As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 24, 2007
File No. 033-65137
File No. 811-7455
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
the SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Pre-Effective Amendment No. | ¨ | |||
Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 | x |
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under the INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 | ¨ | |||
Amendment No. 28 | x |
(Check appropriate box or boxes)
Phoenix Opportunities Trust
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
101 Munson Street, Greenfield, Massachusetts 01301
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
c/o Phoenix Equity Planning CorporationShareholder Services
(800) 243-1574
(Registrants Telephone Number, including Area Code)
Counsel and Chief Legal Officer:
Kevin J. Carr, Esq.
Vice President and Counsel
Phoenix Life Insurance Company
One American Row
Hartford, Connecticut 06102-5056
John H. Beers, Esq.
Vice President and Clerk
Phoenix Life Insurance Company
One American Row
Hartford, Connecticut 06102-5056
(Name and address of Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
x | immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) on pursuant to paragraph (b) |
¨ | 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |
¨ | on or at such later date as the Commission shall order pursuant to paragraph (a)(3) |
¨ | 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) |
¨ | on 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. |
The current prospectus contained in Part A of Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the 1933 Act) and No. 24 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), filed on January 30, 2007, and the current prospectuses contained in Part A of Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 under the 1933 Act and No. 26 under the 1940 Act, filed on June 27, 2007, are incorporated by reference herein. This Post-Effective Amendment is being filed for the sole purpose of completing the registration of additional series in the trust, which series are contained in two additional separate prospectuses.
Prospectus
INTERNATIONAL FUNDS
Phoenix Foreign Opportunities
Phoenix International Real Estate Securities Fund
Phoenix International Strategies Fund
Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund
TRUST NAME: PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
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September 24, 2007
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Not FDIC Insured |
No Bank Guarantee |
May Lose Value |
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus contains important information that you should know before investing in Phoenix Foreign Opportunities, Phoenix International Real Estate Securities Fund, Phoenix International Strategies Fund and Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund. Please read it carefully and retain it for future reference.
Phoenix Opportunities Trust
Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund
Investment Risk and Return Summary
Investment Objective
Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. There is no guarantee that the fund will achieve its objective. The funds investment
Principal Investment Strategies
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Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the funds assets are invested in equity securities of issuers located outside the United States, including issuers in emerging markets countries. The fund intends to diversify its investments among countries and normally to have represented in the portfolio business activities of a number of different countries. At February 28, 2007, the fund was invested in issuers representing approximately 16 different countries. The funds policy of investing 80% of its assets in foreign equity securities may be changed only upon 60 days written notice to shareholders. |
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The fund will primarily hold securities of companies listed on a foreign securities exchange or quoted on an established foreign over-the-counter market, or American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). The fund typically invests in the securities of medium to large capitalization companies, but it is not limited to investing in the securities of companies of any particular size. |
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Generally, the subadviser uses a bottom-up stock and business analysis approach. The subadviser makes its assessments by examining companies one at a time, regardless of size, country of organization, place of principal business activity, or other similar selection criteria. The fund may invest substantially all of its assets in common stocks if the subadviser believes that common stocks will appreciate in value. The subadviser seeks to identify undervalued companies whose businesses are highly profitable, have consistent operating histories and financial performance and enjoy possible long-term economic prospects. |
A company may be undervalued when, in the opinion of the subadviser, the company is selling for a price that is below its intrinsic worth. A company may be undervalued due to market or economic conditions, temporary earnings declines, unfavorable developments affecting the company or other factors. Such factors may include buying opportunities at attractive prices compared to the subadvisers calculation of future earnings power. The subadviser believes that buying these securities at a price that is below their intrinsic worth may generate greater returns for the fund than those obtained by paying a premium price for companies currently in favor in the market.
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Most of the funds assets are invested in equity securities of issuers in countries that are generally considered to have developed markets. The subadviser employs diversification by country and industry in an attempt to reduce risk. |
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The subadviser seeks to achieve attractive absolute returns that exceed the normalized risk-free rate, defined as the rate of return available on long-term government securities or their equivalent in each country in which the fund invests. Utilization of an absolute rather than a relative valuation yardstick is designed to achieve not only a satisfactory return over the risk-free rate, but at the same time seek safety of principal. The subadviser considers the riskiness of an investment to be a function of the issuers business rather than the volatility of its stock price. |
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In determining which portfolio securities to sell, the subadviser focuses on the operating results of the portfolio companies, not price quotations, to measure the success of an investment. In making sell decisions, the subadviser considers, among other things, whether a securitys price target has been met, whether there has been an overvaluation of the issuer by the market, whether there has been a clear deterioration of future earnings power and whether, in the subadvisers opinion, there has been a loss of a long-term competitive advantage. |
2 | Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund |
Temporary Defensive Strategy: If the subadviser does not believe that market conditions are favorable to the funds principal investment strategies, the fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its principal investment strategies by investing all of its assets in domestic and foreign short-term money market instruments, including government obligations, certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances, time deposits, commercial paper, short-term corporate debt securities and repurchase agreements. When this allocation happens, the fund may not achieve its investment objective.
Please see Additional Investment Techniques for other investment techniques of the fund.
Risks Related to Principal Investment Strategies
If you invest in this fund, you risk losing your investment.
General
The value of the funds investments that supports your share value may decrease. If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the funds investments decreases, you will lose money.
Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, specific industries or companies in which the fund invests can be worse than expected and investments may fail to perform as the adviser or subadviser expects. As a result, the value of your shares may decrease.
Emerging Market Investing Risk
Investments in less-developed countries whose markets are still emerging generally present risks in greater degree than those presented by investments in foreign issuers based in countries with developed securities markets and more advanced regulatory systems. Prior governmental approval may be required in some developing countries for the release of investment income, capital and sale proceeds to foreign investors, and some developing countries may limit the extent of foreign investment in domestic companies. Emerging market countries often suffer from currency devaluation and higher rates of inflation.
Developing countries may be adversely affected by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed by countries with which they trade and may also be affected by economic conditions in such countries. In addition, a negative situation or condition that affects the market in one emerging market region may have a negative impact on all emerging market regions due to the so-called ripple effect.
Equity Securities Risk
Generally, prices of equity securities are more volatile than those of fixed income securities. The prices of equity securities will rise and fall in response to a number of different factors. In particular, equity securities will respond to events that affect entire financial markets or industries (such as changes in inflation or consumer demand) and to events that affect particular issuers (such as news about the success or failure of a new product).
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Large Market Capitalization Companies. Companies with large market capitalizations go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. Larger companies tend to be less volatile than companies with smaller market capitalizations. In exchange for this potentially lower risk, the funds value may not rise as much as the value of funds that emphasize companies with smaller market capitalizations. |
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Small and Medium Market Capitalization Companies. Companies with smaller market capitalizations are often companies with a limited operating history or companies in industries that have recently emerged due to cultural, economic, regulatory or technological developments. Such developments can have a significant impact or negative effect on small and medium market capitalization companies and their stock performance and can make investment returns highly volatile. Product lines are often less diversified and more susceptible to competitive threats. Smaller market capitalization stocks are subject to varying patterns of trading volume and may, at times, be difficult to sell. |
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Value Stocks. Value stocks involve the risk that the value of the security will not be recognized for an unexpectedly long period of time and that the security is not undervalued but is appropriately priced due to fundamental problems not yet apparent. Value-oriented funds typically underperform when growth investing is in favor. |
Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund | 3 |
Foreign Investing Risk
Investing in securities of non-U.S. companies involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies, such as less publicly available information about foreign countries; political and economic instability within countries; differences in financial reporting standards and transaction settlement systems; the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation; and changes in investment or exchange regulations.
Some investments may be made in currencies other than the U.S. dollar that will fluctuate in value as a result of changes in the currency exchange rates. Exchange rate fluctuations can cause the value of your shares to decrease or increase. Generally, when the value of the U.S. dollar increases against the foreign currency in which an investment is denominated, the security tends to decrease in value which, in turn, may cause the value of your shares to decrease.
4 | Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund |
Performance Tables
The Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund, a series of Phoenix Opportunities Trust (Successor Fund), is the successor of the Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund, a series of Phoenix Adviser Trust (Predecessor Fund), resulting from a reorganization of the Predecessor Fund with and into the Successor Fund on September 24, 2007. The Predecessor Fund and the Successor Fund have identical investment objectives and strategies. The Successor Fund has adopted the past performance of the Predecessor Fund as its own. The performance tables also include the performance history of a prior fund that was reorganized into the Predecessor Fund on October 13, 2003 (the Prior Fund). From October 13, 2003 to June 20, 2005, the Prior Funds investment program and general operations were managed by a different investment adviser. Therefore, the performance tables below include the performance of the shares of the Predecessor Fund and the Prior Fund prior to the Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Funds commencement date.
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the funds Class A Shares performance from year to year over a 10-year period. (1) The table shows how the funds average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index and to a more narrowly-based benchmark that reflects the market sectors in which the fund invests. The funds past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.
Calendar Year
(1) The funds annual returns in the chart above do not reflect the deduction of any sales charges. The returns would have been less than those shown if sales charges were deducted. During the 10-year period shown in the chart above, the highest return for a quarter was 34.02% (quarter ended December 31, 1999) and the lowest return for a quarter was -18.82% (quarter ended March 31, 2001). Year-to-date performance (through June 30, 2007) is 8.54%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/06) (2) |
Since Inception (3) | ||||||||
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | Class C | ||||||
Class A |
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Return Before Taxes |
21.86% | 16.86% | 8.89% | | |||||
Return After Taxes on Distributions (4) |
21.27% | 16.22% | 7.57% | | |||||
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares (4) |
14.90% | 14.68% | 7.18% | | |||||
Class C |
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Return Before Taxes |
28.28% | | | 25.65% | |||||
S&P 500 ® Index (5) |
15.78% | 6.19% | 8.44% | 12.96% | |||||
Morgan Stanley Capital International EAFE ® Index (Net) (6) |
26.34% | 14.98% | 7.71% | 22.00% | (7) |
(2) The funds average annual returns in the table above reflect the deduction of the maximum sales charge for an investment in the funds Class A Shares and a full redemption in the funds Class C Shares.
(3) Class C Shares since October 10, 2003.
(4) 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 taxes. The after-tax returns shown in the table above are for Class A Shares; after-tax returns for Class C Shares will vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investors tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
(5) The S&P 500 ® Index is a free-float market capitalization-weighted index of 500 of the largest U.S. companies. The index is calculated on a total-return basis with net dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment; therefore, its performance does not reflect the fees, expenses or taxes associated with the active management of an actual portfolio.
(6) The MSCI EAFE ® Index (Net) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that measures developed foreign market equity performance, excluding the U.S. and Canada. The index is calculated on a total-return basis with net dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment; therefore, its performance does not reflect the fees, expenses or taxes as associated with the active management of an actual portfolio.
(7) Index performance since October 10, 2003.
Class I Shares have been in existence only since May 15, 2006; therefore, performance information is not included since this class of shares has not had a full calendar year of investment operations.
Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund | 5 |
This table illustrates all fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
Class A
Shares |
Class C
Shares |
Class I
Shares |
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Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | None | |||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the value redeemed or the amount invested) | None (a) | 1.00% (b) | None | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | None | None | None | |||
Redemption Fee | None | None | None | |||
Exchange Fee | None | None | None | |||
Class A
Shares |
Class C
Shares |
Class I
Shares |
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Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from fund assets) | ||||||
Management Fees | 0.85% | 0.85% | 0.85% | |||
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees (c) | 0.25% | 1.00% | None | |||
Other Expenses (d) | 0.33% | 0.33% | 0.33% | |||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (e) | 1.43% | 2.18% | 1.18% | |||
(a) A contingent deferred sales charge of 1% may apply on certain redemptions made within one year following purchases on which a finders fee has been paid. The one-year period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made.
(b) The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.
(c) Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees represent an asset-based sales charge that, for a long-term shareholder, over time may be higher than the maximum front-end sales charge permitted by the FINRA.
(d) Estimated based on Predecessor Funds fiscal year ended February 28, 2007.
(e) The investment adviser has contractually agreed to limit the funds total operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) through June 30, 2008, so that such expenses do not exceed 1.35% for Class A Shares, 2.10% for Class C Shares and 1.10% for Class I Shares. Actual Total Fund Operating Expenses, after expense reimbursements, were 1.35% for Class A Shares, 2.10% for Class C Shares and 1.10% for Class I Shares. The adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed under these arrangements, and made subsequent to August 23, 2007 for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which such reimbursements occurred.
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 funds operating expenses remain the same.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | ||||
Class A | $712 | $1,001 | $1,312 | $2,190 | ||||
Class C | $321 | $682 | $1,169 | $2,513 | ||||
Class I | $120 | $375 | $649 | $1,432 |
6 | Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund |
You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | ||||
Class C | $221 | $682 | $1,169 | $2,513 |
Note: The example does not include the effects of the expense reimbursement obligations of the adviser; therefore, your actual expenses may be lower than those shown.
The Adviser and Subadviser
Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. (Phoenix) is the investment adviser to the fund and is located at 56 Prospect Street, Hartford, CT 06115. Phoenix acts as the investment adviser for over 50 mutual funds and as adviser to institutional clients. As of June 30, 2007, Phoenix had approximately $1.7 billion in assets under management. Phoenix has acted as an investment adviser for over 70 years.
Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. (formerly named Vontobel USA Inc.) (Vontobel), 1540 Broadway, 38 th Floor, New York, NY 10036, serves as subadviser to the fund. Vontobel is a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of Vontobel Holding AG, a Swiss bank holding company, having its registered offices in Zurich, Switzerland. In addition to U.S. registered investment companies, Vontobel also acts as the adviser to five series of a Luxembourg investment fund that accepts investments from non-U.S. investors only and that was organized by an affiliate of Vontobel. Vontobel has provided investment advisory services to mutual fund clients since 1990. As of June 30, 2007, Vontobel managed in excess of $7.6 billion.
Subject to the direction of the funds Board of Trustees, Phoenix is responsible for managing the funds investment program and the general operations of the fund, including oversight of the funds subadviser and recommending its hiring, termination and replacement. Vontobel, as subadviser, is responsible for day-to-day management of the funds portfolio. Phoenix and Vontobel manage the funds assets to conform with the investment policies as described in this prospectus.
The fund pays Phoenix a monthly investment management fee that is accrued daily against the value of the funds net assets at the rate of 0.85%.
Phoenix has contractually agreed to limit the funds total operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) through June 30, 2008, so that such expenses do not exceed the following percentages of the average annual net asset values for the fund.
Class A Shares | Class C Shares | Class I Shares | ||
1.35% | 2.10% | 1.10% |
The adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed under this arrangement, and made subsequent to August 23, 2007, for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which such reimbursements occurred.
Phoenix pays Vontobel a subadvisory fee at the rate of 0.425%.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees approving the investment advisory and subadvisory agreements is expected to be available in the funds 2007 semiannual report covering the period from March 1, 2007 through August 31, 2007.
The fund and Phoenix have received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission that permits Phoenix, subject to certain conditions, and without the approval of shareholders, to: (a) employ a new unaffiliated investment adviser for a fund pursuant to the terms of a new subadvisory agreement, in each case either as a replacement for an existing subadviser or as an additional subadviser; (b) change the terms of any subadvisory agreement; and (c) continue the employment of an existing
Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund | 7 |
subadviser on the same subadvisory contract terms where a contract has been assigned because of a change in control of the subadviser. In such circumstances, shareholders would receive notice of such action, including the information concerning the new subadviser that normally is provided in a proxy statement.
Portfolio Management
Rajiv Jain is a Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Vontobel and Portfolio Manager of the fund. Mr. Jain joined Vontobel in 1994 as an equity analyst and associate manager of its international equity portfolios. Mr. Jain has been the portfolio manager of the fund (or its predecessor) since February 2002.
Please refer to the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about the funds portfolio manager, including the structure of and method of computing compensation, other accounts he manages and his ownership of shares of the fund.
8 | Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund |
Phoenix International Real Estate Securities Fund
Investment Risk and Return Summary
Investment Objectives
Phoenix International Real Estate Securities Fund has a primary investment objective of long-term capital appreciation, with a secondary investment objective of income. There is no guarantee that the fund will achieve its objectives. The funds investment objectives may be changed without shareholder approval.
Principal Investment Strategies
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Under normal circumstances, the fund invests 80% of its assets in equity securities issued by non-U.S companies of any capitalization that are principally engaged in the real estate industry, including common stock, preferred stock and other equity securities issued by real estate companies, such as real estate investment trusts (REITs) and similar REIT-like entities. An issuer is considered principally engaged in the real estate industry if at least 50% of its gross revenues or net profits come from the ownership, development, construction, financing, management or sale of real estate. Similar to a domestic REIT, a non-U.S. real estate company generally is not subject to corporate income tax in its home country, provided it distributes a significant percentage of its net income each year to stockholders, and meets certain other regulatory requirements. The fund is not limited to investing only in REITs or REIT-like entities; however, it will invest a significant portion of its assets in these types of issuers. The fund does not make direct investments in real estate. The funds policy of investing 80% of its assets in real estate related securities may be changed only upon 60 days written notice to shareholders. |
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Under normal market conditions, the fund expects to invest in a number of different countries and regions. The fund intends to diversify its investments among countries and regions and normally to have represented in the portfolio business activities of approximately 11 to 18 different countries. The fund may, at times, invest up to 20% of its assets in U.S. REIT securities. Additionally, the fund normally invests in real estate related securities of issuers in developed countries, however it may invest up to 20% of its assets in issuers domiciled in emerging market countries. |
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The fund will concentrate its assets in the real estate industry. The fund is non-diversified under federal securities laws. |
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In managing the funds portfolio, the subadviser will utilize an investment process that is primarily bottom-up in its approach, with an emphasis on superior stock selection over country and property sector allocation. The subadviser identifies superior real estate companies by performing an in-depth fundamental business analysis on securities within the targeted investment universe, which includes a qualitative and quantitative assessment of management and operations, portfolio strategy and financial strength. Using proprietary valuation models, the subadviser seeks to identify undervalued companies or those companies that are selling for a price that is below the subadvisers estimate of their intrinsic value. The portfolio construction process is guided by the outcomes of the company and valuation analytical work within the confines of a risk management overlay as it pertains to diversification, liquidity and other risk factors. |
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Securities are evaluated for sale if their market value exceeds the subadvisers estimated value, if their financial performance is expected to decline or if the subadviser believes the issuer fails to adjust its strategy to the real estate market cycle. |
Temporary Defensive Strategy: When the subadviser believes there are extraordinary risks associated with investment in real estate related securities, the fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its principal investment strategies. When this allocation happens, the fund may not achieve its investment objectives.
Please refer to Additional Investment Techniques for other
Risks Related to Principal Investment Strategies
If you invest in this fund, you risk losing your investment.
Phoenix International Real Estate Securities Fund | 9 |
General
The value of the funds investments that supports your share value may decrease. If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the funds investments decreases, you will lose money.
Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, the real estate industry and specific companies in which the fund invests can be worse than expected and investments may fail to perform as the subadviser expects. As a result, the value of your shares may decrease.
Equity Securities Risk
Generally, prices of equity securities are more volatile than those of fixed income securities. The prices of equity securities will rise and fall in response to a number of different factors. In particular, equity securities will respond to events that affect entire financial markets or industries (such as changes in inflation or consumer demand) and to events that affect particular issuers (such as news about the success or failure of a new product).
· |
Large Market Capitalization Companies. Companies with large market capitalizations go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. Larger companies tend to be less volatile than companies with smaller market capitalizations. In exchange for this potentially lower risk, the funds value may not rise as much as the value of funds that emphasize companies with smaller market capitalizations. |
Emerging Market Investing Risk
Investments in less-developed countries whose markets are still emerging generally present risks in greater degree than those presented by investment in foreign issuers based in countries with developed securities markets and more advanced regulatory systems. Prior governmental approval may be required in some developing countries for the release of investment income, capital and sale proceeds to foreign investors, and some developing countries may limit the extent of foreign investment in domestic companies. Emerging market countries often suffer from currency devaluation and higher rates of inflation.
Developing countries may be adversely affected by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed by countries with which they trade and may also be affected by economic conditions in such countries. In addition, a negative situation or condition that affects the market in one emerging market region may have a negative impact on all emerging market regions due to the so-called ripple effect.
Foreign Investing Risk
Investing in securities of non-U.S. companies involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies, such as less publicly available information about foreign countries; political and economic instability within countries; differences in financial reporting standards and transaction settlement systems; the possibility of confiscatory taxation and expropriation; and changes in investment or exchange regulations.
Some investments may be made in currencies other than the U.S. dollar that will fluctuate in value as a result of changes in the currency exchange rates. Exchange rate fluctuations can cause the value of your shares to decrease or increase. Generally, when the value of the U.S. dollar increases against the foreign currency in which an investment is denominated, the security tends to decrease in value which, in turn, may cause the value of your shares to decrease.
To the extent the fund invests 25% or more of its assets in a particular country, the fund is more vulnerable to financial, economic or other political developments in that country. Additionally, to the extent the fund concentrates its investments in a particular country, conditions that negatively impact that country will have a greater impact on this fund as compared to a fund that cannot concentrate holdings in a particular country.
10 | Phoenix International Real Estate Securities Fund |
Non-Diversification Risk
As a non-diversified investment company, the fund is not limited in the proportion of assets that it may invest in the securities of any one issuer. Diversifying a funds portfolio can reduce the risks of investing. As a non-diversified investment company, the fund may be subject to greater risk since it can invest a greater proportion of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers. If the fund takes concentrated positions in a small number of issuers, changes in the price of those securities may cause the funds return to fluctuate more than that of a diversified investment company.
Real Estate Industry Concentration Risk
Concentrating its investments in the real estate industry presents additional risk. Securities of companies in other industries may provide greater investment return in certain market conditions as compared to companies in the real estate industry. Moreover, conditions that negatively impact the real estate industry will have a greater impact on this fund as compared to a fund that does not concentrate in this industry.
The fund will not invest in real estate directly, but only in securities issued by real estate companies. However, the fund may be subject to risks similar to those associated with the direct ownership of real estate because of its policy of concentrating its investments in the securities of companies in the real estate industry. These include declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions, dependence on management skill, cash flow dependence, possible lack of availability of long-term mortgage funds, over-building, extended vacancies of properties, decreased occupancy rates and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in neighborhood values and the appeal of the properties to tenants and changes in interest rates.
REIT Securities Risk
Equity REITs may be affected by changes in
value of the underlying properties they own, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, equity and mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally are not diversified. Equity and mortgage
REITs are also subject to potential defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status of income under the Internal Revenue Code and failing to maintain exemption from the Investment Company Act of
1940. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments. In addition, investment in REITs
Performance Tables
Performance information is not included since the fund has not had a full calendar year of investment operations.
Phoenix International Real Estate Securities Fund | 11 |
This table illustrates all fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
Class A
Shares |
Class C
Shares |
Class I
Shares |
||||
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | None | |||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the value redeemed or the amount invested) | None (a) | 1.00% (b) | None | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | None | None | None | |||
Redemption Fee | None | None | None | |||
Exchange Fee | None | None | None | |||
Class A
Shares |
Class C
Shares |
Class I
Shares |
||||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from fund assets) | ||||||
Management Fees | 1.00% | 1.00% | 1.00% | |||
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees (c) | 0.25% | 1.00% | None | |||
Other Expenses (d) | 0.54% | 0.54% | 0.54% | |||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.79% | 2.54% | 1.54% | |||
Expense Reduction (e) | (0.29)% | (0.29)% | (0.29)% | |||
Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.50% | 2.25% | 1.25% | |||
(a) A contingent deferred sales charge of 1% may apply on certain redemptions made within one year following purchases on which a finders fee has been paid. The one-year period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made.
(b) The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.
(c) Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees represent an asset-based sales charge that, for a long-term shareholder, over time may be higher than the maximum front-end sales charge permitted by the FINRA.
(d) Estimated at this time.
(e) Contractual arrangement with the funds investment adviser to limit the funds total operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) through January 31, 2009, so that such expenses do not exceed 1.50% for Class A Shares, 2.25% for Class C Shares and 1.25% for Class I Shares. The adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed under this arrangement, and made subsequent to August 23, 2007, for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which such reimbursements occurred.
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 funds operating expenses remain the same.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | ||
Class A | $719 | $1,070 | ||
Class C | $328 | $753 | ||
Class I | $127 | $448 |
12 | Phoenix International Real Estate Securities Fund |
You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | ||
Class C | $228 | $753 |
The example assumes that the expense reimbursement obligations of the adviser are in effect through January 31, 2009. Thereafter, the example does not reflect any reimbursement obligations.
The Adviser and Subadviser
Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. (Phoenix) is the investment adviser to the fund and is located at 56 Prospect Street, Hartford, CT 06115. Phoenix acts as the investment adviser for over 50 mutual funds and as adviser to institutional clients. As of June 30, 2007, Phoenix had approximately $1.7 billion in assets under management. Phoenix has acted as an investment adviser for over 70 years.
Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. (Duff & Phelps), an affiliate of Phoenix, is the subadviser to the fund and is located at 55 East Monroe Street, Suite 3600, Chicago, IL 60603. Duff & Phelps acts as subadviser to four mutual funds and as adviser to three closed-end mutual funds and to institutional clients. Duff & Phelps (together with its predecessor) has been in the investment advisory business for more than 70 years. As of June 30, 2007, Duff & Phelps had approximately $7.5 billion in assets under management on a discretionary basis.
Subject to the direction of the funds Board of Trustees, Phoenix is responsible for managing the funds investment program and the general operations of the fund, including oversight of the funds subadviser and recommending its hiring, termination and replacement. Duff & Phelps, as subadviser, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the funds portfolio. Phoenix and Duff & Phelps manage the funds assets to conform with the investment policies as described in this prospectus.
The fund pays Phoenix a monthly investment management fee that is accrued daily against the value of the funds net assets at the following rates:
First $1 Billion | $1+ Billion through $2 Billion | $2+ Billion | ||
1.00% | 0.95% | 0.90% |
The adviser has contractually agreed to limit total operating expenses of the fund (excluding interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) through January 31, 2009, so that such expenses do not exceed the following percentages of the average annual net asset values of the fund:
Class A Shares | Class C Shares | Class I Shares | ||
1.50% | 2.25% | 1.25% |
The adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed under this arrangement, and made subsequent to August 23, 2007, for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which such reimbursements occurred.
Phoenix pays Duff & Phelps a subadvisory fee at a rate of 50% of the gross investment management fee.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees approving the investment advisory and subadvisory agreements is expected to appear in the funds semiannual report for the period October 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008.
Phoenix International Real Estate Securities Fund | 13 |
Portfolio Management
Frank J. Haggerty Jr., CFA serves as primary Portfolio Manager (since inception) and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund. Geoffrey P. Dybas, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager (since inception) provides oversight to the management of the fund.
Mr. Haggerty has served as a Portfolio Manager (since August 2007) and as a REIT senior analyst for Duff & Phelps since joining the firm in 2005, providing support for dedicated REIT products managed by Duff & Phelps, which also include the Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund; the REIT portfolio within the DNP Select Income Fund Inc., a closed-end mutual fund; the Phoenix-Duff & Phelps Real Estate Securities Series, a series of The Phoenix Edge Series Fund offered under various universal life insurance and annuity products; and separate institutional accounts. Prior to joining Duff & Phelps, Mr. Haggerty was a senior analyst and portfolio manager at ABN AMRO Asset Management for seven years.
Mr. Dybas joined Duff & Phelps in 1995 and serves as Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager. He is Senior Portfolio Manager and co-founder for all dedicated REIT portfolios managed by Duff & Phelps, which also include the Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund; the REIT portfolio within the DNP Select Income Fund Inc., a closed-end mutual fund; the Phoenix-Duff & Phelps Real Estate Securities Series, a series of The Phoenix Edge Series Fund, offered under various universal life insurance and annuity products; and separate institutional accounts.
Please refer to the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about the funds portfolio managers, including the structure of and method of computing compensation, other accounts they manage and their ownership of shares of the fund.
14 | Phoenix International Real Estate Securities Fund |
Phoenix International Strategies Fund
Investment Risk and Return Summary
Investment Objective
Phoenix International Strategies Fund has an investment objective of high total return consistent with reasonable risk. There is no guarantee that the fund will
Principal Investment Strategies
Þ |
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the funds assets are invested in securities of foreign (non-U.S.) issuers, which may include issuers located in emerging markets countries. The fund intends to diversify its investments among countries and normally to have represented in the portfolio business activities of a number of different countries. At May 31, 2007, the fund was invested in issuers representing approximately 28 different countries. From time to time, the fund may have more than 25% of its assets invested in any major industrial or developed country. |
Þ |
The fund invests primarily in common stocks of established foreign companies of any capitalization believed to have potential for growth of capital, income or both. At any time, the fund may invest exclusively or primarily either for growth or income. At June 30, 2007, the market capitalization range of the issuers in which the fund was invested ranged from $392 million to $177.9 billion. |
Þ |
The fund uses a multi-manager approach. The adviser manages the funds investment program and the general operations of the fund, including oversight of the funds subadvisers. Acadian Asset Management, Inc. (Acadian) and New Star Institutional Managers Limited (New Star), as subadvisers, each manage a portion of the funds assets based on its respective management style. The adviser makes the determination as to the allocation of the assets between the funds subadvisers. |
Þ |
Acadian employs a core approach to construct international equity portfolios. Acadian utilizes quantitative screening techniques to identify attractively valued securities. All stocks in the global equity universe are evaluated across multiple quantitative factors. |
· |
Research is focused on identifying the factors most closely associated with forecasting and identifying outperforming stocks. Factors must have statistical significance, but also must meet the common sense test of having a logical connection to the attributes of a successful company. |
· |
The country decision is considered in combination with the sector decision and driven by the stock selection process. The country/sector model applies those factors that have proven most statistically significant by market and sector based on detailed factor attribution research. |
· |
A portfolio optimization program is used to balance the expected return of the stocks with such considerations as the portfolios benchmark, desired level of risk and transaction cost estimates. |
Þ |
New Star strives to invest in companies whose return on invested capital is expected to exceed their cost of capital, that enjoy significant competitive advantages, and that it believes have good earnings momentum. Sustainable economic profits rather than accounting profits are the focus. An assessment of the liquidity environment helps determine stock and regional weightings as well as the degree of risk tolerance. Weightings at the country level may deviate significantly from the index. |
Temporary Defensive Strategy: Under abnormal market or economic conditions, the fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its principal investment strategies by investing all of its assets in domestic and foreign short-term money market instruments, including government obligations, certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances, time deposits, commercial paper, short-term corporate debt securities and repurchase agreements. When this allocation happens, the fund may not achieve its investment objectives.
Please refer to Additional Investment Techniques for other investment techniques of the fund.
Phoenix International Strategies Fund | 15 |
Risks Related to Principal Investment Strategies
If you invest in this fund, you risk losing your investment.
General
The value of the funds investments that supports your share value may decrease. If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the funds investments decreases, you will lose money.
Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, specific industries or companies in which the fund invests can be worse than expected and investments may fail to perform as the adviser or subadvisers expect. As a result, the value of your shares may decrease.
Emerging Market Investing Risk
Investments in less-developed countries whose markets are still emerging generally present risks in greater degree than those presented by investment in foreign issuers based in countries with developed securities markets and more advanced regulatory systems. Prior governmental approval may be required in some developing countries for the release of investment income, capital and sale proceeds to foreign investors, and some developing countries may limit the extent of foreign investment in domestic companies. Emerging market countries often suffer from currency devaluation and higher rates of inflation.
Developing countries may be adversely affected by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed by countries with which they trade and may also be affected by economic conditions in such countries. In addition, a negative situation or condition that affects the market in one emerging market region may have a negative impact on all emerging market regions due to the so-called ripple effect.
Equity Securities Risk
Generally, prices of equity securities are more volatile than those of fixed income securities. The prices of equity securities will rise and fall in response to a number of different factors. In particular, equity securities will respond to events that affect entire financial markets or industries (such as changes in inflation or consumer demand) and to events that affect particular issuers (such as news about the success or failure of a new product).
· |
Growth Stocks. Because growth stocks typically make little or no dividend payments to shareholders, investment return is based on a stocks capital appreciation, making return more dependent on market increases and decreases. Growth stocks are therefore more susceptible than non-growth stocks to market changes, tending to drop more sharply when markets fall. Growth-oriented funds typically underperform when value investing is in favor. |
· |
Large Market Capitalization Companies. Companies with large market capitalizations go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. Larger companies tend to be less volatile than companies with smaller market capitalizations. In exchange for this potentially lower risk, the funds value may not rise as much as the value of funds that emphasize companies with smaller market capitalizations. |
· |
Small and Medium Market Capitalization Companies. Companies with smaller market capitalizations are often companies with limited operating history or companies in industries that have recently emerged due to cultural, economic, regulatory or technological developments. Such developments can have a significant impact or negative effect on small and medium market capitalization companies and their stock performance and can make investment returns highly volatile. Product lines are often less diversified and more susceptible to competitive threats. Smaller market capitalization stocks are subject to varying patterns of trading volume and may, at times, be difficult to sell. |
· |
Value Stocks. Value stocks involve the risk that the value of the security will not be recognized for an unexpectedly long period of time, and that the security is not undervalued but is appropriately priced due to fundamental problems not yet apparent. |
16 | Phoenix International Strategies Fund |
Foreign Investing Risk
Investing in securities of non-U.S. companies involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies, such as less publicly available information about foreign countries; political and economic instability within countries; differences in financial reporting standards and transaction settlement systems; the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation; and changes in investment or exchange regulations.
Some investments may be made in currencies other than the U.S. dollar that will fluctuate in value as a result of changes in the currency exchange rates. Exchange rate fluctuations can cause the value of your shares to decrease or increase. Generally, when the value of the U.S. dollar increases against the foreign currency in which an investment is denominated, the security tends to decrease in value which, in turn, may cause the value of your shares to decrease.
To the extent the fund invests 25% or more of its assets in a particular industrial or developed country, the fund is more vulnerable to financial, economic or other political developments in that country. Additionally, to the extent the fund concentrates its investments in a particular country, conditions that negatively impact that country will have a greater impact on this fund as compared to a fund that cannot concentrate holdings in a particular country.
Multiple Subadviser Risk
The fund employs multiple subadvisers. Each subadviser independently chooses and maintains a portfolio of securities for the fund and each is responsible for investing a specific allocated portion of the funds assets. Because each subadviser manages its allocated portion of the fund independently from the other subadviser(s), the same security may be held in different portions of the fund, or may be acquired for one portion of the fund at a time when a subadviser to another portion deems it appropriate to dispose of the security from that other portion. Because each subadviser directs the trading for its own portion of the fund, and does not aggregate its transactions with those of the other subadvisers, the fund may incur higher brokerage costs than would be the case if a single subadviser were managing the entire fund.
Phoenix International Strategies Fund | 17 |
Performance Tables
The Phoenix International Strategies Fund, a series of Phoenix Opportunities Trust (Successor Fund), is the successor of the Phoenix International Strategies Fund, a series of Phoenix Multi-Portfolio Fund (Predecessor Fund), resulting from a reorganization of the Predecessor Fund with and into the Successor Fund on September 24, 2007. The Predecessor Fund and the Successor Fund have identical investment objectives and strategies. The Successor Fund has adopted the past performance of the Predecessor Fund as its own. Therefore, the performance tables below include the performance of the shares of the Predecessor Fund prior to the Phoenix International Strategies Funds commencement date.
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Phoenix International Strategies Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the funds Class A Shares performance from year to year over a 10-year period. (1) The table shows how the funds average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index and a more narrowly-based benchmark that reflects the market sectors in which the fund invests. The funds past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.
Calendar Year
(1) The funds annual returns in the chart above do not reflect the deduction of any sales charges. The returns would have been less than those shown if sales charges were deducted. During the 10-year period shown in the chart above, the highest return for a quarter was 22.34% (quarter ending March 31, 1998) and the lowest return for a quarter was -21.88% (quarter ending September 30, 2002). Year to date performance (through June 30, 2007) is 12.34%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/06) (2) |
Since Inception (3) | |||||||
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | Class C | |||||
Class A |
||||||||
Return Before Taxes |
16.62% | 11.77% | 6.67% | | ||||
Return After Taxes on Distributions (4) |
16.39% | 11.56% | 4.97% | | ||||
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares (4) |
11.09% | 10.25% | 4.89% | | ||||
Class B |
||||||||
Return Before Taxes |
18.82% | 12.27% | 6.50% | | ||||
Class C |
||||||||
Return Before Taxes |
22.79% | 12.32% | | 4.13% | ||||
S&P 500 ® Index (5) |
15.78% | 6.19% | 8.44% | 2.74% | ||||
MSCI EAFE ® Index (6) |
26.86% | 15.43% | 8.06% | 7.43% |
(2) The funds average annual returns in the table above reflect the deduction of the maximum sales charge for an investment in the funds Class A Shares and a full redemption in the funds Class B Shares and Class C Shares.
(3) Class C Shares since March 30, 1999.
(4) 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 taxes. The after-tax returns shown in the table above are for only one class of shares offered by the prospectus (Class A); after-tax returns for other classes will vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investors tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
(5) The S&P 500 ® Index is a free-float market capitalization-weighted index of 500 of the largest U.S. companies. The index is calculated on a total-return basis with dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment; therefore, its performance does not reflect the fees, expenses or taxes associated with the active management of an actual portfolio.
(6) The MSCI EAFE ® Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that measures developed foreign market equity performance, excluding the U.S. and Canada. The index is calculated on a total-return basis with net dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment; therefore, its performance does not reflect the fees, expenses or taxes associated with the active management of an actual portfolio.
18 | Phoenix International Strategies Fund |
This table illustrates all fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
Class A
Shares |
Class B
Shares |
Class C
Shares |
||||
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | None | |||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the value redeemed or the amount invested) |
None (a) |
5.00% (b) | 1.00% (c) | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | None | None | None | |||
Redemption Fee | None | None | None | |||
Exchange Fee | None | None | None | |||
Class A
Shares |
Class B
Shares |
Class C
Shares |
||||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from fund assets) | ||||||
Management Fees | 0.85% | 0.85% | 0.85% | |||
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees (d) | 0.25% | 1.00% | 1.00% | |||
Other Expenses (e) | 0.58% | 0.58% | 0.58% | |||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.68% | 2.43% | 2.43% | |||
(a) A contingent deferred sales charge of 1% may apply on certain redemptions made within one year following purchases on which a finders fee has been paid. The one-year period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made.
(b) The maximum deferred sales charge is imposed on Class B Shares redeemed during the first year; thereafter, it decreases 1% annually to 2% during the fourth and fifth years and to 0% after the fifth year.
(c) The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.
(d) Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees represent an asset-based sales charge that, for a long-term shareholder, over time may be higher than the maximum front-end sales charge permitted by the FINRA.
(e) Estimated based on Predecessor Funds fiscal year ended November 30, 2006.
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 funds operating expenses remain the same. In the case of Class B Shares, it is assumed that your shares are converted to Class A Shares after eight years. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | ||||
Class A | $736 | $1,074 | $1,435 | $2,448 | ||||
Class B | $646 | $958 | $1,296 | $2,581 | ||||
Class C | $346 | $758 | $1,296 | $2,766 |
Phoenix International Strategies Fund | 19 |
You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | ||||
Class B | $246 | $758 | $1,296 | $2,581 | ||||
Class C | $246 | $758 | $1,296 | $2,766 |
The Adviser and Subadvisers
Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. (Phoenix) is the investment adviser to the fund and is located at 56 Prospect Street, Hartford, CT 06115. Phoenix acts as the investment adviser for over 50 mutual funds and as adviser to institutional clients. As of June 30, 2007, Phoenix had approximately $1.7 billion in assets under management. Phoenix has acted as an investment adviser for over 70 years.
Acadian is a subadviser to the fund and is located at One Post Office Square, 20 th Floor, Boston, MA 02109. Acadian is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Old Mutual Asset Managers (US) LLC, which is wholly-owned by Old Mutual (US) Holdings, Inc. Old Mutual (US) Holdings, Inc. is wholly-owned by OM Group (UK) Limited. OM Group (UK) Limited is wholly-owned by Old Mutual PLC. Acadian serves as adviser to institutions and individuals. As of June 30, 2007, Acadian had approximately $79 billion in assets under management.
New Star is a subadviser to the fund and is located at 1 Knightsbridge Green, London, United Kingdom, SW1X7NE. New Star is wholly-owned by New Star Institutional Managers Holdings Limited, which is wholly-owned by New Star Asset Management Group Limited. New Star serves as investment adviser to fund vehicles registered in the European Union, charitable foundations, corporations, institutional investors and private accounts. As of June 30, 2007, New Star had approximately U.S. $18.2 billion in assets under management.
Subject to the direction of the funds Board of Trustees, Phoenix is responsible for managing the funds investment program and the general operations of the fund, including oversight of the funds subadvisers and recommending their hiring, termination and replacement. Acadian and New Star, as subadvisers, are each responsible for the day-to-day management of a portion of the funds portfolio. Phoenix, Acadian and New Star manage the funds assets to conform with the investment policies as described in this prospectus.
The fund pays Phoenix a monthly investment management fee that is accrued daily against the value of the funds net assets at the following rates:
First $1 Billion | $1+ Billion through $2 Billion | $2+ Billion | ||
0.85% | 0.80% | 0.75% |
Phoenix pays Acadian a subadvisory fee, based on the schedule below, on the aggregated international assets managed by Acadian across all Phoenix Funds subadvised by Acadian:
First $200 Million | $200+ Million through $500 Million | $500+ Million | ||
0.50% | 0.40% | 0.35% |
Phoenix pays New Star a subadvisory fee, based on the schedule below, on the aggregated international assets managed by New Star across all Phoenix Funds subadvised by New Star:
First $100 Million | $100+ Million | |
0.50% | 0.40% |
20 | Phoenix International Strategies Fund |
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees approving the investment advisory and subadvisory agreements is expected to be available in the funds 2007 annual report covering the period December 1, 2006 through November 30, 2007.
The fund and Phoenix have received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission that permits Phoenix, subject to certain conditions, and without the approval of shareholders, to: (a) employ a new unaffiliated subadviser for a fund pursuant to the terms of a new subadvisory agreement, in each case either as a replacement for an existing subadviser or as an additional subadviser; (b) change the terms of any subadvisory agreement; and (c) continue the employment of an existing subadviser on the same subadvisory agreement terms where an agreement has been assigned because of a change in control of the subadviser. In such circumstances, shareholders would receive notice of such action,
Portfolio Management
Brendan O. Bradley and Raymond F. Mui co-manage Acadians allocation of the funds portfolio (since July 2005) and are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Acadians portion of the funds investments.
Mr. Bradley is a Senior Vice President of Acadian and a senior member of the investment research team. He also manages the Phoenix Value Opportunities Fund and the Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund (international portion). Prior to joining Acadian in 2004, Mr. Bradley was a Vice President at Upstream Technologies (2002-2004), where he designed and implemented quantitative investment management systems and strategies. His professional background also includes work as a research analyst and consultant at Samuelson Portfolio Strategies (1999-2002).
Mr. Mui is a Senior Vice President of Acadian, specializing in multi-factor equity valuation frameworks and the development of investment strategies for both the developed and emerging equity markets. He also focuses on portfolio optimization tools and the use of derivative instruments for obtaining non-U.S. equity exposure. He also manages the Phoenix Value Opportunities Fund and the Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund (international portion). Prior to joining Acadian in 1991, Mr. Mui was a member of the senior technical staff at Hughes Aircraft, where he developed prototypes of command, communications and information systems.
Michal Bartek, CFA and Ian Beattie manage New Stars allocation of the funds portfolio (since July 2005). Mr. Beattie has overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of New Stars portion of the funds investments and is supported by Mr. Bartek.
Mr. Bartek is an Investment Manager of New Star and is responsible for equity research in European markets. He also manages the Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund (international portion). Prior to joining New Star in 1999, Mr. Bartek was an Equity Analyst with Robert Fleming Securities (1997-1999) and an Equity Analyst at NatWest Markets (1995-1997).
Mr. Beattie is an Investment Director of New Star and is responsible for the equity research of Asian markets. He is head of Asian (excluding Japan) equities at New Star. He also manages the Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund (international portion). Prior to joining New Star in 1996, Mr. Beattie was a Fund Manager with Royal Insurance Asset Management (1992-1996).
Please refer to the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about the funds portfolio managers, including the structure of and method of computing compensation, other accounts they manage and their ownership of shares of the fund.
Phoenix International Strategies Fund | 21 |
Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund
Investment Risk and Return Summary
Investment Objective
Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund has an investment objective of capital appreciation. There is no guarantee that the fund will achieve its objective. The funds
Principal Investment Strategies
Þ |
Under normal circumstances, the fund invests in securities of issuers located in countries throughout the world, one of which will be the United States. The fund intends to diversify its investments among countries and normally to have represented in the portfolio business activities of a number of different countries. At June 30, 2007, the fund was invested in issuers representing approximately 30 different countries. |
Þ |
The fund invests primarily in common stocks. Companies selected for fund investment may be of any capitalization and may be located in countries with developed markets and countries with emerging markets. |
Þ |
The fund uses a multi-manager approach. The adviser manages the funds investment program, the general operations of the fund, including oversight of the funds subadvisers, and the day-to-day management of the domestic portion of the funds portfolio. Acadian Asset Management, Inc. (Acadian) and New Star Institutional Managers Limited (New Star), as subadvisers, are responsible for the day-to-day management of the international portion of the funds portfolio. The adviser and the subadvisers each manage a portion of the funds assets based on its respective management style. The adviser makes the determination as to the allocation of the assets between the funds subadvisers. |
Þ |
Acadian employs a core approach to construct international equity portfolios. Acadian utilizes quantitative screening techniques to identify attractively valued securities. All stocks in the global equity universe are evaluated across multiple quantitative factors. |
· |
Research is focused on identifying the factors most closely associated with forecasting and identifying outperforming stocks. Factors must have statistical significance, but also must meet the common sense test of having a logical connection to the attributes of a successful company. |
· |
The country decision is considered in combination with the sector decision and driven by the stock selection process. The country/sector model applies those factors that have proven most statistically significant by market and sector based on detailed factor attribution research. |
· |
A portfolio optimization program is used throughout to balance the expected return of the stocks with such considerations as the portfolios benchmark, desired level of risk and transaction cost estimates. |
Þ |
New Star strives to invest in companies whose return on invested capital is expected to exceed their cost of capital, that enjoy significant competitive advantages, and that it believes have good earnings momentum. Sustainable economic profits rather than accounting profits are the focus. An assessment of the liquidity environment helps determine stock and regional weightings as well as the degree of risk tolerance. Weightings at the country level may deviate significantly from the index. |
Þ |
The adviser uses a quantitative approach coupled with fundamental analysis in its equity security selection process. The 1,500 largest capitalized stocks are ranked based on valuation, momentum and earnings related factors. The adviser seeks a desired balance of risk and return potential, including a targeted yield greater than that of the S&P 500 ® Index. The adviser does not guarantee that the targeted yield will exceed the S&P 500 ® Index. |
Þ |
The funds investment strategies may lead to a high portfolio turnover rate. A high portfolio turnover rate increases brokerage and other transaction costs to the fund, negatively affects fund performance, and may increase capital gain distributions, resulting in greater tax liability to you. |
22 | Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund |
Temporary defensive strategy: If the adviser believes that market conditions are not favorable to the funds principal strategies, the fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its principal investment strategies by investing, without limit, in U.S. government securities and in money market instruments. When this allocation happens, the fund may not achieve its investment objective.
Please see Additional Investment Techniques for other investment
Risks Related to Principal Investment Strategies
If you invest in this fund, you risk losing your investment.
General
The value of the funds investments that supports your share value may decrease. If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the funds investments decreases, you will lose money.
Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, specific industries or companies in which the fund invests can be worse than expected and investments may fail to perform as the adviser or subadvisers expect. As a result, the value of your shares may decrease.
Emerging Market Investing Risk
Investments in less-developed countries whose markets are still emerging generally present risks in greater degree than those presented by investments in foreign issuers based in countries with developed securities markets and more advanced regulatory systems. Prior governmental approval may be required in some developing countries for the release of investment income, capital and sale proceeds to foreign investors, and some developing countries may limit the extent of foreign investment in domestic companies. Emerging market countries often suffer from currency devaluation and higher rates of inflation.
Developing countries may be adversely affected by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed by countries with which they trade and may also be affected by economic conditions in such countries. In addition, a negative situation or condition that affects the market in one emerging market region may have a negative impact on all emerging market regions due to the so-called ripple effect.
Foreign Investing Risk
Investing in securities of non-U.S. companies involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies such as less publicly available information about foreign countries; political and economic instability within countries; differences in financial reporting standards and transaction settlement systems; the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation; and changes in investment or exchange regulations.
Some investments may be made in currencies other than the U.S. dollar that will fluctuate in value as a result of changes in the currency exchange rates. Exchange rate fluctuations can cause the value of your shares to decrease or increase. Generally, when the value of the U.S. dollar increases against the foreign currency in which an investment is denominated, the security tends to decrease in value which, in turn, may cause the value of your shares to decrease.
Equity Securities Risk
Generally, prices of equity securities are more volatile than those of fixed income securities. The prices of equity securities will rise and fall in response to a number of different factors. In particular, equity securities will respond to events that affect entire financial markets or industries (such as changes in inflation or consumer demand) and to events that affect particular issuers (such as news about the success or failure of a new product).
· |
Growth Stocks. Because growth stocks typically make little or no dividend payments to shareholders, investment return is based on a stocks capital appreciation, making return more dependent on market increases and decreases. Growth stocks are, therefore, more volatile than non-growth stocks, tending to drop more sharply when markets fall. Growth-oriented funds typically underperform when value investing is in favor. |
Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund | 23 |
· |
Large Market Capitalization Companies. Companies with large market capitalizations go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. Larger companies tend to be less volatile than companies with smaller market capitalizations. In exchange for this potentially lower risk, the funds value may not rise as much as the value of funds that emphasize companies with smaller market capitalizations. |
· |
Small and Medium Market Capitalization Companies. Companies with smaller market capitalizations are often companies with a limited operating history or companies in industries that have recently emerged due to cultural, economic, regulatory or technological developments. Such developments can have a significant impact or negative effect on small and medium market capitalization companies and their stock performance and can make investment returns highly volatile. Product lines are often less diversified and more susceptible to competitive threats. Smaller market capitalization stocks are subject to varying patterns of trading volume and may, at times, be difficult to sell. |
· |
Value Stocks. Value stocks involve the risk that the value of the security will not be recognized for an unexpectedly long period of time and that the security is not undervalued but is appropriately priced due to fundamental problems not yet apparent. Value-oriented funds typically underperform when growth investing is in favor. |
Multiple Subadviser Risk
The fund employs multiple subadvisers. Each subadviser independently chooses and maintains a portfolio of securities for the fund and each is responsible for investing a specific allocated portion of the funds assets. Because each subadviser manages its allocated portion of the fund independently from the other subadviser(s), the same security may be held in different portions of the fund, or may be acquired for one portion of the fund at a time when a subadviser to another portion deems it appropriate to dispose of the security from that other portion. Because each subadviser directs the trading for its own portion of the fund, and does not aggregate its transactions with those of the other subadvisers, the fund may incur higher brokerage costs than would be the case if a single subadviser were managing the entire fund.
24 | Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund |
Performance Tables
The Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund, a series of Phoenix Opportunities Trust (Successor Fund), is the successor of the Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund, a series of Phoenix Equity Trust (Predecessor Fund), resulting from a reorganization of the Predecessor Fund with and into the Successor Fund on September 24, 2007. The Predecessor Fund and the Successor Fund have identical investment objectives and strategies. The Successor Fund has adopted the past performance of the Predecessor Fund as its own. Therefore, the performance tables below include the performance of the shares of the Predecessor Fund prior to the Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Funds commencement date.
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the funds Class A Share performance from year to year over a 10-year period. (1) The table shows how the funds average annual returns compare with those of a broad-based securities market index and a more narrowly-based benchmark that reflects the market sectors in which the fund invests. The funds past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.
Calendar Year
(1) The funds annual returns in the chart above do not reflect the deduction of any sales charges. The returns would have been less than those shown if sales charges were deducted. During the period shown in the chart above, the highest return for a quarter was 19.21% (quarter ending December 31, 1998) and the lowest return for a quarter was -20.91% (quarter ending September 30, 2002). Year-to-date performance (through June 30, 2007) is 10.35%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/06) (2) |
Since Inception (3) | ||||||||
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | Class C | ||||||
Class A |
|||||||||
Return Before Taxes |
14.31% | 8.50% | 7.50% | | |||||
Return After Taxes on Distributions (4) |
14.12% | 8.35% | 5.45% | | |||||
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares (4) |
9.56% | 7.36% | 5.32% | | |||||
Class B |
|||||||||
Return Before Taxes |
16.36% | 8.98% | 7.33% | | |||||
Class C |
|||||||||
Return Before Taxes |
20.44% | 8.96% | | 4.92% | |||||
S&P 500 ® Index (5) |
15.78% | 6.19% | 8.44% | 4.13% | |||||
MSCI World SM Index (Net) (6) |
20.07% | 9.97% | 7.64% | 4.76% | (7) |
(2) The funds average annual returns reflect the deduction of the maximum sales charge for an investment in the funds Class A Shares and a full redemption in the funds Class B Shares and Class C Shares.
(3) Class C Shares since December 15, 1998.
(4) 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 taxes. The after-tax returns shown are only for Class A Shares; after-tax returns for other classes will vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investors tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
(5) The S&P 500 ® Index is a free-float adjusted market capitalization-weighted index of 500 of the largest U.S. companies. The index is calculated on a total-return basis with dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment; therefore, its performance does not reflect the fees, expenses or taxes associated with the active management of an actual portfolio.
(6) The MSCI World SM Index (Net) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that measures developed global market equity performance. The index is calculated on a total-return basis with net dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment; therefore, its performance does not reflect the fees, expenses or taxes associated with the active management of an actual portfolio.
(7) Index performance since December 31, 1998.
Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund | 25 |
This table illustrates all fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
Class A
Shares |
Class B
Shares |
Class C
Shares |
||||
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | None | |||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the value redeemed or the amount invested) | None (a) |
5.00% (b) |
1.00% (c) |
|||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | None | None | None | |||
Redemption Fee | None | None | None | |||
Exchange Fee | None | None | None | |||
Class A
Shares |
Class B
Shares |
Class C
Shares |
||||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from fund assets) | ||||||
Management Fees | 0.85% | 0.85% | 0.85% | |||
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees (d ) | 0.25% | 1.00% | 1.00% | |||
Other Expenses (e) | 0.54% | 0.54% | 0.54% | |||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.64% | 2.39% | 2.39% | |||
(a) A contingent deferred sales charge of 1% may apply on certain redemptions made within one year following purchases on which a finders fee has been paid. The one-year period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made.
(b) The maximum deferred sales charge is imposed on Class B Shares redeemed during the first year; thereafter, it decreases 1% annually to 2% during the fourth and fifth years and to 0% after the fifth year.
(c) The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.
(d) Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees represent an asset-based sales charge that, for a long-term shareholder, over time may be higher than the maximum front-end sales charge permitted by the FINRA.
(e) Estimated based on Predecessor Funds fiscal year ended June 30, 2007.
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 funds operating expenses remain the same. In the case of Class B Shares, it is assumed that your shares are converted to Class A Shares after eight years. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | ||||
Class A | $722 | $1,063 | $1,415 | $2,407 | ||||
Class B | $642 | $945 | $1,275 | $2,540 | ||||
Class C | $342 | $745 | $1,275 | $2,726 |
26 | Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund |
You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | ||||
Class B | $242 | $745 | $1,275 | $2,540 | ||||
Class C | $242 | $745 | $1,275 | $2,726 |
The Adviser and Subadvisers
Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. (Phoenix) is the investment adviser to the fund and is located at 56 Prospect Street, Hartford, CT 06115. Phoenix acts as the investment adviser for over 50 mutual funds and as adviser to institutional clients. As of June 30, 2007, Phoenix had approximately $1.7 billion in assets under management. Phoenix has acted as an investment adviser for over 70 years.
Acadian is a subadviser to the international portion of the fund and is located at One Post Office Square, 20 th Floor, Boston, MA 02109. Acadian is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Old Mutual Asset Managers (US) LLC, which is wholly-owned by Old Mutual (US) Holdings, Inc. Old Mutual (US) Holdings, Inc. is wholly-owned by OM Group (UK) Limited. OM Group (UK) Limited is wholly-owned by Old Mutual PLC. Acadian serves as investment adviser to institutional portfolios in the same style as is provided to the fund. As of June 30, 2007, Acadian had approximately $79 billion in assets under management. Acadian has been an investment adviser since 1977.
New Star is a subadviser to the international portion of the fund and is located at 1 Knightsbridge Green, London, United Kingdom, SW1X7NE. New Star is wholly-owned by New Star Institutional Managers Holdings Limited, which is wholly-owned by New Star Asset Management Group Limited. New Star serves as investment adviser to fund vehicles registered in the European Union, charitable foundations, corporations, institutional investors and private accounts. As of June 30, 2007, New Star had approximately $18.2 billion in assets under management. New Star has been an investment adviser since 1988.
Subject to the direction of the funds Board of Trustees, Phoenix is responsible for managing the funds investment program, for the general operations of the fund, including oversight of the funds subadvisers, recommending their hiring, termination and replacement, and for the day-to-day management of the domestic portion of the funds portfolio. Acadian and New Star, as subadvisers, are each responsible for the day-to-day management of their international portion of the funds portfolio. Phoenix, Acadian and New Star manage the funds assets to conform with the investment policies as described in this prospectus.
The fund pays Phoenix a monthly investment management fee that is accrued daily against the value of the funds net assets at the following rates:
First $1 Billion | $1+ Billion through $2 Billion | $2+ Billion | ||
0.85% | 0.80% | 0.75% |
Phoenix pays Acadian a subadvisory fee, based on the schedule below, on the aggregated international assets managed by Acadian across all Phoenix Funds subadvised by Acadian:
First $200 Million | $200+ Million through $500 Million | $500+ Million | ||
0.50% | 0.40% | 0.35% |
Phoenix pays New Star a subadvisory fee, based on the schedule below, on the aggregated international assets managed by New Star across all Phoenix Funds subadvised by New Star:
First $100 Million | $100+ Million | |
0.50% | 0.40% |
Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund | 27 |
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees approving the investment advisory and subadvisory agreements is expected to be available in the funds 2007 semiannual report covering the period July 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007.
The fund and Phoenix have received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission that permits Phoenix, subject to certain conditions, and without the approval of shareholders, to: (a) employ a new unaffiliated subadviser for a fund pursuant to the terms of a new subadvisory agreement, in each case either as a replacement for an existing subadviser or as an additional subadviser; (b) change the terms of any subadvisory agreement; and (c) continue the employment of an existing subadviser on the same subadvisory agreement terms where an agreement has been assigned because of a change in control of the subadviser. In such circumstances, shareholders would receive notice of such action,
Portfolio Management
Acadian
Brendan O. Bradley and Raymond F. Mui co-manage Acadians allocation of the international portion of the funds portfolio (since July 2005) and are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Acadians portion of the funds investments.
Mr. Bradley is a Senior Vice President of Acadian and a senior member of the investment research team. He also manages Phoenix Value Opportunities Fund and Phoenix International Strategies Fund. Prior to joining Acadian in 2004, Mr. Bradley was a Vice President at Upstream Technologies (2002-2004), where he designed and implemented quantitative investment management systems and strategies. His professional background also includes work as a research analyst and consultant at Samuelson Portfolio Strategies (1999-2002).
Mr. Mui is a Senior Vice President of Acadian, specializing in multi-factor equity valuation frameworks and the development of investment strategies for both the developed and emerging equity markets. He also manages Phoenix Value Opportunities Fund and Phoenix International Strategies Fund. He also focuses on portfolio optimization tools and the use of derivative instruments for obtaining non-U.S. equity exposure. Prior to joining Acadian in 1991, Mr. Mui was a member of the senior technical staff at Hughes Aircraft, where he developed prototypes of command, communications and information systems.
New Star
Michal Bartek, CFA and Ian Beattie manage New Stars allocation of the international portion of the funds portfolio (since July 2005). Mr. Beattie has overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of New Stars portion of the funds investments and is supported by Mr. Bartek.
Mr. Bartek is an Investment Manager of New Star and is responsible for equity research in European markets. He also manages the Phoenix International Strategies Fund. Prior to joining New Star in 1999, Mr. Bartek was an Equity Analyst with Robert Fleming Securities (1997-1999) and an Equity Analyst at NatWest Markets (1995-1997).
Mr. Beattie is an Investment Director of New Star and is responsible for the equity research of Asian markets. He is head of Asian (excluding Japan) equities at New Star. Prior to joining New Star in 1996, Mr. Beattie was a Fund Manager with Royal Insurance Asset Management (1992-1996).
Phoenix
Steven L. Colton manages the domestic portion of the funds portfolio and has overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of Phoenixs portion of the funds investments.
Mr. Colton has served as portfolio manager of the domestic portion of the fund since 2003. He also serves as portfolio manager for the Phoenix Balanced Fund, the Phoenix Growth & Income Fund and the Phoenix Income & Growth Fund. Mr. Colton is a Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of Phoenix (since June 2006) and was Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of Engemann Asset Management (Engemann), an affiliate of Phoenix (January 2005 to October 2006). Prior to joining Engemann, Mr. Colton was Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager of Phoenix (1997-2005).
Please refer to the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about the funds portfolio managers, including the structure of and method of computing compensation, other accounts they manage and their ownership of shares of the fund.
28 | Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund |
Additional Investment Techniques
In addition to the Principal Investment Strategies and Risks Related to Principal Investment Strategies, each of the funds, as indicated, may engage in additional investment techniques that present additional risks to the fund as described below.
Borrowing
The Foreign Opportunities Fund and the International Strategies Fund may obtain fixed interest rate loans from banks. If the securities purchased with such borrowed money decreases in value or does not increase enough to cover interest and other borrowing costs, the respective fund will suffer greater losses than if no borrowing took place.
Brady Bonds
The Foreign Opportunities Fund may invest in Brady Bonds. Brady Bonds have an uncollateralized component, and countries issuing such bonds have a history of defaults making the bonds speculative in nature.
Convertible Securities
Each fund may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer. If a security is called for redemption, the respective fund may have to redeem the security, convert it into common stock or sell it to a third party at a price and time that is not beneficial for the fund. In addition, securities convertible into common stocks may have higher yields than common stocks but lower yields than comparable nonconvertible securities.
Debt Securities
In addition to common stocks, each fund may invest in any other type of securities, including preferred stocks, convertible securities, bonds, notes and debt securities of any maturity and credit quality subject to such limitations as are included in the funds prospectus and statement of additional information.
The Foreign Opportunities Fund may invest in debt obligations of any maturity, such as debt securities and money market instruments issued by corporations and governments based in developed markets.
Typically, debt obligations will decrease in value when interest rates rise. Credit risk for debt obligations generally increases as the rating declines. Securities with lower credit ratings have a greater chance of principal and interest payment default. Debt obligations with longer maturities may be subject to price fluctuations due to interest rates, tax laws and other general market factors. Credit risk is determined at the date of investment. If the rating declines after the date of purchase, the fund is not obligated to sell the security.
Depositary Receipts
Each fund may invest in American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), sponsored by N.S. banks, European Depositary Receipts (EDRs), Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) and ADRs not sponsored by U.S. banks. While investment in ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may eliminate some of the risk associated with foreign investments, it does not eliminate all the risks inherent in investing in securities of foreign issuers. EDRs, GDRs and ADRs which are not sponsored by U.S. banks, are subject to the same investment risks as foreign securities.
Derivatives
Each fund may enter into derivative transactions (contracts whose value is derived from the value of an underlying asset, index or rate), including futures, options, non-deliverable forwards, forward foreign currency exchange contracts and swap agreements. The funds may use derivatives to hedge against factors that affect the value of their investments such as interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. The funds may also utilize derivatives as part of their overall investment technique to gain or lessen exposure to various securities, markets and currencies.
Derivatives typically involve greater risks than traditional investments. It is generally more difficult to ascertain the risk of, and to properly value, derivative contracts. Derivative contracts are usually less liquid than traditional securities and are subject to
Phoenix Opportunities Trust | 29 |
party counter risk (the risk that the other party to the contract will default or otherwise not be able to perform its contractual obligations). In addition, some derivatives transactions may involve potentially unlimited losses. Derivatives contracts entered into for hedging purposes may also subject the fund to losses if the contracts do not correlate with the assets, index or rates they were designated to hedge. Gains and losses derived from hedging transactions are, therefore, more dependent upon the subadvisers ability to correctly predict the movement of the underlying asset prices, indexes or rates.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
The International Real Estate Securities Fund may invest in ETFs for short-term cash management purposes. ETFs are investment companies that invest in a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index and whose shares are bought and sold on a securities exchange. The risk of ETFs generally reflects the risk of owning shares of the underlying securities the ETF is designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in its value being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities. Assets invested in ETFs incur a layering of expenses, including operating costs and advisory fees that you, as a shareholder in the fund, indirectly bear.
Foreign Currency Transactions
The International Real Estate Securities Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions, including foreign currency forward contracts, options, swaps and other similar strategic transactions in connection with its investments in securities of non-U.S. companies. These transactions are designed to hedge the funds exposure to foreign currency risks; however, such investments may not prove successful or may have the effect of limiting gains from favorable market movements.
High Yield-High Risk Fixed Income Securities
Each fund may invest in high yield-high risk fixed income securities. High yield-high risk fixed income securities entail greater price volatility and credit and interest rate risk than investment-grade securities. Analysis of the creditworthiness of high yield-high risk issuers is more complex than for higher-rated securities, making it more difficult for the subadviser to accurately predict risk. There is a greater risk with high yield-high risk fixed income securities that an issuer will not be able to make principal and interest payments when due. If the fund pursues missed payments, there is a risk that fund expenses could increase. In addition, lower-rated securities may not trade as often and may be less liquid than higher-rated securities.
Illiquid and Restricted Securities
The Foreign Opportunities Fund and the International Strategies Fund may invest in illiquid and restricted securities. Illiquid and restricted securities may include repurchase agreements with maturities of greater than seven days. Illiquid and restricted securities may be difficult to sell or may be sold only pursuant to certain legal restrictions. Difficulty in selling securities may result in a loss to a fund or entail expenses not normally associated with the sale of a security.
Mutual Fund Investing
The Foreign Opportunities Fund may invest in shares of closed-end investment companies. Assets invested in other mutual funds incur a layering of expenses, including operating costs, advisory fees and administrative fees that you, as a shareholder in the funds, indirectly bear.
Securities Lending
Each fund may loan portfolio securities to increase its investment returns. If the borrower is unwilling or unable to return the borrowed securities when due, the respective fund can suffer losses.
Short-Term Instruments
The Foreign Opportunities Fund and the International Real Estate Securities Fund may invest in short-term securities, including money market instruments, repurchase agreements, certificates of deposits and bankers acceptances. Default or insolvency of the other party to a repurchase agreement presents a risk to the funds.
30 | Phoenix Opportunities Trust |
Unrated Fixed Income Securities
Each fund may invest in unrated securities. Unrated securities may not be lower in quality than rated securities, but due to their perceived risk, they may not have as broad a market as rated securities. Analysis of unrated securities is more complex than for rated securities, making it more difficult to accurately predict risk.
U.S. and Foreign Government Obligations
Each fund may invest in obligations of U.S. and foreign governments and their political subdivisions. Government obligations are not guaranteed to make the value of your shares rise. Foreign obligations are subject to foreign investing risks.
Variable and Floating Rate Securities
The Foreign Opportunities Fund may invest in securities with variable and floating rates. Securities with variable and floating rates are more susceptible to interest rate fluctuations and it is more difficult for the subadviser to assess their potential return.
When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities
The Foreign Opportunities Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. The value of the security on settlement date may be more or less than the price paid as a result of changes in interest rates and market conditions. If the value on settlement date is less, the value of your shares may decline.
Zero Coupon Bonds
The Foreign Opportunities Fund may invest in debt obligations that do not make any interest or principal payments for a specified time. The market prices of such bonds generally are more volatile than the market prices of securities that pay interest on a regular basis and may require the fund to make distributions from other sources since the fund does not receive cash payments earned on these securities on a current basis. This may result in a higher portfolio turnover rate and the sale of securities at a time that is less favorable.
The funds may buy other types of securities or employ other portfolio management techniques. Please refer to the Statement of Additional Information for more detailed information about these and other investment techniques of the funds.
How is the Share Price determined?
Each fund calculates a share price for each class of its shares. The share price for each class is based on the net assets of the fund and the number of outstanding shares of that class. In general, each fund calculates a share price for each class by:
· |
adding the values of all securities and other assets of the fund; |
· |
subtracting liabilities; and |
· |
dividing the result by the total number of outstanding shares of that class. |
Assets: Equity securities are valued at the official closing price (typically last sale) on the exchange on which the securities are primarily traded, or if no closing price is available, at the last bid price. Shares of other investment companies are valued at such companies net asset values. Debt securities (other than short-term investments) are valued on the basis of broker quotations or valuations provided by a pricing service, which in determining value utilizes information with respect to recent sales, market transactions in comparable securities, quotations from dealers, and various relationships between securities. Short-term investments having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. As required, some securities and assets are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by, or under the direction of, the Board of Trustees. Other assets, such as accrued interest, accrued dividends and cash are also included in determining a funds net asset value.
Phoenix Opportunities Trust | 31 |
Liabilities: Accrued liabilities for class specific expenses (if any), distribution fees, service fees and other liabilities are deducted from the assets of each class. Accrued expenses and liabilities that are not class specific (such as management fees) are allocated to each class in proportion to each classs net assets except where an alternative allocation can be more appropriately made.
Net Asset Value: The liabilities allocated to a class are deducted from the proportionate interest of such class in the assets of the applicable fund. The resulting amount for each class is then divided by the number of shares outstanding of that class to produce each classs net asset value per share.
The net asset value per share of each class of each fund is determined as of the close of trading (normally 4:00 PM eastern time) on days when the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) is open for trading. A fund will not calculate its net asset value per share class on days when the NYSE is closed for trading. If a fund holds securities that are traded on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other holidays when the funds do not price their shares, the net asset value of the funds shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the funds shares.
How are securities fair valued?
If market quotations are not readily available or where available prices are not reliable, the funds determine a fair value for an investment according to rules and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. The types of assets for which such pricing might be required include (i) securities whose trading has been suspended; (ii) securities where the trading market is unusually thin or trades have been infrequent; (iii) debt securities that have recently gone into default and for which there is no current market quotation; (iv) a security whose market price is not available from an independent pricing source and for which otherwise reliable quotes are not available; (v) securities of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (vi) a security whose price as provided by any pricing source does not, in the opinion of the adviser/subadviser, reflect the securitys market value; (vii) foreign securities subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (viii) securities where the market quotations are not readily available as a result of significant events. This list is not inclusive of all situations that may require a security to be fair valued, nor is it intended to be conclusive in determining whether a specific event requires fair valuation.
The value of any portfolio security held by a fund for which market quotations are not readily available shall be determined in good faith and in a manner that assesses the securitys fair value on the valuation date (i.e . , the amount that the fund might reasonably expect to receive for the security upon its current sale), based on a consideration of all available facts and all available information, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) the fundamental analytical data relating to the investment; (ii) an evaluation of the forces which influence the market in which these securities are purchased and sold (e.g., the existence of merger proposals or tender offers that might affect the value of the security); (iii) price quotes from dealers and/or pricing services; (iv) an analysis of the companys financial statements; (v) trading volumes on markets, exchanges or among dealers; (vi) recent news about the security or issuer; (vii) changes in interest rates; (viii) information obtained from the issuer, analysts, other financial institutions and/or the appropriate stock exchange (for exchange traded securities); (ix) whether two or more dealers with whom the adviser/subadviser regularly effects trades are willing to purchase or sell the security at comparable prices; (x) other news events or relevant matters; and (xi) government (domestic or foreign) actions or pronouncements.
Certain foreign common stocks may be fair valued in cases where closing prices are not readily available or are deemed not reflective of readily available market prices. For example, events (such as movement in the U.S. securities market, or other regional and local developments) may occur between the time that foreign markets close (where the security is principally traded) and the time that the fund calculates its net asset value (generally, the close of regular trading on the NYSE) that may impact the value of securities traded in these foreign markets. In such cases, information from an external vendor may be utilized to adjust closing market prices of certain foreign common stocks to reflect their fair value. Because the frequency of significant events is not predictable, fair valuation of certain foreign common stocks may occur on a frequent basis.
The value of a security, as determined using the funds fair valuation procedures, may not reflect such securitys market value.
At what price are shares purchased?
All investments received by the funds authorized agents prior to the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 PM eastern time) will be executed based on that days net asset value. Shares credited to your account from the reinvestment of fund distributions will be in full and fractional shares that are purchased at the closing net asset value on the next business day on which the funds net asset value is calculated following the dividend record date.
32 | Phoenix Opportunities Trust |
What are the classes and how do they differ?
Presently, three classes of shares are offered by each fund. With the exception of Class I Shares, the shares have different sales and distribution charges. (See Fund Fees and Expenses previously in this prospectus.) For certain classes of shares, the funds have adopted distribution and service plans allowed under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended (the 1940 Act), that authorize the funds to pay distribution and service fees for the sale of their shares and for services provided to shareholders.
What arrangement is best for you?
The different classes of shares permit you to choose the method of purchasing shares that is most beneficial to you. In choosing a class of shares, consider the amount of your investment, the length of time you expect to hold the shares, whether you decide to receive distributions in cash or to reinvest them in additional shares, and any other personal circumstances. Depending upon these considerations, the accumulated distribution and service fees and contingent deferred sales charges of one class of shares may be more or less than the initial sales charge and accumulated distribution and service fees of another class of shares bought at the same time. Because distribution and service fees are paid out of a funds assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
Your financial representative should recommend only those arrangements that are suitable for you based on known information. In certain instances, you may be entitled to a reduction or waiver of sales charges. For instance, you may be entitled to a sales charge discount on Class A Shares if you purchase more than certain breakpoint amounts. You should inform or inquire of your financial representative whether or not you may be entitled to a sales charge discount attributable to your total holdings in a fund or affiliated funds. To determine eligibility for a sales charge discount, you may aggregate all of your accounts (including joint accounts, IRAs, non-IRAs, etc.) and those of your spouse and minor children. The financial representative may request you to provide an account statement or other holdings information to determine your eligibility for a breakpoint and to make certain all involved parties have the necessary data. Additional information about the classes of shares offered, sales charges, breakpoints and discounts follows in this section and also may be found in the Statement of Additional Information in the section entitled How to Buy Shares. This information is available free of charge, and in a clear and prominent format, at the Individual Investors section of the Phoenix Funds Web sites at PhoenixFunds.com or PhoenixInvestments.com. Please be sure that you fully understand these choices before investing. If you or your financial representative require additional assistance, you may also contact Mutual Fund Services by calling toll-free (800) 243-1574.
Class A Shares. If you purchase Class A Shares, you will pay a sales charge at the time of purchase equal to 5.75% of the offering price (6.10% of the amount invested). The sales charge may be reduced or waived under certain conditions. (See Initial Sales Charge AlternativeClass A Shares below.) Generally, Class A Shares are not subject to any charges by the fund when redeemed; however, a 1% contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) may be imposed on certain redemptions within one year on purchases on which a finders fee has been paid. The one-year period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made. Class A Shares have lower distribution and service fees (0.25%) and pay higher dividends than Class B Shares and Class C Shares.
Class B Shares (International Strategies Fund and Worldwide Strategies Fund only). If you purchase Class B Shares, you will not pay a sales charge at the time of purchase. If you sell your Class B Shares within the first five years after they are purchased, you will pay a deferred sales charge of up to 5% of your shares value. (See Deferred Sales Charge AlternativeClass B Shares and Class C Shares below.) This charge declines to 0% over a period of five years and may be waived under certain conditions. Class B shares have higher distribution and service fees (1.00%) and pay lower dividends than Class A Shares. Class B Shares automatically convert to Class A Shares eight years after purchase. Purchase of Class B Shares may be inappropriate for any investor who may qualify for reduced sales charges of Class A Shares and anyone who is over 85 years of age. The underwriter may decline purchases of Class B Shares in such situations.
Class C Shares. If you purchase Class C Shares, you will not pay a sales charge at the time of purchase. If you sell your Class C Shares within the first year after they are purchased, you will pay a deferred sales charge of 1%. Class C Shares have the same distribution and service fees (1.00%) and pay comparable dividends as Class B Shares. Class C Shares do not convert to any other class of shares of the funds, so the higher distribution and service fees paid by Class C Shares continue for the life of the account.
Phoenix Opportunities Trust | 33 |
Class I Shares (Foreign Opportunities Fund and International Real Estate Securities Fund only). Class I Shares are offered primarily to institutional investors such as pension and profit sharing plans, other employee benefit trusts, endowments, foundations and corporations who purchase at or above the minimum amounts; to private clients of the adviser, subadviser and their affiliates; or through certain wrap programs with which the Distributor has an arrangement. If you are eligible to purchase and do purchase Class I Shares, you will pay no sales charge at any time. There are no distribution and service fees applicable to Class I Shares. For additional information about purchasing Class I Shares, please contact Mutual Fund Services by calling (800) 243-1574.
Initial Sales Charge AlternativeClass A Shares
The public offering price of Class A Shares is the net asset value plus a sales charge that varies depending on the size of your purchase. (See Class A SharesReduced Initial Sales Charges in the Statement of Additional Information.) Shares purchased based on the automatic reinvestment of income dividends or capital gain distributions are not subject to any sales charges. The sales charge is divided between your investment dealer and the funds underwriter (Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation, PEPCO or Distributor).
Sales Charge you may pay to purchase Class A Shares
Sales Charge as a percentage of | ||||||
Amount of Transaction at Offering Price |
Offering Price |
Net Amount Invested |
||||
Under $50,000 | 5.75 | % | 6.10 | % | ||
$50,000 but under $100,000 | 4.75 | 4.99 | ||||
$100,000 but under $250,000 | 3.75 | 3.90 | ||||
$250,000 but under $500,000 | 2.75 | 2.83 | ||||
$500,000 but under $1,000,000 | 2.00 | 2.04 | ||||
$1,000,000 or more | None | None |
Class A Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers
Investors may reduce or eliminate sales charges applicable to purchases of Class A Shares through utilization of Combination Purchase Privilege, Letter of Intent, Right of Accumulation, Purchase by Associations or the Account Reinstatement Privilege. These programs are summarized below and are described in greater detail in the Statement of Additional Information. Investors buying Class A Shares on which a finders fee has been paid may incur a 1% deferred sales charge if they redeem their shares within one year of purchase.
Combination Purchase Privilege . Your purchase of any class of shares of these funds or any other Phoenix Fund (other than any Phoenix money market fund), if made at the same time by the same person, will be added together with any existing Phoenix Fund account values to determine whether the combined sum entitles you to an immediate reduction in sales charges. A person is defined in this and the following sections as (a) any individual, their spouse and minor children purchasing shares for his or their own account (including an IRA account), including his or their own trust; (b) a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing for a single trust, estate or single fiduciary account (even though more than one beneficiary may exist); (c) multiple employer trusts or Section 403(b) plans for the same employer; (d) multiple accounts (up to 200) under a qualified employee benefit plan or administered by a third party administrator; or (e) trust companies, bank trust departments, registered investment advisers, and similar entities placing orders or providing administrative services with respect to accounts over which they exercise discretionary investment authority and which are held in a fiduciary, agency, custodial or similar capacity, provided all shares are held of record in the name, or nominee name, of the entity placing the order.
Letter of Intent. If you sign a Letter of Intent, your purchase of any class of shares of these funds or any other Phoenix Fund (other than any Phoenix money market fund), if made by the same person within a 13-month period, will be added together to determine whether you are entitled to an immediate reduction in sales charges. Sales charges are reduced based on the overall amount you indicate that you will buy under the Letter of Intent. The Letter of Intent is a mutually non-binding arrangement between you and the Distributor. Shares worth 5% of the amount of each purchase will be held in escrow (while remaining registered in your name) to secure payment of the higher sales charges applicable to the shares actually purchased in the event the full intended amount is not purchased.
34 | Phoenix Opportunities Trust |
Right of Accumulation. The value of your account(s) in any class of shares of these funds or any other Phoenix Fund (other than any Phoenix money market fund) if made over time by the same person, may be added together at the time of each purchase to determine whether the combined sum entitles you to a prospective reduction in sales charges. You must provide certain account information to the Distributor at the time of purchase to exercise this right.
Purchase by Associations. Certain groups or associations may be treated as a person and qualify for reduced Class A Share sales charges. The group or association must: (1) have been in existence for at least six months; (2) have a legitimate purpose other than to purchase mutual fund shares at a reduced sales charge; (3) work through an investment dealer; or (4) not be a group whose sole reason for existing is to consist of members who are credit card holders of a particular company, policyholders of an insurance company, customers of a bank or a broker-dealer or clients of an investment adviser.
Account Reinstatement Privilege. Subject to the funds policies and procedures regarding market timing, for 180 days after you sell your Class A, Class B or Class C Shares on which you have previously paid a sales charge, you may purchase Class A Shares of any Phoenix Fund at net asset value, with no sales charge, by reinvesting all or part of your proceeds, but not more.
Sales at Net Asset Value. In addition to the programs summarized above, the Funds may sell their Class A Shares at net asset value without an initial sales charge to certain types of accounts or account holders, including, but not limited to: trustees of the Phoenix Funds; directors, officers, employees and sales representatives of the adviser, subadviser (if any) or Distributor or a corporate affiliate of the adviser, subadviser or Distributor; private clients of an adviser or subadviser to any of the Phoenix Funds; registered representatives and employees of dealers with which the Distributor has sales agreements; and certain qualified employee benefit plans, endowment funds or foundations. Please see the Statement of Additional Information for more information about qualifying for purchases of Class A Shares at net asset value.
Deferred Sales Charge AlternativeClass B Shares and Class C Shares
Class B Shares and Class C Shares are purchased without an initial sales charge; however, shares sold within a specified time period are subject to a declining CDSC at the rates listed below. The sales charge will be multiplied by the then current market value or the initial cost of the shares being redeemed, whichever is less. No sales charge will be imposed on increases in net asset value or on shares purchased through the reinvestment of income dividends or capital gain distributions. To minimize the sales charge, shares not subject to any charge will be redeemed first, followed by shares held the longest time. To calculate the number of shares owned and time period held, all Class B Shares purchased in any month are considered purchased on the last day of the preceding month, and all Class C Shares are considered purchased on the trade date.
Deferred Sales Charge you may pay to sell Class B Shares
Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6+ | ||||||||||||
CDSC | 5 | % | 4 | % | 3 | % | 2 | % | 2 | % | 0 | % | ||||||
Deferred Sales Charge you may pay to sell Class C Shares | ||||||||||||||||||
Year | 1 | 2+ | ||||||||||||||||
CDSC | 1 | % | 0 | % |
Compensation to Dealers
Dealers with whom the Distributor has entered into sales agreements receive a discount or commission on Class A Shares as described below.
Amount of
Transaction at Offering Price |
Sales Charge as a
Offering Price |
Sales Charge as a
Amount Invested |
Dealer Discount as a
Percentage of Offering Price |
||||||
Under $50,000 | 5.75 | % | 6.10 | % | 5.00 | % | |||
$50,000 but under $100,000 | 4.75 | 4.99 | 4.25 | ||||||
$100,000 but under $250,000 | 3.75 | 3.90 | 3.25 | ||||||
$250,000 but under $500,000 | 2.75 | 2.83 | 2.25 | ||||||
$500,000 but under $1,000,000 | 2.00 | 2.04 | 1.75 | ||||||
$1,000,000 or more | None | None | None |
Phoenix Opportunities Trust | 35 |
In addition to the dealer discount on purchases of Class A Shares, the Distributor intends to pay investment dealers a sales commission of 4% of the sale price of Class B Shares and a sales commission of 1% of the sale price of Class C Shares sold by such dealers. (This sales commission will not be paid to dealers for sales of Class B Shares or Class C Shares purchased by 401(k) participants of the Merrill Lynch Daily K Plan due to a waiver of the CDSC for these plan participants purchases.) Your broker, dealer or financial advisor may also charge you additional commissions or fees for their services in selling shares to you provided they notify the Distributor of their intention to do so.
Dealers and other entities that enter into special arrangements with the Distributor may receive compensation for the sale and promotion of shares of these funds and/or for providing other shareholder services. Such fees are in addition to the sales commissions referenced above and may be based upon the amount of sales of fund shares by a dealer; the provision of assistance in marketing of fund shares; access to sales personnel and information dissemination services; provision of recordkeeping and administrative services to qualified employee benefit plans; and other criteria as established by the Distributor. Depending on the nature of the services, these fees may be paid either from the funds through distribution fees, service fees or transfer agent fees or, in some cases, the Distributor may pay certain fees from its own profits and resources. From its own profits and resources, the Distributor does intend to: (a) from time to time, pay special incentive and retention fees to qualified wholesalers, registered financial institutions and third party marketers; (b) pay broker-dealers a finders fee in an amount equal to 1% of the first $3 million of Class A Share purchases by an account held in the name of a qualified employee benefit plan with at least 100 eligible employees, 0.50% on the next $3 million, plus 0.25% on the amount in excess of $6 million; and (c) excluding purchases as described in (b) above, pay broker-dealers an amount equal to 1.00% of the amount of Class A Shares sold from $1,000,000 to $3,000,000, 0.50% on amounts of $3,000,001 to $10,000,000 and 0.25% on amounts greater than $10,000,000. If part or all of such investment as described in (b) and (c) above, including investments by qualified employee benefit plans, is subsequently redeemed within one year, a 1% CDSC may apply, except for redemptions of shares purchased on which a finders fee would have been paid where such investors dealer of record, due to the nature of the investors account, notifies the Distributor prior to the time of the investment that the dealer waives the finders fee otherwise payable to the dealer, or agrees to receive such finders fee ratably over a 12-month period. For purposes of determining the applicability of the CDSC, the one-year CDSC period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made. Any dealer who receives more than 90% of a sales charge may be deemed to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933. PEPCO reserves the right to discontinue or alter such fee payment plans at any time.
From its own resources or pursuant to the distribution and shareholder servicing plans, and subject to the dealers prior approval, the Distributor may provide additional compensation to registered representatives of dealers in the form of travel expenses, meals, and lodging associated with training and educational meetings sponsored by the Distributor. The Distributor may also provide gifts amounting in value to less than $100, and occasional meals or entertainment, to registered representatives of dealers. Any such travel expenses, meals, lodging, gifts or entertainment paid will not be preconditioned upon the registered representatives or dealers achievement of a sales target. The Distributor may, from time to time, reallow the entire portion of the sales charge on Class A shares which it normally retains to individual selling dealers. However, such additional reallowance generally will be made only when the selling dealer commits to substantial marketing support such as internal wholesaling through dedicated personnel, internal communications and mass mailings.
The Distributor has agreed to pay fees to certain distributors for preferred marketing opportunities. These arrangements may be viewed as creating a conflict of interest between these distributors and investors. Investors should make due inquiry of their selling agents to ensure that they are receiving the requisite point of sale disclosures and suitable recommendations free of any influence by reason of these arrangements.
Opening an Account
Your financial advisor can assist you with your initial purchase as well as all phases of your investment program. If you are opening an account by yourself, please follow the instructions outlined below. These procedures do not apply to purchases of Class I Shares. For information about purchasing Class I Shares, please contact Mutual Fund Services by calling (800) 243-1574.
36 | Phoenix Opportunities Trust |
The funds have established the following preferred methods of payment for fund shares:
· |
Checks drawn on an account in the name of the investor and made payable to Phoenix Funds; |
· |
Checks drawn on an account in the name of the investors company or employer and made payable to Phoenix Funds; or |
· |
Wire transfers or Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfers from an account in the name of the investor, or the investors company or employer. |
Payment in other forms may be accepted at the discretion of the funds. Please specify the name(s) of the fund or funds in which you would like to invest on the check or transfer instructions.
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. Accordingly, when you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may check the information you provide against publicly available databases, information obtained from consumer reporting agencies, other financial institutions or other sources. If, after reasonable effort, we cannot verify your identity, we reserve the right to close the account and redeem the shares at net asset value next calculated after the decision is made by us to close the account.
Step 1.
Your first choice will be the initial amount you intend to invest.
Minimum initial investments:
· |
$25 for individual retirement accounts (IRAs), accounts that use the systematic exchange privilege or accounts that use the Systematic Purchase program. (See below for more information on the Systematic Purchase program.) |
· |
There is no initial dollar requirement for defined contribution plans, asset-based fee programs, profit-sharing plans or employee benefit plans. There is also no minimum for reinvesting dividends and capital gains into another account. |
· |
$500 for all other accounts. |
Minimum additional investments:
· |
$25 for any account. |
· |
There is no minimum additional investment requirement for defined contribution plans, asset-based fee programs, profit-sharing plans or employee benefit plans. There is also no minimum additional investment requirement for reinvesting dividends and capital gains into an existing account. |
The funds reserve the right to refuse a purchase order for any reason.
Step 2.
Your second choice will be what class of shares to buy. Each share class, except Class I, has different sales and distribution charges. Because all future investments in your account will be made in the share class you choose when you open your account, you should make your decision carefully. Your financial advisor can help you pick the share class that makes the most sense for your situation.
Step 3.
Your next choice will be how you want to receive any dividends and capital gain distributions. Your options are:
· |
Receive both dividends and capital gain distributions in additional shares; |
· |
Receive dividends in additional shares and capital gain distributions in cash; |
Phoenix Opportunities Trust | 37 |
· |
Receive dividends in cash and capital gain distributions in additional shares; or |
· |
Receive both dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. |
No interest will be paid on uncashed distribution checks.
To Open An Account (Class A, Class B and Class C Shares only) |
||
Through a financial advisor | Contact your advisor. Some advisors may charge a fee and may set different minimum investments or limitations on buying shares. | |
Through the mail | Complete a New Account Application and send it with a check payable to the fund. Mail them to: State Street Bank, P.O. Box 8301, Boston, MA 02266-8301. | |
Through express delivery | Complete a New Account Application and send it with a check payable to the fund. Send them to: Boston Financial Data Services, Attn: Phoenix Funds, 30 Dan Road, Canton, MA 02021-2809. | |
By Federal Funds wire | Call us at (800) 243-1574 (press 1, then 0). | |
By Systematic Purchase | Complete the appropriate section on the application and send it with your initial investment payable to the fund. Mail them to: State Street Bank, P.O. Box 8301, Boston, MA 02266- 8301. | |
By telephone exchange | Call us at (800) 243-1574 (press 1, then 0). |
The price at which a purchase is effected is based on the net asset value determined after receipt of a purchase order by the funds Transfer Agent.
