In most loan agreements there is no formal requirement to pledge additional collateral if the value of the initial collateral declines. As a result, a loan may not always be fully collateralized and can decline significantly in value. If a borrower becomes insolvent, access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy and other laws. Borrowers that are in bankruptcy may pay only a small portion of the amount owed, if they are able to pay at all. If a secured loan is foreclosed, the Fund will likely be required to bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. There is also a possibility that the Fund will become the owner of its pro rata share of the collateral which may carry additional risks and liabilities. In addition, under legal theories of lender liability, the Fund potentially might be held liable as a co-lender. In the event of a borrower's bankruptcy or insolvency, the borrower's obligation to repay the loan may be subject to certain defenses that the borrower can assert as a result of improper conduct by the Agent. Some loans are unsecured. If the borrower defaults on an unsecured loan, the Fund will be a general creditor and will not have rights to any specific assets of the borrower.
Loans may be subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Loans are not currently listed on any securities exchange or automatic quotation system. As a result, there may not be a recognized, liquid public market for loan interests.
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Because many loans are repaid early, the actual maturity of loans is typically shorter than their stated final maturity calculated solely on the basis of the stated life and payment schedule. The degree to which borrowers prepay loans, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, may be affected by general business conditions, market interest rates, the borrower's financial condition and competitive conditions among lenders. Such prepayments may require the Fund to replace an investment with a lower yielding security which may have an adverse affect on the Fund's share price. Prepayments cannot be predicted with accuracy. Floating Rate Loans can be less sensitive to prepayment risk, but the Fund's NAV may still fluctuate in response to interest rate changes because variable interest rates may reset only periodically and may not rise or decline as much as interest rates in general.
A borrower must comply with various restrictive covenants in a loan agreement such as restrictions on dividend payments and limits on total debt. The loan agreement may also contain a covenant requiring the borrower to prepay the loan with any free cash flow. A breach of a covenant is normally an event of default, which provides the agent or the lenders the right to call the outstanding loan.
Purchasers and sellers of loans may pay certain fees, such as an assignment fee. In addition, the Fund incurs expenses associated with researching and analyzing potential loan investments, including legal fees. Available Information. Loans normally are not registered with the SEC or any state securities commission or listed on any securities exchange. As a result, the amount of public information available about a specific loan historically has been less extensive than if the loan were registered or exchange traded. They may also not be considered "securities," and purchasers, such as the Fund, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the strong anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws.
Inflation Risk — Inflation risk results from the variation in the value of cash flows from a security due to inflation, as measured in terms of purchasing power. For example, if the Fund purchases a 5-year bond in which it can realize a coupon rate of five percent (5%), but the rate of inflation is six percent (6%), then the purchasing power of the cash flow has declined. Fixed income securities, other than inflation-linked bonds, adjustable bonds and floating rate bonds, generally expose the Fund to inflation risk because the interest rate the issuer promises to make is fixed for the life of the security. To the extent that interest rates reflect the expected inflation rate, floating rate bonds have a lower level of inflation risk.
Interest Rates and Portfolio Maturity — Interest rates on loans in which the Fund invests adjust periodically. The interest rates are adjusted based on a base rate plus a premium or spread over the base rate. The base rate usually is the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), the federal funds rate, the prime rate, or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders. LIBOR usually is an average of the interest rates quoted by several designated banks as the rates at which they pay interest to major depositors in the London interbank market on U.S. dollar-denominated deposits. The Advisor believe that changes in short-term LIBOR rates are closely related to changes in the Federal Reserve federal funds rate, although the two are not technically linked. The prime rate quoted by a major U.S. bank is generally the interest rate at which that bank is willing to lend U.S. dollars to its most creditworthy borrowers, although it may not be the bank's lowest available rate.
The Floating Rate Loans in which the Fund invests typically have multiple reset periods during the year with each reset period applicable to a designated portion of the loan. The Fund may find it possible and appropriate to use interest rate swaps and other investment practices to shorten the effective interest rate adjustment period of loans. If the Fund does so, it will consider the shortened period to be the adjustment period of the loan. As short-term interest rates rise, interest payable to the Fund should increase. As short-term interest rates decline, interest payable to the Fund should decrease. The amount of time that will pass before the Fund experiences the effects of changing short-term interest rates will depend on the dollar-weighted average time until the next interest rate adjustment on the Fund's portfolio of loans.
Loans usually have mandatory and optional prepayment provisions. Because of prepayments, the actual remaining maturity of a loan may be considerably less than its stated maturity. If a loan is prepaid, the Fund will have to reinvest the proceeds in other loans or securities, which may have a lower fixed spread over its base rate. In such a case, the amount of interest paid to the Fund would likely decrease.
In the event of a change in the benchmark interest rate on a loan, the rate payable to lenders under the loan will, in turn, change at the next scheduled reset date. If the benchmark rate goes up, the Fund as lender would earn interest at a higher rate, but only on and after the reset date. If the benchmark rate goes down, the Fund as lender would earn interest at a lower rate, but only on and after the reset date.
During normal market conditions, changes in market interest rates will affect the Fund in certain ways. The principal effect will be that the yield on the Fund's shares will tend to rise or fall as market interest rates rise and fall. This is because almost all of the assets in which the Fund invests pay interest at rates which float in response to changes in market rates. However, because the interest rates on the Fund's assets reset over time, there will be an imperfect correlation between changes in market rates and changes to rates on the portfolio as a whole. This means that changes to the rate of interest paid on the portfolio as a whole, will tend to lag behind changes in market rates.
Market interest rate changes may also cause the Fund's NAV to experience volatility. This is because the value of a loan asset in the Fund is partially a function of whether it is paying what the market perceives to be a market rate of interest for the particular loan given its individual credit and other characteristics. If market interest rates change, a loan's value could be affected to the extent the interest rate paid on that loan does not reset at the same time. The rates of interest paid on the loans in which the Fund invests have a weighted average reset period that typically is less than 90 days. Therefore, the impact of the lag between a change in market interest rates and the change in the overall rate on the portfolio is expected to be minimal.
Finally, to the extent that changes in market rates of interest are reflected, not in a change to a base rate such as LIBOR, but in a change in the spread over the base rate which is payable on loans of the type and quality in which the Fund invests, the Fund's NAV could be adversely affected. Again, this is because the value of a loan asset in the Fund is partially a function of whether it is paying what the market perceives to be a market rate of interest for the particular loan given its individual credit and other characteristics. However, unlike changes in market rates of interest for which there is only a temporary lag before the portfolio reflects those changes, changes in a loan's value based on changes in the market spread on loans in the Fund's portfolio may be of longer duration.
Interfund Lending — Pursuant to an order issued by the SEC, each series of the Trust (each an "American Beacon Fund", and together, the "American Beacon Funds" or "Funds") may participate in a credit facility whereby each American Beacon Fund, under certain conditions, is permitted
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to lend money directly to and borrow directly from other American Beacon Funds for temporary purposes. The credit facility is administered by a credit facility team consisting of professionals from the Manager's asset management, compliance, and accounting areas who report on credit facility activities to the Board. The credit facility can provide a borrowing fund with savings at times when the cash position of the fund is insufficient to meet temporary cash requirements. This situation could arise when shareholder redemptions exceed anticipated volumes and certain funds have insufficient cash on hand to satisfy such redemptions or when sales of securities do not settle as expected, resulting in a cash shortfall for a fund. When the funds liquidate portfolio securities to meet redemption requests, they often do not receive payment in settlement for up to three days (or longer for certain foreign transactions). However, redemption requests normally are satisfied immediately. The credit facility provides a source of immediate, short-term liquidity pending settlement of the sale of portfolio securities. Although the credit facility may reduce the Fund's need to borrow from banks, the Fund remains free to establish lines of credit or other borrowing arrangements with banks.
Investment Grade Securities — Investment grade securities that the Fund may purchase, either as part of its principal investment strategy or to implement its temporary defensive policy, include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities, as well as securities rated in one of the four highest rating categories by at least two rating organizations rating that security (such as Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, Fitch, Inc. or Moody's Investors Service, Inc.) or rated in one of the four highest rating categories by one rating organization if it is the only organization rating that security. The Fund, at the discretion of the Manager or the applicable sub-advisor, may retain a security that has been downgraded below the initial investment criteria.
Lender Liability and Equitable Subordination Risks — In recent years, a number of judicial decisions in the United States have upheld the right of borrowers to sue lenders or bondholders on the basis of various evolving legal theories (commonly referred to as "lender liability"). Generally, lender liability is founded upon the premise that an institutional lender or bondholder has violated a duty (whether implied or contractual) of good faith and fair dealing owed to the borrower or issuer or has assumed a degree of control over the borrower or issuer resulting in the creation of a fiduciary duty owed to the borrower or issuer or its other creditors or stockholders.
Leveraging Risk — Borrowing transactions, reverse repurchase agreements, certain derivatives transactions, securities lending transactions and other investment transactions such as when-issued, delayed-delivery, or forward commitment transactions may create investment leverage. When the Fund engages in transactions that have a leveraging effect on the Fund's investment, the value of the Fund will be potentially more volatile and all other risks will tend to be compounded. This is because leverage generally creates investment risk with respect to a larger base of assets than the Fund would otherwise have and so magnifies the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Fund's underlying assets. The use of leverage is considered to be a speculative investment practice and may result in losses to the Fund. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy repayment, interest payment, or margin obligations or to meet asset segregation or coverage requirements.
Market Events — Turbulence in the economic, political and financial system has historically resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the capital markets. Both domestic and foreign capital markets have been experiencing increased volatility and turmoil, with issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets particularly affected, and it is uncertain whether or for how long these conditions could continue.
Reduced liquidity in equity, credit and fixed-income markets may adversely affect many issuers worldwide. This reduced liquidity may result in less money being available to purchase raw materials, goods and services from emerging markets, which may, in turn, bring down the prices of these economic staples. It may also result in small or emerging market issuers having more difficulty obtaining financing, which may, in turn, cause a decline in their security prices. These events and possible continued market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the Fund.
Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk — Investing in the securities of mid-capitalization companies involves greater risk and the possibility of greater price volatility than investing in larger, capitalization companies. Since mid-capitalization companies may have limited operating history, product lines and financial resources, the securities of these companies may lack sufficient market liquidity and can be sensitive to expected changes in interest rates, borrowing costs and earnings.
Other Investment Company Securities and Exchange Traded Products — The Fund at times may invest in shares of other investment companies and exchange-traded products, including open-end funds, closed-end funds, business development companies, and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"). The Fund may invest in investment company securities advised by the Manager or a sub-advisor to the Fund. Investments in the securities of other investment companies may involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. By investing in another investment company, the Fund becomes a shareholder of that investment company. As a result, Fund shareholders indirectly will bear the Fund's proportionate share of the fees and expenses paid by shareholders of the other investment company, in addition to the fees and expenses Fund shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund's own operations. These other fees and expenses are reflected as Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses and are included in the Fees and Expenses Table for the Fund in its Prospectus, if applicable. Investment in other investment companies may involve the payment of substantial premiums above the value of such issuer's portfolio securities.
The Fund can invest free cash balances in registered open-end investment companies regulated as money market funds under the Investment Company Act, to provide liquidity or for defensive purposes. The Fund would invest in money market funds rather than purchasing individual short-term investments. If the Fund invests in money market funds shareholders will bear their proportionate share of the expenses, including for example, advisory and administrative fees, of the money market funds in which the Fund invests, including such fees charged by the Manager to any applicable money market funds advised by the Manager.
In July 2014, the SEC adopted amendments to Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act, as amended, that will affect the manner in which money market funds are structured and operated. Money market funds must comply with the rule amendments in various stages over the next two years. The precise impact such amendments will have on a money market fund's structure and operations and on the money market fund industry has not yet been determined, but any related changes may negatively affect a money market fund's expenses, liquidity, yield and return potential.
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The Fund may purchase shares of ETFs. ETFs trade like a common stock and passive ETFs usually represent a fixed portfolio of securities designed to track the performance and dividend yield of a particular domestic or foreign market index. Typically, the Fund would purchase passive ETF shares to obtain exposure to all or a portion of the stock or bond market. As a shareholder of an ETF, the Fund would be subject to its ratable share of the ETF's expenses, including its advisory and administration expenses.
An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional mutual fund (i.e., one that is not exchange traded) that has the same investment objective, strategies, and policies. The price of an ETF can fluctuate within a wide range, and the Fund could lose money investing in an ETF if the prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down. In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (1) the market price of the ETF's shares may trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value; (2) an active trading market for an ETF's shares may not develop or be maintained; or (3) trading of an ETF's shares may be halted if the listing exchange's officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are de-listed from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide "circuit breakers" (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally. ETFs have expenses associated with their operation, typically including advisory fees.
Pay-in-Kind Securities — Pay-in-kind securities are debt securities that do not make regular cash interest payments. Pay-in-kind securities pay interest through the issuance of additional securities. Because these securities do not pay current cash income, their price can be volatile when interest rates fluctuate. Federal income tax law requires the holders of pay-in-kind securities to include in income each year the portion of the original issue discount (or deemed discount) and other non-cash income on such securities accrued during that year. In order to qualify for treatment as a "regulated investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Internal Revenue Code"), and avoid excise tax, the Fund may be required to distribute a portion of such discount and may be required to dispose of other portfolio securities (which may occur in periods of adverse market prices) in order to generate cash to meet these distribution requirements.
Preferred Stock — A preferred stock blends the characteristics of a bond and common stock. It can offer the higher yield of a bond and has priority over common stock in equity ownership, but does not have the seniority of a bond and its participation in the issuer's growth may be limited. Preferred stock generally has preference over common stock in the receipt of dividends and in any residual assets after payment to creditors should the issuer be dissolved. Although the dividend is set at a fixed or variable rate, in some circumstances it can be changed or omitted by the issuer. Preferred stocks are subject to the risks associated with other types of equity securities, as well as additional risks, such as credit risk, interest rate risk, potentially greater volatility and risks related to deferral, non-cumulative dividends, subordination, liquidity, limited voting rights, and special redemption rights.
Redemption Risk — The Fund may experience periods of heavy redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value. The sale of assets to meet redemption requests may create capital gains, which could cause the Fund to distribute substantial capital gains. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund, have short investment horizons, or have unpredictable cash flow needs. Heavy redemptions, whether by a few large investors or many smaller investors, could hurt the Fund's performance.
Repurchase Agreements — A repurchase agreement is an agreement between the Fund as purchaser and an approved counterparty as seller. The agreement is backed by collateral in the form of securities and/or cash transferred by the seller to the buyer, sometimes to be held by an eligible third-party custodian. Under the agreement the Fund acquires securities from the seller and the seller simultaneously commits to repurchase the securities at an agreed upon price and date, normally within a week or on demand. The price for the seller to repurchase the securities is greater than the Fund's purchase price, reflecting an agreed upon rate that is the equivalent of interest. During the term of the repurchase agreement, the Fund monitors on a daily basis the market value of the collateral subject to the agreement and, if the market value of the securities falls below the seller's repurchase amount provided under the repurchase agreement, the seller is required to transfer additional securities or cash collateral equal to the amount by which the market value of the securities falls below the repurchase amount. Because a repurchase agreement permits the Fund to invest temporarily available cash on a fully-collateralized basis, repurchase agreements permit the Fund to earn income while retaining flexibility in pursuit of longer-term investments. Repurchase agreements may exhibit the economic characteristics of loans by the Fund.
The obligation of the seller under the repurchase agreement is not guaranteed, and there is a risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the underlying securities, whether because of the seller's bankruptcy or otherwise. In such event, the Fund would attempt to exercise its rights with respect to the underlying collateral, including possible sale of the securities. The Fund may incur various expenses in the connection with the exercise of its rights and may be subject to various delays and risks of loss, including (a) possible declines in the value of the underlying collateral, (b) possible reduction in levels of income and (c) lack of access to the securities (if they are held through a third-party custodian) and possible inability to enforce the Fund's rights. The Board has established procedures pursuant to which the sub-advisors monitor the creditworthiness of the counterparties with which the Fund enters into repurchase agreement transactions.
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with member banks of the Federal Reserve System or registered broker-dealers who, in the opinion of a sub-advisor, present a minimal risk of default during the term of the agreement. The underlying securities which serve as collateral for repurchase agreements may include equity and fixed income securities such as U.S. Government and agency securities, municipal obligations, asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities, common and preferred stock, depositary receipts, ETFs, corporate obligations and convertible securities.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements — The Fund may borrow funds by entering into reverse repurchase agreements. Pursuant to such agreements, the Fund would sell portfolio securities to financial institutions such as banks and broker/dealers and agree to repurchase them at a mutually agreed-upon date and price. At the time the Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it will place in a segregated custodial account assets such as liquid high quality debt securities having a value not less than 100% of the repurchase price (including accrued interest), and will subsequently monitor the account to ensure that such required value is maintained. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by the Fund may decline below the price at which the Fund is obligated to repurchase the securities. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings by an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
Rights and Warrants — Rights are short-term warrants issued in conjunction with new stock or bond issues. Warrants are options to purchase an issuer's securities at a stated price during a stated term. If the market price of the underlying common stock does not exceed the warrant's exercise
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price during the life of the warrant, the warrant will expire worthless. Warrants usually have no voting rights, pay no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the corporation issuing them. The percentage increase or decrease in the value of a warrant may be greater than the percentage increase or decrease in the value of the underlying common stock. Warrants may be purchased with values that vary depending on the change in value of one or more specified indices ("index warrants"). Index warrants are generally issued by banks or other financial institutions and give the holder the right, at any time during the term of the warrant, to receive upon exercise of the warrant a cash payment from the issuer based on the value of the underlying index at the time of the exercise. The market for warrants or rights may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell them promptly at an acceptable price. There is no specific limit on the percentage of assets the Fund may invest in rights and warrants.
Small Capitalization Companies Risk — Investing in the securities of small capitalization companies involves greater risk and the possibility of greater price volatility than investing in larger capitalization and more established companies, since smaller companies may have limited operating history, product lines, and financial resources. The securities of these companies may lack sufficient market liquidity and they can be particularly sensitive to expected changes in interest rates, borrowing costs and earnings.
Trade Claims — The Fund may purchase trade claims and similar obligations or claims against companies in bankruptcy proceedings. Trade claims are nonsecuritized rights of payment arising from obligations that typically arise when vendors and suppliers extend credit to a company by offering payment terms for products and services. If the company files for bankruptcy, payments on these trade claims stop and the claims are subject to compromise along with the other debts of the company. Trade claims may be purchased directly from the creditor or through brokers. There is no guarantee that a debtor will ever be able to satisfy its trade claim obligations. Trade claims are subject to the risks associated with low-quality obligations.
U.S. Government Agency Securities — U.S. Government agency securities are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities. Some obligations issued by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; others by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others by discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase certain obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and others only by the credit of the agency or instrumentality. U.S. Government securities bear fixed, floating or variable rates of interest. While the U.S. Government currently provides financial support to certain U.S. Government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it will always do so, since it is not so obligated by law. U.S. Government securities include U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds, Federal Home Loan Bank obligations, Federal Intermediate Credit Bank obligations, U.S. Government agency obligations and repurchase agreements secured thereby. U.S. Government agency securities are subject to credit risk and interest rate risk.
U.S. Treasury Obligations — U.S. Treasury obligations include bills (initial maturities of one year or less), notes (initial maturities between two and ten years), and bonds (initial maturities over ten years) issued by the U.S. Treasury, Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal component parts of such obligations known as STRIPS and inflation-indexed securities. The prices of these securities (like all debt securities) change between issuance and maturity in response to fluctuating market interest rates. U.S. Treasury obligations are subject to credit risk and interest rate risk.
Valuation Risk — This is the risk that the Fund has valued certain securities at a price different from the price at which they can be sold. This risk may be especially pronounced for investments, such as certain credit linked notes and other derivatives, which may be illiquid or which may become illiquid.
Variable or Floating Rate Obligations — The interest rates payable on certain fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest are not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. A variable rate obligation has an interest rate which is adjusted at predesignated periods in response to changes in the market rate of interest on which the interest rate is based. Variable and floating rate obligations are less effective than fixed rate instruments at locking in a particular yield. Nevertheless, such obligations may fluctuate in value in response to interest rate changes if there is a delay between changes in market interest rates and the interest reset date for the obligation, or for other reasons.
The Fund may invest in floating rate debt instruments ("floaters") and engage in credit spread trades. The interest rate on a floater is a variable rate which is tied to another interest rate, such as a money-market index or Treasury bill rate. The interest rate on a floater resets periodically, typically every six months. While, because of the interest rate reset feature, floaters provide the Fund with a certain degree of protection against rises in interest rates, the Fund will participate in any declines in interest rates as well. A credit spread trade is an investment position relating to a difference in the prices or interest rates of two securities or currencies, where the value of the investment position is determined by movements in the difference between the prices or interest rates, as the case may be, of the respective securities or currencies.
When-Issued and Forward Commitment Transactions — These transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or sell securities at a future date. These transactions enable the Fund to "lock-in" what the Manager or the sub-advisor, as applicable, believes to be an attractive price or yield on a particular security for a period of time, regardless of future changes in interest rates. For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and falling prices, the Fund might sell securities it owns on a forward commitment basis to limit its exposure to falling prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, the Fund might purchase a security on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and sell a similar security to settle such purchase, thereby obtaining the benefit of currently higher yields. If the other party fails to complete the trade, the Fund may lose the opportunity to obtain a favorable price. For purchases on a when-issued basis, the price of the security is fixed at the date of purchase, but delivery of and payment for the securities is not set until after the securities are issued. The value of when-issued securities is subject to market fluctuation during the interim period and no income accrues to the Fund until settlement takes place. Such transactions therefore involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date or if the value of the security to be sold increases prior to the settlement date. A sale of a when-issued security also involves the risk that the other party will be unable to settle the transaction. Forward commitment transactions involve a commitment to purchase or sell securities with payment and delivery to take place at some future date, normally one to two months after the date of the transaction. The payment obligation and interest rate are fixed at the time the buyer enters into the forward commitment. Forward commitment transactions are typically used as a hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates and prices. Forward commitment transactions are executed for existing obligations, whereas in a when-issued transaction, the obligations have not yet been issued.
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The Fund maintains with its custodian segregated (or earmarked) liquid securities in an amount at least equal to the when-issued or forward commitment transaction. When entering into a when-issued or forward commitment transaction, the Fund will rely on the other party to consummate the transaction; if the other party fails to do so, the Fund may be disadvantaged.
OTHER INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
In addition to the investment strategies and risks described in the Prospectus, the Fund may:
Engage in dollar rolls or purchase or sell securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis. The purchase or sale of when-issued securities enables an investor to hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates and prices by locking in an attractive price or yield. The price of when-issued securities is fixed at the time the commitment to purchase or sell is made, but delivery and payment for the when-issued securities takes place at a later date, normally one to two months after the date of purchase. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the purchaser to the issuer and no interest accrues to the purchaser. Such transactions therefore involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date or if the value of the security to be sold increases prior to the settlement date. A sale of a when-issued security also involves the risk that the other party will be unable to settle the transaction. Dollar rolls are a type of forward commitment transaction. Purchases and sales of securities on a forward commitment basis involve a commitment to purchase or sell securities with payment and delivery to take place at some future date, normally one to two months after the date of the transaction. As with when-issued securities, these transactions involve certain risks, but they also enable an investor to hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates and prices. Forward commitment transactions are executed for existing obligations, whereas in a when-issued transaction, the obligations have not yet been issued. When purchasing securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, a segregated amount of liquid assets at least equal to the value of purchase commitments for such securities will be maintained until the settlement date.
Invest in other investment companies (including affiliated investment companies) to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act, or exemptive relief granted by the SEC.
Loan securities to broker-dealers or other institutional investors. Securities loans will not be made if, as a result, the aggregate amount of all outstanding securities loans by the Fund exceeds 33 1/3 % of its total assets (including the market value of collateral received). For purposes of complying with the Fund's investment policies and restrictions, collateral received in connection with securities loans is deemed an asset of the Fund to the extent required by law.
Enter into repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which securities are acquired by the Fund from a securities dealer or bank subject to resale at an agreed upon price on a later date. The Fund bears a risk of loss in the event that the other party to a repurchase agreement defaults on its obligations and the Fund is delayed or prevented from exercising its rights to dispose of the collateral securities. However, the Manager or the sub-advisor, as applicable, attempts to minimize this risk by entering into repurchase agreements only with financial institutions that are deemed to be of good financial standing.
Purchase securities sold in private placement offerings made in reliance on the "private placement" exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, and resold to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in Section 4(a)(2) securities and illiquid securities unless the Manager or the sub-advisor, as applicable, determines, by continuous reference to the appropriate trading markets and pursuant to guidelines approved by the Trust's Board of Trustees ("Board") that any Section 4(a)(2) securities held by the Fund in excess of this level are at all times liquid.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
Fundamental Policies . The Fund has the following fundamental investment policy that enables it to invest in another investment company or series thereof that has substantially similar investment objectives and policies:
Notwithstanding any other limitation, the Fund may invest all of its investable assets in an open-end management investment company with substantially the same investment objectives, policies and limitations as the Fund. For this purpose, "all of the Fund's investable assets" means that the only investment securities that will be held by the Fund will be the Fund's interest in the investment company.
Fundamental Investment Restrictions . The following discusses the investment policies of the Fund.
The following restrictions have been adopted by the Fund and may be changed with respect to the Fund only by the majority vote of the Fund's outstanding interests. "Majority of the outstanding voting securities" under the 1940 Act and as used herein means, with respect to the Fund, the lesser of (a) 67% of the shares of the Fund present at the meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the shares are present and represented at the shareholders' meeting or (b) more than 50% of the shares of the Fund.
The Fund may not:
Purchase or sell real estate or real estate limited partnership interests, provided, however, that the Fund may dispose of real estate acquired as a result of the ownership of securities or other instruments and invest in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies which invest in real estate or interests therein when consistent with the other policies and limitations described in the Prospectus.
Invest in physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling foreign currency, options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, forward contracts, swaps, caps, floors, collars, securities on a forward-commitment or delayed-delivery basis, and other similar financial instruments).
Engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others, except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of securities, the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under federal securities law.
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Lend any security or make any other loan except (i) as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act, (ii) pursuant to a rule, order or interpretation issued by the SEC or its staff, (iii) through the purchase of a portion of an issue of debt securities in accordance with the Fund's investment objective, policies and limitations, or (iv) by engaging in repurchase agreements.
Issue any senior security except as otherwise permitted (i) under the 1940 Act or (ii) pursuant to a rule, order or interpretation issued by the SEC or its staff.
Borrow money, except as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act or pursuant to a rule, order or interpretation issued by the SEC or its staff, including (i) as a temporary measure, (ii) by entering into reverse repurchase agreements, and (iii) by lending portfolio securities as collateral. For purposes of this investment limitation, the purchase or sale of options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, forward contracts, swaps, caps, floors, collars and other similar financial instruments shall not constitute borrowing.
Invest more than 25% of its assets in the securities of companies primarily engaged in any particular industry or group of industries provided that this limitation does not apply to: (i) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities; and (ii) tax-exempt securities issued by municipalities or their agencies and authorities.
The above percentage limits (except the limitation on borrowings) are based upon asset values at the time of the applicable transaction; accordingly, a subsequent change in asset values will not affect a transaction that was in compliance with the investment restrictions at the time such transaction was effected. For purposes of the Fund's policy relating to commodities set forth in (2) above, the Fund does not consider foreign currencies or forward contracts to be physical commodities.
For purposes of the Fund's policy relating to making loans set forth in (4) above, securities loans will not be made if, as a result, the aggregate amount of all outstanding securities loans by the Fund exceeds 331/3 % of its total assets (including the market value of collateral received).
For purposes of the Fund's policy relating to issuing senior securities set forth in (5) above, "senior securities" are defined as Fund obligations that have a priority over the Fund's shares with respect to the payment of dividends or the distribution of Fund assets. The Investment Company Act prohibits the Fund from issuing any class of senior securities or selling any senior securities of which it is the issuer, except that the Fund is permitted to borrow from a bank so long as, immediately after such borrowings, there is an asset coverage of at least 300% for all borrowings of the Fund (not including borrowings for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets). In the event that such asset coverage falls below this percentage, the Fund is required to reduce the amount of its borrowings within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) so that the asset coverage is restored to at least 300%. Consistent with guidance issued by the SEC and its staff, the requisite asset coverage may vary among different types of instruments.The policy in (5) above will be interpreted not to prevent collateral arrangements with respect to swaps, options, forward or futures contracts or other derivatives, or the posting of initial or variation margin.
For purposes of the Fund's industry concentration policy, the Manager may analyze the characteristics of a particular issuer and instrument and may assign an industry classification consistent with those characteristics. The Manager may, but need not, consider industry classifications provided by third parties, and the classifications applied to Fund investments will be informed by applicable law. A large economic or market sector shall not be construed as a single industry or group of industries. The Manager currently considers securities issued by a foreign government (but not the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities) to be an "industry" subject to the 25% limitation. Thus, not more than 25% of the Fund's assets will be invested in securities issued by any one foreign government or supranational organization. The Fund might invest in certain securities issued by companies in a particular industry whose obligations are guaranteed by a foreign government. The Manager could consider such a company to be within the particular industry and, therefore, the Fund will invest in the securities of such a company only if it can do so under its policy of not being concentrated in any particular industry or group of industries.
Non-Fundamental Investment Restrictions . The following non-fundamental investment restrictions apply to the Fund and may be changed with respect to the Fund by a vote of a majority of the Board. The Fund may not:
Invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including time deposits and repurchase agreements that mature in more than seven days; or
Purchase securities on margin, except that (1) the Fund may obtain such short term credits as necessary for the clearance of transactions, and (2) the Fund may make margin payments in connection with foreign currency, futures contracts, options, forward contracts, swaps, caps, floors, collars, securities purchased or sold on a forward-commitment or delayed-delivery basis or other financial instruments.
All percentage limitations on investments will apply at the time of the making of an investment and shall not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of such investment. Except for the investment restrictions listed above as fundamental or to the extent designated as such in the Prospectus, the other investment policies described in this SAI are not fundamental and may be changed by approval of the Trustees.
TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE INVESTMENTS
In times of unstable or adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, where the Manager or a sub-advisor believes it is appropriate and in the Fund's best interest, the Fund can invest up to 100% in cash and other types of securities for defensive or temporary purposes. It can also hold cash or purchase these types of securities for liquidity purposes to meet cash needs due to redemptions of Fund shares, or to hold while waiting to invest cash received from purchases of Fund shares or the sale of other portfolio securities.
These temporary investments can include (i) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agents or instrumentalities; (ii) commercial paper rated in the highest short term category by a rating organization; (iii) domestic, Yankee and Eurodollar certificates of deposit or bankers' acceptances of banks rated in the highest short term category by a rating organization; (iv) any of the foregoing securities that mature in one year or less (generally known as "cash equivalents"); (v) other short-term corporate debt obligations; (vi) repurchase agreements; (vii) futures; or (viii) shares of money market funds, including funds advised by the Manager or a sub-advisor.
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PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
Portfolio turnover is a measure of trading activity in a portfolio of securities, usually calculated over a period of one year. The rate is calculated by dividing the lesser amount of purchases or sales of securities by the average amount of securities held over the period. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% would indicate that the Fund sold and replaced the entire value of its securities holdings during the period. High portfolio turnover can increase the Fund's transaction costs and generate additional capital gains or losses.
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Fund publicly discloses portfolio holdings information as follows:
a complete list of holdings for the Fund on an annual and semi-annual basis in the reports to shareholders within sixty days of the end of each fiscal semi-annual period and in publicly available filings of Form N-CSR with the SEC within ten days thereafter;
a complete list of holdings for the Fund as of the end of its first and third fiscal quarters in publicly available filings of Form N-Q with the SEC within sixty days of the end of the fiscal quarter;
a complete list of holdings for the Fund as of the end of each quarter on the Funds' website (www.americanbeaconfunds.com) approximately sixty days after the end of the quarter; and
ten largest holdings for the Fund as of the end of each calendar quarter on the Funds' website (www.americanbeaconfunds.com) and in sales materials approximately fifteen days after the end of the calendar quarter.
Public disclosure of the Fund's holdings on the website and in sales materials may be delayed when an investment manager informs the Fund that such disclosure could be harmful to the Fund. In addition, individual holdings may be omitted from website and sales material disclosure, when such omission is deemed to be in the Fund's best interest.
Disclosure of Nonpublic Holdings .
Occasionally, certain interested parties — including individual investors, institutional investors, intermediaries that distribute shares of the Fund, third-party service providers, rating and ranking organizations, and others — may request portfolio holdings information that has not yet been publicly disclosed by the Fund. The Fund's policy is to control the disclosure of nonpublic portfolio holdings information in an attempt to prevent parties from utilizing such information to engage in trading activity harmful to Fund shareholders. To this end, the Board has adopted a Policy and Procedures for Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information (the "Holdings Policy"). The purpose of the Holdings Policy is to define those interested parties who are authorized to receive nonpublic portfolio holdings information on a selective basis and to set forth conditions upon which such information may be provided. In general, nonpublic portfolio holdings may be disclosed on a selective basis only when it is determined that (i) there is a legitimate business purpose for the information, (ii) recipients are subject to a duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on the nonpublic information; and (iii) disclosure is in the best interests of Fund shareholders. The Holdings Policy is summarized below.