You have the right to have the funds buy back shares at the net asset value next determined after receipt of a redemption order by the funds Transfer Agent or an authorized agent. In the case of a Class B Share or Class C Share redemption, and certain Class A Share redemptions, you will be subject to the applicable contingent deferred sales charge, if any, for such shares. Subject to certain restrictions, shares may be redeemed by telephone or in writing. In addition, shares may be sold through securities dealers, brokers or agents who may charge customary commissions or fees for their services. The funds do not charge any redemption fees. Payment for shares redeemed is made within seven days; however, redemption proceeds will not be disbursed until each check used for purchases of shares has been cleared for payment by your bank, which may take up to 15 days after receipt of the check.
To Sell Shares (Class A, Class B and Class C Shares only) |
||
Through a financial advisor | Contact your advisor. Some advisors may charge a fee and may set different minimums on redemptions of accounts. | |
Through the mail | Send a letter of instruction and any share certificates (if you hold certificate shares) to: State Street Bank, P.O. Box 8301, Boston, MA 02266-8301. Be sure to include the registered owners name, fund and account number, and number of shares or dollar value you wish to sell. |
38 | Phoenix Opportunities Trust |
To Sell Shares (Class A, Class B and Class C Shares only) |
||
Through express delivery | Send a letter of instruction and any share certificates (if you hold certificate shares) to: Boston Financial Data Services, Attn: Phoenix Funds, 30 Dan Road, Canton, MA 02021-2809. Be sure to include the registered owners name, fund and account number, and number of shares or dollar value you wish to sell. | |
By telephone | For sales up to $50,000, requests can be made by calling (800) 243-1574. | |
By telephone exchange | Call us at (800) 243-1574 (press 1, then 0). |
Things You Should Know When Selling Shares
You may realize a taxable gain or loss (for federal income tax purposes) if you redeem shares of the funds. Each fund reserves the right to pay large redemptions in-kind (i.e., in securities owned by the fund) rather than in cash. Large redemptions are those that exceed $250,000 or 1% of the funds net assets, whichever is less, over any 90-day period. Additional documentation will be required for redemptions by organizations, fiduciaries, or retirement plans, or if a redemption is requested by anyone but the shareholder(s) of record. Transfers between broker-dealer street accounts are governed by the accepting broker-dealer.
Questions regarding this type of transfer should be directed to your financial advisor. Redemption requests will not be honored until all required documents, in proper form, have been received. To avoid delay in redemption or transfer, shareholders having questions about specific requirements should contact the funds Transfer Agent at (800) 243-1574.
Redemptions by Mail
Þ |
If you are selling shares held individually, jointly, or as custodian under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act: |
Send a clear letter of instructions if all of these apply:
· |
The proceeds do not exceed $50,000. |
· |
The proceeds are payable to the registered owner at the address on record. |
Send a clear letter of instructions with a signature guarantee when any of these apply:
· |
You are selling more than $50,000 worth of shares. |
· |
The name or address on the account has changed within the last 30 days. |
· |
You want the proceeds to go to a different name or address than on the account. |
Þ |
If you are selling shares held in a corporate or fiduciary account, please contact the funds Transfer Agent at (800) 243-1574. |
If required, the signature guarantee must be a STAMP 2000 Medallion guarantee and be made by an eligible guarantor institution as defined by the funds Transfer Agent in accordance with its signature guarantee procedures. Guarantees using previous technology medallions will not be accepted. Currently, the Transfer Agents signature guarantee procedures generally permit guarantees by banks, broker-dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations.
Selling Shares by Telephone
The Transfer Agent will use reasonable procedures to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine. Address and bank account information are verified, redemption instructions are taped, and all redemptions are confirmed in writing.
Phoenix Opportunities Trust | 39 |
The individual investor bears the risk from instructions given by an unauthorized third-party that the Transfer Agent reasonably believed to be genuine.
The Transfer Agent may modify or terminate the telephone redemption privilege at any time with 60 days notice to shareholders, except for instances of disruptive trading or market timing; in such cases, the telephone redemption privilege may be suspended immediately, followed by written notice. (See Disruptive Trading and Market Timing in this Prospectus.)
During times of drastic economic or market changes, telephone redemptions may be difficult to make or temporarily suspended.
Account Reinstatement Privilege
Subject to the funds policies and procedures regarding market timing, for 180 days after you sell your Class A Shares, Class B Shares or Class C Shares on which you have previously paid a sales charge, you may purchase Class A Shares of any Phoenix Fund at net asset value, with no sales charge, by reinvesting all or part of your proceeds, but not more. Send your written request to State Street Bank, P.O. Box 8301, Boston, MA 02266-8301. You can call us at (800) 243-1574 for more information.
Please remember, a redemption and reinvestment are considered to be a sale and purchase for tax-reporting purposes. Class B and Class C shareholders who have had the contingent deferred sales charge waived because they are in the Systematic Withdrawal Program are not eligible for this reinstatement privilege.
Redemption of Small Accounts
Due to the high cost of maintaining small accounts, if your redemption activity causes your account balance to fall below $200, you may receive a notice requesting you to bring the balance up to $200 within 60 days. If you do not, the shares in the account will be sold at net asset value, and a check will be mailed to the address of record.
Distributions of Small Amounts
Distributions in amounts less than $10 will automatically be reinvested in additional shares of the applicable fund.
Uncashed Checks
If any correspondence sent by the fund is returned by the postal or other delivery service as undeliverable, your dividends or any other distribution may be automatically reinvested in the fund.
If your distribution check is not cashed within six months, the distribution may be reinvested in the fund at the current net asset value. You will not receive any interest on uncashed distribution or redemption checks. This provision may not apply to certain retirement or qualified accounts.
Exchange Privileges
You should read the prospectus of the Phoenix Fund(s) into which you want to make an exchange before deciding to make an exchange. You can obtain a prospectus from your financial advisor or by calling us at (800) 243-4361, or accessing our Web sites at PhoenixFunds.com or PhoenixInvestments.com.
· |
You may exchange shares of one fund for the same class of shares of another Phoenix Fund; e.g., Class A Shares for Class A Shares. Class C Shares are also exchangeable for Class T Shares of those Phoenix Funds offering them. Exchange privileges may not be available for all Phoenix Funds and may be rejected or suspended. |
· |
Exchanges may be made by telephone ((800) 243-1574) or by mail (State Street Bank, P.O. Box 8301, Boston, MA 02266-8301). |
40 | Phoenix Opportunities Trust |
· |
The amount of the exchange must be equal to or greater than the minimum initial investment required. |
· |
The exchange of shares is treated as a sale and a purchase for federal income tax purposes. |
Disruptive Trading and Market Timing
These funds are not suitable for market timers and market timers are discouraged from becoming investors. Your ability to make exchanges among funds is subject to modification if we determine, in our sole opinion, that your exercise of the exchange privilege may disadvantage or potentially harm the rights or interests of other shareholders.
Frequent purchases, redemptions and exchanges, programmed exchanges, exchanges into and then out of a fund in a short period of time, and exchanges of large amounts at one time may be indicative of market timing and otherwise disruptive trading (Disruptive Trading) which can have risks and harmful effects for other shareholders. These risks and harmful effects include:
· |
dilution of the interests of long-term investors, if market timers or others exchange into a fund at prices that are below the true value or exchange out of a fund at prices that are higher than the true value; |
· |
an adverse effect on portfolio management, as determined by portfolio management in its sole discretion, such as causing the fund to maintain a higher level of cash than would otherwise be the case, or causing the fund to liquidate investments prematurely; and |
· |
reducing returns to long-term shareholders through increased brokerage and administrative expenses. |
Additionally, the nature of the portfolio holdings of the funds may expose the fund to investors who engage in the type of market timing trading that seeks to take advantage of possible delays between the change in the value of a mutual funds portfolio holdings and the reflection of the change in the net asset value of the funds shares, sometimes referred to as time-zone arbitrage. Arbitrage market timers seek to exploit possible delays between the change in the value of a mutual funds portfolio holdings and the net asset value of the funds shares in funds that hold significant investments in foreign securities because certain foreign markets close several hours ahead of the U.S. markets. If an arbitrageur is successful, the value of the funds shares may be diluted if redeeming shareholders receive proceeds (and buying shareholders receive shares) based upon net asset values which do not reflect appropriate fair value prices.
In order to attempt to protect our shareholders from the potential harmful effects of Disruptive Trading, the funds Board of Trustees has adopted market timing policies and procedures designed to discourage Disruptive Trading. The Board has adopted these policies and procedures as a preventive measure to protect all shareholders from the potential effects of Disruptive Trading, while also abiding by any rights that shareholders may have to make exchanges and provide reasonable and convenient methods of making exchanges that do not have the potential to harm other shareholders.
Excessive trading activity is measured by the number of roundtrip transactions in an account. A roundtrip transaction is one where a shareholder buys and then sells, or sells and then buys, shares of any fund within 30 days. Shareholders of the funds are limited to one roundtrip transaction within any rolling 30-day period. Roundtrip transactions are counted at the shareholder level. In considering a shareholders trading activity, the funds may consider, among other factors, the shareholders trading history both directly and, if known, through financial intermediaries, in the funds, in other funds within the Phoenix Fund complex, in non-Phoenix mutual funds or in accounts under common control or ownership. We do not include exchanges made pursuant to the dollar cost averaging or other similar programs when applying our market timing policies. Systematic withdrawal and/or contribution programs, mandatory retirement distributions, and transactions initiated by a plan sponsor also will not count towards the roundtrip limits. The funds may permit exchanges that they believe, in the exercise of their judgement, are not disruptive. The size of the fund and the size of the requested transaction may be considered when determining whether or not the transaction would be disruptive.
Shareholders holding shares for at least 30 days following investment will ordinarily be in compliance with the funds policies regarding market timing. The funds may, however, take action if activity is deemed disruptive even if shares are held longer than 30 days, such as a request for a transaction of an unusually large size. The size of the fund and the size of the requested transaction may be considered when determining whether or not the transaction would be disruptive.
Phoenix Opportunities Trust | 41 |
Under our market timing policies, we may modify your exchange privileges for some or all of the funds by not accepting an exchange request from you or from any person, asset allocation service, and/or market timing services made on your behalf. We may also limit the amount that may be exchanged into or out of any fund at any one time or could revoke your right to make Internet, telephone or facsimile exchanges. We may reinstate Internet, telephone and facsimile exchange privileges after they are revoked, but we will not reinstate these privileges if we have reason to believe that they might be used thereafter for Disruptive Trading.
The funds currently do not charge exchange or redemption fees, or any other administrative charges on fund exchanges. The funds reserve the right to impose such fees and/or charges in the future.
Orders for the purchase of fund shares are subject to acceptance by the relevant fund. We reserve the right to reject, without prior notice, any exchange request into any fund if the purchase of shares in the corresponding fund is not accepted for any reason.
The funds do not have any arrangements with any person, organization or entity to permit frequent purchases and redemptions of fund shares.
We may, without prior notice, take whatever action we deem appropriate to comply with or take advantage of any state or federal regulatory requirement. The funds reserve the right to reject any purchase or exchange transaction at any time. If we reject a purchase or exchange for any reason, we will notify you of our decision in writing.
The funds cannot guarantee that their policies and procedures regarding market timing will be effective in detecting and deterring all Disruptive Trading.
Retirement Plans
Shares of the funds may be used as investments under the following qualified prototype retirement plans: traditional IRA, rollover IRA, SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k) plans, profit-sharing, money purchase plans, and 403(b) plans. For more information, call (800) 243-4361.
Investor Services and Other Information
Systematic Purchase is a systematic investment plan that allows you to have a specified amount automatically deducted from your checking or savings account and then deposited into your mutual fund account. Just complete the Systematic Purchase Section on the application and include a voided check.
Systematic Exchange allows you to automatically move money from one Phoenix Fund to another on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual basis. Shares of one Phoenix Fund will be exchanged for shares of the same class of another Phoenix Fund at the interval you select. To sign up, just complete the Systematic Exchange Section on the application. Exchange privileges may not be available for all Phoenix Funds, and may be rejected or suspended.
Telephone Exchange lets you exchange shares of one Phoenix Fund for the same class of shares in another Phoenix Fund, using our customer service telephone service. (See the Telephone Exchange section on the application.) Exchange privileges may not be available for all Phoenix Funds, and may be rejected or suspended.
Systematic Withdrawal allows you to periodically redeem a portion of your account on a predetermined monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual basis. Sufficient shares from your account will be redeemed at the closing net asset value on the applicable payment date, with proceeds to be mailed to you or sent through ACH to your bank (at your selection). For payments to be mailed, shares will be redeemed on the 15 th of the month so that the payment is made about the 20 th of the month. For ACH payments, you may select the day of the month for the payments to be made; if no date is specified, the payments will occur on the 15 th of the month. The minimum withdrawal is $25, and minimum account balance requirements continue to apply. Shareholders in the program must own Phoenix Fund shares worth at least $5,000.
Disclosure of Fund Holdings. The funds make available on the Phoenix Funds Web sites, PhoenixFunds.com or PhoenixInvestments.com, information with respect to each funds top 10 holdings and summary composition data derived
42 | Phoenix Opportunities Trust |
from portfolio holdings information. This information is posted to the Web sites at the end of each month with respect to the top 10 holdings, and at the end of each quarter with respect to summary composition information, generally within 10 business days. With respect to the International Real Estate Securities Fund, the top ten holdings and summary composition information are reported on a one-month lag. This information will remain available on the Web sites until full portfolio holdings information becomes publicly available. A full listing of each funds portfolio holdings becomes publicly available (i) as of the end of its second and fourth fiscal quarters in shareholder reports, which are sent to all shareholders and are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form N-CSR, and (ii) at the end of its first and third fiscal quarters by filing with the SEC a Form N-Q. The funds shareholder reports are available without charge on Phoenixs Web site at PhoenixFunds.com (also accessible at PhoenixInvestments.com). The funds Form N-Q filings are available on the SECs Internet site at sec.gov. A more detailed description of the funds policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the funds portfolio securities is also available in the Statement of Additional Information.
The funds plan to make distributions from net investment income at intervals stated in the table below and to distribute net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually.
Fund | Dividend Paid | |
Foreign Opportunities Fund | Semiannually | |
International Real Estate Securities Fund | Semiannually | |
International Strategies Fund | Semiannually | |
Worldwide Strategies Fund | Semiannually |
Distributions of short-term capital gains (gains on securities held for a year or less) and net investment income are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Under the Jobs and Growth Tax Reconciliation Act of 2003, certain distributions of long-term capital gains and certain dividends are taxable at a lower rate than ordinary income. Long-term capital gains, if any, distributed to shareholders and which are designated by a fund as capital gain distributions, are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain distributions regardless of the length of time you have owned your shares.
Unless you elect to receive distributions in cash, dividends and capital gain distributions are paid in additional shares. All distributions, cash or additional shares, are subject to federal income tax and may be subject to state, local and other taxes.
Phoenix Opportunities Trust | 43 |
For each of the funds below, the tables present performance of the respective Predecessor Fund. No information is presented for the Successor Funds since each commenced operations on the date of this prospectus. The information is intended to help you understand the respective Predecessor Funds financial performance for the past five years or since inception. Some of the information reflects financial information for a single fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that a Predecessor Fund shareholder would have earned or lost on an investment in the Predecessor Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). Except as described below for the Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund and where otherwise indicated, this information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the funds independent registered public accounting firm for each of the Predecessor Funds. Their report, together with each Predecessor Funds financial statements, is included in the Predecessor Funds most recent Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Since the International Real Estate Securities Fund has been in existence only since the date of this prospectus, no financial information is included here for this fund.
Please note that for the Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund, the financial highlights information in the following tables represents financial highlights of the Class A Shares of Vontobel International Equity Fund through December 31, 2002, as well as the Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund through February 28, 2007. Information for periods prior to October 13, 2003 has been derived from the financial statements of the Class A Shares of the former Vontobel International Equity Fund. The Vontobel International Equity Fund previously had a fiscal year end of December 31; in 2004, the fund changed its fiscal year end to the last day of February.
Regarding the Phoenix Foreign Opportunities
Fund, information for the periods ended February 28, 2007, February 28, 2006, February 28, 2005, February 29, 2004 and December 31, 2003 was audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Information for the period ended December 31, 2002 was audited by the
Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund
Class A | ||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended February 28, |
For the Period
January 1, 2004 to February 29, 2004 |
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $21.47 | $19.02 | $15.47 | $14.84 | $11.86 | $12.88 | ||||||||||||
Income from investment operations | ||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) |
0.21 | (6) | 0.17 | (6) | 0.16 | (0.03 | ) | 0.12 | 0.03 | |||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
4.08 | 3.85 | 3.81 | 0.66 | 3.39 | (1.05 | ) | |||||||||||
Total from investment operations |
4.29 | 4.02 | 3.97 | 0.63 | 3.51 | (1.02 | ) | |||||||||||
Less distributions | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.17 | ) | (0.22 | ) | (0.16 | ) | | (0.06 | ) | | ||||||||
Distributions from net realized gains |
(0.59 | ) | (1.35 | ) | (0.26 | ) | | (0.43 | ) | | ||||||||
Tax return of capital |
| | | | (0.06 | ) | | |||||||||||
Total distributions |
(0.76 | ) | (1.57 | ) | (0.42 | ) | | (0.55 | ) | | ||||||||
Payment by affiliate (3) |
| | | (2) | | 0.02 | | |||||||||||
Change in net asset value | 3.53 | 2.45 | 3.55 | 0.63 | 2.98 | (1.02 | ) | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $25.00 | $21.47 | $19.02 | $15.47 | $14.84 | $11.86 | ||||||||||||
Total return (1) | 20.39 | % | 21.82 | % | 26.15 | % (3) | 4.25 | % (5) | 30.07 | % | (7.92 | )% | ||||||
Ratios/supplemental data: | ||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | $360,822 | $128,991 | $2,714 | $1,482 | $1,473 | $29,026 | ||||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||||||||||||||
Net operating expenses |
1.37 | % | 1.25 | % | 1.25 | % | 1.25 | % (4) | 2.87 | % | 2.44 | % | ||||||
Gross operating expenses |
1.43 | % | 1.62 | % | 2.10 | % | 2.63 | % (4) | 3.21 | % | 2.44 | % | ||||||
Net investment income (loss) |
0.88 | % | 0.85 | % | 1.50 | % | 0.18 | % (4) | 0.11 | % | 0.18 | % | ||||||
Portfolio turnover | 57 | % | 52 | % | 32 | % | 41 | % (4) | 65 | % | 98 | % |
(1) Sales charges are not reflected in total return calculation.
(2) Amount is less than $0.01.
(3) Payment by affiliate. Please see Note 3 to audited financial statements for the year ended February 28, 2007 appearing in the 2007 Annual Report.
(4) Annualized.
(5) Not annualized.
(6) Computed using average shares outstanding.
44 | Phoenix Opportunities Trust |
Financial Highlights (continued)
Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund
Class C | |||||||||||||||
Year Ended February 28, |
For the Period
January 1, 2004 to February 29, 2004 |
From Inception
October 10, 2003 to December 31, 2003 |
|||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $21.41 | $19.11 | $15.55 | $14.95 | $13.91 | ||||||||||
Income from investment operations | |||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) |
(0.01 | ) (6) | (0.06 | ) (6) | 0.01 | (0.06 | ) | 0.11 | |||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
4.11 | 3.92 | 3.84 | 0.66 | 1.34 | ||||||||||
Total from investment operations |
4.10 | 3.86 | 3.85 | 0.60 | 1.45 | ||||||||||
Less distributions | |||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.07 | ) | (0.21 | ) | (0.03 | ) | | | |||||||
Distributions from net realized gains |
(0.59 | ) | (1.35 | ) | (0.26 | ) | | (0.43 | ) | ||||||
Total distributions |
(0.66 | ) | (1.56 | ) | (0.29 | ) | | (0.43 | ) | ||||||
Payment by affiliate (3) |
| | | (2) | | 0.02 | |||||||||
Change in net asset value | 3.44 | 2.30 | 3.56 | 0.60 | 1.04 | ||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $24.85 | $21.41 | $19.11 | $15.55 | $14.95 | ||||||||||
Total return (1) | 19.46 | % | 20.96 | % | 25.21 | % (3) | 4.01 | % (5) | 10.71 | % (5) | |||||
Ratios/supplemental data: | |||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | $45,154 | $6,019 | $39 | $12 | $11 | ||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | |||||||||||||||
Net operating expenses |
2.13 | % | 2.00 | % | 2.00 | % | 2.00 | % (4) | 1.92 | % (4) | |||||
Gross operating expenses |
2.17 | % | 2.35 | % | 2.86 | % | 3.38 | % (4) | 5.85 | % (4) | |||||
Net investment income (loss) |
(0.06 | )% | (0.29 | )% | 0.76 | % | (1.05 | )% (4) | (0.14 | )% (4) | |||||
Portfolio turnover | 57 | % | 52 | % | 32 | % | 41 | % (4) | 65 | % (4) |
(1) Sales charges are not reflected in total return calculation.
(2) Amount is less than $0.01.
(3) Payment by affiliate. Please see Note 3 to audited financial statements for the year ended February 28, 2007 appearing in the 2007 Annual Report.
(4) Annualized.
(5) Not annualized.
(6) Computed using average shares outstanding.
Phoenix Opportunities Trust | 45 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund
Class I (f/k/a Class X) |
|||
From Inception
May 15, 2006 to February 28, 2007 |
|||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $22.54 | ||
Income from investment operations | |||
Net investment income (loss) (1) |
0.13 | ||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
3.14 | ||
Total from investment operations |
3.27 | ||
Less distributions | |||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.22 | ) | |
Distributions from net realized gains |
(0.59 | ) | |
Total distributions |
(0.81 | ) | |
Change in net asset value | 2.46 | ||
Net asset value, end of period | $25.00 | ||
Total return | 14.84 | % (3) | |
Ratios/supplemental data: | |||
Net assets, end of period (thousands) | $83,938 | ||
Ratio to average net assets of: | |||
Net operating expenses |
1.13 | % (2) | |
Gross operating expenses |
1.17 | % (2) | |
Net investment income (loss) |
0.71 | % (2) | |
Portfolio turnover | 57 | % (3) |
(1) Computed using average shares outstanding.
(2) Annualized.
(3) Not annualized.
46 | Phoenix Opportunities Trust |
Financial Highlights (continued)
Phoenix International Strategies Fund
Class A | ||||||||||||||||||
Six Months
Ended May 31, 2007 (Unaudited) |
Year Ended November 30, | |||||||||||||||||
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $13.76 | $10.96 | $9.84 | $8.21 | $7.11 | $7.92 | ||||||||||||
Income from investment operations | ||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) (2) |
0.12 | 0.14 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.06 | 0.02 | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
1.67 | 2.83 | 1.21 | 1.70 | 1.04 | (0.83 | ) | |||||||||||
Total from investment operations |
1.79 | 2.97 | 1.32 | 1.81 | 1.10 | (0.81 | ) | |||||||||||
Less distributions | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.13 | ) | (0.17 | ) | (0.20 | ) | (0.18 | ) | | | ||||||||
Total distributions |
(0.13 | ) | (0.17 | ) | (0.20 | ) | (0.18 | ) | | | ||||||||
Change in net asset value | 1.66 | 2.80 | 1.12 | 1.63 | 1.10 | (0.81 | ) | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $15.42 | $13.76 | $10.96 | $9.84 | $8.21 | $7.11 | ||||||||||||
Total return (1) | 13.11 | % (4) | 27.39 | % | 13.61 | % | 22.36 | % | 15.47 | % | (10.23 | )% | ||||||
Ratios/supplemental data: | ||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (thousands) | $92,745 | $83,849 | $71,335 | $57,946 | $51,664 | $52,234 | ||||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||||||||||||||
Net operating expenses |
1.63 | % (3) | 1.60 | % | 1.79 | % | 1.83 | % | 2.02 | % | 1.90 | % | ||||||
Gross operating expenses |
1.63 | % (3) | 1.68 | % | 1.89 | % | 1.83 | % | 2.02 | % | 1.90 | % | ||||||
Net investment income (loss) |
1.64 | % (3) | 1.16 | % | 1.06 | % | 1.23 | % | 0.90 | % | 0.19 | % | ||||||
Portfolio turnover | 43 | % (4) | 86 | % | 142 | % | 50 | % | 38 | % | 33 | % | ||||||
Class B | ||||||||||||||||||
Six Months
Ended May 31, 2007 (Unaudited) |
Year Ended November 30, | |||||||||||||||||
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $12.63 | $10.04 | $9.04 | $7.56 | $6.60 | $7.40 | ||||||||||||
Income from investment operations | ||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) (2) |
0.05 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.01 | (0.04 | ) | |||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
1.53 | 2.59 | 1.10 | 1.57 | 0.95 | (0.76 | ) | |||||||||||
Total from investment operations |
1.58 | 2.64 | 1.14 | 1.61 | 0.96 | (0.80 | ) | |||||||||||
Less distributions | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.09 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.13 | ) | | | ||||||||
Total distributions |
(0.09 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.13 | ) | | | ||||||||
Change in net asset value | 1.49 | 2.59 | 1.00 | 1.48 | 0.96 | (0.80 | ) | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $14.12 | $12.63 | $10.04 | $9.04 | $7.56 | $6.60 | ||||||||||||
Total return (1) | 12.62 | % (4) | 26.43 | % | 12.74 | % | 21.52 | % | 14.55 | % | (10.81 | )% | ||||||
Ratios/supplemental data: | ||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (thousands) | $6,712 | $6,575 | $6,008 | $6,809 | $7,377 | $8,562 | ||||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||||||||||||||
Net operating expenses |
2.38 | % (3) | 2.35 | % | 2.55 | % | 2.58 | % | 2.78 | % | 2.65 | % | ||||||
Gross operating expenses |
2.38 | % (3) | 2.43 | % | 2.63 | % | 2.58 | % | 2.78 | % | 2.65 | % | ||||||
Net investment income (loss) |
0.80 | % (3) | 0.42 | % | 0.43 | % | 0.45 | % | 0.14 | % | (0.56 | )% | ||||||
Portfolio turnover | 43 | % (4) | 86 | % | 142 | % | 50 | % | 38 | % | 33 | % |
(1) Sales charges are not reflected in the total return calculation.
(2) Computed using average shares outstanding.
(3) Annualized.
(4) Not annualized.
Phoenix Opportunities Trust | 47 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
Phoenix International Strategies Fund
Class C | ||||||||||||||||||
Six Months
Ended May 31, 2007 (Unaudited) |
Year Ended November 30, | |||||||||||||||||
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $12.59 | $10.00 | $9.01 | $7.54 | $6.56 | $7.37 | ||||||||||||
Income from investment operations | ||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) (2) |
0.05 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.01 | (0.04 | ) | |||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
1.53 | 2.59 | 1.09 | 1.56 | 0.97 | (0.77 | ) | |||||||||||
Total from investment operations |
1.58 | 2.64 | 1.13 | 1.60 | 0.98 | (0.81 | ) | |||||||||||
Less distributions | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.09 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.13 | ) | | | ||||||||
Total distributions |
(0.09 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.13 | ) | | | ||||||||
Change in net asset value | 1.49 | 2.59 | 0.99 | 1.47 | 0.98 | (0.81 | ) | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $14.08 | $12.59 | $10.00 | $9.01 | $7.54 | $6.56 | ||||||||||||
Total return (1) | 12.66 | % (4) | 26.54 | % | 12.67 | % | 21.45 | % | 14.94 | % | (10.99 | )% | ||||||
Ratios/supplemental data: | ||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (thousands) | $2,371 | $2,371 | $1,595 | $1,286 | $1,029 | $1,017 | ||||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||||||||||||||
Net operating expenses |
2.38 | % (3) | 2.35 | % | 2.55 | % | 2.58 | % | 2.78 | % | 2.65 | % | ||||||
Gross operating expenses |
2.38 | % (3) | 2.43 | % | 2.64 | % | 2.58 | % | 2.78 | % | 2.65 | % | ||||||
Net investment income (loss) |
0.79 | % (3) | 0.48 | % | 0.39 | % | 0.48 | % | 0.14 | % | (0.56 | )% | ||||||
Portfolio turnover | 43 | % (4) | 86 | % | 142 | % | 50 | % | 38 | % | 33 | % |
(1) Sales charges are not reflected in the total return calculation.
(2) Computed using average shares outstanding.
(3) Annualized.
(4) Not annualized.
48 | Phoenix Opportunities Trust |
Financial Highlights (continued)
Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund
Class A | |||||||||||||||
Year Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $9.86 | $8.38 | $7.72 | $6.37 | $7.03 | ||||||||||
Income from investment operations | |||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) (1) |
0.11 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.03 | 0.05 | ||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
2.30 | 1.51 | 0.68 | 1.41 | (0.71 | ) | |||||||||
Total from investment operations |
2.41 | 1.58 | 0.76 | 1.44 | (0.66 | ) | |||||||||
Less distributions | |||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.12 | ) | (0.10 | ) | (0.10 | ) | (0.09 | ) | | ||||||
Total distributions |
(0.12 | ) | (0.10 | ) | (0.10 | ) | (0.09 | ) | | ||||||
Change in net asset value | 2.29 | 1.48 | 0.66 | 1.35 | (0.66 | ) | |||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $12.15 | $9.86 | $8.38 | $7.72 | $6.37 | ||||||||||
Total return (2) | 24.61 | % | 18.90 | % | 9.80 | % | 22.65 | % | (9.39 | )% | |||||
Ratios/supplemental data: | |||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (thousands) | $117,709 | $102,783 | $100,469 | $107,520 | $98,135 | ||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | |||||||||||||||
Net operating expenses |
1.61 | % | 1.60 | % | 1.57 | % | 1.62 | % | 1.73 | % | |||||
Gross operating expenses |
1.64 | % | 1.70 | % | 1.57 | % | 1.62 | % | 1.73 | % | |||||
Net investment income (loss) |
1.01 | % | 0.76 | % | 0.97 | % | 0.46 | % | 0.81 | % | |||||
Portfolio turnover | 74 | % | 124 | % | 49 | % | 122 | % | 160 | % | |||||
Class B | |||||||||||||||
Year Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $8.98 | $7.65 | $7.05 | $5.81 | $6.46 | ||||||||||
Income from investment operations | |||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) (1) |
0.02 | | (3) | 0.02 | (0.02 | ) | | (3) | |||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
2.10 | 1.37 | 0.63 | 1.28 | (0.65 | ) | |||||||||
Total from investment operations |
2.12 | 1.37 | 0.65 | 1.26 | (0.65 | ) | |||||||||
Less distributions | |||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.06 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.02 | ) | | ||||||
Total distributions |
(0.06 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.02 | ) | | ||||||
Change in net asset value | 2.06 | 1.33 | 0.60 | 1.24 | (0.65 | ) | |||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $11.04 | $8.98 | $7.65 | $7.05 | $5.81 | ||||||||||
Total return (2) | 23.76 | % | 17.92 | % | 9.14 | % | 21.78 | % | (10.20 | )% | |||||
Ratios/supplemental data: | |||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (thousands) | $5,074 | $5,395 | $5,096 | $5,987 | $6,730 | ||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | |||||||||||||||
Net operating expenses |
2.36 | % | 2.35 | % | 2.32 | % | 2.37 | % | 2.48 | % | |||||
Gross operating expenses |
2.39 | % | 2.45 | % | 2.32 | % | 2.37 | % | 2.48 | % | |||||
Net investment income (loss) |
0.22 | % | 0.01 | % | 0.23 | % | (0.34 | )% | 0.04 | % | |||||
Portfolio turnover | 74 | % | 124 | % | 49 | % | 122 | % | 160 | % |
(1) Computed using average shares outstanding.
(2) Sales charges are not reflected in the total return calculation.
(3) Amount is less than $0.01.
Phoenix Opportunities Trust | 49 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund
Class C | |||||||||||||||
Year Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $8.95 | $7.62 | $7.03 | $5.80 | $6.45 | ||||||||||
Income from investment operations | |||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) (1) |
0.02 | | (3) | 0.02 | (0.01 | ) | (0.01 | ) | |||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
2.10 | 1.37 | 0.62 | 1.27 | (0.64 | ) | |||||||||
Total from investment operations |
2.12 | 1.37 | 0.64 | 1.26 | (0.65 | ) | |||||||||
Less distributions | |||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.06 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.03 | ) | | ||||||
Total distributions |
(0.06 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.03 | ) | | ||||||
Change in net asset value | 2.06 | 1.33 | 0.59 | 1.23 | (0.65 | ) | |||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $11.01 | $8.95 | $7.62 | $7.03 | $5.80 | ||||||||||
Total return (2) | 23.74 | % | 17.99 | % | 9.03 | % | 21.66 | % | (10.08 | )% | |||||
Ratios/supplemental data: | |||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (thousands) | $1,838 | $2,826 | $2,876 | $3,306 | $2,407 | ||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | |||||||||||||||
Net operating expenses |
2.36 | % | 2.35 | % | 2.32 | % | 2.37 | % | 2.48 | % | |||||
Gross operating expenses |
2.38 | % | 2.45 | % | 2.32 | % | 2.37 | % | 2.48 | % | |||||
Net investment income (loss) |
0.23 | % | (0.03 | )% | 0.22 | % | (0.18 | )% | (0.10 | )% | |||||
Portfolio turnover | 74 | % | 124 | % | 49 | % | 122 | % | 160 | % |
(1) Computed using average shares outstanding.
(2) Sales charges are not reflected in the total return calculation.
(3) Amount is less than $0.01.
50 | Phoenix Opportunities Trust |
Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation
P.O. Box 150480
Hartford, CT 06115-0480
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
You can find more information about the Funds in the following documents:
Annual and Semiannual Reports
Annual and semiannual reports contain more information about the Funds investments. The annual report discusses the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds performance during the last fiscal year.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI)
The SAI contains more detailed information about the Funds. It is incorporated by reference and is legally part of the prospectus.
To obtain free copies of these documents, you can download copies from the Individual Investors section of our Web site, PhoenixFunds.com, or you can request copies by calling us toll-free at 1-800-243-1574.
Information about the Funds (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC) Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. For information about the operation of the Public Reference Room, call 1-202-551-8090. This information is also available on the SECs Internet site at sec.gov. You may also obtain copies upon payment of a duplicating fee by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-6009 or by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov.
Mutual Fund Services: 1-800-243-1574
Text Telephone: 1-800-243-1926
Investment Company Act File No. 811-7455 | ||
PXP5017 BPD32754 | 9-07 |
Prospectus
PHOENIX ASSET ALLOCATION PHOLIOs
Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO
Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO
Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO
PHOENIX DIVERSIFYING PHOLIO
Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO
TRUST NAME: PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
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September 24, 2007
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Eligible shareholders can sign up for
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Not FDIC Insured |
No Bank Guarantee |
May Lose Value |
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus contains important information that you should know before investing in Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO, Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO, Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO and Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO. Please read it carefully and retain it for future reference.
Phoenix PHOLIOs SM
Table of Contents | ||
Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO |
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3 | ||
7 | ||
Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO |
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9 | ||
14 | ||
Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO |
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16 | ||
21 | ||
Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO |
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23 | ||
27 | ||
28 | ||
29 | ||
31 | ||
34 | ||
35 | ||
36 | ||
36 | ||
37 | ||
39 | ||
40 | ||
41 | ||
45 | ||
Appendix BUnderlying Affiliated Mutual Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) |
46 |
Phoenix PHOLIOs SM
This prospectus describes four funds, Ph o enix L ife-cycle I nvestment O ptions, known as Phoenix PHOLIOs. Phoenix PHOLIOs are packaged investment options that range from all-in-one asset allocation funds to a diversifying fund that focuses on select areas of the investment universe.
Asset Allocation PHOLIOs
· |
Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO seeks long-term capital appreciation consistent with an aggressive level of risk relative to other of the PHOLIOs. |
· |
Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO seeks long-term capital appreciation consistent with a fairly aggressive level of risk relative to other of the PHOLIOs. |
· |
Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO seeks long-term capital appreciation and current income consistent with a moderate level of risk relative to other of the PHOLIOs. |
Diversifying PHOLIO
· |
Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in a diversified mix of affiliated mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that have less correlation to traditional equity markets. |
Overall Investment Approach
Each of the PHOLIOs is a fund of funds, meaning that each PHOLIO seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing its assets in other Phoenix mutual funds, referred to as underlying affiliated mutual funds, and for the Diversifier PHOLIO, in exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Asset Allocation PHOLIOs
The Asset Allocation PHOLIOs have a target allocation for the percentage of each PHOLIOs assets to be invested in the general asset classes of equity and fixed income.
The following table indicates each Asset Allocation PHOLIOs target allocation between asset classes:
PHOLIO | Equity Allocation | Fixed Income Allocation | ||||
Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO | 100 | % | 0 | % | ||
Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO | 80 | % | 20 | % | ||
Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO | 60 | % | 40 | % |
Diversifier PHOLIO
The Diversifier PHOLIO has allocations to underlying affiliated mutual funds and ETFs that invest in distinct areas of the investment universe to support the objective and strategies of the PHOLIO. The following list indicates the types of investments in which the Diversifier PHOLIO may be invested:
Market Neutral
Global Utilities
Real Estate Securities
Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO
Investment Risk and Return Summary
Investment Objective
The Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO (the Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO) is a fund of funds that has an investment objective of seeking long-term capital appreciation. There is no guarantee that the fund will meet its objective. The funds investment objective may
Principal Investment Strategies of the Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO
Þ |
The fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing its assets in a mix of underlying affiliated mutual funds that employ diverse investment styles, such as value and/or growth investing. The funds emphasis on diversification is intended to moderate volatility by limiting the effect of any one investment style. |
Þ |
Under normal conditions, the fund allocates assets among underlying affiliated mutual funds to achieve a target allocation of approximately 100% of assets in equity mutual funds. The underlying affiliated mutual funds in which the fund invests in turn invest principally (i) in equity securities of issuers of any capitalization and (ii) in foreign issuers, including those in emerging markets. Although the fund does not concentrate its investments, certain of the underlying affiliated mutual funds in which the fund invests may concentrate their investments in a particular industry or market sector, such as real estate, or may engage in short sales. |
Þ |
The subadviser determines the combination of affiliated mutual funds that it believes best represents the selected asset allocation. The allocations to the underlying affiliated mutual funds are based on the subadvisers assessment of the appropriate mix of risk and return characteristics to best meet the funds investment objective. |
Þ |
The subadviser monitors the funds allocations to the underlying affiliated mutual funds and will gradually rebalance assets to maintain the targeted allocations. The subadviser will review the selection of, and the target ranges within, the underlying affiliated mutual funds and may make adjustments as market changes warrant. |
Þ |
The subadviser to each underlying affiliated mutual fund is responsible for deciding which securities to purchase and sell for its respective underlying affiliated mutual fund. |
Temporary Investment Strategy: If the adviser or subadviser does not believe that market conditions are favorable to the funds principal investment strategies, the fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its principal investment strategies by investing in cash or money market instruments, including, but not limited to, U.S. Government obligations maturing within one year from the date of purchase. When this allocation happens, the fund may not achieve its investment objective.
Principal Risks of an Investment
If you invest in this fund, you risk losing your investment because the fund depends on the investment performance of the underlying affiliated mutual funds. Therefore, the fund will also be subject to the risks associated with the deployment of principal investment strategies of the underlying affiliated mutual funds, which are described below.
General
The value of the funds investments that supports your share value may decrease. If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the funds investments decreases, you will lose money.
Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, specific industries or companies in which the underlying affiliated mutual funds invest can be worse than expected and investments may fail to perform as the subadviser expects. As a result, the value of your shares may decrease.
The subadviser seeks to reduce investment risk by diversifying among mutual funds that invest in stocks. However, there are still the risks of investing in various asset classes, as well as the inherent risks of the underlying affiliated mutual funds.
Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO | 3 |
Allocation Risk
The funds ability to achieve its investment objective will depend largely on the subadvisers ability in selecting the appropriate mix of underlying affiliated mutual funds.
Underlying Mutual Funds Risk
Achieving the funds objective will depend on the performance of the underlying affiliated mutual funds, which depends on the particular securities in which the underlying affiliated mutual funds invest. Indirectly, the fund is subject to all risks associated with the underlying affiliated mutual funds. Since the funds performance depends on that of each underlying affiliated mutual fund, it may be subject to increased volatility.
Affiliated Fund Risk
The subadviser has the authority to select and substitute underlying affiliated mutual funds. The fees paid to the subadviser by other affiliated mutual funds may be higher than the fees paid by underlying affiliated mutual funds in which the fund currently invests. These conditions may create a conflict of interest when selecting underlying affiliated mutual funds for investment. However, the subadviser is a fiduciary to the fund and its shareholders and is legally obligated to act in their best interest when selecting underlying affiliated mutual funds.
Equity Securities Risk
Generally, prices of equity securities are more volatile than those of fixed income securities. The prices of equity securities will rise and fall in response to a number of different factors. In particular, equity securities will respond to events that affect entire financial markets or industries (such as changes in inflation or consumer demand) and to events that affect particular issuers (such as news about the success or failure of a new product).
· |
Growth Stocks. Because growth stocks typically make little or no dividend payments to shareholders, investment return is based on a stocks capital appreciation, making return more dependent on market increases and decreases. Growth stocks are therefore more susceptible than non-growth stocks to market changes, tending to drop more sharply when markets fall. Growth-oriented funds typically underperform when value investing is in favor. |
· |
Large Market Capitalization Companies. Companies with large market capitalizations go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. Larger companies tend to be less volatile than companies with smaller market capitalizations. In exchange for this potentially lower risk, the funds value may not rise as much as the value of funds that emphasize companies with smaller market capitalizations. |
· |
Small and Medium Market Capitalization Companies. Companies with smaller market capitalizations are often companies with a limited operating history or companies in industries that have recently emerged due to cultural, economic, regulatory or technological developments. Such developments can have a significant impact or negative effect on small and medium market capitalization companies and their stock performance and can make investment returns highly volatile. Product lines are often less diversified and more susceptible to competitive threats. Smaller market capitalization stocks are subject to varying patterns of trading volume and may, at times, be difficult to sell. |
· |
Value Stocks. Value stocks involve the risk that the value of the security will not be recognized for an unexpectedly long period of time and that the security is not undervalued but is appropriately priced due to fundamental problems not yet apparent. Value-oriented funds typically underperform when growth investing is in favor. |
Foreign Investing Risk
Foreign markets and currencies may not function as well as U.S. markets. Political and economic uncertainty in foreign countries, as well as less public information about foreign investments, may negatively impact the funds investments. Dividends and other income payable on foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes. Some investments may be made in currencies other than the U.S. dollar that will fluctuate in value as a result of changes in the currency exchange rate. Investments in less developed countries whose markets are still emerging generally present risks in greater degree than those presented by investment in foreign issuers based in countries with more developed securities markets and more advanced regulatory systems.
4 | Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO |
Fully Invested in Equity Securities Risk
The net asset value of a fund that is fully invested in equity securities will decrease more quickly if the value of such securities decreases as compared to a fund that holds larger cash positions.
Industry Concentration Risk
To the extent a fund concentrates its investments in a particular industry, the fund is more vulnerable to financial, economic or political developments affecting that industry. Securities of companies in other industries may provide greater investment return in certain market conditions as compared to companies in the industry in which the fund holds a concentrated position. Moreover, conditions that negatively impact the particular industry will have a greater impact on the fund as compared to a fund that does not
Limited Number of Investments Risk
Conditions that negatively affect securities in the portfolios will have greater impact on funds that invest in a limited number of securities as compared with a fund that holds a greater number of security positions. In addition, such a fund may be more sensitive to changes in the market value of a single issuer in its portfolio.
Non-Diversification Risk
A non-diversified investment company is not limited in the proportion of assets that it may invest in the securities of any one issuer. Diversifying a funds portfolio can reduce the risks of investing. A non-diversified fund may be subject to greater risk since it can invest a greater proportion of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers. If a fund takes large positions in a small number of issuers, changes in the price of those securities may cause the funds return to fluctuate more than that of a diversified investment company.
REIT Securities Risk
Equity REITs may be affected by changes in value of the underlying properties they own, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, equity and mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally are not diversified. Equity and mortgage REITs are also subject to potential defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status of income under the Internal Revenue Code and failing to maintain exemption from the Investment Company Act of 1940. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments. In addition, investment in REITs could cause a fund to possibly fail to qualify as a regulated investment company.
Short Sales Risk
In order to establish a short position in a security, a fund must first borrow the security from a broker or other institution to complete the sale. The fund may not always be able to borrow a security, or to close out a short position at a particular time or at an acceptable price. If the price of the borrowed security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the fund replaces the security, the fund may experience a loss. The funds loss on a short sale is limited only by the maximum attainable price of the security (which could be limitless) less the price the fund paid for the security at the time it was borrowed.
Please refer to the Statement of Additional Information of the fund, and the prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information of the underlying affiliated mutual funds identified later in this prospectus, for more detailed information about the principal investment strategies and associated risks of the fund and of each of the underlying affiliated mutual funds.
Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO | 5 |
Performance Tables
The Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO, a series of Phoenix Opportunities Trust (Successor Fund), is the successor of the Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO, a series of Phoenix PHOLIOs (Predecessor Fund), resulting from a reorganization of the Predecessor Fund with and into the Successor Fund on September 24, 2007. The Predecessor Fund and the Successor Fund have identical investment objectives and strategies. The Successor Fund has adopted the past performance of the Predecessor Fund as its own. Therefore, the performance tables below include the performance of the shares of the Predecessor Fund prior to the Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIOs commencement date.
The bar chart and the table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO. The bar chart shows the performance in the funds Class A Shares. (1) The table shows how the funds average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index. The funds past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.
(1) The funds annual return in the chart above does not reflect the deduction of any sales charges. The return would have been less than that shown if sales charges were deducted. During the period shown in the chart above, the highest return for Class A Shares for a quarter was 6.85% (quarter ending December 31, 2006) and the lowest return for a quarter was -1.47% (quarter ending June 30, 2006). Year-to-date performance (through June 30, 2007) is 9.22%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/06) (2) |
1 Year | Since Inception (3) | ||
Class A |
||||
Return Before Taxes |
8.66% | 8.43% | ||
Return After Taxes on Distributions (4) |
8.12% | 7.99% | ||
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares (4) |
5.89% | 7.03% | ||
Class C |
||||
Return Before Taxes |
14.41% | 12.24% | ||
S&P 500 ® Index (5) |
15.78% | 12.45% |
(2) The funds average annual return in the table above reflect the deduction of the maximum sales charge for an investment in the funds Class A Shares and a full redemption in the funds Class C Shares.
(3) Since August 4, 2005.
(4) 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 taxes. The after-tax returns shown in the table above are for only one class of shares offered by the prospectus (Class A); after-tax returns for other classes will vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investors tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
(5) The S&P 500 ® Index is a free-float adjusted market capitalization-weighted index of 500 of the largest U.S. companies. The index is calculated on a total-return basis with dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment; therefore, its performance does not reflect the fees, expenses or taxes associated with the active management of an actual portfolio.
6 | Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO |
This table illustrates all fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
Class A
Shares |
Class C
Shares |
|||
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the value redeemed or the amount invested) | None (a) | 1.00% (b) | ||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | None | None | ||
Redemption Fee | None | None | ||
Exchange Fee | None | None | ||
Class A
Shares |
Class C
Shares |
|||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from fund assets) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.10% | 0.10% | ||
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees (c)(d) | None | 0.75% | ||
Other Expenses (e) | 0.87% | 0.87% | ||
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (f) (Underlying Mutual Funds) | 1.53% | 1.53% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (g)(h) | 2.50% | 3.25% | ||
(a) A contingent deferred sales charge of 1% may apply on certain redemptions made within one year following purchases on which a finders fee has been paid. The one-year period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made.
(b) The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.
(c) Class A Shares and Class C Shares are authorized under the funds 12b-1 Plan to pay fees up to 0.25% and 1.00%, respectively. In addition, the underlying affiliated mutual funds Class A Shares and Class Y Shares in which the fund invests impose a 0.25% 12b-1 fee. To avoid duplication of 12b-1 fees, each class of shares of the fund has reduced the 12b-1 fee by the amount of underlying affiliated mutual funds Class A Share and Class Y Share 12b-1 fees. The net amounts are shown in the table.
(d) Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees represent an asset based sales charge that, for a long-term shareholder, over time may be higher than the maximum front-end sales charge permitted by the FINRA.
(e) Estimated based on Predecessor Funds fiscal year ended July 31, 2007.
(f) Because the fund invests in other mutual funds, it is a shareholder of those underlying mutual funds and indirectly bears its proportionate share of the operating expenses, including management fees of the underlying mutual funds. These expenses are deducted from the underlying mutual funds before their share prices are calculated and are in addition to the direct fees and expenses borne by the fund and its shareholders that are also described in the fee tables above. All of the above expenses reflect the expense ratio for the funds last fiscal year and for each acquired (underlying) funds most recent fiscal period publicly reported. These estimates may vary considerably based on future asset levels of the fund, the amount of fund assets invested in acquired (underlying) funds at any point in time, and the fluctuation of the expense ratios of the acquired (underlying) funds.
(g) The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expense to average net assets appearing in the Financial Highlights tables, which tables reflect only the operating expenses of the fund and do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
(h) The funds investment adviser has contractually agreed to limit the funds total operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 fees, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) through November 30, 2007, so that such expenses do not exceed 0.20% for Class A Shares and Class C Shares. The adviser will voluntarily continue these arrangements beyond the contractual period, but may discontinue such voluntary arrangements at any time. Prior to June 15, 2007, the adviser had limited such expenses to 0.00% for Class A and Class C Shares. Actual Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses, after expense reimbursements, were 0.06% for Class A Shares and 0.81% for Class C Shares. The adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed under these arrangements, and made subsequent to August 23, 2007, for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which such reimbursements occurred.
Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO | 7 |
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 funds operating expenses remain the same. The calculations use the combined net operating expenses of the fund and the weighted average of the total operating expenses of the underlying affiliated mutual funds. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | ||||
Class A | $814 | $1,309 | $1,829 | $3,248 | ||||
Class C | $428 | $1,001 | $1,698 | $3,549 |
You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | ||||
Class C | $328 | $1,001 | $1,698 | $3,549 |
Note: The example does not include the effects of the expense reimbursement obligations of the adviser; therefore, your actual expenses may be lower than those shown.
8 | Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO |
Investment Risk and Return Summary
Investment Objective
The Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO (the Wealth Builder PHOLIO) is a fund of funds that has an investment objective of seeking long-term capital appreciation. There is no guarantee that the fund will meet its objective.
Principal Investment Strategies of the Wealth Builder PHOLIO
Þ |
The fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing its assets in a mix of underlying affiliated mutual funds that employ diverse investment styles, such as value and/or growth investing. The funds emphasis on diversification is intended to moderate volatility by limiting the effect of any one investment style. |
Þ |
Under normal conditions, the fund allocates assets among underlying affiliated mutual funds to achieve a target allocation mix of approximately 80% of assets in equity mutual funds, and approximately 20% of assets in bond mutual funds. The underlying affiliated mutual funds in which the fund invests in turn invest principally (i) in equity securities of issuers of any capitalization, (ii) in debt securities of any maturity of various types of issuers and credit qualities, including those below investment grade, and (iii) in foreign issuers, including those in emerging markets. Although the fund does not concentrate its investments, certain of the underlying affiliated mutual funds in which the fund invests may concentrate their investments in a particular industry or market sector, such as real estate, or may engage in short sales. |
Þ |
The subadviser determines the combination of affiliated mutual funds that it believes best represents the selected asset allocation. The allocations to the underlying affiliated mutual funds are based on the subadvisers assessment of the appropriate mix of risk and return characteristics to best meet the funds investment objective. |
Þ |
The subadviser monitors the funds allocations to the underlying affiliated mutual funds and will gradually rebalance assets to maintain the targeted allocations. The subadviser will review the selection of, and the target ranges within, the underlying affiliated mutual funds and may make adjustments as market changes warrant. |
Þ |
The subadviser to each underlying affiliated mutual fund is responsible for deciding which securities to purchase and sell for its respective underlying affiliated mutual fund. |
Þ |
The fund may also invest in high-quality, short-term securities. |
Temporary Investment Strategy: If the adviser or subadviser does not believe that market conditions are favorable to the funds principal investment strategies, the fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its principal investment strategies by investing in cash or money market instruments, including, but not limited to, U.S. Government obligations maturing within one year from the date of purchase. When this
Principal Risks of an Investment
If you invest in this fund, you risk losing your investment because the fund depends on the investment performance of the underlying affiliated mutual funds. Therefore, the fund will also be subject to the risks associated with the deployment of principal investment strategies of the underlying affiliated mutual funds, which are described below.
General
The value of the funds investments that supports your share value may decrease. If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the funds investments decreases, you will lose money.
Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, specific industries or companies in which the underlying affiliated mutual funds invest can be worse than expected and investments may fail to perform as the subadviser expects. As a result, the value of your shares may decrease.
Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO | 9 |
The subadviser seeks to reduce investment risk by diversifying among mutual funds that invest in stocks and bonds. However, there are still the risks of investing in various asset classes, as well as the inherent risks of the underlying affiliated mutual funds.
Allocation Risk
The funds ability to achieve its investment objective will depend largely on the subadvisers ability in determining asset class allocations and in selecting the appropriate mix of underlying affiliated mutual funds.
Underlying Mutual Funds Risk
Achieving the funds objective will depend on the performance of the underlying affiliated mutual funds, which depends on the particular securities in which the underlying affiliated mutual funds invest. Indirectly, the fund is subject to all risks associated with the underlying affiliated mutual funds. Since the funds performance depends on that of each underlying affiliated mutual fund, it may be subject to increased volatility.
Affiliated Fund Risk
The subadviser has the authority to select and substitute underlying affiliated mutual funds. The fees paid to the subadviser by other affiliated mutual funds may be higher than the fees paid by underlying affiliated mutual funds in which the fund currently invests. These conditions may create a conflict of interest when selecting underlying affiliated mutual funds for investment. However, the subadviser is a fiduciary to the fund and its shareholders and is legally obligated to act in their best interest when selecting underlying affiliated mutual funds.
Credit Risk
Credit risk refers to the issuers ability to make scheduled interest or principal payments. Generally, the lower the credit rating of a security the greater the chance that the issuer will be unable to make such payments when due. High yield-high risk securities (junk bonds) typically entail greater price volatility and principal and interest rate risk.
Equity Securities Risk
Generally, prices of equity securities are more volatile than those of fixed income securities. The prices of equity securities will rise and fall in response to a number of different factors. In particular, equity securities will respond to events that affect entire financial markets or issuers (such as changes in inflation or consumer demand) and to events that affect particular industries (such as news about the success or failure of a new product).
· |
Growth Stocks. Because growth stocks typically make little or no dividend payments to shareholders, investment return is based on a stocks capital appreciation, making return more dependent on market increases and decreases. Growth stocks are therefore more susceptible than non-growth stocks to market changes, tending to drop more sharply when markets fall. Growth-oriented funds typically underperform when value investing is in favor. |
· |
Large Market Capitalization Companies. Companies with large market capitalizations go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. Larger companies tend to be less volatile than companies with smaller market capitalizations. In exchange for this potentially lower risk, the funds value may not rise as much as the value of funds that emphasize companies with smaller market capitalizations. |
· |
Small and Medium Market Capitalization Companies. Companies with smaller market capitalizations are often companies with a limited operating history or companies in industries that have recently emerged due to cultural, economic, regulatory or technological developments. Such developments can have a significant impact or negative effect on small and medium market capitalization companies and their stock performance and can make investment returns highly volatile. Product lines are often less diversified and more susceptible to competitive threats. Smaller market capitalization stocks are subject to varying patterns of trading volume and may, at times, be difficult to sell. |
· |
Value Stocks. Value stocks involve the risk that the value of the security will not be recognized for an unexpectedly long period of time and that the security is not undervalued but is appropriately priced due to fundamental problems not yet apparent. Value-oriented funds typically underperform when growth investing is in favor. |
10 | Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO |
Foreign Investing Risk
Foreign markets and currencies may not function as well as U.S. markets. Political and economic uncertainty in foreign countries, as well as less public information about foreign investments, may negatively impact the funds investments. Dividends and other income payable on foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes. Some investments may be made in currencies other than the U.S. dollar that will fluctuate in value as a result of changes in the currency exchange rate. Investments in less developed countries whose markets are still emerging generally present risks in greater degree than those presented by investment in foreign issuers based in countries with more developed securities markets and more
Fully Invested in Equity Securities Risk
The net asset value of a fund that is fully invested in equity securities will decrease more quickly if the value of such securities decreases as compared to a fund that holds larger cash positions.
Industry Concentration Risk
To the extent a fund concentrates its investments in a particular industry, the fund is more vulnerable to financial, economic or political developments affecting that industry. Securities of companies in other industries may provide greater investment return in certain market conditions as compared to companies in the industry in which the fund holds a concentrated position. Moreover, conditions that negatively impact the particular industry will have a greater impact on the fund as compared to a fund that does not concentrate in one industry.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate trends can have an effect on the value of the shares of the funds. If interest rates rise, the value of debt securities generally will fall. A fund that holds securities with longer maturities or durations may experience greater price fluctuations in response to changes in interest rates than a fund that holds only securities with short-term maturities or durations. Prices of longer-term securities are affected more by interest rate changes than prices of
Limited Number of Investments Risk
Conditions that negatively affect securities in the portfolios will have greater impact on funds that invest in a limited number of securities as compared with a fund that holds a greater number of security positions. In addition, such a fund may be more sensitive to changes in the market value of a single issuer in its portfolio.
Mortgage-Backed and Other Pass-Through Securities Risk
The values of pass-through securities, such as collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs), may fluctuate to a greater degree than other debt securities in response to changes in interest rates. Early payoffs on the underlying loans in mortgage-backed and asset-backed pass-through securities and CMOs may result in a fund receiving less income than originally anticipated.
Non-Diversification Risk
A non-diversified investment company is not limited in the proportion of assets that it may invest in the securities of any one issuer. Diversifying a funds portfolio can reduce the risks of investing. A non-diversified fund may be subject to greater risk since it can invest a greater proportion of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers. If a fund takes large positions in a small number of issuers, changes in the price of those securities may cause the funds return to fluctuate more than that of a diversified investment company.
REIT Securities Risk
Equity REITs may be affected by changes in value of the underlying properties they own, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, equity and mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally are not diversified. Equity and mortgage REITs are also subject to potential defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation,
Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO | 11 |
and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status of income under the Internal Revenue Code and failing to maintain exemption from the Investment Company Act of 1940. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments. In addition,
Short-Term Investments Risk
Short-term instruments include money market instruments, repurchase agreements, certificates of deposits and bankers acceptances and instruments that are not U.S. Government securities. Short-term instruments are high grade short-term securities such as commercial paper, drafts, municipal notes, bankers acceptances and certificates of deposit. Default or insolvency of the other party to a repurchase agreement presents a risk to the investing fund.
Short Sales Risk
In order to establish a short position in a security, a fund must first borrow the security from a broker or other institution to complete the sale. The fund may not always be able to borrow a security, or to close out a short position at a particular time or at an acceptable price. If the price of the borrowed security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the fund replaces the security, the fund may experience a loss. The funds loss on a short sale is limited only by the maximum attainable price of the security (which could be limitless) less the price the fund paid for the security at the time it was borrowed.
U.S. Government Securities Risk
Obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities and instrumentalities, and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, only guarantee principal and interest will be timely paid to holders of the securities. The entities do not guarantee that the value of fund shares will increase. In addition, not all U.S. Government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but rather are the obligation solely of the entity through which they are issued.
Please refer to the Statement of Additional Information of the fund, and the prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information of the underlying affiliated mutual funds identified later in this prospectus, for more detailed information about the principal investment strategies and associated risks of the fund and of each of the underlying affiliated mutual funds.
12 | Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO |
Performance Information
The Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO, a series of Phoenix Opportunities Trust (Successor Fund), is the successor of the Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO, a series of Phoenix PHOLIOs (Predecessor Fund), resulting from a reorganization of the Predecessor Fund with and into the Successor Fund on September 24, 2007. The Predecessor Fund and the Successor Fund have identical investment objectives and strategies. The Successor Fund has adopted the past performance of the Predecessor Fund as its own. Therefore, the performance tables below include the performance of the shares of the Predecessor Fund prior to the Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIOs commencement date.
The bar chart and the table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO. The bar chart shows the performance in the funds Class A Shares over the life of the fund. (1) The table shows how the funds average annual returns compare to those of two broad-based securities market indexes and a composite benchmark that reflects the target asset allocation of the fund. The funds past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.
Calendar Year
(1) The funds annual returns in the chart above do not reflect the deduction of any sales charges. The returns would have been less than those shown if sales charges were deducted. During the period shown in the chart above, the highest return for Class A Shares for a quarter was 7.88% (quarter ending December 31, 2004) and the lowest return for a quarter was -3.03% (quarter ending March 31, 2005). Year-to-date performance (through June 30, 2007) is 7.32%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/06) (2) |
1 Year | Since Inception (3) | ||
Class A |
||||
Return Before Taxes |
6.85% | 8.82% | ||
Return After Taxes on Distributions (4) |
5.78% | 7.98% | ||
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares (4) |
4.94% | 7.30% | ||
Class C |
||||
Return Before Taxes |
12.47% | 9.91% | ||
S&P 500 ® Index (5) |
15.78% | 13.47% | ||
Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond (6) |
4.33% | 4.35% | ||
Composite: 80% S&P 500 ® /20% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index (7) |
13.43% | 11.65% |
(2) The funds average annual returns in the table above reflect the deduction of the maximum sales charge for an investment in the funds Class A Shares and a full redemption in the funds Class C Shares.
(3) Since August 1, 2003.
(4) 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 taxes. The after-tax returns shown in the table above are for only one class of shares offered by the prospectus (Class A); after-tax returns for other classes will vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investors tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
(5) The S&P 500 ® Index is a free-float adjusted market capitalization-weighted index of 500 of the largest U.S. companies. The index is calculated on a total-return basis with dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment; therefore, its performance does not reflect the fees, expenses or taxes associated with the active management of an actual portfolio.
(6) The Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index measures the U.S. investment grade fixed rate bond market. The index is calculated on a total-return basis. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment; therefore, its performance does not reflect the fees, expenses or taxes associated with the active management of an actual portfolio.
(7) A composite index consisting of 80% S&P 500 ® Index and 20% Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment; therefore, its performance does not reflect the fees, expenses or taxes associated with the active management of an actual portfolio.
Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO | 13 |
This table illustrates all fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
Class A
Shares |
Class C
Shares |
|||
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the value redeemed or the amount invested) | None (a) | 1.00% (b) | ||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | None | None | ||
Redemption Fee | None | None | ||
Exchange Fee | None | None | ||
Class A
Shares |
Class C
Shares |
|||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from fund assets) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.10% | 0.10% | ||
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees (c)(d) | None | 0.75% | ||
Other Expenses (e) | 0.35% | 0.35% | ||
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (f) (Underlying Mutual Funds) | 1.45% | 1.45% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (g)(h) | 1.90% | 2.65% | ||
(a) A contingent deferred sales charge of 1% may apply on certain redemptions made within one year following purchases on which a finders fee has been paid. The one-year period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made.
(b) The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.
(c) Class A Shares and Class C Shares are authorized under the funds 12b-1 plan to pay fees up to 0.25% and 1.00%, respectively. In addition, the underlying affiliated mutual funds Class A Shares and Class Y Shares in which the fund invests impose a 0.25% 12b-1 fee. To avoid duplication of 12b-1 fees, each class of shares of the fund has reduced the 12b-1 fee by the amount of underlying affiliated mutual funds Class A Share and Class Y Share 12b-1 fees. The net amounts are shown in the table.
(d) Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees represent an asset based sales charge that, for a long-term shareholder, over time may be higher than the maximum front-end sales charge permitted by the FINRA.
(e) Estimated based on Predecessor Funds fiscal year ended July 31, 2007.
(f) Because the fund invests in other mutual funds, it is a shareholder of those underlying mutual funds and indirectly bears its proportionate share of the operating expenses, including management fees of the underlying mutual funds. These expenses are deducted from the underlying mutual funds before their share prices are calculated and are in addition to the direct fees and expenses borne by the fund and its shareholders that are also described in the fee tables above. All of the above expenses reflect the expense ratio for the funds last fiscal year and for each acquired (underlying) funds most recent fiscal period publicly reported. These estimates may vary considerably based on future asset levels of the fund, the availability of acquired (underlying) funds, the amount of fund assets invested in acquired (underlying) funds at any point in time, and the fluctuation of the expense ratios of the acquired (underlying) funds.
(g) The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expense to average net assets appearing in the Financial Highlights tables, which tables reflect only the operating expenses of the fund and do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
(h) The funds investment adviser has contractually agreed to limit the funds total operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 fees, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) through November 30, 2007, so that such expenses do not exceed 0.20% for Class A Shares and Class C Shares. The adviser will voluntarily continue these arrangements beyond the contractual period, but may discontinue such voluntary arrangements at any time. Prior to June 15, 2007, the adviser had limited such expenses to 0.00% for Class A and Class C Shares. Actual Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses, after expense reimbursements, were 0.06% for Class A Shares and 0.81% for Class C Shares. The adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed under these arrangements, and made subsequent to August 23, 2007, for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which such reimbursements occurred.
14 | Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO |
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 funds operating expenses remain the same. The calculations use the combined net operating expenses of the fund and the weighted average of the total operating expenses of the underlying affiliated mutual funds. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | ||||
Class A | $757 | $1,138 | $1,542 | $2,669 | ||||
Class C | $368 | $823 | $1,405 | $2,983 |
You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | ||||
Class C | $268 | $823 | $1,405 | $2,983 |
Note: The example does not include the effects of the expense reimbursement obligations of the adviser; therefore, your actual expenses may be lower than those shown.
Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO | 15 |
Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO
Investment Risk and Return Summary
Investment Objective
The Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO (the Wealth Guardian PHOLIO) is a fund of funds that has an investment objective of long-term capital appreciation and current income. There is no guarantee that the fund will meet its objective. The funds investment
Principal Investment Strategies
Þ |
The fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing its assets in a mix of underlying affiliated mutual funds that employ diverse investment styles, such as value and/or growth investing. The funds emphasis on diversification is intended to moderate volatility by limiting the effect of any one investment style. |
Þ |
Under normal conditions, the fund allocates assets among underlying affiliated mutual funds to achieve a target allocation mix of approximately 60% of assets in equity mutual funds, and approximately 40% of assets in bond mutual funds. The underlying affiliated mutual funds in which the fund invests in turn invest principally (i) in equity securities of issuers of any capitalization, (ii) in debt securities of any maturity of various types of issuers and credit qualities, including those below investment grade, and (iii) in foreign issuers, including those in emerging markets. Although the fund does not concentrate its investments, certain of the underlying affiliated mutual funds in which the fund invests may concentrate their investments in a particular industry or market sector, such as real estate, or may engage in short sales. |
Þ |
The subadviser determines the combination of affiliated mutual funds that it believes best represents the selected asset allocation. The allocations to the underlying affiliated mutual funds are based on the subadvisers assessment of the appropriate mix of risk and return characteristics to best meet the funds investment objective. |
Þ |
The subadviser monitors the funds allocations to the underlying affiliated mutual funds and will gradually rebalance assets to maintain the targeted allocations. The subadviser will review the selection of, and the target ranges within, the underlying affiliated mutual funds and may make adjustments as market changes warrant. |
Þ |
The subadviser to each underlying affiliated mutual fund is responsible for deciding which securities to purchase and sell for its respective underlying affiliated mutual fund. |
Þ |
The fund may also invest in high-quality, short-term securities. |
Temporary Investment Strategy: If the adviser or subadviser does not believe that market conditions are favorable to the funds principal investment strategies, the fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its principal investment strategies by investing in cash or money market instruments, including but not limited to, U.S. Government obligations maturing within one year from the date of purchase. When this
Principal Risks of an Investment
If you invest in this fund, you risk losing your investment because the fund depends on the investment performance of the underlying affiliated mutual funds. Therefore, the fund will also be subject to the risks associated with the deployment of principal investment strategies of the underlying affiliated mutual funds, which are described below.
General
The value of the funds investments that supports your share value may decrease. If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the funds investments decreases, you will lose money.
Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, specific industries or companies in which the underlying affiliated mutual funds invest can be worse than expected and investments may fail to perform as the subadviser expects. As a result, the value of your shares may decrease.
16 | Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO |
The subadviser seeks to reduce investment risk by diversifying among mutual funds that invest in stocks and bonds. However, there are still the risks of investing in various asset classes, as well as the inherent risks of the underlying affiliated mutual funds.
Allocation Risk
The funds ability to achieve its investment objective will depend largely on the subadvisers ability in determining asset class allocations and in selecting the appropriate mix of underlying affiliated mutual funds.
Underlying Mutual Funds Risk
Achieving the funds objective will depend on the performance of the underlying affiliated mutual funds, which depends on the particular securities in which the underlying affiliated mutual funds invest. Indirectly, the fund is subject to all risks associated with the underlying affiliated mutual funds. Since the funds performance depends on that of each underlying affiliated mutual fund, it may be subject to increased volatility.
Affiliated Fund Risk
The subadviser has the authority to select and substitute underlying affiliated mutual funds. The fees paid to the subadviser by other affiliated mutual funds may be higher than the fees paid by underlying affiliated mutual funds in which the fund currently invests. These conditions may create a conflict of interest when selecting underlying affiliated mutual funds for investment. However, the subadviser is a fiduciary to the fund and its shareholders and is legally obligated to act in their best interest when selecting underlying affiliated mutual funds.
Credit Risk
Credit risk refers to the issuers ability to make scheduled interest or principal payments. Generally, the lower the credit rating of a security the greater the chance that the issuer will be unable to make such payments when due. High yield-high risk securities (junk bonds) typically entail greater price volatility and principal and interest rate risk.
Equity Securities Risk
Generally, prices of equity securities are more volatile than those of fixed income securities. The prices of equity securities will rise and fall in response to a number of different factors. In particular, equity securities will respond to events that affect entire financial markets or issuers (such as changes in inflation or consumer demand) and to events that affect particular industries (such as news about the success or failure of a new product).
· |
Growth Stocks. Because growth stocks typically make little or no dividend payments to shareholders, investment return is based on a stocks capital appreciation, making return more dependent on market increases and decreases. Growth stocks are therefore more susceptible than non-growth stocks to market changes, tending to drop more sharply when markets fall. Growth-oriented funds typically underperform when value investing is in favor. |
· |
Large Market Capitalization Companies. Companies with large market capitalizations go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. Larger companies tend to be less volatile than companies with smaller market capitalizations. In exchange for this potentially lower risk, the funds value may not rise as much as the value of funds that emphasize companies with smaller market capitalizations. |
· |
Small and Medium Market Capitalization Companies. Companies with smaller market capitalizations are often companies with a limited operating history or companies in industries that have recently emerged due to cultural, economic, regulatory or technological developments. Such developments can have a significant impact or negative effect on small and medium market capitalization companies and their stock performance and can make investment returns highly volatile. Product lines are often less diversified and more susceptible to competitive threats. Smaller market capitalization stocks are subject to varying patterns of trading volume and may, at times, be difficult to sell. |
· |
Value Stocks. Value stocks involve the risk that the value of the security will not be recognized for an unexpectedly long period of time and that the security is not undervalued but is appropriately priced due to fundamental problems not yet apparent. Value-oriented funds typically underperform when growth investing is in favor. |
Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO | 17 |
Foreign Investing Risk
Foreign markets and currencies may not function as well as U.S. markets. Political and economic uncertainty in foreign countries, as well as less public information about foreign investments, may negatively impact the funds investments. Dividends and other income payable on foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes. Some investments may be made in currencies other than the U.S. dollar that will fluctuate in value as a result of changes in the currency exchange rate. Investments in less developed countries whose markets are still emerging generally present risks in greater degree than those presented by investment in foreign issuers based in countries with more developed securities markets and more
Fully Invested in Equity Securities Risk
The net asset value of a fund that is fully invested in equity securities will decrease more quickly if the value of such securities decreases as compared to a fund that holds larger cash positions.
Industry Concentration Risk
To the extent a fund concentrates its investments in a particular industry, the fund is more vulnerable to financial, economic or political developments affecting that industry. Securities of companies in other industries may provide greater investment return in certain market conditions as compared to companies in the industry in which the fund holds a concentrated position. Moreover, conditions that negatively impact the particular industry will have a greater impact on the fund as compared to a fund that does not concentrate in one industry.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate trends can have an effect on the value of the shares of the funds. If interest rates rise, the value of debt securities generally will fall. A fund that holds securities with longer maturities or durations may experience greater price fluctuations in response to changes in interest rates than a fund that holds only securities with short-term maturities or durations. Prices of longer-term securities are affected more by interest rate changes than prices of
Limited Number of Investments Risk
Conditions that negatively affect securities in the portfolios will have greater impact on funds that invest in a limited number of securities as compared with a fund that holds a greater number of security positions. In addition, such a fund may be more sensitive to changes in the market value of a single issuer in its portfolio.
Mortgage-Backed and Other Pass-Through Securities Risk
The values of pass-through securities, such as collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs), may fluctuate to a greater degree than other debt securities in response to changes in interest rates. Early payoffs on the underlying loans in mortgage-backed and asset-backed pass-through securities and CMOs may result in a fund receiving less income than originally anticipated.
Non-Diversification Risk
A non-diversified investment company is not limited in the proportion of assets that it may invest in the securities of any one issuer. Diversifying a funds portfolio can reduce the risks of investing. A non-diversified fund may be subject to greater risk since it can invest a greater proportion of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers. If a fund takes large positions in a small number of issuers, changes in the price of those securities may cause the funds return to fluctuate more than that of a diversified investment company.
REIT Securities Risk
Equity REITs may be affected by changes in value of the underlying properties they own, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, equity and mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally are not diversified. Equity and mortgage REITs are also subject to potential defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation,
18 | Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO |
and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status of income under the Internal Revenue Code and failing to maintain exemption from the Investment Company Act of 1940. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments. In addition,
Short-Term Investments Risk
Short-term instruments include money market instruments, repurchase agreements, certificates of deposits and bankers acceptances and instruments that are not U.S. Government securities. Short-term instruments are high grade short-term securities such as commercial paper, drafts, municipal notes, bankers acceptances and certificates of deposit. Default or insolvency of the other party to a repurchase agreement presents a risk to the investing fund.
Short Sales Risk
In order to establish a short position in a security, a fund must first borrow the security from a broker or other institution to complete the sale. The fund may not always be able to borrow a security, or to close out a short position at a particular time or at an acceptable price. If the price of the borrowed security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the fund replaces the security, the fund may experience a loss. The funds loss on a short sale is limited only by the maximum attainable price of the security (which could be limitless) less the price the fund paid for the security at the time it was borrowed.
U.S. Government Securities Risk
Obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities and instrumentalities, and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, only guarantee principal and interest will be timely paid to holders of the securities. The entities do not guarantee that the value of fund shares will increase. In addition, not all U.S. Government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but rather are the obligation solely of the entity through which they are issued.
Please refer to the Statement of Additional Information of the fund, and the prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information of the underlying affiliated mutual funds identified later in this prospectus, for more detailed information about the principal investment strategies and associated risks of the fund and of each of the underlying affiliated mutual funds.
Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO | 19 |
Performance Information
The Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO, a series of Phoenix Opportunities Trust (Successor Fund), is the successor of the Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO, a series of Phoenix PHOLIOs (Predecessor Fund), resulting from a reorganization of the Predecessor Fund with and into the Successor Fund on September 24, 2007. The Predecessor Fund and the Successor Fund have identical investment objectives and strategies. The Successor Fund has adopted the past performance of the Predecessor Fund as its own. Therefore, the performance tables below include the performance of the shares of the Predecessor Fund prior to the Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIOs commencement date.
The bar chart and the table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO. The bar chart shows the performance in the funds Class A Shares over the life of the fund. (1) The table shows how the funds average annual returns compare to those of two broad-based securities market indexes and a composite benchmark that reflects the target asset allocation of the fund. The funds past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.
Calendar Year
(1) The funds annual returns in the chart above do not reflect the deduction of any sales charges. The returns would have been less than those shown if sales charges were deducted. During the period shown in the chart above, the highest return for Class A Shares for a quarter was 5.79% (quarter ending December 31, 2004) and the lowest return for a quarter was -2.36% (quarter ending March 31, 2005). Year-to-date performance (through June 30, 2007) is 5.85%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/06) (2) |
1 Year | Since Inception (3) | ||
Class A |
||||
Return Before Taxes |
4.20% | 7.18% | ||
Return After Taxes on Distributions (4) |
2.92% | 6.11% | ||
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares (4)(5) |
3.07% | 5.69% | ||
Class C |
||||
Return Before Taxes |
9.72% | 8.23% | ||
S&P 500 ® Index (6) |
15.78% | 13.47% | ||
Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond (7) |
4.33% | 4.35% | ||
Composite: 60% S&P 500 ® /40% Lehman Aggregate Bond Index (8) |
11.11% | 9.83% |
(2) The funds average annual returns in the table above reflect the deduction of the maximum sales charge for an investment in the funds Class A Shares and a full redemption in the funds Class C Shares.
(3) Since August 1, 2003.
(4) 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 taxes. The after-tax returns shown in the table above are for only one class of shares offered by the prospectus (Class A); after-tax returns for other classes will vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investors tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
(5) The Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares for a period may be greater than the Return After Taxes on Distributions for the same period if there was a loss realized on sale of fund shares. The benefit of the tax loss (to the extent it can be used to offset other gains) may result in a higher return.
(6) The S&P 500 ® Index is a free-float adjusted market capitalization-weighted index of 500 of the largest U.S. companies. The index is calculated on a total-return basis with dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment; therefore, its performance does not reflect the fees, expenses or taxes associated with the active management of an actual portfolio.
(7) The Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index measures the U.S. investment grade fixed rate bond market. The index is calculated on a total-return basis. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment; therefore, its performance does not reflect the fees, expenses or taxes associated with the active management of an actual portfolio.
(8) A composite index consisting of 60% S&P 500 ® Index and 40% Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment; therefore, its performance does not reflect the fees, expenses or taxes associated with the active management of an actual portfolio.
20 | Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO |
This table illustrates all fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
Class A Shares |
Class C Shares |
|||
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the value redeemed or the amount invested) | None (a) | 1.00% (b) | ||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | None | None | ||
Redemption Fee | None | None | ||
Exchange Fee | None | None | ||
Class A Shares |
Class C Shares |
|||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from fund assets) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.10% | 0.10% | ||
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees (c)(d) | None | 0.75% | ||
Other Expenses (e) | 0.36% | 0.36% | ||
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (f) (Underlying Mutual Funds) | 1.36% | 1.36% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (g)(h) | 1.82% | 2.57% | ||
(a) A contingent deferred sales charge of 1% may apply on certain redemptions made within one year following purchases on which a finders fee has been paid. The one-year period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made.
(b) The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.
(c) Class A Shares and Class C Shares are authorized under the funds 12b-1 plan to pay fees up to 0.25% and 1.00%, respectively. In addition, the underlying affiliated mutual funds Class A Shares and Class Y Shares in which the fund invests impose a 0.25% 12b-1 fee. To avoid duplication of 12b-1 fees, each class of shares of the fund has reduced the 12b-1 fee by the amount of underlying affiliated mutual funds Class A Share and Class Y Share 12b-1 fees. The net amounts are shown in the table.
(d) Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees represent an asset based sales charge that, for a long-term shareholder, over time may be higher than the maximum front-end sales charge permitted by the FINRA.
(e) Estimated based on Predecessor Funds fiscal year ended July 31, 2007.
(f) Because the fund invests in other mutual funds, it is a shareholder of those underlying mutual funds and indirectly bears its proportionate share of the operating expenses, including management fees of the underlying mutual funds. These expenses are deducted from the underlying mutual funds before their share prices are calculated and are in addition to the direct fees and expenses borne by the fund and its shareholders that are also described in the fee tables above. All of the above expenses reflect the expense ratios for the funds last fiscal year and for each acquired (underlying) funds most recent fiscal period publicly reported. These estimates may vary considerably based on future asset levels of the fund, the amount of fund assets invested in acquired (underlying) funds at any point in time, and the fluctuation of the expense ratios of the acquired (underlying) funds.
(g) The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expense to average net assets appearing in the Financial Highlights tables, which tables reflect only the operating expenses of the fund and do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
(h) The funds investment adviser has contractually agreed to limit the funds total operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 fees, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) through November 30, 2007, so that such expenses do not exceed 0.20% for Class A Shares and Class C Shares. The adviser will voluntarily continue these arrangements beyond the contractual period, but may discontinue such voluntary arrangements at any time. Prior to June 15, 2007, the adviser had limited such expenses to 0.00% for Class A and Class C Shares. Actual Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses, after expense reimbursements, were 0.05% for Class A Shares and 0.80% for Class C Shares. The adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed under these arrangements, and made subsequent to August 23, 2007, for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which such reimbursements occurred.
Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO | 21 |
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 funds operating expenses remain the same. The calculations use the combined net operating expenses of the fund and the weighted average of the total operating expenses of the underlying affiliated mutual funds. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | ||||
Class A | $749 | $1,115 | $1,504 | $2,589 | ||||
Class C | $360 | $799 | $1,365 | $2,905 |
You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | ||||
Class C | $260 | $799 | $1,365 | $2,905 |
Note: The example does not include the effects of the expense reimbursement obligations of the adviser; therefore, your actual expenses may be lower than those shown.
22 | Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO |
Investment Risk and Return Summary
Investment Objective
The Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO (the Diversifier PHOLIO) is a fund of funds that has an investment objective of long-term capital appreciation. There is no guarantee that the fund will meet its objective. The funds investment objective may be changed without
Principal Investment Strategies of the Diversifier PHOLIO
Þ |
The fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing its assets in a mix of underlying affiliated mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) (collectively, underlying mutual funds) that employ diverse investment styles in alternative investment classes such as commodities, REITs, market neutral funds and others. The funds emphasis on diversification is intended to moderate volatility by limiting the effect of any one investment style. The purpose of the fund is to provide a packaged investment option with an emphasis on investment styles that have less correlation to traditional equity markets. |
Þ |
Under normal conditions, the fund allocates assets among underlying mutual funds that invest principally in equity securities of issuers of any capitalization, including those of foreign issuers including emerging markets issuers. Although the fund does not concentrate its investments, certain of the underlying mutual funds in which the fund invests may concentrate their investments in a particular industry or market sector, such as real estate, or may engage in short sales. |
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The subadviser determines the combination of and allocation to the underlying mutual funds based on the subadvisers assessment of the appropriate mix of risk and return characteristics to best meet the funds investment objective. |
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The subadviser monitors the funds allocations to the underlying mutual funds and may periodically rebalance assets in response to changing market or economic conditions, and investment opportunities. |
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The subadviser to each underlying mutual fund is responsible for deciding which securities to purchase and sell for its respective underlying mutual fund. |
Þ |
The fund may also invest in high-quality, short-term securities. |
Temporary Investment Strategy: If the adviser or subadviser does not believe that market conditions are favorable to the funds principal investment strategies, the fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its principal strategies by investing in cash or money market instruments, including, but not limited to, U.S. Government obligations maturing within one year from the date of purchase. When this allocation
Principal Risks of an Investment
If you invest in this fund, you risk losing your investment because the fund depends on the investment performance of the underlying mutual funds. Therefore, the fund will also be subject to the risks associated with the deployment of principal investment strategies of the underlying mutual funds, which are described below.
General
The value of the funds investments that supports your share value may decrease. If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the funds investments decreases, you will lose money.
Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, specific industries or companies in which the underlying mutual funds invest can be worse than expected and investments may fail to perform as the subadviser expects. As a result, the value of your shares may decrease.
The subadviser seeks to reduce investment risk by diversifying among mutual funds that invest in stocks and bonds. However, there are still the risks of investing in various asset classes, as well as the inherent risks of the underlying mutual funds.
Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO | 23 |
Allocation Risk
The funds ability to achieve its investment objective will depend largely on the subadvisers ability in determining allocations and in selecting the appropriate mix of underlying mutual funds.
Underlying Mutual Funds Risk
Achieving the funds objective will depend on the performance of the underlying mutual funds, which depends on the particular securities in which the underlying mutual funds invest. Indirectly, the fund is subject to all risks associated with the underlying mutual funds. Since the funds performance depends on that of each underlying mutual fund, it may be subject to increased volatility.
Affiliated Fund Risk
The subadviser has the authority to select and substitute underlying affiliated mutual funds. The fees paid to the subadviser by other affiliated mutual funds may be higher than the fees paid by underlying affiliated mutual funds in which the fund currently invests. These conditions may create a conflict of interest when selecting underlying affiliated mutual funds for investment. However, the subadviser is a fiduciary to the fund and its shareholders and is legally obligated to act in their best interest when selecting underlying affiliated mutual funds.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) Risk
ETFs are investment companies that invest in a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index and whose shares are bought and sold on a securities exchange. The risk of ETFs generally reflects the risk of owning shares of the underlying securities the ETF is designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in its value being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities. Assets invested in ETFs incur a layering of expenses, including operating costs and advisory fees that you, as a shareholder in the fund, indirectly bear.
Equity Securities Risk
Generally, prices of equity securities are more volatile than those of fixed income securities. The prices of equity securities will rise and fall in response to a number of different factors. In particular, equity securities will respond to events that affect entire financial markets or industries (such as changes in inflation or consumer demand) and to events that affect particular issuers (such as news about the success or failure of a new product).
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Growth Stocks. Because growth stocks typically make little or no dividend payments to shareholders, investment return is based on a stocks capital appreciation, making return more dependent on market increases and decreases. Growth stocks are therefore more susceptible than non-growth stocks to market changes, tending to drop more sharply when markets fall. Growth-oriented funds typically underperform when value investing is in favor. |
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Large Market Capitalization Companies. Companies with large market capitalizations go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. Larger companies tend to be less volatile than companies with smaller market capitalizations. In exchange for this potentially lower risk, the funds value may not rise as much as the value of funds that emphasize companies with smaller market capitalizations. |
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Small and Medium Market Capitalization Companies. Companies with smaller market capitalizations are often companies with a limited operating history or companies in industries that have recently emerged due to cultural, economic, regulatory or technological developments. Such developments can have a significant impact or negative effect on small and medium market capitalization companies and their stock performance and can make investment returns highly volatile. Product lines are often less diversified and more susceptible to competitive threats. Smaller market capitalization stocks are subject to varying patterns of trading volume and may, at times, be difficult to sell. |
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Value Stocks. Value stocks involve the risk that the value of the security will not be recognized for an unexpectedly long period of time and that the security is not undervalued but is appropriately priced due to fundamental problems not yet apparent. Value-oriented funds typically underperform when growth stocks are in favor. |
24 | Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO |
Foreign Investing Risk
Foreign markets and currencies may not function as well as U.S. markets. Political and economic uncertainty in foreign countries, as well as less public information about foreign investments, may negatively impact the funds investments. Dividends and other income payable on foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes. Some investments may be made in currencies other than the U.S. dollar that will fluctuate in value as a result of changes in the currency exchange rate. Investments in less developed countries whose markets are still emerging generally present risks in greater degree than those presented by investment in foreign issuers based in countries with more developed securities markets and more
Fully Invested in Equity Securities Risk
The net asset value of a fund that is fully invested in equity securities will decrease more quickly if the value of such securities decreases as compared to a fund that holds larger cash positions.
Industry Concentration Risk
To the extent a fund concentrates its investments in a particular industry, the fund is more vulnerable to financial, economic or political developments affecting that industry. Securities of companies in other industries may provide greater investment return in certain market conditions as compared to companies in the industry in which the fund holds a concentrated position. Moreover, conditions that negatively impact the particular industry will have a greater impact on the fund as compared to a fund that does not concentrate in one industry.
Non-Diversification Risk
A non-diversified investment company is not limited in the proportion of assets that it may invest in the securities of any one issuer. Diversifying a funds portfolio can reduce the risks of investing. A non-diversified fund may be subject to greater risk since it can invest a greater proportion of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers. If a fund takes large positions in a small number of issuers, changes in the price of those securities may cause the funds return to fluctuate more than that of a diversified investment company.
REIT Securities Risk
Equity REITs may be affected by changes in value of the underlying properties they own, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, equity and mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally are not diversified. Equity and mortgage REITs are also subject to potential defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status of income under the Internal Revenue Code and failing to maintain exemption from the Investment Company Act of 1940. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments. In addition, investment in REITs could cause a fund to possibly fail to qualify as a regulated investment company.
Short Sales Risk
In order to establish a short position in a security, a fund must first borrow the security from a broker or other institution to complete the sale. The fund may not always be able to borrow a security, or to close out a short position at a particular time or at an acceptable price. If the price of the borrowed security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the fund replaces the security, the fund may experience a loss. The funds loss on a short sale is limited only by the maximum attainable price of the security (which could be limitless) less the price the fund paid for the security at the time it was borrowed.
Please refer to the Statement of Additional Information of the fund, and the prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information of the underlying affiliated mutual funds identified later in this prospectus, for more detailed information about the principal investment strategies and associated risks of the fund and of each of the underlying mutual funds.
Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO | 25 |
Performance Information
The Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO, a series of Phoenix Opportunities Trust (Successor Fund), is the successor of the Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO, a series of Phoenix PHOLIOs (Predecessor Fund), resulting from a reorganization of the Predecessor Fund with and into the Successor Fund on September 24, 2007. The Predecessor Fund and the Successor Fund have identical investment objectives and strategies. The Successor Fund has adopted the past performance of the Predecessor Fund as its own. Therefore, the performance tables below include the performance of the shares of the Predecessor Fund prior to the Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIOs commencement date.
The bar chart and the table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO. The bar chart shows the performance in the funds Class A Shares. (1) The table shows how the funds average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index. The funds past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.
(1) The funds annual return in the chart above does not reflect the deduction of any sales charges. The return would have been less than that shown if sales charges were deducted. During the period shown in the chart above, the highest return for Class A Shares for a quarter was 6.23% (quarter ending December 31, 2006) and the lowest return for a quarter was 1.56% (quarter ending June 20, 2006). Year-to-date performance (through June 30, 2007) is 3.02%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/06) (2) |
1 Year | Since Inception (3) | ||
Class A |
||||
Return Before Taxes |
6.75% | 6.34% | ||
Return After Taxes on Distributions (4) |
6.39% | 5.90% | ||
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares (4) |
4.52% | 5.20% | ||
Class C |
||||
Return Before Taxes |
12.40% | 11.47% | ||
S&P 500 ® Index (5) |
15.78% | 14.58% |
(2) The funds average annual return in the table above reflect the deduction of the maximum sales charge for an investment in the funds Class A Shares and a full redemption in the funds Class C Shares.