A variety of third party service providers require access to Fund holdings to provide services to the Fund or to assist the Manager and the sub-advisors in managing the Fund ("service providers"). The service providers have a duty to keep the Fund's nonpublic information confidential either through written contractual arrangements with the Fund (or another Fund service provider) or by the nature of their role with respect to the Fund (or the service provider). The Fund has determined that disclosure of nonpublic holdings information to service providers fulfills a legitimate business purpose and is in the best interest of shareholders. In addition, the Fund has determined that disclosure of nonpublic holdings information to members of the Trust's Board of Trustees fulfills a legitimate business purpose, is in in the best interest of Fund shareholders, and each Trustee is subject to a duty of confidentiality.
The Fund has ongoing arrangements to provide nonpublic holdings information to the following service providers:
Service Provider |
Service |
Holdings Access |
Manager |
Investment management and administrator |
Complete list on intraday basis with no lag |
Sub-Advisor |
Investment management |
Holdings under sub-advisor's management on intraday basis with no lag |
Abel Noser Corp. |
Trade execution analysis for sub-advisor |
Partial list on daily basis with no lag |
State Street Bank and Trust Co. ("State Street") and its designated foreign sub-custodians |
Funds' custodian and foreign custody manager, and foreign sub-custodians |
Complete list on intraday basis with no lag |
Interactive Data Corporation |
Pricing Vendor |
Complete list on daily basis with no lag |
Ernst & Young LLP |
Fund's independent public accounting firm |
Complete list on annual basis with no lag |
FactSet Research Systems, Inc. |
Performance and portfolio analytics reporting for the Manager |
Complete list on daily basis with no lag |
Bloomberg, L.P. |
Performance and portfolio analytics reporting |
Complete list on daily basis with no lag |
Broadridge/ProxyEdge |
Proxy voting services for sub-advisor |
Partial list on a periodic basis with lag |
Certain third parties are provided with nonpublic holdings information (either complete or partial lists) by the Manager or another service provider on an ad hoc basis. These third parties include: broker-dealers, prospective sub-advisors, borrowers of the Fund's portfolio securities, pricing services, legal counsel, and issuers (or their agents). Broker-dealers utilized by the Fund in the process of purchasing and selling portfolio securities or providing market quotations receive limited holdings information on a current basis with no lag. The Manager provides current holdings to investment managers
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being considered for appointment as a sub-advisor to the Fund. If the Fund participates in securities lending activities, potential borrowers of the Fund's securities receive information pertaining to the Fund's securities available for loan. Such information is provided on a current basis with no lag. The Fund utilizes various pricing services to supply market quotations and evaluated prices to State Street. State Street and the Manager may disclose current nonpublic holdings to those pricing services. An investment manager may provide holdings information to legal counsel when seeking advice regarding those holdings. From time to time, an issuer (or its agent) may contact the Fund requesting confirmation of ownership of the issuer's securities. Such holdings information is provided to the issuer (or its agent) as of the date requested. The Fund does not have written contractual arrangements with these third parties regarding the confidentiality of the holdings information. However, the Fund would not continue to utilize a third party that the Manager determined to have misused nonpublic holdings information.
The Fund has ongoing arrangements to provide periodic holdings information to certain organizations that publish ratings and/or rankings for the Fund or that redistribute the Fund's holdings to financial intermediaries to facilitate their analysis of the Fund. The Fund has determined that disclosure of holdings information to such organizations fulfills a legitimate business purpose and is in the best interest of shareholders, as it provides existing and potential shareholders with an independent basis for evaluating the Fund in comparison to other mutual funds. As of the date of this SAI, all such organizations receive holdings information after it has been made public on the Fund's website.
No compensation or other consideration may be paid to the Fund, the Fund's service providers, or any other party in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information.
Under the Holdings Policy, disclosure of nonpublic portfolio holdings information to parties other than those discussed above must meet all of the following conditions:
Recipients of portfolio holdings information must agree in writing to keep the information confidential until it has been posted to the Fund's website and not to trade based on the information;
Holdings may only be disclosed as of a month-end date;
No compensation may be paid to the Fund's the Manager or any other party in connection with the disclosure of information about portfolio securities; and
A member of the Manager's Compliance staff must approve requests for nonpublic holdings information.
In determining whether to approve a request for portfolio holdings disclosure by the Manager, Compliance staff generally considers the type of requestor and its relationship to the Fund, the stated reason for the request, any historical pattern of requests from that same individual or entity, the style and strategy of the Fund for which holdings have been requested (e.g., passive versus active management), whether the Fund is managed by one or multiple investment managers, and any other factors it deems relevant. Any potential conflicts between shareholders and affiliated persons of the Fund that arise as a result of a request for portfolio holdings information shall be decided by the Manager in the best interests of shareholders. However, if a conflict exists between the interests of shareholders and the Manager, the Manager may present the details of the request to the Board for a determination to either approve or deny the request. On a quarterly basis, the Manager will prepare a report for the Board outlining any instances of disclosures of nonpublic holdings during the period that did not comply with the Holdings Policy. The Compliance staff generally determines whether a historical pattern of requests by the same individual or entity constitutes an "ongoing arrangement" and should be disclosed in the Fund's SAI.
The Manager and sub-advisor to the Fund may manage substantially similar portfolio for clients other than the Fund. Those other clients may receive and publicly disclose their portfolio holdings information prior to public disclosure by the Fund. The Holdings Policy is not intended to limit the Manager or the sub-advisor from making such disclosures to their clients.
LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
The Fund may lend securities from its portfolio to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions needing to borrow securities to complete certain transactions. In connection with such loans, the Fund remains the beneficial owner of the loaned securities and continues to be entitled to payments in amounts approximately equal to the interest, dividends or other distributions payable on the loaned securities. The Fund also has the right to terminate a loan at any time. The Fund does not have the right to vote on securities while they are on loan. However, it is the Fund's policy to attempt to terminate loans in time to vote those proxies that the Fund determines are material to its interests. Loans of portfolio securities may not exceed 33 1/3 % of the value of the Fund's total assets (including the value of all assets received as collateral for the loan). The Fund will receive collateral consisting of cash in the form of U.S. dollars, foreign currency, or securities issued or fully guaranteed by the U.S. Government which will be maintained at all times in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities. If the collateral consists of cash, the Fund will reinvest the cash and pay the borrower a pre-negotiated fee or "rebate" from any return earned on the investment. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, the Fund may experience delays in recovering the loaned securities or exercising its rights in the collateral. Loans are made only to borrowers that are deemed by the Manager to present acceptable credit risk on a fully collateralized basis. In a loan transaction, the Fund will also bear the risk of any decline in value of securities acquired with cash collateral. The Fund seeks to minimize this risk by limiting the investment of cash collateral to registered money market funds, including money market funds advised by the Manager that invest in U.S. Government and agency securities.
For all funds that engage in securities lending, the Manager receives compensation for administrative and oversight functions with respect to securities lending, including oversight of the securities lending agent, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. The amount of such compensation depends on the income generated by the loan of the securities. The Fund receives compensation that includes, but is not limited to, fee income in lieu of dividends and interest, or the equivalent, as applicable, on the securities loaned and interest on the investment of the cash collateral.
Currently, the Fund does not intend to engage in securities lending activities.
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TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST
The Board of Trustees
The Trust is governed by its Board of Trustees. The Board is responsible for and oversees the overall management and operations of the Trust and the Fund, which includes the general oversight and review of the Fund's investment activities, in accordance with federal law and the law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well as the stated policies of the Fund. The Board oversees the Trust's officers and service providers, including American Beacon Advisors, Inc. ("American Beacon"), which is responsible for the management of the day-to-day operations of the Fund based on policies and agreements reviewed and approved by the Board. In carrying out these responsibilities, the Board regularly interacts with and receives reports from senior personnel of service providers, including American Beacon's investment personnel and the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer ("CCO"). The Board also is assisted by the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm (which reports directly to the Trust's Audit and Compliance Committee), independent counsel and other experts as appropriate, all of whom are selected by the Board.
Risk Oversight
Consistent with its responsibility for oversight of the Trust and the Fund, the Board oversees the management of risks relating to the administration and operation of the Trust and the Fund. American Beacon, as part of its responsibilities for the day-to-day operations of the Fund, is responsible for day-to-day risk management for the Fund. The Board, in the exercise of its reasonable business judgment, also separately considers potential risks that may impact the Fund. The Board performs this risk management oversight directly and, as to certain matters, through its committees (described below) and through the Board members who are not "interested persons" of the Trust as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act ("Independent Trustees"). The following provides an overview of the principal, but not all, aspects of the Board's oversight of risk management for the Trust and the Fund.
In general, the Fund's risks include, among others, investment risk, liquidity risk, securities selection risk and valuation risk. The Board has adopted, and periodically reviews, policies and procedures designed to address these and other risks to the Trust and the Fund. In addition, under the general oversight of the Board, American Beacon, the Fund's investment adviser, and other service providers to the Fund have themselves adopted a variety of policies, procedures and controls designed to address particular risks to the Fund. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. Further, American Beacon as manager of the Fund oversees and regularly monitors the investments, operations and compliance of the Fund's investment advisers.
The Board also oversees risk management for the Trust and the Fund through review of regular reports, presentations and other information from officers of the Trust and other persons. Senior officers of the Trust, and senior officers of American Beacon, and the CCO regularly report to the Board on a range of matters, including those relating to risk management. The Board and the Investment Committee also regularly receive reports from American Beacon with respect to the investments, securities trading and securities lending activities of the Fund. In addition to regular reports from American Beacon, the Board also receives reports regarding other service providers to the Trust, either directly or through American Beacon or the Fund's CCO, on a periodic or regular basis. At least annually, the Board receives a report from the CCO regarding the effectiveness of the Fund's compliance program. Also, on an annual basis, the Board receives reports, presentations and other information from American Beacon in connection with the Board's consideration of the renewal of each of the Trust's agreements with American Beacon and the Trust's distribution plans under Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act.
Senior officers of the Trust and American Beacon also report regularly to the Audit and Compliance Committee on Fund valuation matters and on the Trust's internal controls and accounting and financial reporting policies and practices. In addition, the Audit and Compliance Committee receives regular reports from the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm on internal control and financial reporting matters. On at least a quarterly basis, the Independent Trustees meet with the Fund's CCO to discuss matters relating to the Fund's compliance program.
Board Structure and Related Matters
Independent Trustees constitute at least two-thirds of the Board. Richard A. Massman, an Independent Trustee, serves as Independent Chair of the Board. The Independent Chair's responsibilities include: setting an agenda for each meeting of the Board; presiding at all meetings of the Board and Interested Trustees; and serving as a liaison with other Trustees, the Trust's officers and other management personnel, and counsel to the Fund. The Independent Chair shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine.
The Trustees discharge their responsibilities collectively as a Board, as well as through Board committees, each of which operates pursuant to a charter approved by the Board that delineates the specific responsibilities of that committee. The Board has established three standing committees: the Audit and Compliance Committee, the Investment Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee. For example, the Investment Committee is responsible for oversight of the annual process by which the Board considers and approves the Fund's investment advisory agreement with American Beacon, while specific matters related to oversight of the Fund's independent auditors have been delegated by the Board to its Audit and Compliance Committee, subject to approval of the Audit and Compliance Committee's recommendations by the Board. The members and responsibilities of each Board committee are summarized below.
The Board periodically evaluates its structure and composition as well as various aspects of its operations. The Board believes that its leadership structure, including its Independent Chair position and its committees, is appropriate for the Trust in light of, among other factors, the asset size and nature of the Funds, the number of Funds overseen by the Board, the arrangements for the conduct of the Fund's operations, the number of Trustees, and the Board's responsibilities. On an annual basis, the Board conducts a self-evaluation that considers, among other matters, whether the Board and its committees are functioning effectively and whether, given the size and composition of the Board and each of its committees, the Trustees are able to oversee effectively the number of Funds in the complex.
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The Trust is part of the American Beacon Funds Complex, which is comprised of the 26 series within the Trust and 2 series within the American Beacon Select Funds. The same persons who constitute the Board also constitute the board of trustees of American Beacon Select Funds and each Trustee oversees the Trusts' combined 28 series.
The Board holds five (5) regularly scheduled meetings each year. The Board may hold special meetings, as needed, either in person or by telephone, to address matters arising between regular meetings. The Independent Trustees also hold at least one in-person meeting each year during a portion of which management is not present and may hold special meetings, as needed, either in person or by telephone.
The Trustees of the Trust are identified in the tables below, which provide information as to their principal business occupations and directorships held during the last five years and certain other information. Subject to the Trustee Emeritus and Retirement Policy described below, a Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. The address of each Trustee listed below is 220 East Las Colinas Boulevard, Suite 1200, Irving, Texas 75039. Each Trustee serves for an indefinite term or until his or her removal, resignation, or retirement*. Each Trustee has and continues to serve the same term as a Trustee of the American Beacon Select Funds as he or she has with the Trust.
* |
The Board has adopted a retirement policy that requires Trustees, other than Mr. Feld, to retire no later than the last day of the calendar year in which they reach the age of 75. |
** |
Mr. Feld is deemed to be an "interested person" of the Trust, as defined by the Investment Company Act. Mr. Feld's law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP has provided legal services within the past two fiscal years to one or more sub-advisors to certain American Beacon Funds. |
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In addition to the information set forth in the tables above and other relevant qualifications, experience, attributes or skills applicable to a particular Trustee, the following provides further information about the qualifications and experience of each Trustee.
Gilbert G. Alvarado: Mr. Alvarado has extensive organizational management and financial experience as vice president and chief financial officer in public charities, and a health conversion private foundation, chief financial and information officer of a the largest health foundation on the Texas/Mexico border and an accountant with a regional health system.
Joseph B. Armes: Mr. Armes has extensive financial, investment and organizational management experience as chairman of the board of directors, president and chief executive officer of an investment company listed on NASDAQ, president and chief executive officer of a private family investment vehicle, chief operating officer of a private holding company for a family office, president, chief executive officer, chief financial officer and director of a special purpose acquisition company listed on the American Stock Exchange, a director and audit committee chair of an oil and gas exploration and production company listed on the New York Stock Exchange and as an officer of public companies and as a director and officer of private companies.
Gerard J. Arpey: Mr. Arpey has extensive organizational management, financial and international experience serving as chairman, chief executive officer, and chief financial officer of one of the largest global airlines, service as a director of public and private companies, and service to several charitable organizations.
W. Humphrey Bogart: Mr. Bogart has extensive experience in the investment management business including as president and chief executive officer of an investment adviser and as a consultant, significant organizational management experience through start-up efforts with a national bank, service as a board member of a university medical center foundation, and multiple years of service as a Trustee.
Brenda A. Cline: Ms. Cline has extensive organizational management, financial and investment experience as executive vice president, chief financial officer, secretary and treasurer to a private foundation, service as a trustee to a private university, a children's hospital and a school, including acting as a member of their investment and\or audit committees, extensive experience as an audit senior manager with a large public accounting firm, and multiple years of service as a Trustee.
Eugene J. Duffy: Mr. Duffy has extensive experience in the investment management business and organizational management experience as a member of senior management, service as a director of a bank, service as a chairman of a charitable fund and as a trustee to an association, service on the board of a private university and non-profit organization, service as chair to an financial services industry association, and multiple years of service as a Trustee.
Thomas M. Dunning: Mr. Dunning has extensive organizational management experience founding and serving as chairman and chief executive officer of a private company, service as a director of a private company, service as chairman of a large state municipal bond issuer and chairman of a large airport authority, also an issuer of bonds, service as a board member of a state department of transportation, service as a director of various foundations, service as chair of civic organizations, and multiple years of service as a Trustee.
Alan D. Feld: Mr. Feld has extensive experience as a business attorney, organizational management experience as chairman of a law firm, experience as a director of several publicly held companies; service as a trustee of a private university and a board member of a hospital, and multiple years of service as a Trustee.
Richard A. Massman: Mr. Massman has extensive experience as a business attorney, organizational management experience as a founding member of a law firm, experience as a senior vice president and general counsel of a large private company, service as the chairman and director of several foundations, including services on their Investment Committees and Finance Committees, chairman of a governmental board, chairman of various professional organizations and multiple years of service as a Trustee and as Independent Chair.
Barbara J. McKenna: Ms. McKenna has extensive experience in the investment management industry, organizational management experience as a member of senior management, service as a director of an investment manager, and member of numerous financial services industry associations.
R. Gerald Turner: Mr. Turner has extensive organizational management experience as president of a private university, service as a director and member of the audit and governance committees of various publicly held companies, service as a member to several charitable boards, service as a co-chair to an intercollegiate athletic commission, and multiple years of service as a Trustee.
Committees of the Board
The Trust has an Audit and Compliance Committee ("Audit Committee"). The Audit Committee consists of Ms. Cline (Chair), and Messrs. Duffy, Alvarado, and Dunning. Mr. Massman, as Chairman of the Trust, serves on the Audit Committee in an ex-officio non-voting capacity. None of the members of the committee are "interested persons" of the Trust, as defined by the Investment Company Act. As set forth in its charter, the primary duties of the Trust's Audit Committee are: (a) to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Trust and the Funds and their internal controls and, as the Committee deems appropriate, to inquire into the internal controls of certain third-party service providers; (b) to oversee the quality and integrity of the Trust's financial statements and the independent audit thereof; (c) to approve, prior to appointment, the engagement of the Trust's independent auditors and, in connection therewith, to review and evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the Trust's independent auditors; (d) to oversee the Trust's compliance with all regulatory obligations arising under applicable federal securities laws, rules and regulations and oversee management's implementation and enforcement of the Trust's compliance policies and procedures ("Compliance Program"); and (e) to coordinate the Board's oversight of the Trust's CCO in connection with his or her implementation of the Trust's Compliance Program. The Audit Committee met seven (7) times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.
The Trust has a Nominating and Governance Committee ("Nominating Committee") that is comprised of Messrs. Feld (Chair), Turner, and Massman. As set forth in its charter, the Nominating Committee's primary duties are: (a) to make recommendations regarding the nomination of non-interested Trustees to the Board; (b) to make recommendations regarding the appointment of an Independent Trustee as Chairman of the Board; (c) to evaluate qualifications of potential "interested" members of the Board and Trust officers; (d) to review shareholder recommendations for nominations to fill
17 |
vacancies on the Board; (e) to make recommendations to the Board for nomination for membership on all committees of the Board; (f) to consider and evaluate the structure, composition and operation of the Board; (g) to review shareholder recommendations for proposals to be submitted for consideration during a meeting of Fund shareholders; and (h) to consider and make recommendations relating to the compensation of Independent Trustees and of those officers as to whom the Board is charged with approving compensation. Shareholder recommendations for Trustee candidates may be mailed in writing, including a comprehensive resume and any supporting documentation, to the Nominating Committee in care of the Secretary of the Fund. The Nominating and Governance Committee met seven (7) times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.
The Trust has an Investment Committee that is comprised of Mr. Bogart (Chair), Ms. McKenna, Messrs. Armes and Arpey. Mr. Massman, as Chairman of the Trust, serves on the Investment Committee in an ex-officio non-voting capacity. As set forth in its charter, the Investment Committee's primary duties are: (a) to review and evaluate the short- and long-term investment performance of the Manager and each of the designated sub-advisors to the Fund; (b) to evaluate recommendations by the Manager regarding the hiring or removal of designated sub-advisors to the Fund; (c) to review material changes recommended by the Manager to the allocation of Fund assets to a sub-advisor; (d) to review proposed changes recommended by the Manager to the investment objective or principal investment strategies of the Fund; and (e) to review proposed changes recommended by the Manager to the material provisions of the advisory agreement with a sub-advisor, including, but not limited to, changes to the provision regarding compensation. The Investment Committee met ten (10) times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.
Trustee Ownership in the Funds
The following table shows the amount of equity securities owned in the American Beacon Funds family by the Trustees as of the calendar year ended December 31, 2014.
|
INTERESTED TRUSTEES |
|
Feld |
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in all Trusts (36 Funds as of December 31, 2014) |
Over $100,000 |
|
NON-INTERESTED TRUSTEES * |
|||||||
|
Arpey |
Bogart |
Cline |
Duffy |
Dunning |
Massman |
McKenna |
Turner |
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in all Trusts (36 Funds) |
Over $100,000 |
Over $100,000 |
Over $100,000 |
None |
Over $100,000 |
Over $100,000 |
None |
Over $100,000 |
* |
Information is not shown for Messers. Alvarado and Armes because they were not Trustees as of December 31, 2014. |
As of the calendar year ended December 31, 2014, none of the Trustees owned equity securities of the Fund.
Trustee Compensation
As compensation for their service to the Trust and the American Beacon Select Funds (collectively, the "Trusts"), each Trustee is compensated from the Funds and fund complex as follows: (1) an annual retainer of $110,000; (2) meeting attendance fee (for attendance in person or via teleconference) of (a) $2,500 for attendance by Board members for each regularly scheduled Board meeting, (b) $2,500 for attendance by Committee members at meetings of the Audit Committee and the Investment Committee, (c) $1,500 for attendance by Committee members at meetings of the Nominating Committee, and (d) $2,500 for attendance by any Trustee at an annual investment research symposium sponsored by the Manager where the Investment Committee meets with designated investment sub-advisors, and (3) reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in attending Board meetings, Committee meetings, and relevant educational seminars. The Trustees also may receive compensation for attendance at special Board and/or Committee meetings from time to time.
For his service as Board Chairman, Mr. Massman receives an additional annual retainer of $25,000. Although, he attends several committee meetings at each quarterly Board meeting, he receives only a single $2,500 fee each quarter for his attendance at those meetings. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and the Chairman of the Investment Committee each also receive an additional annual retainer of $10,000.
18 |
* |
Estimated compensation for the period September 30, 2015 – August 31, 2016. |
1 |
Upon retirement from the Board, each of these Trustees is eligible for flight benefits afforded to Trustees who served on the Boards as of June 4, 2008 as described below. |
The Boards adopted a Trustee Retirement Policy and Trustee Emeritus and Retirement Plan ("Plan"). The Plan provides that a Trustee who has served on the Boards prior to September 12, 2008, and who has reached a mandatory retirement age established by the Board (currently 75) is eligible to elect Trustee Emeritus status ("Eligible Trustees"). The Eligible Trustees are Messrs. Bogart, Feld, Massman and Turner and Ms. Cline. The mandatory retirement age does not apply to Mr. Feld. Additionally, Eligible Trustees who have served on the Board of one or more Trusts for at least five years may elect to retire from the Board at an earlier age and immediately assume Trustee Emeritus status. The Board has determined that, other than the Plan established for Eligible Trustees, no other retirement benefits will accrue for current or future Trustees.
Upon assuming Trustee Emeritus status, each eligible Trustee and his or her spouse (or designated companion) may receive annual flight benefits from the Trusts of up to $40,000 combined, on a tax-grossed up basis, on American Airlines (a subsidiary of the Manager's former parent company) for a maximum period of 10 years, depending upon length of service prior to September 12, 2008. Eligible Trustees may opt to receive instead an annual retainer of $20,000 from the Trusts in lieu of flight benefits. No retirement benefits are accrued for Board service after September 12, 2008.
A Trustee Emeritus must commit to provide certain ongoing services and advice to the Board members and the Trusts; however, a Trustee Emeritus does not have any voting rights at Board meetings and is not subject to election by shareholders of the Fund(s). Currently, two individuals who retired from the Board prior to September 12, 2008, have assumed Trustee Emeritus status. One receives an annual retainer of $20,000 from the Trusts. The other individual and his spouse receive annual flight benefits of up to $40,000 combined, on a tax-grossed up basis, on American Airlines.
Principal Officers of the Trust
The Officers of the Trust conduct and supervise its daily business. As of the date of this SAI, the Officers of the Trust, their ages, their business address and their principal occupations and directorships during the past five years are as set forth below. The address of each Officer is 220 East Las Colinas Boulevard, Suite 1200, Irving, Texas 75039. Each Officer serves for a term of one year or until his or her resignation, retirement, or removal. Each Officer has and continues to hold the same position with the American Beacon Select Funds as listed below for the Trust.
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CODE OF ETHICS
The Manager, the Trust and the sub-advisor each have adopted a Code of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act. Each Code of Ethics significantly restricts the personal trading of all employees with access to non-public portfolio information. For example, each Code of Ethics generally requires pre-clearance of all personal securities trades (with limited exceptions) and prohibits employees from purchasing or selling a security that is being purchased or sold or being considered for purchase (with limited exceptions) or sale by any Fund. In addition, the Manager's and Trust's Code of Ethics require employees to report trades in shares of the Trusts. Each Code of Ethics is on public file with, and may be obtained from, the SEC.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES
From time to time, the Fund may own a security whose issuer solicits a proxy vote on certain matters. The Board seeks to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of the Fund's shareholders and has delegated proxy voting authority to the Manager. The Manager in turn has delegated proxy voting authority to the sub-advisor with respect to the Fund's assets under the sub-advisor's management. The Trust has adopted a Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures (the "Policy") that governs proxy voting by the Manager and sub-advisor, including procedures to address potential conflicts of interest between the Fund's shareholders and the Manager, the sub-advisor or their affiliates. The Trust's Board of Trustees has approved the Manager's proxy voting policies and procedures with respect to Fund assets under the Manager's management. Please see Appendix A for a copy of the Policy. The sub-advisor's proxy voting policy and procedures are summarized (or included in their entirety) in Appendix B. The Fund's proxy voting record for the most recent year ended June 30 is available as of August 31 of each year upon request and without charge by calling 1-800-967-9009 or by visiting the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The proxy voting record can be found in Form N-PX on the SEC's website.
CONTROL PERSONS AND 5% SHAREHOLDERS
A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of any Class of the Fund's outstanding shares. A control person is a shareholder that owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control. Shareholders owning voting securities in excess of 25% may determine the outcome of any matter affecting and voted on by shareholders of the Fund. The actions of an entity or person that controls the Fund could have an effect on other shareholders. For instance, a control person may have effective voting control over the Funds or large redemptions by a control person could cause the Funds' other shareholders to pay a higher pro rata portion of the Funds' expenses.
As of the date of this SAI, prior to the reorganization of the Acquired Sound Point Fund into the Fund, the Manager is the sole shareholder of the Fund.
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
The Fund's sub-advisor is listed below with information regarding its controlling persons or entities. According to the Investment Company Act, a person or entity with control with respect to an investment advisor has "the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a company, unless such power is solely the result of an official position with such company." Persons and entities affiliated with the sub-advisor are considered affiliates for the portion of Fund assets managed by the sub-advisor.
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Stephen J. Ketchum |
Managing Partner |
Financial Services Executive |
Sound Point is located at 375 Park Ave, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10152. |
The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and the Manager have entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with Sound Point pursuant to which the Fund has agreed to pay Sound Point an annualized sub-advisory fee that is calculated and accrued daily equal to 0.35% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
The Investment Advisory Agreement will automatically terminate if assigned, and may be terminated without penalty at any time by the Manager, by a vote of a majority of the Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund on no less than thirty (30) days' nor more than sixty (60) days' written notice to the sub-advisor, or by the sub-advisor upon sixty (60) days' written notice to the Trust. The Investment Advisory Agreement(s) will continue in effect provided that annually such continuance is specifically approved by a vote of the Trustees, including the affirmative votes of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such approval, or by the vote of shareholders. Because the Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, no subadvisory fees have been paid to Sound Point.
MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE AND DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
The Manager
The Manager located at 220 East Las Colinas Boulevard, Suite 1200, Irving, Texas 75039 is a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Astro AB Borrower, Inc. ("AB Borrower"). AB Borrower is, in turn a wholly-owned subsidiary of Astro AB Acquisition, Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Astro AB Topco, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Astro AB Holdings, LLC ("Astro AB"). On April 30, 2015, the Manager's prior parent company was acquired by Astro AB, which is owned primarily by Kelso Investment Associates VIII, L.P., KEP VI, LLC and Estancia Capital Partners L.P. ("Purchasers"), investment funds affiliated with Kelso & Company, L.P. ("Kelso") or Estancia Capital Management, LLC ("Estancia"), which are private equity firms. The address of Kelso and its investment funds is 320 Park Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10022. The address of Estancia and its investment fund is 20865 N 90th Place, Suite 200, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. The address of Astro AB is 220 East Las Colinas Boulevard, Suite 1200, Irving, TX 75039.
Listed below are individuals and entities that may be deemed control persons of the Manager.
Controlling Person/Entity |
Basis of Control/Status |
Nature of Controlling Person/Entity Business/Business History |
Astro AB Holdings, LLC. |
Parent Company |
Founded in 2015 |
Kelso Investment Associates VIII |
Ownership in Parent Company |
Investment Fund |
The Manager is paid a management fee as compensation for providing the Trust with advisory and asset allocation services. The expenses are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of net assets represented by such class. The Management Agreement provides for the Manager to receive an annualized management fee equal to 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. Because the Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, no fees have been paid to the Manager.
Operating expenses directly attributable to a specific class are charged against the assets of that class. Pursuant to management and administration agreements, the Manager provides the Trust with office space, office equipment and personnel necessary to manage and administer the Trust's operations. This includes:
complying with reporting requirements;
corresponding with shareholders;
maintaining internal bookkeeping, accounting and auditing services and records; and
supervising the provision of services to the Trust by third parties.
In addition to its oversight of the sub-advisors, the Manager may invest the portion of the Fund's assets that the sub-advisor(s) determine to be allocated to short-term investments.
The Fund is responsible for expenses not otherwise assumed by the Manager, including the following: audits by independent auditors; transfer agency, custodian, dividend disbursing agent and shareholder recordkeeping services; taxes, if any, and the preparation of the Fund's tax returns; interest; costs of Trustee and shareholder meetings; preparing, printing and mailing Prospectuses and reports to existing shareholders; fees for filing reports with regulatory bodies and the maintenance of the Fund's existence; legal fees; fees to federal and state authorities for the registration of shares; fees and expenses of Trustees; insurance and fidelity bond premiums; fees paid to service providers providing reports regarding adherence by sub-advisors to the investment style of the Fund; fees paid for brokerage commission analysis for the purpose of monitoring best execution practices of the sub-advisors; and any extraordinary expenses of a nonrecurring nature.
In addition to the management fee, the Manager is paid an administration service fee for providing administrative services to the Fund. The administration agreement provides for the Manager to receive an annualized administration fee that is calculated and accrued daily, equal to the sum of 0.30% of the net assets of each share class. Because the Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, the Fund has not paid any administration fees to the Manager for the last three fiscal years.
The Manager (or another entity approved by the Board) under a distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act, is paid up to 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets of the A Class and SP Class shares and up to 1.00% per annum of the average daily net assets of the C Class shares of the Fund for distribution and shareholder servicing related services, including expenses relating to selling efforts of
21 |
various broker-dealers, shareholder servicing fees and the preparation and distribution of A Class, C Class and SP Class advertising material and sales literature. The Manager will receive Rule 12b-1 fees from the A Class, C Class and SP Class regardless of the amount of the Manager's actual expenses related to distribution and shareholder servicing efforts on behalf of each Class. Thus, the Manager may realize a profit or a loss based upon its actual distribution and shareholder servicing related expenditures for the A Class, C Class and SP Class. With respect to the A Class and C Class shares of the Fund, the Manager anticipates that the Rule 12b-1 plan will benefit shareholders by providing broader access to the Fund through broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries who require compensation for their expenses in order to offer shares of the Fund. With respect to the SP Class shares of the Fund, the Manager anticipates that the Rule 12b-1 plan will benefit shareholders by attracting new investments from, retaining, and servicing existing shareholders. Because the Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, there were no prior distribution fees pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act.
The A Class, C Class, Y Class and Investor Class have each adopted a Service Plan (collectively, the "Plans"). The Plans authorize the payment to the Manager (or another entity approved by the Board) of up to 0.375% per annum of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class shares, up to 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets of the A Class shares, up to 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets of the C Class shares and up to 0.10% per annum of the average daily net assets of the Y Class shares. The Manager or other approved entities may spend such amounts on any activities or expenses primarily intended to result in or relate to the servicing of A Class, C Class, Y Class and Investor Class shares including, but not limited to, payment of shareholder service fees and transfer agency or sub-transfer agency expenses. The fees, which are included as part of the Fund's "Other Expenses" in the Table of Fees and Expenses in the Prospectus, will be payable monthly in arrears. The fees for each Class will be paid monthly pursuant to the applicable Service Plan. The primary expenses expected to be incurred under the Plans are shareholder servicing, record keeping fees and servicing fees paid to financial intermediaries such as plan sponsors and broker-dealers. Because the Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, there were no prior service fees.