(3) Since November 30, 2005.
(4) 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 taxes. The after-tax returns shown in the table above are for only one class of shares offered by the prospectus (Class A); after-tax returns for other classes will vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investors tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
(5) The S&P 500 ® Index is a free-float adjusted market capitalization-weighted index of 500 of the largest U.S. companies. The index is calculated on a total-return basis with dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment; therefore, its performance does not reflect the fees, expenses or taxes associated with the active management of an actual portfolio.
26 | Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO |
This table illustrates all fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
Class A Shares |
Class C Shares |
|||
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the value redeemed or the amount invested) | None (a) | 1.00% (b) | ||
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | None | None | ||
Redemption Fee | None | None | ||
Exchange Fee | None | None | ||
Class A Shares |
Class C
Shares |
|||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from fund assets) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.10% | 0.10% | ||
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees (c)(d) | 0.06% | 0.81% | ||
Other Expenses (e) | 0.35% | 0.35% | ||
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (f) (Underlying Mutual Funds) | 1.46% | 1.46% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (g)(h) | 1.97% | 2.72% | ||
(a) A contingent deferred sales charge of 1% may apply on certain redemptions made within one year following purchases on which a finders fee has been paid. The one-year period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made.
(b) The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.
(c) Class A Shares and Class C Shares are authorized under the funds 12b-1 Plan to pay fees up to 0.25% and 1.00%, respectively. In addition, certain of the underlying mutual funds in which the fund invests impose a 12b-1 fee of up to 0.25%. To avoid duplication of 12b-1 fees, each class of shares of the fund has reduced the 12b-1 fee by the amount of underlying mutual funds 12b-1 fees. The net amounts are shown in the table; these amounts may vary depending on the level of 12b-1 fees paid by the underlying mutual funds.
(d) Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees represent an asset based sales charge that, for a long-term shareholder, over time may be higher than the maximum front-end sales charge permitted by the FINRA.
(e) Estimated based on Predecessor Funds fiscal year ended July 31, 2007.
(f) Because the fund invests in other mutual funds, it is a shareholder of those underlying mutual funds and indirectly bears its proportionate share of the operating expenses, including management fees of the underlying mutual funds. These expenses are deducted from the underlying mutual funds before their share prices are calculated and are in addition to the direct fees and expenses borne by the fund and its shareholders that are also described in the fee tables above. All of the above expenses reflect the expense ratios for the funds last fiscal year and for each acquired (underlying) funds most recent fiscal period publicly reported. These estimates may vary considerably based on future asset levels of the fund, the amount of fund assets invested in acquired (underlying) funds at any point in time, and the fluctuation of the expense ratios of the acquired (underlying) funds.
(g) The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expense to average net assets appearing in the Financial Highlights tables, which tables reflect only the operating expenses of the fund and do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
(h) The funds investment adviser has contractually agreed to limit the funds total operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 fees, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses), through November 30, 2007, so that such expenses do not exceed 0.20% for Class A Shares and Class C Shares. The adviser will voluntarily continue these arrangements beyond the contractual period, but may discontinue such voluntary arrangements at any time. Actual Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses, after expense reimbursements, were 0.26% for Class A Shares and 1.01% for Class C Shares. The adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed under these arrangements, and made subsequent to August 23, 2007, for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which such reimbursements occurred.
Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO | 27 |
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 funds operating expenses remain the same. The calculations use the combined net operating expenses of the fund and the weighted average of the total operating expenses of the underlying mutual funds. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | ||||
Class A | $763 | $1,158 | $1,576 | $2,739 | ||||
Class C | $375 | $844 | $1,440 | $3,051 |
You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
Class | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | ||||
Class C | $275 | $844 | $1,440 | $3,051 |
Note: The example does not include the effects of the expense reimbursement obligations of the adviser; therefore, your actual expenses may be lower than those shown.
The Adviser and Subadviser
Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. (Phoenix), the investment adviser to the funds and is located at 56 Prospect Street, Hartford, CT 06115. Phoenix acts as the investment adviser for over 50 mutual funds and as adviser to institutional clients. As of June 30, 2007, Phoenix had approximately $1.7 billion in assets under management. Phoenix has acted as an investment adviser for over 70 years.
Goodwin Capital Advisers, Inc. (Goodwin), an affiliate of Phoenix, is the subadviser to the fund and is located at 56 Prospect Street, Hartford, CT 06115. Goodwin acts as subadviser for 17 mutual funds and manages fixed income assets for individuals and institutions. As of June 30, 2007, Goodwin had approximately $17.7 billion in assets under management.
Subject to the direction of the funds Board of Trustees, Phoenix is responsible for managing each funds investment program and for the general operations of each funds portfolio, including oversight of the funds subadviser and recommending its hiring, termination and replacement. As compensation for its services, the adviser is entitled to a fee, payable monthly, at an annual rate of 0.10% of the average daily net assets of each fund. As a fund of funds, however, each underlying affiliated mutual funds adviser or subadviser manages the daily investments of the underlying affiliated mutual funds portfolio and receives a management fee for this service.
The adviser has contractually agreed to limit each funds total operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 fees, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses), through November 30, 2007, so that such expenses do not exceed the amounts shown in the table below:
Fund | Class A | Class C | ||
Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO | 0.20% | 0.20% | ||
Wealth Builder PHOLIO | 0.20% | 0.20% | ||
Wealth Guardian PHOLIO | 0.20% | 0.20% | ||
Diversifier PHOLIO | 0.20% | 0.20% |
28 | Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO / Phoenix PHOLIOs |
The adviser will voluntarily extend these expense limitations beyond the contractual period, but may discontinue such voluntary arrangements at any time. The adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed under these arrangements, and made subsequent to August 23, 2007, for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which such reimbursements occurred.
Phoenix pays Goodwin a subadvisory fee of 50% of the gross investment management fee.
A discussion regarding the basis of the Board of Trustees approving the advisory and subadvisory agreements is available in the funds 2007 annual report covering the period August 1, 2006 through July 31, 2007.
The funds, excluding the Wealth Builder PHOLIO, and Phoenix have received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission that permits Phoenix, subject to certain conditions, and without the approval of shareholders, to: (a) employ a new unaffiliated subadviser for a fund pursuant to the terms of a new subadvisory agreement, in each case either as a replacement for an existing subadviser or as an additional subadviser; (b) change the terms of any subadvisory agreement; and (c) continue the employment of an existing subadviser on the same subadvisory agreement terms where an agreement has been assigned because of a change in control of the subadviser. In such circumstances, shareholders would receive notice of such action, including the information concerning the new subadviser that normally is
Portfolio Management
Christopher M. Wilkos, CFA has served as portfolio manager for each of the funds since their inception. Mr. Wilkos is Senior Vice President (since 2001), Corporate Portfolio Management for The Phoenix Companies, Inc. (Phoenix Companies), and is primarily responsible for managing the general account investment portfolios of the company. He oversees asset allocation, asset-liability management, derivatives management, and performance reporting for Phoenix Companies. Mr. Wilkos joined Phoenix Companies in 1997 as director of Corporate Portfolio Management and was named Vice President in 1998.
Please refer to the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about the funds portfolio manager, including the structure of and method of computing compensation, other accounts he manages and his ownership of shares of the funds.
How is the Share Price determined?
Each fund calculates a share price for each class of its shares. The share price for each class is based on the net assets of the fund and the number of outstanding shares of that class. In general, each fund calculates a share price for each class by:
· |
adding the values of all securities and other assets of the fund; |
· |
subtracting liabilities; and |
· |
dividing the result by the total number of outstanding shares of that class. |
Assets: Each funds assets consist primarily of shares of the underlying affiliated mutual funds, which are valued at their respective net asset values and exchange-traded funds, which are valued at current market prices. To determine net asset value, each fund and each underlying affiliated mutual fund values its assets at market value. Equity securities held by the underlying affiliated mutual funds, and ETFs held directly by the PHOLIOs, are valued at the official closing price (typically last sale) on the exchange on which the securities are primarily traded, or, if no closing price is available, at the last bid price. Debt securities (other than short-term investments) held by the underlying affiliated mutual funds are valued on the basis of broker quotations or valuations provided by a pricing service, which in determining value utilizes information with respect to recent sales, market transactions in comparable securities, quotations from dealers, and various relationships between securities. Short-term investments having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. As required, some securities and assets held by the underlying affiliated mutual funds are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by, or under the direction of, the Board of Trustees. Other assets, such as accrued interest, accrued dividends and cash are also included in determining a funds net asset value.
Liabilities: Accrued liabilities for class specific expenses (if any), distribution fees, service fees and other liabilities are deducted from the assets of each class. Accrued expenses and liabilities that are not class specific (such as management fees) are allocated to each class in proportion to each classs net assets except where an alternative allocation can be more appropriately made.
Phoenix PHOLIOs | 29 |
Net Asset Value: The liabilities allocated to a class are deducted from the proportionate interest of such class in the assets of the applicable fund. The resulting amount for each class is then divided by the number of shares outstanding of that class to produce each classs net asset value per share.
The net asset value per share of each class of each fund is determined as of the close of trading (normally 4:00 PM eastern time) on days when the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) is open for trading. A fund will not calculate its net asset values per share class on days when the NYSE is closed for trading. Since the underlying affiliated mutual funds may hold securities that are traded on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other holidays when the funds and the underlying affiliated mutual funds do not price their shares, the net asset value of the funds shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the funds shares.
How are securities of the underlying mutual funds fair valued?
If market quotations are not readily available or where available prices are not reliable, the fund determines a fair value for an investment according to policies and procedures approved by the Trustees. The types of assets for which such pricing might be required include: (i) securities whose trading has been suspended; (ii) securities where the trading market is unusually thin or trades have been infrequent; (iii) debt securities that have recently gone into default and for which there is no current market quotation; (iv) a security whose market price is not available from an independent pricing source and for which otherwise reliable quotes are not available; (v) securities of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (vi) a security whose price as provided by any pricing source, does not, in the opinion of the adviser or subadviser, reflect the securitys market value; (vii) foreign securities subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (viii) securities where the market quotations are not readily available as a result of significant events. This list is not inclusive of all situations that may require a security to be fair valued, nor is it intended to be conclusive in determining whether a specific event requires fair valuation.
The value of any portfolio security held by the fund for which market quotations are not readily available shall be determined in good faith and in a manner that assesses the securitys fair value on the valuation date (i.e., the amount that the fund might reasonably expect to receive for the security upon its current sale), based on a consideration of all available facts and all available information, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) the fundamental analytical data relating to the investment; (ii) an evaluation of the forces which influence the market in which these securities are purchased and sold (e.g., the existence of merger proposals or tender offers that might affect the value of the security); (iii) price quotes from dealers and/or pricing services; (iv) an analysis of the issuers financial statements; (v) trading volumes on markets, exchanges or among dealers; (vi) recent news about the security or issuer; (vii) changes in interest rates; (viii) information obtained from the issuer, analysts, other financial institutions and/or the appropriate stock exchange (for exchange traded securities); (ix) whether two or more dealers with whom the adviser/subadviser regularly effects trades are willing to purchase or sell the security at comparable prices; (x) other news events or relevant matters; and (xi) government (domestic or foreign) actions or pronouncements.
Certain foreign common stocks may be fair valued in cases where closing prices are not readily available or are deemed not reflective of readily available market prices. For example, events (such as movement in the U.S. securities market, or other regional and local developments) may occur between the time that foreign markets close (where the security is principally traded) and the time that the fund calculates its net asset value (generally, the close of regular trading on the NYSE) that may impact the value of securities traded in these foreign markets. In such cases, information from an external vendor may be utilized to adjust closing market prices of certain foreign common stocks to reflect their fair value. Because the frequency of significant events is not predictable, fair valuation of certain foreign common stocks may occur on a frequent basis.
The value of a security, as determined using a funds fair valuation procedures, may not reflect such securitys market value.
The funds purchase Class A Shares and Class Y Shares, as applicable, of each underlying affiliated mutual fund at net asset value.
At what price are shares purchased?
All investments received by the funds authorized agents prior to the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 PM eastern time) will be executed based on that days net asset value. Shares credited to your account from the reinvestment of fund distributions will be in full and fractional shares that are purchased at the closing net asset value on the next business day on which the funds net asset value is calculated following the dividend record date.
30 | Phoenix PHOLIOs |
What are the classes and how do they differ?
Each fund presently offers two classes of shares. Each class of shares has different sales and distribution charges. (See Fund Fees and Expenses previously in this prospectus.) The funds have adopted distribution and service plans allowed under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended (the 1940 Act), that authorize the funds to pay distribution and service fees for the sale of their shares and for services provided to shareholders. The 12b-1 fees applicable to each class of shares will be reduced by the 12b-1 fee of the underlying affiliated mutual funds Class A Shares or Class Y Shares.
What arrangement is best for you?
The different classes of shares permit you to choose the method of purchasing shares that is most beneficial to you. In choosing a class of shares, consider the amount of your investment, the length of time you expect to hold the shares, whether you decide to receive distributions in cash or to reinvest them in additional shares, and any other personal circumstances. Depending upon these considerations, the accumulated distribution and service fees and contingent deferred sales charges of one class of shares may be more or less than the initial sales charge and accumulated distribution and service fees of another class of shares bought at the same time. Because distribution and service fees are paid out of a funds assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
Your financial representative should recommend only those arrangements that are suitable for you based on known information. In certain instances, you may be entitled to a reduction or waiver of sales charges. For instance, you may be entitled to a sales charge discount on Class A Shares if you purchase more than certain breakpoint amounts. You should inform or inquire of your financial representative whether or not you may be entitled to a sales charge discount attributable to your total holdings in a fund or related funds. To determine eligibility for a sales charge discount, you may aggregate all of your accounts (including joint accounts, IRAs, non-IRAs, etc.) and those of your spouse and minor children. The financial representative may request you to provide an account statement or other holdings information to determine your eligibility for a breakpoint and to make certain all involved parties have the necessary data. Additional information about the classes of shares offered, sales charges, breakpoints and discounts follows in this section and also may be found in the Statement of Additional Information in the section entitled How to Buy Shares. This information is available free of charge, and in a clear and prominent format, at the Individual Investors section of the Phoenix Funds Web sites at PhoenixFunds.com or PhoenixInvestments.com. Please be sure that you fully understand these choices before investing. If you or your financial representative require additional assistance, you may also contact Mutual Fund Services by calling toll-free (800) 243-1574.
Class A Shares. If you purchase Class A Shares, you will pay a sales charge at the time of purchase equal to 5.75% of the offering price (6.10% of the amount invested). The sales charge may be reduced or waived under certain conditions. (See Initial Sales Charge AlternativeClass A Shares below.) Generally, Class A Shares are not subject to any charges by the fund when redeemed; however, a 1% contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) may be imposed on certain redemptions within one year on purchases on which a finders fee has been paid. The one-year period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made. Class A Shares have no distribution or service fees and therefore pay higher dividends than Class C Shares.
Class C Shares. If you purchase Class C Shares, you will not pay a sales charge at the time of purchase. If you sell your Class C Shares within the first year after they are purchased, you will pay a deferred sales charge of 1%. (See Deferred Sales Charge AlternativeClass C Shares below.) Class C Shares bear distribution and service fees (0.75%) and therefore pay lower dividends than Class A Shares. Class C Shares do not convert to any other class of shares of the funds, so the higher distribution and service fees paid by Class C Shares continue for the life of the account.
Initial Sales Charge AlternativeClass A Shares
The public offering price of Class A Shares is the net asset value plus a sales charge that varies depending on the size of your purchase. (See Class A SharesReduced Initial Sales Charges in the Statement of Additional Information.) Shares purchased based on the automatic reinvestment of income dividends or capital gain distributions are not subject to any sales charges. The sales charge is divided between your investment dealer and the funds underwriter (Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation, PEPCO or Distributor).
Phoenix PHOLIOs | 31 |
Sales Charge you may pay to purchase Class A Shares
Sales Charge as a percentage of |
||||||
Amount of Transaction at Offering Price |
Offering Price |
Net Amount Invested |
||||
Under $50,000 | 5.75 | % | 6.10 | % | ||
$50,000 but under $100,000 | 4.75 | 4.99 | ||||
$100,000 but under $250,000 | 3.75 | 3.90 | ||||
$250,000 but under $500,000 | 2.75 | 2.83 | ||||
$500,000 but under $1,000,000 | 2.00 | 2.04 | ||||
$1,000,000 or more | None | None |
Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers
Investors may reduce or eliminate sales charges applicable to purchases of Class A Shares through utilization of Combination Purchase Privilege, Letter of Intent, Right of Accumulation, Purchase by Associations or the Account Reinstatement Privilege. These programs are summarized below and are described in greater detail in the Statement of Additional Information. Investors buying Class A Shares on which a finders fee has been paid may incur a 1% deferred sales charge if they redeem their shares within one year of purchase.
Combination Purchase Privilege. Your purchase of any class of shares of these funds or any other Phoenix Fund (other than any Phoenix money market fund), if made at the same time by the same person, will be added together with any existing Phoenix Fund account values to determine whether the combined sum entitles you to an immediate reduction in sales charges. A person is defined in this and the following sections as: (a) any individual, their spouse and minor children purchasing shares for his or their own account (including an IRA account), including his or their own trust; (b) a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing for a single trust, estate or single fiduciary account (even though more than one beneficiary may exist); (c) multiple employer trusts or Section 403(b) plans for the same employer; (d) multiple accounts (up to 200) under a qualified employee benefit plan or administered by a third party administrator; or (e) trust companies, bank trust departments, registered investment advisers, and similar entities placing orders or providing administrative services with respect to accounts over which they exercise discretionary investment authority and which are held in a fiduciary, agency, custodial or similar capacity, provided all shares are held of record in the name, or nominee name, of the entity placing the order.
Letter of Intent. If you sign a Letter of Intent, your purchase of any class of shares of these funds or any other Phoenix Fund (other than any Phoenix money market fund), if made by the same person within a 13-month period, will be added together to determine whether you are entitled to an immediate reduction in sales charges. Sales charges are reduced based on the overall amount you indicate that you will buy under the Letter of Intent. The Letter of Intent is a mutually non-binding arrangement between you and the Distributor. Shares worth 5% of the amount of each purchase will be held in escrow (while remaining registered in your name) to secure payment of the higher sales charges applicable to the shares actually purchased in the event the full intended amount is not purchased.
Right of Accumulation . The value of your account(s) in any class of shares of these funds or any other Phoenix Fund (other than any Phoenix money market fund) if made over time by the same person, may be added together at the time of each purchase to determine whether the combined sum entitles you to a prospective reduction in sales charges. You must provide certain account information to the Distributor at the time of purchase to exercise this right.
Purchase by Associations. Certain groups or associations may be treated as a person and qualify for reduced Class A Share sales charges. The group or association must: (1) have been in existence for at least six months; (2) have a legitimate purpose other than to purchase mutual fund shares at a reduced sales charge; (3) work through an investment dealer; or (4) not be a group whose sole reason for existing is to consist of members who are credit card holders of a particular company, policyholders of an insurance company, customers of a bank or a broker-dealer or clients of an investment adviser.
Account Reinstatement Privilege. Subject to the funds policies and procedures regarding market timing, for 180 days after you sell your Class A or Class C Shares on which you have previously paid a sales charge, you may purchase Class A Shares of any Phoenix Fund at net asset value, with no sales charge, by reinvesting all or part of your proceeds, but not more.
32 | Phoenix PHOLIOs |
Sales at Net Asset Value. In addition to the programs summarized above, the funds may sell their Class A Shares at net asset value without an initial sales charge to certain types of accounts or account holders, including, but not limited to: trustees of the Phoenix Funds; directors, officers, employees and sales representatives of the adviser, subadviser (if any) or Distributor or a corporate affiliate of the adviser, subadviser or Distributor; private clients of an adviser or subadviser to any of the Phoenix Funds; registered representatives and employees of dealers with which the Distributor has sales agreements; and certain qualified employee benefit plans, endowment funds or foundations. Please see the Statement of Additional Information for more information about qualifying for purchases of Class A Shares at net asset value.
Deferred Sales Charge AlternativeClass C Shares
Class C Shares are purchased without an initial sales charge; however, shares sold within a specified time period are subject to a declining contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) at the rates listed
below. The sales charge will be multiplied by the then current market value or the initial cost of the shares being redeemed, whichever is less. No sales charge will be imposed on increases in net asset value or on shares purchased through the
reinvestment of income dividends or capital gain distributions. To minimize the sales charge, shares not subject to any charge will be redeemed first, followed by shares held the longest time. To calculate the number of shares owned and time period
Deferred Sales Charge you may pay to sell Class C Shares
Year | 1 | 2+ | ||||
CDSC | 1 | % | 0 | % |
Compensation to Dealers
Dealers with whom the Distributor has entered into sales agreements receive a discount or commission on Class A Shares as described below.
Amount of
Transaction at Offering Price |
Sales Charge as a
Percentage of Offering Price |
Sales Charge as a
Percentage of Amount Invested |
Dealer Discount as a
Percentage of Offering Price |
||||||
Under $50,000 | 5.75 | % | 6.10 | % | 5.00 | % | |||
$50,000 but under $100,000 | 4.75 | 4.99 | 4.25 | ||||||
$100,000 but under $250,000 | 3.75 | 3.90 | 3.25 | ||||||
$250,000 but under $500,000 | 2.75 | 2.83 | 2.25 | ||||||
$500,000 but under $1,000,000 | 2.00 | 2.04 | 1.75 | ||||||
$1,000,000 or more | None | None | None |
In addition to the dealer discount on purchases of Class A Shares and a sales commission of 1% of the sale price of Class C Shares sold by such dealers. (This sales commission will not be paid to dealers for sales of Class C Shares purchased by 401(k) participants of the Merrill Lynch Daily K Plan due to a waiver of the CDSC for these plan participants purchases.) Your broker, dealer or financial advisor may also charge you additional commissions or fees for their services in selling shares to you provided they notify the Distributor of their intention to do so.
Dealers and other entities that enter into special arrangements with the Distributor may receive compensation for the sale and promotion of shares of these funds and/or for providing other shareholder services. Such fees are in addition to the sales commissions referenced above and may be based upon the amount of sales of fund shares by a dealer; the provision of assistance in marketing of fund shares; access to sales personnel and information dissemination services; provision of recordkeeping and administrative services to qualified employee benefit plans; and other criteria as established by the Distributor. Depending on the nature of the services, these fees may be paid either from the funds through distribution fees, service fees or transfer agent fees or, in some cases, the Distributor may pay certain fees from its own profits and resources. From its own profits and resources, the Distributor does intend to: (a) from time to time, pay special incentive and retention fees to qualified wholesalers, registered financial institutions and third party marketers; (b) pay broker-dealers a finders fee in an amount equal to 1% of the first $3 million of Class A Share purchases by an account held in the name of a qualified employee benefit plan with at least 100 eligible employees, 0.50% on the next $3 million, plus 0.25% on the amount in excess of $6 million; and (c) excluding purchases as described in (b) above, pay broker-dealers an amount equal to 1.00% of the amount of Class A Shares sold from $1,000,000 to $3,000,000, 0.50% on amounts of $3,000,001 to $10,000,000 and 0.25% on amounts greater than $10,000,000. If part or all of
Phoenix PHOLIOs | 33 |
such investment as described in (b) and (c) above, including investments by qualified employee benefit plans, is subsequently redeemed within one year, a 1% CDSC may apply, except for redemptions of shares purchased on which a finders fee would have been paid where such investors dealer of record, due to the nature of the investors account, notifies the Distributor prior to the time of the investment that the dealer waives the finders fee otherwise payable to the dealer, or agrees to receive such finders fee ratably over a 12-month period. For purposes of determining the applicability of the CDSC, the one-year CDSC period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made. Any dealer who receives more than 90% of a sales charge may be deemed to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933. PEPCO reserves the right to discontinue or alter such fee payment plans at any time.
From its own resources or pursuant to the distribution and shareholder servicing plans, and subject to the dealers prior approval, the Distributor may provide additional compensation to registered representatives of dealers in the form of travel expenses, meals, and lodging associated with training and educational meetings sponsored by the Distributor. The Distributor may also provide gifts amounting in value to less than $100, and occasional meals or entertainment, to registered representatives of dealers. Any such travel expenses, meals, lodging, gifts or entertainment paid will not be preconditioned upon the registered representatives or dealers achievement of a sales target. The Distributor may, from time to time, reallow the entire portion of the sales charge on Class A Shares which it normally retains to individual selling dealers. However, such additional reallowance generally will be made only when the selling dealer commits to substantial marketing support such as internal wholesaling through dedicated personnel, internal communications and mass mailings.
Opening an Account
Your financial advisor can assist you with your initial purchase as well as all phases of your investment program. If you are opening an account by yourself, please follow the instructions outlined below.
The funds have established the following preferred methods of payment for fund shares:
· |
Checks drawn on an account in the name of the investor and made payable to Phoenix Funds; |
· |
Checks drawn on an account in the name of the investors company or employer and made payable to Phoenix Funds; or |
· |
Wire transfers or Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfers from an account in the name of the investor, or the investors company or employer. |
Payment in other forms may be accepted at the discretion of the funds. Please specify the name(s) of the fund or funds on the check or transfer instructions.
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. Accordingly, when you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may check the information you provide against publicly available databases, information obtained from consumer reporting agencies, other financial institutions or other sources. If, after reasonable effort, we cannot verify your identity, we reserve the right to close the account and redeem the shares at net asset value next calculated after the decision is made by us to close the account.
Step 1.
Your first choice will be the initial amount you intend to invest.
Minimum initial investments:
· |
$25 for individual retirement accounts (IRAs), accounts that use the systematic exchange privilege, or accounts that use the Systematic Purchase program. (See below for more information on the Systematic Purchase program.) |
· |
There is no initial dollar requirement for defined contribution plans, asset-based fee programs, profit-sharing plans, or employee benefit plans. There is also no minimum for reinvesting dividends and capital gains into another account. |
· |
$500 for all other accounts. |
34 | Phoenix PHOLIOs |
Minimum additional investments:
· |
$25 for any account. |
· |
There is no minimum additional investment requirement for defined contribution plans, asset-based fee programs, profit-sharing plans, or employee benefit plans. There is also no minimum additional investment requirement for reinvesting dividends and capital gains into an existing account. |
The funds reserve the right to refuse a purchase order for any reason.
Step 2.
Your second choice will be what class of shares to buy. The funds offer two classes of shares for individual investors. Each share class has different sales and distribution charges. Because all future investments in your account will be made in the share class you choose when you open your account, you should make your decision carefully. Your financial advisor can help you pick the share class that makes the most sense for your situation.
Step 3.
Your next choice will be how you want to receive any dividends and capital gain distributions. Your options are:
· |
Receive both dividends and capital gain distributions in additional shares; |
· |
Receive dividends in additional shares and capital gain distributions in cash; |
· |
Receive dividends in cash and capital gain distributions in additional shares; or |
· |
Receive both dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. |
No interest will be paid on uncashed distribution checks.
To Open An Account | ||
Through a financial advisor | Contact your advisor. Some advisors may charge a fee and may set different minimum investments or limitations on buying shares. | |
Through the mail | Complete a New Account Application and send it with a check payable to the fund. Mail them to: State Street Bank, P.O. Box 8301, Boston, MA 02266-8301. | |
By Federal Funds wire | Call us at (800) 243-1574 (press 1, then 0). | |
Through express delivery | Complete a New Account Application and send it with a check payable to the fund. Send them to: Boston Financial Data Services, Attn: Phoenix Funds, 30 Dan Road, Canton, MA 02021-2809. | |
By Systematic Purchase | Complete the appropriate section on the application and send it with your initial investment payable to the fund. Mail them to: State Street Bank, P.O. Box 8301, Boston, MA 02266-8301. | |
By telephone exchange | Call us at (800) 243-1574 (press 1, then 0). |
The price at which a purchase is effected is based on the net asset value determined after the receipt of a purchase order by the funds Transfer Agent.
Phoenix PHOLIOs | 35 |
You have the right to have the funds buy back shares at the net asset value next determined after receipt of a redemption order by the funds Transfer Agent or an authorized agent. In the case of a Class C Share redemption, and certain Class A Share redemptions, you will be subject to the applicable contingent deferred sales charge, if any, for such shares. Subject to certain restrictions, shares may be redeemed by telephone or in writing. In addition, shares may be sold through securities dealers, brokers or agents who may charge customary commissions or fees for their services. The funds do not charge any redemption fees. Payment for shares redeemed is made within seven days; however, redemption proceeds will not be disbursed until each check used for purchases of shares has been cleared for payment by your bank, which may take up to 15 days after receipt of the check.
To Sell Shares | ||
Through a financial advisor | Contact your advisor. Some advisors may charge a fee and may set different minimums on redemptions of accounts. | |
Through the mail | Send a letter of instruction and any share certificates (if you hold certificate shares) to: State Street Bank, P.O. Box 8301, Boston, MA 02266-8301. Be sure to include the registered owners name, fund and account number, and number of shares or dollar value you wish to sell. | |
Through express delivery | Send a letter of instruction and any share certificates (if you hold certificate shares) to: Boston Financial Data Services, Attn: Phoenix Funds, 30 Dan Road, Canton, MA 02021-2809. Be sure to include the registered owners name, fund and account number, and number of shares or dollar value you wish to sell. | |
By telephone | For sales up to $50,000, requests can be made by calling (800) 243-1574. | |
By telephone exchange | Call us at (800) 243-1574 (press 1, then 0). |
Things You Should Know When Selling Shares
You may realize a taxable gain or loss (for federal income tax purposes) if you redeem shares of the funds. Each fund reserves the right to pay large redemptions in-kind (i.e., in securities owned by the fund) rather than in cash. Large redemptions are those that exceed $250,000 or 1% of the funds net assets, whichever is less, over any 90-day period. Additional documentation will be required for redemptions by organizations, fiduciaries, or retirement plans, or if a redemption is requested by anyone but the shareholder(s) of record. Transfers between broker-dealer street accounts are governed by the accepting broker-dealer. Questions regarding this type of transfer should be directed to your financial advisor. Redemption requests will not be honored until all required documents, in proper form, have been received. To avoid delay in redemption or transfer, shareholders having questions about specific requirements should contact the funds Transfer Agent at (800) 243-1574.
Redemptions by Mail
Þ |
If you are selling shares held individually, jointly, or as custodian under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act: |
Send a clear letter of instructions if all of these apply:
· |
The proceeds do not exceed $50,000. |
· |
The proceeds are payable to the registered owner at the address on record. |
Send a clear letter of instructions with a signature guarantee when any of these apply:
· |
You are selling more than $50,000 worth of shares. |
· |
The name or address on the account has changed within the last 30 days. |
36 | Phoenix PHOLIOs |
· |
You want the proceeds to go to a different name or address than on the account. |
Þ |
If you are selling shares held in a corporate or fiduciary account, please contact the funds Transfer Agent at (800) 243-1574. |
If required, the signature guarantee must be a STAMP 2000 Medallion guarantee and be made by an eligible guarantor institution as defined by the funds Transfer Agent in accordance with its signature guarantee procedures. Guarantees using previous technology medallions will not be accepted. Currently, the Transfer Agents signature guarantee procedures generally permit guarantees by banks, broker-dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations.
Selling Shares by Telephone
The Transfer Agent will use reasonable procedures to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine. Address and bank account information are verified, redemption instructions are taped, and all redemptions are confirmed in writing.
The individual investor bears the risk from instructions given by an unauthorized third party that the Transfer Agent reasonably believed to be genuine.
The Transfer Agent may modify or terminate the telephone redemption privilege at any time with 60 days notice to shareholders, except for instances of disruptive trading or market timing; in such cases, the telephone redemption privilege may be suspended immediately, followed by written notice. (See Disruptive Trading and Market Timing in this Prospectus.)
During times of drastic economic or market changes, telephone redemptions may be difficult to make or temporarily suspended.
Account Reinstatement Privilege
Subject to the funds policies and procedures regarding market timing, for 180 days after you sell your Class A Shares or Class C Shares on which you previously paid a sales charge, you may purchase Class A Shares of any Phoenix Fund at net asset value, with no sales charge, by reinvesting all or part of your proceeds, but not more. Send your written request to State Street Bank, P.O. Box 8301, Boston, MA 02266-8301. You can call us at (800) 243-1574 for more information.
Please remember, a redemption and reinvestment are considered to be a sale and purchase for tax-reporting purposes. Class C shareholders who have had the contingent deferred sales charge waived because they are in the Systematic Withdrawal Program are not eligible for this reinstatement privilege.
Redemption of Small Accounts
Due to the high cost of maintaining small accounts, if your redemption activity causes your account balance to fall below $200, you may receive a notice requesting you to bring the balance up to $200 within 60 days. If you do not, the shares in the account will be sold at net asset value, and a check will be mailed to the address of record.
Distributions of Small Amounts
Distributions in amounts less than $10 will automatically be reinvested in additional shares of the applicable fund.
Uncashed Checks
If any correspondence sent by the fund is returned or other delivery service as undeliverable, your dividends or any other distribution may be automatically reinvested in the fund.
If your distribution check is not cashed within six months, the distribution may be reinvested in the fund at the current net asset value. You will not receive any interest on uncashed distribution or redemption checks. This provision may not apply to certain retirement or qualified accounts.
Phoenix PHOLIOs | 37 |
Exchange Privileges
You should read the prospectus of the Phoenix Fund(s) into which you want to make an exchange before deciding to make an exchange. You can obtain a prospectus from your financial advisor or by calling us at (800) 243-4361 or accessing our Web sites at PhoenixFunds.com or PhoenixInvestments.com.
· |
You may exchange shares of one fund for the same class of shares of another Phoenix Fund; e.g., Class A Shares for Class A Shares. Class C Shares are also exchangeable for Class T Shares of those Phoenix Funds offering them. Exchange privileges may not be available for all Phoenix Funds and may be rejected or suspended. |
· |
Exchanges may be made by telephone ((800) 243-1574) or by mail (State Street Bank, P.O. Box 8301, Boston, MA 02266-8301). |
· |
The amount of the exchange must be equal to or greater than the minimum initial investment required. |
· |
The exchange of shares is treated as a sale and a purchase for federal income tax purposes. |
Disruptive Trading and Market Timing
These funds are not suitable for market timers and market timers are discouraged from becoming investors. Your ability to make exchanges among funds is subject to modification if we determine, in our sole opinion, that your exercise of the exchange privilege may disadvantage or potentially harm the rights or interests of other shareholders.
Frequent purchases, redemptions and exchanges, programmed exchanges, exchanges into and then out of a fund in a short period of time, and exchanges of large amounts at one time may be indicative of market timing and otherwise disruptive trading (Disruptive Trading) which can have risks and harmful effects for other shareholders. These risks and harmful effects include:
· |
dilution of the interests of long-term investors, if market timers or others exchange into a fund at prices that are below the true value or exchange out of a fund at prices that are higher than the true value; |
· |
an adverse effect on portfolio management, as determined by portfolio management in its sole discretion, such as causing the fund to maintain a higher level of cash than would otherwise be the case, or causing the fund to liquidate investments prematurely; and |
· |
reducing returns to long-term shareholders through increased brokerage and administrative expenses. |
Additionally, the nature of the portfolio holdings of certain of the PHOLIOs and of the underlying affiliated mutual funds in which the PHOLIOs may invest (collectively, throughout this section, the funds) may expose the funds to investors who engage in the type of market timing trading that seeks to take advantage of possible delays between the change in the value of a mutual funds portfolio holdings and the reflection of the change in the net asset value of the funds shares, sometimes referred to as time-zone arbitrage. Arbitrage market timers seek to exploit possible delays between the change in the value of a mutual funds portfolio holdings and the net asset value of the funds shares in funds that hold significant investments in foreign securities because certain foreign markets close several hours ahead of the U.S. markets. If an arbitrageur is successful, the value of the funds shares may be diluted if redeeming shareholders receive proceeds (and buying shareholders receive shares) based upon net asset values which do not reflect appropriate fair value prices.
In order to attempt to protect our shareholders from the potential harmful effects of Disruptive Trading, the funds Board of Trustees has adopted market timing policies and procedures designed to discourage Disruptive Trading. The Board has adopted these policies and procedures as a preventive measure to protect all shareholders from the potential effects of Disruptive Trading, while also abiding by any rights that shareholders may have to make exchanges and provide reasonable and convenient methods of making exchanges that do not have the potential to harm other shareholders.
Excessive trading activity is measured by the number of roundtrip transactions in an account. A roundtrip transaction is one where a shareholder buys and then sells, or sells and then buys, shares of any fund within 30 days. Shareholders of the funds are limited to one roundtrip transaction within any rolling 30-day period. Roundtrip transactions are counted at the shareholder level. In considering a shareholders trading activity, the funds may consider, among other factors, the shareholders trading history both directly and, if known, through financial intermediaries, in the funds, in other funds within
38 | Phoenix PHOLIOs |
the Phoenix Fund complex, in non-Phoenix mutual funds or in accounts under common control or ownership. We do not include exchanges made pursuant to the dollar cost averaging or other similar programs when applying our market timing policies. Systematic withdrawal and/or contribution programs, mandatory retirement distributions, and transactions initiated by a plan sponsor also will not count towards the roundtrip limits. The funds may permit exchanges that they believe, in the exercise of their judgement, are not disruptive. The size of the fund and the size of the requested transaction may be considered when determining whether or not the transaction would be disruptive.
Shareholders holding shares for at least 30 days following investment will ordinarily be in compliance with the funds policies regarding market timing. The funds may, however, take action if activity is deemed disruptive even if shares are held longer than 30 days, such as a request for a transaction of an unusually large size. The size of the fund and the size of the requested transaction may be considered when determining whether or not the transaction would be disruptive.
Under our market timing policies, we may modify your exchange privileges for some or all of the funds by not accepting an exchange request from you or from any person, asset allocation service, and/or market timing services made on your behalf. We may also limit the amount that may be exchanged into or out of any fund at any one time or could revoke your right to make Internet, telephone or facsimile exchanges. We may reinstate Internet, telephone and facsimile exchange privileges after they are revoked, but we will not reinstate these privileges if we have reason to believe that they might be used thereafter for Disruptive Trading.
The funds currently do not charge exchange or redemption fees, or any other administrative charges on fund exchanges. The funds reserve the right to impose such fees and/or charges in the future.
Orders for the purchase of fund shares are subject to acceptance by the relevant fund. We reserve the right to reject, without prior notice, any exchange request into any fund if the purchase of shares in the corresponding fund is not accepted for any reason.
The funds do not have any arrangements with any person, organization or entity to permit frequent purchases and redemptions of fund shares.
We may, without prior notice, take whatever action we deem appropriate to comply with or take advantage of any state or federal regulatory requirement. The funds reserve the right to reject any purchase or exchange transaction at any time. If we reject a purchase or exchange for any reason, we will notify you of our decision in writing.
The funds cannot guarantee that their policies and procedures regarding market timing will be effective in detecting and deterring all Disruptive Trading.
Retirement Plans
Shares of the funds may be used as investments under the following qualified prototype retirement plans: traditional IRA, rollover IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k) plans, profit-sharing, money purchase plans and 403(b) plans. For more information call (800) 243-4361.
Investor Services and Other Information
Systematic Purchase is a systematic investment plan that allows you to have a specified amount automatically deducted from your checking or savings account and then deposited into your mutual fund account. Just complete the Systematic Purchase Section on the application and include a voided check.
Systematic Exchange allows you to automatically move money from one Phoenix Fund to another on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual basis. Shares of one Phoenix Fund will be exchanged for shares of the same class of another Phoenix Fund at the interval you select. To sign up, just complete the Systematic Exchange Section on the application. Exchange privileges may not be available for all Phoenix Funds and may be rejected or suspended.
Telephone Exchange lets you exchange shares of one Phoenix Fund for the same class of shares in another Phoenix Fund using our customer service telephone service. (See the Telephone Exchange section on the application.) Exchange privileges may not be available for all Phoenix Funds and may be rejected or suspended.
Phoenix PHOLIOs | 39 |
Systematic Withdrawal allows you to periodically redeem a portion of your account on a predetermined monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual basis. Sufficient shares from your account will be redeemed at the closing net asset value on the applicable payment date, with proceeds to be mailed to you or sent through ACH to your bank (at your selection). For payments to be mailed, shares will be redeemed on the 15 th of the month so that the payment is made about the 20 th of the month. For ACH payments, you may select the day of the month for the payments to be made; if no date is specified, the payments will occur on the 15 th of the month. The minimum withdrawal is $25 and minimum account balance requirements continue to apply. Shareholders in the program must own fund shares worth at least $5,000.
Disclosure of Fund Holdings. The underlying affiliated mutual funds make available on the Phoenix Funds Web sites, PhoenixFunds.com or PhoenixInvestments.com, information with respect to each such funds top 10 holdings and summary composition data derived from portfolio holdings information. This information is posted to the Web sites at the end of each month with respect to the top 10 holdings and at the end of each quarter with respect to summary composition information, generally within 10 business days. This information will remain available on the Web sites until full portfolio holdings information becomes publicly available. A full listing of each funds portfolio holdings becomes publicly available (i) as of the end of its second and fourth fiscal quarters in shareholder reports, which are sent to all shareholders and are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form N-CSR, and (ii) at the end of its first and third fiscal quarters by filing with the SEC a Form N-Q. The funds shareholder reports are available without charge on the Phoenix Funds Web site at PhoenixFunds.com (also accessible at PhoenixInvestments.com). The funds Form N-Q filings are available on the SECs Internet site at sec.gov. A more detailed description of the funds and the underlying affiliated mutual funds policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the funds portfolio securities is also available in the Statement of Additional Information.
The funds plan to make distributions from net investment income at intervals stated in the table below and to distribute net realized capital gains, if any, annually.
Fund | Dividend Paid | |
Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO | Semiannually | |
Wealth Builder PHOLIO | Semiannually | |
Wealth Guardian PHOLIO | Semiannually | |
Diversifier PHOLIO | Semiannually |
Distributions of short-term capital gains (gains on securities held for a year or less) and net investment income are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Under the Jobs and Growth Tax Reconciliation Act of 2003, certain distributions of long-term capital gains and certain dividends are taxable at a lower rate than ordinary income. Long-term capital gains, if any, distributed to shareholders and which are designated by a fund as capital gain distributions are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain distributions regardless of the length of time you have owned your shares. The use of a fund of funds structure may affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders.
Unless you elect to receive distributions in cash, dividends and capital gain distributions are paid in additional shares. All distributions, cash or additional shares, are subject to federal income tax and may be subject to state, local and other taxes.
40 | Phoenix PHOLIOs |
For each of the funds below, the tables present performance of the respective Predecessor Fund. No information is presented for the Successor Funds since each commenced operations on the date of this prospectus. The information is intended to help you understand the respective Predecessor Funds financial performance since inception. Some of the information reflects financial information for a single fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that a Predecessor Fund shareholder would have earned or lost on an investment in the Predecessor Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the funds independent registered public accounting firm for each of the Predecessor Funds. Their report, together with each Predecessor Funds financial statements, is included in the Predecessor Funds most recent Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO
Class A | ||||||
Year Ended
July 31, 2007 |
From Inception
August 4, 2005 to July 31, 2006 |
|||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $10.73 | $10.00 | ||||
Income from investment operations | ||||||
Net investment income (loss) (3) |
0.10 | 0.07 | ||||
Capital gain distributions received from affiliated funds (3) |
0.76 | 0.11 | ||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
0.92 | 0.60 | ||||
Total from investment operations |
1.78 | 0.78 | ||||
Less distributions | ||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.32 | ) | (0.05 | ) | ||
Distributions from net realized gains |
(0.03 | ) | | |||
Total distributions |
(0.35 | ) | (0.05 | ) | ||
Change in net asset value | 1.43 | 0.73 | ||||
Net asset value, end of period | $12.16 | $10.73 | ||||
Total return (1) | 16.75 | % | 7.82 | % (6) | ||
Ratios/supplemental data: | ||||||
Net assets, end of period (thousands) | $8,806 | $3,208 | ||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||
Net operating expenses (2) |
0.06 | % | 0.09 | % (4)(5) | ||
Gross operating expenses (2) |
0.97 | % | 7.43 | % (5) | ||
Net investment income (loss) |
0.79 | % | 0.63 | % (5) | ||
Portfolio turnover | 50 | % | 13 | % (6) | ||
Class C | ||||||
Year Ended
July 31, 2007 |
From Inception
August 4, 2005 to July 31, 2006 |
|||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $10.68 | $10.00 | ||||
Income from investment operations | ||||||
Net investment income (loss) (3) |
| (7) | (0.01 | ) | ||
Capital gain distributions received from affiliated funds (3) |
0.74 | 0.10 | ||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
0.94 | 0.61 | ||||
Total from investment operations |
1.68 | 0.70 | ||||
Less distributions | ||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.24 | ) | (0.02 | ) | ||
Distributions from net realized gains |
(0.03 | ) | | |||
Total distributions |
(0.27 | ) | (0.02 | ) | ||
Change in net asset value | 1.41 | 0.68 | ||||
Net asset value, end of period | $12.09 | $10.68 | ||||
Total return (1) | 15.85 | % | 6.97 | % (6) | ||
Ratios/supplemental data: | ||||||
Net assets, end of period (thousands) | $3,818 | $2,379 | ||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||
Net operating expenses (2) |
0.80 | % | 0.83 | % (4)(5) | ||
Gross operating expenses (2) |
1.79 | % | 8.19 | % (5) | ||
Net investment income (loss) |
0.04 | % | (0.12 | )% (5) | ||
Portfolio turnover | 50 | % | 13 | % (6) |
(1) Sales charges are not reflected in the total return calculation.
(2) The Fund also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.
(3) Computed using average shares outstanding.
(4) Represents blended net expense ratio.
(5) Annualized.
(6) Not annualized.
(7) Amount is less than $0.01.
Phoenix PHOLIOs | 41 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO
Class A | ||||||||||||
Year Ended July 31 | ||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | |||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $11.89 | $12.07 | $10.89 | $10.00 | ||||||||
Income from investment operations | ||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) (3) |
0.20 | 0.15 | 0.11 | 0.12 | ||||||||
Capital gain distributions received from affiliated funds (3) |
0.60 | 0.12 | 0.07 | 0.01 | ||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
0.86 | 0.40 | 1.10 | 0.86 | ||||||||
Total from investment operations |
1.66 | 0.67 | 1.28 | 0.99 | ||||||||
Less distributions | ||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.42 | ) | (0.16 | ) | (0.10 | ) | (0.10 | ) | ||||
Distributions from net realized gains |
(0.22 | ) | (0.69 | ) | | (5) | | |||||
Total distributions |
(0.64 | ) | (0.85 | ) | (0.10 | ) | (0.10 | ) | ||||
Change in net asset value | 1.02 | (0.18 | ) | 1.18 | 0.89 | |||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $12.91 | $11.89 | $12.07 | $10.89 | ||||||||
Total return (1) | 14.16 | % | 5.76 | % | 11.76 | % | 9.89 | % | ||||
Ratios/supplemental data: | ||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (thousands) | $56,857 | $51,755 | $47,934 | $29,566 | ||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||||||||
Net operating expenses (2) |
0.06 | % | 0.20 | % (4) | 0.40 | % | 0.40 | % | ||||
Gross operating expenses (2) |
0.45 | % | 0.45 | % | 0.45 | % | 0.77 | % | ||||
Net investment income |
1.54 | % | 1.25 | % | 0.93 | % | 1.11 | % | ||||
Portfolio turnover | 43 | % | 74 | % | 4 | % | 0 | % | ||||
Class C | ||||||||||||
Year Ended July 31 | ||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | |||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $11.84 | $12.02 | $10.86 | $10.00 | ||||||||
Income from investment operations | ||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) (3) |
0.10 | 0.06 | 0.02 | 0.04 | ||||||||
Capital gain distributions received from affiliated funds (3) |
0.60 | 0.12 | 0.07 | 0.01 | ||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
0.86 | 0.40 | 1.10 | 0.85 | ||||||||
Total from investment operations |
1.56 | 0.58 | 1.19 | 0.90 | ||||||||
Less distributions | ||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.33 | ) | (0.07 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.04 | ) | ||||
Distributions from net realized gains |
(0.22 | ) | (0.69 | ) | | (5) | | |||||
Total distributions |
(0.55 | ) | (0.76 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.04 | ) | ||||
Change in net asset value | 1.01 | (0.18 | ) | 1.16 | 0.86 | |||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $12.85 | $11.84 | $12.02 | $10.86 | ||||||||
Total return (1) | 13.29 | % | 4.99 | % | 11.01 | % | 9.03 | % | ||||
Ratios/supplemental data: | ||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (thousands) | $76,049 | $75,168 | $84,281 | $58,012 | ||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||||||||
Net operating expenses (2) |
0.80 | % | 0.96 | % (4) | 1.15 | % | 1.15 | % | ||||
Gross operating expenses (2) |
1.20 | % | 1.19 | % | 1.20 | % | 1.47 | % | ||||
Net investment income |
0.79 | % | 0.48 | % | 0.19 | % | 0.34 | % | ||||
Portfolio turnover | 43 | % | 74 | % | 4 | % | 0 | % |
(1) Sales charges are not reflected in the total return calculation.
(2) The Fund also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.
(3) Computed using average shares outstanding.
(4) Represents blended net expense ratio.
(5) Amount is less than $0.01.
42 | Phoenix PHOLIOs |
Financial Highlights (continued)
Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO
Class A | ||||||||||||
Year Ended July 31 | ||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | |||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $11.31 | $11.61 | $10.74 | $10.00 | ||||||||
Income from investment operations | ||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) |
0.27 | (3) | 0.22 | (3) | 0.17 | 0.17 | ||||||
Capital gain distributions received from affiliated funds |
0.46 | (3) | 0.10 | (3) | 0.06 | | (5) | |||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
0.59 | 0.18 | 0.81 | 0.74 | ||||||||
Total from investment operations |
1.32 | 0.50 | 1.04 | 0.91 | ||||||||
Less distributions | ||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.43 | ) | (0.23 | ) | (0.17 | ) | (0.17 | ) | ||||
Distributions from net realized gains |
(0.18 | ) | (0.57 | ) | | (5) | | |||||
Total distributions |
(0.61 | ) | (0.80 | ) | (0.17 | ) | (0.17 | ) | ||||
Change in net asset value | 0.71 | (0.30 | ) | 0.87 | 0.74 | |||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $12.02 | $11.31 | $11.61 | $10.74 | ||||||||
Total return (1) | 11.82 | % | 4.43 | % | 9.74 | % | 9.15 | % | ||||
Ratios/supplemental data: | ||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (thousands) | $29,304 | $24,768 | $20,696 | $10,182 | ||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||||||||
Net operating expenses (2) |
0.05 | % | 0.26 | % (4) | 0.52 | % | 0.52 | % | ||||
Gross operating expenses (2) |
0.46 | % | 0.56 | % | 0.65 | % | 1.35 | % | ||||
Net investment income |
2.28 | % | 1.92 | % | 1.56 | % | 1.92 | % | ||||
Portfolio turnover | 41 | % | 67 | % | 5 | % | 1 | % | ||||
Class C | ||||||||||||
Year Ended July 31 | ||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | |||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $11.30 | $11.60 | $10.72 | $10.00 | ||||||||
Income from investment operations | ||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) |
0.18 | (3) | 0.12 | (3) | 0.09 | 0.12 | ||||||
Capital gain distributions received from affiliated funds |
0.46 | (3) | 0.10 | (3) | 0.06 | 0.01 | ||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
0.58 | 0.19 | 0.81 | 0.70 | ||||||||
Total from investment operations |
1.22 | 0.41 | 0.96 | 0.83 | ||||||||
Less distributions | ||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.34 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.08 | ) | (0.11 | ) | ||||
Distributions from net realized gains |
(0.18 | ) | (0.57 | ) | | (5) | | |||||
Total distributions |
(0.52 | ) | (0.71 | ) | (0.08 | ) | (0.11 | ) | ||||
Change in net asset value | 0.70 | (0.30 | ) | 0.88 | 0.72 | |||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $12.00 | $11.30 | $11.60 | $10.72 | ||||||||
Total return (1) | 10.90 | % | 3.63 | % | 9.03 | % | 8.29 | % | ||||
Ratios/supplemental data: | ||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (thousands) | $32,286 | $33,776 | $40,252 | $28,355 | ||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||||||||
Net operating expenses (2) |
0.80 | % | 1.03 | % (4) | 1.27 | % | 1.27 | % | ||||
Gross operating expenses (2) |
1.21 | % | 1.31 | % | 1.40 | % | 1.98 | % | ||||
Net investment income |
1.53 | % | 1.08 | % | 0.80 | % | 1.19 | % | ||||
Portfolio turnover | 41 | % | 67 | % | 5 | % | 1 | % |
(1) Sales charges are not reflected in the total return calculation.
(2) The Fund also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.
(3) Computed using average shares outstanding.
(4) Represents blended net expense ratio.
(5) Amount is less than $0.01.
Phoenix PHOLIOs | 43 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO
Class A | ||||||
Year Ended
July 31, 2007 |
From Inception
November 30, 2005 to July 31, 2006 |
|||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $10.63 | $10.00 | ||||
Income from investment operations | ||||||
Net investment income (loss) (3) |
0.18 | 0.08 | ||||
Capital gain distributions received from affiliated funds (3) |
0.13 | 0.02 | ||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
0.41 | 0.57 | ||||
Total from investment operations |
0.72 | 0.67 | ||||
Less distributions | ||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.20 | ) | (0.04 | ) | ||
Total distributions |
(0.20 | ) | (0.04 | ) | ||
Change in net asset value | 0.52 | 0.63 | ||||
Net asset value, end of period | $11.15 | $10.63 | ||||
Total return (1) | 6.76 | % | 6.72 | % (5) | ||
Ratios/supplemental data: | ||||||
Net assets, end of period (thousands) | $95,230 | $1,231 | ||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||
Net operating expenses (2) |
0.26 | % | 0.20 | % (4) | ||
Gross operating expenses (2) |
0.51 | % | 31.52 | % (4) | ||
Net investment income (loss) |
1.61 | % | 1.11 | % (4) | ||
Portfolio turnover | 11 | % | 81 | % (5) | ||
Class C | ||||||
Year Ended
July 31, 2007 |
From Inception
November 30, 2005 to July 31, 2006 |
|||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $10.58 | $10.00 | ||||
Income from investment operations | ||||||
Net investment income (loss) (3) |
0.11 | 0.03 | ||||
Capital gain distributions received from affiliated funds (3) |
0.14 | 0.04 | ||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
0.38 | 0.54 | ||||
Total from investment operations |
0.63 | 0.61 | ||||
Less distributions | ||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.14 | ) | (0.03 | ) | ||
Total distributions |
(0.14 | ) | (0.03 | ) | ||
Change in net asset value | 0.49 | 0.58 | ||||
Net asset value, end of period | $11.07 | $10.58 | ||||
Total return (1) | 6.01 | % | 6.16 | % (5) | ||
Ratios/supplemental data: | ||||||
Net assets, end of period (thousands) | $60,669 | $581 | ||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||
Net operating expenses (2) |
1.01 | % | 0.95 | % (4) | ||
Gross operating expenses (2) |
1.26 | % | 46.88 | % (4) | ||
Net investment income (loss) |
0.93 | % | 0.38 | % (4) | ||
Portfolio turnover | 11 | % | 81 | % (5) |
(1) Sales charges are not reflected in the total return calculation.
(2) The Fund also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.
(3) Computed using average shares outstanding.
(4) Annualized.
(5) Not annualized.
44 | Phoenix PHOLIOs |
Investment Techniques and Practices of Underlying Affiliated Mutual Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
In pursuing its investment objectives, each underlying affiliated mutual fund and ETF may engage in the following investment techniques and practices to the extent such techniques and practices are consistent with the underlying affiliated mutual funds or ETFs investment objective. These investment techniques and practices are described, together with their associated risks, in the Statement of Additional Information.
Debt Securities
Corporate Debt Securities
Convertible Securities
Derivatives
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
Financial Futures Contracts and Related Options
Options
Swap Agreements
Emerging Markets
Foreign Securities
High Yield-High Risk Securities
Illiquid and Restricted Securities
Interest Rate Transactions
Money Market Instruments
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities
Mortgage Pass-Through Securities
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMOs)
CMO Residuals
Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities
Other Asset-Backed Securities
Mutual Fund Investing
Loan and Debt Participations and Assignments
Private Placements and Rule 144A Securities
Ratings
Real Estate Investment Trusts
Repurchase Agreements
Securities Lending
Short Sales
Small Companies
Warrants to Purchase Securities
When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Transactions
Phoenix PHOLIOs | 45 |
Underlying Affiliated Mutual Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
Following is a list of underlying affiliated mutual funds and ETFs (collectively, underlying mutual funds) in which the funds are currently invested or anticipated to be invested and their associated target weightings, as of the date of this prospectus. Not all of these underlying mutual funds will be purchased by each fund. The underlying mutual funds and their target weightings (if applicable) have been selected for use over long time periods, but may be changed in the future without shareholder approval or notice. Target weightings will deviate over the short term due to market movements and capital flows. Phoenix periodically rebalances the funds investments in the underlying mutual funds to bring them back within their target weightings. Some portion of each funds portfolio will be held in cash due to purchase and redemption activity and short-term cash needs. Each funds cash position is not reflected in the asset allocations or target weightings. Additional information about each underlying affiliated mutual fund, including a copy of an underlying affiliated mutual funds prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, and Annual and Semiannual reports is available on the Phoenix Funds Web sites, PhoenixFunds.com or PhoenixInvestments.com, or you can request copies by calling Mutual Fund Services toll-free at (800)-243-1574.
Fund Name/Asset Class |
Phoenix Wealth
Accumulator PHOLIO |
Phoenix Wealth
Builder PHOLIO |
Phoenix Wealth
Guardian PHOLIO |
Phoenix
Diversifier PHOLIO |
||||||||
EQUITY | ||||||||||||
Phoenix Capital Growth Fund | 7.5 | % | 5.5 | % | 4.5 | % | | |||||
Phoenix Dynamic Growth Fund | 5 | % | 4 | % | 3 | % | | |||||
Phoenix Growth & Income Fund | 15 | % | 11 | % | 8 | % | | |||||
Phoenix Growth Opportunities Fund | 7.5 | % | 5.5 | % | 4.5 | % | | |||||
Phoenix Mid-Cap Value Fund | 5 | % | 4 | % | 3 | % | | |||||
Phoenix Quality Small-Cap Fund | 2.5 | % | 2 | % | 1.5 | % | | |||||
Phoenix Small-Cap Growth Fund | 2.5 | % | 2 | % | 1.5 | % | | |||||
Phoenix Small-Cap Sustainable Growth Fund | 2.5 | % | 2 | % | 1.5 | % | | |||||
Phoenix Small-Cap Value Fund | 2.5 | % | 2 | % | 1.5 | % | | |||||
Phoenix Value Opportunities fund | 15 | % | 11 | % | 9 | % | | |||||
FIXED INCOME | ||||||||||||
Phoenix Bond Fund | | 8 | % | 16 | % | | ||||||
Phoenix Insight High Yield Fund | | 2 | % | 4 | % | | ||||||
Phoenix Institutional Bond Fund | | 8 | % | 16 | % | | ||||||
Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund | | 2 | % | 4 | % | | ||||||
INTERNATIONAL/GLOBAL | ||||||||||||
Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund | 8 | % | 6 | % | 4 | % | | |||||
Phoenix International Strategies Fund | 12 | % | 10 | % | 8 | % | | |||||
ALTERNATIVES | ||||||||||||
Phoenix Global Utilities Fund | 4 | % | 4 | % | 2 | % | 20 | % | ||||
Phoenix Market Neutral Fund | 7 | % | 7 | % | 6 | % | 15 | % | ||||
Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund | 4 | % | 4 | % | 2 | % | 20 | % | ||||
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS (ETFs) | ||||||||||||
IShares Goldman Sachs Nat Re | | | | 10 | % | |||||||
PowerShares DB Commodity Tracking Index | | | | 15 | % | |||||||
PowerShares DB G10 Currency Harvest Fund | | | | 7.5 | % | |||||||
SPDR DJ Wilshire International Real Estate Fund | | | | 12.5 | % |
46 | Phoenix PHOLIOs |
Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation
P.O. Box 150480
Hartford, CT 06115-0480
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
You can find more information about the Funds in the following documents:
Annual and Semiannual Reports
Annual and semiannual reports contain more information about the Funds investments. The annual report discusses the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds performance during the last fiscal year.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI)
The SAI contains more detailed information about the Funds. It is incorporated by reference and is legally part of the prospectus.
To obtain free copies of these documents, you can download copies from the Individual Investors section of our Web site, PhoenixFunds.com, or you can request copies by calling us toll-free at 1-800-243-1574.
Information about the Funds (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC) Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. For information about the operation of the Public Reference Room, call 1-202-551-8090. This information is also available on the SECs Internet site at sec.gov. You may also obtain copies upon payment of a duplicating fee by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-6009 or by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov.
Mutual Fund Services: 1-800-243-1574
Text Telephone: 1-800-243-1926
Investment Company Act File No. 811-7455 | ||
PXP5018 BPD32755 | 9-07 |
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
Phoenix Bond Fund
Phoenix CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
Phoenix Core Bond Fund
Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO
Phoenix Earnings Driven Growth Fund
Phoenix Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund
Phoenix Global Utilities Fund
Phoenix Growth Opportunities Fund
Phoenix High Yield Fund
Phoenix International Real Estate Securities Fund
Phoenix International Strategies Fund
Phoenix Market Neutral Fund
Phoenix Money Market Fund
Phoenix Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund
Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund
Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund
Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO
Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO
Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO
Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund
101 Munson Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
Statement of Additional Information
September 24, 2007
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus, but expands upon and supplements the information contained in the current Prospectuses for the Phoenix Opportunities Trust (the Trust), dated January 31, 2007, June 27, 2007 and September 24, 2007, and should be read in conjunction with it. The SAI incorporates by reference certain information that appears in the Trusts annual and semiannual reports, which are delivered to all investors. You may obtain a free copy of the Trusts Prospectuses, annual or semiannual reports by visiting the PhoenixFunds Web sites at PhoenixFunds.com or PhoenixInvestments.com, by calling Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation (PEPCO) at (800) 243-4361 or by writing PEPCO at One American Row, P.O. Box 5056, Hartford, CT 06102-5056.
Mutual Fund Services: (800) 243-1574
Adviser Consulting Group: (800) 243-4361
Telephone Orders: (800) 367-5877
Text Telephone: (800) 243-1926
PXP 2069B (9/07)
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66 | ||
70 | ||
71 | ||
73 | ||
74 | ||
86 | ||
87 | ||
88 |
2
The Trust is an open-end investment management company which was organized under Delaware law in 1995 as a statutory trust. Prior to January 27, 2006, the Trust was named Phoenix-Seneca Funds. The Trust consists of 21 separate Funds: the Phoenix Bond Fund (Bond Fund), the Phoenix CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (CA Bond Fund), the Phoenix Core Bond Fund (Core Bond Fund), the Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO (Diversifier PHOLIO), the Phoenix Earnings Driven Growth Fund (Earnings Driven Growth Fund), the Phoenix Emerging Markets Bond Fund (Emerging Markets Fund), the Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund (Foreign Opportunities Fund), the Phoenix Global Utilities Fund (Global Utilities Fund), the Phoenix Growth Opportunities Fund (Growth Opportunities Fund), the Phoenix High Yield Fund (High Yield Fund), the Phoenix International Strategies Fund (International Strategies Fund), the Phoenix International Real Estate Securities Fund (International Real Estate Fund), the Phoenix Market Neutral Fund (Market Neutral Fund), the Phoenix Money Market Fund (Money Market Fund), the Phoenix Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund (Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund), the Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund (Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund), the Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund (Real Estate Fund), the Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO (Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO), the Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO (Wealth Builder PHOLIO), the Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO (Wealth Guardian PHOLIO), and the Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund (Worldwide Strategies Fund) (each a Fund and collectively, the Funds). In addition, Diversifier PHOLIO, Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO, Wealth Builder PHOLIO and Wealth Guardian PHOLIO are referred to herein as the Phoenix PHOLIOs SM . The Trusts Prospectuses describe the investment objectives of the Funds and the strategies that each Fund will employ in seeking to achieve its investment objective. The respective investment objective(s) for the CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Earnings Driven Growth Fund, Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund, Real Estate Securities Fund and Wealth Builder PHOLIO is a fundamental policy and may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Fund. The respective investment objective(s) for each of the other Funds is a non-fundamental policy of that Fund and may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days notice. The following discussion supplements the disclosure in the Prospectus.
The following investment restrictions have been adopted by the Trust with respect to each of the Funds. Except as otherwise stated, these investment restrictions are fundamental policies. A fundamental policy is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the 1940 Act) to mean that the restriction cannot be changed without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. A majority of the outstanding voting securities is defined in the 1940 Act as the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the voting securities present at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities.
With respect to all of the Funds, each Fund may not:
(1) With respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase securities of an issuer (other than the U.S. Government, its agencies, instrumentalities or authorities or repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government securities and other investment companies), if: (a) such purchase would, at the time, cause more than 5% of the Funds total assets taken at market value to be invested in the securities of such issuer; or (b) such purchase would, at the time, result in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer being held by the Fund. This restriction does not apply to the Emerging Markets Fund, Growth Opportunities Fund, International Real Estate Fund and Real Estate Fund.
(2) Purchase securities if, after giving effect to the purchase, more than 25% of its total assets would be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry (excluding the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities), except: (a) the Global Utilities Fund will concentrate its assets in the public utilities industry which includes, but is not limited to, companies engaged in the production, transmission or distribution of electric energy or gas, or in telephone services; (b) the Money Market Fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in instruments issued by domestic banks; and (c) the International Real Estate Fund and Real Estate Fund will each concentrate its assets in the real estate industry. Additionally, this prohibition shall not apply to the purchase of investment company shares by any of the Phoenix PHOLIOs. For purposes of determining the amount of each Funds total assets invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, each Fund will look through to the securities held by the underlying affiliated mutual funds in which the Fund invests.
(3) Borrow money, except (i) in amounts not to exceed one third of the value of the Funds total assets (including the amount borrowed) from banks, and (ii) up to an additional 5% of its total assets from banks or other lenders for temporary purposes. For purposes of this restriction, (a) investment techniques such as margin purchases, short sales, forward commitments, and roll transactions, (b) investments in instruments such as futures contracts, swaps, and options and (c) short-term credits extended in connection with trade clearance and settlement, shall not constitute borrowing.
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(4) Issue senior securities in contravention of the 1940 Act. Activities permitted by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) exemptive orders or staff interpretations shall not be deemed to be prohibited by this restriction.
(5) Underwrite the securities issued by other persons, except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter under applicable law.
(6) Purchase or sell real estate, except that the Fund may (i) acquire or lease office space for its own use, (ii) invest in securities of issuers that invest in real estate or interests therein, (iii) invest in mortgage-related securities and other securities that are secured by real estate or interests therein, (iv) hold and sell real estate acquired by the Fund as a result of the ownership of securities.
(7) Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except the Fund may purchase and sell derivatives (including, but not limited to, options, futures contracts and options on futures contracts) whose value is tied to the value of a financial index or a financial instrument or other asset (including, but not limited to, securities indexes, interest rates, securities, currencies and physical commodities).
(8)(a) Earnings Driven Growth Fund, Foreign Opportunities Fund, Market Neutral Fund, Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund, Real Estate Fund and Wealth Builder PHOLIO. Make loans, except that the Fund may (i) lend portfolio securities, (ii) enter into repurchase agreements, (iii) purchase all or a portion of an issue of debt securities, bank loan participation interests, bank certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances, debentures or other securities, whether or not the purchase is made upon the original issuance of the securities and (iv) participate in an interfund lending program with other registered investment companies.
(8)(b) Bond Fund, CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Core Bond Fund, Diversifier PHOLIO, Emerging Markets Bond Fund, Global Utilities Fund, Growth Opportunities Fund, High Yield Fund, International Real Estate Fund, International Strategies Fund, Money Market Fund Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund, Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO, Wealth Guardian PHOLIO and Worldwide Strategies Fund. Lend securities or make any other loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that the funds may purchase debt securities, may enter into repurchase agreements, may lend portfolio securities and may acquire loans, loan participations and assignments (both funded and unfunded) and other forms of debt instruments.
Except with respect to investment restriction (3) above, if any percentage restriction described above for the Funds is adhered to at the time of investment, a subsequent increase or decrease in the percentage resulting from a change in the value of the Funds assets will not constitute a violation of the restriction. With respect to investment restriction (3), in the event that asset coverage for all borrowings shall at any time fall below 300 per centum, the Fund shall, within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays) or such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by rules and regulations, reduce the amount of its borrowings to an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowings shall be at least 300 per centum.
Section 12 of the 1940 Act limits the percentage of shares of other mutual funds that a fund may purchase. Each of the Funds is exempt from this limitation so long as, among other things, the Fund and the underlying mutual fund are affiliates, and the underlying mutual fund is itself not a fund of funds.
Non-Fundamental Investment Restrictions
The Trustees have adopted additional investment restrictions for the Funds. These restrictions are operating policies of the Funds and may be changed by the Trustees without shareholder approval. The additional investment restrictions adopted by the Trustees to date include the following for the Foreign Opportunities Fund:
(a) The Fund may sell securities short if it owns or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short without the payment of any additional consideration therefore (short sales against the box). In addition, the Fund may engage in naked short sales, which involve selling a security that a Fund borrows and does not own. The total market value of all of a Funds naked short sale positions will not exceed 8% of its assets. Transactions in futures, options, swaps and forward contracts are not deemed to constitute selling securities short.
(b) The Fund does not currently intend to purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions, and provided that margin payments and other deposits in connection with transactions in futures, options, swaps and forward contracts shall not be deemed to constitute purchasing securities on margin.
(c) The Fund may not mortgage or pledge any securities owned or held by it in amounts that exceed, in the aggregate, 15% of the Funds net asset value, provided that this limitation does not apply to reverse repurchase agreements, deposits of assets to margin, options, swaps or forward contracts, or the segregation of assets in connection with such contracts.
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(d) The Fund does not currently intend to purchase any security or enter into a repurchase agreement if, as a result, more than 15% of its net assets would be invested in repurchase agreements not entitling the holder to payment of principal and interest within seven days and in securities that are illiquid by virtue of legal or contractual restrictions on resale or the absence of a readily available market. The Trustees, or the Funds investment adviser or subadviser acting pursuant to authority delegated by the Trustees, may determine that a readily available market exists for securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (Rule 144A Securities), or any successor to such rule, Section 4(2) commercial paper and municipal lease obligations. Accordingly, such securities may not be subject to the foregoing limitation. The factors that may be considered when determining liquidity are described under Illiquid Securities in the Investment Techniques and Risks section below.
(e) The Fund may not invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control of management.
INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES AND RISKS
The Funds utilize the following investment techniques in pursuing their respective investment objectives as indicated in the chart below by an x in the appropriate column. Unless otherwise stated in the Funds Prospectus, many investment techniques are discretionary. That means the advisers or subadvisers may elect to engage or not engage in the various techniques at their sole discretion. Investors should not assume that any particular discretionary investment technique or strategy will be employed at all times, or ever employed.
NOTE WITH RESPECT TO THE PHOENIX PHOLIOs SM : The following descriptions pertain to the underlying mutual funds in which the Phoenix PHOLIOs SM invest. The Phoenix PHOLIOs SM will not use these techniques directly. Each of the Phoenix PHOLIOs SM pursues its investment objective(s) by investing its assets in a mix of underlying mutual funds that employ diverse investment techniques. Each underlying mutual fund will engage in certain investment techniques and practices to the extent permitted and consistent with the underlying mutual funds investment objective. With respect to the Phoenix PHOLIOs SM , the following is a description of key investment techniques, and their associated risks, of the underlying mutual funds in which the Phoenix PHOLIOs SM currently invest. Please refer to the prospectus and statement of additional information for each underlying affiliated mutual fund for specific details.
Throughout this section, the term adviser may be used to refer to a subadviser, if any.
Bond
Fund |
CA
Tax- Exempt Bond Fund |
Core
Bond Fund |
Diversifier
PHOLIO |
Earnings
Driven Growth Fund |
Emerging
Markets Bond Fund |
Foreign
tunities
|
Global
Utilities Fund |
Growth
tunities
|
High
Yield Fund |
|||||||||||
Borrowing, Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Mortgage Dollar Rolls |
x | x | x | |||||||||||||||||
Debt Securities |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||
Depository Receipts |
x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Derivatives |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||
Emerging Markets |
x | x | x | |||||||||||||||||
Eurodollar Instruments |
x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign Securities |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||
High-Yield-High Risk Securities |
x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||
Illiquid and Restricted Securities |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||
Interest Rate Transactions |
x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Loan and Debt Participations and Assignments |
x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||
Money Market Instruments |
x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||||
Mortgage-Backed and Other Asset-Backed Securities |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
Mutual Fund Investing |
x | x | x | |||||||||||||||||
Participation Interests |
x | |||||||||||||||||||
Participation on Creditors Committees |
x | |||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stocks |
x | |||||||||||||||||||
Private Placements & Rule 144A Securities |
x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratings |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||
REITs |
x | |||||||||||||||||||
Repurchase Agreements |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
Russian Securities |
x | |||||||||||||||||||
Securities Lending |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||
Small Companies |
x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Taxable Bonds |
x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Tax-Exempt Bonds |
x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Variable and Floating Rate Securities |
x | x | x | |||||||||||||||||
Warrants |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
When Issued & Delayed Delivery Transactions |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
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International
Real Estate Securities Fund |
International
Strategies Fund |
Market
Neutral Fund |
Money
Market Fund |
Multi-
Sector Fixed Income Fund |
Multi-
Sector Short Term Bond Fund |
Real
Estate Securities Fund |
Wealth
Accumulator PHOLIO |
Wealth
Builder PHOLIO |
Wealth
Guardian PHOLIO |
Worldwide
Strategies Fund |
||||||||||||
Borrowing, Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Mortgage Dollar Rolls |
x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Debt Securities |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
Depository Receipts |
x | x | x | |||||||||||||||||||
Derivatives |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
Emerging Markets |
x | x | x | |||||||||||||||||||
Eurodollar Instruments |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign Securities |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
High-Yield-High Risk Securities |
x | |||||||||||||||||||||
Illiquid and Restricted Securities |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
Interest Rate Transactions |
x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||||||
Loan and Debt Participations and Assignments |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Money Market Instruments |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||
Mortgage-Backed and Other Asset-Backed Securities |
x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||
Mutual Fund Investing |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||||
Participation Interests |
x | x | ||||||||||||||||||||
Participation on Creditors Committees |
x | x | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stocks |
x | x | x | |||||||||||||||||||
Private Placements & Rule 144A Securities |
x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratings |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||
REITs |
x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||||
Repurchase Agreements |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||
Russian Securities |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Securities Lending |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||
Small Companies |
x | x | x | |||||||||||||||||||
Taxable Bonds |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax-Exempt Bonds |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Variable and Floating Rate Securities |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrants |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||||
When Issued & Delayed Delivery Transactions |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Borrowing, Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Mortgage Dollar Rolls
The Fund may borrow money and invest the loan proceeds in other assets. This borrowing may be unsecured. The 1940 Act requires the Funds to maintain continuous asset coverage (that is, total assets including borrowings, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of the amount borrowed. If the 300% asset coverage should decline as a result of market fluctuations or other reasons, the Fund may be required to sell some of its portfolio holdings within three days to reduce the debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint to sell securities at that time. Borrowing may exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of the portfolio. Money borrowed will be subject to interest costs which may or may not be recovered by appreciation of the securities purchased. The Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with such borrowing or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate.
Among the forms of investments in which the Fund may engage, and which may be deemed to constitute borrowings, is the entry into reverse repurchase agreements. A reverse repurchase agreement involves the sale of a portfolio-eligible security by a Fund, coupled with its agreement to repurchase the instrument at a specified time and price. The Fund will maintain a pledged account with its Custodian consisting of any asset, including equity securities and non-investment grade debt so long as the asset is liquid, unencumbered and marked to market daily, equal to its obligations under reverse repurchase agreements with broker-dealers and banks. However, reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of securities retained by the Fund may decline below the repurchase price of the securities sold by the Fund which it is obligated to repurchase.
The Fund also may enter into mortgage dollar rolls, which are similar to reverse repurchase agreements in certain respects. In a dollar roll transaction, the Fund sells a mortgage-related security (such as a Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) security) to a dealer and simultaneously agrees to purchase a similar security (but not the same security) in the future at a pre-determined price. A dollar roll can be viewed, like a reverse repurchase agreement, as a collateralized borrowing in which the Fund pledges a mortgage-related security to a dealer to obtain cash. Unlike in the case of reverse repurchase agreements, the dealer with which the Fund enters into a dollar roll transaction is not obligated to return the same securities as those originally sold by the Fund, but only securities which are substantially identical. To be considered substantially identical, the securities returned to the Fund generally must: (1) be collateralized by the same types
6
of underlying mortgages; (2) be issued by the same agency and be part of the same program; (3) have a similar original stated maturity; (4) have identical net coupon rates; (5) have similar market yields (and therefore price); and (6) satisfy good delivery requirements, meaning that the aggregate principal amount of the securities received back must be within 2.5% of the initial amount delivered.
The Funds obligation under a dollar roll agreement must be covered by cash or high quality debt securities equal in value to the securities subject to repurchase by the Fund, maintained in a pledged account. Dollar roll transactions are treated as borrowings by the Fund, and therefore the Funds entry into dollar roll transactions is subject to the Funds overall limitations on borrowing. Furthermore, because dollar roll transactions may be for terms ranging between one and six months, dollar roll transactions may be deemed illiquid and subject to the Funds overall limitations on investment in illiquid securities.
Debt Securities
The Fund may invest in debt securities. Generally, the Fund will invest in debt securities rated BBB or better by Standard & Poors Corporation (S&P) or Baa or better by Moodys Investor Service, Inc. (Moodys) or, if not rated, are judged to be of comparable quality as determined by the adviser.
The value of the a Funds investments in debt securities will change as interest rates fluctuate. When interest rates decline, the values of such securities generally can be expected to increase and when interest rates rise, the values of such securities can generally be expected to decrease. The lower-rated and comparable unrated debt securities described above are subject to greater risks of loss of income and principal than are higher-rated fixed income securities. The market value of lower- rated securities generally tends to reflect the markets perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and short-term market developments to a greater extent than is the case with more highly rated securities, which reflect primarily functions in general levels of interest rates.
Corporate Debt Securities. A Funds investments in debt securities of domestic or foreign corporate issuers are limited to bonds, debentures, notes and other similar corporate debt instruments, including convertible securities that meet the Funds minimum ratings criteria or if unrated are, in the advisers opinion, comparable in quality to corporate debt securities that meet those criteria. The rate of return or return of principal on some debt obligations may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies or to the value of commodities, such as gold.
Convertible Securities. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, or other security that entitles the holder to acquire common stock or other equity securities of the same or a different issuer. It generally entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued until the security matures or is redeemed, converted, or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to nonconvertible debt securities. Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporations capital structure and, therefore, generally entail less risk than the corporations common stock, although the extent to which this is true depends in large measure on the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed-income security.
A convertible security may be subject to redemption or conversion at the option of the issuer at a predetermined price. If a convertible security held by a Fund is called for redemption, the Fund could be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security and convert it to the underlying common stock. The Fund generally would invest in convertible securities for their favorable price characteristics and total return potential and would normally not exercise an option to convert. The Fund might be more willing to convert such securities to common stock.
Convertible Low-Rated Securities. The Fund may also invest in convertible securities (debt securities or preferred stocks of corporations which are convertible into or exchangeable for common stocks). A Funds adviser or subadviser, as the case may be, will select only those convertible securities for which it believes (a) the underlying common stock is a suitable investment for the Fund and (b) a greater potential for total return exists by purchasing the convertible security because of its higher yield and/or favorable market valuation. Each of the Funds may invest in convertible debt securities rated less than investment grade. Debt securities rated less than investment grade are commonly referred to as junk bonds.
Corporate obligations rated less than investment grade (hereinafter referred to as low-rated securities) are commonly referred to as junk bonds, and while generally offering higher yields than investment grade securities with similar maturities, involve greater risks, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy. They are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuers capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The special risk considerations in connection with investments in low-rated securities are discussed below.
Effect of Interest Rates and Economic Changes. Interest-bearing securities typically experience appreciation when interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise. The market values of low-rated securities tend to reflect individual corporate developments to a greater extent than do higher-rated securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. Low-rated securities also tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than higher-rated securities. As a result, they generally involve more credit risks than securities in the higher-rated categories. During an economic downturn or
7
a sustained period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of low-rated securities may experience financial stress and may not have sufficient revenues to meet their payment obligations. The issuers ability to service its debt obligations may also be adversely affected by specific corporate developments, the issuers inability to meet specific projected business forecasts or the unavailability of additional financing. The risk of loss due to default by an issuer of low-rated securities is significantly greater than issuers of higher-rated securities because such securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors. Further, if the issuer of a low-rated security defaulted, the applicable Fund might incur additional expenses in seeking recovery. Periods of economic uncertainty and changes would also generally result in increased volatility in the market prices of low-rated securities and thus in the applicable Funds net asset value.
As previously stated, the value of a low-rated security generally will decrease in a rising interest rate market, and accordingly, so normally will the applicable Funds net asset value. If the Fund experiences unexpected net redemptions in such a market, it may be forced to liquidate a portion of its portfolio securities without regard to their investment merits. Due to the limited liquidity of low-rated securities (discussed below), the Fund may be forced to liquidate these securities at a substantial discount. Any such liquidation would reduce the Funds asset base over which expenses could be allocated and could result in a reduced rate of return for the Fund.
Payment Expectations. Low-rated securities typically contain redemption, call or prepayment provisions which permit the issuer of such securities containing such provisions to, at their discretion, redeem the securities. During periods of falling interest rates, issuers of low-rated securities are likely to redeem or prepay the securities and refinance them with debt securities with a lower interest rate. To the extent an issuer is able to refinance the securities or otherwise redeem them, the applicable Fund may have to replace the securities with a lower yielding security which would result in lower returns for the Fund.
Credit Ratings. Credit ratings issued by credit rating agencies evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities. They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of low-rated securities and therefore may not fully reflect the true risks of an investment. In addition, credit rating agencies may or may not make timely changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the condition of the issuer that affect the market value of the security. Consequently, credit ratings are used only as a preliminary indicator of investment quality.
Liquidity and Valuation. A Fund may have difficulty disposing of certain low-rated securities because there may be a thin trading market for such securities. Because not all dealers maintain markets in all low-rated securities, there is no established retail secondary market for many of these securities. The Funds anticipate that such securities could be sold only to a limited number of dealers or institutional investors. To the extent a secondary trading market does exist, it is generally not as liquid as the secondary market for higher-rated securities. The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse impact on the market price of the security, and accordingly, the net asset value of a particular Fund and its ability to dispose of particular securities when necessary to meet its liquidity needs, or in response to a specific economic event, or an event such as a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuer. The lack of a liquid secondary market for certain securities may also make it more difficult for a Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing its respective portfolio. Market quotations are generally available on many low-rated issues only from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of such dealers or prices for actual sales. During periods of thin trading, the spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly. In addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of low-rated securities, especially in a thinly-traded market.
Inverse Floaters. Inverse floaters are debt instruments whose interest bears an inverse relationship to the interest rate on another security. No Fund will invest more than 5% of its assets in inverse floaters. Similar to variable and floating rate obligations, effective use of inverse floaters requires skills different from those needed to select most portfolio securities. If movements in interest rates are incorrectly anticipated, a Fund could lose money or its NAV could decline by the use of inverse floaters.
Payable in Kind (PIK) Bonds. PIK bonds are obligations which provide that the issuer thereof may, at its option, pay interest on such bonds in cash or in the form of additional debt securities. Such securities benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash to meet debt service, but also require a higher rate of return to attract investors who are willing to defer receipt of such cash. The Fund will accrue income on such investments for tax and accounting purposes, which is distributable to shareholders from available cash or liquidated assets as described above during the time interest payments are not made.
Standby Commitments. These instruments, which are similar to a put, give a Fund the option to obligate a broker-dealer or bank to repurchase a security held by that Fund at a specified price.
Step Coupon Bonds. Step coupon bonds are bonds that frequently do not entitle the holder to any periodic payments of interest for some initial period after the issuance of the obligation; thereafter, step coupon bonds pay interest for fixed periods of time at particular interest rates. The Fund will accrue income on such investments for tax and accounting purposes, which
8
is distributable to shareholders from available cash or liquidated assets as described above during the time interest payments are not made.
Strip Bonds. Strip bonds are debt securities that are stripped of their interest (usually by a financial intermediary) after the securities are issued. The market value of these securities generally fluctuates more in response to changes in interest rates than interest-paying securities of comparable maturity.
Tender Option Bonds. Tender option bonds are relatively long-term bonds that are coupled with the option to tender the securities to a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution at periodic intervals and receive the face value of the bond. This investment structure is commonly used as a means of enhancing a securitys liquidity.
Variable and Floating Rate Obligations. These types of securities have variable or floating rates of interest and, under certain limited circumstances, may have varying principal amounts. Variable and floating rate securities pay interest at rates that are adjusted periodically according to a specific formula, usually with reference to some interest rate index or market interest rate (the underlying index). The floating rate tends to decrease the securitys price sensitivity to changes in interest rates. These types of securities are relatively long-term instruments that often carry demand features permitting the holder to demand payment of principal at any time or at specified intervals prior to maturity.
In order to most effectively use these investments, a portfolio manager must correctly assess probable movements in interest rates. This involves different skills than those used to select most portfolio securities. If the subadviser incorrectly forecasts such movements, a Fund could be adversely affected by the use of variable or floating rate obligations.
Zero Coupon Bonds. A zero coupon bond is a debt obligation that does not make any interest payments for a specified period of time prior to maturity or until maturity. The nonpayment of interest on a current basis may result from the bonds having no stated interest rate, in which case the bond pays only principal at maturity and is initially issued at a discount from face value. Alternatively, a zero coupon obligation may provide for a stated rate of interest, but provide that such interest is not payable until maturity, in which case the bond may initially be issued at par. Even though zero coupon bonds may not pay current interest in cash, the Fund is required to accrue interest income on such investments and to distribute such amounts to shareholders. Thus, the Fund would not be able to purchase income-producing securities to the extent cash is used to pay such distributions, and, therefore, the Funds current income could be less than it otherwise would have been. Instead of using cash, the Fund might liquidate investments in order to satisfy these distribution requirements. The value of zero coupon bonds fluctuates more in response to interest rate changes, if they are of the same maturity, than does the value of debt obligations that make current interest payments.
The value to the investor of a these types of bonds is represented by the economic accretion either of the difference between the purchase price and the nominal principal amount (if no interest is stated to accrue) or of accrued, unpaid interest during the bonds life or payment deferral period.
Depositary Receipts
The Fund may invest in sponsored and unsponsored American Despositary Receipts (ADRs), which are receipts issued by an American bank or trust company evidencing ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in U. S. securities markets. Unsponsored ADRs may be created without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of these ADRs generally bear all the costs in a sponsored ADR. The bank or trust company depositary of an unsponsored ADR may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the foreign issuer or to pass through voting rights. The Fund may also invest in European Depositary Receipts (EDRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) and in other similar instruments representing securities of foreign companies. EDRs and GDRs are securities that are typically issued by foreign banks or foreign trust companies, although U.S. banks or U. S. trust companies may issue them. EDRs and GDRs are structured similarly to the arrangements of ADRs. EDRs, in bearer form, are designed for use in European securities markets.
Depositary receipts are generally subject to the same sort of risks as direct investments in a foreign country, such as currency risk, political and economic risk, and market risk, because their values depend on the performance of a foreign security denominated in its home currency. The risks of foreign investing are addressed under the heading Foreign Securities.
Derivative Investments
In order to seek to hedge various portfolio positions, including to hedge against price movements in markets in which a Fund anticipates increasing its exposure, the Fund may invest in certain instruments which may be characterized as derivative investments. A Fund may also utilize these instruments as part of its overall investment technique to gain or lessen exposure to various securities, markets or currencies. These investments include various types of interest rate transactions, options and futures, as describe below. Such investments also may consist of indexed securities, including inverse securities. The Fund may have express limitations on the percentage of its assets that may be committed to these investments. Some of these investments have no express
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quantitative limitations, and may in some cases require limitations as to the type of permissible counter-party to the transaction. Interest rate transactions involve the risk of an imperfect correlation between the index used in the hedging transactions and that pertaining to the securities which are the subject of such transactions. Similarly, utilization of options and futures transactions involves the risk of imperfect correlation in movements in the price of options and futures and movements in the price of the securities or interest rates which are the subject of the hedge. Investments in indexed securities, including inverse securities, subject a Fund to the risks associated with changes in the particular indices, which may include reduced or eliminated interest payments and losses of invested principal.
Credit Linked Notes. Credit linked notes are a derivative transaction used to transfer credit risk. The performance of the notes is linked to the performance of the underlying reference obligation or reference portfolio (reference entities). The notes are usually issued by a special purpose vehicle (SPV) that sells credit protection through a credit default swap (CDS) transaction in return for a premium and an obligation to pay the transaction sponsor should a reference entity experience a credit event, such as bankruptcy. The SPV invests the proceeds from the notes to cover its contingent obligation. Revenue from the investments and the money received as premium are used to pay interest to note holders. The main risk of credit linked notes is the risk of default to the reference obligation of the CDS. Should a default occur, the SPV would have to pay the transaction sponsor, subordinating payments to the note holders. Credit linked notes also may not be liquid and may be subject to currency and interest rate risks as well.
Financial Futures Contracts and Related Options. The Fund may use financial futures contracts and related options to hedge against changes in the market value of its portfolio securities or securities which it intends to purchase and in an attempt to increase total return. Hedging is accomplished when an investor takes a position in the futures market opposite to his cash market position. There are two types of hedges, long (or buying) and short (or selling) hedges. Historically, prices in the futures market have tended to move in concert with cash market prices, and prices in the futures market have maintained a fairly predictable relationship to prices in the cash market. Thus, a decline in the market value of securities in a Funds portfolio may be protected against to a considerable extent by gains realized on futures contracts sales. Similarly, it is possible to protect against an increase in the market price of securities which a Fund may wish to purchase in the future by purchasing futures contracts.
A Fund may purchase or sell any financial futures contracts which are traded on a recognized exchange or board of trade. Financial futures contracts consist of interest rate futures contracts and securities index futures contracts. A public market presently exists in interest rate futures contracts covering long-term U.S. Treasury bonds, U.S. Treasury notes, three-month U.S. Treasury bills and GNMA certificates. Securities index futures contracts are currently traded with respect to the Standard & Poors 500 Composite Stock Price Index and such other broad-based stock market indices as the New York Stock Exchange Composite Stock Index and the Value Line Composite Stock Price Index. A clearing corporation associated with the exchange or board of trade on which a financial futures contract trades assumes responsibility for the completion of transactions and also guarantees that open futures contracts will be performed.
In contrast to the situation when a Fund purchases or sells a security, no security is delivered or received by a Fund upon the purchase or sale of a financial futures contract. Initially, a Fund will be required to deposit in a pledged account with its custodian cash, U.S. Government obligations or fully paid marginable securities. This amount is known as initial margin and is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the contract. The current initial margin deposit required per contract is approximately 5% of the contract amount. Brokers may establish deposit requirements higher than this minimum. Subsequent payments, called variation margin, will be made to and from the account on a daily basis as the price of the futures contract fluctuates. This process is known as marking to market.
The writer of an option on a futures contract is required to deposit margin pursuant to requirements similar to those applicable to futures contracts. Upon exercise of an option on a futures contract, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writers margin account. This amount will be equal to the amount by which the market price of the futures contract at the time of exercise exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option on the futures contract.
Although financial futures contracts by their terms call for actual delivery or acceptance of securities, in most cases the contracts are closed out before the settlement date without the making or taking of delivery. Closing out is accomplished by effecting an offsetting transaction. A futures contract sale is closed out by effecting a futures contract purchase for the same aggregate amount of securities and the same delivery date. If the sale price exceeds the offsetting purchase price, the seller immediately would be paid the difference and would realize a gain. If the offsetting purchase price exceeds the sale price, the seller immediately would pay the difference and would realize a loss. Similarly, a futures contract purchase is closed out by effecting a futures contract sale for the same securities and the same delivery date. If the offsetting sale price exceeds the purchase price, the purchaser would realize a gain, whereas if the purchase price exceeds the offsetting sale price, the purchaser would realize a loss.
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A Fund will pay commissions on financial futures contracts and related options transactions. These commissions may be higher than those which would apply to purchases and sales of securities directly.
Limitations on Futures Contracts and Related Options. A Fund may engage in transactions in financial futures contracts or related options only for bonafide hedging purposes in accordance with CFTC regulations or in attempt to increase total returns to the extent permitted by such regulations. At the time of purchase of a futures contract or a call option on a futures contract, any asset, including equity securities and non-investment grade debt so long as the asset is liquid, unencumbered and marked to market daily, equal to the market value of the futures contract minus the Funds initial margin deposit with respect thereto will be specifically designated on the accounting records of the Fund to collateralize fully the position and thereby ensure that it is not leveraged.
The extent to which a Fund may enter into financial futures contracts and related options also may be limited by the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code) for qualification as a regulated investment company. (See Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.)
Risks Relating to Futures Contracts and Related Options. Positions in futures contracts and related options may be closed out only on an exchange which provides a secondary market for such contracts or options. A Fund will enter into an option or futures position only if there appears to be a liquid secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option or futures contract at any specific time. Thus, it may not be possible to close out a futures or related option position. In the case of a futures position, in the event of adverse price movements a Fund would continue to be required to make daily margin payments. In this situation, if a Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily margin requirements it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet its margin obligations at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, a Fund may be required to take or make delivery of the securities underlying the futures contracts it holds. The inability to close out futures positions also could have an adverse impact on a Funds ability to hedge its portfolio effectively.
There are several risks in connection with the use of futures contracts as a hedging device. While hedging can provide protection against an adverse movement in market prices, it can also limit a hedgers opportunity to benefit fully from a favorable market movement. In addition, investing in futures contracts and options on futures contracts will cause a Fund to incur additional brokerage commissions and may cause an increase in a Funds portfolio turnover rate.
The successful use of futures contracts and related options also depends on the ability of the adviser or subadviser to forecast correctly the direction and extent of market movements, interest rates and other market factors within a given time frame. To the extent market prices remain stable during the period a futures contract or option is held by a Fund or such prices move in a direction opposite to that anticipated, a Fund may realize a loss on the transaction which is not offset by an increase in the value of its portfolio securities. Options and futures may also fail as a hedging technique in cases where the movements of the securities underlying the options and futures do not follow the price movements of the hedged portfolio securities. As a result, a Funds total return for the period may be less than if it had not engaged in the hedging transaction. The loss from investing in futures transactions is potentially unlimited.
Utilization of futures contracts by a Fund involves the risk of imperfect correlation in movements in the price of futures contracts and movements in the price of the securities which are being hedged. If the price of the futures contract moves more or less than the price of the securities being hedged, a Fund will experience a gain or loss which will not be completely offset by movements in the price of the securities. It is possible that, where a Fund has sold futures contracts to hedge its portfolio against a decline in the market, the market may advance and the value of securities held in the Funds portfolio may decline. If this occurred, a Fund would lose money on the futures contract and would also experience a decline in value in its portfolio securities. Where futures are purchased to hedge against a possible increase in the prices of securities before a Fund is able to invest its cash (or cash equivalents) in securities (or options) in an orderly fashion, it is possible that the market may decline; if a Fund then determines not to invest in securities (or options) at that time because of concern as to possible further market decline or for other reasons, a Fund will realize a loss on the futures that would not be offset by a reduction in the price of the securities purchased.
The market prices of futures contracts may be affected if participants in the futures market elect to close out their contracts through off-setting transactions rather than to meet margin deposit requirements. In such case, distortions in the normal relationship between the cash and futures markets could result. Price distortions could also result if investors in futures contracts opt to make or take delivery of the underlying securities rather than to engage in closing transactions because such action would reduce the liquidity of the futures market. In addition, from the point of view of speculators, because the deposit requirements in the futures markets are less onerous than margin requirements in the cash market, increased participation by speculators in the futures market could cause temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of price distortions in the futures market and because of the imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of securities and movements in the prices of futures contracts, a correct forecast of market trends may still not result in a successful hedging transaction.
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Compared to the purchase or sale of futures contracts, the purchase of put or call options on futures contracts involves less potential risk for a Fund because the maximum amount at risk is the premium paid for the options plus transaction costs. However, there may be circumstances when the purchase of an option on a futures contract would result in a loss to a Fund while the purchase or sale of the futures contract would not have resulted in a loss, such as when there is no movement in the price of the underlying securities.
Foreign Currency Transactions.
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (term) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers.
A Fund will specifically designate on its accounting records any asset, including equity securities and non-investment-grade debt so long as the asset is liquid, unencumbered and marked to market daily in an amount not less than the value of a Funds total assets committed to forward foreign currency exchange contracts entered into for the purchase of a foreign currency. If the value of the securities specifically designated declines, additional cash or securities will be added so that the specifically designated amount is not less than the amount of the Funds commitments with respect to such contracts.
Foreign Currency Options. A foreign currency option provides the option buyer with the right to buy or sell a stated amount of foreign currency at the exercise price at a specified date or during the option period. A call option gives its owner the right, but not the obligation, to buy the currency, while a put option gives its owner the right, but not the obligation, to sell the currency. The option seller (writer) is obligated to fulfill the terms of the option sold if it is exercised. However, either seller or buyer may close its position during the option period for such options any time prior to expiration.
A call rises in value if the underlying currency appreciates. Conversely, a put rises in value if the underlying currency depreciates. While purchasing a foreign currency option can protect a Fund against an adverse movement in the value of a foreign currency, it does not limit the gain which might result from a favorable movement in the value of such currency. For example, if a Fund were holding securities denominated in an appreciating foreign currency and had purchased a foreign currency put to hedge against a decline in the value of the currency, it would not have to exercise its put. Similarly, if a Fund had entered into a contract to purchase a security denominated in a foreign currency and had purchased a foreign currency call to hedge against a rise in the value of the currency but instead the currency had depreciated in value between the date of purchase and the settlement date, the Fund would not have to exercise its call but could acquire in the spot market the amount of foreign currency needed for settlement.
Foreign Currency Futures Transactions. The Fund may use foreign currency futures contracts and options on such futures contracts. Through the purchase or sale of such contracts, a Fund may be able to achieve many of the same objectives attainable through the use of foreign currency forward contracts, but more effectively and possibly at a lower cost.
Unlike forward foreign currency exchange contracts, foreign currency futures contracts and options on foreign currency futures contracts are standardized as to amount and delivery period and are traded on boards of trade and commodities exchanges. It is anticipated that such contracts may provide greater liquidity and lower cost than forward foreign currency exchange contracts.
Regulatory Restrictions. To the extent required to comply with SEC Release No. IC-10666, when purchasing a futures contract or writing a put option, the Fund will specifically designate on its accounting records any asset, including equity securities and non-investment-grade debt so long as the asset is liquid, unencumbered and marked to market daily equal to the value of such contracts.
To the extent required to comply with CFTC Regulation 4.5 and thereby avoid commodity pool operator status, a Fund will not enter into a futures contract or purchase an option thereon if immediately thereafter the initial margin deposits for futures contracts (including foreign currency and all other futures contracts) held by the Fund plus premiums paid by it for open options on futures would exceed 5% of the Funds total assets, or, in the alternative, the Fund will engage in transactions in financial futures contracts or options thereon for speculation, but only to attempt to hedge against changes in market conditions affecting the values of securities which the Fund holds or intends to purchase (bonafide hedging purposes). When futures contracts or options thereon are purchased to protect against a price increase on securities intended to be purchased later, it is anticipated that at least 75% of such intended purchases will be completed. When other futures contracts or options thereon are purchased, the underlying value of such contracts will at all times not exceed the sum of: (1) accrued profit on such contracts held by the broker; (2) cash or high quality money market instruments set aside in an identifiable manner; and (3) cash proceeds from investments due in 30 days.
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Foreign currency warrants. Foreign currency warrants such as currency exchange warrants (CEWs) are warrants that entitle the holder to receive from the issuer an amount of cash (generally, for warrants issued in the United States, in U.S. dollars) that is calculated pursuant to a predetermined formula and based on the exchange rate between a specified foreign currency and the U.S. dollar as of the exercise date of the warrant. Foreign currency warrants generally are exercisable upon their issuance and expire as of a specified date and time. Foreign currency warrants have been issued in connection with U.S. dollar-denominated debt offerings by major corporate issuers in an attempt to reduce the foreign currency exchange risk that, from the point of view of prospective purchases of the securities, is inherent in the international fixed-income marketplace. Foreign currency warrants may be used to reduce the foreign exchange risk assumed by purchasers of a security by, for example, providing for a supplemental payment in the event the U.S. dollar depreciates against the value of a major foreign currency such as the Japanese Yen or Euro. The formula used to determine the amount payable upon exercise of a foreign currency warrant may make the warrant worthless unless the applicable foreign currency exchange rate moves in a particular direction ( e.g. , unless the U.S. dollar appreciates or depreciates against the particular foreign currency to which the warrant is linked or indexed). Foreign currency warrants are severable from the debt obligations with which they may be offered, and may be listed on exchanges. Foreign currency warrants may be exercisable only in certain minimum amounts, and an investor wishing to exercise warrants who possesses less than the minimum number required for exercise may be required either to sell the warrants or to purchase additional warrants, thereby incurring additional transaction costs. Upon exercise of warrants, there may be a delay between the time the holder gives instructions to exercise and the time the exchange rate relating to exercise is determined, thereby affecting both the market and cash settlement values of the warrants being exercised. The expiration date of the warrants may be accelerated if the warrants should be delisted from an exchange or if their trading should be suspended permanently, which would result in the loss of any remaining time value of the warrants ( i.e. , the difference between the current market value and the exercise value of the warrants), and, if the warrants were out-of-the-money, in a total loss of the purchase price of the warrants. Warrants are generally unsecured obligations of their issuers and are not standardized foreign currency options issued by the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC). Unlike foreign currency options issued by OCC, the terms of foreign exchange warrants generally will not be amended in the event of governmental or regulatory actions affecting exchange rates or in the event of the imposition of other regulatory controls affecting the international currency markets. The initial public offering price of foreign currency warrants is generally considerably in excess of the price that a commercial user of foreign currencies might pay in the interbank market for a comparable option involving significantly larger amounts of foreign currencies. Foreign currency warrants are subject to significant foreign exchange risk, including risks arising from complex political or economic factors.
Principal exchange rate linked securities. Principal exchange rate linked securities (or PERLS) are debt obligations the principal on which is payable at maturity in an amount that may vary based on the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and a particular foreign currency at or about that time. The return on standard principal exchange rate linked securities is enhanced if the foreign currency to which the security is linked appreciates against the U.S. dollar, and is adversely affected by increases in the foreign exchange value of the U.S. dollar, reverse PERLS are like the standard securities, except that their return is enhanced by increases in the value of the U.S. dollar and adversely impacted by increases in the value of foreign currency. Interest payments on the securities are generally made in U.S. dollars at rates that reflect the degree of foreign currency risk assumed or given up by the purchaser of the notes ( i.e. , at relatively higher interest rates if the purchaser has assumed some of the foreign exchange risk, or relatively lower interest rates if the issuer has assumed some of the foreign exchange risk, based on the expectations of the current market). PERLS may in limited cases be subject to acceleration of maturity (generally, not without the consent of the holders of the securities), which may have an adverse impact on the value of the principal payment to be made at maturity.
Performance indexed paper. Performance indexed paper (or PIP) is U.S. dollar-denominated commercial paper the yield of which is linked to certain foreign exchange rate movements. The yield to the investor on performance indexed paper is established at maturity as a function of spot exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a designated currency as of or about the time (generally, the index maturity two days prior to maturity). The yield to the investor will be within a range stipulated at the time of purchase of the obligation, generally with a guaranteed minimum rate of return that is below, and a potential maximum rate of return that is above, market yields on U.S. dollar-denominated commercial paper, with both the minimum and maximum rates of return on the investment corresponding to the minimum and maximum values of the spot exchange rate two business days prior to maturity.
Foreign Exchange-Traded Options, Futures and Forward Currency Exchange ContractsAdditional Risks. Options on securities, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, currencies and options on currencies may be traded on foreign exchanges. Such transactions may not be regulated as effectively as similar transactions in the United States; may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees; and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in the Funds ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the
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United States, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the United States, and (v) lesser trading volume.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. The Fund may use interest rate, foreign currency or index futures contracts. An interest rate, foreign currency (see Foreign Currency Transactions below) or index futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified quantity of a financial instrument, foreign currency or the cash value of an index at a specified price and time. A futures contract on an index is an agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index contract was originally written. Although the value of an index might be a function of the value of certain specified securities, no physical delivery of these securities is made. A public market exists in futures contracts covering several indexes as well as a number of financial instruments and foreign currencies, including: the S&P 500; the S&P 100; the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) composite; U.S. Treasury bonds; U.S. Treasury notes; GNMA Certificates; three month U.S. Treasury bills; 90-day commercial paper; bank certificates of deposit; Eurodollar certificates of deposit; the Australian dollar; the Canadian dollar; the British pound; the German mark; the Japanese yen; the French franc; the Swiss franc; the Mexican peso; and certain multinational currencies, such as the European Currency Unit (ECU). It is expected that other futures contracts will be developed and traded in the future. Interest rate futures contracts currently are traded in the United States primarily on the floors of the Chicago Board of Trade (CBT) and the International Monetary Market of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). Interest rate futures also are traded on foreign exchanges such as the London International Financial Futures Exchange (LIFFE) and the Singapore International Monetary Exchange (SIMEX).
The Fund may purchase and write call and put options on futures. Futures options possess many of the same characteristics as options on securities and indexes (discussed above). A futures option gives the holder the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of option. Upon exercise of a call option, the holder acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. In the case of a put option, the opposite is true.
The Fund will limit its use of futures contracts and futures options to hedging transactions and in an attempt to increase total return, in accordance with federal regulations. The adviser believes it is possible to reduce the effect of interest or exchange rate fluctuations on the value of the Funds portfolio, or sectors thereof, through the use of such strategies. For example, the Fund might use futures contracts to hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates that might adversely affect either the value of the Funds securities or the price of the securities which the Fund intends to purchase. The Funds hedging activities may include sales of futures contracts as an offset against the effect of expected increases in interest rates, and purchases of futures contracts as an offset against the effect of expected declines in interest rates. Although other techniques could be used to reduce the Funds exposure to interest rate fluctuations, the Fund may be able to hedge its exposure more effectively and perhaps at a lower cost by using futures contracts and futures options. The costs of and possible losses incurred from futures contracts and options thereon may reduce the Funds current income and involve a loss of principal. Any incremental return earned by the Fund resulting from these transactions would be expected to offset anticipated losses or a portion thereof.
The Fund will only enter into futures contracts and futures options which are standardized and traded on a U.S. or foreign exchange, board of trade, or similar entity, or quoted on an automated quotation system.
When a purchase or sale of a futures contract is made by the Fund, the Fund is required to deposit with its custodian (or broker, if legally permitted) a specified amount of cash or U.S. Government securities (initial margin). The margin required for a futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded and may be modified during the term of the contract. The initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the futures contract which is returned to the Fund upon termination of the contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. The Fund expects to earn interest income on its initial margin deposits. A futures contract held by the Fund is valued daily at the official settlement price of the exchange on which it is traded. Each day the Fund pays or receives cash, called variation margin, equal to the daily change in value of the futures contract. This process is known as marking to market. Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by the Fund but is instead a settlement between the Fund and the broker of the amount one would owe the other if the futures contract expired. In computing daily net asset value, the Fund will mark to market its open futures positions.
The Fund is also required to deposit and maintain margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by it. Such margin deposits will vary depending on the nature of the underlying futures contract (and the related initial margin requirements), the current market value of the option, and other futures positions held by the Fund.
Although some futures contracts call for making or taking delivery of the underlying securities, generally these obligations are closed out prior to delivery by offsetting purchases or sales of matching futures contracts (same exchange, underlying security or index, and delivery month). If an offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a
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capital gain, or if it is more, the Fund realizes a capital loss. Conversely, if an offsetting sales price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is less, the Fund realizes a capital loss. The transaction costs must also be included in these calculations.
Limitations on Use of Futures and Futures Options. When entering into a futures contract, the Fund will specifically designate on its accounting records (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) cash, U.S. Government securities, or other highly liquid debt securities that, when added to the amount deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the futures contract. Alternatively, the Fund may cover its position by purchasing a put option on the same futures contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the contract held by the Fund.
When selling a futures contract, the Fund will specifically designate on its accounting records (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) liquid assets that, when added to the amount deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the instruments underlying the contract. Alternatively, the Fund may cover its position by owning the instruments underlying the contract (or, in the case of an index futures contract, a portfolio with a volatility substantially similar to that of the index on which the futures contract is based), or by holding a call option permitting the Fund to purchase the same futures contract at a price no higher than the price of the contract written by the Fund (or at a higher price if the difference is maintained in liquid assets with the Funds custodian).
When selling a call option on a futures contract, the Fund will specifically designate on its accounting records any asset, including equity securities and non-investment grade debt so long as the asset is liquid, unencumbered and marked to market daily that, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, equal the total market value of the futures contract underlying the call option. Alternatively, the Fund may cover its position by entering into a long position in the same futures contract at a price no higher than the strike price of the call option, by owning the instruments underlying the futures contract, or by holding a separate call option permitting the Fund to purchase the same futures contract at a price not higher than the strike price of the call option sold by the Fund.
When selling a put option on a futures contract, the Fund will specifically designate on its accounting records any asset, including equity securities and non-investment grade debt so long as the asset is liquid, unencumbered and marked to market daily that equal the purchase price of the futures contract, less any margin on deposit. Alternatively, the Fund may cover the position either by entering into a short position in the same futures contract, or by owning a separate put option permitting it to sell the same futures contract so long as the strike price of the put option is the same or higher than the strike price of the put option sold by the Fund.
In order to comply with applicable regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) pursuant to which the Fund avoids being deemed a commodity pool, the Fund is limited in its futures trading activities to positions which constitute bona fide hedging positions within the meaning and intent of applicable CFTC rules, or to positions which qualify under an alternative test. Under this alternative test, the underlying commodity value of each long position in a commodity contract in which the Fund invests may not at any time exceed the sum of: (1) the value of short-term U.S. debt obligations or other U.S. dollar-denominated high quality short-term money market instruments and cash set aside in an identifiable manner, plus any funds deposited as margin on the contract; (2) unrealized appreciation on the contract held by the broker; and (3) cash proceeds from existing investments due in not more than 30 days. Underlying commodity value means the size of the contract multiplied by the daily settlement price of the contract.
The requirements of the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company (RIC) also may limit the extent to which the Fund may enter into futures, futures options or forward contracts. (See Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.)
Risks Associated with Futures and Futures Options. Using futures contracts and related options involves certain risks, including: (1) the risk of imperfect correlation between fluctuations in the value of a futures contract and the portfolio security that is being hedged; (2) the risk that in its use of futures and related options, the Fund may not outperform a fund that does not make use of those instruments; (3) the fact that no assurance can be given that active markets will be available to offset positions; (4) the fact that futures contracts and options on futures may be closed out, by entering into an offsetting position, only on the exchange on which the contracts were entered into or through a linked exchange; (5) the risk that the value of the assets underlying the futures contract on the date of delivery will vary significantly from the amount which the Fund has agreed to pay or the price at which the Fund has agreed to sell under such contract, thereby subjecting the Fund to losses; and (6) the fact that successful use of futures contracts and related options for hedging purposes will depend upon the ability of the subadviser to predict correctly movements in the direction of the overall interest rate and foreign currency markets.
The costs of, and possible losses incurred from, futures contracts and options thereon may reduce the Funds current income and involve a loss of principal. Any incremental return earned by the Fund resulting from these transactions would be expected to offset anticipated losses or a portion thereof.
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Interest Rate Transactions. The Fund may enter into interest rate swaps, and the purchase and sale of interest rate collars, caps and floors.
Interest rate swaps involve the exchange with another party of commitments to pay or receive interest, e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate floor. An interest rate collar combines the elements of purchasing a cap and selling a floor. The collar protects against an interest rate rise above the maximum amount but gives up the benefit of an interest rate decline below the minimum amount. The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Funds obligations over its entitlements with respect to each interest rate swap will be accrued on a daily basis and any asset, including equity securities and non-investment grade debt so long as the asset is liquid, unencumbered and marked to market daily having an aggregate net asset value at least equal to the accrued excess will be specifically designated on the accounting records of the Fund. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.
Options. The Fund may purchase and sell (write) both put options and call options on securities, securities indexes, and foreign currencies. The purpose of writing covered put and call options generally is to hedge against fluctuations in the market value of a Funds portfolio securities and in an attempt to increase total return. The Fund may purchase or sell call and put options on securities indices for a similar purpose. A hedge is limited to the degree that the extent of the price change of the underlying security is less than the difference between the option premium received by the Fund and the option strike price. To the extent the underlying securitys price change exceeds this amount, written put and call options will not provide an effective hedge.
Writing Call Options. Each Fund may write (sell) covered call options on securities (calls) when the subadviser considers such sales appropriate. When a Fund writes a call, it receives a premium and grants the purchaser the right to buy the underlying security at any time during the call period (usually between three and nine months) at a fixed exercise price regardless of market price changes during the call period. If the call is exercised, the Fund forgoes any gain but is not subject to any loss on any change in the market price of the underlying security relative to the exercise price. A Fund will write such options subject to any applicable limitations or restrictions imposed by law.
A written call option is covered if the Fund owns the security underlying the option. A written call option may also be covered by purchasing an offsetting option or any other option which, by virtue of its exercise price or otherwise, reduces the Funds net exposure on its written option position. In addition, the Fund may cover such options by specifically designating on its accounting records any assets, including equity securities and non-investment grade debt so long as the assets are liquid, unencumbered and marked to market daily (liquid assets), in amounts sufficient to ensure that it is able to meet its obligations under the written call should it be exercised. This method does not reduce the potential loss to the Fund should the value of the underlying security increase and the option be exercised.
Purchasing Call Options. The Fund may purchase a call option when the adviser believes the value of the underlying security will rise or to effect a closing purchase transaction as to a call option the Fund has written (sold). A Fund will realize a profit (or loss) from a closing purchase transaction if the amount paid to purchase a call is less (or more) than the amount received from the sale thereof.
Writing Put Options. A put option written by a Fund obligates the Fund to purchase the specified security at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. A written put option may be covered by specifically designating on the accounting records of the Fund liquid assets with a value at least equal to the exercise price of the put option. While this may help ensure that a Fund will have sufficient assets to meet its obligations under the option contract should it be exercised, it will not reduce the potential loss to the Fund should the value of the underlying security decrease and the option be exercised.
Purchasing Put Options. A Fund may purchase a put option when the subadviser believes the value of the underlying security will decline. A Fund may purchase put options on securities in its portfolio in order to hedge against a decline in the value of such securities (protective puts) or to effect closing purchase transactions as to puts it has written. A Fund will realize a profit (or loss) from a closing purchase transaction if the amount paid to purchase a put is less (or more) than the amount received from the sale thereof.
Combined Option Positions. The Fund may purchase and write options in combination with each other to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall position. For example, a Fund may purchase a put option and write a call option on the same underlying instrument, in order to construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract. Another possible combined position would involve writing a call option at one strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, in order to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price
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increase. Because combined options involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.
The purchase and writing of options involves certain risks. During the option period, the covered call writer has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying securities above the exercise price, but, as long as its obligation as a writer continues, has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. The writer of an option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the underlying securities at the exercise price. If a call option purchased by a fund is not sold when it has remaining value, and if the market price of the underlying security remains less than or equal to the exercise price, the fund will lose its entire investment in the option. Also, where an option on a particular security is purchased to hedge against price movements in a related security, the price of the option may move more or less than the price of the related security. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the funds seek to close out an option position. Furthermore, if trading restrictions or suspensions are imposed on the options market, the funds may be unable to close out an option position.
Correlation of Price Changes. Because there are a limited number of types of exchange-traded options and futures contracts, it is likely that the standardized contracts available will not match the applicable Funds current or anticipated investments. The Fund may invest in options based on securities which differ from the securities in which it typically invests. This involves a risk that the options will not track the performance of the Funds investments.
Options and futures prices can also diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments match the applicable Funds investments well. Options and future prices are affected by such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect correlation may also result from differing levels of demand in the options and futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how options and futures and securities are traded, or from imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or trading halts. The Fund may purchase or sell options with a greater or less value than the securities it wishes to hedge or intends to purchase in order to attempt to compensate for differences in historical volatility between the contract and the securities, although this may not be successful in all cases. If price changes in the applicable Funds options are poorly correlated with its other investments, the positions may fail to produce anticipated gains or result in losses that are not offset by gains in other investments. Successful use of these techniques requires skills different from those needed to select portfolio securities.
Liquidity of Options. There is no assurance a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option at any particular time. Options may have relatively low trading volume and liquidity if their strike prices are not close to the underlying instruments current price. In addition, exchanges may establish daily price fluctuation limits for options, and may halt trading if an options price moves upward or downward more than the limit in a given day. On volatile trading days when the price fluctuation limit is reached or a trading halt is imposed, it may be impossible for a Fund to enter into new positions or close out existing positions. If the secondary market for an option is not liquid because of price fluctuation limits or otherwise, it could prevent prompt liquidation of unfavorable positions, and potentially could require the applicable Fund to continue to hold a position until delivery or expiration regardless of changes in its value. As a result, such Funds access to other assets held to cover its options could also be impaired.
Options on Securities Indices. Unlike a stock option, which gives the holder the right to purchase or sell a specified stock at a specified price, an option on a securities index gives the holder the right to receive a cash exercise settlement amount equal to (i) the difference between the exercise price of the option and the value of the underlying securities index on the exercise date multiplied by (ii) a fixed index multiplier. Like an option on a specific security, when a Fund purchases a put or a call option on an index, it places the entire amount of the premium paid at risk, for if, at the expiration date, the value of the index has decreased below the exercise price (in the case of a call) or increased above the exercise price (in the case of a put), the option will expire worthless.
A securities index fluctuates with changes in the market values of the stocks included in the index. For example, some securities index options are based on a broad market index such as the S&P 500 Index. Others are based on a narrower market index such as the Standard & Poors 100 Stock Index. Indices may also be based on an industry or market segment such as the AMEX Oil and Gas Index or the Computer and Business Equipment Index. Options on securities indices are currently traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the NYSE and the American Stock Exchange (AMEX).
The Fund may purchase put options on securities indices to hedge against an anticipated decline in stock market prices that might adversely affect the value of a Funds portfolio securities. If a Fund purchases such a put option, the amount of the payment it would receive upon exercising the option would depend on the extent of any decline in the level of the securities index below the exercise price. Such payments would tend to offset a decline in the value of the Funds portfolio securities.
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However, if the level of the securities index increases and remains above the exercise price while the put option is outstanding, a Fund will not be able to profitably exercise the option and will lose the amount of the premium and any transaction costs. Such loss may be partially or wholly offset by an increase in the value of a Funds portfolio securities.
A Fund may purchase call options on securities indices in order to participate in an anticipated increase in stock market prices or to offset anticipated price increases on securities that it intends to buy in the future. If a Fund purchases a call option on a securities index, the amount of the payment it would receive upon exercising the option would depend on the extent of any increase in the level of the securities index above the exercise price. Such payments would in effect allow the Fund to benefit from stock market appreciation even though it may not have had sufficient cash to purchase the underlying stocks. Such payments may also offset increases in the prices of stocks that the Fund intends to purchase. If, however, the level of the securities index declines and remains below the exercise price while the call option is outstanding, a Fund will not be able to exercise the option profitably and will lose the amount of the premium and transaction costs. Such loss may be partially or wholly offset by a reduction in the price a Fund pays to buy additional securities for its portfolio.
The Fund may write (sell) covered call or put options on a securities index. Such options may be covered by purchasing an offsetting option which, by virtue of its exercise price or otherwise, reduces the Funds net exposure on its written option position or by owning securities whose price changes are expected to be similar to those of the underlying index or by having an absolute and immediate right to acquire such securities without additional cash consideration or for additional cash consideration (held in a segregated account by its custodian) upon conversion or exchange of other securities in their respective portfolios. In addition, the Fund may cover such options by specifically designating on its accounting records liquid assets with a value equal to the exercise price or by using the other methods described above.
The extent to which options on securities indices will provide a Fund with an effective hedge against interest rate or stock market risk will depend on the extent to which the stocks comprising the indices correlate with the composition of the Funds portfolio. Moreover, the ability to hedge effectively depends upon the ability to predict movements in interest rates or the stock market. Some options on securities indices may not have a broad and liquid secondary market, in which case options purchased by the Fund may not be closed out and the Fund could lose more than its option premium when the option expires.
The purchase and sale of option contracts is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those ordinarily associated with investment companies. Transaction costs relating to options transactions may tend to be higher than the costs of transactions in securities. In addition, if a Fund were to write a substantial number of option contracts that are exercised, the portfolio turnover rate of that Fund could increase.
Limitations on Options on Securities and Securities Indices. The Fund may write call options only if they are covered and remain covered for as long as the Fund is obligated as a writer. Thus, if a Fund utilizing this investment technique writes a call option on an individual security, the Fund must own the underlying security or other securities that are acceptable for a pledged account at all times during the option period. The Fund will write call options on indices only to hedge in an economically appropriate way portfolio securities which are not otherwise hedged with options or financial futures contracts. Call options on securities indices written by a Fund will be covered by identifying the specific portfolio securities being hedged.
To secure the obligation to deliver the underlying security, the writer of a covered call option on an individual security is required to deposit the underlying security or other assets in a pledged account in accordance with clearing corporation and exchange rules. In the case of an index call option written by a Fund, the Fund will be required to deposit qualified securities. A qualified security is a security against which the Fund has not written a call option and which has not been hedged by the Fund by the sale of a financial futures contract. If at the close of business on any day the market value of the qualified securities falls below 100% of the current index value times the multiplier times the number of contracts, the Fund will deposit an amount of cash, U.S. Government Securities or other liquid high quality debt obligations equal in value to the difference. In addition, when the Fund writes a call on an index which is in-the-money at the time the call is written, the Fund will specifically designate on its accounting records cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid high quality debt obligations equal in value to the amount by which the call is in-the-money times the multiplier times the number of contracts. Any amount otherwise specifically designated may be applied to the Funds other obligations to specifically designate assets in the event that the market value of the qualified securities falls below 100% of the current index value times the multiplier times the number of contracts.
A Fund may sell a call option or a put option which it has previously purchased prior to the purchase (in the case of a call) or the sale (in the case of a put) of the underlying security. Any such sale of a call option or a put option would result in a net gain or loss, depending on whether the amount received on the sale is more or less than the premium and other transaction costs paid.
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Risks Relating to Options on Securities. During the option period, the writer of a call option has, in return for the premium received on the option, given up the opportunity for capital appreciation above the exercise price should the market price of the underlying security increase, but has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. The writer has no control over the time within the option period when it may be required to fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option.
The risk of purchasing a call option or a put option is that the Fund utilizing this investment technique may lose the premium it paid plus transaction costs, if the Fund does not exercise the option and is unable to close out the position prior to expiration of the option.
An option position may be closed out on an exchange only if the exchange provides a secondary market for an option of the same series. Although the Funds utilizing this investment technique will write and purchase options only when the investment adviser believes that a liquid secondary market will exist for options of the same series, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular option at a particular time and that any Fund, if it so desires, can close out its position by effecting a closing transaction. If the writer of a covered call option is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction, it cannot sell the underlying security until the option expires or the option is exercised. Accordingly, a covered call writer may not be able to sell the underlying security at a time when it might otherwise be advantageous to do so.
Possible reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities; (iv) inadequacy of the facilities of an exchange or the clearing corporation to handle trading volume; and (v) a decision by one or more exchanges to discontinue the trading of options in general or of particular options or impose restrictions on orders.
Each exchange has established limitations governing the maximum number of call options, whether or not covered, which may be written by a single investor acting alone or in concert with others (regardless of whether such options are written on the same or different exchanges or are held or written on one or more accounts or through one or more brokers). An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of these limits and it may impose other sanctions or restrictions. The investment adviser believes that the position limits established by the exchanges will not have any adverse impact upon the Funds.
Risks of Options on Securities Indices. Because the value of an index option depends upon movements in the level of the index rather than movements in the price of a particular security, whether a Fund utilizing this investment technique will realize a gain or loss on the purchase or sale of an option on an index depends upon movements in the level of prices in the market generally or in an industry or market segment (depending on the index option in question). Accordingly, successful use by a Fund of options on indices will be subject to the investment advisers ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the market generally or in the direction of a particular industry. This requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities.
Index prices may be distorted if trading of certain securities included in the index is interrupted. Trading in index options also may be interrupted in certain circumstances, such as if trading were halted in a substantial number of securities included in the index. If this occurred, a Fund utilizing this investment technique would not be able to close out options which it had written or purchased and, if restrictions on exercise were imposed, might be unable to exercise an option it purchased, which would result in substantial losses to the Fund. However, it is the Trusts policy to write or purchase options only on indices which include a sufficient number of securities so that the likelihood of a trading halt in the index is minimized.
Because the exercise of an index option is settled in cash, an index call writer cannot determine the amount of its settlement obligation in advance and, unlike call writing on portfolio securities, cannot provide in advance for its potential settlement obligation by holding the underlying securities. Consequently, the Funds will write call options only on indices which meet the interim described above.
Price movements in securities held by a Fund utilizing this investment technique will not correlate perfectly with movements in the level of the index and, therefore, the Fund bears the risk that the price of the securities held by the Fund might not increase as much as the level of the index. In this event, the Fund would bear a loss on the call which would not be completely offset by movements in the prices of the securities held by the Fund. It is also possible that the index might rise when the value of the securities held by the Fund does not. If this occurred, the Fund would experience a loss on the call which would not be offset by an increase in the value of its portfolio and might also experience a loss in the market value of its portfolio securities.
Unless a Fund utilizing this investment technique has other liquid assets which are sufficient to satisfy the exercise of a call on an index, the Fund will be required to liquidate securities in order to satisfy the exercise. Because an exercise must be settled within hours after receiving the notice of exercise, if the Fund fails to anticipate an exercise, it may have to borrow
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from a bank (in an amount not exceeding 10% of the Funds total assets) pending settlement of the sale of securities in its portfolio and pay interest on such borrowing.
When a Fund has written a call on an index, there is also a risk that the market may decline between the time the Fund has the call exercised against it, at a price which is fixed as of the closing level of the index on the date of exercise, and the time the Fund is able to sell its securities. As with options on its securities, the Fund will not learn that a call has been exercised until the day following the exercise date but, unlike a call on a security where the Fund would be able to deliver the underlying security in settlement, the Fund may have to sell some of its securities in order to make settlement in cash, and the price of such securities may decline before they can be sold.
If a Fund exercises a put option on an index which it has purchased before final determination of the closing index value for that day, it runs the risk that the level of the underlying index may change before closing. If this change causes the exercised option to fall out-of-the-money the Fund will be required to pay the difference between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option (multiplied by the applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer. Although the Fund may be able to minimize this risk by withholding exercise instructions until just before the daily cutoff time or by selling rather than exercising an option when the index level is close to the exercise price, it may not be possible to eliminate this risk entirely because the cutoff times for index options may be earlier than those fixed for other types of options and may occur before definitive closing index values are announced.
Special Considerations and Risks Related to Options and Futures Transactions. Exchange markets in options on certain securities are a relatively new and untested concept. It is impossible to predict the amount of trading interest that may exist in such options, and there can be no assurance that viable exchange markets will develop or continue.
The exchanges will not continue indefinitely to introduce new expirations to replace expiring options on particular issues because trading interest in many issues of longer duration tends to center on the most recently auctioned issues. The expirations introduced at the commencement of options trading on a particular issue will be allowed to run out, with the possible addition of a limited number of new expirations as the original expirations expire. Options trading on each issue of securities with longer durations will thus be phased out as new options are listed on more recent issues, and a full range of expirations will not ordinarily be available for every issue on which options are traded.
In the event of a shortage of the underlying securities deliverable on exercise of an option, the OCC has the authority to permit other, generally comparable, securities to be delivered in fulfillment of option exercise obligations. It may also adjust the exercise prices of the affected options by setting different prices at which otherwise ineligible securities may be delivered. As an alternative to permitting such substitute deliveries, the OCC may impose special exercise settlement procedures.
The hours of trading for options on securities may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent the markets for underlying securities close before the options markets, significant price and rate movements can take place in the options markets that cannot be reflected in the underlying markets. In addition, to the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets.
Prior to exercise or expiration, an option position can be terminated only by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. This requires a secondary market on an exchange for call or put options of the same series. Similarly, positions in futures may be closed out only on an exchange which provides a secondary market for such futures. There can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular call or put option or futures contract at any specific time. Thus, it may not be possible to close an option or futures position. In the event of adverse price movements, a Fund would continue to be required to make daily payments of maintenance margin for futures contracts or options on futures contracts positions written by that Fund. A Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so if it has insufficient cash to meet the daily maintenance margin requirements. In addition, a Fund may be required to take or make delivery of the instruments underlying futures contracts it holds. The inability to close options and futures positions also could have an adverse impact on a Funds ability to effectively hedge its portfolios.
Each of the exchanges has established limitations governing the maximum number of call or put options on the same underlying security (whether or not covered) that may be written by a single investor, whether acting alone or in concert with others (regardless of whether such options are written on the same or different exchanges or are held or written on one or more accounts or through one or more brokers). An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of applicable trading limits and it may impose other sanctions or restrictions. The Trust and other clients advised by the subadviser and its affiliates may be deemed to constitute a group for these purposes. In light of these limits, the Trustees may determine, at any time, to restrict or terminate the Funds transactions in options. The subadviser does not believe that these trading and position limits will have any adverse effect on investment techniques for hedging the Trusts portfolios.
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Over-the-counter (OTC) options are purchased from or sold to securities dealers, financial institutions or other parties (Counterparties) through direct agreement with the counterparty. In contrast to exchange-listed options, which generally have standardized terms and performance mechanics, all the terms of an OTC option, including such terms as method of settlement, term, exercise price, premium, guarantees and security, are set by negotiation of the parties.
Unless the parties provide for it, there is no central clearing or guaranty function in the OTC option market. As a result, if the counterparty fails to make delivery of the security or other instrument underlying an OTC option it has entered into with a Fund or fails to make a cash settlement payment due in accordance with the terms of that option, the Fund will lose any premium it paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction. Accordingly, the subadviser must assess the creditworthiness of each such counterparty or any guarantor or credit enhancement of the counterpartys credit to determine the likelihood that the terms of the OTC option will be satisfied. The staff of the SEC currently takes the position that OTC options purchased by a Fund, and portfolio securities covering the amount of a Funds obligation pursuant to an OTC option sold by it (the cost of the sell-back plus the in-the-money amount, if any) are illiquid, and are subject to each Funds limitation on investing no more than 15% of its assets in illiquid securities. However, for options written with primary dealers in U.S. Government securities pursuant to an agreement requiring a closing transaction at the formula price, the amount considered to be illiquid may be calculated by reference to a formula price.
The loss from investing in futures transactions is potentially unlimited. Gains and losses on investments in options and futures depend on the subadvisers ability to predict correctly the direction of stock prices, interest rates and other economic factors. In addition, utilization of futures in hedging transactions may fail where there is an imperfect correlation in movements in the price of futures contracts and movements in the price of the securities which are the subject of a hedge. If the price of the futures contract moves more or less than the price of the security, a Fund will experience a gain or loss that will not be completely offset by movements in the price of the securities which are the subject of a hedge. There is also a risk of imperfect correlation where the securities underlying futures contracts have different maturities than the portfolio securities being hedged. Transactions in options on futures contracts involve similar risks.
Swap Agreements. The Fund may enter into interest rate, index and currency exchange rate swap agreements in attempts to obtain a particular desired return at a lower cost to the Fund than if the Fund had invested directly in an instrument that yielded that desired return. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or swapped between the parties are calculated with respect to a notional amount, i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency, or in a basket of securities representing a particular index. The notional amount of the swap agreement is only a fictive basis on which to calculate the obligations the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange. The Funds obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the net amount). The Funds obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund) and any accrued but
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unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counter-party will be covered by specifically designating on the accounting records of the Fund liquid assets to avoid leveraging of the Funds portfolio.
Because swap agreements are two-party contracts and may have terms of greater than seven days, they may be considered to be illiquid. Moreover, a Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counter-party. The Subadviser will cause a Fund to enter into swap agreements only with counter-parties that would be eligible for consideration as repurchase agreement counter-parties under the Funds repurchase agreement guidelines. Certain restrictions imposed on the Funds by the Code may limit the Funds ability to use swap agreements. The swaps market is a relatively new market and is largely unregulated. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect the Funds ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.
Certain swap agreements are exempt from most provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and, therefore, are not regulated as futures or commodity option transactions under the CEA, pursuant to regulations of the CFTC. To qualify for this exemption, a swap agreement must be entered into by eligible participants, which include the following, provided the participants total assets exceed established levels: a bank or trust company, savings association or credit union, insurance company, investment company subject to regulation under the 1940 Act, commodity pool, corporation, partnership, proprietorship, organization, trust or other entity, employee benefit plan, governmental entity, broker-dealer, futures commission merchant, natural person, or regulated foreign person. To be eligible, natural persons and most other entities must have total assets exceeding $10 million; commodity pools and employees benefit plans must have assets exceeding $5 million. In addition, an eligible swap transaction must meet three conditions. First, the swap agreement may not be part of a fungible class of agreements that are standardized as to their material economic terms. Second, the creditworthiness of parties with actual or potential obligations under the swap agreement must be a material consideration in entering into or determining the terms of the swap agreement, including pricing, cost or credit enhancement terms. Third, swap agreements may not be entered into and traded on or through a multilateral transaction execution facility.
Credit Default Swap Agreements. The buyer in a credit default contract is obligated to pay the seller a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided no event of default has occurred. In the event of default, the seller must pay the buyer the par value (full notional value) of the reference obligation in exchange for the reference obligation (typically emerging market debt). The fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the fund is a buyer and no event of default occurs, the fund loses its investment and recovers nothing. However, if an event of default occurs, the buyer receives full notional value for a reference obligation that may have little or no value. As a seller, the fund receives a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the contract, which typically is between six months and three years, provided there is no default event. If an event of default occurs, the seller must pay the buyer the full notional value of the reference obligation.
Emerging Market Securities
The Fund may invest in countries or regions with relatively low gross national product per capita compared to the worlds major economies, and in countries or regions with the potential for rapid economic growth (emerging markets). Emerging markets will include any country: (i) having an emerging stock market as defined by the International Finance Corporation; (ii) with low-to-middle-income economies according to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank); (iii) listed in World Bank publications as developing; or (iv) determined by the Adviser to be an emerging market as defined above. The Emerging Markets Fund may also invest in securities of: (i) companies the principal securities trading market for which is an emerging market country; (ii) companies organized under the laws of, and with a principal office in, an emerging market country, or (iii) companies whose principal activities are located in emerging market countries.
The risks of investing in foreign securities may be intensified in the case of investments in emerging markets. Securities of many issuers in emerging markets may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable domestic issuers. Emerging markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and 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 Funds are uninvested and no return is earned thereon. The inability of the Funds to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Funds to miss attractive investment opportunities. Inability to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the Funds due to subsequent declines in value of portfolio securities or, if the Funds have entered into a contract to sell the security, in possible liability to the purchaser. Securities prices in emerging markets can be significantly more volatile than in the more developed nations of the world, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, countries with emerging markets may have relatively unstable governments, present the risk of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership, or prohibitions of repatriation of assets, and may have less protection of property rights than more developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be predominantly based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Local securities
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markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of substantial holdings difficult or impossible at times. Securities of issuers located in countries with emerging markets may have limited marketability and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements.
Certain emerging markets may require governmental approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. In addition, if a deterioration occurs in an emerging markets balance of payments or for other reasons, a country could impose temporary restrictions on foreign capital remittances. The Funds could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the application to the Funds of any restrictions on investments.
Investments in certain foreign emerging market debt obligations may be restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions or controls may at times preclude investment in certain foreign emerging market debt obligations and increase the expenses of the Funds.
Additional Risk Factors. As a result of its investments in foreign securities, the Funds may receive interest or dividend payments, or the proceeds of the sale or redemption of such securities, in the foreign currencies in which such securities are denominated. In that event, the Fund may convert such currencies into dollars at the then current exchange rate. Under certain circumstances, however, such as where the Adviser believes that the applicable rate is unfavorable at the time the currencies are received or the Adviser anticipates, for any other reason, that the exchange rate will improve, the Fund may hold such currencies for an indefinite period of time.
In addition, the Fund may be required to receive delivery of the foreign currency underlying forward foreign currency contracts it has entered into. This could occur, for example, if an option written by the Fund is exercised or the Fund is unable to close out a forward contract. The Fund may hold foreign currency in anticipation of purchasing foreign securities. The Fund may also elect to take delivery of the currencies underlying options or forward contracts if, in the judgment of the Adviser, it is in the best interest of the Fund to do so. In such instances as well, the Fund may convert the foreign currencies to dollars at the then current exchange rate, or may hold such currencies for an indefinite period of time.
While the holding of currencies will permit the Fund to take advantage of favorable movements in the applicable exchange rate, it also exposes the Fund to risk of loss if such rates move in a direction adverse to the Funds position. Such losses could reduce any profits or increase any losses sustained by the Fund from the sale or redemption of securities, and could reduce the dollar value of interest or dividend payments received. In addition, the holding of currencies could adversely affect the Funds profit or loss on currency options or forward contracts, as well as its hedging strategies.
Eurodollar Instruments
The Fund may make investments in Eurodollar instruments. Eurodollar instruments are U.S. dollar-denominated futures contracts or options thereon which are linked to the London Interbank Offering Rate (LIBOR), although foreign currency-denominated instruments are available from time to time. Eurodollar futures contracts enable purchasers to obtain a fixed rate for the lending of funds and sellers to obtain a fixed rate for borrowings. A Fund might use Eurodollar futures contracts and options thereon to hedge against changes in LIBOR, to which many interest rate swaps and fixed-income instruments are linked.
Foreign Securities
The Fund may invest in the securities of foreign issuers. The Fund may invest in a broad range of foreign securities including equity, debt and convertible securities and foreign government securities. The Fund may purchase the securities of issuers from various countries, including countries commonly referred to as emerging markets. The Fund may also invest in domestic securities denominated in foreign currencies.
Investing in the securities of foreign companies involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. These include differences in accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, generally higher commission rates on foreign portfolio transactions, the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations, political instability which could affect U.S. investments in foreign countries, and potential restrictions on the flow of international capital. Additionally, dividends payable on foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes withheld prior to distribution. Foreign securities often trade with less frequency and volume than domestic securities and therefore may exhibit greater price volatility. Changes in foreign exchange rates will affect the value of those securities which are denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Many of the foreign securities held by the Fund will not be registered with, nor the issuers thereof be subject to the reporting requirements of, the SEC. Accordingly, there may be less publicly available information about the securities and about the foreign company or government issuing them than is available about a domestic company or government entity. Moreover, individual foreign
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economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the United States economy in such respects as growth of Gross National Product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payment positions.
Certain foreign countries are less stable politically than the United States. The possibility exists that certain foreign governments may adopt policies providing for expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, currency blockage or limitations on the use or removal of monies or other assets of an investment company. Finally, the Funds may encounter difficulty in obtaining and enforcing judgments against issuers of foreign securities. The economies of developing countries generally are heavily dependent upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be adversely affected by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. These economies also have been and may continue to be adversely affected by economic conditions in the countries with which they trade.
Certain emerging market countries are either comparatively underdeveloped or are in the process of becoming developed and may consequently be economically based on a relatively few or closely interdependent industries. A high proportion of the securities of many emerging market issuers may also be held by a limited number of large investors trading significant blocks of securities. While the adviser will strive to be sensitive to publicize reversals of economic conditions, political unrest and adverse changes in trading status, unanticipated political and social developments may affect the values of the Funds investments in such countries and the availability of additional investments in such countries.
When investing in securities denominated in foreign currencies, the Funds will be subject to the additional risk of currency fluctuations. An adverse change in the value of a particular foreign currency as against the U.S. dollar, to the extent that such change is not offset by a gain in other foreign currencies, will result in a decrease in the Funds assets. Any such change may also have the effect of decreasing or limiting the income available for distribution. Foreign currencies may be affected by revaluation, adverse political and economic developments, and governmental restrictions. Although the Funds will invest only in securities denominated in foreign currencies that are fully convertible into U.S. dollars without legal restriction at the time of investment, no assurance can be given that currency exchange controls will not be imposed on any particular currency at a later date.
Securities of U.S. issuers denominated in foreign currencies may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than securities issued by domestic issuers and denominated in U.S. dollars. In addition, investing in securities denominated in foreign currencies often entails costs not associated with investment in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of U.S. issuers, such as the cost of converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars, higher brokerage commissions, custodial expenses and other fees. Non-U.S. dollar denominated securities may be subject to certain withholding and other taxes of the relevant jurisdiction, which may reduce the yield on the securities to the Fund and which may not be recoverable by the Fund or its investors.
The Fund will calculate its net asset value and complete orders to purchase, exchange or redeem shares only on a Monday-Friday basis (excluding holidays on which the NYSE is closed). Foreign securities in which the Funds may invest may be primarily listed on foreign stock exchanges which may trade on other days (such as Saturdays). As a result, the net asset value of each Funds portfolio may be affected by such trading on days when a shareholder has no access to the Fund.
The Trust may use a foreign custodian in connection with its purchases of foreign securities and may maintain cash and cash equivalents in the care of a foreign custodian. The amount of cash or cash equivalents maintained in the care of eligible foreign custodians will be limited to an amount reasonably necessary to effect the Trusts foreign securities transactions. The use of a foreign custodian invokes considerations which are not ordinarily associated with domestic custodians. These considerations include the possibility of expropriations, restricted access to books and records of the foreign custodian, inability to recover assets that are lost while under the control of the foreign custodian, and the impact of political, social or diplomatic developments.
The Fund may invest in Yankee Bonds. Yankee Bonds are issued in the United States by foreign governments or companies. Since they are dollar-denominated, they are not affected by variations in currency exchange rates. Yankee Bonds are influenced primarily by interest rate levels in the United States, and by the financial condition of the issuer. Because the issuers are foreign, the issuers may be subject to levels of risk that differ from the domestic bond market.
The Fund may invest in dollar-denominated instruments issued by foreign branches of U.S. banks and U.S. branches of foreign banks. Since these instruments are dollar-denominated, they are not affected by variations in currency exchange rates. They are influenced primarily by interest rate levels in the United States and by the financial condition of the issuer, or of the issuers foreign parent. These instruments may be subject to levels of risk that differ from their fully domestic counterparts.
High Yield High Risk Securities (Junk Bonds)
Investments in below-investment grade securities (see Appendix for an explanation of the various ratings) generally provide greater income (leading to the name high-yield securities) and opportunity for capital appreciation than investments in higher quality securities, but they also typically entail greater price volatility, liquidity, and principal and income risk. These
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securities are regarded as predominantly speculative as to the issuers continuing ability to meet principal and interest payment obligations. Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of lower-quality debt securities may be more complex than for issuers of higher-quality debt securities.
High-yield securities may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than investment-grade securities. The prices of high-yield securities have been found to be less sensitive to interest-rate changes than higher-quality investments, but more sensitive to adverse economic developments or individual corporate developments. A projection of an economic downturn or of a period of rising interests rates, for example, could cause a decline in high-yield securities prices because the advent of a recession could lessen the ability of a highly-leveraged company to make principal and interest payments. If an issuer of high-yield securities defaults, in addition to risking payment of all or a portion of interest and principal, the Funds may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. Market prices of high-yield securities structured as zero-coupon or pay-in-kind securities are affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes, and therefore tend to be more volatile than securities that pay interest periodically and in cash.
The secondary market on which high-yield securities are traded may be less liquid than the market for higher-grade securities. Less liquidity could adversely affect the price at which a Fund could sell a high-yield security and could adversely affect the daily net asset value of the Funds shares. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of high-yield securities, especially in a thinly-traded market. When secondary markets for these securities are less liquid than the market for higher-grade securities, it may be more difficult to value the high-yield securities because the valuation may require more research and judgment may play a greater role in valuation because of the lack of reliable, objective data.
Illiquid and Restricted Securities
The Fund may invest in securities for which there is no readily available market (illiquid securities), including certain securities whose disposition would be subject to legal restrictions (restricted securities). However, certain restricted securities that may be resold pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 may be considered liquid. The Board of Trustees of the Trust has delegated to the adviser the day-to-day determination of the liquidity of a security although it has retained oversight and ultimate responsibility for such determinations. Although no definite quality criteria are used, the Board of Trustees has directed the adviser to consider such factors as (i) the nature of the market for a security (including the institutional private resale markets); (ii) the terms of these securities or other instruments allowing for the disposition to a third party or the issuer thereof (e.g. certain repurchase obligations and demand instruments); (iii) and availability of market quotations; and (iv) other permissible factors.
If illiquid securities exceed 15% of a Funds net assets after the time of purchase, the Fund will take steps to reduce in an orderly fashion its holdings of illiquid securities. Because illiquid securities may not be readily marketable, the subadviser may not be able to dispose of them in a timely manner. As a result, the Fund may be forced to hold illiquid securities while their price depreciates. Depreciation in the price of illiquid securities may cause the net asset value of the Fund to decline. A security that is determined by the subadviser to be liquid may subsequently revert to being illiquid if not enough buyer interest exists.
Restricted securities may be sold in privately negotiated or other exempt transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act. When registration is required, a Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable time may elapse between the decision to sell and the sale date. If, during such period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than the price which prevailed when it decided to sell. Restricted securities will be priced at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees. (See Private Placements and Rule 144A Securities below.)
Interest Rate Transactions
The market value of debt securities that are interest rate sensitive is inversely related to changes in interest rates. That is, an interest rate decline produces an increase in a securitys market value and an interest rate increase produces a decrease in value. The longer the remaining maturity of a security, the greater the effect of interest rate changes. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the markets perception of its creditworthiness also affect the market value of that issuers debt securities.
Prepayments of principal of mortgage-related securities by mortgagors or mortgage foreclosures affect the average life of the mortgage-related securities in a funds portfolio. Mortgage prepayments are affected by the level of interest rates and other factors, including general economic conditions and the underlying location and age of the mortgage. In periods of rising interest rates, the prepayment rate tends to decrease, lengthening the average life of a pool of mortgage-related securities. In periods of falling interest rates, the prepayment rate tends to increase, shortening the average life of a pool. Because prepayments of principal generally occur when interest rates are declining, it is likely that a fund, to the extent that it retains the same percentage of debt securities, may have to reinvest the proceeds of prepayments at lower interest rates than those of
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its previous investments. If this occurs, that funds yield will correspondingly decline. Thus, mortgage-related securities may have less potential for capital appreciation in periods of falling interest rates than other fixed-income securities of comparable duration, although they may have a comparable risk of decline in market value in periods of rising interest rates. To the extent that a fund purchases mortgage-related securities at a premium, unscheduled prepayments, which are made at par, result in a loss equal to any unamortized premium.
Duration is one of the fundamental tools used by the adviser in managing interest rate risks including prepayment risks. Traditionally, a debt securitys term to maturity characterizes a securitys sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Term to maturity, however, measures only the time until a debt security provides its final payment, taking no account of prematurity payments. Most debt securities provide interest (coupon) payments in addition to a final (par) payment at maturity, and some securities have call provisions allowing the issuer to repay the instrument in full before maturity date, each of which affect the securitys response to interest rate changes. Duration is considered a more precise measure of interest rate risk than term to maturity. Determining duration may involve the advisers estimates of future economic parameters, which may vary from actual future values. Fixed-income securities with effective durations of three years are more responsive to interest rate fluctuations than those with effective durations of one year. For example, if interest rates rise by 1%, the value of securities having an effective duration of three years will generally decrease by approximately 3%.
Loan and Debt Participations and Assignments
A loan participation agreement involves the purchase of a share of a loan made by a bank to a company in return for a corresponding share of the borrowers principal and interest payments. Loan participations of the type in which the Fund may invest include interests in both secured and unsecured corporate loans. When the Fund purchases loan assignments from lenders, it will acquire direct rights against the borrower, but these rights and the Funds obligations may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assignment lender. The principal credit risk associated with acquiring loan participation and assignment interests is the credit risk associated with the underlying corporate borrower. There is also a risk that there may not be a readily available market for participation loan interests and, in some cases, this could result in the Fund disposing of such securities at a substantial discount from face value or holding such securities until maturity.
In the event that a corporate borrower failed to pay its scheduled interest or principal payments on participations held by the Fund, the market value of the affected participation would decline, resulting in a loss of value of such investment to the Fund. Accordingly, such participations are speculative and may result in the income level and net assets of the Fund being reduced. Moreover, loan participation agreements generally limit the right of a participant to resell its interest in the loan to a third party and, as a result, loan participations and assignments will be deemed by the Fund to be illiquid investments. The Fund will invest only in participations with respect to borrowers whose creditworthiness is, or is determined by the subadviser to be, substantially equivalent to that of issuers whose senior unsubordinated debt securities are rated B or higher by Moodys or S&P.
A Fund may purchase from banks participation interests in all or part of specific holdings of debt obligations. Each participation interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of the selling bank that the subadviser has determined meets the prescribed quality standards of each Fund. Thus, even if the credit of the issuer of the debt obligation does not meet the quality standards of the Fund, the credit of the selling bank will. Loan participations and assignments may be illiquid.
Money Market Instruments
Certificates of Deposit. Certificates of deposit are generally short-term, interest-bearing negotiable certificates issued by banks or savings and loan associations against funds deposited in the issuing institution.
Time Deposits. Time deposits are deposits in a bank or other financial institution for a specified period of time at a fixed interest rate for which a negotiable certificate is not received.
Bankers Acceptances. A bankers acceptance is a time draft drawn on a commercial bank by a borrower usually in connection with an international commercial transaction (to finance the import, export, transfer or storage of goods). The borrower, as well as the bank, is liable for payment, and the bank unconditionally guarantees to pay the draft at its face amount on the maturity date. Most acceptances have maturities of six months or less and are traded in secondary markets prior to maturity.
Commercial Paper. Commercial paper refers to short-term, unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations to finance short-term credit needs. Commercial paper is usually sold on a discount basis and has a maturity at the time of issuance not exceeding nine months.
Corporate Debt Securities. Corporate debt securities with a remaining maturity of less than one year tend to become extremely liquid and are traded as money market securities.
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U.S. Government Obligations. Securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States Government include a variety of Treasury securities, which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. Treasury bills have maturities of one year or less. Treasury notes have maturities of one to ten years, and Treasury bonds generally have maturities of greater than ten years.
Agencies of the United States Government which issue or guarantee obligations include, among others, Export-Import Banks of the United States, Farmers Home Administration, Federal Housing Administration, Government National Mortgage Association, Maritime Administration, Small Business Administration and The Tennessee Valley Authority. Obligations of instrumentalities of the United States Government include securities issued or guaranteed by, among others, the Federal National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Banks for Cooperatives, and the U.S. Postal Service. Some of these securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government; others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury, while still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. There is no guarantee that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities, now or in the future, if it is not obligated to do so by law.
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities
Mortgage Pass-through Securities. These are interests in pools of mortgage loans, assembled and issued by various governmental, government-related, and private organizations. Unlike other forms of debt securities, which normally provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed amounts with principal payments at maturity or specified call dates, these securities provide a monthly payment consisting of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a pass-through of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their residential or commercial mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Additional payments are caused by repayments of principal resulting from the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, net of fees or costs. Modified pass-through securities (such as securities issued by the GNMA) entitle the holder to receive all interest and principal payments owed on the mortgage pool, net of certain fees, at the scheduled payment dates regardless of whether or not the mortgagor actually makes the payment.
The principal governmental guarantor of mortgage-related securities is GNMA. GNMA is a wholly-owned United States Government corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. GNMA is authorized to guarantee, with the full faith and credit of the United States Government, the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by institutions approved by GNMA (such as savings and loan institutions, commercial banks and mortgage bankers) and backed by pools of Federal Housing Administration insured or Veterans Administration guaranteed mortgages.
Government-related guarantors whose obligations are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government include the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC). FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. FNMA purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. FHLMC is a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders. FHLMC issues Participation Certificates (PCs) that represent interests in conventional mortgages from FHLMCs national portfolio. FNMA and FHLMC guarantee the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal on securities they issue, but their guarantees are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.
Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such non-governmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments for such securities. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The insurance and guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers. Such insurance and guarantees and the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof will be considered in determining whether a mortgage-related security meets a Funds investment quality standards. There can be no assurance that the private insurers or guarantors can meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements. Funds may buy mortgage-related securities without insurance or guarantees if, through an examination of the loan experience and practices of the originator/servicers and poolers, the subadviser determines that the securities meet the Funds quality standards. Securities issued by certain private organizations may not be readily marketable.
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Mortgage-backed securities that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, are not subject to the Funds industry concentration restrictions, set above below under Investment Restrictions, by virtue of the exclusion from the test available to all U.S. Government securities. The Funds will take the position that privately-issued, mortgage-related securities do not represent interests in any particular industry or group of industries. The assets underlying such securities may be represented by a portfolio of first lien residential mortgages (including both whole mortgage loans and mortgage participation interests) or portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities issued or guaranteed by GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC. Mortgage loans underlying a mortgage-related security may in turn be insured or guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration or the Department of Veterans Affairs. In the case of private issue mortgage-related securities whose underlying assets are neither U.S. Government securities nor U.S. Government-insured mortgages, to the extent that real properties securing such assets may be located in the same geographical region, the security may be subject to a greater risk of default than other comparable securities in the event of adverse economic, political or business developments that may affect such region and, ultimately, the ability of residential homeowners to make payments of principal and interest on the underlying mortgages.
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMOs). A CMO is similar to a bond in that interest and prepaid principal is paid, in most cases, semiannually. CMOs may be collateralized by whole mortgage loans or by portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities guaranteed by entities such as GNMA, FHLMC, or FNMA, and their income streams.
CMOs are typically structured in multiple classes, each bearing a different stated maturity. Actual maturity and average life will depend upon the prepayment experience of the collateral. CMOs provide for a modified form of call protection through a de facto breakdown of the underlying pool of mortgages according to how quickly the loans are repaid. Monthly payment of principal received from the pool of underlying mortgages, including prepayments, is first returned to investors holding the shortest maturity class. Investors holding the longer maturity classes typically receive principal only after the first class has been retired. An investor may be partially guarded against a sooner than desired return of principal because of the sequential payments.
FHLMC CMOs are debt obligations of FHLMC issued in multiple classes having different maturity dates and are secured by the pledge of a pool of conventional mortgage loans purchased by FHLMC. Unlike FHLMC PCs, payments of principal and interest on the CMOs are made semiannually rather than monthly. The amount of principal payable on each semiannual payment date is determined in accordance with FHLMCs mandatory sinking fund schedule. Sinking fund payments in the CMOs are allocated to the retirement of the individual classes of bonds in the order of their stated maturities. Payments of principal on the mortgage loans in the collateral pool in excess of the amount of FHLMCs minimum sinking fund obligation for any payment date are paid to the holders of the CMOs as additional sinking-fund payments. Because of the pass-through nature of all principal payments received on the collateral pool in excess of FHLMCs minimum sinking fund requirement, the rate at which principal of the CMOs is actually repaid is likely to be such that each class of bonds will be retired in advance of its scheduled maturity date. If collection of principal (including prepayments) on the mortgage loans during any semiannual payment period is not sufficient to meet FHLMCs minimum sinking fund obligation on the next sinking fund payment date, FHLMC agrees to make up the deficiency from its general funds.
CMO Residuals. CMO residuals are derivative mortgage securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans. As described above, the cash flow generated by the mortgage assets underlying a series of CMOs is applied first to make required payments of principal and interest on the CMOs and second to pay the related administrative expenses of the issuer. The residual in a CMO structure generally represents the interest in any excess cash flow remaining after making the foregoing payments. Each payment of such excess cash flow to a holder of the related CMO residual represents income and/or a return of capital. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a CMO will depend on, among other things, the characteristics of the mortgage assets, the coupon rate of each class of CMO, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and, in particular, the prepayment experience on the mortgage assets. In addition, if a series of a CMO includes a class that bears interest at an adjustable rate, the yield to maturity on the related CMO residual will also be extremely sensitive to changes in the level of the index upon which interest rate adjustments are based. As described below with respect to stripped mortgage-backed securities, in certain circumstances a Fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in a CMO residual.
CMO residuals are generally purchased and sold by institutional investors through several investment banking firms acting as brokers or dealers. The CMO residual market has only very recently developed and CMO residuals currently may not have the liquidity of other more established securities trading in other markets. CMO residuals may be subject to certain restrictions on transferability, may be deemed illiquid, and may be subject to a Funds limitations on investment in illiquid securities.
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Stripped Mortgage-backed Securities. Stripped mortgage-backed securities (SMBS) are derivative multi-class mortgage securities. They may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans. SMBS are usually structured with two classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. A common type of SMBS will have one class receiving some of the interest and most of the principal from the mortgage assets, while the other class will receive most of the interest and the remainder of the principal. In the most extreme case, one class will receive all of the interest (the interest-only or IO class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or PO class). The yield to maturity on an IO class security is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the related underlying mortgage assets, and a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on a Funds yield to maturity from these securities. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, a Fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in these securities even if the security is in one of the highest rating categories.
Although SMBS are purchased and sold by institutional investors through several investment banking firms acting as brokers or dealers, these securities were only recently developed. As a result, established trading markets have not yet developed and, accordingly, these securities may be deemed illiquid and subject to a Funds limitations on investment in illiquid securities.
A Fund may invest in other mortgage-related securities with features similar to those described above, to the extent consistent with the Funds investment objectives and policies.
Adjustable Rate MortgagesInterest Rate Indices. The One Year Treasury Index is the figure derived from the average weekly quoted yield on U.S. Treasury Securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year. The Cost of Funds Index reflects the monthly weighted average cost of funds of savings and loan associations and savings banks whose home offices are located in Arizona, California and Nevada (the FHLB Eleventh District) that are member institutions of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (the FHLB of San Francisco), as computed from statistics tabulated and published by the FHLB of San Francisco. The FHLB of San Francisco normally announces the Cost of Funds Index on the last working day of the month following the month in which the cost of funds was incurred.
A number of factors affect the performance of the Cost of Funds Index and may cause the Cost of Funds Index to move in a manner different from indices based upon specific interest rates, such as the One Year Treasury Index. Because of the various origination dates and maturities of the liabilities of member institutions of the FHLB Eleventh District upon which the Cost of Funds Index is based, among other things, at any time the Cost of Funds Index may not reflect the average prevailing market interest rates on new liabilities of similar maturities. There can be no assurance that the Cost of Funds Index will necessarily move in the same direction or at the same rate as prevailing interest rates since as longer term deposits or borrowings mature and are renewed at market interest rates, the Cost of Funds Index will rise or fall depending upon the differential between the prior and the new rates on such deposits and borrowings. In addition, dislocations in the thrift industry in recent years have caused and may continue to cause the cost of funds of thrift institutions to change for reasons unrelated to changes in general interest rate levels. Furthermore, any movement in the Cost of Funds Index as compared to other indices based upon specific interest rates may be affected by changes instituted by the FHLB of San Francisco in the method used to calculate the Cost of Funds Index. To the extent that the Cost of Funds Index may reflect interest changes more slowly than other indices, mortgage loans which adjust in accordance with the Cost of Funds Index may produce a higher yield later than would be produced by such other indices, and in a period of declining interest rates, the Cost of Funds Index may remain higher than other market interest rates which may result in a higher level of principal prepayments on mortgage loans which adjust in accordance with the Cost of Funds Index than mortgage loans which adjust in accordance with other indices.
LIBOR, the London Interbank Offered Rate, is the interest rate that the most creditworthy international banks dealing in U.S. dollar-denominated deposits and loans charge each other for large dollar-denominated loans. LIBOR is also usually the base rate for large dollar-denominated loans in the international market. LIBOR is generally quoted for loans having rate adjustments at one, three, six or twelve month intervals.
Other Asset-backed Securities. Through trusts and other special purpose entities, various types of securities based on financial assets other than mortgage loans are increasingly available, in both pass-through structures similar to mortgage pass-through securities described above and in other structures more like CMOs. As with mortgage-related securities, these asset-backed securities are often backed by a pool of financial assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. They often include credit-enhancement features similar to mortgage-related securities.
Financial assets on which these securities are based include automobile receivables; credit card receivables; loans to finance boats, recreational vehicles, and mobile homes; computer, copier, railcar, and medical equipment leases; and trade, healthcare, and franchise receivables. In general, the obligations supporting these asset-backed securities are of shorter maturities than mortgage loans and are less likely to experience substantial prepayments. However, obligations such as credit card receivables
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are generally unsecured and the obligors are often entitled to protection under a number of state and federal consumer credit laws granting, among other things, rights to set off certain amounts owed on the credit cards, thus reducing the balance due. Other obligations that are secured, such as automobile receivables, may present issuers with difficulties in perfecting and executing on the security interests, particularly where the issuer allows the servicers of the receivables to retain possession of the underlying obligations, thus increasing the risk that recoveries on defaulted obligations may not be adequate to support payments on the securities.
The subadviser expects additional assets will be securitized in the future. A Fund may invest in any such instruments or variations on them to the extent consistent with the Funds investment objectives and policies.
Mutual Fund Investing
The Fund is authorized to invest in the securities of other investment companies subject to the limitations contained in the 1940 Act. In certain countries, investments by the Fund may only be made through investments in other investment companies that, in turn, are authorized to invest in the securities that are issued in such countries. Investors should recognize that the Funds purchase of the securities of such other investment companies results in the layering of expenses such that investors indirectly bear a proportionate part of the expenses for such investment companies including operating costs and investment advisory and administrative fees.
Investment companies in which the Fund may invest may include index-based investments such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which hold substantially all of their assets in securities representing their specific index. Accordingly, the main risk of investing in index-based investments is the same as investing in a portfolio of equity securities comprising the index. As a shareholder of another investment company, a Fund would bear its pro rata portion of the other investment companys expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to the expenses a Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations. The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with both changes in the market value of their underlying portfolio securities and due to supply and demand for the instruments on the exchanges on which they are traded (Which may result in their trading at a discount or premium to their NAVs). Index-based investments may not replicate exactly the performance of their specific index because of transaction costs and because of the temporary unavailability of certain component securities of the index.
Participation Interests
The Fund may purchase from banks participation interests in all or part of specific holdings of debt obligations. Each participation interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of the selling bank that the adviser has determined meets the prescribed quality standards of each Fund. Thus, even if the credit of the issuer of the debt obligation does not meet the quality standards of the Fund, the credit of the selling bank will.
Participation on Creditors Committees
The Fund may 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 the funds ability to purchase or sell a particular security when it might otherwise desire to do so. Participation by the Fund 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. The Fund will participate on such committees only when the subadviser believes that such participation is necessary or desirable to enforce the Funds rights as a creditor or to protect the value of securities held by the Fund.
Preferred Stocks
The Fund may invest in preferred stocks. Preferred stocks have a preference over common stocks in liquidation (and generally dividends as well) but are subordinated to the liabilities of the issuer in all respects. As a general rule, the market value of preferred stocks with a fixed dividend rate and no conversion element varies inversely with interest rates and perceived credit risks while the market price of convertible preferred stock generally also reflects some element of conversion value. Because preferred stock is junior to debt securities and other obligations of the issuer, deterioration in the credit quality of the issuer will cause greater changes in the value of a preferred stock than in a more senior debt security with similarly stated yield characteristics. Unlike interest payments on debt securities, preferred stock dividends are payable only if declared by the issuers board of directors. Preferred stock also may be subject to optional or mandatory redemption provisions.
Private Placements and Rule 144A Securities
The Fund may purchase securities which have been privately issued and are subject to legal restrictions on resale or which are issued to qualified institutional investors under special rules adopted by the SEC. Such securities may offer higher yields than comparable publicly traded securities. Such securities ordinarily can be sold by the Fund in secondary market transactions to certain qualified investors pursuant to rules established by the SEC, in privately negotiated transactions to a limited number of purchasers or in a public offering made pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities
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Act of 1933 (The 1933 Act). Public sales of such securities by the Fund may involve significant delays and expense. Private sales often require negotiation with one or more purchasers and may produce less favorable prices than the sale of similar unrestricted securities. Public sales generally involve the time and expense of the preparation and processing of a registration statement under the 1933 Act (the possible decline in value of the securities during such period) and may involve the payment of underwriting commissions. In some instances, the Fund may have to bear certain costs of registration in order to sell such shares publicly. Except in the case of securities sold to qualifying institutional investors under special rules adopted by the SEC for which the Trustees of the Fund determine the secondary market is liquid, Rule 144A securities will be considered illiquid. Trustees of the Fund may determine the secondary market is liquid based upon the following factors which will be reviewed periodically as required pursuant to procedures adopted by the Fund; the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security; the frequency of trades; dealer undertakings to make a market in the security, and the nature of the security and its market. Investing in Rule 144A Securities could have the effect of increasing the level of the Funds illiquidity to the extent that qualified institutional buyers become, for a time, uninterested in purchasing these securities. (See Illiquid and Restricted Securities above.)
Ratings
If the rating of a security purchased by a Fund is subsequently reduced below the minimum rating required for purchase or a security purchased by the Fund ceases to be rated, neither event will require the sale of the security. However, the Adviser, as applicable, will consider any such event in determining whether the Fund should continue to hold the security. To the extent that ratings established by Moodys or S&P may change as a result of changes in such organizations or their rating systems, the Funds will invest in securities which are deemed by the Funds adviser to be of comparable quality to securities whose current ratings render them eligible for purchase by the Fund.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
REITs pool investors funds for investment primarily in income producing commercial real estate or real estate related loans. A REIT is not taxed on income distributed to shareholders if it complies with several requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets, and income and a requirement that it distribute to its shareholders at least 95% of its taxable income (other than net capital gains) for each taxable year.
REITs can generally be classified as follows:
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Equity REITs, which invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. |
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Mortgage REITs, which invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive their income primarily from interest payments. |
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Hybrid REITs, which combine the characteristics of both equity REITs and mortgage REITs. |
Risks of Investment in Real Estate Securities. Selecting REITs requires an evaluation of the merits of each type of asset a particular REIT owns, as well as regional and local economics. The Real Estate Fund will not invest in real estate directly, but only in securities issued by real estate companies. However, the Fund may be subject to risks similar to those associated with the direct ownership of real estate because of its policy of concentrating in the securities of companies in the real estate industry. These include declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions, dependence on management skill, cash flow dependence, possible lack of availability of long-term mortgage funds, over-building, extended vacancies of properties, decreased occupancy rates and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in neighborhood values and the appeal of the properties to tenants and changes in interest rates.
In addition to these risks, equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying properties they own, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, equity and mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally are not diversified. Equity and mortgage REITs are also subject to potential defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status of income under the Code and failing to maintain exemption from the Investment Company Act of 1940. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments. In addition, investment in REITs could cause the Fund to possibly fail to qualify as a regulated investment company.
Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with banks, broker-dealers or other financial institutions in order to generate additional current income. Under a repurchase agreement, a Fund acquires a security from a seller subject to resale to the seller at an agreed upon price and date. The resale price reflects an agreed upon interest rate effective for the time period the security is held by the Fund. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to
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the Fund, or the purchase and repurchase price may be the same, with interest payable to the Fund at a stated rate together with the repurchase price on repurchase. In either case, the income to the Fund is unrelated to the interest rate on the security. Typically, repurchase agreements are in effect for one week or less, but may be in effect for longer periods of time. Repurchase agreements of more than one weeks duration are subject to each Funds limitation on investments in illiquid securities.
Repurchase agreements are considered by the SEC to be loans by the purchaser collateralized by the underlying securities. In an attempt to reduce the risk of incurring a loss on a repurchase agreement, the Funds will generally enter into repurchase agreements only with domestic banks with total assets in excess of one billion dollars, primary dealers in U.S. Government securities reporting to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or broker-dealers approved by the Trustees of the Trust. The subadviser will monitor the value of the underlying securities throughout the term of the agreement to attempt to ensure that their market value always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price to be paid to a Fund. Each Fund will maintain a segregated account with its custodian, or a subcustodian for the securities and other collateral, if any, acquired under a repurchase agreement for the term of the agreement.
In addition to the risk of the sellers default or a decline in value of the underlying security, a Fund also might incur disposition costs in connection with liquidating the underlying securities. If the seller becomes insolvent and subject to liquidation or reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code or other laws, a court may determine that the underlying security is collateral for a loan by a Fund not within the control of that Fund and therefore subject to sale by the sellers trustee in bankruptcy. Finally, it is possible that a Fund may not be able to perfect its interest in the underlying security and may be deemed an unsecured creditor of the seller. While the Trustees of the Trust acknowledge these risks, it is expected that they can be controlled through careful structuring of repurchase agreement transactions to meet requirements for treatment as a purchase and sale under the bankruptcy laws and through monitoring procedures designed to assure the creditworthiness of counter-parties to such transactions.
Russian Securities
While investment risks exist in many markets around the world, some of the risks inherent in investing in Russia appear to be greater than those in other established and emerging markets. These risks include, without limitation:
Political and Economic Risks. There is no history of stability in this market and no guarantee of future stability. The emerging nature of the Russian political system in its current democratic form leaves it more vulnerable to break down in the event of economic instability or popular unrest. The dynamic nature of the political environment can make the future uncertain. The economic infrastructure is poor, and the country maintains a high level of external and internal debt. Tax regulations are ambiguous and unclear, and there is a risk of imposition of arbitrary or onerous taxes due to the lack of a fair and economically-rational tax regime.
Commercial and Credit Risks. Banks and other financial systems are not well developed or regulated, and as a result tend to be untested and have low credit ratings. Organized crime and corruption are a feature of the business environment, and bankruptcy and insolvency are commonplace as businesses are learning how to cope in new conditions. In terms of cash, securities and other investment transactions, the risk of broker, counter-party and other third-party default is high. The same holds true for issuers, where the risk of default is high. Insurance is expensive and difficult to obtain in light of the volatility of the commercial environment.
Liquidity Risks. Foreign investment is affected by restrictions in terms of repatriation and convertibility of the currency. The ruble is only convertible internally, and the value of investments may be affected by fluctuations in available currency rates and exchange control regulations. The repatriation of profits may be restricted in some cases. Due to the undeveloped nature of the banking system, considerable delays can occur in transferring funds, converting rubles into other currencies and remitting funds out of Russia.
Legal and Regulatory Risks. Russias legal system is evolving and is not as developed as that of a western country. It is based on a civil code with no system of judicial precedents. The regulatory environment is sometimes uncertain since the total law can encompass the civil code, legislative laws, presidential decrees, and ministry resolutions. The code, laws, decrees, and resolutions (Regulations) are promulgated at separate times and are not necessarily consistent. The issuance of Regulations does not always keep pace with market developments, thereby creating ambiguities and inconsistencies.
Regulations governing securities investment may not exist or may be interpreted and applied in an arbitrary or inconsistent manner. There may be a risk of conflict between the rules and regulations of the local, regional, and national governments. The concept of share ownership rights and controls may not be in place or be enforceable. The independence of the courts from economic, political, or national influence is basically untested and the courts and judges are not experienced in business and corporate law. Foreign investors cannot be guaranteed redress in a court of law for a breach of local laws, regulations or contracts.
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The securities market regulatory body, the Federal Commission on the Capital Market, was established in 1994 and is responsible for overseeing market participants, including registrars. However, the monitoring of and enforcement of the obligations of registrar companies is difficult due to geographic dispersion and inconsistent interpretation and application of regulations.
Operational Risks .
Shareholder Title to Securities. Shareholder risk is a major risk for equity investment in Russia. For example, shares are dematerialized and the only legal evidence of ownership is the shareholders name entered in the register of the company. The concept of fiduciary duty on the part of companies management is generally non-existent. Therefore, shareholders may suffer a dilution or loss of investment, due to arbitrary changes in the shareholder register, with little or no recourse or redress available. Local laws and regulations may not prohibit or restrict a companys management from materially changing the companys structure without the consent of shareholders. Legislation prohibiting insider trading activities is rudimentary.
Clearing and Settlement. For equity settlements, the payments are usually handled offshore in U.S. dollars after the shares are reregistered on the books of the company or its registrar. However, the only evidence of the registration is a company extract which is a photocopy of the appropriate page from the register reflecting the new shareholders name. The extract does not have a legal basis for establishing ownership in the event of a loss.
For Ministry of Finance (MinFin) bond settlements, payments are made offshore in U.S. dollars upon settlement of the bearer bonds at Vneshtorgbanks (VTB) office in Moscow. If the bonds are transported between the local subcustodian and VTB, the investor is exposed to transportation risk as the MinFins are bearer bonds and are not replaceable in the event they are lost, stolen, or destroyed.
Foreign investors can also invest in treasury issues through the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange (MICEX). These issues settle book-entry at MICEX in rubles only.
Transparency. The rules regulating corporate governance may not exist or are underdeveloped and offer little protection to minority shareholders. Disclosure and reporting requirements are not to the expected level of most developed western nations. The accounting standards generally used in Russia are not international standards and in many cases may be cash based, nonaccrual method of accounting. The quality, reliability, and availability of information on companies in Russia is lower than in most western markets.
Securities Lending
A Fund may lend portfolio securities to broker-dealers and other financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable at any time by the Fund utilizing this investment technique and are at all times secured by collateral held by the Fund at least equal to the market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. The Fund utilizing this investment technique will continue to receive any income on the loaned securities, and at the same time will earn interest on cash collateral (which will be invested in short-term debt obligations) or a securities lending fee in the case of collateral in the form of U.S. Government securities. A loan may be terminated at any time by either the Fund or the borrower. Upon termination of a loan, the borrower will be required to return the securities to the Fund, and any gain or loss in the market price during the period of the loan would accrue to the Fund. If the borrower fails to maintain the requisite amount of collateral, the loan will automatically terminate, and the Fund may use the collateral to replace the loaned securities while holding the borrower liable for any excess of the replacement cost over the amount of the collateral.
When voting or consent rights which accompany loaned securities pass to the borrower, the Fund will follow the policy of calling the loan, in whole or in part as may be appropriate, in order to exercise such rights if the matters involved would have a material effect on the Funds investment in the securities which are the subject of the loan. The Fund may pay reasonable finders, administrative and custodial fees in connection with loans of its portfolio securities.
As with any extension of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery of the loaned securities and in some cases loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans of portfolio securities will be made only to firms considered by the Trust to be creditworthy and when the Adviser believes the consideration to be earned justifies the attendant risks.
Short Sales
The Fund may sell securities short as part of its overall portfolio management strategies involving the use of derivative instruments and to offset potential declines in long positions in similar securities. A short sale is a transaction in which a Fund sells a security it does not own or have the right to acquire (or that it owns but does not wish to deliver) in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.
When a Fund makes a short sale, the broker-dealer through which the short sale is made must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the party purchasing the security. The Fund is required to make a margin deposit in connection with such short sales; the Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and will often be obligated to pay over any dividends and accrued interest on borrowed securities.
If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Fund covers its short position, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.
To the extent a Fund sells securities short, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales against the box) will maintain additional asset coverage in the form of liquid assets with its custodian in a segregated account in an amount at least equal to the difference between the current market value of the securities sold short and any amounts required to be deposited as collateral with the selling broker (not including the proceeds of the short sale). A short sale is against the box to the extent the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short.
Small Companies
Investors in funds that invest in smaller companies should consider carefully the special risks involved. Such smaller companies may present greater opportunities for capital appreciation but may involve greater risk than larger, more mature issuers. Such smaller companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, and their securities may trade less frequently and in more limited volume than those of larger, more mature companies. As a result, the prices of their securities may fluctuate more than those of larger issuers.
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Taxable Bonds
The Fund may from time to time invest a portion of its assets on a temporary basis in temporary investments; the income from which, may be subject to federal and California income tax. Specifically, the Fund may invest in private activity bonds, the income from which is not exempt from federal income taxation (the interest on which is also treated as an item of tax preference for purposes of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT Bonds)). Such temporary investments may consist of notes of issuers having, at the time of purchase, an issue of outstanding municipal bonds rated within the three highest grades by S&P, Moodys or Fitch (taxable or tax exempt); commercial paper rated at least A-l by Moodys, P-l by S&P or F-l by Fitch; and U.S. Treasury and agency securities. The Fund may invest in California bonds with any maturity and may purchase short-term municipal notes such as tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes and bond anticipation notes.
Tax-Exempt Bonds
Tax-exempt bonds are debt obligations issued by the various states and their subdivisions (e.g., cities, counties, towns, and school districts) to raise funds, generally for various public improvements requiring long-term capital investment. Purposes for which tax-exempt bonds are issued include flood control, airports, bridges and highways, housing, medical facilities, schools, mass transportation and power, water or sewage plants, as well as others. Tax-exempt bonds also are occasionally issued to retire outstanding obligations, to obtain funds for operating expenses or to loan to other public or, in some cases, private sector organizations or to individuals.
The two principal classifications of tax-exempt bonds are general obligation and revenue. General obligations or G.O.s are secured by the issuers general pledge of its faith, credit, and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue bonds are payable only from monies derived from a specified source such as operating a particular facility or from a guarantee, lease, specific tax or pool of assets, e.g., a portfolio of mortgages.
Pollution control or other bonds backed by private corporations do not generally have the pledge of the credit of the issuing public body but are secured only by the credit of the corporation benefiting from the facilities being financed. There are, of course, variations in the security of municipal bonds, both within a particular classification and between classifications depending on numerous factors.
The yields on tax-exempt bonds are dependent on a variety of factors, including general money market conditions, general conditions of the municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligations and the rating of the issue. The ratings of S&P, Moodys and Fitch represent their opinions as to the quality of the tax-exempt bonds which they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized however, that ratings are general and not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, tax-exempt bonds with the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield.
The ability of issuers engaged in the generation, distribution and/or sale of electrical power and/or natural gas to make payments of principal or interest on such obligations is dependent upon, among other things, the continuing ability of such issuers to derive sufficient revenues from their operations to meet debt service requirements. General problems confronting such issuers include the difficulty in financing construction projects during inflationary periods, restrictions on operations and increased costs and delays attributable to applicable environmental laws, the difficulty in obtaining fuel for energy generation at reasonable prices, the difficulty in obtaining natural gas for resale, and the effects of present or proposed energy or natural resource conservation programs.
There are several federal housing subsidy programs used by state housing agencies which do not result in unconditional protection of the bondholder. Changes enacted by Congress in these programs or administrative difficulties may result in decreases in the present actual or future estimated debt service coverage. A reduction in coverage may also result from economic fluctuations leading to changes in interest rates or operating costs. Most state housing authority bonds are also moral obligations of the issuing states; however, a few programs specifically reject the moral obligation. In many but not all cases, this moral obligation is explicitly reflected in the bond contract by means of an option permitting the state legislature to provide debt service support if the legislature so chooses; thus, this option provides the bondholder with an additional source of potential support not directly related to the specific housing program.
Subsequent to its purchase by the Fund, an issue of tax-exempt bonds or a temporary investment may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum required for purchase by the Fund. Neither event will require the elimination of such obligation from the Funds portfolio but the adviser will consider such an event in its determination of whether the Fund should continue to hold such obligation in its portfolio. To the extent that the ratings assigned by S&P, Moodys or Fitch for tax- exempt bonds or temporary investments may change as a result of changes in such organizations, or changes in their rating systems, the Fund will attempt to use comparable ratings as standards for its investments in tax-exempt bonds or temporary investments in accordance with the investment policies contained herein.
The Fund may purchase municipal obligations on a when-issued basis; i.e., delivery and payment for the securities will take place after the transaction date, normally within 15 to 45 days, though the payment obligation and the interest rate that will
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be received on the securities are fixed at the time the buyer enters into the commitment. The Fund will only make commitments to purchase such securities with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but the Fund may sell these securities before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy. When the Fund purchases securities on a when-issued or forward-commitment basis, the Fund will specifically designate on its accounting records securities having a value (determined daily) at least equal to the amount of the Funds purchase commitments. These procedures are designed to ensure that the Fund will maintain sufficient assets at all times to cover its obligations under when-issued purchases and forward commitments.