The Manager also may receive up to 25% of the net monthly income generated from the securities lending activities of the Fund as compensation for administrative and oversight functions with respect to securities lending of the Fund. As of the date of this SAI, the Fund does not intend to engage in securities lending activities. The SEC has granted exemptive relief that permits the Fund to invest cash collateral received from securities lending transactions in shares of one or more private or registered investment companies managed by the Manager.
The Manager has contractually agreed from time to time to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses for the Fund in order to maintain competitive expense ratios for the Fund. In July of 2003, the Board approved a policy whereby the Manager may seek repayment for such fee waivers and expense reimbursements. Under the policy, the Manager can be reimbursed by the Fund for any contractual or voluntary fee waivers or expense reimbursements if reimbursement to the Manager (a) occurs within three years after the Manager's own waiver or reimbursement and (b) does not cause the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed the previously agreed upon contractual expense limit.
The Distributor
Foreside Fund Services, LLC ("Foreside" or "Distributor"), located at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101, is the distributor and principal underwriter of the Fund's shares. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Under a Distribution Agreement with the Trust, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Trust in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Fund. The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis. The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund's shares. The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Trust or the Fund. Pursuant to a Sub-Administration Agreement between Foreside and the Manager, Foreside receives a fee from the Manager for providing administrative services in connection with the marketing and distribution of shares of the Trust, including the registration of Manager employees as registered representatives of the Distributor to facilitate distribution of Fund shares. Foreside also receives a fee from the Manager under a Marketing Agreement pursuant to which Foreside provides services in connection with the marketing of the Fund to institutional investors. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor receives, and may re-allow to broker-dealers, all or a portion of the sales charge paid by the purchasers of A and C Class shares. For A and C Class shares, the Distributor receives commission revenue consisting of the portion of A and C Class sales charge remaining after the allowances by the Distributor to the broker dealers. The Distributor retains any portion of the commission fees that are not paid to the broker-dealers, for use solely to pay distribution related expenses.
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
State Street, located at 1 Iron Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, serves as custodian for the Fund. In addition to its other duties as custodian, pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement and instructions given by the Manager, State Street may receive compensation from the Fund for investing certain excess cash balances in designated futures, forwards or registered money market funds. State Street also serves as the Fund's Foreign Custody Manager pursuant to rules adopted under the Investment Company Act, whereby it selects and monitors eligible foreign sub-custodians.
Boston Financial Data Services (an affiliate of State Street), located at 330 W. 9th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105, is the transfer agent and dividend paying agent for the Trust and provides these services to Fund shareholders.
The Fund's independent registered public accounting firm is Ernst & Young LLP, which is located at 2323 Victory Avenue, Suite 2000, Dallas, Texas 75219.
K&L Gates LLP, 1601 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006, serves as legal counsel to the Fund.
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
The portfolio managers to the Fund (the "Portfolio Managers") have responsibility for the day-to-day management of accounts other than the Fund. Information regarding these other accounts has been provided by each Portfolio Manager's firm and is set forth below. The number of accounts and assets is shown as of October 31, 2015.
22 |
|
Number of Other Accounts Managed
|
Number of Accounts and Assets for Which
|
||||
Name of Investment Advisor and Portfolio Manager |
Registered Investment Companies |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
Other Accounts |
Registered Investment Companies |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
Other Accounts |
Sound Point
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stephen Ketchum |
5($419.3 mil) |
5($1.1 bil) |
27($5.6bil) |
None |
3($763 mil) |
3($105 mil) |
Rick Richert |
1($7.3 mil) |
2($387.3 mil) |
17($5.4 bil) |
None |
1 ($56.8 mil) |
1($28.6 mil) |
Ryan Kohan |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
Conflicts of Interest
As noted in the table above, the Portfolio Managers manage accounts other than the Fund. This side-by-side management may present potential conflicts between a Portfolio Manager's management of the Fund's investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other hand. Set forth below is a description by the sub-advisor of any foreseeable material conflicts of interest that may arise from the concurrent management of the Fund and other accounts. The information regarding potential conflicts of interest was provided by the sub-advisor.
The portfolio managers have interests which may conflict with the interests of the Fund. There is no guarantee that the policies and procedures adopted by Sound Point and the Fund will be able to identify or mitigate these conflicts of interest.
While Sound Point will seek to manage potential conflicts of interest in good faith, the portfolio strategies employed by the portfolio managers and Sound Point in managing its respective Other Accounts could conflict with the transactions and strategies employed by the portfolio managers in managing the Fund and may affect the prices and availability of the securities and instruments in which the Fund invests. Conversely, participation in specific investment opportunities may be appropriate, at times, for both the Fund and Other Accounts. It is the policy of Sound Point to generally share appropriate investment opportunities (and sale opportunities) with the Other Accounts. In general and except as provided below, this means that such opportunities will be allocated pro rata among the Fund and the Other Accounts based on available capacity for such investment in each fund, taking into account available cash and the relative capital of the respective funds. Nevertheless, investment and/or opportunities may be allocated other than on a pro rata basis, if Sound Point deems in good faith that a different allocation among the Fund and the Other Accounts is appropriate, taking into account, among other considerations (a) risk-return profile of the proposed investment; (b) the Fund's or the Other Accounts' objectives, whether such objectives are considered solely in light of the specific investment under consideration or in the context of the portfolio's overall holdings; (c) the potential for the proposed investment to create an imbalance in the Fund's and the Other Accounts' portfolios; (d) liquidity requirements of the Fund and Other Accounts; (e) tax consequences; (f) regulatory restrictions; (g) the need to re-size risk in the Fund's or Other Accounts' portfolios; (h) redemption/withdrawal requests from Other Accounts and anticipated future contributions into the Fund and Other Accounts; and (i) proximity of an Other Account to the end of its specified term/commitment period. Orders may be combined for all such accounts, and if any order is not filled at the same price, they may be allocated on an average price basis.
Similarly, if an order on behalf of more than one account cannot be fully executed under prevailing market conditions, securities may be allocated among the different accounts on a basis which the Advisor or its affiliates consider equitable. From time to time, the Fund and the Other Accounts may make investments at different levels of an issuer's capital structure or otherwise in different classes of an issuer's securities. Such investments may inherently give rise to conflicts of interest or perceived conflicts of interest between or among the various classes of securities that may be held by such entities. While these conflicts cannot be eliminated, Sound Point, when practicable, will cause the Fund and the Other Accounts to hold investments in the same levels of an issuer's capital structure in the same proportion at each level; provided, however, that neither the Fund nor any Other Account will be required to hold an investment if holding such investment would result in a violation of the provisions of the organizational documents of the Fund or the Other Account, as applicable, or constitute a breach of, or default or debt repayment event with respect to, any credit facility or other debt instrument or obligation.
Compensation
The following is a description provided by the investment sub-advisor regarding the structure of and criteria for determining the compensation of the Portfolio Managers as of September 30, 2015.
Sound Point's financial arrangements with its portfolio managers, its competitive compensation and its career path emphasis at all levels reflect the value senior management places on key resources. Compensation may include a variety of components and may vary from year to year based on a number of factors. The principal components of compensation include a base salary and a discretionary bonus.
Generally, portfolio managers receive base compensation and employee benefits based on their individual seniority and/or their position with the firm. In addition to base compensation, portfolio managers may receive discretionary compensation. Discretionary compensation is based on individual seniority, contributions to the sub-advisor and performance of the assets that the portfolio manager has primary responsibility for. These compensation guidelines are structured to closely align the interests of employees with those of Sound Point and its clients.
Ownership of the Fund
The Portfolio Managers' beneficial ownership of the Fund is defined as the Portfolio Managers having the opportunity to share in any profit from transactions in the Fund, either directly or indirectly, as the result of any contract, understanding, arrangement, relationship or otherwise. Therefore, ownership of Fund shares by members of the Portfolio Managers' immediate family or by a trust of which the Portfolio Managers are a trustee could be considered ownership by the Portfolio Managers. As of the date of this SAI, the Fund has not commenced operations. Accordingly, the Portfolio Managers do not beneficially own any shares of the Fund.
23 |
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
In selecting brokers or dealers to execute particular transactions, the Manager and the sub-advisor are authorized to consider "brokerage and research services" (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), provision of statistical quotations (including the quotations necessary to determine the Fund's net asset value), and other information provided to the Fund, to the Manager and/or to the sub-advisor (or their affiliates), provided, however, that the Manager or the sub-advisor must always seek best execution. Research and brokerage services may include information on portfolio companies, economic analyses, and other investment research services. The Trusts do not allow the Manager or sub-advisor to enter arrangements to direct transactions to broker-dealers as compensation for the promotion or sale of Trust shares by those broker-dealers. The Manager and the sub-advisor are also authorized to cause the Fund to pay a commission (as defined in SEC interpretations) to a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services for executing a portfolio transaction which is in excess of the amount of the commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction. The Manager or the sub-advisor, as appropriate, must determine in good faith, however, that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided, viewed in terms of that particular transaction or in terms of all the accounts over which the Manager or the sub-advisor exercises investment discretion. The fees of the sub-advisor are not reduced by reason of receipt of such brokerage and research services. However, with disclosure to and pursuant to written guidelines approved by the Board, as applicable, the Manager, or the sub-advisor (or a broker-dealer affiliated with them) may execute portfolio transactions and receive usual and customary brokerage commissions (within the meaning of Rule 17e-1 under the Investment Company Act) for doing so. Brokerage and research services obtained with Fund commissions might be used by the Manager and/or the sub-advisor, as applicable, to benefit their other accounts under management.
The Manager and the sub-advisor will place its own orders to execute securities transactions that are designed to implement the Fund's investment objective and policies. In placing such orders, the sub-advisor will seek best execution. The full range and quality of services offered by the executing broker or dealer will be considered when making these determinations. Pursuant to written guidelines approved by the Board, as appropriate, the sub-advisor of the Fund, or its affiliated broker-dealer, may execute portfolio transactions and receive usual and customary brokerage commissions (within the meaning of Rule 17e-1 of the Investment Company Act) for doing so. The Fund's turnover rate, or the frequency of portfolio transactions, will vary from year to year depending on market conditions and the Fund's cash flows. High portfolio activity increases the Fund's transaction costs, including brokerage commissions, and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions.
The Investment Advisory Agreements provide, in substance, that in executing portfolio transactions and selecting brokers or dealers, the principal objective of the sub-advisor is to seek best execution. In assessing available execution venues, the sub-advisor shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including the breadth of the market in the security, the price of the security, the value of any eligible research, the financial condition and execution capability of the broker or dealer and the reasonableness of the commission, if any, for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. Transactions with respect to the securities of small and emerging market securities in which the Fund may invest may involve specialized services on the part of the broker or dealer and thereby may entail higher commissions or spreads than would be the case with transactions involving more widely traded securities.
The Fund may establish brokerage commission recapture arrangements with certain brokers or dealers. If a sub-advisor chooses to execute a transaction through a participating broker, the broker rebates a portion of the commission back to the Fund. Any collateral benefit receives through participation in the commission recapture program is directed exclusively to the Fund. Neither the Manager nor the sub-advisor receive any benefits from the commission recapture program. The sub-advisor's participation in the brokerage commission recapture program is optional. The sub-advisor retains full discretion in selecting brokerage firms for securities transactions and is instructed to use the commission recapture program for a transaction only if it is consistent with the sub-advisor's obligation to seek the best execution available.
The Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI. Accordingly, no brokerage commissions were paid by the Fund during the previous three fiscal years and the Fund did not receive any amount as a result of participation in the commission recapture program.
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND SALE INFORMATION FOR A CLASS SHARES
Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers
As described in the Prospectus, there are various ways to reduce your sales charge when purchasing A Class shares. Additional information about A Class sales charge reductions is provided below.
Letter of Intent ("LOI") . The LOI may be revised upward at any time during the 13-month period of the LOI ("LOI Period"), and such a revision will be treated as a new LOI, except that the LOI Period during which the purchases must be made will remain unchanged. Purchases made from the date of revision will receive the reduced sales charge, if any, resulting from the revised LOI. The LOI will be considered completed if the shareholder dies within the 13-month LOI Period. Commissions to dealers will not be adjusted or paid on the difference between the LOI amount and the amount actually invested before the shareholder's death.
All dividends and capital gain distributions on shares held in escrow will be credited to the shareholder's account in shares (or paid in cash, if requested). If the intended investment is not completed within the specified LOI Period, the purchaser may be required to remit to the transfer agent the difference between the sales charge actually paid and the sales charge which would have been paid if the total of such purchases had been made at a single time. Any dealers assigned to the shareholder's account at the time a purchase was made during the LOI Period will receive a corresponding commission adjustment if appropriate. If the difference is not paid by the close of the LOI Period, the appropriate number of shares held in escrow will be redeemed to pay such difference. If the proceeds from this redemption are inadequate, the purchaser may be liable to the Fund for the balance still outstanding.
Rights of Accumulation. Subject to the limitations described in the aggregation policy, you may take into account your accumulated holdings in any class of the American Beacon Funds to determine your sales charge for A Class shares on investments in accounts eligible to be aggregated. If you
24 |
make a gift of A Class shares, upon your request, you may purchase the shares at the sales charge discount allowed under rights of accumulation of all of your investments in any class of the American Beacon Funds.
Aggregation . Qualifying investments for aggregation include those made by you and your "immediate family" as defined in the Prospectus, if all parties are purchasing shares for their own accounts and/or:
individual-type employee benefit plans, such as an IRA, individual 403(b) plan or single-participant Keogh-type plan;
business accounts solely controlled by you or your immediate family (for example, you own the entire business);
trust accounts established by you or your immediate family (for trusts with only one primary beneficiary, upon the trustor's death the trust account may be aggregated with such beneficiary's own accounts; for trusts with multiple primary beneficiaries, upon the trustor's death the trustees of the trust may instruct the Fund's transfer agent to establish separate trust accounts for each primary beneficiary; each primary beneficiary's separate trust account may then be aggregated with such beneficiary's own accounts);
endowments or foundations established and controlled by you or your immediate family; or
529 accounts, which will be aggregated at the account owner level (Class 529-E accounts may only be aggregated with an eligible employer plan).
Individual purchases by a trustee(s) or other fiduciary(ies) may also be aggregated if the investments are:
for a single trust estate or fiduciary account, including employee benefit plans other than the individual-type employee benefit plans described above;
made for two or more employee benefit plans of a single employer or of affiliated employers as defined in the Investment Company Act, excluding the individual-type employee benefit plans described above;
for nonprofit, charitable or educational organizations, or any endowments or foundations established and controlled by such organizations, or any employer-sponsored retirement plans established for the benefit of the employees of such organizations, their endowments, or their foundations; or
for individually established participant accounts of a 403(b) plan that is treated similarly to an employer-sponsored plan for sales charge purposes (see "Purchases by certain 403(b) plans" under "Sales Charges" above), or made for two or more such 403(b) plans that are treated similarly to employer-sponsored plans for sales charge purposes, in each case of a single employer or affiliated employers as defined in the Investment Company Act. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts (securities held in the name of a broker- dealer or another nominee such as a bank trust department instead of the customer) may not be aggregated with those made for other accounts and may not be aggregated with other nominee or street name accounts unless otherwise qualified as described above.
Concurrent Purchases . As described in the Prospectus, you may reduce your A Class sales charge by combining simultaneous purchases in any of the American Beacon Funds.
Other Purchases . Pursuant to a determination of eligibility by the Manager, A Class shares of the Fund may be sold at net asset value (without the imposition of a front-end sales charge) to:
current or retired trustees, and officers of the American Beacon Funds family, current or retired employees and directors of the Manager and its affiliated companies, certain family members and employees of the above persons, and trusts or plans primarily for such persons;
currently registered representatives and assistants directly employed by such representatives, retired registered representatives with respect to accounts established while active, or full-time employees (collectively, "Eligible Persons") (and their spouses, and children, including children in step and adoptive relationships, sons-in- law and daughters-in-law, if the Eligible Persons or the spouses or children of the Eligible Persons are listed in the account registration with the spouse or parent) of broker-dealers who have sales agreements with the Distributor (or who clear transactions through such dealers), plans for the dealers, and plans that include as participants only the Eligible Persons, their spouses and/or children;
companies exchanging securities with the Fund through a merger, acquisition or exchange offer;
insurance company separate accounts;
accounts managed by the Manager, a sub-advisor to the Fund and its affiliated companies;
the Manager or a sub-advisor to the Fund and its affiliated companies;
an individual or entity with a substantial business relationship with, which may include the officers and employees of the Fund's custodian or transfer agent, the Manager or a sub-adviser to the Fund and its affiliated companies, or an individual or entity related or relating to such individual or entity;
full-time employees of banks that have sales agreements with the Distributor, who are solely dedicated to directly supporting the sale of mutual funds;
directors, officers and employees of financial institutions that have a selling group agreement with the Distributor;
banks, broker-dealers and other financial institutions (including registered investment advisors and financial planners) that have entered into an agreement with the Distributor or one of its affiliates, purchasing shares on behalf of clients participating in the Fund supermarket or in a wrap program, asset allocation program or other program in which the clients pay an asset-based fee;
clients of authorized dealers purchasing shares in fixed or flat fee brokerage accounts;
Employer-sponsored defined contribution - type plans, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer sponsored 403(b) plans, profit-sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, and individual retirement account ("IRA") rollovers involving retirement plan assets invested in the Fund in the American Beacon Funds fund family; and
Employee benefit and retirement plans for the Manager and its affiliates.
Shares are offered at net asset value to these persons and organizations due to anticipated economies in sales effort and expense. Once an account is established under this net asset value privilege, additional investments can be made at net asset value for the life of the account.
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It is possible that a broker-dealer may not be able to offer one or more of these waiver categories. If this situation occurs, it is possible that the investor would need to invest directly through American Beacon Funds in order to take advantage of the waiver. The Fund may terminate or amend the terms of these sales charge waivers at any time.
Moving Between Accounts . Investments in certain account types may be moved to other account types without incurring additional A Class sales charges. These transactions include, for example:
redemption proceeds from a non-retirement account (for example, a joint tenant account) used to purchase Fund shares in an IRA or other individual-type retirement account;
required minimum distributions from an IRA or other individual-type retirement account used to purchase Fund shares in a non-retirement account; and
death distributions paid to a beneficiary's account that are used by the beneficiary to purchase Fund shares in a different account.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGES
As discussed in the Prospectus, the redemption of C Class shares may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") if you redeem your shares within 12 months of purchase. If you purchased $250,000 or more of A Class shares of the Funds (and therefore paid no initial sales charges) and subsequently redeem your shares within 18 months of your purchase, you may be charged a CDSC upon redemption. In determining whether the CDSC is payable, it is assumed that shares not subject to the CDSC are the first redeemed followed by other shares held for the longest period of time. The CDSC will not be imposed upon shares representing reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions, or upon amounts representing share appreciation. As described in the Prospectus, there are various circumstances under which the CDSC will be waived. Additional information about CDSC waivers is provided below.
The CDSC is waived under the following circumstances:
Any partial or complete redemption following death or disability (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) of a shareholder (including one who owns the shares with his or her spouse as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship) from an account in which the deceased or disabled is named. The Manager or the Fund's transfer agent may require documentation prior to waiver of the charge, including death certificates, physicians' certificates, etc.
Redemptions from a systematic withdrawal plan. If the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed dollar amount or number of shares, systematic withdrawal redemptions are limited to no more than 10% of your account value or number of shares per year, as of the date the Manager or the Fund's transfer agent receives your request. If the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed percentage of your account value, each redemption is limited to an amount that would not exceed 10% of your annual account value at the time of withdrawal.
Redemptions from retirement plans qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code. The CDSC will be waived for benefit payments made by American Beacon Funds directly to plan participants. Benefit payments will include, but are not limited to, payments resulting from death, disability, retirement, separation from service, required minimum distributions (as described under Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code), in-service distributions, hardships, loans and qualified domestic relations orders. The CDSC waiver will not apply in the event of termination of the plan or transfer of the plan to another financial institution.
Redemptions that are mandatory withdrawals from a traditional IRA account after age 70 1/2 .
Involuntary redemptions as a result of your account not meeting the minimum balance requirements, the termination and liquidation of the Fund, or other actions by the Fund.
Distributions from accounts for which the broker-dealer of record has entered into a written agreement with the Distributor (or Manager) allowing this waiver.
To return excess contributions made to a retirement plan.
To return contributions made due to a mistake of fact.
The following example illustrates the operation of the CDSC. Assume that you open an account and purchase 1,000 shares at $10 per share and that six months later the NAV per share is $12 and, during such time, you have acquired 50 additional shares through reinvestment of distributions. If at such time you should redeem 450 shares (proceeds of $5,400), 50 shares will not be subject to the charge because of dividend reinvestment. With respect to the remaining 400 shares, the charge is applied only to the original cost of $10 per share and not to the increase in NAV of $2 per share. Therefore, $4,000 of the $5,400 redemption proceeds will pay the charge. At the rate of 1.00%, the CDSC would be $40 for redemptions of C Class shares. In determining whether an amount is available for redemption without incurring a deferred sales charge, the purchase payments made for all shares in your account are aggregated.
REDEMPTIONS IN KIND
Although the Fund intends to redeem shares in cash, it reserves the right to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of securities or other assets. However, shareholders always will be entitled to redeem shares for cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund's net asset value during any 90-day period. Redemption in kind is not as liquid as a cash redemption. In addition, to the extent the Fund redeems its shares in this manner, the shareholder assumes the risk of a subsequent change in the market value of those securities, the cost of liquidating the securities and the possibility of a lack of a liquid market for those securities.
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TAX INFORMATION
The tax information in the Prospectus and in this section relates solely to federal income tax law and assumes that the Fund qualifies as a "regulated investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code ("RIC") (as discussed below). The tax information in this section is only a summary of certain key federal tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders and is in addition to the information provided in the Prospectus. No attempt has been made to present a complete explanation of the federal income tax treatment of the Fund or the tax implications to its shareholders. The discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as substitutes for careful tax planning. The information is based on the Internal Revenue Code and applicable regulations, administrative pronouncements and judicial decisions in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative, regulatory or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the tax rules applicable to the Fund and its shareholders. Any of these changes or court decisions may have a retroactive effect.
Taxation of the Fund
The Fund intends to qualify each taxable year for treatment as a RIC under Subchapter M of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code. To so qualify, the Fund (which is treated as a separate corporation for these purposes) must, among other requirements:
Derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from (1) dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or other income, including gains from options, futures or forward contracts, derived with respect to its business of investing in securities or those currencies and (2) net income derived from an interest in a "qualified publicly traded partnership" ("QPTP") ("Gross Income Requirement"). A QPTP is a "publicly traded partnership" other than a partnership at least 90% of the gross income of which is described in clause (1);
Diversify its investments so that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, (1) at least 50% of the value of its total assets is represented by cash and cash items, Government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities, with those other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the issuer's outstanding voting securities (equity securities of QPTPs being considered voting securities for these purposes), and (2) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in (a) securities (other than Government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer, (b) securities (other than securities of other RICs) of two or more issuers the Fund controls that are determined to be engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or (c) securities of one or more QPTPs ("Diversification Requirements"); and
Distribute annually to its shareholders at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (generally, net investment income plus the excess (if any) of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss and net gains and losses from certain foreign currency transactions, all determined without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) ("Distribution Requirement").
By qualifying for treatment as a RIC, the Fund (but not its shareholders) will be relieved of federal income tax on the part of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain ( i.e. the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) that it distributes to its shareholders. If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify for treatment as a RIC - either (1) by failing to satisfy the Distribution Requirement, even if it satisfies the Gross Income and Diversification Requirements, or (2) by failing to satisfy the Gross Income Requirement and/or either Diversification Requirement and is unable to, or determines not to, avail itself of provisions that enable a RIC to cure a failure to satisfy any of the Income and Diversification Requirements as long as the failure "is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect" and the RIC pays a deductible tax calculated in accordance with those provisions and meets certain other requirements — then for federal tax purposes, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to its shareholders and the dividends it pays would be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly, for individual and certain other non-corporate (collectively, "individual") shareholders as "qualified dividend income" (as described in the Prospectus)) to the extent of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify for RIC treatment would therefore have a negative impact on the Fund's income and performance. Furthermore, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying for RIC treatment. It is possible that the Fund will not qualify as a RIC in any given taxable year.
The Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax ("Excise Tax") to the extent it fails to distribute by the end of any calendar year substantially all of its ordinary income for that year and substantially all of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending on December 31 of that year, plus certain other amounts. The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions by the end of each calendar year to avoid liability for the Excise Tax.
Taxation of Certain Investments and Strategies
If the Fund acquires stock in a foreign corporation that is a "passive foreign investment company" ("PFIC") (generally, any foreign corporation, with certain exceptions, that, in general, meets either of the following tests for the taxable year: (1) at least 75% of its gross income is passive or (2) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the production of, passive income) and holds the stock beyond the end of the year of acquisition, the Fund will be subject to federal income tax on any "excess distribution" it receives on the stock and of any gain it realizes from disposition of that stock (collectively "PFIC income"), plus interest thereon, even if the Fund distributes the PFIC income as a taxable dividend to its shareholders. Fund distributions thereof will not be eligible for the 15% and 20% maximum federal income tax rates on individuals' "qualified dividend income" described in the Prospectus. The Fund may avoid this tax and interest if it elects to treat the PFIC as a "qualified electing fund"; however, the requirements for that election are difficult to satisfy. If such an election were made, the Fund would be required to include in its income each taxable year a portion of the ordinary income and net capital gains of the PFIC, even if the income and gains were not distributed to the Fund. Any such income and gains would be subject to the Distribution Requirement and to the calendar year Excise Tax distribution requirement.
Alternatively, the Fund may elect to "mark-to-market" its stock in a PFIC it owns at the end of its taxable year. Under such an election, the Fund (1) would include in gross income each taxable year (and treat as ordinary income) an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the PFIC stock as of the close of the taxable year over the Fund's adjusted basis in the PFIC stock and (2) would be allowed a deduction (as an ordinary, not a capital, loss) for the excess, if any, of its adjusted basis in the PFIC stock over the fair market value of the PFIC stock as of the close of the taxable
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year, but only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains included by the Fund for prior taxable years. The Fund's adjusted basis in the PFIC stock would be adjusted to reflect the amounts included in income, or deducted, under this election. Any gain or loss realized on the sale or other disposition of the PFIC stock, would be treated as ordinary income or loss. The Fund would not be subject to the deferred tax and interest charge discussed above with respect to PFIC stock for which a mark-to-market election has been made.
Investors should be aware that the Fund may not be able, at the time it acquires a foreign corporation's shares, to ascertain whether the corporation is a PFIC and that a foreign corporation may become a PFIC after the Fund acquires shares therein. While the Fund generally will seek to minimize its investments in PFIC shares, and to make appropriate elections when they are available, to lessen the adverse tax consequences described above, there are no guarantees that it will be able to do so, and it reserves the right to make such investments as a matter of its investment policy.
Hedging strategies, such as entering into forward contracts and selling (writing) and purchasing options and futures contracts, involve complex rules that will determine for federal income tax purposes the amount, character and timing of recognition of gains and losses the Fund may realize in connection therewith. In general, the Fund's (1) gains from the disposition of foreign currencies and (2) gains from options, futures and forward contracts derived with respect to its business of investing in securities or foreign currencies will be treated as qualifying income under the Gross Income Requirement.
The Fund may invest in one or more limited liability companies ("LLCs") and limited partnerships ("LPs") that will be classified for federal tax purposes as partnerships (and, except as expressly stated below, this discussion assumes that classification). LLCs and LPs in which the Fund may invest may include (1) a "publicly traded partnership" (that is, a partnership the interests in which are "traded on an established securities market" or "readily tradable on a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)") (a "PTP"), which may be a QPTP, or (2) a non-PTP at least 90% of the income of which satisfies the Gross Income Requirement.
If an LLC or LP in which the Fund invests is a QPTP, all its net income (regardless of source) will be qualifying income to the Fund under the Gross Income Requirement. The Fund's investment in QPTPs, together with certain other investments, however, may not exceed 25% of the value of its total assets at the end of each quarter of its taxable year in order to satisfy one of the Diversification Requirements. In addition,if the Fund holds more than 10% of a QPTP's equity securities, none of those securities will count toward its satisfying those requirements.
With respect to non-QPTPs, (1) if an LLC or LP (including a PTP) is treated for federal tax purposes as a corporation, distributions from it to the Fund might be treated as "qualified dividend income" and disposition of the Fund's interest therein would generate gain or loss from the disposition of a security, or (2) if such an LLC or LP is not treated as a corporation, the Fund would be treated as having earned its proportionate share of each item of income the LLC or LP earned. In the latter case, the Fund would be able to treat its share of the entity's income as qualifying income under the Gross Income Requirement only to the extent that income would be qualifying income if realized directly by the Fund in the same manner as realized by the LLC or LP. Certain LLCs and LPs (e.g., private funds) in which the Fund may invest may generate income and gains that are not qualifying income under the Gross Income Requirement. The Fund will monitor its investments in LLCs and LPs to assure its compliance with the requirements for qualification as a RIC.
Dividends and interest the Fund receives, and gains it realizes, on foreign securities may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions (collectively, "foreign taxes") that would reduce the yield and/or total return on its securities. Tax treaties between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate those taxes, however, and many foreign countries do not impose taxes on capital gains on investments by foreign investors. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance, since the amount of the Fund's assets to be invested in various countries is not known.
Some futures contracts, foreign currency contracts, and "nonequity" options ( i.e. , certain listed options, such as those on a "broad-based" securities index) - except any "securities futures contract" that is not a "dealer securities futures contract" (both as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) and any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement - in which the Fund invests may be subject to Internal Revenue Code section 1256 (collectively, "Section 1256 contracts"). Any Section 1256 contracts the Fund holds at the end of its taxable year must be "marked-to-market" (that is, treated as having been sold at that time for its fair market value) for federal tax purposes, with the result that unrealized gains or losses will be treated as though they were realized. Sixty percent of any net gain or loss realized on these deemed sales, and 60% of any net realized gain or loss from any actual sales of Section 1256 contracts, will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss, and the balance will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. Section 1256 contracts also may be marked-to-market for purposes of the Excise Tax. These rules may operate to increase the amount that the Fund must distribute to satisfy the Distribution Requirement ( i.e. with respect to the portion treated as short-term capital gain), which will be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income when distributed to them, and to increase the net capital gain the Fund recognizes, without in either case increasing the cash available to it.
Section 988 of the Internal Revenue Code also may apply to the Fund's forward currency contracts and options and futures on foreign currencies. Under that section, each foreign currency gain or loss generally is computed separately and treated as ordinary income or loss. These gains or losses will increase or decrease the amount of the Fund's investment company taxable income to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income, rather than affecting the amount of its net capital gain. If section 988 losses exceed other investment company taxable income during a taxable year, the Fund would not be able to distribute any dividends, and any distributions made during that year before the losses were realized would be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders, rather than as a dividend, thereby reducing each shareholder's basis in his or her Fund shares.
Offsetting positions the Fund enters into or holds in any actively traded option, futures or forward contract may constitute a "straddle" for federal income tax purposes. Straddles are subject to certain rules that may affect the amount, character and timing of the Fund's gains and losses with respect to positions of the straddle by requiring, among other things, that (1) losses realized on disposition of one position of a straddle be deferred to the extent of any unrealized gain in an offsetting position until the latter position is disposed of, (2) the Fund's holding period in certain straddle positions not begin until the straddle is terminated (possibly resulting in gain being treated as short-term rather than long-term capital gain) and (3) losses recognized with respect to certain straddle positions, that otherwise would constitute short-term capital losses, be treated as long-term capital losses. Applicable regulations also provide certain "wash sale" rules, which apply to transactions where a position is sold at a loss and a new offsetting
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position is acquired within a prescribed period, and "short sale" rules applicable to straddles. Different elections are available, that may mitigate the effects of the straddle rules, particularly with respect to "mixed straddles" (i.e., a straddle at least one, but not all, positions of which are Section 1256 contracts).
When a covered call option written (sold) by the Fund expires, it will realize a short-term capital gain equal to the amount of the premium it received for writing the option. When the Fund terminates its obligations under such an option by entering into a closing transaction, it will realize a short-term capital gain (or loss), depending on whether the cost of the closing transaction is less (or more) than the premium it received when it wrote the option. When a covered call option written by the Fund is exercised, it will be treated as having sold the underlying security, producing long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on the holding period of the underlying security and whether the sum of the option price received on the exercise plus the premium received when it wrote the option is more or less than the underlying security's basis.
If the Fund has an "appreciated financial position" - generally, any position (including an interest through an option, futures or forward contract or short sale) with respect to any stock, debt instrument (other than "straight debt") or partnership interest the fair market value of which exceeds its adjusted basis - and enters into a "constructive sale" of the position, the Fund will be treated as having made an actual sale thereof, with the result that it will recognize gain at that time. A constructive sale generally consists of a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or forward contract the Fund or a related person enters into with respect to the same or substantially identical property. In addition, if the appreciated financial position is itself a short sale or such a contract, acquisition of the underlying property or substantially identical property will be deemed a constructive sale. The foregoing will not apply, however, to any Fund transaction during any taxable year that otherwise would be treated as a constructive sale if the transaction is closed within 30 days after the end of that year and the Fund holds the appreciated financial position unhedged for 60 days after that closing (i.e., at no time during that 60-day period is the Fund's risk of loss regarding that position reduced by reason of certain specified transactions with respect to substantially identical or related property, such as having an option to sell, being contractually obligated to sell, making a short sale or granting an option to buy substantially identical stock or securities).