Securities purchased on a when-issued basis and the securities held in the Funds portfolio are subject to changes in value based upon the publics perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and changes in the level of interest rates. Generally, the value of such securities will fluctuate inversely to changes in interest rates, i.e., they will appreciate in value when interest rates decline and decrease in value when interest rates rise. Therefore, in order to achieve higher interest income, if the Fund remains substantially invested at the same time that it has purchased securities on a when-issued basis, there will be a greater possibility of fluctuation in the Funds net asset value.
Variable and Floating Rate Securities
A Fund may invest in securities with variable and floating rates. Some municipal securities bear rates of interest that are adjusted periodically according to formulae intended to minimize fluctuation in values of floating rate instruments. Variable rate instruments are those whose terms provide for automatic establishment of a new interest rate on set dates. Floating rate instruments are those whose terms provide for automatic adjustment of their interest rates whenever some specified interest rate changes. Variable rate and floating rate instruments will be referred to collectively as Variable Rate Securities. The interest rate on Variable Rate Securities is ordinarily determined by reference to, or is a percentage of, a banks prime rate, the 90-day U.S. Treasury Bill rate, the rate of return on commercial paper or bank certificates of deposit, an index of short-term, tax-exempt rates, or some objective standard. Generally, the changes in the interest rate on Variable Rate Securities reduce the fluctuation in the market value of such securities. Accordingly, as interest rates decrease or increase, the potential for capital appreciation or depreciation is less than for fixed-rate obligations.
Variable Rate Demand Securities are Variable Rate Securities which have demand features entitling the purchaser to resell the securities to the issuer at an amount approximately equal to amortized cost or the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest, which may be more or less than the price that the Fund paid for them. The interest rate on Variable Rate Demand Securities also varies either according to some objective standard, such as an index of short-term, tax-exempt rates, or according to rates set by or on behalf of the issuer.
Warrants or Rights to Purchase Securities
The Fund may invest in or acquire warrants or rights, valued at the lower of cost or market, to purchase equity or fixed income securities, during a specific period of time. Included are warrants and rights whose underlying securities are not traded on principal domestic or foreign exchanges. Bonds with warrants attached to purchase equity securities have many characteristics of convertible bonds and their prices may, to some degree, reflect the performance of the underlying stock. Bonds also may be issued with warrants attached to purchase additional fixed income securities at the same coupon rate. A decline in interest rates would permit a Fund to buy additional bonds at the favorable rate or to sell the warrants at a profit. If interest rates rise, the warrants would generally expire with no value.
When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Transactions
Each Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis. These transactions are also know as delayed-delivery transactions. (The phrase delayed delivery is not intended to include purchases where a delay in delivery involves only a brief period required by the selling party solely to locate appropriate certificates and prepare them for submission for clearance and settlement in the customary way.) Delayed-delivery transactions involve a commitment by a Fund to purchase or sell securities at a future date (ordinarily up to 90 days later). The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. When-issued purchases and forward commitments are negotiated directly with the selling party.
When-issued purchases and forward commitments enable a Fund to lock in what is believed to be an attractive price or yield on a particular security for a period of time, regardless of future changes in interest rates. For example, in periods of rising interest rates and falling bond prices, a Fund might sell debt securities it owns on a forward commitment basis to limit its exposure to falling prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, a Fund might sell securities it owns and purchase the same or similar securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, thereby obtaining the benefit of currently higher yields. A Fund will not enter into such transactions for the purpose of leverage.
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The value of securities purchased on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and any subsequent fluctuations in their value will be reflected in the Funds net asset value starting on the date of the agreement to purchase the securities, and the Fund will be subject to the rights and risks of ownership of the securities on that date. A Fund will not earn interest on securities it has committed to purchase until they are paid for and received.
When a Fund makes a forward commitment to sell securities it owns, the proceeds to be received upon settlement will be included in the Funds assets. Fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities will not be reflected in the Funds net asset value as long as the commitment to sell remains in effect. Settlement of when-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions generally takes place up to 90 days after the date of the transaction, but a Fund may agree to a longer settlement period.
A Fund will make commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued basis or to purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing the transaction and actually purchasing or selling the securities. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, a Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into. A Fund also may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. The Fund may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with these transactions.
When a Fund purchases securities on a when-issued or forward-commitment basis, the Fund will specifically designate on its accounting records securities having a value (determined daily) at least equal to the amount of the Funds purchase commitments. These procedures are designed to ensure that each Fund will maintain sufficient assets at all times to cover its obligations under when- issued purchases and forward commitments.
CA TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND ONLY
Callable Municipal Bonds and Municipal Lease Obligations
The Fund may purchase and hold callable municipal bonds which contain a provision in the indenture permitting the issuer to redeem the bonds prior to their maturity dates at a specific price which typically reflects a premium over the bonds original issue price. These bonds generally have call protection (that is, a period of time during which the bonds may not be called) which usually lasts for 7 to 10 years, after which time such bonds may be called away. An issuer may generally be expected to call its bonds, or a portion of them, during periods of relatively declining interest rates, when borrowing may be replaced at lower rates than those obtained in prior years. If the proceeds of a bond called under such circumstances are reinvested, the result may be lower overall yield due to lower current interest rates.
Municipal lease obligations are municipal securities that may be supported by a lease or an installment purchase contract issued by state and local government authorities to acquire funds to obtain the use of a wide variety of buildings or equipment and facilities such as fire and sanitation vehicles, computer equipment, prisons, office buildings and schools and other capital assets. These obligations, which may be secured or unsecured, are not G.O.s secured by unlimited taxes and have evolved to make it possible for state and local government authorities to obtain the use of property and equipment without meeting constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of debt. Thus, municipal lease obligations have special risks not normally associated with G.O.s municipal bonds. These obligations frequently contain non-appropriation clauses that provide that the governmental issuer of the obligation has no obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such purposes by the legislative body on a yearly or other periodic basis. In addition to the non-appropriation risk, some municipal lease obligations have not yet developed the depth of marketability associated with other municipal bonds. Although these obligations may be secured by the leased equipment, the disposition of collateral in the event of the foreclosure may prove difficult. The liquidity of municipal lease obligations purchased by the Fund will be determined pursuant to illiquid securities guidelines approved by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees will be responsible for determining the credit quality of unrated municipal leases, on an ongoing basis, including an assessment of the likelihood that any such leases will not be canceled. Factors considered in making such determinations may include the frequency of trades and quotes for the obligation; the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential buyers; the willingness of dealers to undertake to make a market in the security; the nature of marketplace trades; the obligations ratings and, if the security is unrated, factors generally considered by a rating agency. If a municipal lease obligation is determined to be illiquid, it will be
Special Risk Factors
The California Constitution and various state statutes that limit the taxing and spending authority of California government entities may impair the ability of California issuers to maintain debt service on their obligations, as described more fully below. The following information as to certain California state risk factors is provided to investors in view of the policy of the Fund to concentrate its investments in California state and municipal issues. Such information constitutes only a brief discussion, does not purport to be a complete description and is based on information from sources believed by the Fund to be reliable, including official statements relating to securities offerings of California state and municipal issuers and
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periodic publications by national rating organizations. Such information, however, has not been independently verified by the Fund.
Certain of the California municipal securities in which the Fund may invest may be obligations of issuers which rely in whole or in part on California state revenues for payment of these obligations. Property tax revenues and a portion of the States General Fund surplus are distributed to counties, cities and their various taxing entities and the state assumes certain obligations previously paid out of local funds. Whether and to what extent a portion of the States General Fund will be distributed in the future to counties, cities and various entities is unclear.
Certain legislation enacted in the State over the past 29 years may serve to limit significantly state agencies, local governments and districts ability to collect sufficient funds to meet debt service on bonds and other obligations. Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, through amendment, now places restrictions and limits on California taxing entities in their ability to increase real property taxes. Article XIIIB of the California Constitution, added by Proposition 4, imposes on State and municipal entities an annual appropriations limit with respect to certain expenditures and requires the allocation of excess revenues to State education funds. Annual appropriations limits are adjusted annually to reflect changes in consumer prices, population, and certain services provided by these entities. The California Constitution, through amendments made by Propositions 98 and 111, also requires minimum levels of funding for public school and community college districts. Proposition 218 amended the State Constitution to provide for limitations on the ability of local government agencies to impose or raise various taxes, fees, charges, and assessments without voter approval. Certain general taxes imposed after January 1, 1995 by local government, for example, must be approved by voters in order to remain in effect, and local voters may have the right to present initiatives to reduce taxes, fees, assessments, or charges imposed by the local government.
Certain California municipal securities which the Fund may own may be secured in whole or in part by mortgages or real property deeds of trust, can be constrained by State laws addressing non-judicial foreclosure rights and transfers of title by sale by private owner, antideficiency provisions, and limits on pre-payment charges on mortgage loans. These types of State statutes, among other limits imposed by State law, could affect the flow of revenues to an issuer for debt service on outstanding debt obligations.
California Economic History and Outlook. The California economic outlook for the first quarter of 2006 continues to improve over the previous the year, however, higher energy prices, somewhat higher interest rates, and further slowing of residential construction and real estate markets, which began in the second half of 2005, may slow economic growth in 2006-2007. Additionally, lingering uncertainties regarding the future of Californias electrical power supply, fears of a sudden, abrupt decline in housing prices, and continued fears of terrorist attacks and the war in Iraq, make the future economic outlook of California uncertain and could adversely affect the ability of California issuers to maintain debt service on their obligations. Furthermore, California must continue to service the debt incurred by the state government between 2000-2003.
Upon taking office in November 2003, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger conducted an independent audit of Californias financial condition. This audit revealed that while state expenditures grew 43% over the previous five years, revenues increased by only 25%, resulting in a three year carry-over deficit of $22 billion. To address this issue, California voters approved two ballot measures, collectively known as the Economic Recovery Bond Measures, in the 2004 election. The Balanced Budget Act was implemented as a result of these measures, which contains a provision for a Rainy Day fund: beginning in fiscal 2006-07, 1% of annual General Fund revenues must be set aside in a reserve fund, which amount, depending on the strength of the economy, could be increased to as much as 3% of state revenues in succeeding years. Additionally, the Balanced Budget Act mandates that projected expenditures cannot exceed projected revenues.
The 2006-2007 Budget. Californias 2006-07 fiscal year budget was signed into law on June 30, 2006. The budget represents a plan of paying down debt and building a reserve, and fully funding education. The budget sets aside funds to address the states debta combined total of more than $4.9 billion, or 4.7 percent of total General Fund resources available, by establishing a budget reserve of $2.1 billion and early debt repayments of $2.8 billion. The budget provides $55.1 billion in education spending under Proposition 98, an increase of $8.1 billion, or 17 percent compared to the 2004 Budget Act. The budget authorizes $101.3 billion in General Fund spending, an $11.3 billion increase from last years $90 billion, and assumes revenues of $94.4 billion.
Californias economy performed strongly in 2005, with increases in personal income, state exports, and professional and business services. Taxable sales growth increased in 2005; however, this increase was not as strong as the percentage increase from the figure in 2003 to the figure in 2004. Californias economy continued to perform strongly into 2006, with an increase in revenues tied to corporate tax, capital gains, and stock options. Additionally, the States unemployment rate fell to 4.8 percent in January and March of 2006, which is a five-year low.
Although Californias economy seems to be improving and Governor Schwarzenegger appears to remain committed to fundamental budget reforms, budget analysts warn that while state revenues have improved, Californias fiscal condition will remain uncertain so long as the State relies on deficit spending and fails to close the gap between revenues and expenditures.
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The three major bond rating agencies claim that despite the strength in revenue, a structural imbalance of expenditures over revenues remains in fiscal 2006-07, leaving a deficit of at least $3.5 billion.
Various ballot measures addressing structural budget reforms were rejected in the November 2005 Special Election. Proposition 76, also known as The California Live Within Our Means Act, would have placed a constitutional limit on state spending by limiting year over year budget growth to the average revenue growth over the last three years. It also would have given the governor the power to enforce spending reductions during budget emergencies if the legislature failed to act.
Bond Ratings. Another lingering question with implications for Californias economic outlook is its bond rating. Beginning in January 2001, due to uncertainties surrounding a significant decline in General Fund revenues and the inability of the State to fashion a long-term solution to its power supply crisis, the States general obligation bonds had been on a negative rating watch. In 2003, each of the three major bond rating agenciesStandard and Poors, Fitch Ratings, and Moodyslowered their ratings on the States general obligation bonds. However, after the California electorate passed the $15 billion Economic Recovery Bond measures, Propositions 57 and 58, in March 2004, investor confidence in California improved. In May 2004, Moodys upgraded its rating of California general obligation bonds from Baa1 to A3. Standard and Poors raised Californias general obligation bonds rating to A from BBB in August 2004. Additionally, in September 2004, Fitch Ratings raised Californias general obligation bonds rating to A- from BBB.
Californias bond ratings continued to improve in 2005. In May 2005, Moodys again upgraded Californias rating to A2 from A3. Fitch Ratings upgraded its California rating from A- to A. The ratings improvements resulted from Californias improved economic performance, increased revenues, budget reforms, and a moderately improved future financial outlook. Ratings improved again in 2006. In May 2006, Moodys upgraded Californias rating to A1 from A2, and Standard and Poors rating for California went to A+ from A. In June 2006, Fitch Ratings upgraded its California rating to A+ from A. However, California still has the lowest bond rating of any state, due largely to the States ongoing fiscal challenges, as well as constitutional and political constraints on its financial flexibility.
Finally, litigation may play a role in the future of Californias economy, as the State is a party to numerous legal proceedings, many of which normally recur in governmental operations. In addition, the State is involved in certain other legal proceedings which, if decided against the State, may require the State to make significant future expenditures or may impair future revenue sources.
Puerto Rico. From 1983 to 1992, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico generally experienced a wide-ranging economic expansion with growth in almost every sector of its economy and record levels of employment. The increase in real gross national product (GNP) slowed to 0.8% in fiscal 1992, reflecting the effects of a recession in the U.S. economy. A growth pattern began thereafter with real GNP increases of 3.1% and 1.6% for fiscal 2000 and 2001, respectively. However, another slowdown in the U.S. economy contributed to the 0.3% decline in real GNP in 2002. In 2003, the real GNP rebounded to post a positive growth rate of 1.9%. In 2004 and 2005, generally consistent with the course of the United States economy, the real GNP growth rates were 2.8%, and 2.0%, respectively. Overall, the GNP grew only 1.7% between 2000 and 2005. Contributing to Puerto Rico's meager growth were factors such as high oil prices and problems in the banking sector. In 2005, the price of gasoline in Puerto Rico increased more than 18%, which was two times the increase experienced in 2004. In addition, Puerto Rico banks continued to rely heavily on brokered funds, financing consumption with foreign savings. In real terms, personal consumption grew by 2.8% in 2005 while personal income increased by only 2.0%.
Puerto Rico has a diversified economy with the manufacturing and services sectors comprising the principal sectors of its economy. Manufacturing is the largest sector in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). In fiscal 2005, manufacturing generated $33.13 billion, or 40.4%, of GDP as compared with fiscal 2004, when it generated $34.1 billion, or 43.2%, of GDP. In the last two decades, industrial development has tended to be more capital intensive and more dependent on skilled labor. This gradual shift in emphasis is best exemplified by the heavy investment in the pharmaceutical, scientific instruments, computer, microprocessor, medical product and electrical product industries over the last decade. The pharmaceutical industry has invested $1.7 billion in the local economy since 1997 and generates 30,000 direct jobs and 96,000 related jobs. As a result of this investment, Puerto Rico exported over $2 billion in scientific and medical devises in 2003. Notwithstanding the shift toward the scientific sectors, manufacturing areas such as apparel and food products remain important elements of the economy.
One of the factors that assisted the development of the manufacturing sector was the tax incentives offered by the federal and Commonwealth governments, most notably Section 936 of the Code. Under Section 936, certain qualifying U.S. corporations were entitled to U.S. corporate income tax credits for operations in Puerto Rico. However, in 1996, President Clinton signed into law a bill that phased out these tax credits over a nine-year period. Since the phase-out was just completed on January 1, 2006, the overall effect on Puerto Ricos economy from the elimination of tax credits is still unclear. However, to alleviate the loss of the tax credits, some former 936 businesses have restructured their companies as Controlled Foreign Corporations, which do not pay federal corporate income tax unless the income generated in Puerto Rico is
38
repatriated to the U.S. mainland. The impact of the phase-out on employment rates is also uncertain. While the overall trend in employment growth may ultimately shift downward as a result of the phase-out, the unemployment rate in 2005 continued to drop, falling to 10.6%, Puerto Ricos lowest rate ever.
The service sector, which has experienced significant growth, partly in response to the expansion of the manufacturing sector, grew in 2005 to comprise $8.2 billion of the economy compared to $7.9 billion in 2004. The service industry employs 28.2% of the labor force, the largest percentage in the Commonwealth.
The 1990s brought a construction boom to the Commonwealth, but the completion of major projects resulted in a shrinking of construction expenditures beginning in 2000. In 2003, the construction industry began to recover and growth continued through 2004. In 2003, significant Commonwealth and federal public works programs were initiated, including the development of the Ciudad Red Train Corridor. Although the first phase of the train corridor project has been completed, the project includes some commercial and residential development that has not been completed. In 2005, construction growth fell 0.1% in real terms. Construction in general has been slowed both by increased construction costs caused by the significant demand for construction materials and supplies from China and high energy prices. Private construction projects have also been slowed by the lengthy permitting process and the uncertainty surrounding a proposed land use plan. Public construction has similarly been negatively impacted by the downgrade in Commonwealth bonds and energy costs. Preliminary figures for 2006 show slightly higher numbers of private construction permits, but appreciably lower numbers for public projects.
San Juan is the largest homeport for cruise ships in the Caribbean and a major U.S. airline uses San Juan as a hub for its intra-Caribbean operations. This reflects the importance of Puerto Rico as a tourist destination and as a transportation hub in the Caribbean. In 2002, as a result of the terrorist attacks in 2001, the number of tourists declined to 3.1 million. The situation improved in 2003 with 3.2 million tourists, and by 2004, 3.5 million tourists visited the Commonwealth, almost reaching the pre-September 11, 2001 level. While higher fuel prices have put significant pressure on airlines and the tourism industry in general, preliminary figures for 2005 show a continued increase in the number of tourists visiting the island.
Gross public debt continued to rise from $33.9 billion in 2004, to $36 billion in fiscal 2005. The increase in public debt can be significantly attributed to the continuing budget deficit, which was financed by loans in both 2004 and 2005. In light of the deficit, the government chose to raise taxes again in 2005 instead of trimming the budget. Historically, the Commonwealth has maintained a fiscal policy which provides for a prudent relationship between the growth of public sector debt and the growth of the economic base required to service that debt. On May 1, 2006 Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá shut down the government for two weeks due to a budget crisis based on a $740 million deficit. The shut-down affected 1,600 state schools and 45 government agencies and led to a furloughing of nearly 100,000 public employees. The crises ended with a $500 million emergency loan that will be repaid from revenues generated by Puerto Ricos first ever consumer sales tax. The tax rate, which has not been set, could be as high as 7%. In light of the budget deficit and the rise in public debt, Moodys Investors Services reduced Puerto Ricos bond rating for the second year in a row to the agencys lowest investment grade above junk status. Puerto Ricos bond rating affects about $25 billion of government debt. This cut will likely force the government to pay higher interest rates.
Performance information for the Funds (and any class of the Funds) may be included in advertisements, sales literature or reports to shareholders or prospective investors. Performance information in advertisements and sales literature may be expressed as a yield of a class of shares and as a total return of a class of shares.
The Funds may from time to time include in advertisements containing total return the ranking of those performance figures relative to such figures for groups of mutual funds having similar investment objectives as categorized by ranking services such as Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., CDA Investment Technologies, Inc., Weisenberger Financial Services, Inc. and Morningstar, Inc. Additionally, each Fund may compare its performance results to other investment or savings vehicles (such as certificates of deposit) and may refer to results published in various publications such as Changing Times, Forbes, Fortune, Money, Barrons, Business Week and Investors Daily, Stangers Mutual Fund Monitor, The Stanger Register, Stangers Investment Adviser, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Consumer Reports, Registered Representative, Financial Planning, Financial Services Weekly, Financial World, U.S. News and World Report, Standard & Poors The Outlook, and Personal Investor . The Funds may from time to time illustrate the benefits of tax deferral by comparing taxable investments to investments made through tax-deferred retirement plans. The total return may also be used to compare the performance of each Fund against certain widely acknowledged outside standards or indices for stock and bond market performance, such as the Standard & Poors 500 ® Index (the S&P 500 ® Index), Dow Jones Industrial Average, Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index, Russell Midcap Growth Index, Europe Australia Far East Index (EAFE), Consumer Price Index, Lehman Brothers Corporate Index, and the Lehman Brothers T-Bond Index.
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Advertisements, sales literature and other communications may contain information about the Funds and advisers current investment strategies and management style. Current strategies and style may change to allow the Funds to respond quickly to changing market and economic conditions. From time to time the Funds may include specific portfolio holdings or industries in such communications. To illustrate components of overall performance, each Fund may separate its cumulative and average annual returns into income and capital gains components.
Performance information reflects only the performance of a hypothetical investment in each class during the particular time period on which the calculations are based. Performance information should be considered in light of a Funds investment objectives and policies, characteristics and quality of the portfolio, and the market condition during the given time period, and should not be considered as a representation of what may be achieved in the future.
Yield
The 30-day yield quotation as to a class of shares may be computed by dividing the net investment income for the period as to shares of that class by the maximum offering price of each share of that class on the last day of the period, according to the following formula:
YIELD = 2[( a-b + 1) 6 1] |
cd |
Where:
a | = |
dividends and interest earned during the period. |
||
b | = |
net expenses accrued for the period. |
||
c | = |
the average daily number of shares of the class outstanding during the period that were entitled to receive dividends. |
||
d | = |
the maximum offering price per share of the class on the last day of the period. |
7-Day YieldMoney Market Fund
The current yield for the Money Market Fund will be based on the change in the value of a hypothetical investment (exclusive of capital changes) over a particular 7-day period, less a hypothetical charge reflecting deductions for expenses during the period (the base period), and stated as a percentage of the investment at the start of the base period (the base period return). The base period return is then annualized by multiplying by 365/7, with the resulting yield figure carried to at least the nearest hundredth of one percent. Effective yield for the Money Market Fund assumes that all dividends received during an annual period have been reinvested. Calculation of effective yield begins with the same base period return used in the calculation of yield, which is then annualized to reflect weekly compounding pursuant to the following formula:
Effective Yield = [(Base Period Return) + 1) 365/7 ] -1
Quotations of yield for the Balanced, Core Bond and High Yield Funds will be based on all investment income per share earned during a particular 30-day period (including dividends and interest), less expenses (including pro rata Trust expenses and expenses applicable to each particular Fund or class of a Fund) accrued during the period (net investment income), and are computed by dividing net investment income by the value of a share of the Fund or class on the last day of the period, according to the following formula:
YIELD = 2[(a-b+ 1) 6 1]
where a | = |
dividends and interest earned during the period by the Fund, |
||
b | = |
expenses accrued for the period (net of any reimbursements), |
||
c | = |
the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period that were entitled to receive dividends, and |
||
d | = |
the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period. |
Total Return
Standardized quotations of average annual total return for each class of shares will be expressed in terms of the average annual compounded rate of return for a hypothetical investment in such class of shares over periods of 1, 5 and 10 years or up to the life of the class of shares, calculated for each class separately pursuant to the following formula: P((1+T)(n)) = ERV (where P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000, T = the average annual total return, n = the number of years, and ERV = the ending redeemable value of a hypothetical $1,000 payment made at the beginning of the period). All total return figures reflect the deduction of a proportional share of each classs expenses (on an annual basis), deduction of the maximum initial sales load in the case of Class A Shares and the maximum contingent deferred sales charge applicable to a complete redemption of the investment in the case of Class B Shares, Class C Shares and Class T Shares, and assume that all dividends and distributions on each class of shares are reinvested when paid.
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For average after-tax total return, the SEC rules mandate several assumptions, including that the calculations use the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates at the time of reinvestment, and that the calculations do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investors tax situation and may differ from those shown. These returns, for instance, assume that an investor has sufficient capital gains of the same character from other investments to offset any capital losses from the redemption. As a result, returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed returns after taxes on distributions (but before sale of Fund shares). These returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements.
The Funds may also compute cumulative total return for specified periods based on a hypothetical account with an assumed initial investment of $10,000. The cumulative total return is determined by dividing the net asset value of this account at the end of the specified period by the value of the initial investment and is expressed as a percentage. Calculation of cumulative total return reflects payment of the Class A Shares maximum sales charge of 4.75% for the fixed income funds (2.25% for the Short Term Bond Fund) and 5.75% for the equity funds and assumes reinvestment of all income dividends and capital gain distributions during the period.
The Funds also may quote annual, average annual and annualized total return and cumulative total return performance data, for any class of shares of the Funds, both as a percentage and as a dollar amount based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment for various periods other than those noted above. Such data will be computed as described above, except that (1) the rates of return calculated will not be average annual rates, but rather, actual annual, annualized or cumulative rates of return and (2) the maximum applicable sales charge will not be included with respect to annual, annualized or cumulative rate of return calculations.
The Funds pay brokerage commissions for purchases and sales of portfolio securities. Each Fund has a different expected annual rate of portfolio turnover, which is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities during the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the Funds securities (excluding from the computation all securities, including options, with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less). A high rate of portfolio turnover generally involves correspondingly greater brokerage commission expenses and other costs, which must be borne directly by a Fund and thus indirectly by its shareholders. Turnover rates may vary greatly from year to year as well as within a particular year and may also be affected by cash requirements for redemptions of each Funds shares and by requirements which enable the Trust to receive certain favorable tax treatment (see Dividends, Distributions and Taxes). If such rate of turnover exceeds 100%, the Fund will pay more in brokerage commissions than would be the case if they had lower portfolio turnover rates. Historical portfolio turnover rates for all Funds except the Money Market Fund (which for this purpose does not calculate a portfolio turnover rate) can be found under the heading Financial Highlights in each Funds prospectus.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
The Phoenix PHOLIOs do not invest directly in securities, but rather invest solely in shares of underlying mutual funds. The shares of the underlying affiliated mutual funds are purchased at net asset value of the shares of that fund without payment of a brokerage commission or a sales charge. The shares of ETFs are purchased through broker-dealers in transactions on a securities exchange, and the funds will pay customary brokerage commissions for each purchase and sale.
The investment advisers and/or subadvisers (throughout this section the adviser) to the underlying affiliated mutual funds execute the portfolio transactions for their respective fund. In allocating portfolio transactions, the adviser must comply with the brokerage and allocation procedures adopted by the boards of trustees of the underlying affiliated mutual funds. The following is a discussion of the portfolio transactions and brokerage procedures of the underlying affiliated mutual funds and the Funds, with the exception of the Phoenix PHOLIOs.
In effecting portfolio transactions for the Trust, the adviser and/or subadviser (throughout this section, the adviser) adheres to the Trusts policy of seeking best execution and price, determined as described below, except to the extent it is permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services as defined herein. The adviser may cause the Trust to pay a broker an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction in excess of the amount of commission which another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction if the adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or that any offset of direct expenses of a Fund yields the best net price. As provided in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, brokerage and research services include giving advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities; furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts; and effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance and settlement). Brokerage and research services provided by brokers to the Trust or to the adviser are considered to be in addition to and not in lieu of services
41
required to be performed by the adviser under its contract with the Trust and may benefit both the Trust and other clients of the adviser. Conversely, brokerage and research services provided by brokers to other clients of the adviser may benefit the Trust.
If the securities in which a particular Fund of the Trust invests are traded primarily in the over-the-counter market, where possible the Fund will deal directly with the dealers who make a market in the securities involved unless better prices and execution are available elsewhere. Such dealers usually act as principals for their own account. On occasion, securities may be purchased directly from the issuer. Bonds and money market instruments are generally traded on a net basis and do not normally involve either brokerage commission or transfer taxes. In addition, transactions effected on foreign securities exchanges which do not permit the negotiation of brokerage commissions and where the adviser would, under the circumstances, seek to obtain best price and execution on orders for the Trust.
The determination of what may constitute best execution and price in the execution of a securities transaction by a broker involves a number of considerations including, without limitation, the overall direct net economic result to the Trust (involving both price paid or received and any net commissions and other costs paid), the efficiency with which the transaction is effected, the ability to effect the transaction at all where a large block is involved, the availability of the broker to stand ready to execute possibly difficult transactions in the future and the financial strength and stability of the broker. Such considerations are judgmental and are weighed by the adviser in determining the overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid by the Trust. Some portfolio transactions are, subject to the Conduct Rules of the FINRA and subject to obtaining best prices and executions, effected through dealers (excluding PEPCO) who sell shares of the Trust.
The Trust has adopted a policy and procedures governing the execution of aggregated advisory client orders (bunching procedures) in an attempt to lower commission costs on a per-share and per-dollar basis. According to the bunching procedures, the adviser shall aggregate transactions unless it believes in its sole discretion that such aggregation is inconsistent with its duty to seek best execution (which shall include the duty to seek best price) for the Trust. No advisory account of the adviser is to be favored over any other account and each account that participates in an aggregated order is expected to participate at the average share price for all transactions of the adviser in that security on a given business day, with all transaction costs shared pro rata based on the Trusts participation in the transaction. If the aggregated order is filled in its entirety, it shall be allocated among the advisers accounts in accordance with the allocation order, and if the order is partially filled, it shall be allocated pro rata based on the allocation order. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the order may be allocated on a basis different from that specified in the allocation order if all accounts of the adviser whose orders are allocated receive fair and equitable treatment and the reason for such different allocation is explained in writing and is approved in writing by the advisers compliance officer as soon as practicable after the opening of the markets on the trading day following the day on which the order is executed. If an aggregated order is partially filled and allocated on a basis different from that specified in the allocation order, no account that is benefited by such different allocation may intentionally and knowingly effect any purchase or sale for a reasonable period following the execution of the aggregated order that would result in it receiving or selling more shares than the amount of shares it would have received or sold had the aggregated order been completely filled. The Trustees review these procedures at least annually, or more frequently if deemed appropriate.
In certain instances there may be securities that are suitable for a Funds portfolio as well as for that of another Fund or one or more of the other clients of the subadviser. Investment decisions for a Fund and for the subadvisers other clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives. It may develop that a particular security is bought or sold for only one client even though it might be held by, or bought or sold for, other clients. Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling that same security. Some simultaneous transactions are inevitable when several clients receive investment advice from the same investment adviser, particularly when the same security is suitable for the investment objectives of more than one client. When two or more clients are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security, the securities are allocated among clients in a manner believed to be equitable to each. It is recognized that in some cases this system could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security in a particular transaction as far as a Fund is concerned. The Trust believes that over time its ability to participate in volume transactions will produce better executions for the Funds. When appropriate, orders for the account of the Funds are combined with orders for other investment companies or other clients advised by the subadviser, including accounts (such as investment limited partnerships) in which the investment adviser or affiliated or associated persons of the subadviser are investors or have a financial interest, in order to obtain a more favorable commission rate. When the same security is purchased for a Fund and one or more other funds or other clients on the same day, each party pays the average price and commissions paid are allocated in direct proportion to the number of shares purchased.
The Trust has implemented, and the Board of Trustees has approved, policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent (i) the advisers and/or subadvisers personnel responsible for the selection of broker-dealers to effect fund portfolio securities transactions from taking into account, in making those decisions, broker-dealers promotion or sales efforts, and (ii) the Trust, its adviser and distributor from entering into any agreement or other understanding under which the Funds
42
direct brokerage transactions or revenue generated by those transactions to a broker-dealer to pay for distribution of fund shares. These policies and procedures are designed to prevent the Trust from entering into informal arrangements to direct portfolio securities transactions to a particular broker.
For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2005 and 2006, brokerage commissions paid by the Trust on portfolio transactions totaled $855,154, $235,961 and $145,084, respectively. Brokerage commissions of $56,330 paid during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, were paid on portfolio transactions aggregating $42,483,362 executed by brokers who provided research and other statistical information.
The Phoenix PHOLIOs do not invest directly in securities, but rather invest solely in shares of other affiliated mutual funds and ETFs. The following description pertains to the underlying affiliated mutual funds referred to in this section as the (funds) in which the PHOLIOs invest and it applies to the Funds, with the exception of the PHOLIOs.
The Trustees of the Trust have adopted policies with respect to the disclosure of the Funds portfolio holdings by the Funds, Phoenix (generally, the Funds investment adviser), or their affiliates. These policies provide that the Funds portfolio holdings information generally may not be disclosed to any party prior to the information becoming public. Certain limited exceptions are described below. Additionally, the Funds policies prohibit Phoenix and the Funds other service providers from entering into any agreement to disclose Fund portfolio holdings in exchange for any form of compensation or consideration. These policies apply to disclosures to all categories of persons, including individual investors, institutional investors, intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund, third parties providing services to the Funds (accounting agent, print vendors, etc.), rating and ranking organizations (Lipper, Morningstar, etc.) and affiliated persons of the Funds.
The Board of Trustees has delegated to the Holdings Disclosure Committee (the HDC) the authority to make decisions regarding requests for information on portfolio holdings prior to public disclosure. The HDC will authorize the disclosure of portfolio holdings only if it determines such disclosure to be in the best interests of Fund shareholders. The HDC is composed of the Funds Compliance Officer, and officers of the Funds advisers and principal underwriter representing the areas of portfolio management, fund administration, institutional marketing, retail marketing, and distribution.
The Funds Compliance Officer is responsible for monitoring the use of portfolio holdings information, for the Funds compliance with these policies and for providing regular reports (at least quarterly) to the Board of Trustees regarding their compliance, including information with respect to any potential conflicts of interest between the interests of Fund shareholders and those of Phoenix and its affiliates identified during the reporting period and how such conflicts were resolved.
Public Disclosures
In accordance with rules established by the SEC, each Fund sends semiannual and annual reports to shareholders that contain a full listing of portfolio holdings as of the second and fourth fiscal quarters, respectively, within 60 days of quarter end. The Funds also disclose complete portfolio holdings as of the end of the first and third fiscal quarters on Form N-Q, which is filed with the SEC within 60 days of quarter end. The Funds shareholder reports are available on Phoenixs Web sites at www.PhoenixFunds.com or www.PhoenixInvestments.com. Additionally, each Fund provides its top 10 holdings and summary composition data derived from portfolio holdings information on Phoenixs Web sites. This information is posted to the Web sites at the end of each month with respect to the top 10 holdings, and at the end of each quarter with respect to summary composition information, generally within 10 business days. With respect to the Phoenix International Real Estate Securities Fund and the Phoenix Real Estate Fund, the top ten holdings and summary composition information are reported on a one-month lag. This information will be available on the Web sites until full portfolio holdings information becomes publicly available as described above. The Funds also provide publicly-available portfolio holdings information directly to ratings agencies, the frequency and timing of which is determined under the terms of the contractual arrangements with such agencies.
Other Disclosures
The HDC may authorize the disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information under certain limited circumstances. The Funds policies provide that non-public disclosures of a Funds portfolio holdings may only be made if (i) the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for making such disclosure, and (ii) the party receiving the non-public information enters into a confidentiality agreement, which includes a duty not to trade on the non-public information. The HDC will consider any actual or potential conflicts of interest between Phoenix and its mutual fund shareholders and will act in the best interest of the Funds shareholders with respect to any such disclosure of portfolio holdings information. If a potential conflict can be resolved in a manner that does not present detrimental effects to Fund shareholders, the HDC may authorize release of portfolio holdings information. Conversely, if the potential conflict cannot be resolved in a manner that does not present detrimental effects to Fund shareholders, the HDC will not authorize such release.
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Ongoing Arrangements to Disclose Portfolio Holdings
As previously authorized by the Funds Board of Trustees and/or the Funds executive officers, the Funds periodically disclose non-public portfolio holdings on a confidential basis to various service providers that require such information in order to assist the Funds in their day-to-day operations, as well as public information to certain ratings organizations. In addition to Phoenix and its affiliates, these entities are described in the following table. The table also includes information as to the timing of these entities receiving the portfolio holdings information from the Funds.
Non-Public Portfolio Holdings Information
Type of Service Provider | Name of Service Provider |
Timing of Release of
Portfolio Holdings Information |
||
Adviser | Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. | Daily | ||
Subadviser (International Strategies Fund and Worldwide Strategies Fund) | Acadian Asset Mangement, Inc. | Daily | ||
Subadviser (Global Utilities Fund, International Real Estate Fund and Real Estate Fund) | Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. | Daily | ||
Subadviser (Market Neutral Fund) | Euclid Advisors LLC | Daily | ||
Subadviser (CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Core Bond Fund, High Yield Fund, Money Market Fund, Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund, Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund and Phoenix PHOLIOs) | Goodwin Capital Advisers, Inc. | Daily | ||
Subadviser (Emerging Markets Bond Fund) | Halbis Capital Management (USA) Inc. | Daily | ||
Subadviser (International Strategies Fund and Worldwide Strategies) | New Star Institutional Managers Limited | Daily | ||
Subadviser (Bond Fund, High Yield Fund and Earnings Driven Growth Fund) | SCM Advisors LLC | Daily | ||
Subadviser (Growth Opportunities Fund) | Turner Investment Partners, Inc. | Daily | ||
Subadviser (Foreign Opportunities Fund) | Vontobel Asset Mangement, Inc. | Daily | ||
Distributor | Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation | Daily | ||
Custodian | State Street Bank and Trust Company | Daily | ||
Custodian (Growth Opportunities Fund only) | PFPC Trust Company | Daily | ||
Sub-Financial Agent | PFPC Inc. | Daily | ||
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
Annual Reporting Period: within 15 business days of end of reporting period Semiannual Reporting Period: within 31 business days of end of reporting period | ||
Typesetting Firm for Financial Reports and Forms N-Q | GCom Solutions | Monthly on first business day following month end |
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Type of Service Provider | Name of Service Provider |
Timing of Release of
Portfolio Holdings Information |
||
Printer for Financial Reports |
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. |
Annual and Semiannual Reporting Period: within 45 days after end of reporting period | ||
Proxy Voting Service | Institutional Shareholder Services | Twice weekly on an ongoing basis | ||
Intermediary Selling Shares of the Fund | Merrill Lynch | Quarterly within 10 days of quarter end | ||
Third-Party Class B Share Financer | SG Constellation LLC | Weekly based on prior week end |
Public Portfolio Holdings Information
Type of Service Provider | Name of Service Provider |
Timing of Release of
Portfolio Holdings Information |
||
Portfolio Redistribution Firms | Bloomberg, Standard & Poors and Thompson Financial Services | Quarterly, 60 days after fiscal quarter end | ||
Rating Agencies | Lipper Inc. and Morningstar | Quarterly, 60 days after quarter end |
These service providers are required to keep all non-public information confidential and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the Funds.
There is no guarantee that the Funds policies on use and dissemination of holdings information will protect the Funds from the potential misuse of holdings by individuals or firms in possession of such information.
SERVICES OF THE ADVISER AND SUBADVISERS
The Adviser
The investment adviser to each of the Funds is Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. (PIC or Adviser), which is located at 56 Prospect Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06115-0480. PIC was originally organized in 1932 as John P. Chase, Inc. PIC acts as the investment adviser for over 50 mutual funds and as adviser to institutional clients. As of June 30, 2007, PIC had approximately $1.7 billion in assets under management.
All of the outstanding stock of PIC is owned by PEPCO, which acts as Distributor and Administrator for the Trust and is a subsidiary of Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. (PXP). PXP is the investment management subsidiary of The Phoenix Companies, Inc. (PNX) of Hartford, Connecticut, which is the sole shareholder of PXP. PNX is a leading provider of wealth management products and services to individuals and businesses. The principal offices of PNX and PEPCO are located at One American Row, Hartford, Connecticut 06102.
PXP has served investors for over 70 years. As of June 30, 2007, PXP had approximately $59.4 billion in assets under management. PXPs money management is provided by affiliated investment advisers, as well as through subadvisory arrangements with outside managers, each specializing in particular investment styles and asset classes.
The Adviser provides certain services and facilities required to carry on the day-to-day operations of each of the Funds (for which it receives a management fee) other than the costs of printing and mailing proxy materials, reports and notices to shareholders; outside legal and auditing services; regulatory filing fees and expenses of printing the Trusts registration statements (but the Distributor purchases such copies of the Trusts prospectuses and reports and communications to shareholders as it may require for sales purposes); insurance expense; association membership dues; brokerage fees; and taxes.
Each Fund will pay expenses incurred in its own operation and will also pay a portion of the Trusts general administration expenses allocated on the basis of the asset values of the respective Funds.
As compensation for its services to the below Funds, the Adviser receives a fee, which is accrued daily against the value of each Funds net assets and paid monthly at the following rates:
Bond Fund |
0.50% | |
Diversifier PHOLIO Earnings Driven Growth Fund |
0.10% 0.80% |
|
Foreign Opportunities Fund Market Neutral Fund Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO Wealth Builder PHOLIO Wealth Guardian PHOLIO |
0.85% 1.50% 0.10% 0.10% 0.10% |
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First $1 billion |
$1 billion through 2 billion |
$2+ billion | ||||
CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund |
0.45% | 0.40% | 0.35% | |||
Core Bond Fund |
0.45% | 0.40% | 0.35% | |||
Emerging Markets Bond Fund |
0.75% | 0.70% | 0.65% | |||
Global Utilities Fund |
0.65% | 0.60% | 0.55% | |||
Growth Opportunities Fund |
0.75% | 0.70% | 0.65% | |||
High Yield Fund |
0.65% | 0.60% | 0.55% | |||
International Real Estate Fund |
1.00% | 0.95% | 0.90% | |||
International Strategies Fund |
0.85% | 0.80% | 0.75% | |||
Money Market Fund |
0.40% | 0.35% | 0.30% | |||
Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund |
0.55% | 0.50% | 0.45% | |||
Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund |
0.55% | 0.50% | 0.45% | |||
Real Estate Fund Worldwide Strategies Fund |
0.75%
0.85% |
0.70%
0.80% |
0.65%
0.75% |
The Adviser has contractually (and/or voluntarily, where indicated) agreed to limit the Funds total operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) through the dates indicated so that expenses do not exceed, on an annualized basis, the amounts indicated in the following table. The adviser may recapture operating expenses waived or reimbursed under these arrangements, and made subsequent to August 23, 2007, for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal period in which such reimbursements or waivers occurred.
Class A | Class B | Class C | Class I* |
Through Date |
||||||||||
Bond Fund |
1.15 | % | 1.90 | % | 1.90 | % | 0.90 | % |
January 31, 2008 |
|||||
CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund |
0.85 | % | N/A | N/A | 0.60 | % |
January 31, 2008** |
|||||||
Core Bond Fund |
1.00 | % | 1.75 | % | 1.75 | % | N/A |
February 28, 2008 |
||||||
Diversifier PHOLIO |
0.20 | % | N/A | 0.20 | % | N/A |
November 30, 2007 |
|||||||
Earnings Driven Growth Fund |
1.45 | % | 2.20 | % | 2.20 | % | 1.20 | % |
January 31, 2008 |
|||||
Foreign Opportunities Fund |
1.35 | % | N/A | 2.10 | % | 1.10 | % |
June 30, 2008 |
||||||
Global Utilities Fund |
1.15 | % | N/A | 1.90 | % | N/A |
January 31, 2008*** |
|||||||
Growth Opportunities Fund |
1.25 | % | N/A | 2.00 | % | N/A |
May 31, 2008 |
|||||||
International Real Estate Fund |
1.50 | % | N/A | 2.25 | % | 1.25 | % |
January 31, 2009 |
||||||
Market Neutral Fund**** |
1.77 | % | 2.52 | % | 2.52 | % | N/A |
May discontinue at any time. |
||||||
Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO |
0.20 | % | N/A | 0.20 | % | N/A |
November 30, 2007 |
|||||||
Wealth Builder PHOLIO |
0.20 | % | N/A | 0.20 | % | N/A |
November 30, 2007 |
|||||||
Wealth Guardian PHOLIO |
0.20 | % | N/A | 0.20 | % | N/A |
November 30, 2007 |
|||||||
Real Estate Fund |
1.30 | % | 2.05 | % | 2.05 | % | 1.05 | % |
March 31, 2008 |
* | Formerly Class X. |
** | Contractual expense limit through September 30, 2007; then voluntary expense limit through January 31, 2008. |
*** | Contractual expense limit through August 31, 2007, then voluntary expense limit through January 31, 2008. |
**** | Voluntary expense limit. Also excludes dividends on short sales. |
With respect to the Market Neutral Fund, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive 0.15% of its management fee through February 28, 2008.
For services to the Trust during the fiscal years ended September, 2004, 2005 and 2006, the Adviser received fees of $1,410,474, $989,641 and $847,287, respectively, under the investment advisory agreements in effect. Of these totals, the Adviser received fees from each Fund as follows:
2004 | 2005 | 2006 | ||||||||
Bond Fund |
$ | 382,004 | $ | 376,469 | $ | 385,870 | ||||
Earnings Driven Growth Fund |
1,028,470 | 613,172 | 389,570 | |||||||
Growth Opportunities Fund |
N/A | N/A | 71,847 | * |
* | Includes amounts paid to the funds former adviser prior to the reorganization into Growth Opportunities Fund on June 9, 2006. |
Each of the other funds have been in existence only since the date of this SAI or June 27, 2007; therefore no fees were paid to the Adviser by the Trust for the fiscal years indicated.
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The Subadvisers
Acadian Asset Management, Inc. (Acadian)
Acadian Asset Management, Inc. (Acadian) is a Subadviser to the International Strategies Fund and Worldwide Strategies Fund and is located at One Post Office Square, 20th Floor, Boston, MA 02109. Acadian has been an investment adviser since 1986. As of June 30, 2007, Acadian had approximately $79 billion in assets under management.
The Subadvisory Agreement provides that the Adviser, PIC, will delegate to Acadian the performance of certain of its investment management services under the Investment Advisory Agreement with the International Strategies Fund and Worldwide Strategies Fund. Acadian will furnish at is own expense the office facilities and personnel necessary to perform such services.
For its services as Subadviser, PIC will pay Acadian compensation at the following annual rates, calculated on the aggregated international assets managed by Acadian across all Phoenix Funds subadvised by Acadian, including those of the International Strategies Fund and Worldwide Strategies Fund:
First $200 million |
$200+ million through $500 million |
$500+ million | ||||
0.50% | 0.40% | 0.35% |
Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. (Duff & Phelps)
Duff & Phelps, an affiliate of PIC, is the subadviser to the Global Utilities Fund, the International Real Estate Fund and the Real Estate Fund and is located at 55 East Monroe Street, Suite 3600, Chicago, Illinois 60603. Duff & Phelps acts as subadviser to three mutual funds and as adviser to three closed-end mutual funds and to institutional clients. As of June 30, 2007, Duff & Phelps had approximately $7.5 billion in assets under management on a discretionary basis.
The Subadvisory Agreement provides that the adviser, PIC, will delegate to Duff & Phelps the performance of certain of its investment management services with respect to the each of the funds. Duff & Phelps will furnish at its own expense the office facilities and personnel necessary to perform such services.
For its services as subadviser, PIC pays Duff & Phelps compensation at the following annual rates:
First $1 billion |
$1+ billion through $2 billion |
$2+ billion | ||||
Global Utilities Fund |
0.325% | 0.30% | 0.275% |
For its services as subadviser to the International Real Estate Fund and Real Estate Fund, PIC pays Duff & Phelps compensation at a rate of 50% of the gross investment management fee.
Euclid Advisors LLC (Euclid)
Euclid, an affiliate of PIC, is the subadviser to the Market Neutral Fund and is located at 900 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022. Euclid is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Phoenix/Zweig Advisers, LLC, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. (PXP). Euclid serves as subadviser to two mutual funds and may act as investment adviser for other accounts. As of June 30, 2007, Euclid had approximately $275 million in assets under management.
The Subadvisory Agreement provides that the adviser, PIC, will delegate to Euclid the performance of certain of its investment management services with respect to the Fund. Euclid will furnish at its own expense the office facilities and personnel necessary to perform such services.
For its services as subadviser, PIC pays Euclid a fee of 50% of the gross investment management fee.
Goodwin Capital Advisers, Inc. (Goodwin)
Goodwin, an affiliate of PIC, is the subadviser to the CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Core Bond Fund, Diversifier PHOLIO, Money Market Fund, Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund, Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO, Wealth Builder PHOLIO, Wealth Guardian PHOLIO and is located at 56 Prospect Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06115. Goodwin acts as subadviser for 17 mutual funds and manages fixed income assets for individuals and institutions. As of June 30, 2007, Goodwin had approximately $17.7 billion in assets under management.
The Subadvisory Agreement provides that the adviser, PIC, will delegate to Goodwin the performance of certain of its investment management services with respect to each of the Funds. Goodwin will furnish at its own expense the office facilities and personnel necessary to perform such services.
For its services as subadviser, PIC pays Goodwin a fee of 50% of the gross investment management fee paid by each Fund.
47
Halbis Capital Management (USA) Inc.
Halbis is the subadviser to the Emerging Markets Fund and is located at 452 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10018. HSBC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Halbis Partners (UK) Limited, which is wholly owned by HSBC Group Investment Businesses Limited. HSBC Group Investment Businesses Limited is wholly owned by HSBC Investment Bank Holdings PLC, which is wholly owned by HSBC Holdings PLC. As of June 30, 2007 HSBC had approximately $8.5 billion in assets under management.
The Subadvisory Agreement provides that the adviser, PIC, will delegate to Halbis the performance of certain of its investment management services with respect to the Emerging Markets Fund. Halbis will furnish at its own expense the office facilities and personnel necessary to perform such services.
For its services as subadviser, PIC pays Halbis compensation at the following annual rates:
First $1 billion |
$1+ billion through $2 billion |
$2+ billion | ||||
Subadvisory Fee | 0.375% | 0.350% | 0.325% |
New Star Institutional Managers Limited (NewStar)
New Star Institutional Managers Limited (New Star) is a subadviser to the International Strategies Fund and is located at 1 Knightsbridge Green, London, United Kingdom, SW1X7NE. New Star is wholly-owned by New Star Institutional Managers Holdings Limited, which is wholly-owned by New Star Asset Management Group Limited. New Star serves as investment adviser to fund vehicles registered in the European Union, charitable foundations, corporations, institutional investors and private accounts. As of June 30, 2007, New Star had approximately U.S. $18.2 billion in assets under management.
For its services as subadviser, PIC pays New Star compensation on the aggregated international assets managed by New Star across all Phoenix Funds subadvised by New Star at the following annual rates:
First $100 million | $100+ million | |||
Subadvisory Fee | 0.50% | 0.40% |
SCM Advisors LLC (formerly, Seneca Capital Management LLC) (SCM Advisors)
SCM Advisors LLC, an affiliate of PIC, is the subadviser to the Bond, Earnings Driven Growth and High Yield Funds and is located at 909 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California 94133. SCM Advisors acts as subadviser to six mutual funds and as investment adviser to institutions and individuals. As of June 30, 2007, SCM Advisors had approximately $12.5 billion in assets under management.
The Subadvisory Agreement provides that the adviser, PIC, will delegate to SCM Advisors the performance of certain of its investment management services under the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Bond Fund and the Earnings Driven Growth Fund. SCM Advisors will furnish at is own expense the office facilities and personnel necessary to perform such services.
For its services as subadviser, PIC pays SCM Advisors at the following annual rates:
Bond Fund |
0.25 | % | |
Earnings Driven Growth Fund |
0.40 | % |
For its services as subadviser of the High Yield Fund, PIC pays SCM Advisors a fee of 50% of the gross investment management fee.
Turner Investment Partners, Inc. (Turner)
Turner is the subadviser to the Growth Opportunities Fund and is located at 1205 Westlakes Drive, Suite 100, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312. Turner is a professional investment management firm founded in March 1990. Turner has provided investment advisory services to investment companies since 1992. As of June 30, 2007, Turner had approximately $25 billion in assets under management.
The Subadvisory Agreement provides that the adviser, PIC, will delegate to Turner the performance of certain of its investment management services under the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Growth Opportunities Fund. Turner will furnish at is own expense the office facilities and personnel necessary to perform such services.
48
For its services as subadviser, PIC pays Turner compensation at the following annual rates:
First $1 billion |
$1+ billion through $2 billion |
$2+ billion | ||||
Growth Opportunities Fund |
0.375% | 0.35% | 0.325% |
Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. (Vontobel)
Vontobel Asset Management, Inc., formerly named Vontobel USA Inc. (Vontobel), 1540 Broadway, 38 th Floor, New York, New York 10036, is the subadviser for the Foreign Opportunities Fund. Vontobel is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Vontobel is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vontobel Holding AG, a Swiss bank holding company which is traded on the Swiss Stock Exchange. As of June 30, 2007, Vontobel had in excess of $7.6 billion in assets under management.
PIC pays Vontobel a subadvisory fee at the rate of 0.425%.
Total subadvisory fees paid by PIC to the respective subadvisers for managing the Funds for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2005 and 2006 were:
2004 | 2005 | 2006 | |||||||
Bond Fund |
$ | 191,002 | $ | 188,235 | $ | 192,296 | |||
Earnings Driven Growth Fund |
514,235 | 306,586 | 194,785 | ||||||
Growth Opportunities Fund |
N/A | N/A | 8,355 |
Subadvisers for each of the new funds have not received fees from the Adviser on behalf of the new
Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements
Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, PIC is not liable to the Trust or any shareholder for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Trust or any shareholder in connection with the Investment Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from PICs willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty. Under the Subadvisory Agreements, each of the subadvisers is not liable for actions taken in its best professional judgment, in good faith and believed by it to be authorized, provided such actions are not in breach of the Funds investment objectives, policies and restrictions or the result of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or breach of duty or obligations.
The Investment Advisory Agreement may be modified or amended only with the approval of the holders of a majority of the applicable Funds outstanding shares and by a vote of the majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Trustees). The Subadvisory Agreements may be amended at any time by written agreement among the Subadviser, the Adviser and the Trust, except that any changes to the duties of and fees payable to the Subadviser will also be subject to the approval of the Trustees and a majority of the applicable Funds outstanding shares. Unless terminated, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Subadvisory Agreements continue in full force and effect as long as each is approved annually by a majority vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the applicable Fund, but in either event it also must be approved by a vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Investment Advisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty by any party upon 60 days written notice and automatically terminates in the event of its assignment. The Subadvisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty by any party upon 30 days written notice and automatically terminates in the event of its assignment. In the event of termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement, or at the request of PIC, the Trust and the Funds will eliminate all reference to Phoenix from their names. Upon such request, PIC has agreed to submit the question of continuing the Investment Advisory Agreement to a vote of the shareholders of the Trust.
Each Funds Investment Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements provide that the Adviser and Subadviser may render similar services to others so long as the services provided thereunder are not impaired thereby.
The Trust, its Adviser, Subadvisers and Distributor have each adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17-j1 under the 1940 Act. Personnel subject to the Codes of Ethics may purchase and sell securities for their personal accounts, including securities that may be purchased, sold or held by the Funds, subject to certain restrictions and conditions. Generally, personal securities transactions are subject to preclearance procedures, reporting requirements and holding period rules. The Codes also restrict personal securities transactions in private placements, initial public offerings and securities in which the Funds have a pending order. The Trust has also adopted a Senior Management Code of Ethics as required by Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
49
Board of Trustees Consideration of Investment Advisory Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement
Bond Fund and Earnings Driven Growth Fund
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees approving the investment advisory and subadvisory agreements is available in the Funds 2006 semiannual report, covering the period October 1, 2006 through March 31, 2007.
Growth Opportunities Fund
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees approving the investment advisory and subadvisory agreements is available in the Funds 2006 annual report, covering the period October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006.
All Other Funds
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees approving the investment advisory and subadvisory agreements is expected to be available in the Funds 2007 annual report, covering the period October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007.
Description of Proxy Voting Policy
The Trust has adopted on behalf of the Funds a Statement of Policy with Respect to Proxy Voting (the Policy) stating the Trusts intention to exercise stock ownership rights with respect to portfolio securities in a manner that is reasonably anticipated to further the best economic interests of shareholders of the Funds. The Funds have committed to analyze and vote all proxies that are likely to have financial implications, and where appropriate, to participate in corporate governance, shareholder proposals, management communications and legal proceedings. The Funds must also identify potential or actual conflicts of interest in voting proxies and must address any such conflict of interest in accordance with the Policy.
The Policy stipulates that the Funds Adviser will vote proxies or delegate such responsibility to a Subadviser. The Adviser or Subadvisers will vote proxies in accordance with this Policy, or its own policies and procedures, which in no event will conflict with the Trusts Policy. Any Adviser or Subadviser may engage a qualified, independent organization to vote proxies on its behalf (a delegate). Matters that may affect substantially the rights and privileges of the holders of securities to be voted will be analyzed and voted on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration such relevant factors as enumerated in the Policy. The views of management of a portfolio company will be considered.
The Policy specifies certain factors that will be considered when analyzing and voting proxies on certain issues, including, but not limited to:
|
Corporate Governance Matterstax and economic benefits of changes in the state of incorporation; dilution or improved accountability associated with anti-takeover provisions such as staggered boards, poison pills and supermajority provisions. |
|
Changes to Capital Structuredilution or improved accountability associated with such changes. |
|
Stock Option and Other Management Compensation Issuesexecutive pay and spending on perquisites, particularly in conjunction with sub-par performance and employee layoffs. |
|
Social and Corporate Responsibility Issuesthe Adviser or Subadvisers will generally vote against shareholder social and environmental issue proposals. |
The Funds and their delegates seek to avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest of Fund shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Adviser, Subadvisers, delegate, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Funds, on the other hand. Depending on the type and materiality, any conflicts of interest will be handled by (i) relying on the recommendations of an established, independent third party proxy voting vendor; (ii) voting pursuant to the recommendation of the delegate; (iii) abstaining; or (iv) where two or more delegates provide conflicting requests, voting shares in proportion to the assets under management of each delegate. The Policy requires each Adviser, Subadviser or delegate to notify the President of the Trust of any actual or potential conflict of interest. No Adviser, Subadviser or delegate may waive any conflict of interest or vote any conflicted proxies without the prior written approval of the Board of Trustees or the President of the Trust.
The Policy further imposes certain record keeping and reporting requirements on each Adviser, Subadviser or delegate. Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ending June 30, is available free of charge by calling, toll-free, (800) 243-1574, or on the SECs Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
Compensation of Portfolio Managers of the Adviser (Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc.)
Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. and its affiliates (collectively, PXP), believe that the firms compensation program is adequate and competitive to attract and retain high-caliber investment professionals. Investment professionals at PXP receive
50
a competitive base salary, an incentive bonus opportunity and a benefits package. Managing Directors and portfolio investment professionals who supervise and manage others also participate in a management incentive program reflecting their personal contribution and team performance. Highly compensated individuals can also take advantage of a long-term Incentive Compensation program to defer their compensation and potentially reduce tax implications.
The bonus package for portfolio managers is based upon how well the individual manager meets or exceeds assigned goals and a subjective assessment of contribution to the team effort. Their incentive bonus also reflects a performance component for achieving and/or exceeding performance targets. Such component may be further adjusted to reward investment personnel for managing within the stated framework and for not taking unnecessary risks. This ensures that investment personnel will remain focused on managing and acquiring securities that correspond to a funds mandate and risk profile. It also avoids the temptation for portfolio managers to take on more risk and unnecessary exposure to chase performance for personal gain.
Finally, portfolio managers and investment professionals may also receive PNX stock options and/or be granted PNX restricted stock at the direction of the parents Board of Directors.
Following is a more detailed description of the compensation structure of the funds portfolio manager(s) identified in the funds prospectus.
Base Salary . Each portfolio manager is paid a fixed base salary, which is determined by PXP and is designed to be competitive in light of the individuals experience and responsibilities. PXP management uses compensation survey results of investment industry compensation conducted by an independent third party in evaluating competitive market compensation for its investment management professionals.
Incentive Bonus. Generally, the current Performance Incentive Plan is made up of two components:
(1) | Seventy percent of the target incentive is based on achieving investment area investment goals and individual performance. The Investment Incentive pool will be established based on actual pre-tax investment performance of the PNX general account measured on a one-year basis. Awards are determined based on two components: new investment spread and credit losses. New investment spread measures the yield achieved on new investments compared to yield available in the market for similar investments. The credit loss component is measured by comparing PNXs corporate and structured bond credit losses against market credit losses for the year. |
(2) | Thirty percent of the target incentive is based on the managers investment areas competencies and on individual performance. This pool is funded based on The Phoenix Companies, Inc.s return on equity. |
Long-Term Incentive Bonus. Certain portfolio managers are eligible for a long-term incentive plan that is paid in restricted stock units of The Phoenix Companies, Inc. which vest over three years. Awards under this plan are contingent upon PNX achieving its cash return on equity objective, generally over a three-year period. Target award opportunities for eligible participants are determined by PNXs Compensation Committee.
Other Benefits . Portfolio managers are also eligible to participate in broad-based plans offered generally to the firms employees, including broad-based retirement, 401(k), health and other employee benefit plans.
Compensation of Portfolio Manager of Acadian (Subadviser to International Strategies Fund and Worldwide Strategies Fund)
The Investment Professionals at Acadian receive a fixed base salary, discretionary bonus, deferred compensation and a benefits package. Acadian designs a portfolio managers base salary to be competitive in light of the individuals experience and responsibilities. Acadian management uses compensation survey results of investment industry compensation conducted by an independent third party in evaluating competitive market compensation for its investment management professionals.
Overall firm profitability, including the profitability of Acadians parent company, Old Mutual Asset Managers LLC, determines the total amount of incentive compensation pool that is available for investment professionals, and individual compensation is determined through a subjective process that evaluates numerous qualitative and quantitative factors. Acadians investment professionals are rewarded based on the extent to which client objectives are met in terms of Acadians performance and other goals as well as clients service expectations, teamwork, contribution of investment ideas, leadership and overall success of the firm and the investment products. Not all of these factors will be applicable to each investment professional and there is no particular weighting or formula for considering the factors. Portfolio manager compensation is not based on the performance of any specific portfolio but his or her contribution to and the performance of the Acadian investment team as a whole.
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Compensation of Portfolio Managers of Duff & Phelps (Subadviser to Global Utilities Fund, International Real Estate Fund and Real Estate Fund)
Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. and its affiliated investment management firms (collectively, PXP), believe that the firms compensation program is adequate and competitive to attract and retain high-caliber investment professionals. Investment professionals at PXP receive a competitive base salary, an incentive bonus opportunity and a benefits package.
The bonus package for portfolio managers is based upon how well the individual manager meets or exceeds assigned goals and a subjective assessment of contribution to the team effort. Their incentive bonus also reflects a performance component for achieving and/or exceeding performance competitive with peers managing similar strategies. Such component is further adjusted to reward investment personnel for managing within the stated framework and for not taking unnecessary risks. This ensures that investment personnel will remain focused on managing and acquiring securities that correspond to a funds mandate and risk profile. It also avoids the temptation for portfolio managers to take on more risk and unnecessary exposure to chase performance for personal gain.
Base Salary . Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary, which is determined by PXP and is designed to be competitive in light of the individuals experience and responsibilities. PXP management uses compensation survey results of investment industry compensation conducted by an independent third party in evaluating competitive market compensation for its investment management professionals.
Incentive Bonus. Generally, the current incentive bonus package for the funds portfolio managers is based upon how well the individual manager meets or exceeds assigned goals and a subjective assessment of the contribution to the team effort.
The incentive bonus compensation of the International Real Estate and the Real Estate Funds portfolio managers is currently comprised of two main components 70% of the incentive bonus is based on the Funds performance in achieving and/or exceeding its benchmark, the FTSE NAREIT Equity REIT Index, over one year, three years and five years. Portfolio managers who manage more than one product may have other components in their formulaic calculation that are appropriate to the other products. The remaining 30% of the incentive bonus is based on measures of The Phoenix Companies, Inc. (PNX), the ultimate parent of PXP and the Subadviser. The incentive bonus compensation of the Global Utilities Funds portfolio managers is currently two main components: 70% of the incentive bonus is based on formulaic calculations of investment performance measures, including the Subadvisers largest closed-end fund, the DNP Select Income Fund, Inc. earnings per share and total return over a one year period. The total return is compared to a composite of the Lehman Utility Bond Index and the S&P Utility Market Price Index. Portfolio managers who manage more than one product may have other components in their formulaic calculation that are appropriate to the other products. The remaining 30% of the incentive bonus is based on measures of the Phoenix Companies, Inc. (PNX), the ultimate parent of PXP and the Subadviser.
Fifteen percent of the incentive bonus compensation will be paid in PNX restricted stock units which will vest over a three-year period commencing on the award date.
The portfolio managers incentive bonus compensation is not based on the value of assets held in the Funds portfolio, except to the extent that the level of assets in the Funds portfolio affects the subadvisory fee received by the Subadviser, and thus indirectly the profitability of PNX.
Finally, the Funds portfolio managers are eligible to participate in a deferred compensation plan to defer their compensation and realize tax benefits. Portfolio managers are also eligible to participate in broad-based plans offered generally to the firms employees, including, 401(k), health and other employee benefit plans. Portfolio managers may also receive PNX stock options and/or be granted PNX restricted stock at the discretion of the PNX board of directors. To date no portfolio manager of the Fund has received awards under the PNX restricted stock units long-term incentive plan, grants of restricted stock, or any at or in-the-money PNX stock options.
Compensation of Portfolio Managers of Euclid (Subadviser to the Market Neutral Fund)
Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. and its affiliated investment management firms (collectively, PXP), believe that the firms compensation program is adequate and competitive to attract and retain high-caliber investment professionals. Investment professionals at PXP receive a competitive base salary, an incentive bonus opportunity and a benefits package. Managing Directors and portfolio investment professionals who supervise and manage others also participate in a management incentive program reflecting their personal contribution and team performance. Highly compensated individuals can also take advantage of a long-term Incentive Compensation program to defer their compensation and potentially reduce their taxes.
The bonus package for portfolio managers is based upon how well the individual manager meets or exceeds assigned goals and a subjective assessment of contribution to the team effort. Their incentive bonus also reflects a performance component
52
for achieving and/or exceeding performance competitive with peers managing similar strategies. Such component is further adjusted to reward investment personnel for managing within the stated framework and for not taking unnecessary risks. This ensures that investment personnel will remain focused on managing and acquiring securities that correspond to a funds mandate and risk profile. It also avoids the temptation for portfolio managers to take on more risk and unnecessary exposure to chase performance for personal gain.
Finally, portfolio managers and investment professionals may also receive PNX stock options and/or be granted PNX restricted stock at the direction of the parents Board of Directors.
Following is a more detailed description of the compensation structure of the funds portfolio managers identified in the funds prospectus.
Base Salary . Each portfolio manager is paid a fixed base salary, which is determined by PXP and is designed to be competitive in light of the individuals experience and responsibilities. PXP management uses compensation survey results of investment industry compensation conducted by an independent third party in evaluating competitive market compensation for its investment management professionals.
Incentive Bonus . Generally, the current Performance Incentive Plan for portfolio managers at PXP is made up of three components:
(1) Seventy percent of the target incentive is based on achieving investment area investment goals and individual performance. The Investment Incentive pool will be established based on actual pre-tax investment performance compared with specific peer group or index measures established at the beginning of each calendar year. Performance of the funds managed is measured over one, three and five-year periods against specified benchmarks and/or peer groups (as indicated in the table below) for each fund managed. Performance of the PNX general account and growth of revenue, if applicable to a particular portfolio manager, is measured on a one-year basis. Generally, individual managers participation is based on the performance of each fund/account managed as weighted roughly by total assets in each of those funds/accounts.
Fund |
Benchmark(s) and/or Peer Groups |
|
Phoenix Market Neutral Fund |
Citigroup 90-Day T-Bill Index |
(2) Fifteen percent of the target incentive is based on the profitability of the investment management division with which the portfolio manager is associated. This component of the plan is paid in restricted stock units of The Phoenix Companies, Inc., which vest over three years.
(3) Fifteen percent of the target incentive is based on the managers investment areas competencies and on individual performance. This pool is funded based on The Phoenix Companies, Inc.s return on equity.
The Performance Incentive Plan applicable to some portfolio managers may vary from the description above. For instance, plans applicable to certain portfolio managers (i) may specify different percentages of target incentive that is based on investment goals and individual performance and on The Phoenix Companies, Inc. return on equity, (ii) may not contain the component that is based on the profitability of the management division with which the portfolio manager is associated, or (iii) may contain a guarantee payout percentage of certain portions of the Performance Incentive Plan.
Long-Term Incentive Bonus . Certain portfolio managers are eligible for a long-term incentive plan that is paid in restricted stock units of The Phoenix Companies, Inc. which vest over three years. Awards under this plan are contingent upon PNX achieving its cash return on equity objective, generally over a three-year period. Target award opportunities for eligible participants are determined by PNXs Compensation Committee.
Other Benefits . Portfolio managers are also eligible to participate in broad-based plans offered generally to the firms employees, including broad-based retirement, 401(k), health and other employee benefit plans.
Compensation of Portfolio Managers of Goodwin (Subadviser to CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Core Bond Fund, Money Market Fund, Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund and Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund)
Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. and its affiliated investment management firms (collectively, PXP), believe that the firms compensation program is adequate and competitive to attract and retain high-caliber investment professionals. Investment professionals at PXP receive a competitive base salary, an incentive bonus opportunity and a benefits package. Managing Directors and portfolio investment professionals who supervise and manage others also participate in a management incentive program reflecting their personal contribution and team performance. Highly compensated individuals can also take advantage of a long-term Incentive Compensation program to defer their compensation and potentially reduce their taxes.
The bonus package for portfolio managers is based upon how well the individual manager meets or exceeds assigned goals and a subjective assessment of contribution to the team effort. Their incentive bonus also reflects a performance component
53
for achieving and/or exceeding performance competitive with peers managing similar strategies. Such component is further adjusted to reward investment personnel for managing within the stated framework and for not taking unnecessary risks. This ensures that investment personnel will remain focused on managing and acquiring securities that correspond to a funds mandate and risk profile. It also avoids the temptation for portfolio managers to take on more risk and unnecessary exposure to chase performance for personal gain.
Finally, portfolio managers and investment professionals may also receive PNX stock options and/or be granted PNX restricted stock at the direction of the parents Board of Directors.
Following is a more detailed description of the compensation structure of the funds portfolio managers identified in the funds prospectus.
Base Salary. Each portfolio manager is paid a fixed base salary, which is determined by PXP and is designed to be competitive in light of the individuals experience and responsibilities. PXP management uses compensation survey results of investment industry compensation conducted by an independent third party in evaluating competitive market compensation for its investment management professionals.
Incentive Bonus. Generally, the current Performance Incentive Plan for portfolio managers at PXP is made up of three components:
(1) Seventy percent of the target incentive is based on achieving investment area investment goals and individual performance. The Investment Incentive pool will be established based on actual pre-tax investment performance compared with specific peer group or index measures established at the beginning of each calendar year. Performance of the funds managed is measured over one, three and five-year periods against specified benchmarks and/or peer groups (as indicated in the table below) for each fund managed. Performance of the PNX general account and growth of revenue, if applicable to a particular portfolio manager, is measured on a one-year basis. Generally, an individual managers participation is based on the performance of each fund/account managed as weighted roughly by total assets in each of those funds/accounts.
Fund |
Benchmark(s) and/or Peer Groups |
|
CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund |
Lipper California Municipal Debt Universe | |
Core Bond Fund |
Lehman Aggregate Bond Index | |
Fixed Income Fund |
Lipper Multi-Sector Income Funds | |
Short Term Bond Fund |
Lipper Short Investment Grade Debt Funds |
(2) Fifteen percent of the target incentive is based on the profitability of the investment management division with which the portfolio manager is associated. This component of the plan is paid in restricted stock units of The Phoenix Companies, Inc., which vest over three years.
(3) Fifteen percent of the target incentive is based on the managers investment areas competencies and on individual performance. This pool is funded based on The Phoenix Companies, Inc.s return on equity.
The Performance Incentive Plan applicable to some portfolio managers may vary from the description above. For instance, plans applicable to certain portfolio managers (i) may specify different percentages of target incentive that is based on investment goals and individual performance and on The Phoenix Companies, Inc. return on equity, (ii) may not contain the component that is based on the profitability of the management division with which the portfolio manager is associated, or (iii) may contain a guarantee payout percentage of certain portions of the Performance Incentive Plan.
Long-Term Incentive Bonus. Certain portfolio managers are eligible for a long-term incentive plan that is paid in restricted stock units of The Phoenix Companies, Inc. which vest over three years. Awards under this plan are contingent upon PNX achieving its cash return on equity objective, generally over a three-year period. Target award opportunities for eligible participants are determined by PNXs Compensation Committee.
Other Benefits. Portfolio managers are also eligible to participate in broad-based plans offered generally to the firms employees, including broad-based retirement, 401(k), health and other employee benefit plans.
Compensation of Portfolio Managers of Halbis (Subadviser to the Emerging Markets Fund)
As employees of Halbis, the portfolio managers are compensated by the Halbis for their services. Their compensation has the following components (1) a base salary consisting of a fixed amount; (2) a discretionary bonus, which is paid partially in cash and partially in restricted shares of HSBC Holdings, Ltd.; and (3) eligibility for participation in the 401(k) retirement plan and other employee benefits programs generally made available to the subadvisers employees.
54
The restricted shares are currently awarded on a yearly basis under the HSBC Holdings Ltd. Restricted Share Plan 2000 and are denominated in ordinary shares. The shares earn dividend equivalents but do not have voting rights. Generally, the shares vest in full upon the 3rd anniversary of the date of grant as long as the awardee remains in the employ of the HSBC Group during the restricted period. The shares are taxed at vest and treated as ordinary income.
Amounts paid to the portfolio managers as discretionary bonus and as deferred compensation are paid at the discretion of the relevant manager to whom the individual reports. Amounts paid as discretionary bonuses and as deferred compensation will vary based upon the relevant managers assessment of the employees performance, taking into account the relevant business units financial performance during the most recent fiscal year. Key factors affecting decisions concerning discretionary compensation under the deferred compensation plan are the subadvisers profitability, individual performance, teamwork and total compensation of the employee relative to the market for similarly qualified individuals.
Compensation of Portfolio Managers of New Star (Subadviser to the International Strategies Fund and Worldwide Strategies Fund)
New Stars comprehensive salary and benefits package is designed to be competitive both within the industry and the region in which the firm operates. The entrepreneurial culture, success, and can do attitude of the firm is one of the major reasons for attracting and keeping exceptional staff. In fact, the international equity team is a cohesive group with senior managers having been with the firm for an average of 14 years. Portfolio managers and research analysts are paid competitive salaries plus equity participation. There is no fixed percentage breakdown. No individual is rewarded solely on his/her performance; rather, compensation is dictated by the success of the organization as a whole.
Direct share ownership rather than performance-based bonuses ensures that unnecessary risks on individual portfolios are not taken but ensures that the key driver of the business long-term performance is uppermost in their minds. Investment professionals will ultimately only be rewarded if the business is successful and the performance is solid. Employee ownership varies based on tenure and level of contribution to overall firm performance.
Compensation of Portfolio Managers of SCM Advisors (Subadviser to the Bond Fund, High Yield Fund and Earnings Driven Growth Fund)
SCM Advisors LLC (SCM Advisors) believes that the firms compensation program is adequate and competitive to attract and retain high-caliber investment professionals. Investment professionals at SCM Advisors receive a competitive base salary, an incentive bonus opportunity and a benefits package.
Following is a more detailed description of the compensation structure of SCM Advisors portfolio managers.
Base Salary. Each portfolio manager is paid a fixed base salary, which is determined by SCM Advisors and is designed to be competitive in light of the individuals experience and responsibilities.
Incentive Bonus. Bonus payments are based on a number of factors including the profitability of SCM Advisors and the portfolio team members long-term contributions to the firm. SCM Advisors principles emphasize teamwork and a focus on client needs, and bonuses are structured to emphasize those principles. All full-time employees of SCM Advisors participate in the annual bonus program. Bonuses are not linked to the volume of assets managed or to measurements of relative or absolute investment returns. Bonus payments are generally determined based on considerations of SCM Advisors working capital requirements and on estimated tax liabilities.
The Compensation Committee has discretion over the measurement of the components.
Other Benefits. Portfolio managers are also eligible to participate in broad-based plans offered generally to the firms employees, including 401(k), health and other employee benefit plans.
Compensation of Portfolio Managers of Turner Investment Partners, Inc. (Subadviser to the Growth Opportunities Fund)
Turners investment professionals receive a base salary commensurate with their level of experience. Turners goal is to maintain competitive base salaries through review of industry standards, market conditions, and salary surveys. Bonus compensation, which is a multiple of base salary, is computed annually based on the one year performance of each individuals sector and portfolio management assignments relative to appropriate market benchmarks. In addition, each employee is eligible for equity ownership and equity owners share the firms profits. Most of the members of the investment team and all portfolio managers are equity owners of Turner.
The objective performance criteria noted above accounts for 90% of the bonus calculation. The remaining 10% is based upon subjective, good will factors including teamwork, interpersonal relations, the individuals contribution to the overall success of the firm, media and client relations, presentation skills, and professional development. Portfolio managers/analysts are reviewed on an annual basis. The Chief Investment Officer of Turner is responsible for setting base salaries, bonus targets, and making all subjective judgments related to an investment professionals compensation. The Chief Investment
55
Officer is also responsible for identifying investment professionals that should be considered for equity ownership on an annual basis.
Compensation of Portfolio Managers of Vontobel (Subadviser to the Foreign Opportunities Fund)
The portfolio managers for the Foreign Opportunities Fund are compensated by Vontobel. The portfolio managers compensation consists of two components. The first component is base salary, which is fixed. The second component of compensation is a small percentage of the gross revenues received by Vontobel which are generated by the products that the portfolio manager manages. For certain portfolio managers, payment of a portion of the revenue share may be deferred for a three-year period.
The portfolio managers do not receive any compensation directly from the Fund or the Adviser.
Other Accounts Managed by Portfolio Managers and Potential Conflicts of Interest
There may be certain inherent conflicts of interest that arise in connection with the portfolio managers management of the Funds investments and the investments of any other accounts they manage. Such conflicts could arise from the aggregation of orders for all accounts managed by a particular portfolio manager, the allocation of purchases across all such accounts, the allocation of IPOs and any soft dollar arrangements that the Adviser may have in place that could benefit the Fund and/or such other accounts. The Board of Trustees has adopted on behalf of the Fund policies and procedures designed to address any such conflicts of interest to ensure that all transactions are executed in the best interest of the Funds shareholders. The Adviser is required to certify its compliance with these procedures to the Board of Trustees on a quarterly basis. There have been no material compliance issues with respect to any of these policies and procedures during the Funds most recent fiscal year. Additionally, there are no material conflicts of interest between the investment strategy of the Fund and the investment strategy of other accounts managed by portfolio managers since portfolio managers generally manage funds and other accounts having similar investment strategies.
The following table provides information as of September 30, 2006, or as of footnoted date, regarding any other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and portfolio management team members for the Funds as named in the prospectuses. As noted in the table, the portfolio managers managing the Fund may also manage or be members of management teams for other mutual funds within the Phoenix Fund complex or other similar accounts.
Portfolio Manager |
Number of and Total Assets of Registered Investment Companies |
Number of and Total
Assets of Other Pooled
(PIVs) |
Number of and Total Assets of Other Accounts |
|||
David L. Albrycht (1) |
8/$263 billion | 0 | 0 | |||
Al Alaimo |
5/$491.0 million | 1/$131.6 million | 186/$5.8 billion | |||
Michael Bartek (5) |
5/$297.6 million | 0 | 1/$113.1 million | |||
Ian Beattie (5)(10) |
2/$89.7 million | 3/$280.4 million | 4/$494.4 million | |||
Cynthia A. Beaulieu (1) |
1/$70.5 million | 0 | 10/$765.4 million | |||
T. Brooks Beittel (4) |
2/$3.9 billion | 0 | 0 | |||
Robert Bishop |
2/$276.0 million | 1/$131.6 million | 129/$1.5 billion | |||
Brendan O. Bradley (5) (11) |
12/$5.7 billion | 50/$13.0 billion | 172/$58.3 billion | |||
Andrew Chow |
2/$276.0 million | 1/$131.6 million | 135/$4.7 billion | |||
Steven L. Colton (5) |
6/$1.3 billion | 0 | 5/$222.5 million | |||
Fran Gillin Cooley |
5/335.0 million | 0 | 56/$147.0 million | |||
Doug Couden |
5/335.0 million | 0 | 56/$147.0 million | |||
David Dickerson (1) |
3/1.14 billion | 0 | 0 | |||
Geoffrey Dybas (2) |
2/$3.5 billion | 1/$42.4 million | 10/$373.4 million | |||
Michael Gagliardi (2) |
1/$45 million | 5/$588 million | 5/$515 million (9) | |||
Albert Gutierrez |
6/$540.0 million | 1/$131.6 million | 187/$5.8 billion | |||
Frank J. Haggerty, Jr. (6) |
2/$3.3 billion | 1/$41.8 million | 9/$299.5 million | |||
Timothy M. Heaney (4) |
2/$273.8 million | 0 | 13/$1.06 billion | |||
Rajiv Jain (3) |
6/$1.2 billion | 16/$4.1 billion | 4/$677.7 million | |||
Christopher J. Kelleher (1) |
2/$177 million | 0 | 10/$762.4 million | |||
Deborah Jansen (4) |
1/$3.4 billion | 0 | 0 | |||
Connie M. Luecke (4) |
1/$3.4 billion | 0 | 0 | |||
Peter N. Marber (2) |
1/$45 million | 5/$588 million | 5/$515 million (9) | |||
Raymond F. Mui (5)(11) Carlton Neel (1) |
12/$5.7 billion 3/$1.14 billion |
50/$13.0 billion 0 |
172/$58.3 billion 0 |
|||
Robb J. Parlanti |
8/$751.0 million | 27/$863.0 million | 48/$4.6 billion | |||
Nathan I. Partain (4) |
1/$3.4 billion | 0 | 0 |
56
Note: | Registered Investment Companies include all open and closed-end mutual funds. Pooled Investment Vehicles (PIVs) include, but are not limited to, securities of issuers exempt from registration under Section 3(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, such as private placements and hedge funds. Other accounts would include, but are not limited to, individual managed accounts, separate accounts, institutional accounts, pension funds, collateralized bond obligations, and collateralized debt obligations. |
(1) | As of October 31, 2006. |
(2) | As of November 30, 2006. |
(3) | As of February 28, 2007. |
(4) | As of April 30, 2007. |
(5) | As of June 30, 2007. |
(6) | As of July 31, 2007. |
(7) | Mr. Robert Turner is Portfolio Manager for two registered investment companies which have a performance based fee. The value of the funds as of September 30, 2006 was $797.0 million. |
(8) | Mr. Mark Turner is Portfolio Manager for one registered investment company which has a performance based fee. The value of that fund on September 30, 2006 was $759.0 million. |
(9) | The portfolio manager team for Halbis Capital Management (USA), Inc. managed five accounts of which the advisory fee was based on the performance of the account, for a total of $690 million in assets as of November 30, 2006. |
(10) | Mr. Beattie co-manages one hedge fund with an Asian mandate; as of June 30, 2007 the total value was $17.2 million. |
Ownership of Fund Securities by Portfolio Managers
The following chart sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each portfolio manager in the Fund(s) described in the prospectus that he or she manages as of September 30, 2006, or as of footnoted date:
Portfolio Manager |
Dollar Range of Equity
Securities
|
|
David L. Albrycht (1) |
Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund: $10,001-$50,000 Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund: $100,001-$500,000 |
|
Al Alaimo |
Bond Fund None High Yield Fund (1) None |
|
Michael Bartek |
International Strategies Fund (2) None Worldwide Strategies Fund (4) None |
|
Ian Beattie |
International Strategies Fund (2) None Worldwide Strategies Fund (4) None |
|
Cynthia A. Beaulieu (1) |
Core Bond Fund None |
|
T. Brooks Beittel (3) |
Global Utilities Fund None | |
Robert Bishop |
Bond Fund None | |
Brendan O. Bradley |
International Strategies Fund (2) None Worldwide Strategies Fund (4) None |
|
Andrew Chow Steven L. Colton (4) Fran Gillin Cooley |
Bond Fund None Worldwide Strategies Fund None Earnings Driven Growth Fund None |
|
Doug Couden |
Earnings Driven Growth Fund None | |
David Dickerson (1) |
Market Neutral Fund $10,001-$50,000 | |
Geoffrey Dybas Michael Gagliardi (2) |
Real Estate Securities Fund $10,001-$50,000 (2) Emerging Markets Fund None |
57
Portfolio Manager |
Dollar Range of Equity
Securities
|
|
Albert Gutierrez |
Bond Fund None High Yield Fund (1) None |
|
Frank J. Haggerty Jr. (7) Timothy M. Heaney (3) |
Real Estate Securities Fund None CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund None |
|
Christopher J. Kelleher (1) |
Core Bond Fund None | |
Rajiv Jain (5) Deborah Jansen (3) |
Foreign Opportunities Fund Over $1,000,000 Global Utilities Fund None |
|
Connie M. Luecke (3) |
Global Utilities Fund $100,001-$500,000 | |
Peter N. Marber (2) |
Emerging Markets Fund None | |
Raymond F. Mui
Carlton Neel (1) |
International Strategies Fund (2) None Worldwide Strategies Fund (4) None Market Neutral Fund $1-$10,000 |
|
Robb J. Parlanti |
Growth Opportunities Fund $100,001-$500,000 | |
Nathan I. Partain (3) |
Global Utilities Fund $50,001-$100,000 | |
Denise S. Simon (2) |
Emerging Markets None | |
Randle L. Smith (3) |
Global Utilities Fund $50,001-$100,000 | |
Mark Turner |
Growth Opportunities Fund None | |
Robert E. Turner |
Growth Opportunities Fund $500,001-$1,000,000 | |
Christopher M. Wilkos (6) |
Diversifier PHOLIO None Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO None Wealth Builder PHOLIO None Wealth Guardian PHOLIO None |
(1) | Ownership of Predecessor Fund as of October 31, 2006. |
(2) | Ownership of Predecessor Fund as of November 30, 2006. |
(3) | Ownership of Predecessor Fund as of April 30, 2007. |
(4) | Ownership of Predecessor Fund as of June 30, 2007. |
(5) | Ownership of Predecessor Fund as of February 28, 2007. |
(6) | Ownership of Predecessor Fund as of July 31, 2007. |
(7) | Ownership of Predecessor Fund as of August 17, 2007. |
Since the International Real Estate Fund is new as of the date of this SAI, the Portfolio managers for the fund have no ownership in the fund.
The net asset value per share of each class of each Fund and each underlying affiliated mutual fund, as applicable, is determined as of the close of trading of the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) on days when the NYSE is open for trading. The NYSE will be closed on the following observed national holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Since the Trust does not price securities on weekends or United States national holidays, the net asset value of a Funds foreign assets may be significantly affected on days when the investor may not be able to purchase or sell shares of the Funds. The net asset value per share of a Fund is determined by adding the values of all securities and other assets of the Fund, subtracting liabilities, and dividing by the total number of outstanding shares of the Fund. Assets and liabilities are determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. The total liability allocated to a class, plus that classs distribution fee and any other expenses allocated solely to that class, are deducted from the proportionate interest of such class in the assets of the Fund, and the resulting amount of each is divided by the number of shares of that class outstanding to produce the net asset value per share.
A security that is listed or traded on more than one exchange is valued at the quotation on the exchange determined to be the primary exchange for such security by the Trustees or their delegates. Because of the need to obtain prices as of the close of trading on various exchanges throughout the world, the calculation of net asset value may not take place for any Fund which invests in foreign securities contemporaneously with the determination of the prices of the majority of the portfolio securities of such Fund. All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currency values will be converted into United States dollar values at the mean between the bid and ask quotations of such currencies against United States dollars as last quoted by any recognized dealer. If an event were to occur after the value of an investment was so established but before the net asset value per share was determined, which was likely to materially change the net asset value, then the instrument would be valued using fair value considerations by the Trustees or their delegates. If at any time a Fund has investments where
58
market quotations are not readily available, such investments are valued at the fair value thereof as determined in good faith by the Trustees although the actual calculations may be made by persons acting according to policies and procedures approved by the Trustees.
Money Market Fund
The assets of the Money Market Fund are valued on the basis of amortized cost absent extraordinary or unusual market conditions. Under the amortized cost method of valuation, securities are valued at cost on the date of purchase. Thereafter the value of a security is increased or decreased incrementally each day so that at maturity any purchase discount or premium is fully amortized and the value of the security is equal to its principal amount. Due to fluctuations in interest rates, the amortized cost value of the Money Market Fund securities may at times be more or less than their market value. By using amortized cost valuation, the Money Market Fund seeks to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share despite minor shifts in the market value of its portfolio securities.
The yield on a shareholders investment may be more or less than that which would be recognized if the Funds net asset value per share was not constant and was permitted to fluctuate with the market value of the Funds portfolio securities. However, as a result of the following procedures, it is believed that any difference will normally be minimal. The deviation is monitored periodically by comparing the Funds net asset value per share as determined by using available market quotations with its net asset value per share as determined through the use of the amortized cost method of valuation. The Adviser makes such comparisons at least weekly and will advise the Trustees promptly in the event of any significant deviation. If the deviation exceeds 1/2 of l%, the Trustees will consider what action, if any, should be initiated to provide fair valuation of the Funds portfolio securities and prevent material dilution or other unfair results to shareholders. Such action may include redemption of shares in kind, selling portfolio securities prior to maturity, withholding dividends or utilizing a net asset value per share as determined by using available market quotations. Furthermore, the assets of the Fund will not be invested in any security with a maturity of greater than 397 days, and the average weighted maturity of its portfolio will not exceed 90 days. Portfolio investments will be limited to U.S. dollar-denominated securities which present minimal credit risks and are of high quality as determined either by a major rating service or, if not rated, by the Trustees.
For Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares and Class T Shares, the minimum initial investment is $500 and the minimum subsequent investment is $25. For Class I Shares, the minimum initial investment is $100,000 and there is no subsequent minimum investment. However, both the minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts are $25 for investments pursuant to the Systematic Purchase plan, a bank draft investing program administered by the Distributor, or pursuant to the Systematic Exchange privilege or for an individual retirement account (IRA). In addition, there are no subsequent minimum investment amounts in connection with the reinvestment of dividend or capital gain distributions. For purchases of Class I Shares by private clients of the Adviser, subadviser and their affiliates, or through certain wrap programs with which the Distributor has an arrangement, the minimum initial investment is waived. Completed applications for the purchase of shares should be mailed to: Phoenix Funds, c/o State Street Bank and Trust Company, P.O. Box 8301, Boston, MA 02266-8301.