Certain aspects of the tax treatment of derivative instruments, including certain equity index options and futures, are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations or other legally binding authority that could affect the treatment of income from those instruments, and the character, timing and amount of the Fund's taxable income or gains and distributions. If the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") were to assert successfully that income the Fund derives from those investments does not constitute qualifying income, the Fund might cease to qualify as a RIC (with the consequences described above under "Taxation of the Fund") or might be required to reduce its exposure to such investments.
If Fund shares are sold at a loss after being held for six months or less, the loss will be treated as long-term, instead of short-term, capital loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions received on those shares. In addition, any loss a shareholder realizes on a redemption of Fund shares will be disallowed to the extent the shares are replaced within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares; in that case, the basis in the acquired shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Investors also should be aware that the price of Fund shares at any time may reflect the amount of a forthcoming dividend or other distribution, so if they purchase Fund shares shortly before the record date for a distribution, they will pay full price for the shares and receive some part of the price back as a taxable distribution even though it represents a partial return of invested capital.
Basis Election and Reporting
Fund shareholders who want to use an acceptable method for basis determination with respect to Fund shares other than the
average basis method (the Fund's default method), must elect to do so in writing (which may be electronic). The basis determination
method the Fund shareholder elects may not be changed with respect to a redemption of shares after the settlement date of
the redemption.
In addition to the requirement to report the gross proceeds from the redemption of shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the IRS and furnish to its shareholders the basis information for Fund shares that are redeemed and indicate whether they had a short-term (one year or less) or long-term (more than one year) holding period. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted basis determination method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the basis reporting law applies to them. Fund shareholders who acquire and hold shares through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary for information related to the basis election and reporting.
Backup Withholding
The Fund is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury 28% of dividends, capital gain distributions, and redemption
proceeds (regardless of the extent to which gain or loss may be realized) otherwise payable to any individual shareholder
who fails to certify that the taxpayer identification number furnished to the Fund is correct or who furnishes an incorrect
number (together with the withholding described in the next sentence, "backup withholding"). Withholding at that rate also
is required from the Fund's dividends and capital gain distributions otherwise payable to such a shareholder who (1) is subject
to backup withholding for failure to report the receipt of interest or dividend income properly or (2) fails to certify to
the Fund that he or she is not subject to backup withholding or that it is a corporation or other "exempt recipient." Backup
withholding is not an additional tax; rather, any amounts so withheld may be credited against your federal income tax liability
or refunded.
Non-U.S. Shareholders
Dividends from the Fund's investment company taxable income that are paid to a shareholder who is a non-resident alien individual
or foreign entity (a "non-U.S. person") generally are subject to 30% federal withholding tax unless a reduced rate of withholding or a withholding
exemption is provided under an applicable treaty. For taxable years that began before January 1, 2015, however, two categories of dividends, "short-term
capital gain dividends" and "interest-related dividends," paid by a RIC to non-U.S. shareholers (with certain exceptions) were exempt from
that tax. "Short-term capital gain dividends" are dividends that are attributable to net short-term gain, computed with certain adjustments. "Interest-related
dividends" are dividends that are attributable to "qualified net interest income" (i.e., "qualified interest income," which generally consists
of certain original issue discount, interest on obligations "in registered form," and interest on deposits, less allocable deductions) from sources
within the United States. The
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period for the applicability of the exemption from withholding tax for those dividends has frequently been extended by legislation in the past. Non-U.S. persons are urged to consult their own tax advisers concerning the applicability of that withholding tax.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ("FATCA")
Under FATCA, "foreign financial institutions" ("FFIs") and "non-financial foreign entities" ("NFFEs") that are Fund shareholders
may be subject to a generally nonrefundable 30% withholding tax on (1) income dividends the Fund pays, and (2) certain capital
gain distributions and the proceeds of redemptions of Fund shares it pays after December 31, 2018. As discussed below, the
FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided (a) by an FFI, if it reports certain information regarding direct and indirect
ownership of financial accounts U.S. persons hold with the FFI, and (b) by an NFFE, if it certifies its status as such and,
in certain circumstances, that (i) it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) it does have such owners and reports
information relating to them to the withholding agent (which may be the Fund).
The U.S. Treasury Department has negotiated intergovernmental agreements ("IGAs") with certain countries and is in various stages of negotiations with other foreign countries with respect to alternative approaches to implement FATCA. An entity in one of those countries may be required to comply with the terms of the IGA instead of U.S. Treasury regulations, as described below.
An FFI can avoid FATCA withholding by becoming a "participating FFI," which requires the FFI to enter into a tax compliance agreement with the IRS under the Internal Revenue Code. Under such an agreement, a participating FFI agrees to (1) verify and document whether it has U.S. accountholders, (2) report certain information regarding their accounts to the IRS, and (3) meet certain other specified requirements.
An FFI resident in a country that has entered into a Model I IGA with the United States must report to that country's government (pursuant to the terms of the applicable IGA and applicable law), which will, in turn, report to the IRS. An FFI resident in a Model II IGA country generally must comply with U.S. regulatory requirements, with certain exceptions, including the treatment of recalcitrant account holders. An FFI resident in one of those countries that complies with whichever of the foregoing applies will be exempt from FATCA withholding.
Those foreign shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted, or deemed compliant categories established by U.S. Treasury regulations, IGAs, and other guidance regarding FATCA. An FFI or NFFE that invests in the Fund will need to provide the Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity's status under FATCA to avoid FATCA withholding. The requirements imposed by FATCA are different from, and in addition to, the tax certification rules to avoid backup withholding described above. Foreign investors are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding the application of these requirements to their own situation and the impact thereof on their investment in the Fund.
Other Taxes
Statutory rules and regulations regarding state and local taxation of ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital
gain distributions may differ from the federal income taxation rules described above. Distributions may also be subject to
additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder's participation situation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST
The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts business trust." Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust may, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for its obligations. However, the Trust's Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust and provides for indemnification and reimbursement of expenses out of Trust property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust may maintain appropriate insurance (for example, fidelity bonding) for the protection of the Trust, its shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents to cover possible tort and other liabilities. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss due to shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which both inadequate insurance existed and the Trust itself was unable to meet its obligations. The Trust has not engaged in any other business.
The Trust was originally created to manage money for large institutional investors, including pension and 401(k) plans for American Airlines Group, Inc. The following individuals (and members of that individual's "immediate family"), are eligible to purchase shares of the Institutional Class with an initial investment of less than $250,000 (i) employees of the Manager, (ii) employees of a sub-advisor for Funds where it serves as sub-advisor, (iii) members of the Board, (iv) employees of Kelso/Estancia, and (v) members of the Manager's Board of Directors. The term "immediate family" refers to one's spouse, children, grandchildren, grandparents, parents, parents-in-law, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters-in-law, a sibling's spouse, a spouse's sibling, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews; relatives by virtue of remarriage (step-children, step-parents, etc.) are included. Any shareholders that the Manager transfers to the Institutional Class upon termination of the class of shares in which the shareholders were originally invested is also eligible for purchasing shares of the Institutional Class with an initial investment of less than $250,000.
The Investor Class was created to give individuals and other smaller investors an opportunity to invest in the American Beacon Funds. The Institutional and Y Classes were created to manage money for large institutional investors, including pension and 401(k) plans. The A Class and C Class were created for investors investing in the Funds through their broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries. The SP Class was created to provide holders of the Investor Class shares of the Acquired Sound Point Fund with a comparable share class after the reorganization of the Acquired Sound Point Fund into the Fund.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Investors in the Fund will be informed of the Fund's progress through periodic reports. Financial statements that will be subject to audit by an independent registered public accounting firm will be submitted to shareholders at least annually.
The Fund will adopt the financial statements of the Acquired Sound Point Fund. Those financial statements were audited by another registered public accounting firm and are incorporated by reference to the Acquired Sound Point Fund Annual Report to Shareholders dated August 31, 2015.
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APPENDIX A
AMERICAN BEACON ADVISORS, INC.
SUMMARY OF PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
Proxy voting is an important component of investment management and must be performed in a dutiful and purposeful fashion in order to secure the best long-term interests of the advisory clients of American Beacon Advisors, Inc. ("AmBeacon"). AmBeacon's proxy voting policies and procedures are designed to implement AmBeacon's duty to vote proxies in clients' best interests. Given that AmBeacon manages portfolios that invest solely in fixed-income securities, the only securities for which we expect to receive proxies are money market mutual funds. As such, the proxy voting policies and procedures set forth voting guidelines for the proxy issues and proposals common to money market funds.
For routine proposals that will not change the structure, bylaws or operations of the money market fund, AmBeacon's policy is to support management; however, each proposal will be considered individually focusing on the financial interests of the client portfolio. Non-routine proposals, such as board elections, advisory contract and distribution plan approvals, investment objective changes, and mergers, will generally be reviewed on a case-by-case basis with AmBeacon first and foremost considering the effect of the proposal on the portfolio.
Items to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and proposals not contemplated in the policies set forth above will be assessed by AmBeacon. In these situations, AmBeacon will use its judgment to vote in the best interest of the client portfolio. For all proposals, especially controversial or case-by-case evaluations, AmBeacon will be responsible for individually identifying significant issues that could impact the investment performance of the portfolio.
AmBeacon manages portfolios for the American Beacon Funds (the "Beacon Funds") and the American Beacon Select Funds (the "Select Funds"). AmBeacon may invest a Beacon Fund in shares of one or more Select Funds. If a Select Fund solicits a proxy for which a Beacon Fund is entitled to vote, AmBeacon's interests as manager of the Select Fund seeking shareholder votes may conflict with the interests of the Beacon Fund as shareholder of the Select Fund. To avoid the appearance of a conflict of interests in these cases, AmBeacon will vote the Beacon Fund's shares in accordance with the Beacon Fund's Board of Trustees' recommendations in the proxy statement.
AMERICAN BEACON FUNDS
AMERICAN BEACON SELECT FUNDS
PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
Last Amended July 1, 2012
Preface
Proxy voting is an important component of investment management and must be performed in a dutiful and purposeful fashion in order to secure the best long-term interests of shareholders of the American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds (collectively, the "Funds"). Therefore, these Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures (the "Policy") have been adopted by the Funds.
The Funds are managed by American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (the "Manager"). The Manager allocates discrete portions of the American Beacon Funds among sub-advisors, but the Manager may directly manage all or a portion of the assets of certain Funds directly. The Funds' Boards of Trustees have delegated proxy voting authority to the Manager. The Manager has in turn delegated proxy voting authority to each sub-advisor with respect to the sub-advisor's respective portion of the Fund(s) under management, but the Manager has retained the authority to override a proposed proxy voting decision by a sub-advisor. For the securities held in their respective portion of each Fund, the Manager and the sub-advisors make voting decisions pursuant to their own proxy voting policies and procedures, which have been adopted by the applicable Fund and approved by the applicable Fund's Board of Trustees.
Conflicts of Interest
The Board of Trustees seeks to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of Fund shareholders. For certain proxy proposals, the interests of the Manager, the sub-advisors and/or their affiliates may differ from Fund shareholders' interests. To avoid the appearance of impropriety and to fulfill their fiduciary responsibility to shareholders in these circumstances, the Manager and the sub-advisors are required to establish procedures that are reasonably designed to address material conflicts between their interests and those of the Funds.
When a sub-advisor deems that it is conflicted with respect to a voting matter, its policy may call for it to seek voting instructions from the client. The Manager is authorized by the Boards of Trustees to consider any such matters and provide voting instructions to the sub-advisor, unless the Manager has determined that its interests are conflicted with Fund shareholders with respect to the voting matter. In those instances, the Manager will vote in accordance with the recommendation of a third-party proxy voting advisory service.
Each American Beacon Fund has the ability to invest in the shares of any of the American Beacon Select Funds. For example, the American Beacon High Yield Bond Fund may purchase shares of the American Beacon Money Market Select Fund. If the American Beacon Money Market Select Fund issues a proxy for which the American Beacon High Yield Bond Fund is entitled to vote, the Manager's interests regarding the Money Market Fund might appear to conflict with the interests of the shareholders of the High Yield Bond Fund. In these cases, the Manager will vote in accordance with the American Beacon Select Funds Board of Trustees' recommendations in the proxy statement.
If the methods for addressing conflicts of interest, as described above, are deemed by the Manager to be unreasonable due to cost, timing or other factors, then the Manager may decline to vote in those instances.
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Securities on Loan
The Manager shall engage a proxy voting service to notify the Manager before the record date about the occurrence of future shareholder meetings, as feasible. The Manager will determine whether or not to recall shares of the applicable security that are on loan with the intent of the Manager or the sub-advisor, as applicable, voting such shares. The Manager's determination shall be based on factors which may include the nature of the meeting (i.e., annual or special), the percentage of the proxy issuer's outstanding securities on loan, any other information regarding the proxy proposals of which the Manager may be aware, and the loss of securities lending income to a Fund as a result of recalling the shares on loan.
Recordkeeping
The Manager and the sub-advisors shall maintain records of all votes cast on behalf of the Funds. Such documentation will include the firm's proxy voting policies and procedures company reports provided by proxy voting advisory services, additional information gathered by the Manager or sub-advisor that was material to reaching a voting decision, and communications to the Manager regarding any identified conflicts. The Manager and the sub-advisors shall maintain voting records in a manner to facilitate the Funds' production of the Form N-PX filing on an annual basis.
Disclosure
The Manager will coordinate the compilation of the Funds' proxy voting record for each year ended June 30 and file the required information with the SEC via Form N-PX by August 31. The Manager will include a summary of the Policy and/or the proxy voting policies and procedures of the Manager and the sub-advisors, as applicable, in each Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"). In each Fund's annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, the Manager will disclose that a description of the Policy and/or the proxy voting policies and procedures of the Manager and the sub-advisors, as applicable, is a) available upon request, without charge, by toll-free telephone request, b) on the Funds' website (if applicable), and c) on the SEC's website in the SAI. The SAI and shareholder reports will also disclose that the Funds' proxy voting record is available by toll-free telephone request (or on the Funds' website) and on the SEC's website by way of the Form N-PX. Within three business days of receiving a request, the Manager will send a copy of the policy description or voting record by first-class mail.
Manager Oversight
The Manager shall review a sub-advisor's proxy voting policies and procedures for compliance with this Policy and applicable laws and regulations prior to initial delegation of proxy voting authority and on at least an annual basis thereafter.
Board Oversight
On at least an annual basis, the Manager will present a summary of the voting records of the Funds to the Boards of Trustees for their review. The Manager will notify the Boards of Trustees of any material changes to its proxy voting policies and procedures.
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APPENDIX B
SOUND POINT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.
PROXY VOTING POLICY
POLICY REGARDING PROXY VOTING
Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this policy and its related procedures regarding voting proxies for securities held in Client accounts and for which Sound Point has been delegated proxy voting authority ("Client Proxies") is to establish guidelines regarding Client Proxies that are reasonably designed to conform with the requirements of applicable law (this "Policy").
General Policy
Rule 206(4)-6 of the Advisers Act requires a registered investment adviser that exercises proxy voting authority over client securities to: (i) adopt and implement written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the investment adviser votes proxies related to client securities in the best interest of its Clients; (ii) ensure that the written policies and procedures address material conflicts that may arise between the interests of the investment adviser and those of its Clients; (iii) describe its proxy voting procedures to clients, and provide copies of such procedures upon request by such clients; and (iv) disclose to clients how they may obtain information from the investment adviser about how the adviser voted with respect to their securities. Sound Point is committed to implementing policies and procedures that conform to the requirements of the Advisers Act. To that end, it has implemented this Policy to facilitate Sound Point's compliance with Rule 206(4)-6 and to ensure that proxies related to Client Securities are voted (or not voted) in a manner consistent with the best interest of its Clients.
Proxy Voting Policy
Rule 206(4)-6 of the Advisers Act requires a registered investment adviser that exercises its authority to vote Client Proxies to: (i) adopt and implement written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the investment adviser votes Client Proxies in the best interest of its Clients; (ii) ensure that the written policies and procedures address material conflicts that may arise between the interests of the investment adviser and those of its Clients; (iii) describe its proxy voting procedures to clients, and provide copies of such procedures upon request by such clients; and (iv) disclose to clients how they may obtain information from the investment adviser about how the adviser voted their proxies.
Sound Point generally has proxy voting authority over securities held in Client accounts for which it has discretionary investment management responsibility. Proxy voting, however, is not an integral component of Sound Point's investment strategy, which focuses primarily on investments and trading in fixed income, credit and credit-linked securities (collectively referred to herein as "credit positions"). These types of securities do not typically convey voting rights to the holder. To the extent Clients holds equity securities, it will generally be for the purpose of hedging credit positions or for short-term trading strategies. Sound Point's policy with respect to the exercise of its proxy voting authority is to vote proxies only where it believes that the vote is likely to have a material positive economic impact (or to avoid a material negative economic impact) on the value of the underlying credit position (taking into account any related hedges) or the short-term trading strategy employed for the client accounts. If Sound Point does not believe the exercise of a proxy vote right will have a material economic impact on the Client account, Sound Point generally will not exercise its voting authority with respect to a proxy. In addition, Sound Point may elect to not vote a proxy if the cost of voting, or time commitment required to vote a proxy outweighs the expected benefits of voting the proxy.
These policies and procedures do not mandate that Sound Point vote every Client Proxy that it receives. There may be circumstances when refraining from voting a proxy is in a Client's best interest, such as when and if Sound Point determines that the cost of voting the proxy exceeds the expected benefit to the Client. Further, Sound Point will not vote proxies for which a Client has not delegated voting authority to Sound Point. Sound Point shall vote all proxies related to Client Accounts where such account has mandated such practice (e.g. 40 Act Clients).
Proxy Voting Procedures
Procedures
The CCO is responsible for determining whether a particular proxy vote may have a material economic impact on an underlying Client position or trading strategy and, if so, instructing the custodian to act in the manner which the CCO believes will increase the value of the underlying credit position or short-term trading strategy. In make any such determination, the CCO shall consider any potential conflicts of interest which may exist and shall at all times act in the manner in which he believes will further the economic interests of the clients. The CCO shall document the rationale for any decision to vote or not to vote a proxy.
Sound Point may retain a third-party to assist it in coordinating and voting Client Proxies. If so, the CCO will monitor the third-party to assure that all proxies are being properly voted and appropriate records are being retained.
Any employee, officer or director of Sound Point receiving an inquiry directly from a company holding a proxy contest must promptly notify the CCO.
Conflicts of Interest
Sound Point will not put its own interests ahead of a Client's interest at any time, and will resolve any potential conflicts between its interests and those of its Clients in favor of its Clients. The CCO will be primarily responsible for determining whether a conflict of interest exists in connection with any Client Proxy vote. The CCO will presume a conflict of interest to exist whenever Sound Point or any partner, member, affiliate, subsidiary or employee of Sound Point has a personal or business interest in the outcome of a particular matter before shareholders.
Limitations on Proxy Voting
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Sound Point will not be obliged to vote a Client Proxy if Sound Point reasonably determines that the cost of voting such Securities would exceed the expected benefit to the Client.
Disclosure to Clients
Form ADV Disclosure
Sound Point will disclose in Part 2A of its Form ADV that Clients may contact the CCO during regular business hours, via email or telephone, to obtain information on how Sound Point voted such Client's proxies for the past 5 years. The summary of this Policy included in Sound Point's Part 2A of its Form ADV will be updated whenever this Policy is revised. Clients may also receive a copy of this Policy upon their request.
Note that updating the Form ADV with a change to the proxy voting policy outside of the annual update is voluntary. However, Sound Point will need to communicate to the Client any changes to this Policy affecting its fiduciary duty.
Client Requests for Information
Clients and Private Fund Investors may request a copy of this Policy and/or information about how Sound Point has voted securities in their behalf (or, with respect to a Private Fund) account by contacting Sound Point. Sound Point will not disclose proxy votes made on behalf of a Client to other Clients or third parties unless specifically requested, in writing, by the Client. However, to the extent that Sound Point may serve as sub-adviser to another adviser to a client, Sound Point will be deemed to be authorized to provide proxy voting records on such Accounts to such other adviser.
Recordkeeping
In accordance with the recordkeeping requirements of Rule 204-2 of the Advisers Act, Sound Point will, for a period of at least 5 years from the end of the fiscal year during which the record was finalized, maintain or have ready access to the following documents, the first 2 years in an appropriate office of Sound Point:
(i) a copy of this Policy;
(ii) a copy of each proxy statement received by Sound Point regarding Securities held on behalf of its Clients;
(iii) a record of each vote cast by Sound Point on behalf of its Clients;
(iv) a copy of any documents prepared by Sound Point that were material to making a decision how to vote, or that memorialized
the basis for such decision; and
(v) a copy of each written request received from a Client as to how Sound Point voted proxies on its behalf, and a copy of
any written response from Sound Point to any (written or oral) Client request for information on how Sound Point voted proxies
on its behalf.
To fulfill some of these recordkeeping requirements, Sound Point may rely on proxy statements filed on EDGAR and proxy statements and records of proxy votes cast that are maintained with a proxy voting service or other third-party, provided that Sound Point has obtained an undertaking from such third-party to provide a copy of the documents promptly upon request.
Additionally Sound Point shall collect proxy information necessary for the preparation and filing of any required forms, such as Form N-PX.
Sound Point will retain each of the records listed above in accordance with Sound Point's Policy Regarding Recordkeeping .
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APPENDIX C
Ratings Definitions
Below are summaries of the ratings definitions used by some of the rating organizations. Those ratings represent the opinion of the rating organizations as to the credit quality of the issues that they rate. The summaries are based upon publicly available information provided by the rating organizations.
Ratings of Long-Term Obligations and Preferred Stocks — The Funds utilize ratings provided by rating organizations in order to determine eligibility of long-term obligations. The ratings described in this section may also be used for evaluating the credit quality for preferred stocks.
Credit ratings typically evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments, not the market value risk of bonds. The rating organizations may fail to update a credit rating on a timely basis to reflect changes in economic or financial conditions that may affect the market value of the security. For these reasons, credit ratings may not be an accurate indicator of the market value of a bond.
The four highest Moody's ratings for long-term obligations (or issuers thereof) are Aaa, Aa, A and Baa. Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk. Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk. Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk. Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
Moody's ratings of Ba, B, Caa, Ca and C are considered below investment grade. Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk. Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk. Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk. Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest. Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest. Moody's also appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.
The four highest Standard & Poor's ratings for long-term obligations are AAA, AA, A and BBB. An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong. An obligation rated AA differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong. An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong. An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
Standard & Poor's ratings of BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are considered below investment grade and are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions. An obligation rated BB is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor's capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The CC rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor's expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default. An obligation rated C is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher. An obligation rated D is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due unless Standard & Poor's believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation's rating is lowered to D if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.
The four highest ratings for long-term obligations by Fitch Ratings are AAA, AA, A and BBB. Obligations rated AAA are deemed to be of the highest credit quality. AAA ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events. Obligations rated AA are deemed to be of very high credit quality. AA ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events. Obligations rated A are deemed to be of high credit quality. An A rating denotes expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings. Obligations rated BBB are deemed to be of good credit quality. BBB ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business and economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment grade category.
Fitch's ratings of BB, B, CCC, CC, C, RD and D are considered below investment grade or speculative grade. Obligations rated BB are deemed to be speculative. BB ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists which supports the servicing of financial commitments. Obligations rated B are deemed to be highly speculative. B ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently
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being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment. Obligations rated CCC indicate, for issuers and performing obligations, default is a real possibility. Obligations rated CC indicate, for issuers and performing obligations, default of some kind appears probable. Obligations rated C indicate exceptionally high levels of credit risk. Default is imminent or inevitable, or the issuer is in standstill. Conditions that are indicative of a 'C' category rating for an issuer include: (a) the issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation; (b) the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; or (c) Fitch Ratings otherwise believes a condition of 'RD' or 'D' to be imminent or inevitable, including through the formal announcement of a distressed debt exchange. Obligations rated RD indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings' opinion has experienced an uncured payment default on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation but which has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, and which has not otherwise ceased operating. This would include: (a) the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt; (b) the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation; (c) the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; or (d) execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations. Obligations rated D indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings' opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, or which has otherwise cease business. Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a distressed debt exchange. "Imminent" default typically refers to the occasion where a payment default has been intimated by the issuer, and is all but inevitable. This may, for example, be where an issuer has missed a scheduled payment, but (as is typical) has a grace period during which it may cure the payment default. Another alternative would be where an issuer has formally announced a distressed debt exchange, but the date of the exchange still lies several days or weeks in the immediate future. In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agency's opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings, and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuer's financial obligations or local commercial practice.
Ratings of Municipal Obligations — Moody's ratings for short-term investment-grade municipal obligations are designated Municipal Investment Grade (MIG or VMIG in the case of variable rate demand obligations) and are divided into three levels — MIG/VMIG 1, MIG/VMIG 2 and MIG/VMIG 3. Factors used in determination of ratings include liquidity of the borrower and short-term cyclical elements. The MIG/VMIG 1 rating denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing. The MIG/VMIG 2 rating denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group. The MIG/VMIG 3 rating denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established. An SG rating denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
Standard & Poor's uses SP-1, SP-2, and SP-3 to rate short-term municipal obligations. A rating of SP-1 denotes a strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation. A rating of SP-2 denotes a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes. A rating of SP-3 denotes a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
Ratings of Short-Term Obligations — Moody's short-term ratings, designated as P-1, P-2, P-3, or NP, are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations that generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months. The rating P-1 is the highest short-term rating assigned by Moody's and it denotes an issuer (or supporting institution) that has a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations. The rating P-2 denotes an issuer (or supporting institution) that has a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations. The rating P-3 denotes an issuer (or supporting institution) that has an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term policyholder claims and obligations. The rating NP denotes an issuer (or supporting institutions) that does not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
Standard & Poor's short-term ratings are generally assigned to obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days — including commercial paper. A short-term obligation rated A-1 is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor's. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong. A short-term obligation rated A-2 is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory. A short-term obligation rated A-3 exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. A short-term obligation rated B is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. Ratings of B-1, B-2, and B-3 may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the B category. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. A short-term obligation rated C is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. A short-term obligation rated D is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the "D" rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor's believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation's rating is lowered to 'D' if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.
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AMERICAN BEACON FUNDS
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. | Exhibits | ||
(a) | (1) | Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated March 4, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 225, filed June 30, 2015 (“PEA No. 225”) | |
(2) | Certificates of Designation for American Beacon AHL Managed Futures Fund, American Beacon Bahl & Gaynor Small Cap Growth Fund, American Beacon Crescent High Income Fund, American Beacon Global Evolution Frontier Markets Debt Fund, and American Beacon Ionic Absolute Return Fund are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 208, filed December 19, 2014 (“PEA No. 208”) | ||
(3) | Certificate of Designation for American Grosvenor Long/Short Fund, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 231, filed September 30, 2015 (“PEA No. 231”) | ||
(b) | Amended and Restated Bylaws, dated February 18, 2014, are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No.184, filed April 29, 2014 (“PEA No. 184”) | ||
(c) | Rights of holders of the securities being registered are contained in Articles III, VIII, X, XI and XII of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust and Articles III, V, VI and XI of the Registrant’s Bylaws | ||
(d) | (1)(A) | Management Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Select Funds and American Beacon Advisors, Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 228, filed August 28, 2015 (“PEA No. 228”) | |
(1)(B) | Amended Schedule A to Management Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Select Funds and American Beacon Advisors, Inc., dated June 22, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(1)(C) | Management Agreement between American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd. and American Beacon Advisors, Inc., dated July 9, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 203, filed August 19, 2014 (“PEA No. 203”) | ||
(2)(A) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(B)(i) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC, with respect to the American Beacon Flexible Bond Fund, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 |
(2)(B)(ii) | Amendment to Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC, with respect to the American Beacon Flexible Bond Fund, dated May 11, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(B)(iii) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC, with respect to the American Beacon Large Cap Value Fund, American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund, and American Beacon Balanced Fund, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(C) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Calamos Advisors LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(D) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Causeway Capital Management LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(E) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Dreman Value Management LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(F) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Franklin Advisers, Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(G) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(H) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Lazard Asset Management LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(I) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Logan Circle Partners, L.P., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(J) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(K) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and NISA Investment Advisors, L.L.C., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 |
(2)(L) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Pzena Investment Management, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(M) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(N) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(O) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Standish Mellon Asset Management Company LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(P) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Zebra Capital Management, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(Q) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Strategic Income Management, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(R) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Brandes Investment Partners, L.P., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(S) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Massachusetts Financial Services Company, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(T) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(U) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Stephens Investment Management Group, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(V)(i) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Bridgeway Capital Management, Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 228 | ||
(2)(V)(ii) | Form of First Amendment to Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Bridgeway Capital Management, Inc., is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 228 |
(2)(W) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Holland Capital Management LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(X) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and PENN Capital Management Company, Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(Y) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and The London Company of Virginia, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(Z) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Earnest Partners, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(AA) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Acadian Asset Management LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(BB) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Sustainable Growth Advisers, LP, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(CC) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors Inc., and Global Evolution USA, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(DD) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and AHL Partners LLP, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(EE) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Bahl & Gaynor, Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(FF) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Crescent Capital Group LP, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(GG) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd., American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and AHL Partners LLP, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(HH) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Hillcrest Asset Management, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(II) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Ionic Capital Management LLC, dated June 22, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 225 |
(2)(JJ) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Sound Point Capital Management, L.P., dated December 9, 2015 – (filed herewith) | ||
(2)(KK) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and WEDGE Capital Management, L.L.P, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(LL) | Form of Lead Investment Advisory Agreement between American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(MM) | Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., and Basswood Capital Management, LLC, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(NN) | Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., and Impala Asset Management, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(OO) | Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., and Incline Global Management, LLC, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(PP) | Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., and Passport Capital LLC, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(QQ) | Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., and Pine River Capital Management LP, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(RR) | Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., and River Canyon Fund Management LLC, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(SS) | Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., and Tremblant Capital Group, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(2)(TT) | Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Payden & Rygel, dated August 13, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 234, filed October 27, 2015 (“PEA No. 234”) | ||
(e) | (1) | Form of Distribution Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Mileage Funds, American Beacon Select Funds, and Foreside Fund Services, LLC, dated March 31, 2009, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 75, filed May 1, 2009 (“PEA No. 75”) |
(2)(A) | Eleventh Amendment to Schedule I of the Distribution Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Mileage Funds, American Beacon Select Funds, and Foreside Fund Services, LLC, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203 | ||
(f) | Bonus, profit sharing or pension plans – (none) | ||
(g) | (1) | Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated December 1, 1997, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 24, filed February 26, 1998 (“PEA No. 24”) | |
(2) | Amended and Restated Schedule D to the Custodian Agreement, effective as of January 21, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 180, filed February 18, 2014 (“PEA No. 180”) | ||
(h) | (1)(A) | Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated January 1, 1998, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 24 | |
(1)(B) | Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement regarding anti-money laundering procedures, dated September 24, 2002, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 42, filed February 28, 2003 (“PEA No. 42”) | ||
(1)(C) | Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement to replace fee schedule, dated March 26, 2004, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 64, filed March 1, 2007 (“PEA No. 64”) | ||
(1)(D) | Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated September 18, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 206, filed October 17, 2014 (“PEA No. 206”) | ||
(2)(A) | Securities Lending Agency Agreement between the American Beacon Funds and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., dated March 15, 2008, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 97, filed December 30, 2010 (“PEA No. 97”) | ||
(2)(B) | First Amendment to the Securities Lending Agency Agreement, dated May 2, 2008, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 97 | ||
(2)(C) | Second Amendment to the Securities Lending Agency Agreement, dated May 20, 2009, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 97 | ||
(2)(D) | Third Amendment to the Securities Lending Agency Agreement, dated November 3, 2009, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 97 | ||
(3) | Administration Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Select Funds, and American Beacon Advisors, Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 234 |
(4) | Administration Agreement between American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd. and American Beacon Advisors, Inc., dated July 1, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203 | ||
(5)(A) | Administrative Services Agreement among American AAdvantage Funds, American AAdvantage Mileage Funds, AMR Investment Services Trust, AMR Investment Services, Inc., and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated November 29, 1999, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 28, filed March 12, 1999 (“PEA No. 28”) | ||
(5)(B) | Amendment to Administrative Services Agreement among American AAdvantage Funds, American AAdvantage Mileage Funds, AMR Investment Services Trust, AMR Investment Services, Inc. and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated June 30, 2004, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50, filed June 30, 2004 (“PEA No. 50”) | ||
(6)(A) | Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Master Trust, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated March 1, 2005, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 97 | ||
(6)(B) | Amendment to the Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Master Trust, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated December 7, 2010, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 97 | ||
(6)(C) | Amendment to the Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Master Trust, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated February 3, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 129, filed February 2, 2012 (“PEA No. 129”) | ||
(6)(D) | Seventh Amendment to the Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated August 28, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 166, filed September 20, 2013 (“PEA No. 166”) | ||
(6)(E) | Eighth Amendment to the Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated July 7, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203 | ||
(7) | Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds Investor Class, dated March 6, 2009, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 77, filed August 3, 2009 (“PEA No. 77”) | ||
(8) | Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds Advisor Class (formerly known as the AAdvantage Funds Service Class), dated May 1, 2003, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No.45, filed May 1, 2003 (“PEA No. 45”) |
(9)(A) | Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds Retirement Class, dated April 30, 2009, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 75 | ||
(9)(B) | Amendment to Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds Retirement Class, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203 | ||
(10)(A) | Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds Y Class, dated July 24, 2009, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 77 | ||
(10)(B) | Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds Y Class, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203 | ||
(11)(A) | Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds A Class, dated February 16, 2010, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No.84, filed March 16, 2010 (“PEA No. 84”) | ||
(11)(B) | Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds A Class, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203 | ||
(12)(A) | Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds C Class, dated May 25, 2010, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 90, filed June 15, 2010 (“PEA No. 90”) | ||
(12)(B) | Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds C Class, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203 | ||
(13) | Master-Feeder Participation Agreement among Small Cap Index Fund, International Equity Index Fund, Quantitative Master Series Trust, and Princeton Funds Distributor, Inc., dated June 30, 2000, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 32, filed July 7, 2000 (“PEA No. 32”) | ||
(14) | Master-Feeder Participation Agreement among S&P 500 Index Fund, Equity 500 Index Portfolio and SSgA Funds Management, Inc., dated May 1, 2001, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 41, filed October 1, 2002 (“PEA No. 41”) | ||
(15) | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement between American Beacon Funds and American Beacon Advisors, Inc., dated January 31, 2008, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 70, filed February 29, 2008 (“PEA No. 70”) | ||
(16)(A) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon Earnest Partners Emerging Markets Equity Fund, dated August 9, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 164, filed August 27, 2013 | ||
(16)(B) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon Acadian Emerging Markets Managed Volatility Fund, dated August 9, 2013, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 166 |
(16)(C) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon SGA Global Growth Fund, dated August 9, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168, filed October 3, 2013 | ||
(16)(D) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon Global Evolution Frontier Markets Income Fund, dated November 12, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 171, filed November 19, 2013 (“PEA No. 171”) | ||
(16)(E) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated December 19, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 173, filed December 27, 2013 (“PEA No. 173”) | ||
(16)(F) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated February 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 181, filed February 28, 2014 (“PEA No. 181”) | ||
(16)(G) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated March 28, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 185, filed April 29, 2014 | ||
(16)(H) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon AHL Managed Futures Strategy Fund, dated June 5, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203 | ||
(16)(I) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon Bahl & Gaynor Small Cap Growth Fund, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 198, filed July 14, 2014 (“PEA No. 198”) | ||
(16)(J) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon Earnest Partners Emerging Markets Equity Fund, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 194, filed May 28, 2014 (“PEA No. 194”) | ||
(16)(K) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon Crescent Short Duration High Income Fund, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 196, filed July 7, 2014 (“PEA No. 196”) | ||
(16)(L) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated July 1, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203 | ||
(16)(M) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated November 13, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA 208 | ||
(16)(N) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated January 23, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 213, filed February 27, 2015 (“PEA No. 213”) |
(16)(O) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for American Beacon Ionic Strategic Arbitrage Fund, dated June 3, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 225 | ||
(16)(P) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated April 8, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 217, filed April 30, 2015 | ||
(16)(Q) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated April 8, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 219, filed May 29, 2015(“PEA No. 219”) | ||
(16)(R) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund, dated May 15, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(16)(S) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund, dated November 10, 2015 – (filed herewith) | ||
(i) | Opinion and consent of counsel – (filed herewith) | ||
(j) | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – (filed herewith) | ||
(k) | Financial statements omitted from prospectus – (none) | ||
(l) | Letter of investment intent, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 23, filed December 18, 1997 (“PEA No. 23”) | ||
(m) | (1) | Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the Advisor Class (formerly known as the Service Class), is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 45 | |
(2)(A) | Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the Retirement Class, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 77 | ||
(2)(B) | Amendment to Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the Retirement Class, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203 | ||
(3)(A) | Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the A Class, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 filed May 17, 2010 | ||
(3)(B) | Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the A Class, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203 | ||
(4)(A) | Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the C Class, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 90 | ||
(4)(B) | Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the C Class, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203 |
(n) | Amended and Restated Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3, dated March 9, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 103, filed March 18, 2011 (“PEA No. 103”) | ||
(p) | (1) | Code of Ethics of American Beacon Advisors, Inc., American Beacon Funds, and American Beacon Select Funds, dated February 18, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 181 | |
(2) | Code of Ethics of State Street Master Funds, dated April 1, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 158, filed April 30, 2013 (“PEA No. 158”) | ||
(3) | Code of Ethics of Quantitative Master Series LLC, dated March 22, 2013, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 158 | ||
(4) | Code of Ethics of Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc., dated December 31, 2010, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100, filed March 1, 2011 (“PEA No. 100”) | ||
(5) | Code of Ethics of Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC, dated February 2014, is incorporated be reference to PEA No. 194 | ||
(6) | Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policy of Calamos Advisors LLC, dated March 17, 2009, is incorporated be reference to PEA No. 97 | ||
(7) | Code of Ethics of Causeway Capital Management LLC, dated April 25, 2005 and revised August 10, 2010, is incorporated be reference to PEA No. 97 | ||
(8) | Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policy of Dreman Value Management LLC, February 24, 2010, is incorporated be reference to PEA No. 97 | ||
(9) | Code of Ethics of Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management, LLC, dated December 2013, is incorporated be reference to PEA No. 181 | ||
(10) | Code of Ethics and Personal Investment Policy of Lazard Asset Management LLC, dated January 2012, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 148, filed October 26, 2012 (“PEA No. 148”) | ||
(11) | Code of Ethics and Personal Trading Guidelines of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., effective September 16, 2013, is incorporated be reference to PEA No. 171 | ||
(12) | Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct of NISA Investment Advisors, L.L.C., dated February 2014, is incorporated be reference to PEA No. 194 | ||
(13) | Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of Pzena Investment Management, LLC, revised January 2009, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 73, filed February 27, 2009 (“PEA No. 73”) | ||
(14) | Code of Ethics and Policy Statement on Insider Trading of Franklin Templeton, parent company of Franklin Advisers, Inc. and Templeton Investments Counsel, LLC, dated May 2013, is incorporated be reference to PEA No. 171 |
(15) | Code of Conduct and Personal Securities Trading Policy of The Bank of New York Mellon, parent company of The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC and Standish Mellon Asset Management LLC, dated March 2012, is incorporated be reference to PEA No. 153 | ||
(16) | Code of Ethics of Zebra Capital Management, LLC, dated November 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 136, filed March 15, 2012 (“PEA No. 136”) | ||
(17) | Code of Ethics for Strategic Income Management, LLC, dated January 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 219 | ||
(18) | Code of Ethics of Massachusetts Financial Services Co., dated September 19, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 213 | ||
(19) | Code of Ethics of Brandes Investment Partners, L.P., dated August 15, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113, filed July 1, 2011 (“PEA No. 113”) | ||
(20) | Code of Ethics of Fortress Investment Group LLC (on behalf of Logan Circle Partners, L.P.), dated January 2012, is incorporated be reference to PEA No. 136 | ||
(21) | Code of Ethics of Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (PIMCO), dated May 2009, as revised January 2015, is incorporated by reference to (“PEA No. 219”) | ||
(22) | Code of Ethics for Stephens Investment Management Group, LLC, dated April 2012, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 153 | ||
(23) | Code of Ethics for Bridgeway Capital Management, Inc., dated June 23, 2011, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 129 | ||
(24) | Code of Ethics and Conduct for Holland Capital Management LLC, dated February 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 194 | ||
(25) | Code of Ethics for PENN Capital Management Company, Inc., dated February 21, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 131, filed February 23, 2012 (“PEA No. 131”) | ||
(26) | Code of Ethics for The London Company of Virginia, LLC, dated April 2, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145, filed May 25, 2012 | ||
(27) | Code of Ethics for Earnest Partners, dated August 4, 2008, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 161, filed June 14, 2013 (“PEA No. 161”) | ||
(28) | Code of Ethics for Sustainable Growth Advisers, LP, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 162, filed July 11, 2013 | ||
(29) | Code of Ethics for Acadian Asset Management LLC, dated February 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 219 |
(30) | Code of Ethics for Global Evolution USA, LLC, dated January 1, 2013, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 161 | ||
(31) | Code of Ethics for AHL Partners LLP, revised December 2013, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203 | ||
(32) | Code of Ethics for Bahl & Gaynor, Inc., amended 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 189, filed May 1, 2014 | ||
(33) | Code of Ethics for Crescent Capital Group LP, dated May 2011, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 196 | ||
(34) | Code of Ethics for Hillcrest Asset Management, LLC, dated July 8, 2014 is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 208 | ||
(35) | Code of Ethics for Ionic Capital Management LLC, dated May 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 214, filed March 18, 2015 | ||
(36) | Code of Ethics for Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., dated June 27, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(37) | Code of Ethics for Basswood Capital Management, LLC, dated August 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(38) | Code of Ethics for Impala Asset Management, dated November 14, 2013, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(39) | Code of Ethics for Incline Global Management, LLC, dated October 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(40) |
Code of Ethics for Passport Capital LLC, dated January 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 |
||
(41) | Code of Ethics for Pine River Capital Management LP, dated April 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(42) | Code of Ethics for River Canyon Fund Management LLC, dated August 25, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(43) | Code of Ethics for Tremblant Capital Group, dated July 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231 | ||
(44) | Code of Ethics for Sound Point Capital Management, L.P., dated August 2014 – (filed herewith) |
Other Exhibits
Powers of Attorney for Trustees of American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds, dated June 2, 2015 – (filed herewith)
Item 29. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant
None. |
Item 30. Indemnification
Article XI of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust provides that:
Limitation of Liability
Section 1 . Provided they have exercised reasonable care and have acted under the reasonable belief that their actions are in the best interest of the Trust, the Trustees shall not be responsible for or liable in any event for neglect or wrongdoing of them or any officer, agent, employee or investment adviser of the Trust, but nothing contained herein shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Indemnification
Section 2 .
(a) | Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in paragraph (b) below: |
(i) every person who is, or has been, a Trustee or officer of the Trust (hereinafter referred to as "Covered Person") shall be indemnified by the appropriate portfolios to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Trustee or officer and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof;
(ii) the words "claim," "action," "suit," or "proceeding" shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal or other, including appeals), actual or threatened while in office or thereafter, and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall include, without limitation, attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
(b) | No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person: |
(i) who shall have been adjudicated by a court or body before which the proceeding was brought (A) to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office or (B) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust; or
(ii) in the event of a settlement, unless there has been a determination that such Trustee or officer did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office (A) by the court or other body approving the settlement; (B) by at least a majority of those Trustees who are neither interested persons of the Trust nor are parties to the matter based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); or (C) by written opinion of independent legal counsel based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); provided, however, that any Shareholder may, by appropriate legal proceedings, challenge any such determination by the Trustees, or by independent counsel.
(c) The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such Trustee or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel, other than Trustees and officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
(d) Expenses in connection with the preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit, or proceeding of the character described in paragraph (a) of this Section 2 may be paid by the applicable Portfolio from time to time prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person that such amount will be paid over by him to the Trust if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 2; provided, however, that:
(i) such Covered Person shall have provided appropriate security for such undertaking;
(ii) the Trust is insured against losses arising out of any such advance payments; or
(iii) either a majority of the Trustees who are neither interested persons of the Trust nor parties to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a trial-type inquiry or full investigation), that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person will be found entitled to indemnification under this Section 2.
According to Article XII, Section 1 of the Declaration of Trust, the Trust is a trust, not a partnership. Trustees are not liable personally to any person extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust, a particular Portfolio or the Trustees. A Trustee, however, is not protected from liability due to willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
Article XII, Section 2 provides that, subject to the provisions of Section 1 of Article XII and to Article XI, the Trustees are not liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law, or for any act or omission in accordance with advice of counsel or other experts or for failing to follow such advice.
Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Management Agreement provides that:
8. Limitation of Liability of the Manager . The Manager shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a Trust or any Fund in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relate except a loss resulting from the willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this Agreement. Any person, even though also an officer, partner, employee, or agent of the Manager, who may be or become an officer, Board member, employee or agent of a Trust shall be deemed, when rendering services to a Trust or acting in any business of a Trust, to be rendering such services to or acting solely for a Trust and not as an officer, partner, employee, or agent or one under the control or direction of the Manager even though paid by it.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Acadian Asset Management LLC provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with AHL Partners LLP provides, in relevant part, that:
9. Liability . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders, the Manager or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, the Manager, any affiliated person within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Manager, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Manager or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities or commodities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Trust which may be based upon any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of, the Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement, relating to its trading activities or information provided to the Manager regarding the Adviser, by the Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Adviser. The U.S. federal and state securities laws impose liabilities on persons who act in good faith, and therefore, nothing in this Agreement is intended to limit the obligations of the Adviser under such laws.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Bahl & Gaynor, Inc. provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, the Manager, any affiliated person within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Manager, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Manager or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Trust which may be based upon any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of, the Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Adviser. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Straus, Inc. provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 16 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Basswood Capital Management, LLC provides that:
16. Liability and Indemnification by Parties .
A. | The Underlying Adviser shall have no liability to the Manager, Lead Adviser, the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Underlying Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Trust, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Underlying Adviser’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Underlying Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Underlying Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Underlying Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust by the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
B. | The Lead Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Lead Adviser’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Lead Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Lead Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Lead Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Lead Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by the Lead Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Lead Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
C. | The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Manager’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Manager or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Manager or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Manager or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was not made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager by the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
D. | A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any Claim for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the Claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any Claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any Claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for Claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights of the Indemnified Party. |
E. | No party will be liable to another party for consequential, special or punitive damages under any provision of this Agreement. |
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Brandes Investment Partners, L.P. provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any other third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 11 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC provides that:
11. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Bridgeway Capital Management, Inc. provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders, the Manager or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Manager shall indemnify the Adviser, its officers, directors and employees, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, controls the Adviser, for any liability and expenses, including without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which may be sustained as a result of the Manager’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Calamos Advisors LLC provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . Adviser will not be liable for any loss suffered by reason of any investment, decision, recommendation, or other action taken or omitted in what Adviser in good faith believes to be the proper performance of its duties hereunder. No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Causeway Capital Management LLC provides that:
8. Liability of Adviser . No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Crescent Capital Group LP provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . Neither the Adviser nor any director, officer or employee of the Adviser performing services for the Trust in connection with the Adviser’s discharge of its obligations hereunder shall have liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, the Manager, any affiliated person within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Manager, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Manager or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Trust which may be based upon any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of, the Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Adviser. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Dreman Value Management LLC provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Earnest Partners, LLC provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Franklin Advisers, Inc. provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Global Evolution USA, LLC provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraphs 10 and 11 of the Lead Investment Advisory Agreement with Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P . provide that:
10. Liability of the Lead Adviser . In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations or duties hereunder on the part of the Lead Adviser, the Lead Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, the Funds or to any shareholder of the Funds or any third party for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any investment by a Fund.
11. Indemnification
A. | The Lead Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Manager, any affiliated person of the Manager within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Manager or Trust, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) (collectively, “Claims”), to which the Manager or Trust or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Lead Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement provided, however, that the Lead Adviser’s obligation under this Section 11A shall be reduced to the extent that such Claim is caused by or is otherwise directly related to (i) any material breach by the Manager of its representations or warranties made herein, (ii) any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the Manager, its affiliated person or controlling person in the performance of any of its or their duties or obligations hereunder, or (iii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the omission to state therein a material fact known to the Manager that was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager or the Trust by the Lead Adviser. The indemnification in this Section 11A shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
B. | The Manager shall indemnify and hold harmless the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) (collectively, “Claims”), to which the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Manager’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement provided, however, that the Manager’s obligation under this Section 11B shall be reduced to the extent that such Claim is caused by or is otherwise directly related to (i) any material breach by the Lead Adviser of its representations or warranties made herein, (ii) any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the Lead Adviser, its affiliated person or controlling person in the performance of any of its or their duties or obligations hereunder, or (iii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the omission to state therein a material fact known to the Lead Adviser that was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Lead Adviser by the Manager. The indemnification in this Section 11B shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
C. | A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any Claim for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the Claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any Claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any Claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for Claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights of the Indemnified Party. |
D. | No party will be liable to another party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement. |
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Hillcrest Asset Management, LLC provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, the Manager, any affiliated person within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Manager, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Manager or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Trust which may be based upon any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of, the Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Adviser. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Holland Capital Management LLC provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management, LLC provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 14 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Impala Asset Management provides that:
14. Liability and Indemnification by Parties .
A. | The Underlying Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Underlying Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Trust, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Underlying Adviser’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Underlying Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Underlying Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Underlying Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust by the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
B. | The Lead Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Lead Adviser’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Lead Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Lead Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Lead Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Lead Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by the Lead Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Lead Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
C. | The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Manager’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Manager or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Manager or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Manager or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was not made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager by the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
D. | A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any Claim for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the Claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any Claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any Claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for Claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights of the Indemnified Party. |
E. | No party will be liable to another party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement. |
Numbered Paragraph 14 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Incline Global Management, LLC provides that:
14. Liability and Indemnification by Parties .
A. | The Underlying Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Underlying Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Trust, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Underlying Adviser’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Underlying Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Underlying Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Underlying Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust by the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Underlying Adviser for use therein (and not superseded by revisions provided to Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust prior to the publication of the relevant document or communication). The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
B. | The Lead Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Lead Adviser’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Lead Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Lead Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Lead Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Lead Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by the Lead Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Lead Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
C. | The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Manager’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Manager or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Manager or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Manager or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was not made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager by the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
D. | A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any Claim for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the Claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any Claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any Claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for Claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights of the Indemnified Party. |
E. | No party will be liable to another party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement. |
Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Lazard Asset Management LLC provides that:
8. Liability of Adviser . No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Logan Circle Partners, L.P. provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Massachusetts Financial Services Co. provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any other third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 7 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. provides that:
7. (a) Standard of Care . Except as may otherwise be provided by applicable laws and regulations, neither the Adviser nor any of its affiliates or its or their officers, directors, employees or agents shall be subject to any liability to the Manager, the Trust, the Portfolios or any shareholder of a Portfolio or the Trust for any error of judgment or any loss arising out of any investment or other act or omission in the course of, connected with, or arising out of any service to be rendered under this Agreement, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser’s duties hereunder or by reason of the Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. The Manager acknowledges and agrees that the Adviser makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, that any level of performance or investment results will be achieved by the Portfolios or the Assets designated by the Manager to the Adviser, or that the Portfolios or such Assets will perform comparably with any standard or index, including other clients of the Adviser, whether public or private.
(b) Indemnification . The Manager shall hold harmless and indemnify the Adviser for any and all claims, losses, liabilities, costs, damages or expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) (“Losses”) incurred by the Adviser in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall require that the Adviser be indemnified for Losses resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser’s duties hereunder or by reason of the Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder.
The Adviser shall hold harmless and indemnify the Manager for any and all Losses incurred by the Manager that arise from the Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties hereunder or by reason of the Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall require that the Manager be indemnified for Losses resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Manager’s duties hereunder or by reason of the Manager’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder.
Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with NISA Investment Advisors, L.L.C. provides that:
8. Liability of Adviser . Adviser will not be liable for any loss suffered by reason of any investment, decision, recommendation, or other action taken or omitted in what Adviser in good faith believes to be the proper performance of its duties hereunder. No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Pacific Investment Management Company LLC provides that:
8. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 17 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Passport Capital LLC provides that:
14. Liability and Indemnification by Parties .
A. | Except as otherwise provided within this Agreement, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of Underlying Adviser’s obligations and duties hereunder (“Disabling Conduct”) on the part of Underlying Adviser, none of Underlying Adviser, its affiliated persons within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, officers, directors, members, agents, employees or controlling persons shall be subject to liability to the Manager, the Lead Adviser, the Trust or any third party, including shareholders, for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any security by the Funds. |
B. | The Underlying Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, their officers, directors, members, agents, employees and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Trust, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Disabling Conduct of the Underlying Adviser or its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Underlying Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Underlying Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact pertaining thereto which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust by the Underlying Adviser for use therein. The Underlying Adviser shall have no liability or responsibility with respect to other disclosures or statements or omissions. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
C. | The Lead Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, its officers, directors, members, agents, employees and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Disabling Conduct of the Lead Adviser or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Lead Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Lead Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by the Lead Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Lead Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
D. | The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, its officers, directors, members, agents, employees and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Investment Company Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of this agreement, except to the extent such claims are determined by a non-appealable final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to result from the Underlying Adviser’s Disabling Conduct or the matters described in Section 17(B). The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
E. | A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any Claim for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the Claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any Claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any Claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for Claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights or reputation of the Indemnified Party. |
F. | No party will be liable to another party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement. |
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Payden & Rygel provides that:
8. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, the Manager, any affiliated person within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Manager, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Manager or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Trust which may be based upon any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of, the Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Adviser. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. provides that:
8. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 15 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Pine River Capital Management LP provides that:
15. Liability and Indemnification by Parties .
A. | Neither the Underlying Adviser, nor any of its directors, officers, members, partners, employees, supervised persons, or affiliated persons (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act), nor any person who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underling Adviser (collectively, the “Underlying Adviser Affiliates”) shall have any liability to the Trust, its shareholders, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, any person who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Trust, the Manager or the Lead Adviser or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, that the Underlying Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Trust, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses, the “Losses”), to which the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Underlying Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Underlying Adviser or by any of the Underlying Adviser Affiliates acting on behalf of the Underlying Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Underlying Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust by the Underlying Adviser or any Underlying Adviser Affiliate for use therein and not superseded by revisions furnished to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust by the Underlying Adviser or any Underlying Adviser Affiliate prior to the publication of the relevant document or communication. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
B. | The Lead Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser and any of the Underlying Adviser Affiliates, against any and all Losses to which the Underlying Adviser or an Underlying Adviser Affiliate may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Lead Adviser’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Lead Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement or the Lead Adviser Management Agreement by the Lead Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, partners, employees, supervised persons, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Lead Adviser; (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Lead Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by the Lead Adviser or any of its directors, officers, partners, employees, supervised persons, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Lead Adviser for use therein; or (iii) the conduct of any other underlying adviser to a Fund. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
C. | The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser and any of the Underlying Adviser Affiliates, against any and all Losses to which the Underlying Adviser or an Underlying Adviser Affiliate may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Manager’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Manager’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement or the Investment Management Agreement by the Manager or by any of its directors, officers, employees, supervised persons, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Manager; (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Manager or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was not made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager by the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent, supervised person or employee of the Lead Adviser or any Underlying Adviser Affiliate for use therein, or (iii) the conduct of any other underlying adviser to a Fund. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
D. | A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any claim for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights of the Indemnified Party. |
E. | No party will be liable to another party for lost profits under any provision of this Agreement. |
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Pzena Investment Management, LLC provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in its reasonable judgment, in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Agreement, or in accordance with (or in the absence of) specific directions or instructions from the Manager. No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 14 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with River Canyon Fund Management LLC provides that:
14. Liability and Indemnification by Parties .
A. | The Underlying Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party for any error of judgment or any loss arising out of any investment or other act or omission in the course of, connected with, or arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Underlying Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Trust, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Underlying Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Underlying Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Underlying Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Underlying Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust by the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
B. | The Lead Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Lead Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Lead Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Lead Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Lead Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Lead Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by the Lead Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Lead Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
C. | The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Manager’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Manager’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Manager or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Manager or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Manager or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was not made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager by the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
D. | A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any Claim for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the Claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any Claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any Claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for Claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights of the Indemnified Party. |
E. | No party will be liable to another party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement. |
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Sound Point Capital Management, L.P. provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, the Manager, any affiliated person within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Manager, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Manager or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Trust which may be based upon any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of, the Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Adviser. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Standish Mellon Asset Management LLC provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Manager shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Adviser for (a) any action taken, omitted or suffered by Adviser in connection with this Agreement or the services provided hereunder, unless such act or omission shall have resulted from Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence; or (b) any loss arising from Adviser’s adherence to Manager’s instructions. Adviser shall in no event be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, punitive, exemplary or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Stephens Investment Management Group, LLC provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Strategic Income Management, LLC provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any other third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Sustainable Growth Advisers, LP provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC provides that:
8. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC provides that:
8. Liability of Adviser . No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with The London Company of Virginia, LLC provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 15 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Tremblant Capital LP provides that:
15. Liability and Indemnification by Parties .
A. | The Underlying Adviser, and its officers, members, partners and employees, shall have no liability to the Manager, the Lead Adviser, the Fund, Fund shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, except that the Underlying Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, or any controlling person within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of the Fund, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Fund, the Manager, the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Underlying Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Underlying Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Underlying Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus and/or proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Allocated Portion or the Underlying Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact that was known, or should have been known, to the Underlying Adviser which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Fund by the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
B. | The Lead Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, or any controlling person within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), incurred by the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person arising out of (i) the Lead Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Lead Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Lead Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, and/or proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Fund or the Lead Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by the Lead Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Lead Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
C. | The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, or any controlling person, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, of the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), incurred by the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person arising out of (i) the Manager’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Manager’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Manager or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Manager or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, and/or proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Fund or the Manager or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by Manager or any director, officer, agent or employee of the Manager for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
D. | A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any claim for indemnification (“Claim”) for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the Claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any Claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any Claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for Claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights of the Indemnified Party. |
E. | No party will be liable to another party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement. |
Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Zebra Capital Management, LLC provides that:
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any other third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
Numbered Paragraph 11 of the Administration Agreement provides that:
11. Limitation of Liability of American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (“ABA”) . ABA shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a Trust or any Series in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relate except a loss resulting from the willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this Agreement. Any person, even though also an officer, partner, employee, or agent of ABA, who may be or become an officer, Board member, employee or agent of a Trust shall be deemed, when rendering services to any Trust or acting in any business of a Trust, to be rendering such services to or acting solely for the Trust and not as an officer, partner, employee, or agent or one under the control or direction of ABA even though paid by it.
Section 4.2 of the Distribution Agreement provides that:
(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Foreside shall not be responsible for, and the Clients shall on behalf of each applicable Fund or Class thereof, indemnify and hold harmless Foreside, its employees, directors, officers and managers and any person who controls Foreside within the meaning of section 15 of the Securities Act or section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (for purposes of this Section 4.2(a), "Foreside Indemnitees") from and against, any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees, payments, liabilities and other expenses of every nature and character (including, but not limited to, direct and indirect reasonable reprocessing costs) arising out of or attributable to all and any of the following (for purposes of this Section 4.2(a), a "Foreside Claim"):
(i) any action (or omission to act) of Foreside or its agents taken in connection with this Agreement; provided, that such action (or omission to act) is taken in good faith and without willful misfeasance, negligence or reckless disregard by Foreside of its duties and obligations under this Agreement;
(ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or arising out of or based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Clients in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or exhibits to the Registration Statement by or on behalf of Foreside;
(iii) any material breach of the Clients' agreements, representations, warranties, and covenants in Sections 2.9 and 5.2 of this Agreement; or
(iv) the reliance on or use by Foreside or its agents or subcontractors of information, records, documents or services which have been prepared, maintained or performed by the Clients or any agent of the Clients, including but not limited to any Predecessor Records provided pursuant to Section 2.9(b).
(b) Foreside will indemnify, defend and hold the Clients and their several officers and members of their Governing Bodies and any person who controls the Clients within the meaning of section 15 of the Securities Act or section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (collectively, the "Clients Indemnitees" and, with the Foreside Indemnitees, an "Indemnitee"), free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, suits, judgments, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees and other expenses of every nature and character (including the cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands, actions, suits or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith), but only to the extent that such claims, demands, actions, suits, judgments, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees and other expenses result from, arise out of or are based upon all and any of the following (for purposes of this Section 4.2(c), a "Clients Claim" and, with a Foreside Claim, a "Claim"):
(i) any material action (or omission to act) of Foreside or its agents taken in connection with this Agreement, provided that such action (or omission to act) is not taken in good faith and with willful misfeasance, negligence or reckless disregard by Foreside of its duties and obligations under this Agreement.
(ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Clients in writing in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement by or on behalf of Foreside; or
(iii) any material breach of Foreside's agreements, representations, warranties and covenants set forth in Section 2.4 and 5.1 hereof
(d) The Clients or Foreside (for purpose of this Section 4.2(d), an "Indemnifying Party") may assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any Foreside Claim or Clients Claim, respectively, and may retain counsel chosen by the Indemnifying Party and approved by the other Party, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Indemnifying Party shall advise the other Party that it will assume the defense of the suit and retain counsel within ten (10) days of receipt of the notice of the claim. If the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any such suit and retains counsel, the other Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel that they retain. If the Indemnifying Party does not assume the defense of any such suit, or if other Party does not approve of counsel chosen by the Indemnifying Party, or if the other Party has been advised that it may have available defenses or claims that are not available to or conflict with those available to the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party will reimburse any Indemnitee named as defendant in such suit for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel that the Indemnitee retains. An Indemnitee shall not settle or confess any claim without the prior written consent of the applicable Client, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(e) An Indemnifying Party's obligation to provide indemnification under this section is conditioned upon the Indemnifying Party receiving notice of any action brought against an Indemnitee within twenty (20) days after the summons or other first legal process is served. Such notice shall refer to the Person or Persons against whom the action is brought. The failure to provide such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of any liability that it may have to any Indemnitee except to the extent that the ability of the party entitled to such notice to defend such action has been materially adversely affected by the failure to provide notice.
(f) The provisions of this section and the parties' representations and warranties in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Indemnitee and shall survive the sale and redemption of any Shares made pursuant to subscriptions obtained by Foreside. The indemnification provisions of this section will inure exclusively to the benefit of each person that may be an Indemnitee at any time and their respective successors and assigns (it being intended that such persons be deemed to be third party beneficiaries under this Agreement).
Section 4.3 of the Distribution Agreement provides that:
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, except as specifically set forth below:
(a) Neither Party shall be liable for losses, delays, failure, errors, interruption or loss of data occurring directly or indirectly by reason of circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; action or inaction of civil or military authority; public enemy; war; terrorism; riot; fire; flood; sabotage; epidemics; labor disputes; civil commotion; interruption, loss or malfunction of utilities, transportation, computer or communications capabilities; insurrection; or elements of nature;
(b) Neither Party shall be liable for any consequential, special or indirect losses or damages suffered by the other Party, whether or not the likelihood of such losses or damages was known by the Party;
(c) No affiliate, director, officer, employee, manager, shareholder, partner, agent, counsel or consultant of either Party shall be liable at law or in equity for the obligations of such Party under this Agreement or for any damages suffered by the other Party related to this Agreement;
(d) Except as set forth in Section 4.2(f), there are no third party beneficiaries of this Agreement;
(e) Each Party shall have a duty to mitigate damages for which the other Party may become responsible;
(f) The assets and liabilities of each Fund are separate and distinct from the assets and liabilities of each other Fund, and no Fund shall be liable or shall be charged for any debt, obligation or liability of any other Fund, whether arising under this Agreement or otherwise; and in asserting any rights or claims under this Agreement, Foreside shall look only to the assets and property of the Fund to which Foreside's rights or claims relate in settlement of such rights or claims; and
(g) Each Party agrees promptly to notify the other party of the commencement of any litigation or proceeding of which it becomes aware arising out of or in any way connected with the issuance or sale of Shares.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Supplemental Limited Indemnification from the Administrator
Each of the Trustees of the Trust has entered into an arrangement with the Trust’s Administrator, whereby she or he may be indemnified by the Administrator for liability arising from a failure of the Administrator to carry out its duties under the Administration Agreement with the Trust and for certain securities laws claims. The arrangement is principally designed to supplement the indemnification afforded under the Trust’s Declaration of Trust as well as liability coverage provided by insurance policies. The arrangement is limited to civil and administrative claims.
Item 31.