The Trust has authorized one or more brokers to accept on its behalf purchase and redemption orders. Such brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on the Trusts behalf. The Trust will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a brokers authorized designee, accepts the order. Customer orders will be priced at the Funds net asset values next computed after they are received by an authorized broker or the brokers authorized designee.
ALTERNATIVE PURCHASE ARRANGEMENTS
Shares may be purchased from investment dealers at a price equal to their net asset value per share, plus a sales charge which, at the election of the purchaser, may be imposed either (i) at the time of the purchase (the initial sales charge alternative) or (ii) on a contingent deferred basis (the deferred sales charge alternative). Certain Funds also offers Class I Shares that may be purchased by certain institutional investors at a price equal to their net asset value per share. Orders received by dealers prior to the close of trading on the NYSE are confirmed at the offering price effective at that time, provided the order is received by the Distributor prior to its close of business.
The alternative purchase arrangements permit an investor to choose the method of purchasing shares that is more beneficial given the amount of the purchase, the length of time the investor expects to hold the shares, whether the investor wishes to receive distributions in cash or to reinvest them in additional shares of the Funds, and other circumstances. Investors should consider whether, during the anticipated life of their investment in the Fund, the accumulated continuing distribution and services fees and contingent deferred sales charges (CDSC) on Class B Shares, Class C Shares or Class T Shares would be less than the initial sales charge and accumulated distribution services fee on Class A Shares purchased at the
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same time. Investors should understand that the purpose and function of the CDSC and ongoing distribution and services fee with respect to the Class B Shares, Class C Shares and Class T Shares are the same as those of the initial sales charge and ongoing distribution and services fees with respect to the Class A Shares.
The distribution expenses incurred by the Distributor in connection with the sale of the shares will be paid, in the case of Class A Shares, from the proceeds of the initial sales charge and the ongoing distribution and services fee. In the case of Class B Shares, distribution expenses incurred by the Distributor in connection with the sale of the shares will be paid from the proceeds of the ongoing distribution and services fee and the CDSC incurred upon redemption within five years of purchase for the Fixed Income Fund and within three years of purchase for the Short Term Bond Fund. For Class C Shares, the ongoing distribution and services fee will be used to pay for the distribution expenses incurred by the Distributor. In the case of Class T Shares, distribution expenses incurred by the Distributor in connection with the sale of the shares will be paid from the proceeds of the ongoing distribution and services fee and the CDSC incurred upon redemption within one year of purchase. Sales personnel of broker-dealers distributing the Funds shares may receive differing compensation for selling Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares or Class T Shares.
Dividends paid by the Funds, if any, with respect to each class of shares will be calculated in the same manner at the same time on the same day, except that fees such as higher distribution and service fees relating to each class of shares will be borne exclusively by that class. (See Dividends, Distributions and Taxes in this SAI.)
Class A Shares
Class A Shares incur a sales charge when they are purchased and enjoy the benefit of not being subject to any sales charge when they are redeemed, except that a 1% deferred sales charge may apply to shares purchased on which a finders fee has been paid if redeemed within one year of purchase. The one-year period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made. Such deferred sales charge may be waived under certain conditions as determined by the Distributor. Class A Shares are subject to ongoing service fees at an annual rate of 0.25% of the Trusts aggregate average daily net assets attributable to the Class A Shares. In addition, certain purchases of Class A Shares qualify for reduced initial sales charges.
Class B Shares
Class B Shares do not incur a sales charge when they are purchased, but they are subject to a sales charge if they are redeemed within five years of purchase. Class B Shares of the Market Neutral Fund do not incur a sales charge when they are purchased, but they are subject to a sales charge if they are redeemed within six years of purchase. Class B Shares of the Short Term Bond Fund do not incur a sales charge when they are purchased, but they are subject to a sales charge if they are redeemed within three years of purchase. The deferred sales charge may be waived in connection with certain qualifying redemptions. (See the Class B Shares, Class C Shares and Class T SharesWaiver of Sales Charges section of this SAI.)
Class B Shares are subject to ongoing distribution and service fees at an annual rate of up to 1.00% of the Funds aggregate average daily net assets attributable to the Class B Shares. Class B Shares enjoy the benefit of permitting all of the investors dollars to work from the time the investment is made. The higher ongoing distribution and service fees paid by Class B Shares will cause such shares to have a higher expense ratio and to pay lower dividends, to the extent any dividends are paid, than those related to Class A Shares. Class B Shares will automatically convert to Class A Shares eight years after the end of the calendar month in which the shareholders order to purchase was accepted. Class B Shares of the Short Term Bond Fund convert to Class A Shares six years after the end of the calendar month in which the shareholders order to purchase was accepted. Class B Shares of the Market Neutral Fund convert to Class A Shares seven years after the end of the calendar month in which the shareholders order to purchase was accepted. The purpose of the conversion feature is to relieve the holders of the Class B Shares that have been outstanding for a period of time sufficient for the Distributor to have been compensated for distribution expenses related to the Class B Shares from most of the burden of such distribution related expenses.
Class B Shares include all shares purchased pursuant to the deferred sales charge alternative which have been outstanding for less than the period ending eight years after the end of the month in which the shares were issued. Class B Shares of the Market Neutral Fund include all shares purchased pursuant to the deferred sales charge alternative which have been outstanding for less than the period ending seven years after the end of the month in which the shares were issued. Class B Shares of the Short Term Bond Fund include all shares purchased pursuant to the deferred sales charge alternative which have been outstanding for less than the period ending six years after the end of the month in which the shares were issued. At the end of this period, Class B Shares will automatically convert to Class A Shares and will no longer be subject to the higher distribution and service fees. Such conversion will be on the basis of the relative net asset value of the two classes without the imposition of any sales load, fee or other charge.
For purposes of conversion to Class A Shares, shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends and distributions paid in respect of Class B Shares in a shareholders account will be considered to be held in a separate subaccount. Each time
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any Class B Shares in the shareholders account (other than those in the subaccount) convert to Class A Shares, a pro rata portion of the Class B Shares in the subaccount will also convert to Class A Shares.
Class C Shares
Class C Shares are purchased without an initial sales charge but are subject to a deferred sales charge if redeemed within one year of purchase. Class C Shares of the Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund are not subject to a sales charge when redeemed. The deferred sales charge may be waived in connection with certain qualifying redemptions. Shares issued in conjunction with the automatic reinvestment of income distributions and capital gain distributions are not subject to any sales charges. Class C Shares are subject to ongoing distribution and service fees of up to 1.00% of the Funds aggregate average daily net assets attributable to Class C Shares. Class C Shares of the Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund are subject to ongoing distribution and service fees of up to 0.50% of the Funds aggregate average daily net assets attributable to Class C Shares. Class C Shares enjoy the benefit of permitting all of the investors dollars to work from the time the investment is made. The higher ongoing distribution and services fee paid by Class C Shares will cause such shares to have a higher expense ratio and to pay lower dividends, to the extent any dividends are paid, than those related to Class A Shares. Class C Shares do not convert to another class of shares and long term investors may therefore pay more through accumulated distribution fees than the economic equivalent of any applicable sales charge and accumulated distribution fees in the other classes.
Class T Shares (Short Term Bond Fund Only)
Class T Shares do not incur a sales charge when they are purchased, but they are subject to a sales charge if they are redeemed within the first year of purchase. The deferred sales charge may be waived in connection with certain qualifying redemptions. (See the Class B Shares, Class C Shares and Class T SharesWaiver of Sales Charges section of this SAI.) Class T Shares are subject to an ongoing distribution and services fee at an annual rate of 1.00% of the Short Term Bond Funds aggregate average daily net assets attributable to the Class T Shares. Class T Shares enjoy the benefit of permitting all of the investors dollars to work from the time the investment is made. The higher ongoing distribution and services fee paid by Class T Shares will cause such shares to have a higher expense ratio and to pay lower dividends, to the extent any dividends are paid, than those related to Class A Shares. Class T Shares of the Short Term Bond Fund do not convert to another class of shares and long term investors may therefore pay more through accumulated distribution fees than the economic equivalent of any applicable sales charge and accumulated distribution fees in the other classes. Class T shares can be exchanged for Class C Shares of any Phoenix Fund.
Class I Shares
Class I Shares are offered without any sales charges to institutional investors, such as pension and profit sharing plans, other employee benefit trusts, endowments, foundations and corporations who purchase at or above the minimum amount; to private clients of the Adviser, subadviser and their affiliates; or through certain wrap programs with which the Distributor has an arrangement.
Class A SharesReduced Initial Sales Charges
Investors choosing Class A Shares may be entitled to reduced sales charges. The ways in which sales charges may be avoided or reduced are described below. Investors buying Class A Shares on which a finders fee has been paid may incur a 1% deferred sales charge if they redeem their shares within one year of purchase. The one-year period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made. Such deferred sales charge may be waived under certain conditions as determined by the Distributor.
Qualified Purchasers. If you fall within any one of the following categories, you will not have to pay a sales charge on your purchase of Class A Shares: (1) trustee, director or officer of the Phoenix Funds or any other mutual fund advised, subadvised or distributed by the Adviser, Distributor or any of their corporate affiliates; (2) any director or officer, or any full-time employee or sales representative (for at least 90 days), of the Adviser, Subadviser (if any) or Distributor; (3) any private client of an Adviser or Subadviser to any Phoenix Fund; (4) registered representatives and employees of securities dealers with whom Distributor has sales agreements; (5) any qualified retirement plan exclusively for persons described above; (6) any officer, director or employee of a corporate affiliate of the Adviser, Subadviser or Distributor; (7) any spouse, child, parent, grandparent, brother or sister of any person named in (1), (2), (4) or (6) above; (8) employee benefit plans for employees of the Adviser, Distributor and/or their corporate affiliates; (9) any employee or agent who retires from PNX, the Distributor and/or their corporate affiliates; (10) any account held in the name of a qualified employee benefit plan, endowment fund or foundation if, on the date of the initial investment, the plan, fund or foundation has assets of $10,000,000 or more or at least 100 eligible employees; (11) any person with a direct rollover transfer of shares from an established Phoenix Fund or qualified plan; (12) any Phoenix Life Insurance Company (or affiliate) separate account which funds group annuity contracts offered to qualified employee benefit plans; (13) any state, county, city, department, authority or similar agency prohibited by law from paying a sales charge; (14) any unallocated account held by a third party administrator, registered investment adviser, trust
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company, or bank trust department which exercises discretionary authority and holds the account in a fiduciary, agency, custodial or similar capacity, if in the aggregate of such accounts held by such entity equal or exceed $1,000,000; (15) any deferred compensation plan established for the benefit of any Phoenix Fund trustee or director; provided that sales to persons listed in (1) through (15) above are made upon the written assurance of the purchaser that the purchase is made for investment purposes and that the shares so acquired will not be resold except to the Fund; (16) purchasers of Class A Shares bought through investment advisers and financial planners who charge an advisory, consulting or other fee for their services and buy shares for their own accounts or the accounts of their clients; (17) retirement plans and deferred compensation plans and trusts used to fund those plans (including, for example, plans qualified or created under sections 401(a), 403(b) or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code), and rabbi trusts that buy shares for their own accounts, in each case if those purchases are made through a broker or agent or other financial intermediary that has made special arrangements with the Distributor for such purchases; (18) 401(k) participants in the Merrill Lynch Daily K Plan (the Plan) if the Plan has at least $3 million in assets or 500 or more eligible employees; or (19) clients of investment advisors or financial planners who buy shares for their own accounts but only if their accounts are linked to a master account of their investment advisor or financial planner on the books and records of the broker, agent or financial intermediary with which the Distributor has made such special arrangements. Each of the investors described in (16) through (19) may be charged a fee by the broker, agent or financial intermediary for purchasing shares.
Combination Purchase Privilege. Your purchase of any class of shares of these Funds or any other Phoenix Fund, (other than any Phoenix money market fund), if made at the same time by the same person, will be added together with any existing Phoenix Fund account values to determine whether the combined sum entitles you to an immediate reduction in sales charges. A person is defined in this and the following sections as (a) any individual, their spouse and minor children purchasing shares for his or their own account (including an IRA account) including his or their own trust; (b) a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing for a single trust, estate or single fiduciary account (even though more than one beneficiary may exist); (c) multiple employer trusts or Section 403(b) plans for the same employer; (d) multiple accounts (up to 200) under a qualified employee benefit plan or administered by a third party administrator; or (e) trust companies, bank trust departments, registered investment advisers, and similar entities placing orders or providing administrative services with respect to accounts over which they exercise discretionary investment authority and which are held in a fiduciary, agency, custodial or similar capacity, provided all shares are held of record in the name, or nominee name, of the entity placing the order.
Letter of Intent. If you sign a Letter of Intent, your purchase of any class of shares of these Funds or any other Phoenix Fund (other than any Phoenix money market fund), if made by the same person within a thirteen month period, will be added together to determine whether you are entitled to an immediate reduction in sales charges. Sales charges are reduced based on the overall amount you indicate that you will buy under the Letter of Intent. The Letter of Intent is a mutually non-binding arrangement between you and the Distributor. Since the Distributor doesnt know whether you will ultimately fulfill the Letter of Intent, shares worth 5% of the amount of each purchase will be set aside until you fulfill the Letter of Intent. When you buy enough shares to fulfill the Letter of Intent, these shares will no longer be restricted. If, on the other hand, you do not satisfy the Letter of Intent, or otherwise wish to sell any restricted shares, you will be given the choice of either buying enough shares to fulfill the Letter of Intent or paying the difference between any sales charge you previously paid and the otherwise applicable sales charge based on the intended aggregate purchases described in the Letter of Intent. You will be given 20 days to make this decision. If you do not exercise either election, the Distributor will automatically redeem the number of your restricted shares needed to make up the deficiency in sales charges received. The Distributor will redeem restricted Class A Shares before Class C Shares, Class T Shares or Class B Shares, respectively. Oldest shares will be redeemed before selling newer shares. Any remaining shares will then be deposited to your account.
Right of Accumulation. The value of your account(s) in any class of shares of these Funds or any other Phoenix Fund (other than any Phoenix money market fund), may be added together at the time of each purchase to determine whether the combined sum entitles you to a prospective reduction in sales charges. You must provide certain account information to the Distributor at the time of purchase to exercise this right.
Associations. Certain groups or associations may be treated as a person and qualify for reduced Class A Share sales charges. The group or association must: (1) have been in existence for at least six months; (2) have a legitimate purpose other than to purchase mutual fund shares at a reduced sales charge; (3) work through an investment dealer; or (4) not be a group whose sole reason for existing is to consist of members who are credit card holders of a particular company, policyholders of an insurance company, customers of a bank or a broker-dealer or clients of an investment adviser.
Class B Shares, Class C Shares and Class T SharesWaiver of Sales Charges
The CDSC is waived on the redemption (sale) of Class B Shares, Class C Shares and Class T Shares if the redemption is made (a) within one year of death (i) of the sole shareholder on an individual account, (ii) of a joint tenant where the surviving joint tenant is the deceaseds spouse, or (iii) of the beneficiary of a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA),
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Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) or other custodial account; (b) within one year of disability, as defined in Code Section 72(m)(7); (c) as a mandatory distribution upon reaching age 701/2 under any retirement plan qualified under Code Sections 401, 408 or 403(b) or resulting from the tax-free return of an excess contribution to an IRA; (d) by 401(k) plans using an approved participant tracking system for participant hardships, death, disability or normal retirement, and loans which are subsequently repaid; (e) from the Merrill Lynch Daily K Plan (Plan) invested in Class B Shares, on which such shares the Distributor has not paid the dealer the Class B sales commission; (f) based on the exercise of exchange privileges among Class B Shares, Class C Shares and Class T Shares of the Phoenix Funds; (g) based on any direct rollover transfer of shares from an established Phoenix Fund qualified plan into a Phoenix Fund IRA by participants terminating from the qualified plan; and (h) based on the systematic withdrawal program. If, as described in condition (a) above, an account is transferred to an account registered in the name of a deceaseds estate, the CDSC will be waived on any redemption from the estate account occurring within one year of the death. If the Class B Shares are not redeemed within one year of the death, they will remain subject to the applicable CDSC.
Conversion FeatureClass B Shares
Class B Shares will automatically convert to Class A Shares of the same Fund eight years after they are purchased. For Short Term Bond Fund, Class B Shares will automatically convert to Class A Shares of the same Fund six years after they are purchased. For Market Neutral Fund, Class B Shares will automatically convert to Class A Shares of the same Fund seven years after they are purchased. Conversion will be on the basis of the then prevailing net asset value of Class A Shares and Class B Shares. There is no sales load, fee or other charge for this feature. Class B Shares acquired through dividend or distribution reinvestments will be converted into Class A Shares at the same time that other Class B Shares are converted based on the proportion that the reinvested shares bear to purchased Class B Shares. The conversion feature is subject to the continuing availability of an opinion of counsel or a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that the assessment of the higher distribution and service fees and associated costs with respect to Class B Shares does not result in any dividends or distributions constituting preferential dividends under the Code, and that the conversion of shares does not constitute a taxable event under federal income tax law. If the conversion feature is suspended, Class B Shares would continue to be subject to the higher distribution and service fees for an indefinite period. Even if the Funds were unable to obtain such assurances, it might continue to make distributions if doing so would assist in complying with its general practice of distributing sufficient income to reduce or eliminate federal taxes otherwise payable by the Funds.
The Funds offer accumulation plans, withdrawal plans and reinvestment and exchange privileges. Certain privileges may not be available in connection with all classes. In most cases, changes to account services may be accomplished over the phone. Inquiries regarding policies and procedures relating to shareholder account services should be directed to Mutual Fund Services at (800) 243-1574. Broker-dealers may impose their own restrictions and limits on accounts held through the broker-dealer. Please consult with your broker-dealer for account restrictions and limit information. The Funds and the Distributor reserve the right to modify or terminate these services upon reasonable notice.
Exchanges
Under certain circumstances, shares of any Phoenix Fund may be exchanged for shares of the same class of another Phoenix Fund on the basis of the relative net asset values per share at the time of the exchange. Class C Shares are also exchangeable for Class T Shares of those Phoenix Funds offering them. Exchanges are subject to the minimum initial investment requirement of the designated Fund, except if made in connection with the Systematic Exchange privilege described below. Shareholders may exchange shares held in book-entry form for an equivalent number (value) of the same class of shares of any other Phoenix Fund, if currently offered. Exchanges will be based upon each Funds net asset value per share next computed following receipt of a properly executed exchange request without sales charge. On exchanges with share classes that carry a contingent deferred sales charge, the CDSC schedule of the original shares purchased continues to apply. The exchange of shares is treated as a sale and purchase for federal income tax purposes. (See Dividends, Distributions and Taxes section of this SAI.) Exchange privileges may not be available for all Phoenix Funds and may be rejected or suspended.
Systematic Exchanges. If the conditions above have been met, you or your broker may, by telephone or written notice, elect to have shares exchanged for the same class of shares of another Phoenix Fund automatically on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual basis or may cancel this privilege at any time. If you maintain an account balance of at least $5,000, or $2,000 for tax qualified retirement benefit plans (calculated on the basis of the net asset value of the shares held in a single account), you may direct that shares be automatically exchanged at predetermined intervals for shares of the same class of another Phoenix Fund. This requirement does not apply to Phoenix Self Security program participants. Systematic exchanges will be executed upon the close of business on the 10th day of each month or the next succeeding business day. Exchanges will be based upon each Funds net asset value per share next computed after the close of business on the 10th day
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of each month (or next succeeding business day), without sales charge. Systematic exchange forms are available from the Distributor.
Dividend Reinvestment Across Accounts
If you maintain an account balance of at least $5,000, or $2,000 for tax qualified retirement benefit plans (calculated on the basis of the net asset value of the shares held in a single account), you may direct that any dividends and distributions paid with respect to shares in that account be automatically reinvested in a single account of one of the other Phoenix Funds at net asset value. You should obtain a current prospectus and consider the objectives and policies of each Phoenix Fund carefully before directing dividends and distributions to another Phoenix Fund. Reinvestment election forms and prospectuses are available from PEPCO. Distributions may also be mailed to a second payee and/or address. Requests for directing distributions to an alternate payee must be made in writing with a signature guarantee of the registered owner(s). To be effective with respect to a particular dividend or distribution, notification of the new distribution option must be received by the Transfer Agent at least three days prior to the record date of such dividend or distribution. If all shares in your account are repurchased or redeemed or transferred between the record date and the payment date of a dividend or distribution, you will receive cash for the dividend or distribution regardless of the distribution option selected.
Invest-by-Phone
This expedited investment service allows a shareholder to make an investment in an account by requesting a transfer of funds from the balance of their bank account. Once a request is phoned in, PEPCO will initiate the transaction by wiring a request for monies to the shareholders commercial bank, savings bank or credit union via Automated Clearing House (ACH). The shareholders bank, which must be an ACH member, will in turn forward the monies to PEPCO for credit to the shareholders account. ACH is a computer based clearing and settlement operation established for the exchange of electronic transactions among participating depository institutions.
To establish this service, please complete an Invest-by-Phone Application and attach a voided check if applicable. Upon PEPCOs acceptance of the authorization form (usually within two weeks) shareholders may call toll free (800) 367-5877 prior to 3:00 p.m. (New York time) to place their purchase request. Instructions as to the account number and amount to be invested must be communicated to PEPCO. PEPCO will then contact the shareholders bank via ACH with appropriate instructions. The purchase is normally credited to the shareholders account the day following receipt of the verbal instructions. The Fund may delay the mailing of a check for redemption proceeds of Fund shares purchased with a check or via Invest-by-Phone service until the Fund has assured itself that good payment has been collected for the purchase of the shares, which may take up to 15 days. The Trust and PEPCO reserve the right to modify or terminate the Invest-by-Phone service for any reason or to institute charges for maintaining an Invest-by-Phone account.
Systematic Withdrawal Program
The Systematic Withdrawal Program (the Program) allows you to periodically redeem a portion of your account on a predetermined monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual basis. A sufficient number of full and fractional shares will be redeemed so that the designated payment is made on or about the 20th day of the month. Shares are tendered for redemption by the Transfer Agent, as agent for the shareowner, on or about the 15th of the month at the closing net asset value on the date of redemption. The Program also provides for redemptions with proceeds to be directed through ACH to your bank account. For ACH payments, you may select the day of the month for the payments to be made; if no date is specified, the payments will occur on the 15th of the month. In addition to the limitations stated below, withdrawals may not be less than $25 and minimum account balance requirements shall continue to apply.
Shareholders participating in the Program must own shares of a Fund worth $5,000 or more, as determined by the then current net asset value per share, and elect to have all dividends reinvested. The purchase of shares while participating in the Program will ordinarily be disadvantageous to the Class A Shares investor since a sales charge will be paid by the investor on the purchase of Class A Shares at the same time as other shares are being redeemed. For this reason, investors in Class A Shares may not participate in an automatic investment program while participating in the Program.
Through the Program, Class B, Class C and Class T shareholders may withdraw up to 1% of their aggregate net investments (purchases, at initial value, to date net of non-Program redemptions) each month or up to 3% of their aggregate net investments each quarter without incurring otherwise applicable contingent deferred sales charges. Class B, Class C and Class T shareholders redeeming more shares than the percentage permitted by the Program will be subject to any applicable contingent deferred sales charge on all shares redeemed. Accordingly, the purchase of Class B Shares, Class C Shares or Class T Shares will generally not be suitable for an investor who anticipates withdrawing sums in excess of the above limits shortly after purchase.
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Under the 1940 Act, payment for shares redeemed must ordinarily be made within seven days after tender. The right to redeem shares may be suspended and payment therefor postponed during periods when the NYSE is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings, or if permitted by rules of the SEC, during periods when trading on the NYSE is restricted or during any emergency which makes it impracticable for a Fund to dispose of its securities or to determine fairly the value of its net assets or during any other period permitted by order of the SEC for the protection of investors. Furthermore, the Transfer Agent will not mail redemption proceeds until checks received for shares purchased have cleared, which may take up to 15 days or more.
The Trust has authorized one or more brokers to receive on its behalf purchase and redemption orders. Such brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on the Trusts behalf. The Trust will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a brokers authorized designee, accepts the order. Customer orders will be priced at the Funds net asset values next computed after they are received by an authorized broker or the brokers authorized designee.
Redemptions by Class B and Class C shareholders will be subject to the applicable deferred sales charge, if any.
A shareholder should contact his/her broker-dealer if he/she wishes to transfer shares from an existing broker-dealer street name account to a street name account with another broker-dealer. The Funds have no specific procedures governing such account transfers.
Redemption of Small Accounts
Each shareholder account in the Funds which has been in existence for at least one year and which has a value of less than $200, due to redemption activity, may be redeemed upon the giving of not less than 60 days written notice to the shareholder mailed to the address of record. During the 60-day period following such notice, the shareholder has the right to add to the account to bring its value to $200 or more. (See the Funds current Prospectus for more information.)
By Mail
Shareholders may redeem shares by making written request, executed in the full name of the account, directly to Phoenix Funds c/o State Street Bank and Trust Company, P.O. Box 8301, Boston, MA 02266-8301. However, when certificates for shares are in the possession of the shareholder, they must be mailed or presented, duly endorsed in the full name of the account, with a written request to PEPCO that the Fund redeem the shares. (See the Funds current Prospectus for more information.)
Telephone Redemptions
Shareholders who do not have certificated shares may redeem by telephone up to $50,000 worth of their shares held in book-entry form. (See the Funds current Prospectus for more information.)
By Check (Fixed Income Funds only)
Any shareholder of these Funds may elect to redeem shares held in his account by check. Checks will be sent to an investor upon receipt by the Transfer Agent of a completed application and signature card (attached to the application). If the signature card accompanies an individuals initial account application, the signature guarantee section of the form may be disregarded. However, the Trust reserves the right to require that all signatures be guaranteed prior to the establishment of a check writing service account. When an authorization form is submitted after receipt of the initial account application, all signatures must be guaranteed regardless of account value.
Checks may be drawn payable to any person in an amount of not less than $500, provided that immediately after the payment of the redemption proceeds the balance in the shareholders account is $500 or more.
When a check is presented to the Transfer Agent for payment, a sufficient number of full and fractional shares in the shareholders account will be redeemed to cover the amount of the check. The number of shares to be redeemed will be determined on the date the check is received by the Transfer Agent. Presently there is no charge to the shareholder for the check writing service, but this may be changed or modified in the future upon two weeks written notice to shareholders. Checks drawn from Class B and Class C accounts are subject to the applicable deferred sales charge, if any.
The checkwriting procedure for redemption enables a shareholder to receive income accruing on the shares to be redeemed until such time as the check is presented to the Transfer Agent for payment. Inasmuch as canceled checks are returned to shareholders monthly, no confirmation statement is issued at the time of redemption.
Shareholders utilizing withdrawal checks will be subject to the Transfer Agents rules governing checking accounts. A shareholder should make sure that there are sufficient shares in his account to cover the amount of any check drawn. If
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insufficient shares are in the account and the check is presented to the Transfer Agent on a banking day on which the Trust does not redeem shares (for example, a day on which the NYSE is closed), or if the check is presented against redemption proceeds of an investment made by check which has not been in the account for at least fifteen calendar days, the check may be returned marked Non-sufficient Funds and no shares will be redeemed. A shareholder may not close his account by a withdrawal check because the exact value of the account will not be known until after the check is received by the Transfer Agent.
Redemption in Kind
To the extent consistent with state and federal law, the Funds may make payment of the redemption price either in cash or in kind. However, the Funds have elected to pay in cash all requests for redemption by any shareholder of record, limited in respect to each shareholder during any 90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net asset value of the Fund at the beginning of such period. This election has been made pursuant to Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act and is irrevocable while the Rule is in effect unless the SEC, by order, permits the withdrawal thereof. In case of a redemption in kind, securities delivered in payment for shares would be readily marketable and valued at the same value assigned to them in computing the net asset value per share of the Fund. A shareholder receiving such securities would incur brokerage costs when selling the securities.
Account Reinstatement Privilege
Shareholders who may have overlooked features of their investment at the time they redeemed have a privilege of reinvestment of their investment at net asset value. (See the Funds current prospectus for more information.)
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company (RIC)
Each Fund within the Trust is separate for investment and accounting purposes and is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. Each Fund has elected to qualify and intends to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). In each taxable year that a Fund qualifies as a RIC, it (but not its shareholders) will be relieved of federal income tax on that portion of its net investment income and net capital gains that are currently distributed (or deemed distributed) to its shareholders. To the extent that a Fund fails to distribute all of its taxable income, it will be subject to corporate income tax (currently maximum rate of 35%) on any retained ordinary investment income or short-term capital gains, and corporate income tax (currently maximum rate of 35%) on any undistributed long-term capital gains.
Each Fund intends to make timely distributions, if necessary, sufficient in amount to avoid the non-deductible 4% excise tax that is imposed on a RIC to the extent that it fails to distribute, with respect to each calendar year, at least 98% of its ordinary income (not including tax-exempt interest) for such calendar year and 98% of its net capital gain income as determined for a one-year period ending on October 31 of such calendar year (or as determined on a fiscal year basis, if the Fund so elects). In addition, an amount equal to any undistributed investment company taxable income or capital gain net income from the previous calendar year must also be distributed to avoid the excise tax. The excise tax is imposed on the amount by which the RIC does not meet the foregoing distribution requirements. If each Fund has taxable income that would be subject to the excise tax, each Fund intends to distribute such income so as to avoid payment of the excise tax. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there may be certain circumstances under which it would be appropriate for the Fund to pay the excise tax.
The Code sets forth numerous requirements that must be satisfied in order for each Fund to qualify as a RIC. If in any taxable year a Fund does not qualify as a RIC, all of its taxable income will be taxed at corporate rates and any capital gain dividend would not retain its character in the hands of the shareholder for tax purposes.
Each Fund must satisfy the following tests each year: (a) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities and certain other investment income; (b) meet specified diversification requirements at the end of each quarter, and (c) distribute annually to its shareholders as dividends (not including capital gains dividends, discussed below) at least 90% of its ordinary investment income and short-term capital gains, with certain modifications. Each Fund intends to satisfy these requirements. With respect to the diversification requirement, each Fund must also diversify its holdings so that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the value of its total assets consists of cash, cash items, U.S. Government securities, and other securities limited generally with respect to any one issuer to not more than 5% of the total assets of that Fund and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities of any issuer (other than U.S. Government securities). Each Fund intends to comply with all of the foregoing criteria for qualification as a RIC; however, there can be no assurance that each Fund will so qualify and continue to maintain its status as a RIC. If a Fund were unable for any reason to maintain its status as a RIC for any taxable year, adverse tax consequences would ensue.
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Taxation of Shareholders
Under the Jobs and Growth Tax Reconciliation Act of 2003, certain qualified dividend income (QDI) and long-term capital gains will be taxed at a lower tax rate (generally 15%) for individual shareholders. The reduced rate applies to QDI from domestic corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations subject to various requirements and a minimum holding period by both a Fund and its shareholders. Ordinary distributions made by a Fund to its shareholders are eligible for the reduced rate to the extent the underlying income in the Fund is QDI. Under current law, the tax rate on these amounts is scheduled to increase for tax years beginning after December 31, 2010.
Distributions from ordinary investment income and net short-term capital gains will be taxed to the shareholders as ordinary dividend income to the extent of the earnings and profits of the Fund. Ordinary income dividends received by corporate shareholders will qualify for the 70% dividends-received deduction to the extent the Fund designates such amounts as qualifying dividend distributions; however, the portion that may be so designated is subject to certain limitations. Distributions by the Fund that are designated as capital gain distributions by written notice mailed to shareholders within 60 days after the close of the year will be taxed to the shareholders as capital gains, and will not be eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction.
Dividends declared by a Fund to shareholders of record in October, November or December will be taxable to such shareholders in the year that the dividend is declared, even if it is not paid until the following year (so long as it is actually paid by the Fund prior to February 1). Also, shareholders will be taxable on the amount of long-term capital gains designated by each Fund by written notice mailed to shareholders within 60 days after the close of the year, even if such amounts are not actually distributed to them. Shareholders will be entitled to claim a credit against their own federal income tax liability for taxes paid by each Fund on such undistributed gains, if any.
Dividends and capital gain distributions will be taxable to shareholders as described above whether received in cash or in shares under a Funds distribution reinvestment plan. With respect to distributions received in cash or reinvested in shares purchased on the open market, the amount of the distribution for tax purposes will be the amount of cash distributed or allocated to the shareholder.
Shareholders should be aware that the price of shares of a Fund that are purchased prior to a dividend or distribution by the Fund may reflect the amount of the forthcoming dividend or distribution. Such dividend or distribution, when made, would be taxable to shareholders under the principles discussed above even though the dividend or distribution may reduce the net asset value of shares below a shareholders cost and thus represent a return of a shareholders investment in an economic sense.
A high portfolio turnover rate may result in the realization of larger amounts of short-term gains, which are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.
Each Fund intends to accrue dividend income for federal income tax purposes in accordance with the rules applicable to RICs. In some cases, these rules may have the effect of accelerating (in comparison to other recipients of the dividend) the time at which the dividend is taken into account by the Fund as taxable income.
Shareholders should consult their own tax advisor about their tax situation.
Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with Income Tax Regulations that may differ from Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) in the United States.
Taxation of Debt Securities
Certain debt securities can be originally issued or acquired at a discount. Special rules apply under the Code to the recognition of income with respect to such debt securities. Under the special rules, the Fund may recognize income for tax purposes without a corresponding current receipt of cash. In addition, gain on a disposition of a debt security subject to the special rules may be treated wholly or partially as ordinary income, not capital gain.
A Fund may invest in certain investments that may cause it to realize income prior to the receipt of cash distributions, including securities bearing original issue discount. The level of such investments is not expected to affect a Funds ability to distribute adequate income to qualify as RIC.
Taxation of Derivatives and Foreign Currency Transactions
Certain futures contracts and foreign currency contracts entered into by a Fund and all listed non-equity options written or purchased by a Fund (including options on debt securities, options on futures contracts, options on securities indices and options on broad-based stock indices) are governed by Section 1256 of the Code. Absent a tax election to the contrary, gain or loss attributable to the lapse, exercise or closing out of any such position are treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss, and on the last trading day of a Funds taxable year, (and, generally on October 31 for purposes of the 4%
67
excise tax), all outstanding Section 1256 positions are marked-to-market (i.e., treated as if such positions were closed out at their closing price on such day), and any resulting gain or loss is treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Under certain circumstances, entry into a futures contract to sell a security may constitute a short sale for federal income tax purposes, causing an adjustment in the holding period of the underlying security or a substantially identical security in a Funds portfolio.
Equity options written by the Fund (covered call options on portfolio stock) will be subject to the provisions under Section 1234 of the Code. If the Fund writes a call option, no gain is recognized upon its receipt of a premium. If the option lapses or is closed out, any gain or loss is treated as a short-term capital gain or loss. If a call option is exercised, any resulting gain or loss is a short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending on the holding period of the underlying stock.
Positions of a Fund which consist of at least one stock and at least one stock option or other position with respect to a related security which substantially diminishes the Funds risk of loss with respect to such stock could be treated as a straddle that is governed by Section 1092 of the Code, the operation of which may cause deferral of losses, adjustments in the holding periods of stock or securities and conversion of short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. An exception to these straddle rules exists for any qualified covered call options on stock options written by a Fund.
Positions of a Fund which consist of at least one debt security not governed by Section 1256 and at least one futures or currency contract or listed non-equity option governed by Section 1256 which substantially diminishes the Funds risk of loss with respect to such debt security are treated as a mixed straddle. Although mixed straddles are subject to the straddle rules of Section 1092 of the Code, certain tax elections exist for them that reduce or eliminate the operation of these rules. Each Fund will monitor these transactions and may make certain tax elections in order to mitigate the operation of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC for federal income tax purposes.
Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates which occur between the time a Fund accrues interest or other receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time it actually collects such receivables or pays such liabilities generally are treated as ordinary gain or loss. Similarly, on disposition of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency and on disposition of certain futures contracts, forward contracts and options, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the security or contract and the date of disposition also are treated as ordinary gain or loss. Generally, these gains and losses, referred to under the Code as Section 988 gains or losses, may increase or decrease the amount of each Funds investment company taxable income to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income.
These special tax rules applicable to options, futures and currency transactions could affect the amount, timing and character of a Funds income or loss and hence of its distributions to shareholders by causing holding period adjustments, converting short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses, and accelerating a Funds income or deferring its losses.
The IRS has not provided guidance on the tax consequences of certain investments and other activities that the Funds may make or undertake. While the Funds will endeavor to treat the tax items arising from these transactions in a manner which it believes to be appropriate, guarantees cannot be given that the IRS or a court will concur with the Funds treatment and that adverse tax consequences will not ensue.
Taxation of Foreign Investments
If a Fund invests in stock of certain passive foreign investment companies, the Fund may be subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a portion of any excess distribution with respect to, or gain from the disposition of, such stock. The tax would be determined by allocating such distribution or gain ratably to each day of the Funds holding period for the stock. The distributions or gain so allocated to any taxable year of the Fund, other than the taxable year of the excess distribution or disposition, would be taxed to the Fund at the highest ordinary income rate in effect for such year, and the tax would be further increased by an interest charge to reflect the value of the tax deferral deemed to have resulted from the ownership of the foreign companys stock. Any amount of distribution or gain allocated to the taxable year of the distribution or disposition would be included in the Funds investment company taxable income and, accordingly, would not be taxable to the Fund to the extent distributed by the Fund as a dividend to its shareholders. The Fund may elect to mark-to-market (i.e., treat as if sold at their closing market price on same day), its investments in certain passive foreign investment companies and avoid any tax and or interest charge on excess distributions.
The Funds may be subject to tax on dividend or interest income received from securities of non-U.S. issuers withheld by a foreign country at the source. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries that entitle the Fund to a reduced rate of tax or exemption from tax on income. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of a Funds assets to be invested within various countries is not known. The Fund intends to operate so as to qualify for treaty tax benefits where applicable. If more than 50% of the value of the Funds total assets at the close of its taxable year is comprised of stock or securities issued by foreign corporations, the Fund may elect with the IRS to
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pass through to the Funds shareholders the amount of foreign income taxes paid by the Fund. If the Fund does elect to pass through, each shareholder will be notified within 60 days after the close of each taxable year of the Fund if the foreign taxes paid by the Fund will pass through for that year, and, if so, the amount of each shareholders pro
California Taxation of DistributionsCA Tax Exempt Bond Fund
Distributions or parts thereof derived from interest received on California state and local issues and U.S. Government Obligations held in the portfolio will be exempt from California personal income taxes in ratable proportion of the California investments and U.S. Government Obligations of the Fund, provided that the Fund has complied with the requirement that at least 50% of its assets be invested in California state and local issues and U.S. Government issues at the end of each fiscal quarter. The Fund intends to comply with this standard since at least 80% of the assets of the Fund will normally be invested in California municipal securities. Distributions derived from other earnings will be subject to California personal income tax for California residents and other persons subject to California income tax.
Sale or Exchange of Fund Shares
Gain or loss will be recognized by a shareholder upon the sale of shares in a Fund or upon an exchange of shares in a Fund for shares in another Fund. Provided that the shareholder is not a dealer in such shares, such gain or loss will generally be treated as capital gain or loss, measured by the difference between the adjusted basis of the shares and the amount realized therefrom. Under current law, capital gains (whether long-term or short-term) of individuals and corporations are fully includable in taxable income, although for certain taxpayers, the tax rate is 0% on long-term capital gains in 2008 through 2010. Capital losses (whether long-term or short-term) may offset capital gains plus (for non-corporate taxpayers only) up to $3,000 per year of ordinary income.
Redemptions, including exchanges, of shares may give rise to recognized gains or losses, except as to those investors subject to tax provisions that do not require them to recognize such gains or losses. All or a portion of a loss realized upon the redemption, including exchanges, of shares may be disallowed under wash sale rules in Section 1091 of the Code to the extent shares are purchased (including shares acquired by means of reinvested dividends) within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after such redemption. Any loss realized upon a shareholders sale, redemption or other disposition of shares with a tax holding period of six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distribution of long-term capital gains with respect to such shares.
Under certain circumstances, the sales charge incurred in acquiring shares of a Fund may not be taken into account in determining the gain or loss on the disposition of those shares. This rule applies where shares of a Fund are disposed of within 90 days after the date on which they were acquired and new shares of a RIC are acquired without a sales charge or at a reduced sales charge. In that case, the gain or loss realized on the disposition will be determined by excluding from the tax basis of the shares disposed of all or a portion of the sales charge incurred in acquiring those shares. This exclusion applies to the extent that the otherwise applicable sales charge with respect to the newly acquired shares is reduced as a result of the shareholder having incurred a sales charge initially. The portion of the sales charge affected by this rule will be treated as a sales charge paid for the new shares.
Tax Information
Written notices will be sent to shareholders regarding the intended federal income tax status of all distributions made (or deemed to have been made) during each taxable year, including the amount of QDI for individuals, the amount qualifying for the corporate dividends-received deduction (if applicable) and the amount designated as capital gain dividends, undistributed capital gains (if any), tax credits (if applicable), and cumulative return of capital (if any).
Important Notice Regarding Taxpayer IRS Certification
Pursuant to IRS Regulations, the Fund may be required to withhold a percentage of all reportable payments, including any taxable dividends, capital gains distributions or share redemption proceeds, at the rate in effect when such payments are made, for an account which does not have a taxpayer identification number or certain required certifications. The Funds reserve the right to refuse to open an account for any person failing to provide a taxpayer identification number along with the required certifications. The Funds will furnish shareholders, within 31 days after the end of the calendar year, with the information that is required by the IRS for filing income tax returns. The Fund will also provide this same information to the IRS in the manner required by the IRS. Depending on your State of residence, the information may also be filed with your State taxing authority.
Some shareholders may be subject to withholding of federal income tax on dividends and redemption payments from the Funds (backup withholding) at the rate in effect when such payments are made. Corporate shareholders and certain other shareholders specified in the Code generally are exempt from such backup withholding. Generally, shareholders subject to backup withholding will be (i) those for whom a certified taxpayer identification number is not on file with the Fund,
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(ii) those about whom notification has been received (either by the shareholder or the Fund) from the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding or (iii) those who, to the Funds knowledge, have furnished an incorrect taxpayer identification number. Generally, to avoid backup withholding, a shareholder must, at the time an account is opened, certify under penalties of perjury that the taxpayer identification number furnished is correct and that he or she is not subject to backup withholding.
Foreign Shareholders
Dividends paid by the Funds from net investment income and net realized short-term capital gains to a shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual, a foreign trust or estate, a foreign corporation or a foreign partnership (a foreign shareholder) will be subject to United States withholding tax at a rate of 30% unless a reduced rate of withholding or a withholding exemption is provided under applicable treaty law. Foreign shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning the applicability of the United States withholding tax and any foreign taxes.
Other Tax Consequences
In addition to the federal and certain California income tax consequences described above, there may be other federal, state or local tax considerations and estate tax considerations applicable to the circumstances of a particular investor. The foregoing discussion is based upon the Code, judicial decisions and administrative regulations, rulings and practices in effect as of June 2007, all of which are subject to change and which, if changed, may be applied retroactively to a Fund, its shareholders and/or its assets. No rulings have been sought from the IRS with respect to any of the tax matters discussed above.
From time to time, proposals have been introduced before Congress for the purpose of restricting or eliminating the federal income tax exemption for interest on municipal bonds and similar proposals may be introduced in the future. If such a proposal were enacted, the availability of tax-exempt bonds for investment by the Fund and the value of the Funds portfolio would be affected. The Trustees would then re-evaluate the Funds investment objective and policies.
The information included in the Prospectus with respect to taxes, in conjunction with the foregoing, is a general and abbreviated summary of applicable provisions of the Code and Treasury regulations now in effect as currently interpreted by the courts and the IRS. The Code and these Regulations, as well as the current interpretations thereof, may be changed at any time by legislative, judicial, or administrative action. Accordingly, prospective purchasers are urged to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situation, including the potential application of federal, state, local and foreign taxes.
Except as expressly set forth above, the foregoing discussion of U.S. federal income tax law relates solely to the application of that law to U.S. taxpayers. Each shareholder who is not a U.S. taxpayer should consider the U.S. and foreign tax consequences of ownership of shares of the Fund, including the possibility that such a shareholder may be subject to a U.S. withholding tax on amounts constituting ordinary income received by him or her, where such amounts are treated as income from U.S. sources under the Code. It does not address the special tax rules applicable to certain classes of investors, such as insurance companies.
TAX SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS
Shares of the Funds are offered in connection with the following qualified prototype retirement plans: IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), Profit-Sharing, Money Purchase Pension Plans and 403(b) Retirement Plans. Write or call PEPCO at (800) 243-4361 for further information about the plans.
Merrill Lynch Daily K Plan
Class A Shares of a Fund are made available to Merrill Lynch Daily K Plan (the Plan) participants at NAV without an initial sales charge if:
(i) the Plan is recordkept on a daily valuation basis by Merrill Lynch and, on the date the Plan Sponsor signs the Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Service Agreement, the Plan has $3 million or more in assets invested in broker-dealer funds not advised or managed by Merrill Lynch Asset Management L.P. (MLAM) that are made available pursuant to a Service Agreement between Merrill Lynch and the funds principal underwriter or distributor and in funds advised or managed by MLAM (collectively, the Applicable Investments);
(ii) the Plan is recordkept on a daily valuation basis by an independent recordkeeper whose services are provided through a contract or alliance arrangement with Merrill Lynch, and, on the date the Plan Sponsor signs the Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Service Agreement, the Plan has $3 million or more in assets, excluding money market funds, invested in Applicable Investments; or
(iii) the Plan has 500 or more eligible employees, as determined by a Merrill Lynch plan conversion manager, on the date the Plan Sponsor signs the Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Service Agreement.
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Alternatively, Class B Shares of a Fund are made available to Plan participants at NAV without a CDSC if the Plan conforms with the requirements for eligibility set forth in (i) through (iii) above but either does not meet the $3 million asset threshold or does not have 500 or more eligible employees.
Plans recordkept on a daily basis by Merrill Lynch or an independent recordkeeper under a contract with Merrill Lynch that are currently investing in Class B Shares of a Fund convert to Class A Shares once the Plan has reached $5 million invested in Applicable Investments, or after the normal holding period of seven years from the initial date of purchase.
Pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement with the Funds, PEPCO (or the Distributor), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of PNX, and an affiliate of the Adviser and Subadviser, PIC serves as distributor for the Funds. As such, the Distributor conducts a continuous offering pursuant to a best efforts arrangement requiring it to take and pay for only such securities as may be sold to the public. The address of the Distributor is One American Row, P.O. Box 5056, Hartford, Connecticut 06102-5056. Shares of the Funds may be purchased through investment dealers who have sales agreements with the Distributor.
For its services under the Underwriting Agreement, PEPCO receives sales charges on transactions in Trust shares and retains such charges less the portion thereof allowed to its registered representatives and to securities dealers and securities brokers with whom it has sales agreements. In addition, PEPCO may receive payments from the Trust pursuant to the Distribution Plan described below. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2005 and 2006, purchasers of shares of the Funds paid aggregate sales charges of $215,231, $141,422 and $70,128, respectively, of which the Distributor received net commissions of $161,263, $112,142 and $55,383, respectively, for its services, the balance being paid to dealers. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, the Distributor received net commissions of $2,544 for Class A Shares and deferred sales charges of $52,584 for Class B Shares and $255 for Class C Shares.
The Underwriting Agreement may be terminated at any time on not more than 60 days written notice, without payment of a penalty, by the Distributor, by vote of a majority of the appropriate Class of outstanding voting securities of the Funds, or by vote of a majority of the Trusts Trustees who are not parties to the Underwriting Agreement or interested persons of any party and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Plan or in any related agreements. The Underwriting Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, as defined in Section 2(a)(4) of the 1940 Act.
Dealers Concessions
Dealers with whom the Distributor has entered into sales agreements receive a discount or commission on purchases of
Short Term Bond Fund
Amount of Transaction at Offering Price |
Sales Charge as Percentage of
Offering Price |
Sales Charge as Percentage of Net
Amount Invested |
Dealer Discount or Agency Fee
as Percentage of Offering Price |
|||
Under $50,000 |
2.25% | 2.30% | 2.00% | |||
$50,000 but under $100,000 |
1.25 | 1.27 | 1.00 | |||
$100,000 but under $500,000 |
1.00 | 1.01 | 1.00 | |||
$500,000 but under $1,000,000 |
0.75 | 0.76 | 0.75 | |||
$1,000,000 or more |
None | None | None |
Other Fixed Income Funds
Amount of Transaction at Offering Price |
Sales Charge as Percentage of
Offering Price |
Sales Charge as Percentage of Amount
Invested |
Dealer Discount or Agency Fee
as Percentage of Offering Price |
|||
Less than $50,000 | 4.75% | 4.99% | 4.25% | |||
$50,000 but under $100,000 | 4.50% | 4.71% | 4.00% | |||
$100,000 but under $250,000 | 3.50% | 3.63% | 3.00% | |||
$250,000 but under $500,000 | 2.75% | 2.83% | 2.25% | |||
$500,000 but under $1,000,000 | 2.00% | 2.04% | 1.75% | |||
$1,000,000 or more | None | None | None |
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Equity Funds and PHOLIOs
Amount of Transaction at Offering Price |
Sales Charge as Percentage of
Offering Price |
Sales Charge as Percentage of Amount
Invested |
Dealer Discount or Agency Fee
as Percentage of Offering Price |
|||
Under $50,000 | 5.75% | 6.10% | 5.00% | |||
$50,000 but under $100,000 | 4.75% | 4.99% | 4.25% | |||
$100,000 but under $250,000 | 3.75% | 3.90% | 3.25% | |||
$250,000 but under $500,000 | 2.75% | 2.83% | 2.25% | |||
$500,000 but under $1,000,000 | 2.00% | 2.04% | 1.75% | |||
$1,000,000 or more | None | None | None |
In addition to the dealer discount on purchases of Class A Shares, the Distributor intends to pay investment dealers a sales commission of 4% of the sale price of Class B Shares and a sales commission of 1% of the sale price of Class C Shares sold by such dealers. In addition to the dealer discount on purchases for Short Term Bond Fund of Class A Shares, the Distributor intends to pay investment dealers a sales commission of 2% of the sale price of Class B Shares and a sales commission of 1% of the sale price of Class T Shares sold by such dealers. This sales commission will not be paid to dealers for sales of Class B Shares purchased by 401(k) participants of the Merrill Lynch Daily K Plan due to a waiver of the CDSC for these Plan participants purchases. Your broker, dealer or financial advisor may also charge you additional commissions or fees for their services in selling shares to you provided they notify the Distributor of their intention to do so.
Dealers and other entities who enter into special arrangements with the Distributor may receive compensation for the sale and promotion of shares of the Funds and/or for providing other shareholder services. Such fees are in addition to the sales commissions referenced above and may be based upon the amount of sales of fund shares by a dealer; the provision of assistance in marketing of fund shares; access to sales personnel and information dissemination services, provision of recordkeeping and administrative services to qualified employee benefit plans; and other criteria as established by the Distributor. Depending on the nature of the services, these fees may be paid either from the Funds through distribution fees, service fees or transfer agent fees or in some cases, the Distributor may pay certain fees from its own profits and resources. From its own profits and resources, the Distributor does intend to: (a) from time to time pay special incentive and retention fees to qualified wholesalers, registered financial institutions and third party marketers; (b) pay broker-dealers an amount equal to 1% of the first $3 million of Class A Share purchases by an account held in the name of a qualified employee benefit plan with at least 100 eligible employees, 0.50% on the next $3 million, plus 0.25% on the amount in excess of $6 million; and (c) excluding purchases as described in (b) above, pay broker-dealers an amount equal to 1.00% of the amount of Class A Shares sold from $1,000,000 to $3,000,000, 0.50% on amounts of $3,000,001 to $10,000,000 and 0.25% on amounts greater than $10,000,000. If part or all of such investment as described in (b) and (c) above, including investments by qualified employee benefit plans, is subsequently redeemed within one year, a 1% CDSC may apply, except for redemptions of shares purchased on which a finders fee has been paid where such investors dealer of record, due to the nature of the investors account, notifies the Distributor prior to the time of the investment that the dealer waives the finders fee otherwise payable to the dealer, or agrees to receive such finders fee ratably over a 12-month period. For purposes of determining the applicability of the CDSC, the one-year CDSC period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made. In addition, the Distributor may pay the entire applicable sales charge on purchases of Class A Shares to selected dealers and agents. Any dealer who receives more than 90% of a sales charge may be deemed to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933. PEPCO reserves the right to discontinue or alter such fee payment plans at any time.
From its own resources or pursuant to the Trusts Distribution Plan, and subject to the dealers prior approval, the Distributor may provide additional compensation to registered representatives of dealers in the form of travel expenses, meals, and lodging associated with training and educational meetings sponsored by the Distributor. The Distributor may also provide gifts amounting in value to less than $100, and occasional meals or entertainment, to registered representatives of dealers. Any such travel expenses, meals, lodging, gifts or entertainment paid will not be preconditioned upon the registered representatives or dealers achievement of a sales target. The Distributor may, from time to time, reallow the entire portion of the sales charge on Class A Shares which it normally retains to individual selling dealers. However, such additional reallowance generally will be made only when the selling dealer commits to substantial marketing support such as internal wholesaling through dedicated personnel, internal communications and mass mailings.
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Administrative Services
PEPCO also acts as administrative agent (Administrator) of the Trust. For its services as Administrator, PEPCO receives an administration fee based upon the average net assets across all non-money market funds within the Phoenix Funds and Phoenix Edge Series Funds at the following incremental annual rates.
First 5 billion |
0.09 | % | |
$5 billion to $15 billion |
0.08 | % | |
Greater than $15 billion |
0.07 | % |
For the money market Funds, the fee is 0.035% of the average net assets across all money market funds within the Phoenix Funds and Phoenix Edge Series Funds.
Until June 30, 2006, PEPCO served as Financial Agent to the Trust. PEPCO received a fee equal to the sum of (1) the documented cost to PEPCO to provide oversight of PFPC, Inc. (subagent to PEPCO) (PFPC), plus (2) the documented costs of fund accounting, tax services and related services provided by PFPC.
For services to the Trust during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2005 and 2006, PEPCO received $242,004, $201,856 and $140,427 respectively.
The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for each class of shares (except Class I Shares) (i.e., a plan for the Class A Shares, a plan for the Class B Shares, a plan for the Class C Shares and a plan for the Class T Shares; collectively, the Plans) in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, to compensate the Distributor for the services it provides and for the expenses it bears under the Underwriting Agreement. Each class of shares pays a service fee at a rate of 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets of such class of the Fund and a distribution fee based on average daily net assets at a rate of 0.75% per annum for Class B Shares (0.55% for the Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund), at a rate of 0.75% per annum for Class C Shares (0.25% for the Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund), and at a rate of 0.75% per annum for Class T Shares. In addition, with respect to the PHOLIOs, the underlying affiliated mutual funds Class A Shares and Class Y Shares in which the PHOLIOs invest impose a 0.25% 12b-1 fee. To avoid duplication of 12b-1 fees, each class of shares of the PHOLIOs has reduced the 12b-1 fee by the amount of underlying affiliated mutual funds Class A and Class Y 12b-1 fees. From the Service Fee, the Distributor expects to pay a quarterly fee to qualifying broker-dealer firms, as compensation for providing personal services and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts, with respect to shares sold by such firms. In the case of shares of the Funds being sold to an affiliated fund of funds, fees payable under the Plans shall be paid to the distributor of the fund of funds. This fee will not exceed on an annual basis 0.25% of the average annual net asset value of such shares, and will be in addition to sales charges on Fund shares which are re-allowed to such firms. To the extent that the entire amount of the Service Fee is not paid to such firms, the balance will serve as compensation for personal and account maintenance services furnished by the Distributor. The Distributor also pays to dealers an additional compensation with respect to Class C Shares at the rate of 0.75% of the average annual net asset value of that class.
In order to receive payments under the Plans, participants must meet such qualifications to be established in the sole discretion of the Distributor, such as services to the Funds shareholders; or services providing the Funds with more efficient methods of offering shares to coherent groups of clients, members or prospects of a participant; or services permitting bulking of purchases or sales, or transmission of such purchases or sales by computerized tape or other electronic equipment; or other processing.
On a quarterly basis, the Funds Trustees review a report on expenditures under the Plans and the purposes for which expenditures were made. The Trustees conduct an additional, more extensive review annually in determining whether the Plans will be continued. By its terms, continuation of the Plans from year to year is contingent on annual approval by a majority of the Funds Trustees and by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plans or any related agreements (the Plan Trustees). The Plans provide that they may not be amended to increase materially the costs which the Funds may bear pursuant to the Plans without approval of the shareholders of that class of the Funds and that other material amendments to the Plans must be approved by a majority of the Plan Trustees by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such amendments. The Plans further provide that while they are in effect, the selection and nomination of Trustees who are not interested persons shall be committed to the discretion of the Trustees who are not interested persons. The Plans may be terminated at any time by vote of the Plan Trustees or a majority of the outstanding shares of the relevant class of the Funds.
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, the Funds paid Rule 12b-1 Fees in the amount of $422,052, of which the Distributor received $157,697, and unaffiliated broker-dealers received $264,355. The Rule 12b-1 payments were used for (1) compensation to dealers, $275,672; (2) compensation to sales personnel, $208,154; (3) advertising, $46,171; (4) service costs, $21,779; (5) printing and mailing of prospectuses to other than current shareholders, $2,379; and (6) other, $31,162.
73
No interested person of the Funds and no Trustee who is not an interested person of the Funds, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, had any direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plans.
The FINRA regards certain distribution fees as asset-based sales charges subject to FINRA sales load limits. The FINRAs maximum sales charge rule may require the Trustees to suspend distribution fees or amend the Plans.
The Board of Trustees has also adopted a Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act permitting the issuance of shares in multiple classes.
The Trust is an open-end management investment company known as a mutual fund. The Trustees of the Trust (Trustees) are responsible for the overall supervision of the Trust and perform the various duties imposed on Trustees by the 1940 Act and Delaware statutory trust law.
Trustees and Officers
The Trustees are responsible for the
overall supervision of the Funds, including establishing the Funds policies, general supervision and review of their investment activities. The officers who administer the Funds daily operations, are appointed by the Board of Trustees.
The current Trustees and officers of the Trust performing a policy-making function and their affiliations and principal occupations for the past five years are set forth below. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each individual is 56 Prospect
Independent Trustees
Name and Year of Birth |
Length of
|
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Principal Occupation(s)
|
|||
E. Virgil Conway* YOB: 1929 |
Served since 2000. | 58 |
Chairman, Rittenhouse Advisors, LLC (consulting firm) (2001-present). Trustee/Director, Phoenix Funds Family (1983-present), Director, Urstadt Biddle Property Corp. (1989-present), Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (1970-2002), Union Pacific Corp. (1978-2002), Accuhealth (1994-2002). |
|||
Harry Dalzell-Payne* YOB: 1929 |
Served since 1999. | 58 |
Retired. Trustee/Director, Phoenix Funds Family (1983-present). |
|||
Francis E. Jeffries* YOB: 1930 |
Served since 2005. | 59 |
Director, The Empire District Electric Company (1984-2004). Trustee/Director, Phoenix Funds Family (1987-present). |
74
Name and Year of Birth |
Length of
|
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Principal Occupation(s)
|
|||
Leroy Keith, Jr. YOB: 1939 |
Served since 2005. | 56 | Managing Director, Almanac Capital Management (commodities business) (since 2007). Director/Trustee, Evergreen Funds (93 portfolios) (1989-present). Trustee, Phoenix Funds Family (1980-present). Director, Lincoln Educational Services (2002-2004). Partner, Stonington Partners, Inc. (private equity fund) (2001-2007). | |||
Geraldine M. McNamara YOB: 1951 |
Served since 2001. | 58 | Retired. Trustee/Director, Phoenix Funds Complex (2001-present). Managing Director, U.S. Trust Company of New York (private bank) (1982-2006). | |||
James M. Oates
|
Served since 2005. | 56 | Trustee/Director, Phoenix Funds Family (1987-present). Managing Director, Wydown Group (consulting firm) (1994-present). Director, Investors Bank & Trust Corporation (1995-present), Stifel Financial (1996-present). Independent Chairman (2005-present), and Trustee (2004-present) John Hancock Trust (93 portfolios). Trustee, John Hancock Funds II (74 portfolios) (2005-present). Director/Trustee, Plymouth Rubber Co. (1995-2003). Chairman, Hudson Castle Group, Inc. (Formerly IBEX Capital Markets, Inc.) (financial services) (1997-2006). Trustee, John Hancock Funds III (8 portfolios) (2005-2006). | |||
Richard E. Segerson YOB: 1946 |
Served since 2005. | 56 | Managing Director, Northway Management Company (1998-present). Trustee/Director, Phoenix Funds Family (1983-present). | |||
Ferdinand L.J. Verdonck YOB: 1942 |
Served since 2005. | 56 |
Chairman, Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics N.V. (biotechnology) (since 2007). Director, The JP Morgan European Investment Trust (1998-present), Galapagos N.V. (biotechnology) (2005-present). Trustee, Phoenix Funds Family (2004-present). Director, EASDAQ (Chairman) (2001-present), Groupe SNEF (electrical and electronic installation) (1998-present). Managing Director, Almanij N.V. (financial holding company) (1992-2003). Director, KBC Bank and Insurance Holding Company (1992-2003), KBC Bank (1992-2003), KBC Insurance (1992-2003), Kredietbank S.A. Luxembourgeoise (1992-2003), Investco N.V. (private equity company) (1992-2003), Gevaert N.V. (industrial holding company) (1992-2003), Fidea N.V. (insurance company) (1992-2003), Almafin N.V. (real estate investment company) (1992-2003), Centea N.V. (savings bank) (1992-2003), Degussa Antwerpen N.V. (1998-2004), Santens N.V. (textiles) (1999-2004), Dictaphone Corp. (2002-2006), Banco Urquijo (Chairman) (1998-2006). |
* | Pursuant to the Trusts retirement policy, Mr. Conway, Mr. Dalzell-Payne and Mr. Jeffries will retire from the Board of Trustees following its May 2008 meeting. |
75
Interested Trustees
Each of the individuals listed below is an interested person of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Name, Year of Birth and Position(s) with Trust |
Length of
|
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Principal Occupation(s)
Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
|||
George R. Aylward*
Trustee and President YOB: 1964 |
Trustee and President since November 2006. | 56 |
Senior Executive Vice President and President, Asset Management (since 2007), Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Asset Management (2004-2007), Vice President (2001-2004), The Phoenix Companies, Inc. Director and President (2006-present), Chief Operating Officer (2004-present), Executive Vice President (2004-2006), Vice President, Finance, (2001-2002), Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. Various senior officer and directorship positions with Phoenix affiliates. President (2006-present), Executive Vice President (2004-2006), the Phoenix Funds Family. Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Zweig Fund Inc. and The Zweig Total Return Fund Inc. (2006-present). |
|||
Marilyn E. LaMarche** Trustee YOB: 1934 |
Served since 2005. | 56 | Limited Managing Director, Lazard Freres & Co. LLC (1997-present). Trustee/Director, Phoenix Funds Family (2002-present). Director, The Phoenix Companies, Inc. (2001-2005). |
76
Name, Year of Birth and Position(s) with Trust |
Length of Time Served |
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
|||
Philip R. McLoughlin*** Chairman YOB: 1946 |
Served since 1999. | 76 | Partner, Cross Pond Partners, LLC (2006-present), Director, PXRE Corporation (Reinsurance) (1985-present), World Trust Fund (1991-present). Director/ Trustee, Phoenix Funds Complex (1989-present). Management Consultant (2002-2004), Chairman (1997-2002), Chief Executive Officer (1995-2002) and Director (1995-2002), Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. Director and Executive Vice President, The Phoenix Companies, Inc. (2000-2002). Director (1983-2002) and Chairman (1995-2002), Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. Director (1982-2002) and Chairman (2000-2002), Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation. Chairman and President, Phoenix/Zweig Advisers LLC (2001-2002). Executive Vice President (1994-2002) and Chief Investment Counsel (1994-2002), PHL Variable Insurance Company. |
* | Mr. Aylward is an interested person as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, by reason of his position with Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. and its affiliates. Pursuant to the Trusts retirement policy, Ms. LaMarche will retire from the Board of Trustees effective December 31, 2007. |
** | Ms. LaMarche is an interested person, as defined in the 1940 Act, by reason of her former position as Director of The Phoenix Companies, Inc. and Phoenix Life Insurance Company. |
*** | Mr. McLoughlin is an interested person as defined in the 1940 Act, by reason of his former relationship with Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. and its affiliates. |
Officers of the Trust Who Are Not Trustees
Name, Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
||
Nancy G. Curtiss YOB: 1952 |
Senior Vice President since 2006. | Assistant Treasurer (2001-present), Vice President, Fund Accounting (1994-2000), Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation. Vice President, Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. (2003-present). Senior Vice President, the Phoenix Funds Family (since 2006). Vice President, The Phoenix Edge Series Fund (1994-present), Treasurer, The Zweig Fund Inc. and The Zweig Total Return Fund Inc. (2003-present). Chief Financial Officer (2005-2006) and Treasurer (1994-2006), or Assistant Treasurer (2005-2006), certain funds within the Phoenix Funds Complex. |
77
Name, Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
||
Francis G. Waltman YOB: 1962 |
Senior Vice President since 2004. | Senior Vice President, Asset Management Product Development, The Phoenix Companies, Inc. (since 2006). Senior Vice President, Asset Management Product Development, Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. (2005-present). Director and President, Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation (since 2006). Senior Vice President, Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. (since 2006). Director, DPCM Holdings, Inc., Duff & Phelps Investment Management Company and Pasadena Capital Corporation (since 2006). President, PXP Securities Corp. (2004-present). Senior Vice President, the Phoenix Funds Family (2004-present). Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. (2003-2004). Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation (1999-2003). | ||
Marc Baltuch 900 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 YOB: 1945 |
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer since 2005. | Chief Compliance Officer, Zweig-DiMenna Associates LLC (1989-present). Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, certain funds within the Phoenix Funds Complex (2004-present). Vice President, The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (2004-present). Vice President, The Zweig Fund, Inc. (2004-present). President and Director of Watermark Securities, Inc. (1991-present). Assistant Secretary of Gotham Advisors Inc. (1990-present). Secretary, Phoenix-Zweig Trust (1989-2003). Secretary, Phoenix-Euclid Market Neutral Fund (1999-2002). | ||
Kevin J. Carr One American Row Hartford, CT 06102 YOB: 1954 |
Vice President, Counsel, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary since 2005. | Vice President and Counsel, Phoenix Life Insurance Company (2005-present). Vice President, Counsel, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, the Phoenix Funds Family (2005-present). Compliance Officer of Investments and Counsel, Travelers Life & Annuity (Jan. 2005-May 2005). Assistant General Counsel, The Hartford Financial Services Group (1999-2005). | ||
W. Patrick Bradley YOB: 1972 |
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2005. | Vice President, Fund Administration, Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. (2004-present). Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (2006-present) or Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (2005-present), certain funds within the Phoenix Funds Family. Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer, The Phoenix Edge Series Fund (2006-present). Assistant Treasurer, certain funds within the Phoenix Funds Complex (2004-2006). Senior Manager (2002-2004), Manager (2000-2002), Audit, Deloitte & Touche, LLP. |
Committees of the Board
The Board of Trustees has established several standing committees to oversee particular aspects of the Funds management. They are:
The Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the Funds accounting and auditing policies and practices. The Audit Committee reviews the Funds financial reporting procedures, their system of internal control, the independent audit process, and the Funds procedures for monitoring compliance with investment restrictions and applicable laws and regulations and with the Code of Ethics. The Audit Committee is composed entirely of Independent Trustees; its members are E. Virgil Conway, Harry Dalzell-Payne, Francis E. Jeffries, Geraldine M. McNamara, James M. Oates and Richard E. Segerson. The Committee met four times during the Trusts last fiscal year.
The Executive and Compliance Committee. The function of the Executive and Compliance Committee is to serve as a contract review, compliance review and performance review delegate of the full Board of Trustees as well as act to on behalf of the Board when it is not in session, subject to limitations as set by the Board. Its members are E. Virgil Conway, Harry Dalzell-Payne, Leroy Keith, Jr., Philip R. McLoughlin, Geraldine M. McNamara and James M. Oates. Each of the members is an Independent Trustee, except Mr. McLoughlin, who is an Interested Trustee. The Committee met 11 times during the Trusts last fiscal year.
78
The Governance and Nominating Committee. The Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for developing and maintaining governance principles applicable to the Funds, for nominating individuals to serve as Trustees, including as Independent Trustees, and annually evaluating the Board and Committees. The Governance and Nominating Committee is composed entirely of Independent Trustees; its members are E. Virgil Conway, Harry Dalzell-Payne, Leroy Keith, Jr., Geraldine M. McNamara, James M. Oates and Ferdinand L.J. Verdonck. The Committee met four times during the Trusts last fiscal year.
The Board has adopted a policy for consideration of Trustee nominees recommended by shareholders. With regards to such policy, an individual shareholder submitting a nomination must hold for at least one full year 5% of the shares of a series of the Trust. Shareholder nominees for Trustee will be given the same consideration as any candidate provided the nominee meets certain minimum requirements.
Compensation
Trustees who are not employed by the Adviser or its affiliates receive an annual retainer and fees and expenses for attendance at Board and Committee meetings. Officers and employees of the Adviser of the Funds who are interested persons are compensated for their services by the Adviser of the Funds, or an affiliate of the Adviser of the Funds, and receive no compensation from the Funds. The Trust does not have any retirement plan for its Trustees.
For the Trusts fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, the Trustees received the following compensation:
Name of Trustee |
Aggregate Compensation
From Trust |
Total Compensation From Trust
and Fund Complex (79 Funds) Paid to Trustees |
||||
Independent Trustees |
||||||
E. Virgil Conway | $ | 5,539 | $ | 183,250 | ||
Harry Dalzell-Payne | $ | 5,396 | $ | 183,650 | ||
Francis E. Jeffries* | $ | 3,673 | $ | 141,750 | ||
Leroy Keith, Jr. | $ | 3,660 | $ | 104,473 | ||
Geraldine M. McNamara* | $ | 5,331 | $ | 176,750 | ||
James M. Oates | $ | 5,046 | $ | 136,612 | ||
Richard E. Segerson* | $ | 3,673 | $ | 97,500 | ||
Ferdinand L.J. Verdonck | $ | 3,317 | $ | 87,500 | ||
Interested Trustees |
||||||
George R. Aylward | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||
Marilyn E. LaMarche | $ | 2,955 | $ | 79,750 | ||
Philip R. McLoughlin | $ | 7,446 | $ | 261,500 |
* These Trustees have previously deferred compensation (and the earnings thereon) as of
Trustee Ownership of Securities
Set forth in the table below is the dollar range of equity securities owned by each Trustee as of December 31, 2006:
Name of Trustee |
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Funds in the Trust |
Aggregate Dollar Range of
|
||
Independent Trustees |
||||
E. Virgil Conway | None | Over $100,000 | ||
Harry Dalzell-Payne | None | None | ||
Francis E. Jeffries | None | Over $100,000 | ||
Leroy Keith, Jr. | None | $1 - $10,000 | ||
Geraldine M. McNamara | None | Over $100,000 | ||
James M. Oates | None | Over $100,000 | ||
Richard E. Segerson | None | Over $100,000 | ||
Ferdinand L.J. Verdonck | None | None | ||
Interested Trustees |
||||
George R. Aylward | None | $50,001 - $100,000 | ||
Marilyn E. LaMarche | None | None | ||
Philip R. McLoughlin | Earnings Driven Growth Fund: $10,001-$50,000 | Over $100,000 |
At August 27, 2007, the Trustees and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the then outstanding shares of any of the Funds.
79
Principal Shareholders
The following table sets forth information as of August 27, 2007 with respect to each person who owns of record or is known by the Trust to own of record or beneficially 5% or more of any class of the Trusts outstanding equity securities:
Name of Shareholder |
Fund and Class |
Percentage of Class |
Number of Shares |
|||
Winifred A Cargill 7 King Philip Trail Norfolk, MA 02056-1405 |
Core Bond Fund - Class C |
7.34% | 12,097.222 | |||
Charles Schwab & Co Inc. (1) Reinvest Account Attn: Mutual Fund Dept. 101 Montgomery St. San Francisco, CA 94104-4151 |
Bond Fund - Class I Earnings Driven Growth Fund - Class I |
7.89% 35.34% |
397,081.717 37,288.564 |
|||
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. (1) Special Custody Acct. FBO Customers Attn: Mutual Funds 101 Montgomery St. San Francisco, CA 94104-4151 |
Bond Fund - Class C CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund - Class I High Yield Fund - Class B Market Neutral Fund - Class A Real Estate Securities Fund - Class A |
17.37% 6.37% 6.79% 5.13% 14.61% |
27,843.314 148,950.886 34,264.889 262,524.848 5,002,680.922 |
|||
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (1) House Account XXXXXXX1250 Attn: Peter Booth, 7 th Floor 333 W. 34 th St. New York, NY 10001-2402 |
CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund - Class A Core Bond Fund - Class C Market Neutral Fund - Class C Multi-Sec Sht Term Bond Fund - Class B Multi-Sec Sht Term Bond Fund - Class T Multi-Sec Fixed Inc Fund - Class A Multi-Sec Fixed Inc Fund - Class C Real Estate Securities Fund - Class B Real Estate Securities Fund - Class C |
5.01% 22.00% 6.13% 8.27% 12.11% 7.01% 11.42% 11.13% 17.68% |
164,058.065 36,257.642 47,241.651 401,451.551 3,998,078.349 735,081.646 218,168.639 170,069.733 532,883.004 |
|||
First Clearing, LLC A/C XXXX-4224 John F. Hubble IRA FCC as Custodian RR 2, Box 2724 Bethel, VT 05032 |
Bond Fund - Class C |
5.41% | 8,666.297 | |||
First Clearing, LLC A/C XXXX-6928 Bertram Bachman R/O IRA FCC as Custodian c/o Peta Howard 17 Village Green Norfolk, CT 06058 |
Emerging Markets Bond Fund - Class C |
6.29% | 9,121.353 | |||
Elizabeth A. Hall 2235 N.E. Douglas St. Newport, OR 97365-1841 |
Core Bond Fund - Class C |
6.94% | 11,441.388 | |||
JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. FBO XXXXX2006 500 Stanton Christiana Road Newark, DE 19713-2107 |
Bond Fund - Class I |
5.08% | 255,664.712 |
80
JPM Chase Bank, N.A. FBO XXXXX9003 500 Stanton Christiana Rd. Newark, DE 19713-2107 |
Bond Fund - Class I |
8.61% | 433,509.077 | |||
LPL Financial Services A/C XXXX-5548 9785 Towne Centre Drive San Diego, CA 92121-1968 |
Emerging Markets Bond Fund - Class C |
7.97% | 11,522.793 | |||
Richard W. Miller William Miller JT Wros 100 Clock Shop Dr. Berlin, CT 06037-3321 |
Global Utilities Fund - Class C |
8.87% | 12,717.845 | |||
MLPF&S for the Sole Benefit of its Customers (1) Attn: Fund Administration 4800 Deer Lake Dr. E. 3 rd Fl Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
Bond Fund - Class B Bond Fund - Class C Core Bond Fund - Class B Core Bond Fund - Class C Earnings Driven Growth Fund - Class A Earnings Driven Growth Fund - Class B Earnings Driven Growth Fund - Class C Emerging Markets Bond Fund - Class B Emerging Markets Bond Fund - Class C Global Utilities Fund - Class C Growth Opportunities Fund - Class A Growth Opportunities Fund - Class C High Yield Fund - Class B High Yield Fund - Class C Multi-Sec Sht Term Bond Fund - Class A Multi-Sec Sht Term Bond Fund - Class B Multi-Sec Sht Term Bond Fund - Class C Multi-Sec Sht Term Bond Fund - Class T Multi-Sec Fixed Inc Fund - Class A Multi-Sec Fixed Inc Fund - Class B Multi-Sec Fixed Inc Fund - Class C Real Estate Securities Fund - Class A Real Estate Securities Fund - Class B Real Estate Securities Fund - Class C |
41.31% 24.97% 20.32% 18.53% 18.69% 31.48% 44.87% 11.07% 6.65% 12.55% 8.68% 57.38% 9.77% 20.22% 10.57% 23.85% 7.89% 59.61% 11.09% 13.23% 35.90% 9.80% 19.32% 18.45% |
178,804.806 40,025.272 36,909.274 30,549.423 115,891.843 136,004.254 153,834.536 70,902.635 9,651.126 17,995.707 171,223.131 18,217.764 49,334.673 87,009.750 31,315,485.840 1,158,425.098 3,021,638.667 19,673,894.602 1,162,292.601 171,173.259 686,031.324 3,356,489.114 295,157.258 556,003.611 |
|||
MLPF&S for the Sole Benefit of its Customers (1) Attn: Fund Administration 975Y4 4800 Deer Lake Dr. E., FL 2 Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 |
Market Neutral Fund Class B Market Netural Fund Class C |
36.97% 21.08% |
100,795.072 162,365.056 |
|||
Rainer Mohaupt Director General Platinum Intl c/o Silvia Medina Adolfo Prieto 110-B Col de Valle CP 03100 Mexico DF |
Earnings Driven Growth Fund - Class I |
7.79% | 8,219.145 |
NFS LLC FEBO Bernadine F. Braun TTEE Bernadine F. Braun Rev. Trust U/A 11/19/99 1938 N. Fairfield Ave. Chicago, IL 60647-4207 |
High Yield Fund - Class C |
6.79% | 29,227.267 | |||
NFS LLC FEBO FIIOC as Agent for Qualified Employee Benefit Plans (401K) FINOPS-IC Funds 100 Magellan Way KW1C Covington, KY 41015-1987 |
Bond Fund - Class I |
8.17% | 411,277.148 | |||
NFS LLC FEBO FMTC TTEE TPMG Savings Plans FBO Annie A. Wickham 9976 Stone Oak Way Elk Grove, CA 95624-2670 |
Core Bond Fund - Class C |
12.71% | 20,946.652 | |||
NFS LLC FEBO Robert A. Jarman 982 Santa Barbara Rd. Berkeley, CA 94707-2454 |
Earnings Driven Growth Fund - Class I |
13.03% | 13,748.337 | |||
NFS LLC FEBO Linda Siebert Rapoport TTEE Linda Siebert Rapoport Nonmarital FAM TR, U/A 10/15/04 47 West Division St., #392 Chicago, IL 60610-2220 |
High Yield Fund - Class C |
6.99% | 30,072.293 | |||
NFS LLC FEBO Donna K. Sefton TTEE Donna K. Sefton Trust U/A 06/14/83 2550 5 th Ave., Ste 808 San Diego, CA 92103-6624 |
CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund - Class I |
24.17% | 564,939.122 | |||
NFS LLC FEBO Harley K. Sefton TTEE Donna K. Sefton IRREV Trust U/A 04/29/93 2550 5 th Ave., Ste. 808 San Diego, CA 92103-6624 |
CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund - Class I |
34.77% | 812,624.226 | |||
NFS LLC FEBO The Trust Company of Oxford P.O. Box 40856 Indianapolis, IN 46240-0856 |
Real Estate Securities Fund - Class I |
11.48% | 109,675.861 | |||
Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO Attn: Chris Wilkos Shareholder Services Dept. c/o Phoenix Equity Planning 101 Munson St. Greenfield, MA 01301-9684 |
Global Utilities Fund Class A Market Neutral Fund Class A |
59.67% 44.68% |
2,449,897.586 2,284,790.505 |
Phoenix Equity Planning Corp. Attn: Corporate Accounting Dept. 56 Prospect St. Hartford, CT 06103-2818 |
Core Bond Fund - Class C Growth Opportunities Fund - Class C |
8.02% 26.53% |
13,225.164 8,424.600 |
|||
Phoenix Life Insurance Company c/o Tina DiBuono Investment Accounting H-3E-2 One American Row Hartford, CT 06115-2521 |
Global Utilities Fund Class A Global Utilities Fund Class C |
13.21% 7.52% |
542,381.690 10,782.819 |
|||
Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO Attn: Chris Wilkos Shareholder Services Dept. c/o Phoenix Equity Planning 101 Munson St. Greenfield, MA 01301-9684 |
Bond Fund - Class A Global Utilities Fund Class A Growth Opportunities Fund - Class A Market Neutral Fund Class A |
35.91% 10.33% 27.17% 16.93% |
1,031,851.312 423,974.674 535,760.313 865,775.388 |
|||
Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO Attn: Chris Wilkos Shareholder Services Dept. c/o Phoenix Equity Planning 101 Munson St. Greenfield, MA 01301-9684 |
Bond Fund - Class A Growth Opportunities Fund - Class A Market Neutral Fund Class A |
34.20% 9.77% 6.96% |
982,746.390 192,582.017 355,716.700 |
|||
PIMS/Prudential Retirement As Nominee for the TTEE/Cust. PL764 Wayne County 28 W. Adams Ave., Ste. 1900 Detroit, MI 48226-1610 |
Real Estate Securities Fund - Class I |
26.73% | 255,468.831 | |||
Prudential Investment Mgmt. FBO Mutual Fund Clients PruChoice Unit/Mailstop NJ 05-11-20 100 Mulberry St. 3 Gateway Center, FL 11 Newark, NJ 07102-4000 |
Earnings Driven Growth Fund - Class A |
10.38% | 64,348.550 | |||
Reliance Trust Co. FBO Lifestyles RR P.O. Box 48529 Atlanta, GA 30362-1529 |
Real Estate Securities Fund - Class I |
38.96% | 372,337.177 | |||
State Street Bank & Trust Co Cust. for the IRA Rollover of Betty T. Canedy 1019 S. 106 th Plz., Apt. 201 Omaha, NE 68114-4723 |
Emerging Markets Bond Fund - Class C |
13.91% | 20,173.503 | |||
State Street Bank & Trust Co c/f Rocky Hill Public Schools 403B FBO Louis J. Pear 227 William St. Portland, CT 06480-1661 |
Core Bond Fund - Class B |
5.96% | 10,819.185 |
Strafe & Co. FAO Marion General Hosp Fd - PIMCO XXXXXX4200 P.O. Box 160 Westerville, OH 43086-0160 |
Real Estate Securities Fund - Class I |
6.09% | 58,167.721 | |||
UBS Financial Services Inc. FBO Wexler Corporation Attn: Robert Wexler 2219 West Olive Avenue, #270 Burbank, CA 91506-2625 |
Global Utilities Fund Class C |
5.32% | 7,627.765 | |||
U.S. Bank FBO EBG-RT The Phoenix Co Inc. Opt. Pl. P.O. Box 1787 Milwaukee, WI 53201-1787 |
Money Market Fund Class A |
6.09% | 5,789,415.610 |
Capital Stock and Organization
As a Delaware statutory trust, the Trusts operations are governed by its Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated March 1, 2001. A copy of the Trusts Certificate of Trust, as amended, is on file with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Upon the initial purchase of shares, the shareholder agrees to be bound by the Trusts Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended. Generally, Delaware statutory trust shareholders are not personally liable for obligations of the Delaware statutory trust under Delaware law. The Delaware Statutory Trust Act (the Delaware Act) provides that a shareholder of a Delaware statutory trust shall be entitled to the same limitation of liability extended to shareholders of private for-profit corporations. The Trusts Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust expressly provides that the Trust has been organized under the Delaware Act and that the Declaration of Trust is to be governed by Delaware law. It is nevertheless possible that a Delaware statutory trust, such as the Trust, might become a party to an action in another state whose courts refused to apply Delaware law, in which case the Trusts shareholders could be subject to personal liability.
To guard against this risk, the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (i) contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust and provides that notice of such disclaimer may be given in each agreement, obligation and instrument entered into or executed by the Trust or its Trustees, (ii) provides for the indemnification out of Trust property of any shareholders held personally liable for any obligations of the Trust or any series of the Trust and (iii) provides that the Trust shall, upon request, assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust and satisfy any judgment thereon. Thus, the risk of a Trust shareholder incurring financial loss beyond his or her investment because of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which all of the following factors are present: (1) a court refused to apply Delaware law; (2) the liability arose under tort law or, if not, no contractual limitation of liability was in effect; and (3) the Trust itself would be unable to meet its obligations. In the light of Delaware law, the nature of the Trusts business and the nature of its assets, the risk of personal liability to a Fund shareholder is remote.
The Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust further provides that the Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses reasonably incurred by them, in connection with, or arising out of, any action, suit or proceeding, threatened against or otherwise involving such Trustee or officer, directly or indirectly, by reason of being or having been a Trustee or officer of the Trust. The Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust does not authorize the Trust to indemnify any Trustee or officer against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of or for willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of such persons duties.
Under the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Trust is not required to hold annual meetings to elect Trustees or for other purposes. It is not anticipated that the Trust will hold shareholders meetings unless required by law or the Declaration of Trust. The Trust will be required to hold a meeting to elect Trustees to fill any existing vacancies on the Board if, at any time, fewer than a majority of the Trustees have been elected by the shareholders of the Trust. The Board is required to call a meeting for the purpose of considering the removal of persons serving as Trustee if requested in writing to do so by the holders of not less than 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.
Shares of the Trust do not entitle their holders to cumulative voting rights, so that the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust may elect all of the Trustees, in which case the holders of the remaining shares would not be able to elect any Trustees. As determined by the Trustees, shareholders are entitled to one vote for each dollar of net asset value (number of shares held times the net asset value of the applicable class of the applicable Fund).
Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Trustees may create additional funds by establishing additional series of shares in the Trust. The establishment of additional series would not affect the interests of current shareholders in the existing Funds. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Trustees may establish and issue multiple classes of shares for each Fund.
Each share of each class of a Fund is entitled to such dividends and distributions out of the income earned on the assets belonging to that Fund which are attributable to such class as are declared in the discretion of the Trustees. In the event of the liquidation or dissolution of the Trust, shares of each class of each Fund are entitled to receive their proportionate share of the assets which are attributable to such class of such Fund and which are available for distribution as the Trustees in their
sole discretion may determine. Shareholders are not entitled to any preemptive, conversion or subscription rights. All shares, when issued, will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust.
Subject to shareholder approval (if then required), the Trustees may authorize each Fund to invest all or part of its investable assets in a single open-end investment company that has substantially the same investment objectives, policies and restrictions as the Fund. As of the date of this SAI, the Trustees do not have any plan to authorize any Fund to so invest its assets.
Under Delaware law, shareholders of a Delaware statutory trust are entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of Delaware corporations. As a result, to the extent that the Trust or a shareholder is subject to the jurisdiction of a court that does not apply Delaware law, there is a possibility that the shareholders of a statutory trust such as the Trust may be personally liable for debts or claims against the Trust. The Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides that shareholders shall not be subject to any personal liability for the acts or obligations of the Trust. The Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the Trust property for all losses and expenses of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability, which is considered remote, is limited to circumstances in which a court refuses to apply Delaware law and the Trust itself would be unable to meet its obligations.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110, is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP audits the Trusts annual financial statements and expresses an opinion thereon.
Custodian and Transfer Agent
State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, serves as the Funds custodian, except for the Growth Opportunities Fund. The Custodian of the Growth Opportunities Funds assets is PFPC Trust Company, 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809. The Trust has authorized the Custodians to appoint one or more subcustodians for the assets of the Funds held outside the United States. The securities and other assets of the Funds are held by each Custodian or any subcustodian separate from the securities and assets of each other Fund.
PEPCO, One American Row, P.O. Box 5056, Hartford, CT 06102-5056, acts as Transfer Agent for the Trust (the Transfer Agent). Pursuant to a Transfer Agent and Service Agreement, PEPCO receives a fee, which is a combination of a base fee allocated among each Phoenix Fund class and a per account fee of between $6.45 and $17.30, depending on whether the account information is held directly by PEPCO or through an intermediary, plus out-of-pocket expenses. The Transfer Agent is authorized to engage subagents to perform certain shareholder servicing functions from time to time for which such agents shall be paid a fee by the Transfer Agent. Fees paid by the Funds, in addition to the fee paid to PEPCO, will be reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees.
Reports to Shareholders
The fiscal year of the Trust ends on September 30. The Trust will send financial statements to its shareholders at least semiannually. An annual report containing financial statements audited by the Trusts independent registered public accounting firm,
Financial Statements
The Funds financial statements for the Trusts fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, included in the Trusts 2006 Annual Report to Shareholders, and for the period October 1, 2006 through April 30, 2007, included in the Trusts 2007 Semiannual Report to Shareholders, and the Predecessor Funds financial statements are to be incorporated herein by reference.
86
A-1 and P-1 Commercial Paper Ratings
The Money Market Fund will only invest in commercial paper which at the date of investment is rated A-l by Standard & Poors Corporation or P-1 by Moodys Investors Services, Inc., or, if not rated, is issued or guaranteed by companies which at the date of investment have an outstanding debt issue rated AA or higher by Standard & Poors or Aa or higher by Moodys.
Commercial paper rated A-1 by Standard & Poors Corporation (S&P) has the following characteristics: Liquidity ratios are adequate to meet cash requirements. Long-term senior debt is rated A or better. The issuer has access to at least two additional channels of borrowing. Basic earnings and cash flow have an upward trend with allowance made for unusual circumstances. Typically, the issuers industry is well established and the issuer has a strong position within the industry. The reliability and quality of management are unquestioned.
The rating P-1 is the highest commercial paper rating assigned by Moodys Investors Services, Inc. (Moodys). Among the factors considered by Moodys in assigning ratings are the following: (1) evaluation of the management of the issuer; (2) economic evaluation of the issuers industry or industries and an appraisal of speculative-type risks which may be inherent in certain areas; (3) evaluation of the issuers products in relation to competition and customer acceptance; (4) liquidity; (5) amount and quality of long-term debt; (6) trend of earnings over a period of ten years; (7) financial strength of a parent company and the relationship which exists with the issuer; and (8) recognition by the management of obligations which may be present or may arise as a result of public interest questions and preparations to meet such obligations.
Description of Certain Bond Ratings
Moodys Investors Service, Inc.