I. Business and Other Connections of Investment Manager
American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (the “Manager”) offers investment management and administrative services to the Registrant. It acts in the same capacity to other investment companies, including those listed below.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of American Beacon Advisors, Inc. is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name;
Current Position with American Beacon
Advisors, Inc. |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Sonia L. Bates; Asst. Treasurer, Dir. Tax & Financial Reporting | Asst. Treasurer, American Beacon Funds Complex; Asst. Treasurer, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc.; Asst. Treasurer, Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc.; Asst. Treasurer, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C.; Asst. Treasurer, Astro AB Borrower, Inc. | |
Rosemary K. Behan; Secretary | Secretary, American Beacon Funds Complex; Secretary, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc.; Secretary, Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc.; Secretary, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C.; Secretary, American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd.; Secretary, Astro AB Borrower, Inc. | |
Christopher L. Collins; Director
|
Manager; APEM, L.L.C.; Director; ABA, Inc.; President and Director; Astro AB Borrower, Inc.; President and Director; Astro AB Acquisition, Inc.; President and Director; Astro AB Topco, Inc.; Vice President and Director; Astro AB Holdings, LLC. | |
Stephen C. Dutton; Director
|
Manager; APEM, L.L.C.; Vice President & Treasurer and Director; Astro AB Borrower, Inc., Vice President & Treasurer and Director; Astro AB Acquisition, Inc., Vice President & Treasurer and Director; Astro AB Topco, Inc., Vice President and Director; Astro AB Holdings, LLC. | |
Melinda G. Heika; Treasurer | Treasurer, American Beacon Funds Complex; Treasurer, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc.; Treasurer, Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc.; Treasurer, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C.; Director and Treasurer, American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd.; Treasurer, Astro AB Borrower, Inc. | |
Takashi B. Moriuchi; Director
|
Manager; APEM, L.L.C.; Director; Astro AB Borrower, Inc., Director; Astro AB Acquisition, Inc., Director; Astro AB Topco, Inc., Director; Astro AB Holdings, LLC. | |
Gene L. Needles, Jr.; Director, President and Chief Executive Officer | President, American Beacon Funds Complex; Director, President, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc.; President, Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc.; Manager, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C.; President, American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd.; Director, Astro AB Borrower, Inc.; Director, Astro AB Acquisition, Inc.; Director, Astro AB Astro Topco, Inc., President & CEO, Astro AB Holdings, LLC. | |
William F. Quinn; Executive Vice President | Chairman & Director, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc.; Chairman & Director, Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc.; Manager, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C.; Director, American Airlines Federal Credit Union; Director, Hicks Acquisition II, Inc.; Independent Trustee, National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust | |
Jeffrey K. Ringdahl, Chief Operating Officer | Senior Vice President, American Beacon Funds Complex; Senior Vice President, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc.; Senior Vice President, Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc.; Vice President, American Private Equity Management; Director and Vice President, American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd.; Director, Astro AB Borrower, Inc.; Director, Astro AB Acquisition, Inc.; Director, Astro AB Astro Topco, Inc., Chief Operating Officer, Astro AB Holdings, LLC. |
The principal address of the Manager, the American Beacon Funds, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C., and Astro AB Holdings, LLC, and Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc. is 220 East Las Colinas Blvd. , Suite 1200 , Irving, Texas 75039.
II. Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisers
The investment advisers listed below provide investment advisory services to the Trust.
American Beacon Advisors, Inc. , 220 East Las Colinas Blvd. , Suite 1200 , Irving, Texas 75039.
Acadian Asset Management LLC (“Acadian”) is an investment sub-adviser for the American Beacon Acadian Emerging Markets Managed Volatility Fund. The principal address of Acadian is 260 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Acadian is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Acadian |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Laurent de Greef, Member of Board of Managers | None | |
John Chisholm, Executive Vice President, CIO, Member of Board of Managers | Director, Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd | |
Churchill Franklin, CEO, Member of Board of Managers | Director, Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd; Director, Acadian Cayman Limited G.P. | |
Ronald Frashure, Chairman of Board of Managers | Director, Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd; Director, Acadian Cayman Limited G.P. | |
Mark Minichiello, Executive Vice President, COO, Treasurer, Secretary, Member of Board of Managers | Director, Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd; Director, Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd; Director, Acadian Asset Management (Japan) | |
Brendan Bradley, Senior Vice President, Director, Portfolio Management, Member of Board of Managers | None | |
Ross Dowd, Executive Vice President, Head of Client Service, Member of Board of Managers | Director, Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd; Director, Acadian Cayman Limited G.P.; Director, Acadian Asset Management (Australia) Ltd.; Director, Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd; Director, Acadian Asset Management (Japan) | |
Mauricio Karchmer, Senior Vice President, Member of Board of Managers | None | |
Theodore Noon, Senior Vice President, Member of Board of Managers | None | |
Linda Gibson, Member of Board of Managers | Executive Vice President and Head of Global Distribution – OM Asset Management PLC (a public company traded on the NYSE); Director, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Distribution – OMAM Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (US) Holdings Inc.) (a holding company); Director, Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment advisor); Director, Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC (an investment advisor); Director, OMAM (HFL) Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (HFL) Inc.) (a holding company for Heitman affiliated financial services firms); Director, OMAM International Ltd. (f/k/a Old Mutual Asset Management International, Ltd.) (an investment advisor | |
Christopher Hadley, Member of Board of Managers | Executive Vice President and Chief Talent Officer – OM Asset Management PLC (a public company traded on the NYSE); Executive Vice President and Chief Talent Officer – OMAM Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (US) Holdings Inc.) (a holding company); Director, Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment advisor) | |
Aidan Riordan, Member of Board of Managers | Executive Vice President, Head of Affiliate Management - OM Asset Management PLC (a public company traded on the NYSE); Executive Vice President, Head of Affiliate Management - OMAM Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (US) Holdings Inc.) (a holding company); Director, Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment advisor); Director, Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC (an investment advisor); Director, The Campbell Group, Inc. (a holding company for The Campbell Group LLC); Director, Copper Rock Capital Partners LLC (an investment advisor); Director, OMAM (HFL) Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (HFL) Inc. (a holding company for Heitman affiliated financial services firms); Director, Investment Counselors of Maryland, LLC (an investment advisor); Director, Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC (an investment advisor) | |
Stephen Belgard, Member of Board of Managers | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - OM Asset Management PLC (a public company traded on the NYSE); Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - OMAM Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (US) Holdings Inc.) (a holding company); Director, Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment advisor); Director, OMAM International Ltd. (f/k/a Old Mutual Asset Management International, Ltd.) (an investment advisor) |
AHL Partners LLP (“AHL”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon AHL Managed Futures Strategy Fund. The principal address of AHL is 2 Swan Lane, London, United Kingdom EC4R 3AD. Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 167882), and is incorporated herein by reference.
Bahl & Gaynor, Inc. (“Bahl & Gaynor”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Bahl & Gaynor Small Cap Growth Fund. The principal address of Bahl & Gaynor is 212 East Third Street, Suite 200 Cincinnati, OH 45202. Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 106139), and is incorporated herein by reference.
Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC (“Barrow”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Balanced Fund, American Beacon Large Cap Value Fund, American Beacon Mid-Cap Value Fund, American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund, and American Beacon Intermediate Bond Fund. The principal address of Barrow is 2200 Ross Avenue, 31 st Floor, Dallas, TX 75201-2761.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Barrow is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Barrow |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
James P. Barrow; President, Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Director, Member Board of Managers | None | |
J. Ray. Nixon; Executive Director, Member Board of Managers | None | |
Patricia B. Andrews; Chief Compliance and Risk Officer, Director | None | |
John S. Williams; Managing Director | None | |
Linda T. Gibson; Member Board of Managers | OMAM, Inc., Executive Vice President and Head of Global Distribution | |
Aidan J. Riordan; Member Board of Managers | OMAM, Inc., Executive Vice President and Head of Affiliate Management |
Basswood Capital Management, LLC (“Basswood”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund. The principal address of Basswood is 645 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10022. Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 138032), and is incorporated herein by reference.
Brandes Investment Partners, L.P. (“Brandes”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Emerging Markets Fund. The principal address of Brandes is 11988 El Camino Real, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92130.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Brandes is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Brandes |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Charles H. Brandes; Chairman | None | |
Glenn R. Carlson; Executive Director | None | |
Jeffrey A. Busby; Executive Director | None | |
Ian N. Rose; General Counsel | None | |
Brent V. Woods; Chief Executive Officer | None | |
Kenneth Little; Managing Director, Investments Group | None | |
Oliver Murray; Managing Director, Portfolio Management and Client Services | None | |
Gregory S. Houck; Managing Director of Operations | None | |
Gary K. Iwamura; Finance Director | None | |
Roberta L. Loubier; Global Head of Compliance, Chief Compliance Officer | None |
Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC (“Brandywine”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Flexible Bond Fund, American Beacon Balanced Fund, American Beacon Large Cap Value Fund, and American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund. The principal address of Brandywine is 2929 Arch Street, 8 th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Brandywine is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Brandywine |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
David F. Hoffman, Senior Managing Director | None | |
Mark P. Glassman, Chief Administrative Officer | None | |
Patrick S. Kaser, Managing Director | None | |
Paul R. Lesutis, Senior Managing Director | None | |
Henry F. Otto, Senior Managing Director | None | |
Stephen S. Smith, Senior Managing Director | None | |
Adam B. Spector, Managing Director | None | |
Steven M. Tonkovich, Senior Managing Director | None | |
Edward A. Trumpbour, Senior Managing Director | None | |
Thomas C. Merchant, Secretary | None | |
Beth O’Malley, Assistant Secretary | None | |
Melissa A. Warren, Assistant Secretary | None |
Bridgeway Capital Management, Inc. (“Bridgeway”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Bridgeway Large Cap Value Fund. The principal address of Bridgeway is 20 Greenway Plaza, Suite 450, Houston, Texas 77046.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Bridgeway is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Bridgeway |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
John N. R. Montgomery, Director/Chairman of the Board of Directors/Chief Investment Officer | Vice President and Director, Bridgeway Funds, Inc. | |
Linda G. Giuffre, Chief Compliance Officer | Chief Compliance Officer and Treasurer, Bridgeway Funds, Inc. | |
Michael D. Mulcahy, Director/President/Chief Operating Officer | President and Director, Bridgeway Funds, Inc. | |
Von D. Celestine, Treasurer/Vice President/Secretary | None | |
Richard P. Cancelmo, Vice President | Vice President, Bridgeway Funds, Inc. | |
Franklin J. Montgomery, Director | None | |
Ann M. Montgomery, Director | Sage Education Group, LLC - Owner |
Calamos Advisors, LLC (“Calamos”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Retirement Income and Appreciation Fund. The principal address of Calamos is 2020 Calamos Court, Naperville, IL 60563-2787.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Calamos is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Calamos |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
John P. Calamos; CEO, Global Co-CIO |
Member of Board of Trustees of Benedictine University Member of Board of Trustees of Illinois Institute of Technology Board of Directors – National Hellenic Museum Board of Directors – Choose DuPage |
|
Gary D. Black; EVP, Global Co-CIO | None | |
J. Christopher Jackson; SVP, General Counsel and Secretary | None | |
Nimish S. Bhatt; SVP, Chief Financial Officer, Head of Fund Administration | None | |
Jessica Mazza; VP, Chief Compliance Officer | None |
Causeway Capital Management, LLC (“Causeway”), a Delaware limited liability company, is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon International Equity Fund. The principal address of Causeway is 11111 Santa Monica Boulevard, 15th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 113308), and is incorporated herein by reference.
Crescent Capital Group LP (“Crescent Capital”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Crescent Short Duration High Income Fund, whose principal office is located at 11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 2000, Los Angeles, CA 90025.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Crescent Capital is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Crescent Capital |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Mark L. Attanasio, Managing Partner | Chairman and Principal Owner of the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club |
Dreman Value Management, LLC (“Dreman”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund. The principal address of Dreman is 777 South Flagler Drive, Suite 800-West Tower, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Dreman is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Dreman |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Emory C. Hoover; Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director | None | |
Mark J. Roach; Managing Director | None | |
David N. Dreman; Chairman | None | |
Nelson P. Woodard; Co-Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director | None | |
David H. Kanefsky; General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer | None | |
Christian Abadiotakis; Chief Financial Officer | None |
Earnest Partners (“Earnest”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Earnest Partners Emerging Markets Equity Fund. The principal address of Earnest is 1180 Peachtree Street, Suite 2300 Atlanta, GA 30309.
Set forth below is the information as to any business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Earnest is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged in his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Earnest |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Paul E. Viera; CEO & Manager | Manager, Westchester Limited, LLC; Manager, GREYBULL Partners LLC | |
John G. Whitmore, COO | COO, GREYBULL Partners LLC | |
James M. Wilson, CCO and Secretary | CCO and Secretary, GREYBULL Partners LLC |
Franklin Advisers, Inc. (“Franklin”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon High Yield Bond Fund. The principal address of Franklin is One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403-1906.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Franklin is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Franklin |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Edward B. Jamieson; Director, President and CIO | None | |
Kenneth A. Lewis; Chief Financial Officer | None | |
Craig S. Tyle; Chief Legal Officer | None | |
John M. Lusk; Director and Vice President | None | |
Breda M. Beckerle; Chief Compliance Officer | None | |
Mark L. Constant; Treasurer | None | |
William Y. Yun; Executive Vice President | None | |
Madison S. Gulley; Executive Vice President | None | |
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.; Director | None | |
Christopher J. Molumphy; Director and Executive Vice President | None |
Global Evolution USA, LLC (“Global Evolution”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Global Evolution Frontier Markets Income Fund. The principal address of Global Evolution is 790 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 500, Pasadena, CA 91101.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Global Evolution is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Global Evolution |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Soren Rump, Director | None | |
Morten Bugge, Director | None | |
Michael McAdams, Managing Director | Minority partner at and oversees investment allocations for Holly Street Wealth, a California Registered Investment Advisor | |
Kent Roberts, Managing Director | Independent director of Biolargo, Inc.; Member of the Advisory Board for Novus Partners |
Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P. (“Grosvenor”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund. The principal address of Grosvenor is 900 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1100, Chicago , IL 60611. Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 106548), and is incorporated herein by reference.
Hillcrest Asset Management, LLC (“Hillcrest”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund. The principal address of Hillcrest is 2805 Dallas Parkway, Suite 250, Plano, Texas 75093
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Hillcrest and is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Hillcrest |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Brian Bruce, Chief Executive Officer | None | |
Deborah Ann Trask, Chief Investment Officer | None | |
Douglas E. Stark, Managing Director | None | |
Brandon L. Troegle, Portfolio Manager | None |
Holland Capital Management LLC (“Holland”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Holland Large Cap Growth Fund. The principal address of Holland is 300 W. Madison, Suite 700, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Holland is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Holland |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Louis A. Holland, Jr.; Director | Consultant: Cumota LLC; Cumota Consulting LLC; Brickland Partners, Inc.; TNE Management, LLC | |
Monica L. Walker; President and CEO, Chief Investment Officer – Equity; Director; Former Managing Director, Managing Partner and Portfolio Manager | None | |
Laura J. Janus; Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income; Director; Former Managing Partner and Portfolio Manager |
None | |
Susan M. Chamberlain; Chief Compliance Officer | None |
Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management, LLC (“Hotchkis”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Balance Fund, American Beacon Large Cap Value Fund, and American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund. The principal address of Hotchkis is 725 South Figueroa Street, 39 th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012-5439.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Hotchkis is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Hotchkis |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
George H. Davis; Chief Executive Officer and Executive Committee Member | Trustee of the Hotchkis & Wiley Funds and Director of Hotchkis & Wiley Ltd. | |
James E. Menvielle; Chief Financial Officer | Vice President and Treasurer of the Hotchkis & Wiley Funds and Director of Hotchkis & Wiley Ltd. | |
Anna Marie S. Lopez; Chief Operating Officer | President of the Hotchkis & Wiley Funds and Director of Hotchkis & Wiley Ltd. | |
Tina H. Kodama; Chief Compliance Officer | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of the Hotchkis & Wiley Funds | |
Sheldon J. Lieberman; Executive Committee Member |
None | |
C. Nigel Hurst-Brown; Executive Committee Member |
Chief Executive and Director of Hotchkis and Wiley ltd. | |
Douglas H. Martin; Executive Committee Member | Senior Managing Director of Stephens Inc. and Board of Director of Conns, Inc. |
Impala Asset Management, LLC (“Impala”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund. The principal address of Impala is 107 Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT 06840. Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 138752), and is incorporated herein by reference.
Incline Global Management, LLC (“Incline Global”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund. The principal address of Incline Global is 40 West 57th Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10019. Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 162607), and is incorporated herein by reference..
Lazard Asset Management, LLC (“Lazard”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon International Equity Fund. The principal address of Lazard is 30 Rockerfeller Plaza, 55 th Floor, New York, NY 10112.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Lazard is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Lazard |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Ashish Bhutani; Director, CEO | Vice Chairman, Lazard Ltd. | |
Gerard B. Mazzari; COO | Chief Financial Officer, Lazard Asset Management Securities, LLC | |
Nathan A. Paul; General Counsel | Vice President and Secretary of the Fund; Chief Legal Officer of Lazard Asset Management Securities, LLC | |
Brian D. Simon; Chief Compliance Officer | Managing Director of Lazard Asset Management, LLC | |
Kenneth M. Jacobs; Director | None | |
Alexander F. Stern; Director | None | |
Charles Carroll; Deputy Chairman | Head of Global Marketing, Lazard Asset Management, LLC; Chief Executive Officer | |
Andrew Lacey; Deputy Chairman | None | |
John Reinsberg; Deputy Chairman | None | |
Robert P. DeConcini; Chairman | None | |
Andreas Huebner; Senior Managing Director | None | |
Robert Prugue; Senior Managing Director | None | |
Bill Smith; Senior Managing Director | None |
Logan Circle Partners, L.P. (“Logan”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon High Yield Bond Fund. The principal address of Logan is 1717 Arch Street, Suite 1500; Philadelphia, PA 19103.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Logan is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Logan |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Jude T. Driscoll; CEO/Chief Investment Officer | None | |
William C. Gadsden; Chief Operating Officer | None |
Massachusetts Financial Services Company (“MFS”) serves as an investment sub-adviser for the American Beacon Large Cap Value Fund. The principal address of MFS is 111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02199. MFS is a subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Financial Services Holdings Inc., which in turn is an indirect majority-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Financial, Inc. (a diversified financial services company), located at Sun Life Financial Centre, 150 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each director and principal executive officer of MFS is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with MFS |
Other Substantial Business and Connections
During the Past Two Fiscal Years |
|
Robert J. Manning; Director, Co-Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board of Directors | Trustee of various funds within the MFS Funds complex+ | |
Mark N. Polebaum; Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary | None+ | |
Michael W. Roberge; President, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Director of Global Research, and Director | None+ | |
Amrit Kanwal; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | None+ | |
David A. Antonelli; Vice Chairman | None+ | |
Robin A. Stelmach; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | Trustee of various funds within the MFS Funds complex + | |
Carol W. Geremia; Executive Vice President | None+ | |
James A. Jessee; Executive Vice President | None+ | |
Timothy M. Fagan; Chief Compliance Officer | None+ | |
Colm J. Freyne; Director |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Sun Life Financial, Inc. |
|
Stephen C. Peacher; Director | President of Sun Life Investment Management and Chief Investment Officer of Sun Life Financial, Inc. |
+Certain principal executive officers and directors of Massachusetts Financial Services Company ("MFS") serve as officers or directors of some or all of MFS’ corporate affiliates and certain officers of MFS serve as officers of some or all of the MFS Funds and/or officers or directors of certain MFS non-U.S. investment companies. Except as set forth above or in Schedules B and D of Form ADV filed by MFS pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (SEC File No. 801-17352), each principal executive officer of MFS has been engaged during the past two fiscal years in no business profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature other than as an officer of MFS or certain of MFS' corporate affiliates.
The identity of those corporate affiliates is identified below or is incorporated by reference from Schedules B and D of such Form ADV.
Investment Adviser Corporate Affiliate | Address | |
MFS Institutional Advisors, Inc. | 111 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 07618 U.S.A. | |
MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. | 111 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 07618 U.S.A. | |
MFS Service Center Inc. | 100 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02171 U.S.A. | |
MFS International LTD. | Canon's Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton, HM12, Bermuda | |
MFS International Holdings PTY LTD |
One Carter Lane London EC4V 5ER U.K. |
|
MFS International (U.K.) Limited | Paternoster House, 65 St. Paul 's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AB, U.K. | |
MFS International Switzerland GMBH |
Bahnhofstrasse 100, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland |
|
MFS International (Hong Kong) Limited | Wheelock House, 20 Pedder Street, Level 19, Suite 1901, Central, Hong Kong | |
MFS do Brasil Desenvolvimento de Mercado Ltda. (Brazil) |
Rua Joaquim Floriano, 1.052 – 11 o Andar, conjunto 111, Itaim Bibi, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil 04534-004 |
|
MFS International (Chile) SPA |
Santiago Isidora 3000 Av Isidora Goyenechea #3000, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile |
|
MFS International Singapore PTE. LTD. |
501 Orchard Road, #13-01/03/04 Wheelock Place Singapore 238880 |
|
MFS Investment Management Company (LUX.) S.a.r.l. |
19, Rue de Bitbourg, L-1273 Luxembourg |
|
MFS Investment Management K.K. | 16 F Daido Seimei Kasumigaseki Building, 1-4-2 Kasumigaseki 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan 100-0013 | |
Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Financial Services Holdings, Inc. | 111 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 07618 U.S.A. | |
3060097 Nova Scotia Company |
1959 Upper Water Street Suite 1100, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J3N2 |
|
MFS Investment Management Canada Limited |
77 King Street West, 35 th Floor Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5K 1B7 |
|
MFS Bermuda Holdings LTD. |
Canon's Court 22 Victoria Street Hamilton, HM 12, Bermuda |
|
MFS Heritage Trust Company | 111 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 07618 U.S.A. |
The MFS Funds include the following. The address of the MFS Funds is: 111 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02199.
Massachusetts Investors Trust | |
Massachusetts Investors Growth Stock Fund | |
MFS Series Trust I | |
MFS Series Trust II | |
MFS Series Trust III | |
MFS Series Trust IV | |
MFS Series Trust V | |
MFS Series Trust VI | |
MFS Series Trust VII | |
MFS Series Trust VIII | |
MFS Series Trust IX | |
MFS Series Trust X | |
MFS Series Trust XI | |
MFS Series Trust XII | |
MFS Series Trust XIII | |
MFS Series Trust XIV | |
MFS Series Trust XV | |
MFS Series Trust XVI | |
MFS Municipal Series Trust | |
MFS Variable Insurance Trust | |
MFS Variable Insurance Trust II | |
MFS Variable Insurance Trust III | |
MFS Institutional Trust | |
MFS California Municipal Fund | |
MFS Charter Income Trust | |
MFS Government Markets Income Trust | |
MFS High Income Municipal Trust | |
MFS High Yield Municipal Trust | |
MFS InterMarket Income Trust I | |
MFS Intermediate High Income Fund | |
MFS Intermediate Income Trust | |
MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust | |
MFS Municipal Income Trust | |
MFS Multimarket Income Trust | |
MFS Special Value Trust |
Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. (“Morgan Stanley IM”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Emerging Markets Fund. The principal address of Morgan Stanley IM is 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Morgan Stanley IM is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Morgan Stanley
IM |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Gregory J. Fleming Managing Director and President |
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. | |
Christopher O’Dell Managing Director and Secretary |
Managing Director and Secretary of Morgan Stanley Distribution Inc. and Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc.; Secretary of other entities affiliated with Morgan Stanley IM. | |
Stefanie Chang Yu Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer |
Chief Compliance Officer of the Morgan Stanley Funds. | |
Jeffrey Gelfand Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer |
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Morgan Stanley Distribution Inc., Chief Financial Officer of Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. | |
Mary Alice Dunne Managing Director and Director |
None. | |
Arthur Lev; Managing Director and Director | Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Distribution Inc. and Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. | |
James Janover Managing Director and Director |
None. | |
Kevin Klingert Managing Director and Director |
Managing Director and Director of Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. | |
Karen Cassidy Managing Director and Treasurer |
Treasurer of other entities affiliated with Morgan Stanley IM. | |
John Chiota Executive Director and Chief Anti-Money Laundering Officer |
Anti-Money Laundering Officer of other entities affiliated with Morgan Stanley IM. |
NISA Investment Advisors , LLC (“NISA”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Treasury Inflation Protected Securities Fund. The principal address of NISA is 101 South Hanley Road, Suite 1700, St. Louis, MO 63105-3487.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of NISA is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with NISA |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Jess B. Yawitz; Chairman & Chief Executive Officer & Managing Member | None | |
William J. Marshall; President & Managing Member | None | |
David G. Eichhorn; Managing Director, Investment Strategies & Managing Member | None | |
Kenneth L. Lester; Managing Director, Portfolio Management & Managing Member | None | |
Anthony R. Pope; Managing Director, Portfolio Management & Managing Member | None | |
Gregory J. Yess; Managing Director, Client Services & Managing Member | None | |
Michael R. DeNorscia; Director, Operations | None | |
Mark A. Folkins; Chief Administrative Officer | None | |
Cheryl L. Hanson; Director, Client Services | None | |
Paul L. Jones; Director, Equity Portfolio Management | None | |
Matt D. Kaplan; Chief Risk Officer | None | |
Clarence R. Krebs; Director, Defined Contribution Solutions & Member | None | |
Joseph A. Murphy; Director, Portfolio Management & Member | None | |
Marianne O’Doherty; Chief Compliance Officer | None | |
Donald A. Pinkard; Chief Technology Officer | None | |
Bella L.F., Sanevich; General Counsel & Member | None | |
Daniel A. Scholz; Director, Investment Strategies | None | |
Kevin D. Schuman; Director, Client Services | None |
Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC (“PIMCO”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Flexible Bond Fund. The principal address of PIMCO is 840 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of PIMCO is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with PIMCO |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Douglas M. Hodge, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, PIMCO | Trustee and Senior Vice President of the Trust, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, and PIMCO ETF Trust. Senior Vice President of PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Director and Vice President, StocksPLUS Management Inc.; Director, PIMCO Europe Ltd., PIMCO Asia Pte Ltd., PIMCO Australia Pty Ltd, PIMCO Japan Ltd. and PIMCO Asia Limited (Hong Kong) | |
Jennifer E. Durham; Chief Compliance Officer and Executive Vice President | Chief Compliance Officer, the Trust, PIMCO Equity Series VIT, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust and PIMCO ETF Trust | |
Daniel J. Ivascyn, Managing Director and Group Chief Investment Officer, PIMCO | ||
Neel T. Kashkari; Managing Director | Trustee and President of the Trust and PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Formerly Interim Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability, Assistant Secretary for International Economics and Senior Advisor to Secretary Paulson, United States Department of Treasury | |
David C. Flattum; Managing Director and General Counsel | Chief Legal Officer of the Trust, PIMCO Equity Series VIT, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust and PIMCO ETF Trust | |
Brent R. Harris; Managing Director and Executive Committee Member | Director and President, StocksPLUS Management, Inc. Trustee and Chairman of the Trust and PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Trustee, Chairman and President of PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust and PIMCO ETF Trust. Director, PIMCO Luxembourg S.A. and PIMCO Luxembourg II | |
Ki M. Hong; Managing Director | Formerly, Vice Chairman of Asia Pacific, Bank of America Merrill Lynch | |
Sabrina C. Callin; Managing Director | Acting Head of PIMCO Advisory; and Vice President, StocksPLUS Management, Inc. | |
Makoto Takano; Managing Director | Director and President, PIMCO Japan Ltd. | |
Joseph V. McDevitt; Managing Director | Director and Chief Executive Officer, PIMCO Europe Limited. |
Passport Capital, LLC (“Passport”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund. The principal address of Passport is One Market Street, Steuart Tower, Suite 200 San Francisco, CA 94105. Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 138032), and is incorporated herein by reference.
Payden & Rygel (“P&R”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Flexible Bond Fund. The principal address of P&R is 333 South Grand Avenue, 32 nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of P&R is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with P&R | Other Substantial Business and Connections | |
Joan Payden; President and Chief Executive Officer | None | |
Brian Matthews; Managing Principal and Chief Financial Officer | None | |
James Sarni; Managing Principal | None | |
Mary Beth Syal; Managing Principal | None | |
Scott Weiner; Managing Principal | None | |
Edward Garlock; Managing Principal | None | |
Asha Joshi; Managing Principal | None | |
Robin Creswell; Managing Principal | None | |
Gregory Morrison; Managing Principal | None |
Penn Capital Management Company, Inc. (“PENN”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon High Yield Bond Fund. The principal address of PENN is Three Crescent Drive, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19112.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of PENN is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with PENN |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Marcia A. Hocker; President | None | |
Richard A. Hocker; Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer | None | |
Gerald McBride; Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer | None | |
John G. Livewell; Chief Compliance Officer | None | |
Eric Green; Director of Research & Senior Portfolio Manager | None | |
Christian M. Noyes; Director of Marketing & Client Services/ Senior Managing Partner | None | |
Scott D. Schumacher; Senior Portfolio Manager, Senior Managing Partner | None | |
J. Paulo Silva; Senior Portfolio Manager | None |
Pine River Capital Management L.P. (“Pine River”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon [Alternative Strategies] Fund. The principal address of Pine River is 601 Carlson Parkway, Suite 330, Minnetonka, MN 55305.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and partner of Pine River is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Global Evolution |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Brian Taylor, CEO and Partner | Chairman and Director of Two Harbors Investment Corp. | |
Thomas Siering, Partner | CEO, President and Director of Two Harbors Investment Corp.; Director of Silver Bay Realty Trust Corp. | |
Bill Roth, Partner | Chief Investment Officer of Two Harbors Investment Corp. |
Pzena Investment Management, LLC (“Pzena”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Mid-Cap Value Fund. The principal address of Pzena is 120 West 45 th Street, 20 th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Pzena is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Pzena |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
John P. Goetz; Managing Principal, Co-Chief Investment Officer, and Member with Class B Units | None | |
Richard S. Pzena; Managing Principal; Chief Executive Officer, Co-Chief Investment Officer, and Member with Class B Units | None | |
William L. Lipsey; Managing Principal, Marketing & Client Services, and Member with Class B Units | None | |
Joan F. Berger; General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Member with Class B Units | None | |
Gary J. Bachman; Chief Financial Officer and Member with Class B Units and Class A common stock | None | |
Benjamin Silver; Co-Director of Research, Portfolio Manager, and Member with Class B Units |
None | |
Michael D. Peterson; Managing Principal, Portfolio Manager, Executive Vice President and Member with Class B Units | None |
River Canyon Fund Management LLC (“River Canyon”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund. The principal address of River Canyon is 2000 Avenue of the Stars, 11th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90067. Information as to the officers and directors of River Canyon is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 169465), and is incorporated herein by reference.
Sound Point Capital Management, LP (“Sound Point”) is an investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund. The principal address of Sound Point is 375 Park Avenue, 25 th Floor, New York, NY 10152. Information as to the officers and directors of Sound Point is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 157479), and is incorporated herein by reference.
Standish Mellon Asset Management Company, LLC (“Standish”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Treasury Inflation Protected Securities Fund. The principal address of Standish is BNY Mellon Center, 201 Washington Street, Suite 2900, Boston, MA 02108-4408.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Standish is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Standish |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
James D. MacIntyre; President and Chief Executive Officer, Board Member | None | |
Julia Braithwaite; Chief Compliance Officer, Secretary | None | |
Steven Lipiner; Treasurer | None | |
Mitchell E. Harris; Chairman of Fixed Income Cash and Currency Group, Executive Chairman Board Member, Trustee of Sole Owner | None | |
John A. Park; Trustee of Sole Owner | None | |
Edward H. Ladd; Board Member | None | |
Christine Todd; Board Member | None | |
Mark Santero | None |
Stephens Investment Management Group, LLC (“SIMG”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Stephens Mid-Cap Growth Fund and American Beacon Stephens Small Cap Growth Fund. The principal address of SIMG and Stephens Inc. is 111 Center Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of SIMG is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with SIMG |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Joseph W. Simpson; President and Chief Executive Officer, Manager | Executive Vice President, Stephens Inc. | |
Ryan E. Crane; Chief Investment Officer, Manager, Member Class B | Senior Vice President, Stephens Inc. | |
Michael W. Nolte; Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President, Manager | Senior Vice President, Stephens Inc. | |
David C. Prince; Chief Compliance Officer, General Counsel | Senior Vice President, Stephens Inc. |
Strategic Income Management, LLC (“SiM”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon SiM High Yield Opportunities Fund. The principal address of SiM is 720 Olive Way, Suite 1675, Seattle, WA 98101.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of SiM is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with SiM |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Randall L. Yoakum; Manager, Member, Chief Executive Officer | None | |
Gary J. Pokrzywinski; Manager, Member, Chief Investment Officer | None | |
Timothy T. Black; Elected Manager, Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Operating Officer | None |
Sustainable Growth Advisers, LP (“SGA”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon SGA Global Growth Fund. The principal address of SGA is 301 Tresser Boulevard, Suite 1310, Stamford, CT 06901.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of SGA is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with SGA |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
George P. Fraise, Co-Founder | None | |
Gordon Marchand, Co-Founder
|
Board Director- Chase Investment Counsel; Board Director- Zounds Hearing Inc. | |
Robert L. Rohn, Co-Founder | None |
Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC (“Templeton”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon International Equity Fund. The principal address of Templeton is 300 Southeast 2 nd Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Templeton is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Templeton |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Donald F. Reed; Chief Executive Officer and Chairman | None | |
Cynthia L. Sweeting; President/Director of Portfolio Management for the Templeton Global Equity Group | None | |
Antonio T. Docal; Executive Vice President and Portfolio Manager | None | |
Peter A. Nori; Executive Vice President and Portfolio Manager | None | |
Craig S. Tyle; Chief Legal Officer | None | |
Mark L. Constant; Treasurer | None | |
Michael J. D’Agrosa; Chief Compliance Officer | None | |
Gregory E. McGowan; Exec. Vice President | None | |
Madison S. Gulley; Executive Vice President | None |
The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC (“Boston Company”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund and the American Beacon Emerging Markets Fund. The principal address of Boston Company is One Boston Place, Boston, MA 02108.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Boston Company is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Boston Company |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Bart A. Grenier; Chairman, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer/Manager | None | |
Adam B. Joffe– Executive Vice President, -Chief Operating Officer | None |
The London Company Of Virginia, LLC (“London Company”) is the investment sub-adviser for the American Beacon London Company Income Equity Fund. The principal place of business address of London Company is 1801 Bayberry Court, Suite 301, Richmond, Virginia 23226.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of London Company is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with London
Company |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections During the Past Two Fiscal Years |
|
Stephen, M. Goddard, Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer | None | |
Jonathan Moody, Principal and Portfolio Manager | None | |
Andrew Wetzel, Chief Compliance Officer | None |
Tremblant Capital Group (“Tremblant”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund. The principal address of Tremblant is 767 Fifth Avenue, Floor 12A, New York, NY 10153. Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 138743), and is incorporated herein by reference.
WEDGE Capital Management, LLC (“WEDGE”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Mid-Cap Value Fund. The principal address of WEDGE is 301 South College Street, Suite 2920, Charlotte, NC 28202.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of WEDGE is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with WEDGE |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections During the Past Two Fiscal Years |
|
Michael Gardner, General Partner | None | |
Bradley Fisher, General Partner | None | |
Bradley Horstmann, Chief Compliance Officer and General Partner | None | |
Paul Vezolles, General Partner | None | |
Martin Robinson, General Partner | None | |
John Norman, General Partner | None | |
Andrei Bolshakov, General Partner | None | |
Darrin Witt, General Partner | None |
Zebra Capital Management, LLC (“Zebra”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Zebra Large Cap Equity Fund and American Beacon Zebra Small Cap Equity Fund. The principal address of Zebra is 612 Wheelers Farms Rd., Milford, CT 06461.
Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Zebra is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
Name; Current Position with Zebra |
Other Substantial Business and
Connections |
|
Roger G. Ibbotson; Chairman | Professor, Yale University | |
John Holmgren, President | None | |
Peter A. Schaffer; Chief Operating Officer, Chief Compliance Officer | None |
Information as to the officers and directors of each of the above investment advisers may also be included in that adviser's current Form ADV filed with the SEC and is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 32. Principal Underwriter
(a) Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as principal underwriter for the following investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended:
1. | Absolute Shares Trust |
2. | AdvisorShares Trust |
3. | American Beacon Funds |
4. | American Beacon Select Funds |
5. | Ark ETF Trust |
6. | Avenue Mutual Funds Trust |
7. | BP Capital TwinLine Energy Fund, Series of Professionally Managed Portfolios |
8. | BP Capital TwinLine MLP Fund, Series of Professionally Managed Portfolios |
9. | Bridgeway Funds, Inc. |
10. | Calamos ETF Trust |
11. | Cane Alternative Strategies Fund, Series of Northern Lights Fund Trust III |
12. | Capital Innovations Global Agri, Timber, Infrastructure Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust |
13. | Carlyle Select Trust |
14. | Center Coast MLP Focus Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust |
15. | Context Capital Funds |
16. | Corsair Opportunity Fund |
17. | Direxion Shares ETF Trust |
18. | Evanston Alternative Opportunities Fund |
19. | Exchange Traded Concepts Trust II |
20. | FlexShares Trust |
21. | Forum Funds |
22. | Forum Funds II |
23. | FQF Trust |
24. | FSI Low Beta Absolute Return Fund |
25. | Gottex Trust |
26. | Henderson Global Funds |
27. | Horizon Spin-off and Corporate Restructuring Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust (f/k/a Liberty Street Horizon Fund) |
28. | Horizons ETF Trust |
29. | Infinity Core Alternative Fund |
30. | Ironwood Institutional Multi-Strategy Fund LLC |
31. | Ironwood Multi-Strategy Fund LLC |
32. | Manor Investment Funds |
33. | Outlook Funds Trust |
34. | Palmer Square Opportunistic Income Fund |
35. | Performance Trust Mutual Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers |
36. | Pine Grove Alternative Fund |
37. | Pine Grove Alternative Institutional Fund |
38. | Plan Investment Fund, Inc. |
39. | PMC Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers |
40. | Precidian ETFs Trust |
41. | Quaker Investment Trust |
42. | Renaissance Capital Greenwich Funds |
43. | RevenueShares ETF Trust |
44. | Robinson Tax Advantaged Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust |
45. | Salient MF Trust |
46. | SharesPost 100 Fund |
47. | Sound Shore Fund, Inc. |
48. | Steben Alternative Investment Funds |
49. | Steben Select Multi-Strategy Fund |
50. The 504 Plan
51. | The Roxbury Funds |
52. | TIFF Investment Program |
53. | Toroso Newfound Tactical Allocation Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust |
54. | Turner Funds |
55. | V2 Hedged Equity Fund, Series of Trust for Advised Portfolios |
56. | West Loop Realty Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust (f/k/a Chilton Realty Income & Growth Fund) |
57. | Wintergreen Fund, Inc. |
58. | WisdomTree Trust |
(b) The following are the Officers and Managers of the Distributor, the Registrant’s underwriter. The Distributor’s main business address is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101.
Name | Address | Position with Underwriter | Position with Registrant | |||
Mark A. Fairbanks | Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 | President | None | |||
Richard J. Berthy | Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 | Vice President, Treasurer and Manager | None | |||
Jennifer E. Hoopes | Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 | Secretary | None | |||
Nanette K. Chern | Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer | None | |||
Lisa S. Clifford | Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 | Vice President and Managing Director of Compliance | None | |||
Paula R. Watson | Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 | Assistant Secretary | None |
(c) Not applicable.
Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records
The books and other documents required by Section 31(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are maintained in the physical possession of 1) the Trust's custodian at State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110; 2) the Manager at American Beacon Advisors , Inc., 220 East Las Colinas Blvd. , Suite 1200 , Irving, Texas 75039 ; 3) Boston Financial Data Services, an affiliate of the Trust’s transfer agent, 330 West 9 th St., Kansas City, Missouri 64105; 4) Mastercraft, 3021 Wichita Court, Fort Worth, Texas 76140; or 5) the Trust's investment advisers at the addresses listed in Item 31 above.
Item 34. Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 35. Undertakings
Not applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant represents that this Amendment meets all the requirements for effectiveness pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the 1933 Act and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 237 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Irving and the State of Texas, on December 9, 2015.
AMERICAN BEACON FUNDS | |||
By: | /s/ Gene L. Needles, Jr. | ||
Gene L. Needles, Jr. | |||
President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the 1933 Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 237 to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Gene L. Needles, Jr. | President (Principal Executive Officer) | December 9, 2015 | ||
Gene L. Needles, Jr. | ||||
/s/ Melinda G. Heika | Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) | December 9, 2015 | ||
Melinda G. Heika | ||||
Gilbert G. Alvarado* | Trustee | December 9, 2015 | ||
Gilbert G. Alvarado | ||||
Joseph B. Armes* | Trustee | December 9, 2015 | ||
Joseph B. Armes | ||||
Gerard J. Arpey* | Trustee | December 9, 2015 | ||
Gerard J. Arpey | ||||
W. Humphrey Bogart* | Trustee | December 9, 2015 | ||
W. Humphrey Bogart | ||||
Brenda A. Cline* | Trustee | December 9, 2015 | ||
Brenda A. Cline | ||||
Eugene J. Duffy* | Trustee | December 9, 2015 | ||
Eugene J. Duffy | ||||
Thomas M. Dunning* | Trustee | December 9, 2015 | ||
Thomas M. Dunning | ||||
Alan D. Feld* | Trustee | December 9, 2015 | ||
Alan D. Feld | ||||
Richard A. Massman* | Chairman and Trustee | December 9, 2015 | ||
Richard A. Massman | ||||
Barbara J. McKenna* | Trustee | December 9, 2015 | ||
Barbara J. McKenna | ||||
R. Gerald Turner* | Trustee | December 9, 2015 | ||
R. Gerald Turner | ||||
*By | /s/ Rosemary K. Behan | |
Rosemary K. Behan | ||
Attorney-In-Fact |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Type: | Description: | |
(d)(2)(JJ) |
Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Sound Point Capital Management, L.P., dated December 9, 2015
|
|
(h)(16)(S) |
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund , dated November 10, 2015
|
|
(i) | Opinion and consent of counsel | |
(j) | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
(p)(44) | Code of Ethics for Sound Point Capital Management, L.P. , dated August 2014 | |
Other Exhibits | ||
Powers of Attorney for Trustees of American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds, dated June 2, 2015 |
Exhibit 99(d)(2)(JJ)
AMERICAN BEACON FUNDS
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 9th day of December, 2015. by and among American Beacon Funds, a Massachusetts Business Trust (“Trust”), American Beacon Advisors, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (the "Manager"), and Sound Point Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware Limited Partnership (the "Adviser");
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end, diversified management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“Investment Company Act”), consisting of several series funds of shares, each having its own investment policies; and
WHEREAS, the Trust has retained the Manager to provide the Trust with business and asset management services, subject to the control of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”); and
WHEREAS, the Trust’s agreement with the Manager permits the Manager to delegate to other parties certain of its asset management responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”);
WHEREAS, the Manager and the Trust desire to retain the Adviser to render investment management services to the Trust with respect to certain of its funds and such other funds as the Trust and the Adviser may agree upon and so specify in the Schedule(s) attached hereto (collectively the "Funds") and as described in the Trust's registration statement on Form N-1A as amended from time to time, and the Adviser is willing to render such services;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. | (a) Duties of the Adviser . The Manager and the Trust appoint the Adviser to manage the investment and reinvestment of such portion, if any, of the Funds' assets as is designated by the Manager from time to time, and, with respect to such assets, to continuously review, and administer the investment program of the Funds, to determine in the Adviser's discretion the securities to be purchased or sold, to provide the Manager and the Trust with records concerning the Adviser's activities which the Trust is required to maintain, and to render regular reports to the Manager and to the Trust's officers and Trustees concerning the Adviser's discharge of the foregoing responsibilities. The Adviser shall discharge the foregoing responsibilities (1) in conformity with all applicable securities law, including but not limited to the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act, the Commodity Exchange Act, the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), (2) subject to the Manager's oversight and the control of the officers and the Trustees of the Trust and in compliance with such policies as the Board may from time to time establish, (3) in compliance with the objectives, policies, and limitations for each such Fund set forth in the Trust's current registration |
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statement as amended from time to time and applicable laws and regulations, and (4) in compliance with such other investment guidelines or restrictions established from time to time by the Manager or the Trust which shall be communicated in writing by the Manager to Adviser in advance. The Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services for the compensation specified herein and to provide at its own expense the office space, furnishings and equipment and the personnel required by it to perform the services on the terms and for the compensation provided herein. (With respect to any of the Fund assets allocated for management by the Adviser, the Manager will make the investment decisions with respect to that portion of assets which the Adviser deems should be invested in short-term money market instruments. The Manager agrees to provide this service.) The Manager will instruct the Trust's custodian(s) to hold and/or transfer the Funds' assets in accordance with Proper Instructions received from the Adviser. (For this purpose, the term "Proper Instructions" shall have the meaning(s) specified in the applicable agreement(s) between the Trust and its custodian(s), but generally refers to a writing by the representatives of the Adviser who have been authorized by the Trust’s Board from time to time to provide instructions to the Trust’s custodian. For the purpose of clarification, “Proper Instructions” can be instructions in any format, including without limitation, electronic instructions that are agreed upon by the Adviser and the Trust’s custodian.)
The Adviser is authorized on behalf of the Funds, and consistent with the investment discretion delegated to the Adviser herein, to: (i) enter into agreements and execute any documents including without limitation, futures and options transactions, brokerage agreements, clearing agreements, account documentation, futures and option agreements, swap agreements, and other investment related agreements required to meet the obligations of the Trust with respect to any investments made for the Funds. Such documentation includes but may not be limited to any market and/or industry standard documentation and the standard representations contained therein. Adviser is authorized on behalf of Manager to make all elections required in such agreements, instruments and documentation and make and receive all related notices from brokers or other counterparties. Manager also authorizes Adviser as agent and attorney-in-fact to make transactions in futures contracts and options on futures contracts on margin, for the Fund, and authorizes each broker with whom Adviser makes such transactions to follow its instructions with respect to such transactions. Manager understands and agrees that Adviser will determine that such transactions are permitted before instructing a broker to enter into such transactions and that any broker receiving an order for any such transaction will have no independent obligation to ensure that the transactions are consistent with the Trust’s registration statement or the Fund’s investment guidelines; and (ii) acknowledge the receipt of brokers’ risk disclosure statements, electronic trading disclosure statements and similar disclosures, provided, however, that (a) the Adviser shall be responsible for ensuring that any such representations are consistent with the relevant Fund’s investment policies and other governing documents; (b) the Adviser shall be responsible for providing all notifications and delivering all documents required to be provided or delivered by a Fund under such documentation; and (c) the Adviser shall
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immediately notify the Manager of any event of default, potential event of default or termination event affecting a Fund under such documentation. The Adviser further shall have the authority to instruct the custodian to: (i) pay cash for securities and other property delivered for the Fund, (ii) deliver or accept delivery of, upon receipt of payment or payment upon receipt of, securities, commodities or other property underlying any futures or options contracts, and other property purchased or sold for the Fund; (iii) deposit margin or collateral which shall include the transfer of money, securities or other property to the extent necessary to meet the obligations of the Funds with respect to any investments made pursuant to the Trust’s registration statement, provided, however, that unless otherwise approved by the Manager, any such deposit of margin or collateral shall be effected by transfer or segregation within an account maintained for the Funds by its custodian subject to a control agreement, acceptable in form and substance to the Manager, pursuant to which such custodian agrees and accepts entitlement, orders or instructions from the secured party with respect to such margin or collateral. The Adviser shall not have the authority to cause the Manager or the Trust to deliver securities or other property, or pay cash to the Adviser other than payment of the management fee provided for in this Agreement. The Adviser will not be responsible for the cost of securities or brokerage commissions or any other Trust expenses except as specified in this Agreement.
(b) Valuation . In accordance with procedures and methods established by the Board, which may be amended from time to time, the Adviser will provide assistance to the Manager in determining the fair value of all securities and other investments owned by the Funds, and use reasonable efforts to arrange for the provision of valuation information or prices from parties independent of the Adviser with respect to the securities or other investments owned by the Funds for which market prices are not readily available. The Adviser will monitor the securities and other investments owned by the Funds for potential significant events that could affect their values and notify the Manager when, in its opinion, a significant event has occurred that may not be reflected in the market values of such securities. The Adviser will maintain adequate records with respect to securities valuation information provided hereunder, and shall provide such information to Manager upon request.
(c) Compliance and Other Matters . The Adviser, at its expense, shall provide the Manager with such compliance reports and certifications relating to its duties under this Agreement and the federal securities laws as may be agreed upon by such parties from time to time. The Adviser also shall:
(i) | continue to be a duly formed legal entity, validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation, fully authorized to enter into this Agreement and carry out its duties and obligations hereunder; |
(ii) | be registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Advisers Act, and be registered or licensed as an investment adviser under the laws of all jurisdictions in which its activities require it to be so registered or licensed, except where the failure to be so licensed would not have an adverse effect on the Adviser, Manager or Trust. The Adviser shall maintain such registration or license in effect and in good standing at all times during the term of this Agreement; |
3 |
(iii) | maintain any necessary registrations, licenses, or exemptions, to the extent required, with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and/or National Futures Association; |
(iv) | at all times provide its best judgment and effort to the Manager and the Trust in carrying out its obligations hereunder; |
(v) | use the same care and skill in providing such services as it uses in providing services to other accounts for which it has investment management responsibilities; |
(vi) | (i) cooperate with and provide reasonable assistance to the Manager, the Trust’s administrator, custodian, transfer agent and pricing agents and all other agents and representatives of the Funds, the Trust and the Manager; (ii) keep all such persons fully informed as to such matters as they may reasonably deem necessary to the performance of their obligations to the Funds, the Trust and the Manager; (iii) provide prompt responses to reasonable requests made by such persons; and (iv) maintain any appropriate interfaces with each so as to promote the efficient exchange of information. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Adviser shall comply with all statutory and regulatory requirements relating to derivatives transactions entered into by the Adviser for or on behalf of the Trust or any of its Funds, including without limitation, compliance with all recordkeeping and reporting requirements pursuant to Parts 43, 45 and 46 of the regulations of the CFTC and comparable rules of the SEC (collectively, the “Derivatives Recordkeeping and Reporting Rules”); |
(vii) | maintain a written Code of Ethics complying with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act and provide the Manager with a current copy of the Code of Ethics. The Adviser shall periodically certify to the Manager that the Adviser has complied with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 and that there have been no violations of the Code of Ethics or, if a violation has occurred, that appropriate action has been taken in response to such violation. Upon written request of the Manager, the Adviser shall permit representatives of the Manager to examine the reports (or summaries of the reports) required to be made under the Code of Ethics and other records evidencing enforcement of the Code of Ethics; |
(viii) | assist the Trust and the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) in complying with Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act. Specifically, the Adviser represents that it shall maintain a compliance program in accordance with the requirements of Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act, as amended, and shall provide the CCO with reasonable access to information regarding the Adviser’s compliance program, which access shall include on-site visits with the Adviser as may be reasonably requested from time to time. In connection with the periodic review and annual report required to be prepared by the CCO pursuant to Rule 38a-1, the Adviser agrees to provide certifications as may be reasonably requested by the CCO related to the design and implementation of the Adviser’s compliance program; |
(ix) | comply with the Trusts’ policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings of the Funds as described in the Trusts’ current registration statement, and upon request from the Manager, provide a certification to the Manager with respect to compliance with the Funds’ selective disclosure policy; |
(x) | treat confidentially and as proprietary all records and other information relating to the Funds, and not use records and information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Manager or when so requested by the Manager or required by law or regulation; |
4 |
(xi) | promptly notify the Manager of any impending change of a portfolio manager, portfolio management strategy or any other material matter that may require disclosure to the Board and/or shareholders of the Funds; |
(xii) | provide the Manager with a current and complete copy of the Adviser’s Form ADV, and any supplements or amendments thereto; |
(xiii) | provide the Manager with a current list of persons the Adviser wishes to have authorized to give instructions to the Trust’s custodian regarding assets of the Funds; |
(xiv) | be responsible for the filing of Schedule 13D/13G and Form 13F, and any non-U.S. securities filing equivalents of these filings, on behalf of the Trust reflecting holdings over which the Adviser and its affiliates have investment and/or voting discretion; |
(xv) | provide reasonable assistance to the Manager, the Trust or its agent in processing class action paperwork, for any security held within the Funds managed by the Adviser; |
(xvi) | not permit any employee of the Adviser to have any material connection with the handling of the Funds if such employee has been permanently or temporarily enjoined by reason of any misconduct, by order, judgment, or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction or regulatory authority, from acting as an investment adviser or from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with any such activity or in connection with the purchase or sale of any security; |
(xvii) | regularly report to the Manager on the investment program for the Funds and the issuers and securities represented in the Funds, and furnish the Manager, with respect to the Funds, such periodic and special reports as the Manager may reasonably request, including, but not limited to, reports concerning transactions and performance of each Fund, reports regarding compliance with the Trust’s procedures pursuant to Rules 17e-1, 17a-7, 10f-3 and 12d3-1 under the Investment Company Act, Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act, compliance with investment guidelines and restrictions, trade errors, liquidity determinations, and compliance with the Adviser’s Code of Ethics, and such other procedures or requirements that the Manager may reasonably request from time to time; |
(xviii) | promptly review the Trust’s prospectus and statement of additional information applicable to the Funds, and any amendments or supplements thereto, which relate to the Adviser or the Funds and confirm that, with respect to the disclosure respecting or relating to the Adviser, including any performance information the Adviser provides that is included in or serves as the basis for information included in the prospectus or statement of additional information, such prospectus or statement of additional information contains no untrue statement of any material fact and does not omit any statement of material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading. The Adviser further agrees to notify the Manager immediately of any material fact known to the Adviser respecting or relating to the Adviser that is not contained in the prospectus or statement of additional information for the Trust, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or of any statement respecting or relating to the Adviser contained therein that becomes untrue in any material respect. With respect to the disclosure respecting each Fund, the Adviser represents and agrees that the description in the Trust’s prospectus and statement of additional information regarding investment objectives and strategies is |
5 |
consistent with the manner in which the Adviser intends to manage the Funds, and the description of risks is consistent with risks known to the Adviser that arise in connection with the manner in which the Adviser intends to manage the Funds. The Adviser further agrees to notify the Manager immediately in the event that the Adviser becomes aware that the prospectus or statement of additional information for a Fund is inconsistent in any material respect with the manner in which the Adviser is managing the Fund, and in the event that the principal risks description is inconsistent in any material respect with the risks known to the Adviser that arise in connection with the manner in which the Adviser is managing the Fund. In addition, the Adviser agrees to comply with the Manager’s reasonable request for information regarding the personnel of the Adviser who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Trust’s assets as may be required to be disclosed in the prospectus or statement of additional information;
(xix) | Upon request, provide certifications to the principal executive and financial officers of the Trust (the “certifying officers”) that support the certifications required to be made by the certifying officers in connection with the preparation and/or filing of the Trust’s Form N-CSRs, N-Qs, shareholder reports, financial statements, and other disclosure documents or regulatory filings, in such form and content as the Trust shall reasonably request or in accordance with procedures adopted by the Trust; and |
(xx) | provide the Manager with such other compliance reports and certifications relating to its duties under this Agreement and the federal securities laws as may be reasonably necessary. |
2. Portfolio Transactions . The Adviser is authorized to select the brokers or dealers (including, to the extent permitted by law and applicable Trust guidelines, the Adviser or any of its affiliates) that will execute the purchases and sales of portfolio securities for the Funds and is directed to use its best efforts to obtain best execution as described in the Trust's current registration statement as amended from time to time. In selecting brokers or dealers, the Adviser may give consideration to factors other than price, including, but not limited to, research services and market information. Any such services or information which the Adviser receives in connection with activities for the Trust may also be used for the benefit of other clients and customers of the Adviser or any of its affiliates. The Adviser will promptly communicate to the Manager and to the officers and the Board such information relating to portfolio transactions as they may reasonably request. The Adviser shall not, without the prior approval of the Manager, effect any transactions which would cause the portion of the Fund’s assets designated to the Adviser to be out of compliance with any restrictions or policies of the Fund established by the Manager or set forth in the Fund’s registration statement. The Adviser shall not consult with any other investment sub-adviser of the Fund concerning transactions for the Fund in securities or other assets.
3. Voting Rights . Unless otherwise directed by the Manager, the Adviser shall receive and exercise the voting rights with respect to any and all proxies regarding the assets in the Funds in the best interest of Portfolio shareholders and in accordance with the Adviser’s then current proxy voting policy and procedures, a copy of which has been provided to the Manager. The Adviser shall report to the Manager in a timely manner a record of all proxies voted, in such form and format that complies with acceptable federal statutes and regulations (e.g., requirements of Form N-PX), including a record of all proxies not voted and/or voted inconsistently with Adviser’s proxy voting guidelines. The Adviser shall certify at least annually, or more often as may reasonably be requested by the Manager, as to the compliance of its proxy voting policies and procedures with applicable federal statutes and regulations.
The Manager reserves the right to exercise voting rights on any assets held in the Funds on an individual security or ongoing basis.
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4. Compensation of the Adviser . For the services to be rendered by the Adviser as provided in Sections 1, 2, and 3 of this Agreement, the Trust shall pay to the Adviser compensation at the rate specified in Schedule(s) attached hereto and made a part of this Agreement. Such compensation shall be accrued daily and paid to the Adviser monthly in arrears, and the Trust shall calculate the fee by applying the annual percentage rate(s) as specified in the attached Schedule(s) to the average daily net assets of the specified Funds during the relevant month. Solely for the purpose of calculating the applicable annual percentage rates specified in the attached Schedule(s), there shall be included such other assets as are specified in said Schedule(s). The Fund is solely responsible for the payment of fees to the Adviser.
The Adviser agrees: (1) that the blended fee rate in basis points contracted hereunder with respect to the American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund will not exceed the blended fee rate in basis points contracted with an account of the same or smaller size (including other accounts managed for the same client); and (2) that the actual annual dollar fee paid by any other client of the same or larger size for whom the Adviser provides investment advisory services under an asset based fee arrangement (i.e., not a performance fee arrangement) will not be less than the actual annual dollar fee paid hereunder. In the event that the fee charged hereunder exceeds the fee charged to an account described in (1) or (2) above, the Adviser shall promptly notify the Manager and the fee charged hereunder shall automatically be reduced to match the fee charged to such other account from the time such fee is charged to such other account.
With the exception of certain legal expenses described below, the Adviser shall bear all expenses incurred by it and its staff with respect to all activities in connection with the performance of the Adviser’s services under this Agreement, including but not limited to salaries, benefits, overhead, travel, and preparation of reports. Upon request by the Manager, Adviser agrees to reimburse the Manager for costs associated with certain supplements to the Fund’s disclosure documents (“Supplements”). Such Supplements are those generated due to changes by Adviser requiring prompt disclosure in the Trust’s prospectus, statement of additional information, and/or information statement and for which, at the time of reasonable advance notification by Adviser to Manager of such changes, the Trust is not already generating a supplement for other purposes or for which the Manager may not be able to reasonably add such changes to a pending supplement. Such changes by Adviser include, but are not limited to, changes to its structure, to key investment personnel, to investment style or management. Adviser shall reimburse the Manager or the Trust, as applicable, for all of the costs associated with generating such Supplements, and/or any required Board and/or proxy expenses related to approving a change in control of the Adviser. Reimbursable costs may include, but are not limited to, costs of preparation, filing, printing, postage, and/or distribution of such Supplements
7 |
to all existing Fund shareholders. With the Manager’s approval, on a case-by-case basis the Adviser may obtain the authority and take on the responsibility to: (i) identify, evaluate and pursue legal claims, including commencing or defending suits, affecting the securities held at any time in the Funds, including claims in bankruptcy, class action securities litigation and other litigation; (ii) participate in such litigation or related proceedings with respect to such securities as the Adviser deems appropriate to preserve or enhance the value of the Funds, including filing proofs of claim and related documents and serving as “lead plaintiff” in class action lawsuits; (iii) exercise generally any of the powers of an owner with respect to the supervision and management of such rights or claims, including the settlement, compromise or submission to arbitration of any claims, the exercise of which the Adviser deems to be in the best interest of the Funds or required by applicable law, including ERISA, and (iv) employ suitable agents, including legal counsel, and to pay their reasonable fees, expenses and related costs from the Funds.
5. Other Services . At the request of the Trust or the Manager, the Adviser in its discretion may make available to the Trust office facilities, equipment, personnel, and other services. Such office facilities, equipment, personnel and services shall be provided for or rendered by the Adviser and billed to the Trust or the Manager at a price to be agreed upon by the Adviser and the Trust or the Manager.
6. Reports . The Manager (on behalf of the Trust) and the Adviser agree to furnish to each other, if applicable, current prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, certified copies of their financial statements, and such other information with regard to their affairs as each may reasonably request.
7. Status of Adviser . The services of the Adviser to the Trust are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Adviser and its directors, officers, employees and affiliates shall be free to render similar services to others so long as its services to the Trust are not impaired thereby. The Adviser shall be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Manager or the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent to the Manager or the Trust.
8. Certain Records . Any records required to be maintained and preserved pursuant to the provisions of Rule 31a-1 and Rule 31a-2 promulgated under the Investment Company Act or the Derivatives Recordkeeping and Reporting Rules that are prepared or maintained by the Adviser on behalf of the Manager or the Trust are the property of the Manager or the Trust and will be surrendered promptly to the Manager or Trust on request, provided that the Adviser shall be entitled to retain a copy of such records if it is legally required to do so.
9. Liability of Adviser . The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, the Manager, any affiliated person within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Manager, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Manager or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the
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securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Trust which may be based upon any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of, the Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Adviser. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
10. Permissible Interests . To the extent permitted by law, Trustees, agents, and shareholders of the Trust are or may be interested in the Adviser (or any successor thereof) as directors, partners, officers, or shareholders, or otherwise; directors, partners, officers, agents, and shareholders of the Adviser are or may be interested in the Trust as Trustees, shareholders or otherwise; and the Adviser (or any successor thereof) is or may be interested in the Trust as a shareholder or otherwise; provided that all such interests shall be fully disclosed between the parties on an ongoing basis and in the Trust's registration statement as required by law.
11. Duration and Termination . This Agreement, unless sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue for two years after its initial approval as to each Fund and thereafter for periods of one year for so long as such continuance thereafter is specifically approved at least annually (a) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (b) by the Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund; provided, however, that if the shareholders of any Fund fail to approve the Agreement as provided herein, the Adviser may continue to serve hereunder in the manner and to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act and rules thereunder. The foregoing requirement that continuance of this Agreement be "specifically approved at least annually" shall be construed in a manner consistent with the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. This Agreement may be terminated as to any Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Manager upon not less than (30) thirty days nor more than (60) sixty days prior notice to the Adviser, by vote of a majority of the Board of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund on not less than (30) thirty days nor more than (60) sixty days written notice to the Adviser, or by the Adviser at any time without the payment of any penalty, on sixty (60) days written notice to the Trust. This Agreement will automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its assignment.
A notice period provided in this Section may be waived by the party required to be notified, in their absolute discretion.
As used in this Section 11, the terms "assignment", "interested persons", and a "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject to such exemptions as may be granted by the SEC under said Act.
12. Severability . If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, statute, rule or otherwise, such provision will be modified, rewritten or interpreted to include as much of its nature and scope as will render it enforceable. If it cannot be so modified, rewritten or interpreted to be valid and enforceable in any respect, it will not be given effect, and the remainder of the Agreement will be enforced as if such provision had never been included.
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13. Amendments . This Agreement may be amended by mutual written consent, subject to approval by the Board and the Fund’s shareholders to the extent required by the Investment Company Act, subject to such exemptions as may be granted by the SEC under said Act.
14. Miscellaneous .
(a) Governing Law and Venue . This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of Texas without giving effect to any conflict of laws provisions thereof.
(b) Use of Name. Adviser authorizes Manager’s use of the Adviser’s service marks and/or trademarks in connection with the marketing of the Fund(s), including but not limited to, the Fund(s)’ registration statements and fact sheets. In addition, the Manager acknowledges and agrees that it has no rights in or to the Adviser’s name beyond the limited use rights granted herein.
(c) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.
(d) No Implied Waiver . Either party’s failure to insist in any one or more instances upon strict performance by the other party of the terms of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any continuing or subsequent failure to perform or delay in performance of any term hereof.
(e) Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties and supersedes any and all prior or contemporaneous understandings and agreements, whether oral or written, between the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(f) Headings . Headings used in this Agreement are provided for convenience only and shall not be used to construe meaning or intent.
(g) Notices . Any notices required to be given hereunder may be delivered by hand, facsimile, deposited with a nationally recognized overnight carrier, or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, in each case, to the address of the other party listed below (or such other address as may be furnished by a party in accordance with this paragraph). All such notices or communications shall be deemed to have been given and received (a) in the case of personal delivery or facsimile, on the date of such delivery, (b) in the case of delivery by a nationally recognized overnight carrier, the earlier of (i) the date of receipt or (ii) the third business day following dispatch and (c) in the case of mailing, on the seventh business day following such mailing. All such notices shall be delivered to:
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A. | If to the Manager: |
American Beacon Advisors, Inc.
200 East Las Colinas Blvd.
Suite 1200
Irving, TX 75039
Attention: Chief Investment Officer
with a copy to General Counsel at the same address.
Facsimile: 817-391-6131
B. | If to the Adviser: |
Sound Point Capital Management, L.P.
375 Park Avenue, 25 th Floor
New York, NY 10152
Attention: Brian Feldman, General Counsel
Facsimile: 917-591-5903
15. Trust and Shareholder Liability . The Adviser is hereby expressly put on notice of the limitation of shareholder liability as set forth in the Declaration of Trust and agrees that obligations assumed by the Trust pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in all cases to the Trust and its assets, and if the liability relates to one or more Fund, the obligations hereunder shall be limited to the respective assets of that Fund. The Adviser further agrees that it shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders or any individual shareholder of the Fund, nor from the Board or any individual Trustee of the Trust.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers, or shareholders of the Trust individually.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first written above.