Aaa Bonds that are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as gilt edge. Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa Bonds that are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group the comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuations of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A Bonds that are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa Bonds that are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Moodys also provides credit ratings for preferred stocks. Preferred stock occupies a junior position to bonds within a particular capital structure and that these securities are rated within the universe of preferred stocks.
aaa An issue that is rated aaa is considered to be a top-quality preferred stock. This rating indicates good asset protection and the least risk of dividend impairment within the universe of preferred stocks.
aa An issue that is rated aa is considered a high-grade preferred stock. This rating indicates that there is a reasonable assurance that earnings and asset protection will remain relatively well maintained in the foreseeable future.
a An issue that is rated a is considered to be an upper-medium grade preferred stock. While risks are judged to be somewhat greater than in the aaa and aa classifications, earnings and asset protections are, nevertheless, expected to be maintained at adequate levels.
baa An issue that is rated baa is considered to be a medium grade preferred stock, neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Earnings and asset protection appear adequate at present but may be questionable over any great length of time.
Moodys ratings for municipal notes and other short-term loans are designated Moodys Investment Grade (MIG). This distinction is in recognition of the differences between short-term and long-term credit risk. Loans bearing the designation MIG 1 are of the best quality, enjoying strong protection by establishing cash flows of funds for their servicing or by established and broad-based access to the market for refinancing, or both. Loans bearing the designation MIG 2 are of high quality, with margins of protection ample although not so large as in the preceding group. A short term issue having a
87
demand feature (i.e., payment relying on external liquidity and usually payable on demand rather than fixed maturity dates) is differentiated by Moodys with the use of the Symbol VMIG, instead of MIG.
Moodys also provides credit ratings for tax-exempt commercial paper. These are promissory obligations (1) not having an original maturity in excess of nine months, and (2) backed by commercial banks. Notes bearing the designation P-1 have a superior capacity for repayment. Notes bearing the designation P-2 have a strong capacity for repayment.
Standard & Poors Corporation
AAA Bonds rated AAA have the higher rating assigned by Standard & Poors Corporation. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA Bonds rated AA have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differ from the higher rated issues only in small degree.
A Bonds rated A have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal, although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than bonds in higher rated categories.
BBB Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for bonds in this category than in higher rated categories.
S&Ps top ratings for municipal notes issued after July 29, 1984 are SP-1 and SP-2. The designation SP-1 indicates a very strong capacity to pay principal and interest. A + is added for those issues determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics. An SP-2 designation indicates a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
Commercial paper rated A-2 or better by S&P is described as having a very strong degree of safety regarding timeliness and capacity to repay. Additionally, as a precondition for receiving an S&P commercial paper rating, a bank credit line and/or liquid assets must be present to cover the amount of commercial paper outstanding at all times.
The Moodys Prime-2 rating and above indicates a strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.
Commercial Paper: Short-term promissory notes of large corporations with excellent credit ratings issued to finance their current operations.
Certificates of Deposit: Negotiable certificates representing a commercial banks obligations to repay funds deposited with it, earning specified rates of interest over given periods.
Bankers Acceptances: Negotiable obligations of a bank to pay a draft which has been drawn on it by a customer. These obligations are backed by large banks and usually are backed by goods in international trade.
Time Deposits: Non-negotiable deposits in a banking institution earning a specified interest rate over a given period of time.
Corporate Obligations: Bonds and notes issued by corporations and other business organizations in order to finance their long-term credit needs.
88
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
PART COTHER INFORMATION
Item 23. | Exhibits |
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d.11.* | Subadvisory Agreement between PIC and Goodwin Capital Advisers, Inc. (Goodwin), dated June 27, 2007 on behalf of CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Core Bond Fund, Money Market Fund, Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund and Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund, filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
d.12.* | Subadvisory Agreement between PIC and Halbis Capital Management (USA) Inc. (Halbis), dated June 27, 2007, on behalf of Emerging Markets Bond Fund, filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
d.13.* | Fourth Amendment to Subadvisory Agreement between PIC and SCM, on behalf of High Yield Fund, dated June 27, 2007, filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
e.1. | Underwriting Agreement between Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation (PEPCO) and Registrant dated July 1, 1998 and filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 (File No. 033-65137) on January 25, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference. A Form of Underwriting Agreement between PEPCO and Registrant was previously filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 (File No. 033-65137) on May 20, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
e.2.* | Form of Sales Agreement between PEPCO and dealers (August 2007), filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
f. | None. | |
g.1. | Master Custodian Contract between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (State Street) dated May 1, 1997, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 (File No. 033-65137) on January 24, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
g.2. | Amendment dated February 10, 2000 to Master Custodian Contract dated May 1, 1997 between Registrant and State Street, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 (File No. 033-65137) on January 29, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
g.3. | Amendment dated July 2, 2001 to Master Custodian Contract dated May 1, 1997 between Registrant and State Street, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 (File No. 033-65137) on January 29, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
g.4. | Amendment dated May 10, 2002 to Master Custodian Contract dated May 1, 1997 between Registrant and State Street, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 (File No. 033-65137) on January 29, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
g.5. | Custodian Services Agreement between Registrant and PFPC Trust Company on behalf of Phoenix Growth Opportunities Fund, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 (File No. 033-65137) on January 30, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
h.1.* | Second Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement effective as of June 27, 2007 between Registrant and PIC, filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
h.2. | Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Phoenix Funds and PEPCO dated July 1, 2006, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 (File No. 033-65137) on January 30, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
h.3. | Administration Agreement between Registrant and PEPCO dated July 1, 2006, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 (File No. 033-65137) on January 30, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
h.4.* | Amendment No. 1 to Schedule A of Administration Agreement between Registrant and PEPCO effective June 27, 2007, filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
i.1. | Opinion and consent of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, filed via EDGAR with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 (File No. 033-65137) on February 29, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
i.2.* | Opinion of counsel as to legality of shares filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
j.* | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
k. | None. | |
l. | Share Purchase Agreement (the Share Purchase Agreement) between Registrant and GMG/Seneca Capital Management, L.P., filed via EDGAR with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 (File No. 033-65137) on February 29, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference. |
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m.1. | Class A Shares Amended and Restated Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 effective March 1, 2007, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 (File No. 033-65137) on June 27, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
m.2. | Class B Shares Amended and Restated Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 effective March 1, 2007, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 (File No. 033-65137) on June 27, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
m.3. | Class C Shares Amended and Restated Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 effective March 1, 2007, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 (File No. 033-65137) on June 27, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
m.4.* | Amendment to Class A Shares Amended and Restated Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
m.5.* | Amendment to Class B Shares Amended and Restated Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
m.6.* | Amendment to Class C Shares Amended and Restated Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
m.7.* | Class T Shares Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
n.* | 2007 Amended and Restated Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, effective as of July 13, 2007, filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
o. | Reserved. | |
p.1. | Amended and Restated Codes of Ethics of the Phoenix Funds and the Distributor (PEPCO) dated February 2007, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 (File No. 033-65137) on June 27, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
p.2. | Amended and Restated Code of Ethics of the Adviser (PIC) dated February 2007, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 (File No. 033-65137) on June 27, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
p.3. | Amended and Restated Code of Ethics of the Subadviser (SCM Advisors) dated June 1, 2007, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 (File No. 033-65137) on June 27, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
p.4. | Code of Ethics of the Subadviser (Turner) dated February 1, 2005, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 (File No. 033-65137) on June 27, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
p.5. | Amended and Restated Code of Ethics of Subadviser (Duff & Phelps), dated August 30, 2006, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 (File No. 033-65137) on June 27, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
p.6 | Code of Ethics of Subadviser (Euclid), dated June 2005, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 (File No. 033-65137) on June 27, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
p.7. | Code of Ethics of Subadviser (Goodwin), dated January 2007, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 (File No. 033-65137) on June 27, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
p.8. | Code of Ethics of Subadviser (Halbis), dated February 2007, filed via EDGAR with Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 (File No. 033-65137) on June 27, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference. | |
p.9.* | Code of Ethics of Subadviser (Acadian) dated April 2006, filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
p.10.* | Code of Conduct of Subadviser (New Star) dated June 2007, filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
p.11.* | Code of Ethics of Subadviser (Vontobel) dated January 2006, filed via EDGAR herewith. | |
q.* | Power of Attorney for all Trustees, dated August 22, 2007, filed via EDGAR herewith. |
* | Filed herewith. |
Item 24. | Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Fund |
None.
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Item 25. | Indemnification |
The Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated March 1, 2001 and the Bylaws of the Registrant provide that no trustee or officer will be indemnified against any liability to which the Registrant would otherwise be subject by reason of or for willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of such persons duties. The Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement, Underwriting Agreement, Master Custodian Contract and Transfer Agency and Service Agreement each provides that the Trust will indemnify the other party (or parties, as the case may be) to the agreement for certain losses.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Act), may be available to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC 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.
Item 26. | Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser |
See Management of the Fund in the Prospectus and Services of the Adviser and Subadviser and Management of the Trust in the Statement of Additional Information which is included in this Post-Effective Amendment. For information as to the business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature of directors and officers of the Adviser and Subadvisers, reference is made to the Advisers and Subadvisers current Form ADV (PIC: SEC File No. 801-5995; Acadian: SEC File No. 801-28078; Duff & Phelps: SEC File No. 801-14813; Euclid: SEC File No. 801-54263; Goodwin: SEC File No. 801-8177; Halbis: SEC File No. 801-64301; New Star: SEC File No. 801-26315; SCM Advisors: SEC File No. 801-51559: Turner: SEC File No. 801-36220 and Vontobel: SEC File No. 801-21953 ) filed under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 27. | Principal Underwriter |
(a) | PEPCO serves as the principal underwriter for the following registrants: |
Phoenix Adviser Trust, Phoenix Asset Trust, Phoenix Equity Series Fund, Phoenix Equity Trust, Phoenix Insight Funds Trust, Phoenix Institutional Mutual Funds, Phoenix Investment Series Fund, Phoenix Investment Trust 06, Phoenix Investment Trust 97, Phoenix Opportunities Trust, Phoenix Series Fund, Phoenix Strategic Equity Series Fund, Phoenix Life Variable Universal Life Account, Phoenix Life Variable Accumulation Account, PHL Variable Accumulation Account, Phoenix Life & Annuity Variable Universal Life Account, PHLVIC Variable Universal Life Account, PHL Variable Separate Account MVA1 and The Phoenix Edge Series Fund.
C-4
(b) | Directors and executive officers of PEPCO are as follows: |
Name and Principal Business Address |
Positions and Offices with Distributor |
Positions and Offices with Registrant |
||
George R. Aylward 56 Prospect Street P.O. Box 150480 Hartford, CT 06115-0480 |
Director and Executive Vice President |
President | ||
John H. Beers One American Row P.O. Box 5056 Hartford, CT 06102-5056 |
Vice President and Secretary | Assistant Secretary | ||
Kevin J. Carr One American Row P.O. Box 5056 Hartford, CT 06102-5056 |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
Vice President, Counsel, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary |
||
John R. Flores One American Row P.O. Box 5056 Hartford, CT 06102-5056 |
Vice President and Anti-Money Laundering Officer |
Anti-Money Laundering Officer and Assistant Secretary |
||
Stephen D. Gresham 56 Prospect Street P.O. Box 150480 Hartford, CT 06115-0480 |
Director and Senior Vice President |
None | ||
Michael E. Haylon One American Row P.O. Box 5056 Hartford, CT 06102-5056 |
Director | None | ||
David C. Martin One American Row P.O. Box 5056 Hartford, CT 06102-5056 |
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer |
None | ||
David R. Pellerin 56 Prospect Street P.O. Box 150480 Hartford, CT 06115-0480 |
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
None | ||
Jacqueline M. Porter 56 Prospect Street P.O. Box 150480 Hartford, CT 06115-0480 |
Assistant Vice President | None | ||
Chester J. Sokolosky One American Row P.O. Box 5056 Hartford, CT 06102-5056 |
Vice President and Financial and Operations Principal |
Vice President and Assistant Treasurer |
||
Francis G. Waltman 56 Prospect Street P.O. Box 150480 Hartford, CT 06115-0480 |
President | Senior Vice President |
(c) | To the best of the Registrants knowledge, no commissions or other compensation was received by any principal underwriter who is not an affiliated person of the Registrant or an affiliated person of such affiliated person, directly or indirectly, from the Registrant during the Registrants last fiscal year. |
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Item 28. | Location of Accounts and Records |
Persons maintaining physical possession of accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules promulgated thereunder include:
Secretary of the Fund: Kevin J. Carr, Esq. One American Row P.O. Box 5056 Hartford, CT 06102-5056
Investment Adviser: Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. 56 Prospect Street P.O. Box 150480 Hartford, CT 06115-0480
Subadviser for Bond Fund, Earnings Driven Growth Fund and High Yield Fund: SCM Advisors LLC 909 Montgomery Street San Francisco, CA 94133
Subadviser for Growth Opportunities Fund: Turner Investment Partners, Inc. 1205 Westlakes Drive, Suite 100 Berwyn, PA 19312
Subadviser for International Strategies Fund and Worldwide Strategies Fund: New Star Institutional Managers, Inc. 1 Knightsbridge Green London, United Kingdom SW1X7NE
Subadviser for International Strategies Fund and Worldwide Strategies Fund: Acadian Asset Management, Inc. One Post Office Square, 20th Floor Boston, MA 02109
Subadviser for Market Neutral Fund: Euclid Advisors LLC 900 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022
Subadviser for CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Core Bond Fund, Diversifier PHOLIO, Money Market Fund, Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund, Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO Wealth Builder PHOLIO and Wealth Guardian PHOLIO: Goodwin Capital Advisers, Inc. 56 Prospect Street Hartford, CT 06115 |
Principal Underwriter, Administrator and Transfer Agent: Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation One American Row P.O. Box 5056 Hartford, CT 06102-5056
Custodian and Dividend Dispersing Agent for All Funds except Growth Opportunities Fund: State Street Bank and Trust Company 225 Franklin Street Boston, MA 02110
Custodian and Dividend Dispersing Agent for Growth Opportunities Fund: PFPC Trust Company 301 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809
Subadviser for Global Utilities Fund, International Real Estate Fund and Real Estate Securities Fund: Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co 55 East Monroe Street Chicago, IL 60603
Subadviser to Foreign Opportunities Fund: Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. 1540 Broadway, 38th Floor New York, NY 10036
Subadviser for Emerging Markets Bond Fund: Halbis Capital Management (USA) Inc. 452 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10018 |
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Item 29. | Management Services |
None.
Item 30. | Undertakings |
None.
C-7
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under Rule 485(b) of the Securities Act and has duly caused this amendment to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Hartford and the State of Connecticut on the 24 th day of September, 2007.
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST | ||||||||
ATTEST: | /s/ Kevin J. Carr | By: | /s/ George R. Aylward | |||||
Kevin J. Carr | George R. Aylward | |||||||
Secretary | President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this amendment to the registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 24 th day of September, 2007.
Signature |
Title |
|
/s/ George R. Aylward George R. Aylward |
Trustee and President (principal executive officer) | |
/s/ W. Patrick Bradley W. Patrick Bradley |
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (principal financial and accounting officer) |
|
E. Virgil Conway* |
Trustee | |
Harry Dalzell-Payne* |
Trustee | |
Francis E. Jeffries* |
Trustee | |
Leroy Keith, Jr.* |
Trustee | |
Marilyn E. LaMarche* |
Trustee | |
Philip R. McLoughlin* |
Trustee and Chairman | |
Geraldine M. McNamara* |
Trustee | |
James M. Oates* |
Trustee | |
Richard E. Segerson* |
Trustee | |
Ferdinand L.J. Verdonck* |
Trustee |
*By | /s/ George R. Aylward | |
*George R. Aylward, Attorney-in-Fact, pursuant to a power of attorney |
S-1
SECOND AMENDMENT
TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT effective as of the 27 th day of June, 2007 amends that certain Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement dated as of November 20, 2002 and that Amendment dated as of June 8, 2006 (the Agreement) by and between Phoenix Opportunities Trust (formerly known as Phoenix-Seneca Funds), a Delaware statutory trust (the Trust) and Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the Adviser) as follows:
1. | Phoenix CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Phoenix Core Bond Fund, Phoenix Emerging Markets Bond Fund, Phoenix Global Utilities Fund, Phoenix High Yield Fund, Phoenix Market Neutral Fund, Phoenix Money Market Fund, Phoenix Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund, Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund and Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund are hereby added as additional series to the Agreement. |
2. | Schedule A to the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and Schedule A attached hereto is substituted in its place. |
3. | Except as expressly amended hereby, all provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and are unchanged in all other respects. All initial capitalized terms used herein shall have such meanings as ascribed thereto in the Agreement, as amended. All terms and phrases in quotations shall have such meaning as ascribed thereto in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. |
4. | This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one and the same instrument. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto intending to be legally bound have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers of other representatives.
PHOENIX INVESTMENT COUNSEL, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ John H. Beers |
|
Name: | John H. Beers | |
Title: | Vice President and Clerk | |
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST | ||
By: |
/s/ Francis G. Waltman |
|
Name: | Francis G. Waltman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
SCHEDULE A
Series |
Investment Advisory Fee | |
Phoenix Bond Fund |
0.50% | |
Phoenix Earnings Driven Growth Fund |
0.80% | |
Phoenix Market Neutral Fund |
1.50% |
$1 st Billion |
$1+ Billion
$2 Billion |
$2+ Billion | ||||
Phoenix CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund |
0.45% | 0.40% | 0.35% | |||
Phoenix Core Bond Fund |
0.45% | 0.40% | 0.35% | |||
Phoenix Emerging Markets Bond Fund |
0.75% | 0.70% | 0.65% | |||
Phoenix Global Utilities Fund |
0.65% | 0.60% | 0.55% | |||
Phoenix Growth Opportunities Fund |
0.75% | 0.70% | 0.65% | |||
Phoenix High Yield Fund |
0.65% | 0.60% | 0.55% | |||
Phoenix Money Market Fund |
0.40% | 0.35% | 0.30% | |||
Phoenix Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund |
0.55% | 0.50% | 0.45% | |||
Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund |
0.55% | 0.50% | 0.45% | |||
Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund |
0.75% | 0.70% | 0.65% |
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
Phoenix Global Utilities Fund
Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
June 27, 2007
Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co.
55 East Monroe Street, Suite 3600
Chicago, IL 60603
RE: Subadvisory Agreement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Phoenix Opportunities Trust (the Fund) is an open-end investment company of the series type registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the Act), and is subject to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The shares of the Fund are offered or may be offered in several series, including the Phoenix Global Utilities Fund and Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund (collectively, sometimes hereafter referred to as the Series).
Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. (the Adviser) evaluates and recommends series advisers for the Series and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Series.
1. | Employment as a Subadviser . The Adviser, being duly authorized, hereby employs Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. (the Subadviser) as a discretionary series adviser to invest and reinvest that discrete portion of the assets of the Series designated by the Advisers as set forth on Schedule F attached hereto (the Designated Series) on the terms and conditions set forth herein. The services of the Subadviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive; the Subadviser may render services to others and engage in other activities that do not conflict in any material manner in the Subadvisers performance hereunder. |
2. | Acceptance of Employment; Standard of Performance . The Subadviser accepts its employment as a discretionary series adviser of the Designated Series and agrees to use its best professional judgment to make investment decisions for the Designated Series in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and as set forth in Schedule D attached hereto and made a part hereof. |
3. |
Services of Subadviser . In providing management services to the Designated Series, the Subadviser shall be subject to the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund as they apply to the Designated Series and as set forth in the Funds then current prospectus (Prospectus) and statement of additional information (Statement of Additional Information) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) as part of the Funds Registration Statement, as may be periodically amended and |
provided to the Subadviser by the Adviser, and to the investment restrictions set forth in the Act and the Rules thereunder, to the supervision and control of the Trustees of the Fund (the Trustees), and to instructions from the Adviser. The Subadviser shall not, without the Funds prior written approval, effect any transactions that would cause the Designated Series at the time of the transaction to be out of compliance with any of such restrictions or policies. |
4. | Transaction Procedures . All series transactions for the Designated Series shall be consummated by payment to, or delivery by, the Custodian(s) from time to time designated by the Fund (the Custodian), or such depositories or agents as may be designated by the Custodian in writing, of all cash and/or securities due to or from the Series. The Subadviser shall not have possession or custody of such cash and/or securities or any responsibility or liability with respect to such custody. The Subadviser shall advise the Custodian and confirm in writing to the Fund all investment orders for the Designated Series placed by it with brokers and dealers at the time and in the manner set forth in Schedule A hereto (as amended from time to time). The Fund shall issue to the Custodian such instructions as may be appropriate in connection with the settlement of any transaction initiated by the Subadviser. The Fund shall be responsible for all custodial arrangements and the payment of all custodial charges and fees, and, upon giving proper instructions to the Custodian, the Subadviser shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to custodial arrangements or the act, omissions or other conduct of the Custodian. |
5. | Allocation of Brokerage . The Subadviser shall have authority and discretion to select brokers and dealers to execute Designated Series transactions initiated by the Subadviser, and to select the markets on or in which the transactions will be executed. |
A. | In placing orders for the sale and purchase of Designated Series securities for the Fund, the Subadvisers primary responsibility shall be to seek the best execution of orders at the most favorable prices. However, this responsibility shall not obligate the Subadviser to solicit competitive bids for each transaction or to seek the lowest available commission cost to the Fund, so long as the Subadviser reasonably believes that the broker or dealer selected by it can be expected to obtain a best execution market price on the particular transaction and determines in good faith that the commission cost is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services (as defined in Section 28(e)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) provided by such broker or dealer to the Subadviser, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or of the Subadvisers overall responsibilities with respect to its clients, including the Fund, as to which the Subadviser exercises investment discretion, notwithstanding that the Fund may not be the direct or exclusive beneficiary of any such services or that another broker may be willing to charge the Fund a lower commission on the particular transaction. |
B. |
The Subadviser may manage other portfolios and expects that the Fund and other portfolios the Subadviser manages will, from time to time, purchase or sell the |
2
same securities. The Subadviser may aggregate orders for the purchase or sale of securities on behalf of the Designated Series with orders on behalf of other portfolios the Subadviser manages. Securities purchased or proceeds of securities sold through aggregated orders shall be allocated to the account of each portfolio managed by the Subadviser that bought or sold such securities at the average execution price. If less than the total of the aggregated orders is executed, purchased securities or proceeds shall generally be allocated pro rata among the participating portfolios in proportion to their planned participation in the aggregated orders. |
C. | The Subadviser shall not execute any Series transactions for the Designated Series with a broker or dealer that is an affiliated person (as defined in the Act) of the Fund, the Subadviser or the Adviser without the prior written approval of the Fund. The Fund shall provide the Subadviser with a list of brokers and dealers that are affiliated persons of the Fund or the Adviser. |
6. | Proxies . |
A. | The Subadviser, or a third party designee acting under the authority and supervision of the Subadviser, shall review all proxy solicitation materials and be responsible for voting and handling all proxies in relation to the assets of the Designated Series. Unless the Adviser or the Fund gives the Subadviser written instructions to the contrary, the Subadviser or its designee will, in compliance with the proxy voting procedures of the Designated Series then in effect, vote or abstain from voting, all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Designated Series may be invested. The Adviser shall cause the Custodian to forward promptly to the Subadviser or its designee all proxies upon receipt, so as to afford a reasonable amount of time in which to determine how to vote such proxies. The Subadviser or its designee shall provide the Adviser in a timely manner with a record of votes cast containing all of the voting information required by Form N-PX in an electronic format to enable the Fund to file Form N-PX as required by Rule 30b1-4 under the Act. |
B. | The Subadviser is authorized to deal with reorganizations and exchange offers with respect to securities held in the Series in such manner as the Subadviser deems advisable, unless the Fund or the Adviser otherwise specifically directs in writing. |
7. |
Prohibited Conduct . In providing the services described in this Agreement, the Subadvisers responsibility regarding investment advice hereunder is limited to the Designated Series, and the Subadviser will not consult with any other investment advisory firm that provides investment advisory services to the Fund or any other investment company sponsored by Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. regarding transactions for the Fund in securities or other assets. The Fund shall provide the Subadviser with a list of investment companies sponsored by Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. and the Subadviser shall be in breach of the foregoing provision only if the |
3
investment company is included in such a list provided to the Subadviser prior to such prohibited action. In addition, the Subadviser shall not, without the prior written consent of the Fund and the Adviser, delegate any obligation assumed pursuant to this Agreement to any affiliated or unaffiliated third party. |
8. | Information and Reports . |
A. | The Subadviser shall keep the Fund and the Adviser informed of developments relating to its duties as Subadviser of which the Subadviser has, or should have, knowledge that would materially affect the Designated Series. In this regard, the Subadviser shall provide the Fund, the Adviser and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Subadviser has assumed under this Agreement as the Fund and the Adviser may from time to time reasonably request. In addition, prior to each meeting of the Trustees, the Subadviser shall provide the Adviser and the Trustees with reports regarding the Subadvisers management of the Designated Series that discrete portion of the assets the Series managed by the Subadviser during the most recently completed quarter which reports: (i) shall include Subadvisers representation that its performance of its investment management duties hereunder is in compliance with the Funds investment objectives and practices, the Act and applicable rules and regulations under the Act, and the diversification and minimum good income requirements of Subchapter M under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and (ii) otherwise shall be in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Adviser. |
B. | Each of the Adviser and the Subadviser shall provide the other party with a list, to the best of the Advisers or the Subadvisers respective knowledge, of each affiliated person (and any affiliated person of such an affiliated person) of the Adviser or the Subadviser, as the case may be, and each of the Adviser and Subadviser agrees promptly to update such list whenever the Adviser or the Subadviser becomes aware of any changes that should be added to or deleted from the list of affiliated persons. |
C. | The Subadviser shall also provide the Adviser with any information reasonably requested by the Adviser regarding its management of the Designated Series required for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, or Prospectus supplement to be filed by the Fund with the SEC. |
9. | Fees for Services . The compensation of the Subadviser for its services under this Agreement shall be calculated and paid by the Adviser in accordance with the attached Schedule C. Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser, the Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of fees to the Subadviser. |
10. |
Limitation of Liability . The Subadviser shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in its best professional judgment, in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this |
4
Agreement, or in accordance with specific directions or instructions from the Fund, provided, however, that such acts or omissions shall not have constituted a material breach of the investment objectives, policies and restrictions applicable to the Designated Series as defined in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and that such acts or omissions shall not have resulted from the Subadvisers willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. |
11. | Insurance . Adviser shall include Subadviser in its joint liability and errors and omissions insurance coverage program. |
12. | Confidentiality . Subject to the duty of the Subadviser and the Fund to comply with applicable law, including any demand of any regulatory or taxing authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential all information pertaining to the Designated Series and the actions of the Subadviser and the Fund in respect thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund and the Adviser agree that the Subadviser may (i) disclose in marketing materials and similar communications that the Fund has engaged Subadviser pursuant to this Agreement, and (ii) include performance statistics regarding the Series in composite performance statistics regarding one or more groups of Subadvisers clients published or included in any of the foregoing communications, provided that the Subadviser does not identify any performance statistics as relating specifically to the Series. |
13. | Assignment . This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(4) of the Act. The Subadviser shall notify the Fund in writing sufficiently in advance of any proposed change of control, as defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the Act, as will enable the Fund to consider whether an assignment as defined in Section 2(a)(4) of the Act will occur, and to take the steps necessary to enter into a new contract with the Subadviser. |
14. | Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Subadviser . The Subadviser represents, warrants and agrees that: |
A. | It is registered as an Investment Adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (Advisers Act). |
B. | It will maintain, keep current and preserve on behalf of the Fund, in the manner required or permitted by the Act and the Rules thereunder including the records identified in Schedule B (as Schedule B may be amended from time to time). The Subadviser agrees that such records are the property of the Fund, and shall be surrendered to the Fund or to the Adviser as agent of the Fund promptly upon request of either. The Fund acknowledges that Subadviser may retain copies of all records required to meet the record retention requirements imposed by law and regulation. |
C. |
It shall maintain a written code of ethics (the Code of Ethics) complying with the requirements of Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act and Rule 17j-l under the |
5
Act and shall provide the Fund and the Adviser with a copy of the Code of Ethics and evidence of its adoption. It shall institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons (as defined in Rule 17j-1) from violating its Code of Ethics. The Subadviser acknowledges receipt of the written code of ethics adopted by and on behalf of the Fund. Each calendar quarter while this Agreement is in effect, a duly authorized compliance officer of the Subadviser shall certify to the Fund and to the Adviser that the Subadviser has complied with the requirements of Rules 204A-1 and 17j-l during the previous calendar quarter and that there has been no material violation of its Code of Ethics, or of Rule 17j-1(b), or that any persons covered under its Code of Ethics has divulged or acted upon any material, non-public information, as such term is defined under relevant securities laws, and if such a violation has occurred or the code of ethics of the Fund, or if such a violation of its Code of Ethics has occurred, that appropriate action was taken in response to such violation. Annually, the Subadviser shall furnish to the Fund a written report which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 concerning the Subadvisers Code of Ethics to the Fund and the Adviser. The Subadviser shall permit the Fund and the Adviser to examine the reports required to be made by the Subadviser under Rules 204A-1(b) and 17j-l(d)(1) and this subparagraph. |
D. | It has adopted and implemented, and throughout the term of this Agreement shall maintain in effect and implement, policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent, detect and correct violations by the Subadviser and its supervised persons, and, to the extent the activities of the Subadviser in respect to the Fund could affect the Fund, by the Fund, of federal securities laws (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the Act), and that the Subadviser has provided the Fund with true and complete copies of its policies and procedures (or summaries thereof) and related information reasonably requested by the Fund. The Subadviser agrees to cooperate with periodic reviews by the Funds compliance personnel of the Subadvisers policies and procedures, their operation and implementation and other compliance matters and to provide to the Fund from time to time such additional information and certifications in respect of the Subadvisers policies and procedures, compliance by the Subadviser with federal securities laws and related matters and the Funds compliance personnel may reasonably request. The Subadviser agrees to promptly notify the Adviser of any compliance violations which affect the Designated Series. |
E. |
Reference is hereby made to the Declaration of Trust establishing the Fund, a copy of which has been filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and elsewhere as required by law, and to any and all amendments thereto so filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and elsewhere as required by law, and to any and all amendments thereto so filed or hereafter filed. The name Phoenix Opportunities Trust refers to the Trustees under said Declaration of Trust, as Trustees and not personally, and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, agent or employee of the Fund shall be held to any personal liability in connection with the affairs of the Fund; only the trust estate under said Declaration of Trust is liable. |
6
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Subadviser nor any of its officers, directors, partners, shareholders or employees shall, under any circumstances, have recourse or cause or willingly permit recourse to be had directly or indirectly to any personal, statutory, or other liability of any shareholder, Trustee, officer, agent or employee of the Fund or of any successor of the Fund, whether such liability now exists or is hereafter incurred for claims against the trust estate. |
15. | Entire Agreement; Amendment . This Agreement, together with the Schedules attached hereto, constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior written or oral agreements pertaining to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended at any time, but only by written agreement among the Subadviser, the Adviser and the Fund, which amendment, other than amendments to Schedules A, B, D, E and F, is subject to the approval of the Trustees and the shareholders of the Fund as and to the extent required by the Act. |
16. | Effective Date; Term . This Agreement shall become effective on the date set forth on the first page of this Agreement, and shall continue in effect until December 31, 2007. The Agreement shall continue from year to year thereafter only so long as its continuance has been specifically approved at least annually by the Trustees in accordance with Section 15(a) of the Act, and by the majority vote of the disinterested Trustees in accordance with the requirements of Section 15(c) thereof. |
17. | Termination . This Agreement may be terminated by any party, without penalty, immediately upon written notice to the other parties in the event of a material breach of any provision thereof by a party so notified, or otherwise upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other parties, but any such termination shall not affect the status, obligations or liabilities of any party hereto to the other parties. |
18. | Applicable Law . To the extent that state law is not preempted by the provisions of any law of the United States heretofore or hereafter enacted, as the same may be amended from time to time, this Agreement shall be administered, construed and enforced according to the laws of the State of Delaware. |
19. | Severability . If any term or condition of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable to any extent or in any application, then the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and each and every term and condition of this Agreement shall be valid and enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. |
20. | Notices. Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered personally or by overnight delivery service or mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, or sent by facsimile addressed to the parties at their respective addresses set forth below, or at such other address as shall be designated by any party in a written notice to the other party. |
7
(a) | To Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. at: |
Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc.
56 Prospect Street
Hartford, CT 06115
Attn: John H. Beers, Vice President and Clerk
Telephone: (860) 403-5050
Facsimile: (860) 403-7251
Email: john.beers@phoenixwm.com
(b) | To Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. at: |
Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co.
55 East Monroe Street, Suite 3600
Chicago, IL 60603
Attn: Joyce Riegel
Telephone: (312) 630-4641
Facsimile: (312) 630-2460
Email: joyce.riegel@dpimc.com
21. | Certifications. The Subadviser hereby warrants and represents that it will provide the requisite certifications reasonably requested by the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Fund necessary for those named officers to fulfill their reporting and certification obligations on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q as required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to the extent that such reporting and certifications relate to the Subadvisers duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. Subadviser shall provide a quarterly certification in a form substantially similar to that attached as Schedule E. |
22. | Indemnification . The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Subadviser and the Subadvisers directors, officers, employees and agents from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, and expenses whatsoever, including reasonable attorneys fees (collectively, Losses), arising out of or relating to (i) any breach by the Adviser of any provision of this Agreement; (ii) the negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith, or breach of fiduciary duty of the Adviser; (iii) any violation by the Adviser of any law or regulation relating to its activities under this Agreement; and (iv) any dispute between the Adviser and any Fund shareholder, except to the extent that such Losses result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith of the Subadviser or the Subadvisers reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. |
23. | Receipt of Disclosure Document . The Fund acknowledges receipt, at least 48 hours prior to entering into this Agreement, of a copy of Part II of the Subadvisers Form ADV containing certain information concerning the Subadviser and the nature of its business. |
8
24. | Counterparts; Fax Signatures . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including executed counterparts delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission) with the same effect as if all signing parties had originally signed the same document, and all counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute the same instrument. For all purposes, signatures delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission shall be binding and effective to the same extent as original signatures. |
[signature page follows]
9
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST | ||
By: |
/s/ Francis G. Waltman |
|
Name: | Francis G. Waltman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President | |
PHOENIX INVESTMENT COUNSEL, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ John H. Beers |
|
Name: | John H. Beers | |
Title: | Vice President and Clerk |
ACCEPTED:
Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. | ||
By: |
/s/ Nathan Partain |
|
Name: | Nathan Partain | |
Title: | President and Chief Investment Officer |
SCHEDULES: | A. | Operational Procedures | ||||
B. | Record Keeping Requirements | |||||
C. | Fee Schedule | |||||
D. | Subadviser Functions | |||||
E. | Form of Sub-Certification | |||||
F. | Designated Series |
10
SCHEDULE A
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
In order to minimize operational problems, it will be necessary for a flow of information to be supplied by Subadviser to State Street and Bank Trust Company (the Custodian) and PFPC, Inc., (the Sub-Accounting Agent) for the Fund.
The Subadviser must furnish the Custodian and the Sub-Accounting Agent with daily information as to executed trades, or, if no trades are executed, with a report to that effect, no later than 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard time) on the day of the trade each day the Fund is open for business. (Subadviser will be responsible for reimbursement to the Fund for any loss caused by the Subadvisers failure to comply.) The necessary information can be sent via facsimile machine to the Custodian and the Sub-Accounting Agent. Information provided to the Custodian and the Sub-Accounting Agent shall include the following:
1. | Purchase or sale; | |
2. | Security name; | |
3. | CUSIP number, ISIN or Sedols (as applicable); | |
4. | Number of shares and sales price per share or aggregate principal amount; | |
5. | Executing broker; | |
6. | Settlement agent; | |
7. | Trade date; | |
8. | Settlement date; | |
9. | Aggregate commission or if a net trade; | |
10. | Interest purchased or sold from interest bearing security; | |
11. | Other fees; | |
12. | Net proceeds of the transaction; | |
13. | Exchange where trade was executed; | |
14. | Identified tax lot (if applicable); and | |
15. | Trade commission reason: best execution, soft dollar or research. |
When opening accounts with brokers for, and in the name of, the Fund, the account must be a cash account. No margin accounts are to be maintained in the name of the Fund. Delivery instructions are as specified by the Custodian. The Custodian will supply the Subadviser daily with a cash availability report via access to the Custodian website, or by email or by facsimile and the Sub-Accounting Agent will provide a five day cash projection. This will normally be done by email or, if email is unavailable, by another form of immediate written communication, so that the Subadviser will know the amount available for investment purposes.
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SCHEDULE B
RECORDS TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE SUBADVISER
1. | (Rule 31a-1(b)(5)) A record of each brokerage order, and all other series purchases and sales, given by the Subadviser on behalf of the Fund for, or in connection with, the purchase or sale of securities, whether executed or unexecuted. Such records shall include: |
A. | The name of the broker; |
B. | The terms and conditions of the order and of any modifications or cancellations thereof; |
C. | The time of entry or cancellation; |
D. | The price at which executed; |
E. | The time of receipt of a report of execution; and |
F. | The name of the person who placed the order on behalf of the Fund. |
2. | (Rule 31a-1(b)(9)) A record for each fiscal quarter, completed within ten (10) days after the end of the quarter, showing specifically the basis or bases upon which the allocation of orders for the purchase and sale of series securities to named brokers or dealers was effected, and the division of brokerage commissions or other compensation on such purchase and sale orders. Such record: |
A. | Shall include the consideration given to: |
(i) | The sale of shares of the Fund by brokers or dealers. |
(ii) | The supplying of services or benefits by brokers or dealers to: |
(a) | The Fund, |
(b) | The Adviser, |
(c) | The Subadviser, and |
(d) | Any person other than the foregoing. |
(iii) | Any other consideration other than the technical qualifications of the brokers and dealers as such. |
B. | Shall show the nature of the services or benefits made available. |
C. | Shall describe in detail the application of any general or specific formula or other determinant used in arriving at such allocation of purchase and sale orders and such division of brokerage commissions or other compensation. |
D. | The name of the person responsible for making the determination of such allocation and such division of brokerage commissions or other compensation. |
3. | (Rule 31a-1(b)(10)) A record in the form of an appropriate memorandum identifying the person or persons, committees or groups authorizing the purchase or sale of series securities. Where a committee or group makes an authorization, a record shall be kept of the names of its members who participate in the authorization. There shall be retained as part of this record: any memorandum, recommendation or instruction supporting or authorizing the purchase or sale of series securities and such other information as is appropriate to support the authorization.* |
* | Such information might include: current financial information, annual and quarterly reports, press releases, reports by analysts and from brokerage firms (including their recommendations, i.e., buy, sell, hold) or any internal reports or subadviser review. |
12
4. | (Rule 31a-1(f)) Such accounts, books and other documents as are required to be maintained by registered investment Advisers by rule adopted under Section 204 of the Advisers Act, to the extent such records are necessary or appropriate to record the Subadvisers transactions for the Fund. |
5. | Records as necessary under Board approved Phoenix Funds valuation policies and procedures. |
13
SCHEDULE C
SUBADVISORY FEE
(a) For services provided to the Fund, the Adviser will pay to the Subadviser, on or before the 10 th day of each month, a fee, payable in arrears, at the annual rate stated below. The fees shall be prorated for any month during which this Agreement is in effect for only a portion of the month. In computing the fee to be paid to the Subadviser, the net asset value of the Fund and each Designated Series shall be valued as set forth in the then current registration statement of the Fund.
(b) The fee to be paid to the Subadviser is to be 50% of the gross management fee at each breakpoint as calculated based on the average daily net assets of the Phoenix Global Utilities Fund.
The fee to be paid to the Subadviser is to be 50% of the gross management fee at each breakpoint as calculated based on the average daily net assets of the Phoenix Real Estate Fund.
14
SCHEDULE D
SUBADVISER FUNCTIONS
With respect to managing the investment and reinvestment of the Designated Series assets, the Subadviser shall provide, at its own expense:
(a) | An investment program for the Designated Series consistent with its investment objectives based upon the development, review and adjustment of buy/sell strategies approved from time to time by the Board of Trustees and the Adviser in paragraph 3 of this Subadvisory Agreement; |
(b) | Periodic reports, on at least a quarterly basis, in form and substance acceptable to the Adviser, with respect to: i) compliance with the Code of Ethics and the Funds code of ethics; ii) compliance with procedures adopted from time to time by the Trustees of the Fund relative to securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; iii) diversification of Designated Series assets in accordance with the then prevailing Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information pertaining to the Designated Series and governing laws; iv) compliance with governing restrictions relating to the fair valuation of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or considered illiquid for the purposes of complying with the Designated Series limitation on acquisition of illiquid securities; v) any and all other reports reasonably requested in accordance with or described in this Agreement; and vi) the implementation of the Designated Series investment program, including, without limitation, analysis of Designated Series performance; |
(c) | Promptly after filing with the SEC an amendment to its Form ADV, a copy of such amendment to the Adviser and the Trustees; |
(d) | Attendance by appropriate representatives of the Subadviser at meetings requested by the Adviser or Trustees at such time(s) and location(s) as reasonably requested by the Adviser or Trustees; and |
(e) | Notice to the Trustees and the Adviser of the occurrence of any event which would disqualify the Subadviser from serving as an investment Adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act or otherwise. |
(f) | Provide reasonable assistance in the valuation of securities including the participation of appropriate representatives at fair valuation committee meetings. |
15
SCHEDULE E
FORM OF SUB-CERTIFICATION
To: | ||
Re: | Form N-CSR and Form N-Q Certification for the [Name of Designated Series]. | |
From: | [Name of Subadviser] | |
Representations in support of Investment Company Act Rule 30b1-5 certifications of Form N-CSR and Form N-Q. | ||
[Name of Designated Series]. | ||
In connection with your certification responsibility under Rule 30b1-5 and Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, I have reviewed the following information presented for the period ended [Date of Reporting Period] (the Reports) which forms part of the N-CSR or N-Q, as applicable, for the Funds. |
Schedule of Investments (the Reports)
Our organization has designed, implemented and maintained internal controls and procedures, designed for the purpose of ensuring the accuracy and completeness of relevant portfolio trade data transmitted to those responsible for the preparation of the Schedule of Investments. As of the date of this certification there have been no material modifications to these internal controls and procedures.
In addition, our organization has:
a. | Designed such internal controls and procedures to ensure that material information is made known to the appropriate groups responsible for servicing the above-mentioned mutual funds. |
b. | Evaluated the effectiveness of our internal controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the date of this certification and we have concluded that such controls and procedures are effective. |
c. | In addition, to the best of my knowledge there has been no fraud, whether, or not material, that involves our organizations management or other employees who have a significant role in our organizations control and procedures as they relate to our duties as subadviser to the Funds. |
I have read the draft of the Reports which I understand to be current as of [Date of Reporting Period] and based on my knowledge, such drafts of the Reports do not, with respect to the Funds, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the information contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which such information is presented, not misleading with respect to the period covered by such draft Reports.
16
I have disclosed, based on my most recent evaluation, to the Funds Chief Accounting Officer:
a. | All significant changes, deficiencies and material weakness, if any, in the design or operation of the Subadvisers internal controls and procedures which could adversely affect the Advisers ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data with respect to the Fund in a timely fashion; |
b. | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves the Subadvisers management or other employees who have a significant role in the Subadvisers internal controls and procedures for financial reporting as they relate to our duties as Subadviser to the Fund. |
I certify that to the best of my knowledge:
a. | The Subadvisers Portfolio Manager(s) has/have complied with the restrictions and reporting requirements of the Code of Ethics (the Code). The term Portfolio Manager is as defined in the Code. |
b. | The Subadviser has complied with the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Funds and the Policies and Procedures of the Funds as adopted by the Funds Board of Trustees to the extent they relate to our duties as Subadviser to the Fund. |
c. | I have no knowledge of any compliance violations except as disclosed in writing to the Phoenix Compliance Department by me or by the Subadvisers compliance administrator. |
d. | The Subadviser has complied with the rules and regulations of the 33 Act and 40 Act, and such other regulations as may apply to the extent those rules and regulations pertain to the responsibilities of the Subadviser with respect to the Fund as outlined above. |
This certification relates solely to the Funds named above and may not be relied upon by any other fund or entity.
The Subadviser does not maintain the official books and records of the above Funds. The Subadvisers records are based on its own portfolio management system, a record-keeping system that is not intended to serve as the Funds official accounting system. The Subadviser is not responsible for the preparation of the Reports.
|
|
|||
[Name of Authorized Signature] | Date |
17
SCHEDULE F
DESIGNATED SERIES
Phoenix Global Utilities Fund
Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund
18
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
Phoenix Market Neutral Fund
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
June 27, 2007
Euclid Advisers, LLC
900 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
RE: Subadvisory Agreement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Phoenix Opportunities Trust (the Fund) is an open-end investment company of the series type registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the Act), and is subject to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The shares of the Fund are offered or may be offered in several series, including the Phoenix Market Neutral Fund (collectively, sometimes hereafter referred to as the Series).
Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. (the Adviser) evaluates and recommends series advisers for the Series and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Series.
1. | Employment as a Subadviser . The Adviser, being duly authorized, hereby employs Euclid Advisers, LLC (the Subadviser) as a discretionary series adviser to invest and reinvest that discrete portion of the assets of the Series designated by the Advisers as set forth on Schedule F attached hereto (the Designated Series) on the terms and conditions set forth herein. The services of the Subadviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive; the Subadviser may render services to others and engage in other activities that do not conflict in any material manner in the Subadvisers performance hereunder. |
2. | Acceptance of Employment; Standard of Performance . The Subadviser accepts its employment as a discretionary series adviser of the Designated Series and agrees to use its best professional judgment to make investment decisions for the Designated Series in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and as set forth in Schedule D attached hereto and made a part hereof. |
3. |
Services of Subadviser . In providing management services to the Designated Series, the Subadviser shall be subject to the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund as they apply to the Designated Series and as set forth in the Funds then current prospectus (Prospectus) and statement of additional information (Statement of Additional Information) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) as part of the Funds Registration Statement, as may be periodically amended and provided to the Subadviser by the Adviser, and to the investment restrictions set forth in |
the Act and the Rules thereunder, to the supervision and control of the Trustees of the Fund (the Trustees), and to instructions from the Adviser. The Subadviser shall not, without the Funds prior written approval, effect any transactions that would cause the Designated Series at the time of the transaction to be out of compliance with any of such restrictions or policies. |
4. | Transaction Procedures . All series transactions for the Designated Series shall be consummated by payment to, or delivery by, the Custodian(s) from time to time designated by the Fund (the Custodian), or such depositories or agents as may be designated by the Custodian in writing, of all cash and/or securities due to or from the Series. The Subadviser shall not have possession or custody of such cash and/or securities or any responsibility or liability with respect to such custody. The Subadviser shall advise the Custodian and confirm in writing to the Fund all investment orders for the Designated Series placed by it with brokers and dealers at the time and in the manner set forth in Schedule A hereto (as amended from time to time). The Fund shall issue to the Custodian such instructions as may be appropriate in connection with the settlement of any transaction initiated by the Subadviser. The Fund shall be responsible for all custodial arrangements and the payment of all custodial charges and fees, and, upon giving proper instructions to the Custodian, the Subadviser shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to custodial arrangements or the act, omissions or other conduct of the Custodian. |
5. | Allocation of Brokerage . The Subadviser shall have authority and discretion to select brokers and dealers to execute Designated Series transactions initiated by the Subadviser, and to select the markets on or in which the transactions will be executed. |
A. | In placing orders for the sale and purchase of Designated Series securities for the Fund, the Subadvisers primary responsibility shall be to seek the best execution of orders at the most favorable prices. However, this responsibility shall not obligate the Subadviser to solicit competitive bids for each transaction or to seek the lowest available commission cost to the Fund, so long as the Subadviser reasonably believes that the broker or dealer selected by it can be expected to obtain a best execution market price on the particular transaction and determines in good faith that the commission cost is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services (as defined in Section 28(e)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) provided by such broker or dealer to the Subadviser, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or of the Subadvisers overall responsibilities with respect to its clients, including the Fund, as to which the Subadviser exercises investment discretion, notwithstanding that the Fund may not be the direct or exclusive beneficiary of any such services or that another broker may be willing to charge the Fund a lower commission on the particular transaction. |
B. |
The Subadviser may manage other portfolios and expects that the Fund and other portfolios the Subadviser manages will, from time to time, purchase or sell the same securities. The Subadviser may aggregate orders for the purchase or sale of |
2
securities on behalf of the Designated Series with orders on behalf of other portfolios the Subadviser manages. Securities purchased or proceeds of securities sold through aggregated orders shall be allocated to the account of each portfolio managed by the Subadviser that bought or sold such securities at the average execution price. If less than the total of the aggregated orders is executed, purchased securities or proceeds shall generally be allocated pro rata among the participating portfolios in proportion to their planned participation in the aggregated orders. |
C. | The Subadviser shall not execute any Series transactions for the Designated Series with a broker or dealer that is an affiliated person (as defined in the Act) of the Fund, the Subadviser or the Adviser without the prior written approval of the Fund. The Fund shall provide the Subadviser with a list of brokers and dealers that are affiliated persons of the Fund or the Adviser. |
6. | Proxies . |
A. | The Subadviser, or a third party designee acting under the authority and supervision of the Subadviser, shall review all proxy solicitation materials and be responsible for voting and handling all proxies in relation to the assets of the Designated Series. Unless the Adviser or the Fund gives the Subadviser written instructions to the contrary, the Subadviser or its designee will, in compliance with the proxy voting procedures of the Designated Series then in effect, vote or abstain from voting, all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Designated Series may be invested. The Adviser shall cause the Custodian to forward promptly to the Subadviser or its designee all proxies upon receipt, so as to afford a reasonable amount of time in which to determine how to vote such proxies. The Subadviser or its designee shall provide the Adviser in a timely manner with a record of votes cast containing all of the voting information required by Form N-PX in an electronic format to enable the Fund to file Form N-PX as required by Rule 30b1-4 under the Act. |
B. | The Subadviser is authorized to deal with reorganizations and exchange offers with respect to securities held in the Series in such manner as the Subadviser deems advisable, unless the Fund or the Adviser otherwise specifically directs in writing. |
7. |
Prohibited Conduct . In providing the services described in this Agreement, the Subadvisers responsibility regarding investment advice hereunder is limited to the Designated Series, and the Subadviser will not consult with any other investment advisory firm that provides investment advisory services to the Fund or any other investment company sponsored by Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. regarding transactions for the Fund in securities or other assets. The Fund shall provide the Subadviser with a list of investment companies sponsored by Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. and the Subadviser shall be in breach of the foregoing provision only if the investment company is included in such a list provided to the Subadviser prior to such |
3
prohibited action. In addition, the Subadviser shall not, without the prior written consent of the Fund and the Adviser, delegate any obligation assumed pursuant to this Agreement to any affiliated or unaffiliated third party. |
8. | Information and Reports . |
A. | The Subadviser shall keep the Fund and the Adviser informed of developments relating to its duties as Subadviser of which the Subadviser has, or should have, knowledge that would materially affect the Designated Series. In this regard, the Subadviser shall provide the Fund, the Adviser and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Subadviser has assumed under this Agreement as the Fund and the Adviser may from time to time reasonably request. In addition, prior to each meeting of the Trustees, the Subadviser shall provide the Adviser and the Trustees with reports regarding the Subadvisers management of the Designated Series that discrete portion of the assets the Series managed by the Subadviser during the most recently completed quarter which reports: (i) shall include Subadvisers representation that its performance of its investment management duties hereunder is in compliance with the Funds investment objectives and practices, the Act and applicable rules and regulations under the Act, and the diversification and minimum good income requirements of Subchapter M under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and (ii) otherwise shall be in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Adviser. |
B. | Each of the Adviser and the Subadviser shall provide the other party with a list, to the best of the Advisers or the Subadvisers respective knowledge, of each affiliated person (and any affiliated person of such an affiliated person) of the Adviser or the Subadviser, as the case may be, and each of the Adviser and Subadviser agrees promptly to update such list whenever the Adviser or the Subadviser becomes aware of any changes that should be added to or deleted from the list of affiliated persons. |
C. | The Subadviser shall also provide the Adviser with any information reasonably requested by the Adviser regarding its management of the Designated Series required for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, or Prospectus supplement to be filed by the Fund with the SEC. |
9. | Fees for Services . The compensation of the Subadviser for its services under this Agreement shall be calculated and paid by the Adviser in accordance with the attached Schedule C. Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser, the Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of fees to the Subadviser. |
10. |
Limitation of Liability . The Subadviser shall not be liable for any action taken, omitted or suffered to be taken by it in its best professional 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 specific directions or instructions from the Fund, |
4
provided, however, that such acts or omissions shall not have constituted a material breach of the investment objectives, policies and restrictions applicable to the Designated Series as defined in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and that such acts or omissions shall not have resulted from the Subadvisers willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. |
11. | Confidentiality . Subject to the duty of the Subadviser and the Fund to comply with applicable law, including any demand of any regulatory or taxing authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential all information pertaining to the Designated Series and the actions of the Subadviser and the Fund in respect thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund and the Adviser agree that the Subadviser may (i) disclose in marketing materials and similar communications that the Fund has engaged Subadviser pursuant to this Agreement, and (ii) include performance statistics regarding the Series in composite performance statistics regarding one or more groups of Subadviser's clients published or included in any of the foregoing communications, provided that the Subadviser does not identify any performance statistics as relating specifically to the Series. |
12. | Assignment . This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(4) of the Act. The Subadviser shall notify the Fund in writing sufficiently in advance of any proposed change of control, as defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the Act, as will enable the Fund to consider whether an assignment as defined in Section 2(a)(4) of the Act will occur, and to take the steps necessary to enter into a new contract with the Subadviser. |
13. | Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Subadviser . The Subadviser represents, warrants and agrees that: |
A. | It is registered as an Investment Adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (Advisers Act). |
B. | It will maintain, keep current and preserve on behalf of the Fund, in the manner required or permitted by the Act and the Rules thereunder including the records identified in Schedule B (as Schedule B may be amended from time to time). The Subadviser agrees that such records are the property of the Fund, and shall be surrendered to the Fund or to the Adviser as agent of the Fund promptly upon request of either. The Fund acknowledges that Subadviser may retain copies of all records required to meet the record retention requirements imposed by law and regulation. |
C. |
It shall maintain a written code of ethics (the Code of Ethics) complying with the requirements of Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act and Rule 17j-l under the Act and shall provide the Fund and the Adviser with a copy of the Code of Ethics and evidence of its adoption. It shall institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons (as defined in Rule 17j-1) from violating its Code of Ethics. The Subadviser acknowledges receipt of the written code of ethics |
5
adopted by and on behalf of the Fund. Each calendar quarter while this Agreement is in effect, a duly authorized compliance officer of the Subadviser shall certify to the Fund and to the Adviser that the Subadviser has complied with the requirements of Rules 204A-1 and 17j-l during the previous calendar quarter and that there has been no material violation of its Code of Ethics, or of Rule 17j-1(b), or that any persons covered under its Code of Ethics has divulged or acted upon any material, non-public information, as such term is defined under relevant securities laws, and if such a violation has occurred or the code of ethics of the Fund, or if such a violation of its Code of Ethics has occurred, that appropriate action was taken in response to such violation. Annually, the Subadviser shall furnish to the Fund a written report which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 concerning the Subadvisers Code of Ethics to the Fund and the Adviser. The Subadviser shall permit the Fund and the Adviser to examine the reports required to be made by the Subadviser under Rules 204A-1(b) and 17j-l(d)(1) and this subparagraph. |
D. | It has adopted and implemented, and throughout the term of this Agreement shall maintain in effect and implement, policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent, detect and correct violations by the Subadviser and its supervised persons, and, to the extent the activities of the Subadviser in respect to the Fund could affect the Fund, by the Fund, of federal securities laws (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the Act), and that the Subadviser has provided the Fund with true and complete copies of its policies and procedures (or summaries thereof) and related information reasonably requested by the Fund. The Subadviser agrees to cooperate with periodic reviews by the Funds compliance personnel of the Subadvisers policies and procedures, their operation and implementation and other compliance matters and to provide to the Fund from time to time such additional information and certifications in respect of the Subadvisers policies and procedures, compliance by the Subadviser with federal securities laws and related matters and the Funds compliance personnel may reasonably request. The Subadviser agrees to promptly notify the Adviser of any compliance violations which affect the Designated Series. |
E. |
Reference is hereby made to the Declaration of Trust establishing the Fund, a copy of which has been filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and elsewhere as required by law, and to any and all amendments thereto so filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and elsewhere as required by law, and to any and all amendments thereto so filed or hereafter filed. The name Phoenix Opportunities Trust refers to the Trustees under said Declaration of Trust, as Trustees and not personally, and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, agent or employee of the Fund shall be held to any personal liability in connection with the affairs of the Fund; only the trust estate under said Declaration of Trust is liable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Subadviser nor any of its officers, directors, partners, shareholders or employees shall, under any circumstances, have recourse or cause or willingly permit recourse to be had directly or indirectly to any personal, statutory, or other liability of any |
6
shareholder, Trustee, officer, agent or employee of the Fund or of any successor of the Fund, whether such liability now exists or is hereafter incurred for claims against the trust estate. |
14. | Entire Agreement; Amendment . This Agreement, together with the Schedules attached hereto, constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior written or oral agreements pertaining to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended at any time, but only by written agreement among the Subadviser, the Adviser and the Fund, which amendment, other than amendments to Schedules A, B, D, E and F, is subject to the approval of the Trustees and the shareholders of the Fund as and to the extent required by the Act. |
15. | Effective Date; Term . This Agreement shall become effective on the date set forth on the first page of this Agreement, and shall continue in effect until December 31, 2007. The Agreement shall continue from year to year thereafter only so long as its continuance has been specifically approved at least annually by the Trustees in accordance with Section 15(a) of the Act, and by the majority vote of the disinterested Trustees in accordance with the requirements of Section 15(c) thereof. |
16. | Termination . This Agreement may be terminated by any party, without penalty, immediately upon written notice to the other parties in the event of a material breach of any provision thereof by a party so notified, or otherwise upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other parties, but any such termination shall not affect the status, obligations or liabilities of any party hereto to the other parties. |
17. | Applicable Law . To the extent that state law is not preempted by the provisions of any law of the United States heretofore or hereafter enacted, as the same may be amended from time to time, this Agreement shall be administered, construed and enforced according to the laws of the State of Delaware. |
18. | Severability . If any term or condition of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable to any extent or in any application, then the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and each and every term and condition of this Agreement shall be valid and enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. |
19. | Notices. Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered personally or by overnight delivery service or mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, or sent by facsimile addressed to the parties at their respective addresses set forth below, or at such other address as shall be designated by any party in a written notice to the other party. |
7
(a) | To Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. at: |
Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc.
56 Prospect Street
Hartford, CT 06115
Attn: John H. Beers, Vice President and Clerk
Telephone: (860) 403-5050
Facsimile: (860) 403-7251
Email: john.beers@phoenixwm.com
(b) | To Euclid Advisers, LLC at: |
Euclid Advisers, LLC
900 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attn: Marc Baltuch, Chief Compliance Officer
Telephone: (212) 451-1173
Facsimile: (212) 451-1415
Email: mbaltuch@zweig.com
20. | Certifications. The Subadviser hereby warrants and represents that it will provide the requisite certifications reasonably requested by the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Fund necessary for those named officers to fulfill their reporting and certification obligations on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q as required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to the extent that such reporting and certifications relate to the Subadvisers duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. Subadviser shall provide a quarterly certification in a form substantially similar to that attached as Schedule E. |
21. | Indemnification . The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Subadviser and the Subadvisers directors, officers, employees and agents from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, and expenses whatsoever, including reasonable attorneys fees (collectively, Losses), arising out of or relating to (i) any breach by the Adviser of any provision of this Agreement; (ii) the negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith, or breach of fiduciary duty of the Adviser; (iii) any violation by the Adviser of any law or regulation relating to its activities under this Agreement; and (iv) any dispute between the Adviser and any Fund shareholder, except to the extent that such Losses result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith of the Subadviser or the Subadvisers reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. |
22. | Receipt of Disclosure Document . The Fund acknowledges receipt, at least 48 hours prior to entering into this Agreement, of a copy of Part II of the Subadvisers Form ADV containing certain information concerning the Subadviser and the nature of its business. |
8
23. | Counterparts; Fax Signatures . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including executed counterparts delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission) with the same effect as if all signing parties had originally signed the same document, and all counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute the same instrument. For all purposes, signatures delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission shall be binding and effective to the same extent as original signatures. |
[signature page follows]
9
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST | ||
By: |
/s/ Francis G. Waltman |
|
Name: | Francis G. Waltman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President | |
PHOENIX INVESTMENT COUNSEL, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ John H. Beers |
|
Name: | John H. Beers | |
Title: | Vice President and Clerk |
ACCEPTED:
Euclid Advisers, LLC |
||
By: |
/s/ George R. Aylward |
|
Name: | George R. Aylward | |
Title: | President |
SCHEDULES: | A. | Operational Procedures | ||||
B. | Record Keeping Requirements | |||||
C. | Fee Schedule | |||||
D. | Subadviser Functions | |||||
E. | Form of Sub-Certification | |||||
F. | Designated Series |
10
SCHEDULE A
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
In order to minimize operational problems, it will be necessary for a flow of information to be supplied by Subadviser to State Street and Bank Trust Company (the "Custodian") and PFPC, Inc., (the Sub-Accounting Agent) for the Fund.
The Subadviser must furnish the Custodian and the Sub-Accounting Agent with daily information as to executed trades, or, if no trades are executed, with a report to that effect, no later than 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard time) on the day of the trade each day the Fund is open for business. (Subadviser will be responsible for reimbursement to the Fund for any loss caused by the Subadvisers failure to comply.) The necessary information can be sent via facsimile machine to the Custodian and the Sub-Accounting Agent. Information provided to the Custodian and the Sub-Accounting Agent shall include the following:
1. | Purchase or sale; | |
2. | Security name; | |
3. | CUSIP number, ISIN or Sedols (as applicable); | |
4. | Number of shares and sales price per share or aggregate principal amount; | |
5. | Executing broker; | |
6. | Settlement agent; | |
7. | Trade date; | |
8. | Settlement date; | |
9. | Aggregate commission or if a net trade; | |
10. | Interest purchased or sold from interest bearing security; | |
11. | Other fees; | |
12. | Net proceeds of the transaction; | |
13. | Exchange where trade was executed; | |
14. | Identified tax lot (if applicable); and | |
15. | Trade commission reason: best execution, soft dollar or research. |
When opening accounts with brokers for, and in the name of, the Fund, the account must be a cash account. No margin accounts are to be maintained in the name of the Fund. Delivery instructions are as specified by the Custodian. The Custodian will supply the Subadviser daily with a cash availability report via access to the Custodian website, or by email or by facsimile and the Sub-Accounting Agent will provide a five day cash projection. This will normally be done by email or, if email is unavailable, by another form of immediate written communication, so that the Subadviser will know the amount available for investment purposes.
11
SCHEDULE B
RECORDS TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE SUBADVISER
1. | (Rule 31a-1(b)(5)) A record of each brokerage order, and all other series purchases and sales, given by the Subadviser on behalf of the Fund for, or in connection with, the purchase or sale of securities, whether executed or unexecuted. Such records shall include: |
A. | The name of the broker; |
B. | The terms and conditions of the order and of any modifications or cancellations thereof; |
C. | The time of entry or cancellation; |
D. | The price at which executed; |
E. | The time of receipt of a report of execution; and |
F. | The name of the person who placed the order on behalf of the Fund. |
2. | (Rule 31a-1(b)(9)) A record for each fiscal quarter, completed within ten (10) days after the end of the quarter, showing specifically the basis or bases upon which the allocation of orders for the purchase and sale of series securities to named brokers or dealers was effected, and the division of brokerage commissions or other compensation on such purchase and sale orders. Such record: |
A. | Shall include the consideration given to: |
(i) | The sale of shares of the Fund by brokers or dealers. |
(ii) | The supplying of services or benefits by brokers or dealers to: |
(a) | The Fund, |
(b) | The Adviser, |
(c) | The Subadviser, and |
(d) | Any person other than the foregoing. |
(iii) | Any other consideration other than the technical qualifications of the brokers and dealers as such. |
B. | Shall show the nature of the services or benefits made available. |
C. | Shall describe in detail the application of any general or specific formula or other determinant used in arriving at such allocation of purchase and sale orders and such division of brokerage commissions or other compensation. |
D. | The name of the person responsible for making the determination of such allocation and such division of brokerage commissions or other compensation. |
3. | (Rule 31a-1(b)(10)) A record in the form of an appropriate memorandum identifying the person or persons, committees or groups authorizing the purchase or sale of series securities. Where a committee or group makes an authorization, a record shall be kept of the names of its members who participate in the authorization. There shall be retained as part of this record: any memorandum, recommendation or instruction supporting or authorizing the purchase or sale of series securities and such other information as is appropriate to support the authorization.* |
* | Such information might include: current financial information, annual and quarterly reports, press releases, reports by analysts and from brokerage firms (including their recommendations, i.e., buy, sell, hold) or any internal reports or subadviser review. |
12
4. | (Rule 31a-1(f)) Such accounts, books and other documents as are required to be maintained by registered investment Advisers by rule adopted under Section 204 of the Advisers Act, to the extent such records are necessary or appropriate to record the Subadvisers transactions for the Fund. |
5. | Records as necessary under Board approved Phoenix Funds valuation policies and procedures. |
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SCHEDULE C
SUBADVISORY FEE
(a) For services provided to the Fund, the Adviser will pay to the Subadviser, on or before the 10 th day of each month, a fee, payable in arrears, at the annual rate stated below. The fees shall be prorated for any month during which this Agreement is in effect for only a portion of the month. In computing the fee to be paid to the Subadviser, the net asset value of the Fund and each Designated Series shall be valued as set forth in the then current registration statement of the Fund.
(b) The fee to be paid to the Subadviser is to be 50% of the gross management fee as calculated based on the average daily net assets of the Phoenix Market Neutral Fund.
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SCHEDULE D
SUBADVISER FUNCTIONS
With respect to managing the investment and reinvestment of the Designated Series assets, the Subadviser shall provide, at its own expense:
(a) | An investment program for the Designated Series consistent with its investment objectives based upon the development, review and adjustment of buy/sell strategies approved from time to time by the Board of Trustees and the Adviser in paragraph 3 of this Subadvisory Agreement; |
(b) | Periodic reports, on at least a quarterly basis, in form and substance acceptable to the Adviser, with respect to: i) compliance with the Code of Ethics and the Funds code of ethics; ii) compliance with procedures adopted from time to time by the Trustees of the Fund relative to securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; iii) diversification of Designated Series assets in accordance with the then prevailing Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information pertaining to the Designated Series and governing laws; iv) compliance with governing restrictions relating to the fair valuation of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or considered illiquid for the purposes of complying with the Designated Series limitation on acquisition of illiquid securities; v) any and all other reports reasonably requested in accordance with or described in this Agreement; and vi) the implementation of the Designated Series investment program, including, without limitation, analysis of Designated Series performance; |
(c) | Promptly after filing with the SEC an amendment to its Form ADV, a copy of such amendment to the Adviser and the Trustees; |
(d) | Attendance by appropriate representatives of the Subadviser at meetings requested by the Adviser or Trustees at such time(s) and location(s) as reasonably requested by the Adviser or Trustees; and |
(e) | Notice to the Trustees and the Adviser of the occurrence of any event which would disqualify the Subadviser from serving as an investment Adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act or otherwise. |
(f) | Provide reasonable assistance in the valuation of securities including the participation of appropriate representatives at fair valuation committee meetings. |
15
SCHEDULE E
FORM OF SUB-CERTIFICATION
To: | ||
Re: | Form N-CSR and Form N-Q Certification for the [Name of Designated Series]. | |
From: | [Name of Subadviser] | |
Representations in support of Investment Company Act Rule 30b1-5 certifications of Form N-CSR and Form N-Q. | ||
[Name of Designated Series]. | ||
In connection with your certification responsibility under Rule 30b1-5 and Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, I have reviewed the following information presented for the period ended [Date of Reporting Period] (the Reports) which forms part of the N-CSR or N-Q, as applicable, for the Funds. |
Schedule of Investments (the Reports)
Our organization has designed, implemented and maintained internal controls and procedures, designed for the purpose of ensuring the accuracy and completeness of relevant portfolio trade data transmitted to those responsible for the preparation of the Schedule of Investments. As of the date of this certification there have been no material modifications to these internal controls and procedures.
In addition, our organization has:
a. | Designed such internal controls and procedures to ensure that material information is made known to the appropriate groups responsible for servicing the above-mentioned mutual funds. |
b. | Evaluated the effectiveness of our internal controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the date of this certification and we have concluded that such controls and procedures are effective. |
c. | In addition, to the best of my knowledge there has been no fraud, whether, or not material, that involves our organizations management or other employees who have a significant role in our organizations control and procedures as they relate to our duties as subadviser to the Funds. |
I have read the draft of the Reports which I understand to be current as of [Date of Reporting Period] and based on my knowledge, such drafts of the Reports do not, with respect to the Funds, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the information contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which such information is presented, not misleading with respect to the period covered by such draft Reports.
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I have disclosed, based on my most recent evaluation, to the Funds Chief Accounting Officer:
a. | All significant changes, deficiencies and material weakness, if any, in the design or operation of the Subadvisers internal controls and procedures which could adversely affect the Advisers ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data with respect to the Fund in a timely fashion; |
b. | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves the Subadvisers management or other employees who have a significant role in the Subadvisers internal controls and procedures for financial reporting as they relate to our duties as Subadviser to the Fund. |
I certify that to the best of my knowledge:
a. | The Subadvisers Portfolio Manager(s) has/have complied with the restrictions and reporting requirements of the Code of Ethics (the Code). The term Portfolio Manager is as defined in the Code. |
b. | The Subadviser has complied with the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Funds and the Policies and Procedures of the Funds as adopted by the Funds Board of Trustees to the extent they relate to our duties as Subadviser to the Fund. |
c. | I have no knowledge of any compliance violations except as disclosed in writing to the Phoenix Compliance Department by me or by the Subadvisers compliance administrator. |
d. | The Subadviser has complied with the rules and regulations of the 33 Act and 40 Act, and such other regulations as may apply to the extent those rules and regulations pertain to the responsibilities of the Subadviser with respect to the Fund as outlined above. |
This certification relates solely to the Funds named above and may not be relied upon by any other fund or entity.
The Subadviser does not maintain the official books and records of the above Funds. The Subadvisers records are based on its own portfolio management system, a record-keeping system that is not intended to serve as the Funds official accounting system. The Subadviser is not responsible for the preparation of the Reports.
|
|
|||
[Name of Authorized Signature] | Date |
17
SCHEDULE F
DESIGNATED SERIES
Phoenix Market Neutral Fund
18
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
Phoenix CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
Phoenix Core Bond Fund
Phoenix Money Market Fund
Phoenix Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund
Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
June 27, 2007
Goodwin Capital Advisers, Inc.
56 Prospect Street
Hartford, CT 06115
RE: Subadvisory Agreement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Phoenix Opportunities Trust (the Fund) is an open-end investment company of the series type registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the Act), and is subject to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The shares of the Fund are offered or may be offered in several series, including the Phoenix CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Phoenix Core Bond Fund, Phoenix Money Market Fund, Phoenix Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund and Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund (collectively, sometimes hereafter referred to as the Series).
Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. (the Adviser) evaluates and recommends series advisers for the Series and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Series.
1. | Employment as a Subadviser . The Adviser, being duly authorized, hereby employs Goodwin Capital Advisers, Inc. (the Subadviser) as a discretionary series adviser to invest and reinvest that discrete portion of the assets of the Series designated by the Adviser as set forth on Schedule F attached hereto (the Designated Series) on the terms and conditions set forth herein. The services of the Subadviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive; the Subadviser may render services to others and engage in other activities that do not conflict in any material manner in the Subadvisers performance hereunder. |
2. | Acceptance of Employment; Standard of Performance . The Subadviser accepts its employment as a discretionary series adviser of the Designated Series and agrees to use its best professional judgment to make investment decisions for the Designated Series in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and as set forth in Schedule D attached hereto and made a part hereof. |
3. |
Services of Subadviser . In providing management services to the Designated Series, the Subadviser shall be subject to the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the |
Fund as they apply to the Designated Series and as set forth in the Funds then current prospectus (Prospectus) and statement of additional information (Statement of Additional Information) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) as part of the Funds Registration Statement, as may be periodically amended and provided to the Subadviser by the Adviser, and to the investment restrictions set forth in the Act and the Rules thereunder, to the supervision and control of the Trustees of the Fund (the Trustees), and to instructions from the Adviser. The Subadviser shall not, without the Funds prior written approval, effect any transactions that would cause the Designated Series at the time of the transaction to be out of compliance with any of such restrictions or policies. |
4. | Transaction Procedures . All series transactions for the Designated Series shall be consummated by payment to, or delivery by, the Custodian(s) from time to time designated by the Fund (the Custodian), or such depositories or agents as may be designated by the Custodian in writing, of all cash and/or securities due to or from the Series. The Subadviser shall not have possession or custody of such cash and/or securities or any responsibility or liability with respect to such custody. The Subadviser shall advise the Custodian and confirm in writing to the Fund all investment orders for the Designated Series placed by it with brokers and dealers at the time and in the manner set forth in Schedule A hereto (as amended from time to time). The Fund shall issue to the Custodian such instructions as may be appropriate in connection with the settlement of any transaction initiated by the Subadviser. The Fund shall be responsible for all custodial arrangements and the payment of all custodial charges and fees, and, upon giving proper instructions to the Custodian, the Subadviser shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to custodial arrangements or the act, omissions or other conduct of the Custodian. |
5. | Allocation of Brokerage . The Subadviser shall have authority and discretion to select brokers and dealers to execute Designated Series transactions initiated by the Subadviser, and to select the markets on or in which the transactions will be executed. |
A. | In placing orders for the sale and purchase of Designated Series securities for the Fund, the Subadvisers primary responsibility shall be to seek the best execution of orders at the most favorable prices. However, this responsibility shall not obligate the Subadviser to solicit competitive bids for each transaction or to seek the lowest available commission cost to the Fund, so long as the Subadviser reasonably believes that the broker or dealer selected by it can be expected to obtain a best execution market price on the particular transaction and determines in good faith that the commission cost is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services (as defined in Section 28(e)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) provided by such broker or dealer to the Subadviser, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or of the Subadvisers overall responsibilities with respect to its clients, including the Fund, as to which the Subadviser exercises investment discretion, notwithstanding that the Fund may not be the direct or exclusive beneficiary of any such services or that another broker may be willing to charge the Fund a lower commission on the particular transaction. |
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B. | The Subadviser may manage other portfolios and expects that the Fund and other portfolios the Subadviser manages will, from time to time, purchase or sell the same securities. The Subadviser may aggregate orders for the purchase or sale of securities on behalf of the Designated Series with orders on behalf of other portfolios the Subadviser manages. Securities purchased or proceeds of securities sold through aggregated orders shall be allocated to the account of each portfolio managed by the Subadviser that bought or sold such securities at the average execution price. If less than the total of the aggregated orders is executed, purchased securities or proceeds shall generally be allocated pro rata among the participating portfolios in proportion to their planned participation in the aggregated orders. |
C. | The Subadviser shall not execute any Series transactions for the Designated Series with a broker or dealer that is an affiliated person (as defined in the Act) of the Fund, the Subadviser or the Adviser without the prior written approval of the Fund. The Fund shall provide the Subadviser with a list of brokers and dealers that are affiliated persons of the Fund or the Adviser. |
6. | Proxies . |
A. | The Subadviser, or a third party designee acting under the authority and supervision of the Subadviser, shall review all proxy solicitation materials and be responsible for voting and handling all proxies in relation to the assets of the Designated Series. Unless the Adviser or the Fund gives the Subadviser written instructions to the contrary, the Subadviser will, in compliance with the proxy voting procedures of the Designated Series then in effect, vote or abstain from voting, all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Designated Series may be invested. The Adviser shall cause the Custodian to forward promptly to the Subadviser all proxies upon receipt, so as to afford the Subadviser a reasonable amount of time in which to determine how to vote such proxies. The Subadviser agrees to provide the Adviser in a timely manner with a record of votes cast containing all of the voting information required by Form N-PX in an electronic format to enable the Fund to file Form N-PX as required by Rule 30b1-4 under the Act. |
B. |
The Subadviser is authorized to deal with reorganizations and exchange offers with respect to securities held in the Series in such manner as the Subadviser deems advisable, unless the Fund or the Adviser otherwise specifically directs in writing. With the Advisers approval, the Subadviser shall also have the authority to: (i) identify, evaluate and pursue legal claims, including commencing or defending suits, affecting the securities held at any time in the Series, including claims in bankruptcy, class action securities litigation and other litigation; (ii) participate in such litigation or related proceedings with respect to such securities |
3
as the Subadviser deems appropriate to preserve or enhance the value of the Series, 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 Subadviser deems to be in the best interest of the Series 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 Series. |
7. | Prohibited Conduct . In providing the services described in this Agreement, the Subadvisers responsibility regarding investment advice hereunder is limited to the Designated Series, and the Subadviser will not consult with any other investment advisory firm that provides investment advisory services to the Fund or any other investment company sponsored by Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. regarding transactions for the Fund in securities or other assets. The Fund shall provide the Subadviser with a list of investment companies sponsored by Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. and the Subadviser shall be in breach of the foregoing provision only if the investment company is included in such a list provided to the Subadviser prior to such prohibited action. In addition, the Subadviser shall not, without the prior written consent of the Fund and the Adviser, delegate any obligation assumed pursuant to this Agreement to any affiliated or unaffiliated third party. |
8. | Information and Reports . |
A. | The Subadviser shall keep the Fund and the Adviser informed of developments relating to its duties as Subadviser of which the Subadviser has, or should have, knowledge that would materially affect the Designated Series. In this regard, the Subadviser shall provide the Fund, the Adviser and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Subadviser has assumed under this Agreement as the Fund and the Adviser may from time to time reasonably request. In addition, prior to each meeting of the Trustees, the Subadviser shall provide the Adviser and the Trustees with reports regarding the Subadvisers management of the Designated Series that discrete portion of the assets the Series managed by the Subadviser during the most recently completed quarter which reports: (i) shall include Subadvisers representation that its performance of its investment management duties hereunder is in compliance with the Funds investment objectives and practices, the Act and applicable rules and regulations under the Act, and the diversification and minimum good income requirements of Subchapter M under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and (ii) otherwise shall be in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Adviser. |
B. |
Each of the Adviser and the Subadviser shall provide the other party with a list, to the best of the Advisers or the Subadvisers respective knowledge, of each affiliated person (and any affiliated person of such an affiliated person) of the |
4
Adviser or the Subadviser, as the case may be, and each of the Adviser and Subadviser agrees promptly to update such list whenever the Adviser or the Subadviser becomes aware of any changes that should be added to or deleted from the list of affiliated persons. |
C. | The Subadviser shall also provide the Adviser with any information reasonably requested by the Adviser regarding its management of the Designated Series required for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, or Prospectus supplement to be filed by the Fund with the SEC. |
9. | Fees for Services . The compensation of the Subadviser for its services under this Agreement shall be calculated and paid by the Adviser in accordance with the attached Schedule C. Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser, the Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of fees to the Subadviser. |
10. | Limitation of Liability . The Subadviser shall not be liable for any action taken, omitted or suffered to be taken by it in its best professional 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 specific directions or instructions from the Fund, provided, however, that such acts or omissions shall not have constituted a material breach of the investment objectives, policies and restrictions applicable to the Designated Series as defined in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and that such acts or omissions shall not have resulted from the Subadvisers willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. |
11. | Confidentiality . Subject to the duty of the Subadviser and the Fund to comply with applicable law, including any demand of any regulatory or taxing authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential all information pertaining to the Designated Series and the actions of the Subadviser and the Fund in respect thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund and the Adviser agree that the Subadviser may (i) disclose in marketing materials and similar communications that the Fund has engaged Subadviser pursuant to this Agreement, and (ii) include performance statistics regarding the Series in composite performance statistics regarding one or more groups of Subadvisers clients published or included in any of the foregoing communications, provided that the Subadviser does not identify any performance statistics as relating specifically to the Series. |
12. | Assignment . This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(4) of the Act. The Subadviser shall notify the Fund in writing sufficiently in advance of any proposed change of control, as defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the Act, as will enable the Fund to consider whether an assignment as defined in Section 2(a)(4) of the Act will occur, and to take the steps necessary to enter into a new contract with the Subadviser. |
13. | Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Subadviser . The Subadviser represents, warrants and agrees that: |
A. | It is registered as an Investment Adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (Advisers Act). |
5
B. | It will maintain, keep current and preserve on behalf of the Fund, in the manner required or permitted by the Act and the Rules thereunder including the records identified in Schedule B (as Schedule B may be amended from time to time). The Subadviser agrees that such records are the property of the Fund, and shall be surrendered to the Fund or to the Adviser as agent of the Fund promptly upon request of either. The Fund acknowledges that Subadviser may retain copies of all records required to meet the record retention requirements imposed by law and regulation. |
C. | It shall maintain a written code of ethics (the Code of Ethics) complying with the requirements of Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act and Rule 17j-l under the Act and shall provide the Fund and the Adviser with a copy of the Code of Ethics and evidence of its adoption. It shall institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons (as defined in Rule 17j-1) from violating its Code of Ethics. The Subadviser acknowledges receipt of the written code of ethics adopted by and on behalf of the Fund. Each calendar quarter while this Agreement is in effect, a duly authorized compliance officer of the Subadviser shall certify to the Fund and to the Adviser that the Subadviser has complied with the requirements of Rules 204A-1 and 17j-l during the previous calendar quarter and that there has been no material violation of its Code of Ethics, or of Rule 17j-1(b), or that any persons covered under its Code of Ethics has divulged or acted upon any material, non-public information, as such term is defined under relevant securities laws, and if such a violation has occurred or the code of ethics of the Fund, or if such a violation of its Code of Ethics has occurred, that appropriate action was taken in response to such violation. Annually, the Subadviser shall furnish to the Fund a written report which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 concerning the Subadvisers Code of Ethics to the Fund and the Adviser. The Subadviser shall permit the Fund and the Adviser to examine the reports required to be made by the Subadviser under Rules 204A-1(b) and 17j-l(d)(1) and this subparagraph. |
D. |
It has adopted and implemented, and throughout the term of this Agreement shall maintain in effect and implement, policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent, detect and correct violations by the Subadviser and its supervised persons, and, to the extent the activities of the Subadviser in respect to the Fund could affect the Fund, by the Fund, of federal securities laws (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the Act), and that the Subadviser has provided the Fund with true and complete copies of its policies and procedures (or summaries thereof) and related information reasonably requested by the Fund. The Subadviser agrees to cooperate with periodic reviews by the Funds compliance personnel of the Subadvisers policies and procedures, their operation and implementation and other compliance matters and to provide to the Fund from time to time such |
6
additional information and certifications in respect of the Subadvisers policies and procedures, compliance by the Subadviser with federal securities laws and related matters and the Funds compliance personnel may reasonably request. The Subadviser agrees to promptly notify the Adviser of any compliance violations which affect the Designated Series. |
E. | Reference is hereby made to the Declaration of Trust establishing the Fund, a copy of which has been filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and elsewhere as required by law, and to any and all amendments thereto so filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and elsewhere as required by law, and to any and all amendments thereto so filed or hereafter filed. The name Phoenix Opportunities Trust refers to the Trustees under said Declaration of Trust, as Trustees and not personally, and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, agent or employee of the Fund shall be held to any personal liability in connection with the affairs of the Fund; only the trust estate under said Declaration of Trust is liable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Subadviser nor any of its officers, directors, partners, shareholders or employees shall, under any circumstances, have recourse or cause or willingly permit recourse to be had directly or indirectly to any personal, statutory, or other liability of any shareholder, Trustee, officer, agent or employee of the Fund or of any successor of the Fund, whether such liability now exists or is hereafter incurred for claims against the trust estate. |
14. | Entire Agreement; Amendment . This Agreement, together with the Schedules attached hereto, constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior written or oral agreements pertaining to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended at any time, but only by written agreement among the Subadviser, the Adviser and the Fund, which amendment, other than amendments to Schedules A, B, D, E and F, is subject to the approval of the Trustees and the shareholders of the Fund as and to the extent required by the Act. |
15. | Effective Date; Term . This Agreement shall become effective on the date set forth on the first page of this Agreement, and shall continue in effect until December 31, 2007. The Agreement shall continue from year to year thereafter only so long as its continuance has been specifically approved at least annually by the Trustees in accordance with Section 15(a) of the Act, and by the majority vote of the disinterested Trustees in accordance with the requirements of Section 15(c) thereof. |
16. | Termination . This Agreement may be terminated by any party, without penalty, immediately upon written notice to the other parties in the event of a material breach of any provision thereof by a party so notified, or otherwise upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other parties, but any such termination shall not affect the status, obligations or liabilities of any party hereto to the other parties. |
17. | Applicable Law . To the extent that state law is not preempted by the provisions of any law of the United States heretofore or hereafter enacted, as the same may be amended from time to time, this Agreement shall be administered, construed and enforced according to the laws of the State of Delaware. |
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18. | Severability . If any term or condition of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable to any extent or in any application, then the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and each and every term and condition of this Agreement shall be valid and enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. |
19. | Notices. Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered personally or by overnight delivery service or mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, or sent by facsimile addressed to the parties at their respective addresses set forth below, or at such other address as shall be designated by any party in a written notice to the other party. |
(a) | To Phoenix at: |
Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc.
56 Prospect Street
Hartford, CT 06115
Attn: John H. Beers, Vice President and Clerk
Telephone: (860) 403-5050
Facsimile: (860) 403-7251
Email: john.beers@phoenixwm.com
(b) | To Goodwin at: |
Goodwin Capital Advisers, Inc.
56 Prospect Street
Hartford, CT 06115
Attn: John H. Beers, Vice President and Secretary
Telephone: (860) 403-5050
Facsimile: (860) 403-7251
Email: john.beers@phoenixwm.com
20. | Certifications. The Subadviser hereby warrants and represents that it will provide the requisite certifications reasonably requested by the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Fund necessary for those named officers to fulfill their reporting and certification obligations on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q as required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to the extent that such reporting and certifications relate to the Subadvisers duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. Subadviser shall provide a quarterly certification in a form substantially similar to that attached as Schedule E. |
21. |
Indemnification . The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Subadviser and the Subadvisers directors, officers, employees and agents from and against any and all |
8
losses, liabilities, claims, damages, and expenses whatsoever, including reasonable attorneys fees (collectively, Losses), arising out of or relating to (i) any breach by the Adviser of any provision of this Agreement; (ii) the negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith, or breach of fiduciary duty of the Adviser; (iii) any violation by the Adviser of any law or regulation relating to its activities under this Agreement; and (iv) any dispute between the Adviser and any Fund shareholder, except to the extent that such Losses result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith of the Subadviser or the Subadvisers reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. |
22. | Receipt of Disclosure Document . The Fund acknowledges receipt, at least 48 hours prior to entering into this Agreement, of a copy of Part II of the Subadvisers Form ADV containing certain information concerning the Subadviser and the nature of its business. |
23. | Counterparts; Fax Signatures . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including executed counterparts delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission) with the same effect as if all signing parties had originally signed the same document, and all counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute the same instrument. For all purposes, signatures delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission shall be binding and effective to the same extent as original signatures. |
[signature page follows]
9
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST | ||
By: |
/s/ Francis G. Waltman |
|
Name: | Francis G. Waltman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President | |
PHOENIX INVESTMENT COUNSEL, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ John H. Beers |
|
Name: | John H. Beers | |
Title: | Vice President and Clerk |
ACCEPTED:
Goodwin Capital Advisers, Inc. | ||
By: |
/s/ John H. Beers |
|
Name: | John H. Beers | |
Title: | Vice President and Secretary |
SCHEDULES: | A. | Operational Procedures | ||
B. | Record Keeping Requirements | |||
C. | Fee Schedule | |||
D. | Subadviser Functions | |||
E. | Form of Sub-Certification | |||
F. | Designated Series |
10
SCHEDULE A
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
In order to minimize operational problems, it will be necessary for a flow of information to be supplied by Subadviser to State Street Bank and Trust Company (the Custodian) and PFPC, Inc., (the Sub-Accounting Agent) for the Fund.
The Subadviser must furnish the Custodian and the Sub-Accounting Agent with daily information as to executed trades, or, if no trades are executed, with a report to that effect, no later than 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard time) on the day of the trade each day the Fund is open for business. (Subadviser will be responsible for reimbursement to the Fund for any loss caused by the Subadvisers failure to comply.) The necessary information can be sent via facsimile machine to the Custodian and the Sub-Accounting Agent. Information provided to the Custodian and the Sub-Accounting Agent shall include the following:
1. | Purchase or sale; | |
2. | Security name; | |
3. | CUSIP number, ISIN or Sedols (as applicable); | |
4. | Number of shares and sales price per share or aggregate principal amount; | |
5. | Executing broker; | |
6. | Settlement agent; | |
7. | Trade date; | |
8. | Settlement date; | |
9. | Aggregate commission or if a net trade; | |
10. | Interest purchased or sold from interest bearing security; | |
11. | Other fees; | |
12. | Net proceeds of the transaction; | |
13. | Exchange where trade was executed; | |
14. | Identified tax lot (if applicable); and | |
15. | Trade commission reason: best execution, soft dollar or research. |
When opening accounts with brokers for, and in the name of, the Fund, the account must be a cash account. No margin accounts are to be maintained in the name of the Fund. Delivery instructions are as specified by the Custodian. The Custodian will supply the Subadviser daily with a cash availability report via access to the Custodian website, or by email or by facsimile and the Sub-Accounting Agent will provide a five day cash projection. This will normally be done by email or, if email is unavailable, by another form of immediate written communication, so that the Subadviser will know the amount available for investment purposes.