Sound Point Capital Management, L.P. | American Beacon Advisors, Inc. | ||
By: | /s/ Kevin Gerlitz | By: /s/ Jeffrey K. Ringdahl | |
Kevin Gerlitz | Jeffrey K. Ringdahl | ||
Chief Financial Officer | Chief Operating Officer | ||
American Beacon Funds | |||
By: | /s/ Gene L. Needles, Jr. | ||
Gene L. Needles, Jr. | |||
President |
12 |
Schedule A
To the
Investment Advisory Agreement
Among
American Beacon Funds
American Beacon Advisors, Inc.
and
Sound Point Capital Management, L.P.
The American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund (“the Fund”), a series of American Beacon Funds (the “Trust”) shall pay Sound Point Capital Management, L.P. (“Adviser”) pursuant to Section 4 of the Investment Advisory Agreement among the Trust, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and the Adviser for rendering investment management services with respect to the Fund the following fee for all net Fund assets under Adviser’s management.
All assets 0.35%
If the management of the accounts commences or terminates at any time other than the beginning or end of a calendar month, the fee shall be prorated based on the portion of such calendar month during which the Agreement was in force.
Dated: as of December 9, 2015
Sound Point Capital Management, L.P. | American Beacon Advisors, Inc. | ||
By: | /s/ Kevin Gerlitz | By: /s/ Jeffrey K. Ringdahl | |
Kevin Gerlitz | Jeffrey K. Ringdahl | ||
Chief Financial Officer | Chief Operating Officer | ||
American Beacon Funds | |||
By: | /s/ Gene L. Needles, Jr. | ||
Gene L. Needles, Jr. | |||
President |
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Exhibit 99(h)(16)(S)
November 10, 2015
American Beacon Funds (the “Trust”)
4151 Amon Carter Blvd, MD 2450
Fort Worth, TX 76155
Re: Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
American Beacon Advisors, Inc. notifies you that, for the fund listed in Attachment A to this letter (the “Fund”), it will waive its management fee and/or reimburse expenses of the Fund, to the extent necessary so that expenses of the Fund, exclusive of taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, securities lending fees, expenses associated with securities sold short, litigation, and other extraordinary expenses, do not exceed the annual rates listed on Attachment A .
During the period until the expiration date of each expense limitation in Attachment A , the related expense limitation arrangements for the Fund may only be modified by mutual agreement of the parties that, with respect to the Trust, includes a majority vote of the “non-interested” Trustees of the Trust.
We understand and intend that you will rely on this undertaking in preparing and filing the Registration Statements on Form N-1A for the Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in accruing the Fund’s expenses for purposes of calculating its net asset value per share and for other purposes permitted under Form N-1A and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and expressly permit you to do so.
Respectfully, | ||
American Beacon Advisors, Inc. | ||
By: | /s/ Gene L. Needles, Jr. | |
Name: | Gene L. Needles, Jr. | |
Title: | President and CEO |
Agreed and Accepted on behalf of the Trust |
||
By: | /s/ Melinda G. Heika | |
Name: | Melinda G. Heika | |
Title: | Treasurer |
A copy of the document establishing the Trust is filed with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This Agreement is executed by the officer not as an individual and is not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust individually but only upon the assets of the Fund.
Attachment A
American Beacon Funds
Annual | ||||||||
Expense % | ||||||||
Fund | Class | Limit | Expiration | |||||
Sound Point Floating Rate Income | Instl | 0.84 | % | 12/31/2017 | ||||
Sound Point Floating Rate Income | Y | 0.94 | % | 12/31/2017 | ||||
Sound Point Floating Rate Income | Investor | 1.22 | % | 12/31/2017 | ||||
Sound Point Floating Rate Income | A | 1.24 | % | 12/31/2017 | ||||
Sound Point Floating Rate Income | C | 1.99 | % | 12/31/2017 |
Exhibit 99(i )
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K&L Gates LLP 1601 K Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20006 T +1 202 778 9000 F +1 202 778 9100 klgates.com |
December 9, 2015
American Beacon Funds
220 East Las Colinas Boulevard, Suite 1200
Irving, Texas 75039
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to American Beacon Funds, a business trust formed under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the “ Trust ”), in connection with Post-Effective Amendment No. 237 (the “ Post-Effective Amendment ”) to the Trust's registration statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 033-11387; 811-04984) (the “ Registration Statement ”), to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) on or about December 9, 2015, registering an indefinite number of A Class, C Class, Y Class, Institutional Class, Investor Class, and SP Class shares of beneficial interest in the American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund (the “ Fund ”), a series of the Trust, (the “ Shares ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”).
This opinion letter is being delivered at your request in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 29 of Schedule A of the Securities Act and Item 28(i) of Form N-1A under the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”).
For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of:
(i) | the relevant portions of the prospectus and statement of additional information (collectively, the “ Prospectus ”) filed as part of the Post-Effective Amendment; |
(ii) | the declaration of trust and bylaws of the Trust in effect on the date of this opinion letter; and |
(iii) | the resolutions adopted by the trustees of the Trust relating to the Post-Effective Amendment, the establishment and designation of the Fund and the Shares of each class, and the authorization for issuance and sale of the Shares. |
We also have examined and relied upon certificates of public officials and, as to certain matters of fact that are material to our opinions, we have relied on a certificate of an officer of the Trust. We have not independently established any of the facts on which we have so relied.
For purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed the accuracy and completeness of each document submitted to us, the genuineness of all signatures on original documents, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified, conformed, or photostatic copies thereof, and the due execution and delivery of all documents where due execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof. We have further assumed the legal capacity of natural persons, that persons identified to us as officers of the Trust are actually serving in such capacity, and that the representations of officers of the Trust are correct as to matters of fact. We have not independently verified any of these assumptions.
|
Page 2
December 9, 2015 |
The opinions expressed in this opinion letter are based on the facts in existence and the laws in effect on the date hereof and are limited to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the provisions of the Investment Company Act that are applicable to equity securities issued by registered open-end investment companies. We are not opining on, and we assume no responsibility for, the applicability to or effect on any of the matters covered herein of any other laws.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that (1) the Shares to be issued pursuant to the Post-Effective Amendment, when issued and paid for by the purchasers upon the terms described in the Post-Effective Amendment and the Prospectus, will be validly issued, and (2) such purchasers will have no obligation to make any further payments for the purchase of the Shares or contributions to the Trust solely by reason of their ownership of the Shares.
This opinion is rendered solely in connection with the filing of the Post-Effective Amendment. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission in connection with the Post-Effective Amendment and to the reference to this firm’s name under the heading “Other Service Providers” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement or Prospectus within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in Section 11 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission, nor do we admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ K&L Gates LLP
Exhibit 99(j)
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the use of our report dated October 30, 2015 on the financial statements and financial highlights of Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund, a series of shares of beneficial interest in the Trust for Advised Portfolios. Such financial statements and financial highlights appear in the August 31, 2015 Annual Report to Shareholders that is incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional Information on Form N-1A of American Beacon Funds.
BBD, LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
December 9, 2015
Exhibit 99(p)(44)
Code of Ethics
Effective August 2012, as amended August 2014
This Code of Ethics (“Code”) is adopted in compliance with the requirements of U.S. securities laws applicable to registered investment advisers. Registered investment advisers are required by Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”) and Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”) (where applicable), to adopt a code of ethics which, among other things, sets forth the standards of business conduct required of their supervised persons and requires those supervised persons to comply with the federal securities laws. This Code has been adopted to prevent prohibited conduct as set forth below.
Standards of Business Conduct
Sound Point seeks to foster a reputation for integrity and professionalism. That reputation is a vital business asset. The confidence and trust placed in us by our clients is something we value and endeavor to protect. To further that goal, we have adopted this Code and implemented policies and procedures to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and manipulative practices and to ensure compliance with the Federal Securities Laws and the fiduciary duties owed to our clients.
We are fiduciaries and as such, we have affirmative duties of care, honesty, loyalty and good faith to act in the best interests of our clients. Our clients’ interests are paramount and come before our personal interests. Our Access Persons and Supervised Persons, as those terms are defined in this Code, are also expected to behave as fiduciaries with respect to our clients. This means that each must render disinterested advice, protect client assets (including nonpublic information about a client or a client account) and act always in the best interest of our clients. We must also strive to identify and avoid conflicts of interest, however such conflicts may arise.
Access Persons and Supervised Persons of Sound Point must not:
· | employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud a client; |
· | make to a client any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state to a client a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; |
· | engage in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon a client; |
· | engage in any manipulative practice with respect to a client; |
· | use their positions, or any investment opportunities presented by virtue of their positions, to personal advantage or to the detriment of a client; or |
· | conduct personal trading activities in contravention of this Code or applicable legal principles or in such a manner as may be inconsistent with the duties owed to clients as a fiduciary. |
To ensure compliance with these restrictions and the Federal Securities Laws, as defined in this Code, we have adopted, and agreed to be governed by, the provisions of this Code. However, Access Persons and Supervised Persons are expected to comply not merely with the “letter of the law,” but also with the spirit of the law, this Code, and Sound Point’s Investment Adviser Policies and Procedures Manual.
Should you have any doubt as to whether this Code applies to you, you should contact Brian Feldman, the Chief Compliance Officer of Sound Point (“CCO”).
1. Definitions
As used in the Code, the following terms have the following meanings:
1.1. | Access Persons include (i) any Supervised Person of Sound Point who (a) has access to nonpublic information regarding any client’s purchase or sale of securities; or (b) is involved in making securities recommendations to clients or has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic and (ii) any other person who the CCO determines to be an Access Person (see Beneficial Ownership definition, below). |
The CCO will inform all Access Persons of their status as such and will maintain a list of Access Persons on Appendix A.
1.2. | Beneficial Ownership generally means having a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a security and is legally defined to be beneficial ownership as used in Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). However, transactions or holdings reports required by Section 5 of this Code may contain a statement that the report will not be construed as an admission that the person making the report has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the security or securities to which the report relates. An Access Person is deemed to have Beneficial Ownership over the accounts of any member sharing the same household and any other relationship that the CCO determines could lead to conflicts of interest. |
1.3. | Federal Securities Laws means: (i) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”); (ii) Exchange Act; (iii) the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; (iv) the Investment Company Act of 1940, (v) the Advisers Act; (vi) title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act; (vii) any rules adopted by the SEC under the foregoing statutes; (viii) the Bank Secrecy Act, as it applies to funds and investment advisers; and (ix) any rules adopted under relevant provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act by the SEC or the Department of the Treasury. |
1.4. | Initial Public Offering (“IPO”) means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Exchange Act Sections 13 or 15(d). |
1.5. | Limited Offering means an offering that is exempt from registration under Securities Act Sections 4(2) or 4(6), or pursuant to Securities Act Rules 504, 505 or 506. Limited Offerings include, without limitation, offerings of securities issued by the private funds advised by Sound Point. |
1.6. | Purchase or Sale of a Security includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a security. |
1.7. | Reportable Security means any security as defined in Advisers Act Section 202(a)(18) and Investment Company Act Section 2(a)(36) except (i) direct obligations of the Government of the United States; (ii) bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; (iii) shares issued by money market funds; (iv) shares issued by open-end funds; and (v) shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end funds. |
1.8. | Security Held by a Client means any Reportable Security which is currently held by a client. This definition also includes any option to purchase or sell, and any security convertible into or exchangeable for, a Reportable Security. |
2. Pre-Approval Requirements for Access Persons
2.1. | IPO and Limited Offering Restrictions . Access Persons may not acquire any securities issued as part of an IPO or a Limited Offering, absent prior approval in writing from the CCO. Any such approval will take into account, among other factors, whether the investment opportunity should be reserved for a client and whether the investment opportunity is being offered to the person because of his or her position with Sound Point. |
1. | Reportable Securities . Access Persons may not acquire any Reportable Securities absent prior approval in writing from the CCO. Shares of exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds not advised by Sound Point are excepted from the pre-approval requirement. In considering an Access Person’s request to engage in a transaction involving a Reportable Security, the CCO shall consider whether the transaction involves a security on the Restricted List or is a Security Held by a Client, in which case the approval shall not be granted, and whether the transaction is otherwise consistent with the Code. Pre-Approval shall be valid for the date of such approval and the next trading day (commonly known as “T+1”). |
2.2. | Transactions in Securities Held by a Client . Access Persons may not engage in a transaction in any Security Held by a Client. Shares of exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds not advised by Sound Point are excepted from this requirement. |
2.3. | Transactions in securities of Restricted List issuers. Access Persons may not engage in a transaction in any public security of any issuer on Sound Point’s Restricted List. |
2.4. | 30 Day Holding Period . Absent the prior written consent of the CCO, no Access Person may sell a Reportable Security within 30 days of acquiring the Reportable Security. |
2.5. | Prohibition on Self Pre-clearance or Approval . No Access Person shall pre-clear his own trades, review his own reports or approve his own exemptions from this Code. When such actions are to be undertaken with respect to the CCO, Kevin Gerlitz will perform such actions as are required of the CCO by this Code. |
3. Additional Requirements
3.1. | Fair Treatment . Access Persons must avoid taking any action which would favor one client or group of clients over another, in violation of our fiduciary duties and applicable law. Access Persons must comply with relevant provisions of our compliance manuals designed to detect, prevent or mitigate such conflicts. |
3.2. | Service as Outside Director, Trustee or Executor . Access Persons shall not serve on the boards of directors of publicly traded companies, or in any similar capacity, absent the prior approval of such service by the CCO following the receipt of a written request for such approval. In the event such a request is approved, “Chinese Wall” procedures may be utilized to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Other than by virtue of their position with the firm or with respect to a family member, no Access Person may serve as a trustee, executor or fiduciary. Similarly, Access Persons may not serve on a creditor’s committee. In appropriate circumstances the CCO may grant exemptions from this provision. |
4. Required Reports
4.1. | Initial and Annual Holdings Reports. Each Access Person must submit to the CCO a report: (i) not later than ten (10) days after becoming an Access Person, reflecting the Access Person’s Reportable Securities as of a date not more than 45 days prior to becoming an Access Person; and (ii) annually, on a date selected by the CCO, as of a date not more than 45 days prior to the date the report was submitted. |
4.2. | Holdings reports must contain the following information: |
(a) | the title and type of security and as applicable, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares, and principal amount of each Reportable Security in which the Access Person has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership; |
(b) | the name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the Access Person maintains an account in which any securities are held for the Access Person’s direct or indirect benefit. (Note that even those accounts which hold only non-Reportable Securities, must be included); and |
(c) | the date the Access Person submits the report. |
4.3. | Quarterly Transaction Reports. Within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, each Access Person must submit a report to the CCO covering all transactions in Reportable Securities during the preceding calendar quarter other than those excepted from the reporting requirements. |
4.4. | Quarterly Transaction Reports must contain the following information: |
(a) | the date of the transaction, the title and as applicable, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, interest rate and maturity date, number of shares, and principal amount of each Reportable Security involved; |
(b) | the nature of the transaction ( i.e. , purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition); |
(c) | the price of the security at which the transaction was effected; |
(d) | the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected; and |
(e) | the date the Access Person submits the report. |
4.5. | Exceptions to Reporting Requirements . The reporting requirements of this Section 4 apply to all transactions in Reportable Securities other than: |
(a) | transactions with respect to securities held in accounts over which the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control; and |
(b) | transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan (i.e., any program in which regular periodic purchases or withdrawals are made automatically in or from investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation, including, but not limited to, any dividend reinvestment plan (“DRIP”); and |
(c) | transactions with respect to accounts that do not have the ability to trade Reportable Securities (such as a 401(k) plan that only allows for mutual fund trading). |
4.6. | Matching of Reports. Reports submitted pursuant to this Section 4 shall be matched (i) to prior pre-approval submissions to confirm Access Persons are correctly requesting necessary pre-approvals and (ii) to Initial Holdings Reports to ensure all Reportable Securities are being disclosed. |
4.7. | Duplicate Statements and Confirms . In order to satisfy the reporting requirements of this Section 4, each Access Person, with respect to each brokerage account in which such Access Person has any direct or indirect beneficial interest, must arrange to have his/her broker mail all brokerage statements, confirmations, and other periodic reports directly to the CCO at the same time they are mailed or furnished to such Access Person. To the extent that a duplicate brokerage statement lacks some of the information otherwise required to be reported, the missing information must be submitted as a supplement to the statement or confirmation. |
5. Code Notification and Access Person Certifications
The CCO shall provide notice to all Access Persons of their status under this Code, and shall deliver a copy of the Code to each Access Person annually. Additionally, each Access Person will be provided a copy of any Code amendments. After reading the Code or amendment, each Supervised Person shall make the certification contained in Exhibit A. Annual certifications are due within ten (10) days after the end of each calendar year. Certifications with respect to amendments to the Code must be returned to the CCO within a reasonably prompt time. To the extent that any Code-related training sessions or seminars are held, the CCO shall keep records of such sessions and the Access Persons attending.
6. Review of Required Code Reports
6.1. | Reports required to be submitted pursuant to the Code will be reviewed by the CCO or a designee on a periodic basis. |
6.2. | Any material violation or potential material violation of the Code must be promptly reported to the CCO. The CCO will investigate any such violation or potential violation and determine the nature and severity of the violation. All violations will be handled on a case-by-case basis in a manner deemed appropriate by the CCO. In each case of a violation, the CCO must determine what actions, if any, are required to cure the violation and prevent future violations. |
6.3. | The CCO will keep a written record of all investigations in connection with any Code violations, including any action taken as a result of the violation. |
6.4. | Sanctions for violations of the Code may include: verbal or written warnings and censures, monetary sanctions, disgorgement, suspension or dismissal. Where a particular client has been harmed by the violative action, disgorgement may be paid directly to the client; otherwise, monetary sanctions shall be paid to an appropriate charity determined by the CCO. |
7. Recordkeeping and Review
Sound Point will maintain records (which shall be available for examination by the SEC staff) in accordance with Sound Point’s Policy Regarding Recordkeeping , and specifically shall maintain:
(i) | a copy of this Code of Ethics and any other preceding code of ethics that, at any time within the past 5 years, has been in effect in an easily accessible place; |
(ii) | a record of any Code of Ethics violation and of any sanctions imposed for a period of not less than 5 years following the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred, the first 2 years in an easily accessible place; |
(iii) | a copy of each report made by an Access Person under this Code of Ethics for a period of not less than 5 years from the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, the first 2 years in an easily accessible place; |
(iv) | a record of all persons who are, or within the past 5 years have been, required to submit reports under this Code of Ethics, or who are or were responsible for reviewing these reports for a period of at least 5 years after the end of the fiscal year in which the report was submitted, the first 2 years in an easily accessible place; and |
(v) | a record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition by an Access Person of Securities acquired in an Initial Public Offering or Limited Offering, for a period of at least 5 years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted, the first 2 years in an easily accessible place. |
To the extent appropriate and permissible, the CCO may choose to keep such records electronically.
The CCO shall review this Code and its operation annually and may determine to make amendments to the Code as a result of that review. Non-material amendments to this Code should be made no more frequently than annually and shall be distributed as described in Section 5. Material amendments to the Code may be made at any time. Annually, the CCO will, where required:
¨ create a written report that describes any material violations that arose under the Code since the last annual report, remedial steps taken, and sanctions imposed;
¨ certify that Sound Point has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent violations of the Code; and
¨ present this report and certification to Sound Point’s senior management and to the Board of Trustees/Directors of all registered investment companies advised by Sound Point.
8. Reporting Violations
Any Access Person who believes that a violation of this Code has taken place must promptly report that violation to the CCO or to the CCO’s designee. To the extent that such reports are provided to a designee, the designee shall provide periodic updates to the CCO with respect to violations reported. Access Persons may make these reports anonymously and no adverse action shall be taken against an Access Person making such a report in good faith.
9. Waivers .
The CCO may grant waivers of any substantive restriction in appropriate circumstances ( e.g ., personal hardship) and will maintain records necessary to justify such waivers.
10. Confidentiality
All reports of securities transactions and other information filed pursuant to this Code of Ethics shall be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.
11. Gifts, rebates, contributions or other payments
Sound Point will take reasonable steps to ensure that neither it nor its Supervised Persons offer or give, or solicit or accept, in the course of business, any inducements which may lead to conflicts of interest between Sound Point and its Clients. Supervised Persons generally may not solicit gifts or gratuities nor give inducements, except in accordance with this Code of Ethics. The term “inducements” means gifts, entertainment and similar benefits which are offered to or given by Supervised Persons. Gifts of nominal value or those that are customary in the industry such as meals or entertainment may be appropriate. Any cash gift or any form of a loan by a Supervised Person to a Client or by a Client to a Supervised Person is not allowed. A relaxation of, or exemption from, these procedures may only be granted by the CCO.
Discretion must be used in accepting gifts, including invitations for dinners, entertainment, golf outings, sporting events, theater, etc. No Access Person may accept any gift or preferential treatment (except customary business entertainment such meals and entertainment) valued at more than $200) from any person or entity that: (i) does business with Sound Point; (ii) is or may appear to be connected with any present or future business dealings between Sound Point and such person or entity; or (iii) may create or appear to create a conflict of interest, without the express permission of the CCO. Similarly, no Access Person should offer any gifts that could be viewed as influencing the decision making or otherwise could be considered as creating a conflict of interest on the part of the recipient.
12. Outside Employment or Other Activities
Sound Point Supervised Persons are generally prohibited from being employed or compensated by any other entity, serving on the board of directors of any publicly traded companies, and similar conduct except with the prior authorization of the CCO. Any employment or other outside activity by a Supervised Person may result in possible conflicts of interests for the Supervised Person or for Sound Point and therefore must be reviewed and approved by the CCO. Outside activities, which must be reviewed and approved, include the following:
(1) | being employed or compensated by any other entity; |
(2) | engaging in any other business including part-time, evening or weekend employment; or |
(3) | serving as an officer, director, partner, etc . , in any other entity. |
Written approval for any of the above activities is to be obtained by a Supervised Person before undertaking any such activity so that a determination may be made that the activities do not interfere with any of the Supervised Person’s responsibilities at Sound Point and any conflicts of interests which may be created by such activities may be addressed. An Supervised Person seeking approval shall provide the following information to the CCO: (1) the name and address of the outside business organization; (2) a description of the business of the organization; (3) compensation, if any, to be received; (4) a description of the activities to be performed; and (5) the amount of time per month that will be spent on the outside activity. Because Sound Point encourages Supervised Person involvement in charitable, nonpublic organization, civic and trade association activities, these outside activities will generally be approved unless a clear conflict of interest exists. Supervised Persons must update annually any requests for approval of an outside activity.
Clients governed by the Investment Company Act of 1940 may place additional restrictions on outside business activities and the CCO shall ensure that Supervised Persons adhere to such restrictions.
Records of requests for approval along with the reasons such requests were granted or denied are maintained by the CCO.
Enforcement of this Code of Ethics
CCO’s Duties and Responsibilities
The CCO shall be primarily responsible for administering and enforcing the provisions of this Code of Ethics. The CCO shall:
(i) | maintain a current list of all Access Persons; |
(ii) | supervise, implement and enforce the terms of this Code of Ethics; |
(iii) | (a) provide each Access Person with a current copy of this Code of Ethics and any amendments thereto, (b) notify each person who becomes an Access Person of the reporting requirements and other obligations under this Code of Ethics at the time such person becomes an Access Person, and (c) require each Access Person to provide a signed Certificate of Compliance for the Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policy; |
(iv) | maintain a list of all Securities which Sound Point recommends, holds, or is purchasing or selling, or intends to recommend purchase or sell on behalf of its Clients; |
(v) | determine whether any particular Personal Securities Transactions should be exempted pursuant to the provisions this Code of Ethics; |
(vi) | maintain files of statements and other information to be reviewed for the purpose of monitoring compliance with this Code of Ethics, which information shall be kept confidential by Sound Point, except as required to enforce this Code of Ethics, or to participate in any investigation concerning violations of applicable law; |
(vii) | review all Holdings Reports required to be provided by each Access Person pursuant to this Code of Ethics: (a) for each new Access Person, to determine if any conflict of interest or other violation of this Code of Ethics results from such person becoming an Access Person; and (b) for all Access Persons, to determine whether a violation of this Code of Ethics has occurred; |
(viii) | review on a quarterly basis all Securities reported on the Quarterly Transaction Reports required to be provided by each Access Person pursuant to this Code of Ethics for such calendar quarter to determine whether a Code of Ethics violation may have occurred; |
(ix) | review any other statements, records and reports required by this Code of Ethics; and |
(x) | review on a periodic basis and update as necessary, this Code of Ethics. |
Violations of this Code of Ethics
If the CCO determines that a violation of this Code of Ethics has occurred, the CCO shall prepare a record of explanatory material regarding such violation and shall immediately take remedial or corrective action. The CCO shall monitor his own Securities holdings and transactions in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in this Policy.
If the CCO finds that a Supervised Person has violated this Code of Ethics, the CCO will impose upon such Supervised Person sanctions that the CCO deems appropriate in view of the facts and circumstances. Sanctions with respect to any Supervised Person (other than a principal) may include written warning, suspension or termination of employment, a letter of censure and/or restitution of an amount equal to the difference between the price paid or received by the offending Supervised Person. In addition, Sound Point reserves the right to require the offending Supervised Person to reverse, cancel or freeze, at the Supervised Person’s expense, any transaction or position in a specific Security if Sound Point believes the transaction or position violates this Code of Ethics and/or Sound Point’s general fiduciary duty to its Clients, or otherwise appears improper.
All violations of this Code of Ethics must be immediately reported to the CCO.
Exhibit 99.OTHER
POWER OF ATTORNEY
I, Gilbert G. Alvarado , Trustee of the American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds (collectively, the “Trusts”), hereby constitute and appoint Rosemary K. Behan, Trinh N. Lai, and Teresa A. Oxford, each of them with the power to act without any other and with full power of substitution, my true and lawful attorney with full power to sign for me in my capacity as Trustee for the Trusts any Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any amendments thereto of the Trusts and all instruments necessary or desirable in connection therewith, hereby ratifying and confirming my signature as it may be signed by said attorney to any and all amendments to said Registration Statements.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this instrument has been signed below by the following in my capacity and on the 2nd day of June, 2015.
/s/ Gilbert G. Alvarado
Gilbert G. Alvarado, Trustee
POWER OF ATTORNEY
I, Joseph B. Armes , Trustee of the American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds (collectively, the “Trusts”), hereby constitute and appoint Rosemary K. Behan, Trinh N. Lai, and Teresa A. Oxford, each of them with the power to act without any other and with full power of substitution, my true and lawful attorney with full power to sign for me in my capacity as Trustee for the Trusts any Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any amendments thereto of the Trusts and all instruments necessary or desirable in connection therewith, hereby ratifying and confirming my signature as it may be signed by said attorney to any and all amendments to said Registration Statements.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this instrument has been signed below by the following in my capacity and on the 2nd day of June, 2015.
/s/ Joseph B. Armes
Joseph B. Armes, Trustee
POWER OF ATTORNEY
I, Gerard J. Arpey , Trustee of the American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds (collectively, the “Trusts”), hereby constitute and appoint Rosemary K. Behan, Trinh N. Lai, and Teresa A. Oxford, each of them with the power to act without any other and with full power of substitution, my true and lawful attorney with full power to sign for me in my capacity as Trustee for the Trusts any Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any amendments thereto of the Trusts and all instruments necessary or desirable in connection therewith, hereby ratifying and confirming my signature as it may be signed by said attorney to any and all amendments to said Registration Statements.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this instrument has been signed below by the following in my capacity and on the 2nd day of June, 2015.
/s/ Gerard J. Arpey
Gerard J. Arpey, Trustee
POWER OF ATTORNEY
I, W. Humphrey Bogart , Trustee of the American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds (collectively, the “Trusts”), hereby constitute and appoint Rosemary K. Behan, Trinh N. Lai, and Teresa A. Oxford, each of them with the power to act without any other and with full power of substitution, my true and lawful attorney with full power to sign for me in my capacity as Trustee for the Trusts any Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any amendments thereto of the Trusts and all instruments necessary or desirable in connection therewith, hereby ratifying and confirming my signature as it may be signed by said attorney to any and all amendments to said Registration Statements.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this instrument has been signed below by the following in my capacity and on the 2nd day of June, 2015.
/s/ W. Humphrey Bogart
W. Humphrey Bogart, Trustee
POWER OF ATTORNEY
I, Brenda A. Cline , Trustee of the American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds (collectively, the “Trusts”), hereby constitute and appoint Rosemary K. Behan, Trinh N. Lai, and Teresa A. Oxford, each of them with the power to act without any other and with full power of substitution, my true and lawful attorney with full power to sign for me in my capacity as Trustee for the Trusts any Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any amendments thereto of the Trusts and all instruments necessary or desirable in connection therewith, hereby ratifying and confirming my signature as it may be signed by said attorney to any and all amendments to said Registration Statements.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this instrument has been signed below by the following in my capacity and on the 2nd day of June, 2015.
/s/ Brenda A. Cline
Brenda A. Cline, Trustee
POWER OF ATTORNEY
I, Eugene J. Duffy , Trustee of the American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds (collectively, the “Trusts”), hereby constitute and appoint Rosemary K. Behan, Trinh N. Lai, and Teresa A. Oxford, each of them with the power to act without any other and with full power of substitution, my true and lawful attorney with full power to sign for me in my capacity as Trustee for the Trusts any Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any amendments thereto of the Trusts and all instruments necessary or desirable in connection therewith, hereby ratifying and confirming my signature as it may be signed by said attorney to any and all amendments to said Registration Statements.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this instrument has been signed below by the following in my capacity and on the 2nd day of June, 2015.
/s/ Eugene J. Duffy
Eugene J. Duffy, Trustee
POWER OF ATTORNEY
I, Thomas M. Dunning , Trustee of the American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds (collectively, the “Trusts”), hereby constitute and appoint Rosemary K. Behan, Trinh N. Lai, and Teresa A. Oxford, each of them with the power to act without any other and with full power of substitution, my true and lawful attorney with full power to sign for me in my capacity as Trustee for the Trusts any Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any amendments thereto of the Trusts and all instruments necessary or desirable in connection therewith, hereby ratifying and confirming my signature as it may be signed by said attorney to any and all amendments to said Registration Statements.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this instrument has been signed below by the following in my capacity and on the 2nd day of June, 2015.
/s/ Thomas M. Dunning
Thomas M. Dunning, Trustee
POWER OF ATTORNEY
I, Alan D. Feld , Trustee of the American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds (collectively, the “Trusts”), hereby constitute and appoint Rosemary K. Behan, Trinh N. Lai, and Teresa A. Oxford, each of them with the power to act without any other and with full power of substitution, my true and lawful attorney with full power to sign for me in my capacity as Trustee for the Trusts any Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any amendments thereto of the Trusts and all instruments necessary or desirable in connection therewith, hereby ratifying and confirming my signature as it may be signed by said attorney to any and all amendments to said Registration Statements.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this instrument has been signed below by the following in my capacity and on the 2nd day of June, 2015.
/s/ Alan D. Feld
Alan D. Feld, Trustee
POWER OF ATTORNEY
I, Richard A. Massman , Trustee of the American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds (collectively, the “Trusts”), hereby constitute and appoint Rosemary K. Behan, Trinh N. Lai, and Teresa A. Oxford, each of them with the power to act without any other and with full power of substitution, my true and lawful attorney with full power to sign for me in my capacity as Trustee for the Trusts any Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any amendments thereto of the Trusts and all instruments necessary or desirable in connection therewith, hereby ratifying and confirming my signature as it may be signed by said attorney to any and all amendments to said Registration Statements.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this instrument has been signed below by the following in my capacity and on the 2nd day of June, 2015.
/s/ Richard A. Massman
Richard A. Massman, Trustee
POWER OF ATTORNEY
I, Barbara J. McKenna , Trustee of the American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds (collectively, the “Trusts”), hereby constitute and appoint Rosemary K. Behan, Trinh N. Lai, and Teresa A. Oxford, each of them with the power to act without any other and with full power of substitution, my true and lawful attorney with full power to sign for me in my capacity as Trustee for the Trusts any Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any amendments thereto of the Trusts and all instruments necessary or desirable in connection therewith, hereby ratifying and confirming my signature as it may be signed by said attorney to any and all amendments to said Registration Statements.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this instrument has been signed below by the following in my capacity and on the 2nd day of June, 2015.
/s/ Barbara J. McKenna
Barbara J. McKenna, Trustee
POWER OF ATTORNEY
I, R. Gerald Turner , Trustee of the American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds (collectively, the “Trusts”), hereby constitute and appoint Rosemary K. Behan, Trinh N. Lai, and Teresa A. Oxford, each of them with the power to act without any other and with full power of substitution, my true and lawful attorney with full power to sign for me in my capacity as Trustee for the Trusts any Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any amendments thereto of the Trusts and all instruments necessary or desirable in connection therewith, hereby ratifying and confirming my signature as it may be signed by said attorney to any and all amendments to said Registration Statements.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this instrument has been signed below by the following in my capacity and on the 2nd day of June, 2015.
/s/ R. Gerald Turner
R. Gerald Turner, Trustee