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SCHEDULE B
RECORDS TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE SUBADVISER
1. | (Rule 31a-1(b)(5)) A record of each brokerage order, and all other series purchases and sales, given by the Subadviser on behalf of the Fund for, or in connection with, the purchase or sale of securities, whether executed or unexecuted. Such records shall include: |
A. | The name of the broker; |
B. | The terms and conditions of the order and of any modifications or cancellations thereof; |
C. | The time of entry or cancellation; |
D. | The price at which executed; |
E. | The time of receipt of a report of execution; and |
F. | The name of the person who placed the order on behalf of the Fund. |
2. | (Rule 31a-1(b)(9)) A record for each fiscal quarter, completed within ten (10) days after the end of the quarter, showing specifically the basis or bases upon which the allocation of orders for the purchase and sale of series securities to named brokers or dealers was effected, and the division of brokerage commissions or other compensation on such purchase and sale orders. Such record: |
A. | Shall include the consideration given to: |
(i) | The sale of shares of the Fund by brokers or dealers. |
(ii) | The supplying of services or benefits by brokers or dealers to: |
(a) | The Fund, |
(b) | The Adviser, |
(c) | The Subadviser, and |
(d) | Any person other than the foregoing. |
(iii) | Any other consideration other than the technical qualifications of the brokers and dealers as such. |
B. | Shall show the nature of the services or benefits made available. |
C. | Shall describe in detail the application of any general or specific formula or other determinant used in arriving at such allocation of purchase and sale orders and such division of brokerage commissions or other compensation. |
D. | The name of the person responsible for making the determination of such allocation and such division of brokerage commissions or other compensation. |
3. | (Rule 31a-1(b)(10)) A record in the form of an appropriate memorandum identifying the person or persons, committees or groups authorizing the purchase or sale of series securities. Where a committee or group makes an authorization, a record shall be kept of the names of its members who participate in the authorization. There shall be retained as part of this record: any memorandum, recommendation or instruction supporting or authorizing the purchase or sale of series securities and such other information as is appropriate to support the authorization.* |
* | Such information might include: current financial information, annual and quarterly reports, press releases, reports by analysts and from brokerage firms (including their recommendations, i.e., buy, sell, hold) or any internal reports or subadviser review. |
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4. | (Rule 31a-1(f)) Such accounts, books and other documents as are required to be maintained by registered investment Advisers by rule adopted under Section 204 of the Advisers Act, to the extent such records are necessary or appropriate to record the Subadvisers transactions for the Fund. |
5. | Records as necessary under Board approved Phoenix Funds valuation policies and procedures. |
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SCHEDULE C
SUBADVISORY FEE
(a) For services provided to the Fund, the Adviser will pay to the Subadviser, on or before the 10 th day of each month, a fee, payable in arrears, at the annual rate stated below. The fees shall be prorated for any month during which this Agreement is in effect for only a portion of the month. In computing the fee to be paid to the Subadviser, the net asset value of the Fund and each Designated Series shall be valued as set forth in the then current registration statement of the Fund.
(b) With respect to each Designated Series, the fee to be paid to the Subadviser is to be 50% of the gross management fee at each breakpoint as calculated based on the average daily net assets.
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SCHEDULE D
SUBADVISER FUNCTIONS
With respect to managing the investment and reinvestment of the Designated Series assets, the Subadviser shall provide, at its own expense:
(a) | An investment program for the Designated Series consistent with its investment objectives based upon the development, review and adjustment of buy/sell strategies approved from time to time by the Board of Trustees and the Adviser in paragraph 3 of this Subadvisory Agreement; |
(b) | Periodic reports, on at least a quarterly basis, in form and substance acceptable to the Adviser, with respect to: i) compliance with the Code of Ethics and the Funds code of ethics; ii) compliance with procedures adopted from time to time by the Trustees of the Fund relative to securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; iii) diversification of Designated Series assets in accordance with the then prevailing Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information pertaining to the Designated Series and governing laws; iv) compliance with governing restrictions relating to the fair valuation of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or considered illiquid for the purposes of complying with the Designated Series limitation on acquisition of illiquid securities; v) any and all other reports reasonably requested in accordance with or described in this Agreement; and vi) the implementation of the Designated Series investment program, including, without limitation, analysis of Designated Series performance; |
(c) | Promptly after filing with the SEC an amendment to its Form ADV, a copy of such amendment to the Adviser and the Trustees; |
(d) | Attendance by appropriate representatives of the Subadviser at meetings requested by the Adviser or Trustees at such time(s) and location(s) as reasonably requested by the Adviser or Trustees; and |
(e) | Notice to the Trustees and the Adviser of the occurrence of any event which would disqualify the Subadviser from serving as an investment Adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act or otherwise. |
(f) | Provide reasonable assistance in the valuation of securities including the participation of appropriate representatives at fair valuation committee meetings. |
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SCHEDULE E
FORM OF SUB-CERTIFICATION
To: | ||
Re: | Form N-CSR and Form N-Q Certification for the [Name of Designated Series]. | |
From: | [Name of Subadviser] | |
Representations in support of Investment Company Act Rule 30b1-5 certifications of Form N-CSR and Form N-Q. | ||
[Name of Designated Series]. | ||
In connection with your certification responsibility under Rule 30b1-5 and Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, I have reviewed the following information presented for the period ended [Date of Reporting Period] (the Reports) which forms part of the N-CSR or N-Q, as applicable, for the Funds. |
Schedule of Investments (the Reports)
Our organization has designed, implemented and maintained internal controls and procedures, designed for the purpose of ensuring the accuracy and completeness of relevant portfolio trade data transmitted to those responsible for the preparation of the Schedule of Investments. As of the date of this certification there have been no material modifications to these internal controls and procedures.
In addition, our organization has:
a. | Designed such internal controls and procedures to ensure that material information is made known to the appropriate groups responsible for servicing the above-mentioned mutual funds. |
b. | Evaluated the effectiveness of our internal controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the date of this certification and we have concluded that such controls and procedures are effective. |
c. | In addition, to the best of my knowledge there has been no fraud, whether, or not material, that involves our organizations management or other employees who have a significant role in our organizations control and procedures as they relate to our duties as subadviser to the Funds. |
I have read the draft of the Reports which I understand to be current as of [Date of Reporting Period] and based on my knowledge, such drafts of the Reports do not, with respect to the Funds, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the information contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which such information is presented, not misleading with respect to the period covered by such draft Reports.
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I have disclosed, based on my most recent evaluation, to the Funds Chief Accounting Officer:
a. | All significant changes, deficiencies and material weakness, if any, in the design or operation of the Subadvisers internal controls and procedures which could adversely affect the Advisers ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data with respect to the Fund in a timely fashion; |
b. | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves the Subadvisers management or other employees who have a significant role in the Subadvisers internal controls and procedures for financial reporting as they relate to our duties as Subadviser to the Fund. |
I certify that to the best of my knowledge:
a. | The Subadvisers Portfolio Manager(s) has/have complied with the restrictions and reporting requirements of the Code of Ethics (the Code). The term Portfolio Manager is as defined in the Code. |
b. | The Subadviser has complied with the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Funds and the Policies and Procedures of the Funds as adopted by the Funds Board of Trustees to the extent they relate to our duties as Subadviser to the Fund. |
c. | I have no knowledge of any compliance violations except as disclosed in writing to the Phoenix Compliance Department by me or by the Subadvisers compliance administrator. |
d. | The Subadviser has complied with the rules and regulations of the 33 Act and 40 Act, and such other regulations as may apply to the extent those rules and regulations pertain to the responsibilities of the Subadviser with respect to the Fund as outlined above. |
This certification relates solely to the Funds named above and may not be relied upon by any other fund or entity.
The Subadviser does not maintain the official books and records of the above Funds. The Subadvisers records are based on its own portfolio management system, a record-keeping system that is not intended to serve as the Funds official accounting system. The Subadviser is not responsible for the preparation of the Reports.
|
|
|||
[Name of Authorized Signature] | Date |
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SCHEDULE F
DESIGNATED SERIES
Phoenix CA-Tax Exempt Bond Fund
Phoenix Core Bond Fund
Phoenix Money Market Fund
Phoenix Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund
Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund
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PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
Phoenix Emerging Markets Bond Fund
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
June 27, 2007
Halbis Capital Management (USA) Inc.
452 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10018
RE: Subadvisory Agreement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Phoenix Opportunities Trust (the Fund) is an open-end investment company of the series type registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the Act), and is subject to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The shares of the Fund are offered or may be offered in several series, including the Phoenix Emerging Markets Bond Fund (collectively, sometimes hereafter referred to as the Series).
Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. (the Adviser) evaluates and recommends series advisers for the Series and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Series.
1. | Employment as a Subadviser . The Adviser, being duly authorized, hereby employs Halbis Capital Management (USA) Inc. (the Subadviser) as a discretionary series adviser to invest and reinvest that discrete portion of the assets of the Series designated by the Advisers as set forth on Schedule F attached hereto (the Designated Series) on the terms and conditions set forth herein. The services of the Subadviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive; the Subadviser may render services to others and engage in other activities that do not conflict in any material manner in the Subadvisers performance hereunder. |
2. | Acceptance of Employment; Standard of Performance . The Subadviser accepts its employment as a discretionary series adviser of the Designated Series and agrees to use its best professional judgment to make investment decisions for the Designated Series in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and as set forth in Schedule D attached hereto and made a part hereof. |
3. |
Services of Subadviser . In providing management services to the Designated Series, the Subadviser shall be subject to the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund as they apply to the Designated Series and as set forth in the Funds then current prospectus (Prospectus) and statement of additional information (Statement of Additional Information) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) as part of the Funds Registration Statement, as may be periodically amended and provided to the Subadviser by the Adviser, and to the investment restrictions set forth in |
the Act and the Rules thereunder, to the supervision and control of the Trustees of the Fund (the Trustees), and to instructions from the Adviser. The Subadviser shall not, without the Funds prior written approval, effect any transactions that would cause the Designated Series at the time of the transaction to be out of compliance with any of such restrictions or policies. |
4. | Transaction Procedures . All series transactions for the Designated Series shall be consummated by payment to, or delivery by, the Custodian(s) from time to time designated by the Fund (the Custodian), or such depositories or agents as may be designated by the Custodian in writing, of all cash and/or securities due to or from the Series. The Subadviser shall not have possession or custody of such cash and/or securities or any responsibility or liability with respect to such custody. The Subadviser shall advise the Custodian and confirm in writing to the Fund all investment orders for the Designated Series placed by it with brokers and dealers at the time and in the manner set forth in Schedule A hereto (as amended from time to time). The Fund shall issue to the Custodian such instructions as may be appropriate in connection with the settlement of any transaction initiated by the Subadviser. The Fund shall be responsible for all custodial arrangements and the payment of all custodial charges and fees, and, upon giving proper instructions to the Custodian, the Subadviser shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to custodial arrangements or the act, omissions or other conduct of the Custodian. |
5. | Allocation of Brokerage . The Subadviser shall have authority and discretion to select brokers and dealers to execute Designated Series transactions initiated by the Subadviser, and to select the markets on or in which the transactions will be executed. |
A. | In placing orders for the sale and purchase of Designated Series securities for the Fund, the Subadvisers primary responsibility shall be to seek the best execution of orders at the most favorable prices. However, this responsibility shall not obligate the Subadviser to solicit competitive bids for each transaction or to seek the lowest available commission cost to the Fund, so long as the Subadviser reasonably believes that the broker or dealer selected by it can be expected to obtain a best execution market price on the particular transaction and determines in good faith that the commission cost is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services (as defined in Section 28(e)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) provided by such broker or dealer to the Subadviser, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or of the Subadvisers overall responsibilities with respect to its clients, including the Fund, as to which the Subadviser exercises investment discretion, notwithstanding that the Fund may not be the direct or exclusive beneficiary of any such services or that another broker may be willing to charge the Fund a lower commission on the particular transaction. |
B. |
The Subadviser may manage other portfolios and expects that the Fund and other portfolios the Subadviser manages will, from time to time, purchase or sell the same securities. The Subadviser may aggregate orders for the purchase or sale of |
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securities on behalf of the Designated Series with orders on behalf of other portfolios the Subadviser manages. Securities purchased or proceeds of securities sold through aggregated orders shall be allocated to the account of each portfolio managed by the Subadviser that bought or sold such securities at the average execution price. If less than the total of the aggregated orders is executed, purchased securities or proceeds shall generally be allocated pro rata among the participating portfolios in proportion to their planned participation in the aggregated orders. |
C. | The Subadviser shall not execute any Series transactions for the Designated Series with a broker or dealer that is an affiliated person (as defined in the Act) of the Fund, the Subadviser or the Adviser without the prior written approval of the Fund. The Fund shall provide the Subadviser with a list of brokers and dealers that are affiliated persons of the Fund or the Adviser. |
6. | Proxies . |
A. | The Subadviser, or a third party designee acting under the authority and supervision of the Subadviser, shall review all proxy solicitation materials and be responsible for voting and handling all proxies in relation to the assets of the Designated Series. Unless the Adviser or the Fund gives the Subadviser written instructions to the contrary, the Subadviser will, in compliance with the proxy voting procedures of the Designated Series then in effect, vote or abstain from voting, all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Designated Series may be invested. The Adviser shall cause the Custodian to forward promptly to the Subadviser all proxies upon receipt, so as to afford the Subadviser a reasonable amount of time in which to determine how to vote such proxies. The Subadviser agrees to provide the Adviser in a timely manner with a record of votes cast containing all of the voting information required by Form N-PX in an electronic format to enable the Fund to file Form N-PX as required by Rule 30b1-4 under the Act. |
B. |
The Subadviser is authorized to deal with reorganizations and exchange offers with respect to securities held in the Series in such manner as the Subadviser deems advisable, unless the Fund or the Adviser otherwise specifically directs in writing. With the Advisers approval, the Subadviser shall also have the authority to: (i) identify, evaluate and pursue legal claims, including commencing or defending suits, affecting the securities held at any time in the Series, 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 Subadviser deems appropriate to preserve or enhance the value of the Series, 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 Subadviser deems to be in the best interest of the |
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Series 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 Series. |
7. | Prohibited Conduct . In providing the services described in this Agreement, the Subadvisers responsibility regarding investment advice hereunder is limited to the Designated Series, and the Subadviser will not consult with any other investment advisory firm that provides investment advisory services to the Fund or any other investment company sponsored by Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. regarding transactions for the Fund in securities or other assets. The Fund shall provide the Subadviser with a list of investment companies sponsored by Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. and the Subadviser shall be in breach of the foregoing provision only if the investment company is included in such a list provided to the Subadviser prior to such prohibited action. In addition, the Subadviser shall not, without the prior written consent of the Fund and the Adviser, delegate any obligation assumed pursuant to this Agreement to any affiliated or unaffiliated third party. |
8. | Information and Reports . |
A. | The Subadviser shall keep the Fund and the Adviser informed of developments relating to its duties as Subadviser of which the Subadviser has, or should have, knowledge that would materially affect the Designated Series. In this regard, the Subadviser shall provide the Fund, the Adviser and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Subadviser has assumed under this Agreement as the Fund and the Adviser may from time to time reasonably request. In addition, prior to each meeting of the Trustees, the Subadviser shall provide the Adviser and the Trustees with reports regarding the Subadvisers management of the Designated Series that discrete portion of the assets the Series managed by the Subadviser during the most recently completed quarter which reports: (i) shall include Subadvisers representation that its performance of its investment management duties hereunder is in compliance with the Funds investment objectives and practices, the Act and applicable rules and regulations under the Act, and the diversification and minimum good income requirements of Subchapter M under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and (ii) otherwise shall be in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Adviser. |
B. | Each of the Adviser and the Subadviser shall provide the other party with a list, to the best of the Advisers or the Subadvisers respective knowledge, of each affiliated person (and any affiliated person of such an affiliated person) of the Adviser or the Subadviser, as the case may be, and each of the Adviser and Subadviser agrees promptly to update such list whenever the Adviser or the Subadviser becomes aware of any changes that should be added to or deleted from the list of affiliated persons. |
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C. | The Subadviser shall also provide the Adviser with any information reasonably requested by the Adviser regarding its management of the Designated Series required for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, or Prospectus supplement to be filed by the Fund with the SEC. |
9. | Fees for Services . The compensation of the Subadviser for its services under this Agreement shall be calculated and paid by the Adviser in accordance with the attached Schedule C. Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser, the Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of fees to the Subadviser. |
10. | Limitation of Liability . The Subadviser shall not be liable for any action taken, omitted or suffered to be taken by it in its best professional 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 specific directions or instructions from the Fund, provided, however, that such acts or omissions shall not have constituted a material breach of the investment objectives, policies and restrictions applicable to the Designated Series as defined in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and that such acts or omissions shall not have resulted from the Subadvisers willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. |
11. | Confidentiality . Subject to the duty of the Subadviser and the Fund to comply with applicable law, including any demand of any regulatory or taxing authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential all information pertaining to the Designated Series and the actions of the Subadviser and the Fund in respect thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund and the Adviser agree that the Subadviser may (i) disclose in marketing materials and similar communications that the Fund has engaged Subadviser pursuant to this Agreement, and (ii) include performance statistics regarding the Series in composite performance statistics regarding one or more groups of Subadvisers clients published or included in any of the foregoing communications, provided that the Subadviser does not identify any performance statistics as relating specifically to the Series. |
12. | Assignment . This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(4) of the Act. The Subadviser shall notify the Fund in writing sufficiently in advance of any proposed change of control, as defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the Act, as will enable the Fund to consider whether an assignment as defined in Section 2(a)(4) of the Act will occur, and to take the steps necessary to enter into a new contract with the Subadviser. |
13. | Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Subadviser . The Subadviser represents, warrants and agrees that: |
A. | It is registered as an Investment Adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (Advisers Act). |
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B. | It will maintain, keep current and preserve on behalf of the Fund, in the manner required or permitted by the Act and the Rules thereunder including the records identified in Schedule B (as Schedule B may be amended from time to time). The Subadviser agrees that such records are the property of the Fund, and shall be surrendered to the Fund or to the Adviser as agent of the Fund promptly upon request of either. The Fund acknowledges that Subadviser may retain copies of all records required to meet the record retention requirements imposed by law and regulation. |
C. | It shall maintain a written code of ethics (the Code of Ethics) complying with the requirements of Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act and Rule 17j-l under the Act and shall provide the Fund and the Adviser with a copy of the Code of Ethics and evidence of its adoption. It shall institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons (as defined in Rule 17j-1) from violating its Code of Ethics. The Subadviser acknowledges receipt of the written code of ethics adopted by and on behalf of the Fund. Each calendar quarter while this Agreement is in effect, a duly authorized compliance officer of the Subadviser shall certify to the Fund and to the Adviser that the Subadviser has complied with the requirements of Rules 204A-1 and 17j-l during the previous calendar quarter and that there has been no material violation of its Code of Ethics, or of Rule 17j-1(b), or that any persons covered under its Code of Ethics has divulged or acted upon any material, non-public information, as such term is defined under relevant securities laws, and if such a violation has occurred or the code of ethics of the Fund, or if such a violation of its Code of Ethics has occurred, that appropriate action was taken in response to such violation. Annually, the Subadviser shall furnish to the Fund a written report which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 concerning the Subadvisers Code of Ethics to the Fund and the Adviser. The Subadviser shall permit the Fund and the Adviser to examine the reports required to be made by the Subadviser under Rules 204A-1(b) and 17j-l(d)(1) and this subparagraph. |
D. |
It has adopted and implemented, and throughout the term of this Agreement shall maintain in effect and implement, policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent, detect and correct violations by the Subadviser and its supervised persons, and, to the extent the activities of the Subadviser in respect to the Fund could affect the Fund, by the Fund, of federal securities laws (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the Act), and that the Subadviser has provided the Fund with true and complete copies of its policies and procedures (or summaries thereof) and related information reasonably requested by the Fund. The Subadviser agrees to cooperate with periodic reviews by the Funds compliance personnel of the Subadvisers policies and procedures, their operation and implementation and other compliance matters and to provide to the Fund from time to time such additional information and certifications in respect of the Subadvisers policies and procedures, compliance by the Subadviser with federal securities laws and related matters and the Funds compliance personnel may reasonably request. |
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The Subadviser agrees to promptly notify the Adviser of any compliance violations which affect the Designated Series. |
E. | Reference is hereby made to the Declaration of Trust establishing the Fund, a copy of which has been filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and elsewhere as required by law, and to any and all amendments thereto so filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and elsewhere as required by law, and to any and all amendments thereto so filed or hereafter filed. The name Phoenix Opportunities Trust refers to the Trustees under said Declaration of Trust, as Trustees and not personally, and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, agent or employee of the Fund shall be held to any personal liability in connection with the affairs of the Fund; only the trust estate under said Declaration of Trust is liable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Subadviser nor any of its officers, directors, partners, shareholders or employees shall, under any circumstances, have recourse or cause or willingly permit recourse to be had directly or indirectly to any personal, statutory, or other liability of any shareholder, Trustee, officer, agent or employee of the Fund or of any successor of the Fund, whether such liability now exists or is hereafter incurred for claims against the trust estate. |
14. | Entire Agreement; Amendment . This Agreement, together with the Schedules attached hereto, constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior written or oral agreements pertaining to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended at any time, but only by written agreement among the Subadviser, the Adviser and the Fund, which amendment, other than amendments to Schedules A, B, D, E and F, is subject to the approval of the Trustees and the shareholders of the Fund as and to the extent required by the Act. |
15. | Effective Date; Term . This Agreement shall become effective on the date set forth on the first page of this Agreement, and shall continue in effect until December 31, 2007. The Agreement shall continue from year to year thereafter only so long as its continuance has been specifically approved at least annually by the Trustees in accordance with Section 15(a) of the Act, and by the majority vote of the disinterested Trustees in accordance with the requirements of Section 15(c) thereof. |
16. | Termination . This Agreement may be terminated by any party, without penalty, immediately upon written notice to the other parties in the event of a material breach of any provision thereof by a party so notified, or otherwise upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other parties, but any such termination shall not affect the status, obligations or liabilities of any party hereto to the other parties. |
17. | Applicable Law . To the extent that state law is not preempted by the provisions of any law of the United States heretofore or hereafter enacted, as the same may be amended from time to time, this Agreement shall be administered, construed and enforced according to the laws of the State of Delaware. |
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18. | Severability . If any term or condition of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable to any extent or in any application, then the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and each and every term and condition of this Agreement shall be valid and enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. |
19. | Notices. Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered personally or by overnight delivery service or mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, or sent by facsimile addressed to the parties at their respective addresses set forth below, or at such other address as shall be designated by any party in a written notice to the other party. |
(a) | To Phoenix at: |
Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc.
56 Prospect Street
Hartford, CT 06115
Attn: John H. Beers, Vice President and Clerk
Telephone: (860) 403-5050
Facsimile: (860) 403-7251
Email: john.beers@phoenixwm.com
(b) | To Halbis at: |
Halbis Capital Management (USA) Inc.
452 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10018
Attn: Mary Ellen McPhelim
Telephone: (212) 525-4573
Facsimile: (212) 525-8034
Email: MaryEllen.McPhelim@us.hsbc.com
20. | Certifications . The Subadviser hereby warrants and represents that it will provide the requisite certifications reasonably requested by the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Fund necessary for those named officers to fulfill their reporting and certification obligations on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q as required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to the extent that such reporting and certifications relate to the Subadvisers duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. Subadviser shall provide a quarterly certification in a form substantially similar to that attached as Schedule E. |
21. |
Indemnification . The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Subadviser and the Subadvisers directors, officers, employees and agents from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, and expenses whatsoever, including reasonable attorneys fees (collectively, Losses), arising out of or relating to (i) any breach by the Adviser of any provision of this Agreement; (ii) the negligence, willful misconduct, bad |
8
faith, or breach of fiduciary duty of the Adviser; (iii) any violation by the Adviser of any law or regulation relating to its activities under this Agreement; and (iv) any dispute between the Adviser and any Fund shareholder, except to the extent that such Losses result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith of the Subadviser or the Subadvisers reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. |
22. | Receipt of Disclosure Document . The Fund acknowledges receipt, at least 48 hours prior to entering into this Agreement, of a copy of Part II of the Subadvisers Form ADV containing certain information concerning the Subadviser and the nature of its business. |
23. | Counterparts; Fax Signatures . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including executed counterparts delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission) with the same effect as if all signing parties had originally signed the same document, and all counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute the same instrument. For all purposes, signatures delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission shall be binding and effective to the same extent as original signatures. |
[signature page follows]
9
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST | ||
By: | /s/ Francis G. Waltman | |
Name: | Francis G. Waltman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President | |
PHOENIX INVESTMENT COUNSEL, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ John H. Beers | |
Name: | John H. Beers | |
Title: | Vice President and Clerk |
ACCEPTED:
Halbis Capital Management (USA) Inc. | ||
By: |
/s/ Gregg Diliberto |
|
Name: | Gregg Diliberto | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
SCHEDULES: | A. | Operational Procedures | ||||
B. | Record Keeping Requirements | |||||
C. | Fee Schedule | |||||
D. | Subadviser Functions | |||||
E. | Form of Sub-Certification | |||||
F. | Designated Series |
10
SCHEDULE A
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
In order to minimize operational problems, it will be necessary for a flow of information to be supplied by Subadviser to State Street and Bank Trust Company (the Custodian) and PFPC, Inc., (the Sub-Accounting Agent) for the Fund.
The Subadviser must furnish the Custodian and the Sub-Accounting Agent with daily information as to executed trades, or, if no trades are executed, with a report to that effect, no later than 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard time) on the day of the trade each day the Fund is open for business. (Subadviser will be responsible for reimbursement to the Fund for any loss caused by the Subadvisers failure to comply.) The necessary information can be sent via facsimile machine to the Custodian and the Sub-Accounting Agent. Information provided to the Custodian and the Sub-Accounting Agent shall include the following:
1. | Purchase or sale; |
2. | Security name; |
3. | CUSIP number, ISIN or Sedols (as applicable); |
4. | Number of shares and sales price per share or aggregate principal amount; |
5. | Executing broker; |
6. | Settlement agent; |
7. | Trade date; |
8. | Settlement date; |
9. | Aggregate commission or if a net trade; |
10. | Interest purchased or sold from interest bearing security; |
11. | Other fees; |
12. | Net proceeds of the transaction; |
13. | Exchange where trade was executed; |
14. | Identified tax lot (if applicable); and |
15. | Trade commission reason: best execution, soft dollar or research. |
When opening accounts with brokers for, and in the name of, the Fund, the account must be a cash account. No margin accounts are to be maintained in the name of the Fund. Delivery instructions are as specified by the Custodian. The Custodian will supply the Subadviser daily with a cash availability report via access to the Custodian website, or by email or by facsimile and the Sub-Accounting Agent will provide a five day cash projection. This will normally be done by email or, if email is unavailable, by another form of immediate written communication, so that the Subadviser will know the amount available for investment purposes.
11
SCHEDULE B
RECORDS TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE SUBADVISER
1. | (Rule 31a-1(b)(5)) A record of each brokerage order, and all other series purchases and sales, given by the Subadviser on behalf of the Fund for, or in connection with, the purchase or sale of securities, whether executed or unexecuted. Such records shall include: |
A. | The name of the broker; |
B. | The terms and conditions of the order and of any modifications or cancellations thereof; |
C. | The time of entry or cancellation; |
D. | The price at which executed; |
E. | The time of receipt of a report of execution; and |
F. | The name of the person who placed the order on behalf of the Fund. |
2. | (Rule 31a-1(b)(9)) A record for each fiscal quarter, completed within ten (10) days after the end of the quarter, showing specifically the basis or bases upon which the allocation of orders for the purchase and sale of series securities to named brokers or dealers was effected, and the division of brokerage commissions or other compensation on such purchase and sale orders. Such record: |
A. | Shall include the consideration given to: |
(i) | The sale of shares of the Fund by brokers or dealers. |
(ii) | The supplying of services or benefits by brokers or dealers to: |
(a) | The Fund, |
(b) | The Adviser, |
(c) | The Subadviser, and |
(d) | Any person other than the foregoing. |
(iii) | Any other consideration other than the technical qualifications of the brokers and dealers as such. |
B. | Shall show the nature of the services or benefits made available. |
C. | Shall describe in detail the application of any general or specific formula or other determinant used in arriving at such allocation of purchase and sale orders and such division of brokerage commissions or other compensation. |
D. | The name of the person responsible for making the determination of such allocation and such division of brokerage commissions or other compensation. |
3. |
(Rule 31a-1(b)(10)) A record in the form of an appropriate memorandum identifying the person or persons, committees or groups authorizing the purchase or sale of series securities. Where a committee or group makes an authorization, a record shall be kept of the names of its members who participate in the authorization. There shall be retained as part of this record: any memorandum, recommendation or instruction supporting or |
12
authorizing the purchase or sale of series securities and such other information as is appropriate to support the authorization.*
4. | (Rule 31a-1(f)) Such accounts, books and other documents as are required to be maintained by registered investment Advisers by rule adopted under Section 204 of the Advisers Act, to the extent such records are necessary or appropriate to record the Subadvisers transactions for the Fund. |
5. | Records as necessary under Board approved Phoenix Funds valuation policies and procedures. |
* Such information might include: current financial information, annual and quarterly reports, press releases, reports by analysts and from brokerage firms (including their recommendations, i.e., buy, sell, hold) or any internal reports or subadviser review.
13
SCHEDULE C
SUBADVISORY FEE
(a) For services provided to the Fund, the Adviser will pay to the Subadviser, on or before the 10 th day of each month, a fee, payable in arrears, at the annual rate stated below. The fees shall be prorated for any month during which this Agreement is in effect for only a portion of the month. In computing the fee to be paid to the Subadviser, the net asset value of the Fund and each Designated Series shall be valued as set forth in the then current registration statement of the Fund.
(b) The fee to be paid to the Subadviser is to be 50% of the gross management fee as calculated based on the average daily net assets of the Phoenix Emerging Markets Bond Fund.
14
SCHEDULE D
SUBADVISER FUNCTIONS
With respect to managing the investment and reinvestment of the Designated Series assets, the Subadviser shall provide, at its own expense:
(a) | An investment program for the Designated Series consistent with its investment objectives based upon the development, review and adjustment of buy/sell strategies approved from time to time by the Board of Trustees and the Adviser in paragraph 3 of this Subadvisory Agreement; |
(b) | Periodic reports, on at least a quarterly basis, in form and substance acceptable to the Adviser, with respect to: i) compliance with the Code of Ethics and the Funds code of ethics; ii) compliance with procedures adopted from time to time by the Trustees of the Fund relative to securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; iii) diversification of Designated Series assets in accordance with the then prevailing Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information pertaining to the Designated Series and governing laws; iv) compliance with governing restrictions relating to the fair valuation of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or considered illiquid for the purposes of complying with the Designated Series limitation on acquisition of illiquid securities; v) any and all other reports reasonably requested in accordance with or described in this Agreement; and vi) the implementation of the Designated Series investment program, including, without limitation, analysis of Designated Series performance; |
(c) | Promptly after filing with the SEC an amendment to its Form ADV, a copy of such amendment to the Adviser and the Trustees; |
(d) | Attendance by appropriate representatives of the Subadviser at meetings requested by the Adviser or Trustees at such time(s) and location(s) as reasonably requested by the Adviser or Trustees; and |
(e) | Notice to the Trustees and the Adviser of the occurrence of any event which would disqualify the Subadviser from serving as an investment Adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act or otherwise. |
(f) | Provide reasonable assistance in the valuation of securities including the participation of appropriate representatives at fair valuation committee meetings. |
15
SCHEDULE E
FORM OF SUB-CERTIFICATION
To:
Re: |
Form N-CSR and Form N-Q Certification for the [Name of Designated Series]. | |
From: |
[Name of Subadviser] | |
Representations in support of Investment Company Act Rule 30b1-5 certifications of Form N-CSR and Form N-Q. | ||
[Name of Designated Series]. | ||
In connection with your certification responsibility under Rule 30b1-5 and Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, I have reviewed the following information presented for the period ended [Date of Reporting Period] (the Reports) which forms part of the N-CSR or N-Q, as applicable, for the Funds. |
Schedule of Investments (the Reports)
Our organization has designed, implemented and maintained internal controls and procedures, designed for the purpose of ensuring the accuracy and completeness of relevant portfolio trade data transmitted to those responsible for the preparation of the Schedule of Investments. As of the date of this certification there have been no material modifications to these internal controls and procedures.
In addition, our organization has:
a. | Designed such internal controls and procedures to ensure that material information is made known to the appropriate groups responsible for servicing the above-mentioned mutual funds. |
b. | Evaluated the effectiveness of our internal controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the date of this certification and we have concluded that such controls and procedures are effective. |
c. | In addition, to the best of my knowledge there has been no fraud, whether, or not material, that involves our organizations management or other employees who have a significant role in our organizations control and procedures as they relate to our duties as subadviser to the Funds. |
I have read the draft of the Reports which I understand to be current as of [Date of Reporting Period] and based on my knowledge, such drafts of the Reports do not, with respect to the Funds, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the information contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which such information is presented, not misleading with respect to the period covered by such draft Reports.
16
I have disclosed, based on my most recent evaluation, to the Funds Chief Accounting Officer:
a. | All significant changes, deficiencies and material weakness, if any, in the design or operation of the Subadvisers internal controls and procedures which could adversely affect the Advisers ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data with respect to the Fund in a timely fashion; |
b. | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves the Subadvisers management or other employees who have a significant role in the Subadvisers internal controls and procedures for financial reporting as they relate to our duties as Subadviser to the Fund. |
I certify that to the best of my knowledge:
a. | The Subadvisers Portfolio Manager(s) has/have complied with the restrictions and reporting requirements of the Code of Ethics (the Code). The term Portfolio Manager is as defined in the Code. |
b. | The Subadviser has complied with the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Funds and the Policies and Procedures of the Funds as adopted by the Funds Board of Trustees to the extent they relate to our duties as Subadviser to the Fund. |
c. | I have no knowledge of any compliance violations except as disclosed in writing to the Phoenix Compliance Department by me or by the Subadvisers compliance administrator. |
d. | The Subadviser has complied with the rules and regulations of the 33 Act and 40 Act, and such other regulations as may apply to the extent those rules and regulations pertain to the responsibilities of the Subadviser with respect to the Fund as outlined above. |
This certification relates solely to the Funds named above and may not be relied upon by any other fund or entity.
The Subadviser does not maintain the official books and records of the above Funds. The Subadvisers records are based on its own portfolio management system, a record-keeping system that is not intended to serve as the Funds official accounting system. The Subadviser is not responsible for the preparation of the Reports.
[Name of Authorized Signature] |
Date |
17
SCHEDULE F
DESIGNATED SERIES
Phoenix Emerging Markets Bond Fund
18
FOURTH AMENDMENT
TO SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT effective as of the 27 th day of June, 2007 amends that certain Subadvisory Agreement effective July 1, 1998, as amended also on July 1, 1998, on November 20, 2002 and on September 1, 2006 (the Agreement) among Phoenix Opportunities Trust (the Trust), a Delaware statutory trust on behalf of its series Phoenix Bond Fund and Phoenix Earnings Driven Growth Fund (the Fund), Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the Adviser) and SCM Advisors, LLC (f/k/a Seneca Capital Management LLC), a California limited liability company (the Subadviser) as follows:
1. | Any and all references to the name of the Subadviser as Seneca Capital Management LLC shall hereafter refer to the Subadviser as SCM Advisors, LLC. |
2. | Phoenix High Yield Fund is hereby added as an additional series to the Agreement. |
3. | Schedule C to the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and Schedule C attached hereto is substituted in its place. |
4. | Except as expressly amended hereby, all provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and are unchanged in all other respects. All initial capitalized terms used herein shall have such meanings as ascribed thereto in the Agreement, as amended. All terms and phrases in quotations shall have such meaning as ascribed thereto in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. |
5. | This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one and the same instrument. |
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto intending to be legally bound have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers.
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST | ||
By: |
/s/ Francis G. Waltman |
|
Name: | Francis G. Waltman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President | |
PHOENIX INVESTMENT COUNSEL, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ John H. Beers |
|
Name: | John H. Beers | |
Title: | Vice President and Clerk |
ACCEPTED:
SCM ADVISORS, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ George R. Aylward |
|
Name: | George R. Aylward | |
Title: | Executive Vice President |
SCHEDULE C
SUBADVISORY FEE
(a) For services provided to the Series, the Adviser will pay to the Subadviser, on or before the 10 th day of each month, a fee, payable in arrears at the following annual rates. The fees shall be prorated for any month during which this Agreement is in effect for only a portion of the month. In computing the fee to be paid to the Subadviser, the net asset value of the Fund and each Series shall be valued as set forth in the then current registration statement of the Fund.
(b) The fee to be paid to the Subadviser is:
Series Name |
All Assets |
|
Phoenix Bond Fund |
0.25% | |
Phoenix Earnings Driven Growth Fund |
0.40% | |
Phoenix High Yield Fund |
50% of the gross management fee |
PHOENIX EQUITY PLANNING CORPORATION
56 Prospect St.
P.O. Box 150480
Hartford, CT 06115-0480
PHOENIX FUNDS
SALES AGREEMENT
To: | Dealer Name |
Attention:
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation (PEPCO, we, us, or our) invites you to participate in the sale and distribution of shares of registered investment companies (which shall collectively be referred to hereinafter as the Funds) for which we are national distributor or principal underwriter, and which may be listed in Annex A hereto which such Annex may be amended by us from time to time. Upon acceptance of this agreement by PEPCO, you may offer and sell shares of each of the Funds (hereafter Shares) subject, however, to the terms and conditions hereof including our right to suspend or cease the sale of such shares. For the purposes hereof, the above referenced dealer shall be referred to as you.
1. | You understand and agree that in all sales of Shares to the public, you shall act as dealer for your own account. All purchase orders and applications are subject to acceptance or rejection by us in our sole discretion and are effective only upon confirmation by us. Each purchase will be deemed to have been consummated in our principal office subject to our acceptance and effective only upon confirmation to you by us. |
2. | You agree that all purchases of Shares by you shall be made only for the purpose of covering purchase orders already received from your customers (who may be any person other than a securities dealer or broker) or for your own bona-fide investment. |
3. | You shall offer and sell Shares purchased pursuant to this agreement for the purpose of covering purchase orders of your customers, to the extent applicable, (a) at the current public offering price (Offering Price) for Class A Shares or (b) at the Net Asset Value for Class B and Class C shares as set forth in the current prospectus of each of the funds. The offer and sale of Class B Shares by you is subject to Annex B hereto, Compliance Standards for the Sale of the Phoenix Funds Under Their Alternative Purchase Arrangements. |
4. | You shall pay us for Shares purchased within three (3) business days of the date of our confirmation to you of such purchase or within such time as required by applicable rule or law. The purchase price shall be (a) the Offering Price, less only the applicable dealer discount (Dealer Discount) for Class A Shares, if applicable, or (b) the Net Asset Value, less only the applicable sales commission (Sales Commission) for Class B or Class C Shares, if applicable, as set forth in the current prospectus at the time the purchase is received by us. We have the right, without notice, to cancel any order for which payment of good and sufficient funds has not been received by us as provided in this paragraph, in which case you may be held responsible for any loss suffered by us resulting from your failure to make payment as aforesaid. |
5. | You understand and agree that any Dealer Discount, Sales Commission or fee is subject to change from time to time without prior notice. Any orders placed after the effective date of any such change shall be subject to the Dealer Discount or Sales Commission in effect at the time such order is received by us. |
6. |
You understand and agree that Shares purchased by you under this Agreement will not be delivered until payment of good and sufficient funds has been received by us. Delivery of Shares will be made by credit |
to a shareholder open account unless delivery of certificates is specified in the purchase order. In order to avoid unnecessary delay, it is understood that, at your request, any Shares resold by you to one of your customers will be delivered (whether by credit to a shareholder open account or by delivery of certificates) in the name of your customer. |
7. | You understand that on all purchases of Shares to which the terms of this Agreement are applicable by a shareholder for whom you are dealer of record, we will pay you an amount equal to the Dealer Discount, Sales Commission or fees which would have been paid to you with respect to such Shares if such Shares had been purchased through you. You understand and agree that the dealer of record for this purpose shall be the dealer through whom such shareholder most recently purchased Shares of such fund, unless the shareholder or you have instructed us otherwise. You understand that all amounts payable to you under this paragraph and currently payable under this agreement will be paid as of the end of the month unless specified otherwise for the total amount of Shares to which this paragraph is applicable but may be paid more frequently as we may determine in our discretion. Your request for Dealer Discount or Sales Commission reclaims will be considered if adequate verification and documentation of the purchase in question is supplied to us, and the reclaim is requested within three years of such purchase. |
8. | We appoint the transfer agent (or identified sub-transfer agent) for each of the Funds as our agent to execute the purchase transaction of Shares and to confirm such purchases to your customers on your behalf, and you guarantee the legal capacity of your customers so purchasing such Shares. You further understand that if a customers account is established without the customer signing the application form, you hereby represent that the instructions relating to the registration and shareholder options selected (whether on the application form, in some other document or orally) are in accordance with the customers instructions and you agree to indemnify the Funds, the transfer agent (or identified sub-transfer agent) and us for any loss or liability resulting from acting upon such instructions. |
9. | Upon the purchase of Class A Shares pursuant to a Letter of Intent, you will promptly return to us any excess of the Dealer Discount previously allowed or paid to you over that allowable in respect to such larger purchases. |
10. | Unless at the time of transmitting a purchase order you advise us to the contrary, we may consider that the investor owns no other Shares and may further assume that the investor is not entitled to any lower sales charge than that accorded to a single transaction in the amount of the purchase order, as set forth in the current prospectus. |
11. | You understand and agree that if any Shares purchased by you under the terms of this Agreement are, within seven (7) business days after the date of our confirmation to you of the original purchase order for such Shares, repurchased by us as agent for such fund or are tendered to such fund for redemption, you shall forfeit the right to, and shall promptly pay over to us the amount of, any Dealer Discount or Sales Commission allowed to you with respect to such Shares. We will notify you of such repurchase or redemption within ten (10) days of the date upon which certificates are delivered to us or to such fund or the date upon which the holder of Shares held in a shareholder open account places or causes to be placed with us or with such fund an order to have such shares repurchased or redeemed. |
12. | You agree that, in the case of any repurchase of any Shares made more than seven (7) business days after confirmation by us of any purchase of such Shares, except in the case of Shares purchased from you by us for your own bona fide investment, you will act only as agent for the holders of such Shares and will place the orders for repurchase only with us. It is understood that you may charge the holder of such Shares a fair commission for handling the transaction. |
13. | Our obligations to you under this Agreement are subject to all the provisions of the respective distribution agreements entered into between us and each of the Funds. You understand and agree that in performing your services under this agreement you are acting in the capacity of an independent contractor, and we are in no way responsible for the manner of your performance or for any of your acts or omissions in connection therewith. Nothing in the Agreement shall be construed to constitute you or any of your agents, employees, or representatives as our agent, partner or employee, or the agent, partner of employee of any of the Funds. |
In connection with the sale and distribution of shares of Phoenix Funds, you agree to indemnify and hold us and our affiliates, employees, and/or officers harmless from any damage or expense as a result of (a) the negligence, misconduct or wrongful act by you or any employee, representative, or agent of yours and/or (b) any actual or alleged violation of any securities laws, regulations or orders. Any indebtedness or obligation of yours to us whether arising hereunder or otherwise, and any liabilities incurred or moneys paid by us to any person as a result of any misrepresentation, wrongful or unauthorized act or omission, negligence of, or failure of you or your employees, representatives or agents to comply with the Sales Agreement, shall be set off against any compensation payable under this agreement. Any differential between such expenses and compensation payable hereunder shall be payable to us upon demand. The terms of this provision shall not be impaired by the termination of this agreement.
In connection with the sale and distribution of shares of Phoenix Funds, we agree to indemnify and hold you harmless from any damage or expense on account of the gross and willful negligence, misconduct or wrongful act of us or any employee, representative, or agent of ours which arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of material fact, or the omission or alleged omission of a material fact in: (i) any registration statement, including any prospectus or any post-effective amendment thereto; or (ii) any material prepared and/or supplied by us for use in conjunction with the offer or sale of Phoenix Funds; or (iii) any state registration or other document filed in any state or jurisdiction in order to qualify any Fund under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. The terms of this provision shall not be impaired by the termination of this agreement.
14. | We will supply you with reasonable quantities of the current prospectus, periodic reports to shareholders, and sales materials for each of the Funds. You agree not to use any other advertising or sales material relating to the sale of shares of any of the Funds unless other advertising or sales material is pre-approved in writing by us. |
15. | You agree to offer and sell Shares only in accordance with the terms and conditions of the then current prospectus of each of the Funds and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, and you will make no representations not contained in any such prospectus or any authorized supplemental sales material supplied by us. You agree to use your best efforts in the development and promotion of sales of the Shares covered by this Agreement, and agree to be responsible for the proper instruction, training and supervision of all sales representatives employed by you in order that such Shares will be offered in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and all applicable laws, rules and regulations. All expenses incurred by you in connection with your activities under this Agreement shall be borne by you. In consideration for the extension of the right to exercise telephone exchange and redemption privileges to you and your registered representatives, you agree to bear the risk of any loss resulting from any unauthorized telephone exchange or redemption instructions from you or your registered representatives. In the event we determine to refund any amounts paid by any investor by reason of such violation on your part, you shall forfeit the right to, and pay over to us, the amount of any Dealer Discount or Sales Commission allowed to you with respect to the transaction for which the refund is made. |
16. | You represent that you are properly registered as a broker or dealer under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and are member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD) and agree to maintain membership in the NASD or in the alternative, that you are a foreign dealer not eligible for membership in the NASD. You agree to notify us promptly of any change, termination or suspension of the foregoing status. You agree to abide by all the rules and regulations of the NASD, including NASD Conduct Rule 2830, which is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full. You further agree to comply with all applicable state and Federal laws and the rules and regulations of applicable regulatory agencies. You further agree that you will not sell, or offer for sale, Shares in any jurisdiction in which such Shares have not been duly registered or qualified for sale. You agree to promptly notify us with respect to (a) the initiation and disposition of any formal disciplinary action by the NASD or any other agency or instrumentality having jurisdiction with respect to the subject matter hereof against you or any of your employees or agents; (b) the issuance of any form of deficiency notice by the NASD or any such agency regarding your training, supervision or sales practices; and (c) the effectuation of any consensual order with respect thereto. |
16.1 |
Patriot Act. You shall employ policies and procedures designed to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated from time to time by the Office of Foreign Asset Control (including |
transactions involving embargoed countries or Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and all other applicable money laundering restrictions, including, without limitation, such restrictions as may be adopted pursuant to the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act) of 2001 with respect to similarly situated financial institutions as PEPCO. You agree that you will perform the Customer Identification Program requirements of the USA Patriot Act, as applicable, with respect to Accounts established and transactions made pursuant to this Agreement. |
16.2 | Sarbanes-Oxley Act. You agree to cooperate with PEPCO and will facilitate the filing by PEPCO, each underlying registered investment companies (collectively, the Funds) and/or their respective officers and auditors of any and all certifications or attestations as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, including, without limitation, furnishing such sub-certifications from your relevant officers with respect to the services performed by you under this Agreement as reasonably requested from time to time. |
16.3 | Rule 38a-1. Upon reasonable request, you agree to provide your written policies and procedures to the Funds chief compliance officer for review and the Funds board of trustees approval to assist our compliance with Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. You further agree to cooperate with PEPCO in its review of such written policies and procedures, including, without limitation, furnishing such certifications and sub-certifications as PEPCO shall reasonably request from time to time. You agree that you shall promptly notify PEPCO and Funds in the event that a material compliance matter (as such term is defined pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act) arises with respect the services you provide under this Agreement. |
16.4 | Late Trading. You will accept no orders for the purchase and redemption of Fund shares after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on any Business Day. For the purposes hereof, a Business Day shall mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which a Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (hereinafter, the SEC), as amended from time to time, subject to such terms and conditions as may be set forth in the registration statements for the Funds as filed with the SEC, as the same shall be amended from time to time. |
16.5 | Market Timing. PEPCO may refuse to sell shares of any Fund (or series thereof) to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Fund (or series thereof), if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction with respect to PEPCO or Fund, as the case may be, or is, in the reasonable discretion of PEPCO, reasonably necessary in order to protect the best interests of its investors. You shall establish and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to detect, monitor and deter (including, without limitation, rejecting specific purchase orders) account owners (or their agents) whose purchase and redemption activity follows a market timing pattern, and to take such other actions as you deem necessary to discourage or reduce market timing activity. For the purposes hereof, market timing activity shall mean and refer to any discernable pattern of excessive trading in and out of a Fund (or series thereof) by one or more account owners (or their agents), including, without limitation, any purchase and sale (round trip) in and out of a single series of a Fund within any thirty day period. The parties acknowledge that, if necessary, such policies and procedures may include the identification of account owners engaged in such market timing activity and the imposition of restrictions on their requests to purchase or exchange Fund shares. You shall provide reasonable reports regarding your implementation and enforcement of such restrictions on purchase and redemption activity that follows a market-timing pattern upon request. |
17. | Shareholder Information and SEC Rule 22c-2. If trading as an Intermediary (a broker, dealer, bank or other entity that holds securities of record issued by the Funds in nominee name; and in the case of a participant-directed employee benefit plan that owns securities issued by the Funds; a retirement plan administrator under ERISA or any entity that maintains the plans participant records) you hereby agree as follows: |
17.1 |
Agreement to Provide Information. Intermediary agrees to provide the Funds, upon written request, the taxpayer information number (TIN), if known, of any or all Shareholder(s) of the |
account and the amount, date, name or other identifier of any investment professional(s) associated with the Shareholder(s) or account (if known), and transaction type (purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange) of every purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange of Fund shares held through an account maintained by the Intermediary during the period covered by the request. |
17.1.1 | Period Covered by Request. Requests must set forth a specific period, not to exceed _180_ days from the date of the request, for which transaction information is sought. The Fund may request transaction information older than _180_ days from the date of the request as it deems necessary to investigate compliance with policies established by the Fund for the purposes of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding shares issued by the Fund. If requested by the Fund, Intermediary agrees to provide the information specified in 1.1 for each trading day. |
17.1.2 | Form and Timing of Response. Intermediary agrees to transmit the requested information that is on its books and records to the Funds or its designee promptly, but in any event not later than 10 business days, after receipt of a request. If the requested information is not on the Intermediarys books and records, Intermediary agrees to use reasonable efforts to: (i) promptly obtain and transmit the requested information; (ii) obtain assurances from the accountholder that the requested information will be provided directly to the Fund Agent promptly; or (iii) if directed by the Fund Agent, block further purchases of Fund shares from such accountholder. In such instance, Intermediary agrees to inform the Fund Agent whether it plans to perform (i), (ii) or (iii). Responses required by this paragraph must be communicated in writing and in format mutually agreed upon by the parties. To the extent practicable, the format for any transaction information provided to the Fund Agent should be consistent with the NSCC Standardized Data Reporting Format. |
17.1.3 | Limitations on Use of Information. The Fund Agent agrees not to use the information received for marketing or any other similar purpose without the prior written consent of the Intermediary. |
17.2. | Agreement to Restrict Trading. Intermediary agrees to execute written instructions from the Fund Agent to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of Fund shares by a Shareholder that has been identified by the Fund Agent as having engaged in transactions of the Funds shares (directly or indirectly through the Intermediarys account) that violate policies established by the Funds for the purposes of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding shares issued by the Funds. |
17.2.1 | Form of Instructions. Instructions must include the TIN, if known, and the specific restriction(s) to be executed. If the TIN is not known, the instructions must include any equivalent identifying number of the Shareholder(s) or account(s) or other agreed upon information to which the instruction relates. |
17.2.2 | Timing of Response. Intermediary agrees to execute instructions as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than five business days after receipt of the instructions by the Intermediary. |
17.2.3 | Confirmation by Intermediary. Intermediary must provide written confirmation to the Fund Agent that instructions have been executed. Intermediary agrees to provide confirmation as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than ten business days after the instructions have been executed. |
17.3 | Definitions. For purposes of this paragraph: |
17.3.1 |
The term Funds includes the funds principal underwriter and transfer agent. The term not does include any excepted funds as defined in SEC Rule 22c-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940. i |
17.3.2 | The term Shares means the interests of Shareholders corresponding to the redeemable securities of record issued by the Fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that are held by the Intermediary. |
17.3.3 | The term Shareholder means the beneficial owner of Shares, whether the Shares are held directly or by the Intermediary in nominee name or, if applicable, the Plan participant notwithstanding that the Plan may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of Shares. |
18. | Either party may terminate this agreement for any reason by written or electronic notice to the other party which termination shall become effective fifteen (15) days after the date of mailing or electronically transmitting such notice to the other party. We may also terminate this agreement for cause or as a result of a violation by you, as determined by us in our discretion, of any of the provisions of this Agreement, said termination to be effective on the date of mailing written or electronic notice to you of the same. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, your own expulsion from the NASD will automatically terminate this Agreement without notice. Your suspension from the NASD or violation of applicable state or Federal laws or rules and regulations of applicable regulatory agencies will terminate this Agreement effective upon the date of our mailing written notice or transmitting electronic notice to you of such termination. Our failure to terminate this Agreement for any cause shall not constitute a waiver of our right to so terminate at a later date. |
19. | All communications and notices to you or us shall be sent to the addresses set forth at the beginning of this Agreement or to such other address as may be specified in writing from time to time. |
20. | PEPCO agrees to comply with all laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances relating to privacy, confidentiality, security, data security, and the handling of customer information which may from time to time be established. PEPCO agrees not to disclose or use any consumer nonpublic personal information (including nonpublic personal financial information and nonpublic personal health information), which may be supplied by you to PEPCO in performance under this Agreement other than to: a) carry out the purpose for which the information was provided; and b) to use or disclose the information as otherwise permitted or required by law. You agree to comply with all laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances relating to privacy, confidentiality, security, data security, and the handling of customer information which may from time to time be established. You agree not to disclose or use any consumer nonpublic personal information (including nonpublic personal financial information and nonpublic personal health information), which may be supplied by PEPCO to you in performance under this Agreement other than to: a) carry out the purpose for which the information was provided; and b) to use or disclose the information as otherwise permitted or required by law. This provision will survive and continue in full force and effect after the termination of this Agreement. |
21. | This agreement shall become effective upon the date of its acceptance by us as set forth herein. This agreement may be amended by PEPCO from time to time. This Agreement and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Connecticut. This agreement is not assignable or transferable, except that we may assign or transfer this agreement to any successor distributor of the Shares described herein. |
PEP 80 8/07
Amended Annex A August 2007
PhoenixFunds Sales Agreement
Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation
PhoenixFunds and Available Share Classes
EQUITY | FIXED INCOME | |||||
Phoenix All-Cap Growth Fund | A B C | Phoenix Bond Fund | A B C I | |||
Phoenix Capital Growth Fund | A B C | Phoenix CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund | A I | |||
Phoenix Dynamic Growth Fund | A C | Phoenix Core Bond Fund | A B C | |||
Phoenix Earnings Driven Growth Fund | A B C I | Phoenix Emerging Markets Bond Fund | A B C | |||
Phoenix Focused Value Fund | A C | Phoenix High Yield Fund | A B C | |||
Phoenix Growth & Income Fund | A B C | Phoenix Institutional Bond Fund | XY | |||
Phoenix Growth Opportunities Fund | A C | Phoenix Low-Duration Core Plus Bond Fund | XY | |||
Phoenix Mid-Cap Growth Fund | A B C | Phoenix Money Market Fund | A | |||
Phoenix Mid-Cap Value Fund | A C | Phoenix Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund | A B C | |||
Phoenix Quality Small-Cap Fund | A C I | Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund | A B C T | |||
Phoenix Rising Dividends Fund | A B C I | |||||
Phoenix Small-Cap Growth Fund | A B C | ALTERNATIVE | ||||
Phoenix Small-Cap Sustainable Growth Fund | A C I | Phoenix Global Utilities Fund | A C | |||
Phoenix Small-Cap Value Fund | A B C | Phoenix Market Neutral Fund * | A B C | |||
Phoenix Small-Mid Cap Fund | A B C I | Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund | A B C I | |||
Phoenix Strategic Growth Fund | A B C I | |||||
Phoenix Value Opportunities Fund | AC | PHOENIX INSIGHT FUNDS | ||||
Phoenix Insight Balanced Fund | A C I | |||||
BALANCED | Phoenix Insight Bond Fund | A C I | ||||
Phoenix Balanced Fund | A B C | Phoenix Insight Core Equity Fund | A C I | |||
Phoenix Income & Growth Fund | A B C | Phoenix Insight Emerging Market Fund | A C I | |||
Phoenix Insight Equity Fund | A C I | |||||
INTERNATIONAL/GLOBAL | Phoenix Insight High Yield Bond Fund | A C I | ||||
Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund | A C I | Phoenix Insight Intermediate Tax-Exempt Bond Fund | A C I | |||
Phoenix International Strategies Fund | A B C | Phoenix Insight Short/Intermediate Bond Fund | A C I | |||
Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund | A B C | Phoenix Insight Small-Cap Growth Fund | A C I | |||
Phoenix Insight Small-Cap Opportunity Fund | A C I | |||||
PHOLIOs | Phoenix Insight Small-Cap Value Fund | A C I | ||||
Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO SM | A C | Phoenix Insight Tax-Exempt Bond Fund | A C I | |||
Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO SM | A C | Phoenix Insight Money Market Fund | A I | |||
Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO SM | A C | Phoenix Insight Government Money Market Fund | A I | |||
Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO SM | A C | Phoenix Insight Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund | A I | |||
Phoenix Insight Index Fund | A I | |||||
Phoenix Insight Intermediate Government Bond Fund | A I |
Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation, One American Row, Hartford, CT 06102
Marketing: (800) 243-4361 Customer Service: (800) 243-1574 PhoenixFunds.com
Applicable waivers of Class A sales charges and Class B and C contingent deferred sales charges are described in the prospectus.
* | The Phoenix Market Neutral Fund currently operates under a separate sales load and dealer compensation schedule for Class B and C shares only. Please refer to the last page of this Annex A for details. |
Class A Shares
Dealer Concession: |
Class A Shares Equity, Balanced, Asset Allocation, International/Global, Alternative Funds |
|||
Amount of Transaction Plus Applicable Rights of Accumulation: |
Sales Charge
As Percentage of
|
Dealer Discount
As Percentage of
|
||
Less than $50,000 |
5.75% | 5.00% | ||
$50,000 but under $100,000 |
4.75 | 4.25 | ||
$100,000 but under $250,000 |
3.75 | 3.25 | ||
$250,000 but under $500,000 |
2.75 | 2.25 | ||
$500,000 but under $1,000,000 |
2.00 | 1.75 | ||
$1,000,000 or more |
None | None |
Class A Shares Fixed Income Funds* |
Class A Shares Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond |
|||||||
Amount of Transaction Plus Applicable Rights of Accumulation: |
Sales Charge
As Percentage of
|
Dealer Discount
As Percentage of
|
Sales Charge
As Percentage of
|
Dealer Discount
As Percentage of
|
||||
Less than $50,000 |
4.75% | 4.25% | 2.25% | 2.00% | ||||
$50,000 but under $100,000 |
4.50 | 4.00 | 1.25 | 1.00 | ||||
$100,000 but under $250,000 |
3.50 | 3.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | ||||
$250,000 but under $500,000 |
2.75 | 2.25 | 1.00 | 1.00 | ||||
$500,000 but under $1,000,000 |
2.00 | 1.75 | 0.75 | 0.75 | ||||
$1,000,000 or more |
None | None | None | None |
* | Excluding All Money Market Funds and Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund. Shares of the Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund are offered as indicated above. |
Distribution Fee: 0.10% For distribution services with respect to the Phoenix Insight Money Market Fund, Phoenix Insight Government Money Market Fund and the Phoenix Insight Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund, PEPCO intends to pay a quarterly fee to qualifying dealers at the equivalent of 0.10% annually, based on the average daily net asset value of such Funds sold by such dealers and remaining on the Funds books during the period in which the fee is calculated. Dealers must have an aggregate value of $50,000 in each such fund to qualify for payment.
Service Fee: 0.25% For providing shareholder services such as responding to shareholder inquiries; processing redemptions; changing dividend options, account designations, and addresses; transmitting proxy statements, annual reports, prospectuses and other correspondence from the Funds to shareholders; and providing such other information and assistance to shareholders as may be reasonably requested by such shareholders, PEPCO intends to pay a quarterly fee to qualifying dealers at the equivalent of 0.25% annually, based on the average daily net asset value of Class A shares (except Phoenix Money Market Fund) sold by such dealers and remaining on the Funds books during the period in which the fee is calculated. Dealers must have an aggregate value of $50,000 or more in a Fund Class to qualify for payment in that Fund Class.
Terms and Conditions for Service and Distribution Fees: The Distribution and Service Fees are paid pursuant to one or more distribution and/or service plans (Plan) adopted by certain of the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the Act). Payment of these fees will automatically terminate in the event such Plan terminates or is not continued or in the event that this Agreement terminates, is assigned or ceases to remain in effect. In addition, these fees may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the members of the Funds Board of Trustees who are not interested persons of the Funds and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of any Fund or Funds on not more than sixty days written notice to any other party to the Agreement.
$1 Million NAV Sales Finders Fee: 1% From its own profits and resources, PEPCO intends to pay a fee to dealers who are responsible for Class A share aggregate purchases of $1 million or more as indicated in the table below. The $1 Million NAV Sales Finders Fee is not paid on purchases eligible for the Qualified Plan Finders Fee (see below) or on purchases of any Money Market Fund. For Class A share purchases made prior to January 11, 2006 on which a Finders Fee was paid, if all or part of such investment is redeemed within one year, the broker-dealer will refund the Finders Fee to Phoenix Equity Planning Corp.
Eligible Class A Share Fund Sale |
Breakpoint Percentage | |
$1,000,000 to $3,000,000 |
1.00% | |
$3,000,001 to $10,000,000 |
0.50% | |
Greater than $10,000,000 |
0.25% |
Qualified Plan Finders Fee: 1% From its own profits and resources, PEPCO intends to pay dealers an amount equal to 1% of the first $3 million, 0.50% on the next $3 million and 0.25% on the amount in excess of $6 million of Class A share aggregate purchases by an account held in the name of a qualified employee benefit plan with at least 100 eligible employees. The Qualified Plan Finders Fee is not paid on purchases eligible for the $1 Million NAV Sales Finders Fee (see above) or on purchases of any Money Market Fund. For Class A share purchases made prior to January 11, 2006 on which a Finders Fee was paid, if all or part of such investment is redeemed within one year, the broker-dealer will refund the Finders Fee to Phoenix Equity Planning Corp.
CDSC: For purchases made on or after January 11, 2006, a contingent deferred sales charge of 1% may apply on certain redemptions made within one year following purchases of Class A shares on which a $1 Million NAV Sales Finders Fee or a Qualified Plan Finders Fee has been paid to a dealer. The one year period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made. A deferred sales charge may be waived where the investors dealer of record, due to the nature of the investors account, notifies the Distributor prior to the time of the investment that the dealer waives the Finders Fee otherwise payable to the dealer, or agrees to receive such Finders Fee ratably over a 12 month period.
Class B Shares**
Class B Shares (Except Phoenix
Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund) |
Phoenix Multi-Sector
Short Term Bond Fund |
|||
Sales Commission: 4.0% |
Sales Commission: 2.0% |
|||
Years since Each Purchase: |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge: |
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge: |
||
First |
5.0% | 2.0% | ||
Second |
4.0 | 1.5 | ||
Third |
3.0 | 1.0 | ||
Fourth |
2.0 | 0.0 | ||
Fifth |
2.0 | 0.0 | ||
Sixth |
0.0 | 0.0 |
Dealers maintaining omnibus accounts, upon redemption of a customer account within the time frames specified above, shall charge such customer account the appropriate contingent deferred sales charge as indicated and shall forward the proceeds to PEPCO.
Service Fee*: 0.25% For providing shareholder services such as responding to shareholder inquiries; processing redemptions; changing dividend options, account designations, and addresses; transmitting proxy statements, annual reports, prospectuses and other correspondence from the Funds to shareholders; and providing such other information and assistance to shareholders as may be reasonably requested by such shareholders, PEPCO intends to pay a quarterly fee to qualifying dealers at the equivalent of 0.25% annually, based on the average daily net asset value of Class B shares sold by such dealers and remaining on the Funds books during the period in which the fee is calculated. Dealers must have an aggregate value of $50,000 or more in a Fund Class to qualify for payment in that Fund Class. The Class B Service Fee is paid beginning in the 13 th month following each purchase.
Class C Shares**
Sales Commission: |
1% for all Class C Funds except Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund
0% for Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund
For exchanges from Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund Class C to other Class C shares, the dealer will receive 1% sales commission on the exchanged amount. |
CDSC: 1% Dealers maintaining omnibus accounts, upon redemption of a customer account within the time frames specified below, shall charge such customer account the appropriate contingent deferred sales charge as indicated and shall forward the proceeds to PEPCO. The CDSC on Class C shares is 1% for one year from each purchase. There is no CDSC on the Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund.
Distribution Fee: 0.25% - 0.75% PEPCO intends to pay a quarterly fee to qualifying dealers at the equivalent of 0.25% annually for Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund and 0.75% annually for all other Class C Funds, based on the average daily net asset value of Class C shares sold by such dealers and remaining on the Funds books during the period in which the fee is calculated. The Class C Trail Fee is paid beginning in the 13 th month following each purchase except for the Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund. There is no hold for the Class C Trail Fee for the Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund.
Service Fee*: 0.25% For providing shareholder services such as responding to shareholder inquiries; processing redemptions; changing dividend options, account designations, and addresses; transmitting proxy statements, annual reports, prospectuses and other correspondence from the Funds to shareholders; and providing such other information and assistance to shareholders as may be reasonably requested by such shareholders, PEPCO intends to pay a quarterly fee to qualifying dealers at the equivalent of 0.25% annually, based on the average daily net asset value of Class C shares sold by such dealers and remaining on the Funds books during the period in which the fee is calculated. The Class C Service Fee is paid beginning in the 13 th month following each purchase. There is no hold for the Class C Service Fee for the Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund.
Finders Fee (Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund Only): 0.25% - 0.50% In connection with Class C share purchases of $250,000 or more, PEPCO, from its own profits and resources, intends to pay dealers an amount equal to 0.50% of shares purchased above $250,000 but under $3 million, plus 0.25% on the amount in excess of $3 million. If all or part of such purchases are subsequently redeemed or exchanged to another C share fund within one year of the investment date, the dealer will refund to PEPCO the full Finders Fee paid.
* | Terms and Conditions for Service and Distribution Fees: The Service and Distribution Fees are paid pursuant to one or more distribution and/or service plans (Plan) adopted by certain of the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the Act). Payment of these fees will automatically terminate in the event such Plan terminates or is not continued or in the event that this Agreement terminates, is assigned or ceases to remain in effect. In addition, these fees may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the members of the Funds Board of Trustees who are not interested persons of the Funds and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of any Fund or Funds on not more than sixty days written notice to any other party to the Agreement. |
** | The Phoenix Market Neutral Fund currently operates under a separate sales load and dealer compensation schedule for Class B and C shares only. Please refer to the last page of this Annex A for details. |
Class B Shares Phoenix Market Neutral Fund only
Class B Share Contingent Deferred Sales Charge |
||||||||
Years Since Purchase |
CDSC |
Years Since Purchase |
CDSC |
Class B Share Dealer Concession |
||||
First |
5% | Fifth | 2% | 4% of purchase amount | ||||
Second |
4% | Sixth | 1% | |||||
Third |
3% | Seventh | 0% | |||||
Fourth |
3% |
Class C Shares Phoenix Market Neutral Fund only
Class C Share Contingent Deferred Sales Charge |
Class C Share Dealer Concession |
|
1.25% for one year | 1.00% |
Service Fee* Class B, and C Phoenix Market Neutral Fund only
A Service Fee may be paid to financial services firms, for providing shareholder services such as responding to shareholder inquiries; processing redemptions; changing dividend options, account designations, and addresses; transmitting proxy statements, annual reports, prospectuses and other correspondence from the Funds to shareholders; and providing such other information and assistance to shareholders as may be reasonably requested by such shareholders. NASD member firms may also be paid a portion of the asset-based sales charges on Class C Shares, so that these dealers receive such reallowances at the following aggregate annual rates: (i) 0.25% commencing one year after purchase for the Class B Shares and (ii) 0.95% commencing one year after purchase for the Class C Shares.
Class I Shares
There is no dealer compensation payable on Class I shares.
Class T Shares Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund only
Dealer Concession: 1%
CDSC: 1% for one year from the date of each purchase.
Service Fee*: 0.25% For providing shareholder services such as responding to shareholder inquiries; processing redemptions; changing dividend options, account designations, and addresses; transmitting proxy statements, annual reports, prospectuses and other correspondence from the Funds to shareholders; and providing such other information and assistance to shareholders as may be reasonably requested by such shareholders, PEPCO intends to pay a quarterly fee to qualifying dealers at the equivalent of 0.25% annually, based on the average daily net asset value of Class T shares sold by such dealers and remaining on the Funds books during the period in which the fee is calculated. The Class T Service Fee is paid beginning in the 13 th month following each purchase.
Distribution Fee: 0.75% PEPCO intends to pay a quarterly fee to qualifying dealers at the equivalent of 0.75% annually, based on the average daily net asset value of Class T shares sold by such dealers and remaining on the Funds books during the period in which the fee is calculated. The Class T Distribution Fee is paid beginning in the 13 th month following each purchase.
Class X and Y Shares (Phoenix Institutional Bond Fund & Phoenix Low-Duration Core Plus Bond Fund Only)
Finders Fee: 0.10% - 0.50% PEPCO may pay dealers, from its own profits and resources, a percentage of the net asset value of Class X and Class Y shares sold, equal to 0.50% on the first $5 million, 0.25% on the next $5 million, plus 0.10% on the amount in excess of $10 million. If all or part of such purchases are subsequently redeemed within one year of the investment date, the dealer will refund to PEPCO the full Finders Fee paid.
Class Y Service Fee*: 0.25% For providing shareholder services, PEPCO intends to pay qualifying dealers a quarterly fee at the equivalent of 0.25% annually, based on the average daily net asset value of Class Y shares sold by such dealers and remaining on the Funds books during the period in which the fee is calculated. Dealers must have an aggregate value of $50,000 or more in a Fund to qualify for payment in that Fund. No Service Fee is paid on any Class X shares.
* | Terms and Conditions for Service and Distribution Fees: The Service and Distribution Fees are paid pursuant to one or more distribution and/or service plans (Plan) adopted by certain of the Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the Act). Payment of these fees will automatically terminate in the event such Plan terminates or is not continued or in the event that this Agreement terminates, is assigned or ceases to remain in effect. In addition, these fees may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the members of the Funds Board of Trustees who are not interested persons of the Funds and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of any Fund or Funds on not more than sixty days written notice to any other party to the Agreement. |
PXP 80A (8-07)
Annex B To Dealer Agreement With
Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation
Compliance Standards for
the Sale of the Phoenix Funds
Under Their Alternative Purchase Arrangements
As national distributor or principal underwriter of the Phoenix Funds, which offer their shares on both a front-end and deferred sales charge basis, Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation (PEPCO) has established the following compliance standards which set forth the basis upon which shares of the Phoenix Funds may be sold. These standards are designed for those broker/dealers (dealers) that distribute shares of the Phoenix Funds and for each dealers financial advisors/registered representatives.
As shares of the Phoenix Funds are offered with two different sales arrangements for sales and distribution fees, it is important for an investor not only to choose a mutual fund that best suits his investment objectives, but also to choose the sales financing method which best suits his particular situation. To assist investors in these decisions and to ensure proper supervision of mutual fund purchase recommendations, we are instituting the following compliance standards to which dealers must adhere when selling shares of the Phoenix Funds:
1. | Any purchase of a Phoenix Fund for less than $250,000 may be either of shares subject to a front-end load (Class A shares) or subject to deferred sales charges (Class B shares). |
2. | Any purchase of a Phoenix Fund by an unallocated qualified employer sponsored plan for less than $1,000,000 may be either of shares subject to a front-end load (Class A shares) or subject to deferred sales charge (Class B shares). Class B shares sold to allocated qualified employer sponsored plans will be limited to a maximum total value of $250,000 per participant. |
3. | Any purchase of a Phoenix Fund for $250,000 or more (except as noted above) or which qualifies under the terms of the prospectus for net asset value purchase of Class A shares should be for Class A shares. |
General Guidelines
These are instances where one financing method may be more advantageous to an investor than the other. Class A shares are subject to a lower distribution fee and, accordingly, pay correspondingly higher dividends per share. However, because initial sales charges are deducted at the time of purchase, such investors would not have all of their funds invested initially and, therefore, would initially own fewer shares. Investors not qualifying for reduced initial sales charges who expect to maintain their investment for an extended period of time might consider purchasing Class A Shares because the accumulated continuing distribution charges on Class B Shares may exceed the initial sales charge on Class A Shares during the life of the investment.
Again, however, such investors must weigh this consideration against the fact that, because of such initial sales charge, not all of their funds will be invested initially. However, other investors might determine that it would be more advantageous to purchase Class B Shares to have all of their funds invested initially, although remaining subject to higher continuing distribution charges and, for a five-year period, being subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (three years for Asset Reserve).
A National Association of Securities Dealers rule specifically prohibits breakpoint sales of front-end load shares. A breakpoint sale is a sale to the client of an amount of front-end load (Class A) shares just below the amount which would be subject to the next breakpoint on the funds sales charge schedule. Because the deferred sales charge on Class B shares is reduced by 1% for each year the shares are held, a redemption of Class B shares just before an anniversary date is in some ways analogous to a breakpoint sale. A client might wish to redeem just before an anniversary date for tax or other reasons, and a client who chose to wait would continue to be at market risk. Nevertheless, investment executives should inform clients intending to redeem Class B shares near an anniversary date that, if the redemption were delayed, the deferred sales charge would be reduced.
Responsibilities of Branch Office Manager (or other appropriate reviewing officer).
A dealers branch manager or other appropriate reviewing officer (the Reviewing Officer) must ensure that the financial advisor/registered representative has advised the client of the available financing methods offered by the Phoenix Funds, and the impact of choosing one method over another. In certain instances, it may be appropriate for the Reviewing Officer to discuss the purchase directly with the client. The reviewing officer should review purchases for Class A or Class B shares given the relevant facts and circumstances, including but not limited to: (a) the specific purchase order dollar amount; (b) the length of time the investor expects to hold his shares; and (c) any other relevant circumstances, such as the availability of purchase under letters of intent or pursuant to rights of accumulation and distribution requirements. The foregoing guidelines, as well as the examples cited above, should assist the Reviewing Officer in reviewing and supervising purchase recommendations and orders.
Effectiveness
These compliance guidelines are effective immediately with respect to any order for shares of those Phoenix Funds which offer their shares pursuant to the alternative purchase arrangement.
Questions relating to these compliance guidelines should be directed by the dealer to its national mutual fund sales and market group or its legal department or compliance director. PEPCO will advice dealers in writing of any future changes in these guidelines.
PXP80B |
10/98 |
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
This Second Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement (the Agreement) effective as of June 27, 2007 amends those certain Expense Limitation Agreements effective as of February 1, 2006 and June 8, 2006, as amended and restated effective also as of June 8, 2006 by and between Phoenix Opportunities Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the Registrant), on behalf of each series of the Registrant listed in Appendix A (each a Fund and collectively, the Funds) and the Adviser of each of the Funds, Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the Adviser).
WHEREAS, the Adviser renders advice and services to the Funds pursuant to the terms and provisions of one or more Investment Advisory Agreements entered into between the Registrant and the Adviser (the Advisory Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser desires to maintain the expenses of each Fund at a level below the level to which each such Fund might otherwise be subject; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser understands and intends that the Registrant will rely on this Agreement in preparing post-effective amendments to the Registrants registration statement on Form N-1A and in accruing the expenses of the Registrant for purposes of calculating net asset value and for other purposes, and expressly permits the Registrant to do so.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. | Limit on Fund Expenses. The Adviser hereby agrees to limit each Funds Expenses to the respective rate of Total Fund Operating Expenses (Expense Limit) specified for that Fund in Appendix A of this Agreement for the time period indicated. |
2. | Definition. For purposes of this Agreement, the term Total Fund Operating Expenses with respect to a Fund is defined to include all expenses necessary or appropriate for the operation of the Fund including the Advisers investment advisory or management fee under the Advisory Agreement and other expenses described in the Advisory Agreement that the Fund is responsible for and have not been assumed by the Adviser, but does not include front-end or contingent deferred loads, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization or extraordinary expenses, such as litigation. |
3. | Recoupment of Fees and Expenses. The Adviser agrees that it shall not be entitled to be reimbursed by a Fund for any expenses that it has waived or limited unless authorized by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. |
4. | Term, Termination and Modification. This Agreement shall become effective on the date specified herein and shall remain in effect, unless sooner terminated as provided below in this Paragraph. Subsequent to the initial term indicated on Appendix A, the amount of the Expense Limit and term shall be as disclosed in the then current prospectus of the Fund. This Agreement may be terminated by the Registrant on behalf of any one or more of the Funds at any time without payment of any penalty or by the Board of Trustees of the Registrant upon thirty (30) days written notice to the Adviser. In addition, this Agreement shall terminate with respect to a Fund upon termination of the Advisory Agreement with respect to such Fund. |
5. | Assignment. This Agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned without the written consent of the other party. |
6. | Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute or rule, or shall otherwise be rendered invalid, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. |
7. | Captions. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. |
8. | Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Delaware without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to preempt, or to be inconsistent with, any Federal securities law, regulation or rule, including the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. |
9. | Computation. If the fiscal year to date Total Fund Operating Expenses of a Fund at the end of any month during which this Agreement is in effect exceed the Expense Limit for that Fund (the Excess Amount), the Adviser shall waive or reduce its fee under the Advisory Agreement or remit to that Fund an amount that is sufficient to pay the Excess Amount computed on the last day of the month. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their duly authorized officers.
P HOENIX O PPORTUNITIES T RUST | P HOENIX I NVESTMENT C OUNSEL , I NC . | |||||||
By: | / S / F RANCIS G. W ALTMAN | By: | / S / J OHN H. B EERS | |||||
Francis G. Waltman Senior Vice President |
John H. Beers Vice President and Clerk |
2
APPENDIX A
Phoenix Fund |
Total Fund Operating Expense Limit | |||||||||
Class A | Class B | Class C | Class I | Term | ||||||
Phoenix Bond Fund |
1.15% | 1.90% | 1.90% | 0.90% | February 1, 2007-January 31, 2008 | |||||
Phoenix CA Tax-Exempt
|
0.85% | | | 0.60% | March 1, 2006-August 30, 2007 | |||||
Phoenix Core Bond Fund |
1.00% | 1.75% | 1.75% | | March 1, 2007-February 28, 2008 | |||||
Phoenix Earnings Driven
|
1.45% | 2.20% | 2.20% | 1.20% | February 1, 2007-January 31, 2008 | |||||
Phoenix Global Utilities
|
1.15% | | 1.90% | | September 1, 2006-August 31, 2007 | |||||
Phoenix Growth
|
1.25% | | 2.00% | | June 8, 2006-May 31, 2008 | |||||
Phoenix Market Neutral
|
1.77% | 2.52% | 2.52% | |
December 1, 2006-until such time
as this Agreement is terminated pursuant to such terms as set forth in paragraph 4. of this Agreement. |
|||||
Phoenix Real Estate
|
1.30% | 2.05% | 2.05% | 1.05% | April 1, 2007-March 31, 2008 |
3
AMENDMENT TO SCHEDULE A
of
ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT made effective as of the 27 th day of June, 2007 amends that certain administration agreement, dated as of July 1, 2006 between the trusts listed on Schedule A (each, a Trust and together the Trusts) including the funds listed under each Trust (each, a Fund and together the Funds) and Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation, a Connecticut Corporation (the Administration Agreement) as herein below provided.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Trusts and the Funds wish to amend Schedule A of the Administration Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premise, Schedule A to the Administration Agreement is hereby replaced with Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof. Except as herein provided, the Administration Agreement shall be and remain unmodified and in full force and effect.
[signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed by their duly authorized officers.
PHOENIX ADVISER TRUST |
PHOENIX ASSET TRUST |
PHOENIX EQUITY SERIES FUND |
PHOENIX EQUITY TRUST |
PHOENIX INSIGHT FUNDS TRUST |
PHOENIX INSTITUTIONAL MUTUAL FUNDS |
PHOENIX INVESTMENT SERIES FUND |
PHOENIX INVESTMENT TRUST 06 |
PHOENIX INVESTMENT TRUST 97 |
PHOENIX MULTI-PORTFOLIO FUND |
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST |
PHOENIX PHOLIOs SM |
PHOENIX SERIES FUND |
PHOENIX STRATEGIC EQUITY SERIES FUND |
By: |
/s/ Francis G. Waltman |
|
Name: | Francis G. Waltman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President | |
PHOENIX EQUITY PLANNING CORPORATION | ||
By: |
/s/ John H. Beers |
|
Name: | John H. Beers | |
Title: | Vice President and Secretary |
APPENDIX A
Phoenix Adviser Trust
Phoenix Focused Value Fund
Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund
Phoenix Asset Trust
Phoenix Rising Dividends Fund
Phoenix Small-Mid Cap Fund
Phoenix Equity Series Fund
Phoenix Growth & Income Fund
Phoenix Equity Trust
Phoenix Equity Trust
Phoenix Mid-Cap Value Fund
Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund
Phoenix Insight Funds Trust
Phoenix Insight Balanced Fund
Phoenix Insight Bond Fund
Phoenix Insight Core Equity Fund
Phoenix Insight Emerging Markets Fund
Phoenix Insight Equity Fund
Phoenix Insight Government Money Market Fund
Phoenix Insight High Yield Bond Fund
Phoenix Insight Index Fund
Phoenix Insight Intermediate Government Bond Fund
Phoenix Insight Intermediate Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
Phoenix Insight Money Market Fund
Phoenix Insight Short/Intermediate Bond Fund
Phoenix Insight Small-Cap Growth Fund
Phoenix Insight Small-Cap Opportunity Fund
Phoenix Insight Small-Cap Value Fund
Phoenix Insight Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
Phoenix Insight Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund
Phoenix Institutional Mutual Funds
Phoenix Institutional Bond Fund
Phoenix Low-Duration Core Plus Bond Fund
Phoenix Investment Series Fund
Phoenix Income & Growth Fund
Phoenix Investment Trust 06
Phoenix All-Cap Growth Fund
Phoenix Small-Cap Growth Fund
Phoenix Investment Trust 97
Phoenix Quality Small-Cap Fund
Phoenix Small-Cap Sustainable Growth Fund
Phoenix Small-Cap Value Fund
Phoenix Value Equity Fund
Phoenix Multi-Portfolio Fund
Phoenix International Strategies Fund
Phoenix Opportunities Trust
Phoenix Bond Fund
Phoenix CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
Phoenix Core Bond Fund
Phoenix Earnings Driven Growth Fund
Phoenix Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Phoenix Global Utilities Fund
Phoenix Growth Opportunities Fund
Phoenix High Yield Fund
Phoenix Market Neutral Fund
Phoenix Money Market Fund
Phoenix Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund
Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund
Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund
Phoenix PHOLIOs SM
Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO
Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO
Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO
Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO
Phoenix Series Fund
Phoenix Balanced Fund
Phoenix Capital Growth Fund
Phoenix Mid-Cap Growth Fund
Phoenix Strategic Equity Series Fund
Phoenix Dynamic Growth Fund
Phoenix Strategic Growth Fund
September 10, 2007
U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
RE: | Phoenix Opportunities Trust (the Trust) | |
Post Effective Amendment No. 27 | ||
to Registration Statement No. 033-65137 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion is furnished in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of shares (the Shares) of the above-referenced Trust. In rendering this opinion, I have examined such documents, records and matters of law as deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion. I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures of all parties, the authenticity of all documents submitted as originals, the correctness of all copies and the correctness of all written or oral statements made to me.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is my opinion that the Shares that will be issued by the Trust when sold will be legally issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.
My opinion is rendered solely in connection with the Registration Statement on Form N-1A under which the Shares will be registered and may not be relied upon for any other purpose without my written consent. I hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to such Registration Statement.
Very truly yours, |
/s/ Kevin J. Carr |
Kevin J. Carr |
Vice President and Counsel, |
The Phoenix Companies, Inc. |
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of our reports dated: November 17, 2006, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights which appear in the September 30, 2006, Annual Report to Shareholders of Phoenix Bond Fund; December 20, 2006, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights which appear in the October 31, 2006, Annual Reports to Shareholders of Phoenix Core Bond Fund, Phoenix High Yield Fund, Phoenix Money Market Fund, Phoenix Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund, Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund, and Phoenix Market Neutral Fund; January 15, 2007, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights which appear in the November 30, 2006, Annual Report to Shareholders of Phoenix Emerging Markets Bond Fund, Phoenix International Strategies Fund, and Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund; April 23, 2007, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights which appear in the February 28, 2007, Annual Report to Shareholders of Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund; June 22, 2007, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights which appear in the April 30, 2007, Annual Reports to Shareholders of Phoenix CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund and Phoenix Global Utilities Fund; August 21, 2007, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights which appear in the June 30, 2007, Annual Report to Shareholders of Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund; and September 13, 2007, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights which appear in the July 31, 2007, Annual Report to Shareholders of Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO, Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO, Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO, and Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO (all constituting the Phoenix Opportunities Trust), which are also incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to us under the headings Financial Highlights, Non-Public Holdings Information, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and Reports to Shareholders in such Registration Statement.
Boston, Massachusetts
September 20, 2007
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
(the Fund)
AMENDMENT TO
CLASS A SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTION PLAN PURSUANT TO RULE 12b-1
under the
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
THIS AMENDMENT made effective as of the 27 th day of June, 2007 amends that certain Class A Shares Amended and Restated Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, dated March 1, 2007 by and for the Fund (the Plan) as herein below provided.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Fund wishes to amend Appendix A of the Plan to reflect the addition of new series to the Fund which have been approved as parties to the Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premise, Appendix A to the Plan is hereby replaced with Appendix A attached hereto and made a part hereof. Except as herein provided, the Plan shall be and remain unmodified and in full force and effect.
APPENDIX A
Phoenix Bond Fund
Phoenix CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
Phoenix Core Bond Fund
Phoenix Earnings Driven Growth Fund
Phoenix Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Phoenix Global Utilities Fund
Phoenix Growth Opportunities Fund
Phoenix High Yield Fund
Phoenix Market Neutral Fund
Phoenix Money Market Fund
Phoenix Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund
Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund
Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
(the Fund)
AMENDMENT TO
CLASS B SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTION PLAN PURSUANT TO RULE 12b-1
under the
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
THIS AMENDMENT made effective as of the 27 th day of June, 2007 amends that certain Class B Shares Amended and Restated Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, dated March 1, 2007 by and for the Fund (the Plan) as herein below provided.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Fund wishes to amend Appendix A of the Plan to reflect the addition of new series to the Fund which have been approved as parties to the Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Fund wishes to amend Section 2 of the Plan as stated below.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, the Fund hereby agrees that the Plan is amended as follows:
1. | Appendix A to the Plan is hereby replaced with Appendix A attached hereto and made a part hereof; |
2. | The first sentence of section 2 of the Plan is hereby amended to read as follows: The Fund shall pay the Distributor its Allocable Portion, as hereinafter defined, at the end of each month, the distribution and service fee allowable under the Rules of Conduct of NASD Regulation, Inc. (the Rules of Conduct) an amount on an annual basis equal to 0.75% for Phoenix Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund, 0.50% for Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund, of the average daily value of the net assets of any series of the Funds Class B shares, as compensation for distribution services, and a fee of 0.25% of the average daily value of the net assets of any series of the Funds Class B shares for shareholder services; and |
3. | Except as herein provided, the Plan shall be and remain unmodified and in full force and effect. |
APPENDIX A
Name of Series
Phoenix Bond Fund
Phoenix Core Bond Fund
Phoenix Earnings Driven Growth Fund
Phoenix Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Phoenix High Yield Fund
Phoenix Market Neutral Fund
Phoenix Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund
Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund
Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
(the Fund)
AMENDMENT TO
CLASS C SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTION PLAN PURSUANT TO RULE 12b-1
under the
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
THIS AMENDMENT made effective as of the 27 th day of June, 2007 amends that certain Class C Shares Amended and Restated Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, dated March 1, 2007 by and for the Fund (the Plan) as herein below provided.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Fund wishes to amend Appendix A of the Plan to reflect the addition of new series to the Fund which have been approved as parties to the Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Fund wishes to amend Section 2 of the Plan as stated below.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, the Fund hereby agrees that the Plan is amended as follows:
1. | Appendix A to the Plan is hereby replaced with Appendix A attached hereto and made a part hereof; |
2. | The first sentence of section 2 of the Plan is hereby amended to read as follows: The Fund shall pay to the Distributor, at the end of each month, an amount on an annual basis equal to 0.75%, 0.25% for Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund, of the average daily value of the net assets of any series of the Funds Class C shares, as compensation for distribution services and a fee of 0.25% of the average daily value of the net assets of any series of the Funds Class C shares for shareholder services; and |
3. | Except as herein provided, the Plan shall be and remain unmodified and in full force and effect. |
APPENDIX A
Name of Series
Phoenix Bond Fund
Phoenix Core Bond Fund
Phoenix Earnings Driven Growth Fund
Phoenix Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Phoenix Global Utilities Fund
Phoenix High Yield Fund
Phoenix Market Neutral Fund
Phoenix Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund
Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund
Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
(the Fund)
CLASS T SHARES
DISTRIBUTION PLAN PURSUANT TO RULE 12b-1
under the
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
1. Introduction
The Fund, on behalf of its series listed in Appendix A, as may be amended from time to time, and Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation (the Distributor), a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, have entered into a Distribution Agreement pursuant to which the Distributor acts as principal underwriter of each series and class of shares of the Fund for sale to the permissible purchasers. The Trustees of the Fund have determined to adopt this Distribution Plan (the Plan), in accordance with the requirements of Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Act) with respect to Class T shares of the Fund and have determined that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Fund and its Class T shareholders.
2. Rule 12b-1 Fees
The Fund shall pay to the Distributor, at the end of each month, an amount on an annual basis equal to 0.75% of the average daily value of the net assets of any series of the Funds Class T shares, as compensation for distribution services and a fee of 0.25% of the average daily value of the net assets of any series of the Funds Class T shares for shareholder services. Distribution services include, but are not limited to, payment of compensation, including incentive compensation to securities dealers and financial institutions and organizations; payment of compensation to and expenses of personnel of the Distributor who support the distribution of the Class T shares; expenses related to the cost of financing or providing such financing from the Distributors or an affiliates resources in connection with the Distributors payment of such distribution expenses and the payment of other direct distribution costs such as the cost of sales literature, advertising and prospectuses. Shareholder services include, but are not limited to, transmitting prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports, proxy statements and other materials to shareholders; providing educational materials; providing facilities to answer questions about the Funds; receiving and answering correspondence; assisting shareholders in completing application forms and selecting dividend and other account options and providing such other information and services as the Distributor or Fund may reasonably request.
3. Reports
At least quarterly in each year this Plan remains in effect, the Funds Principal Accounting Officer or Treasurer, or such other person authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid or payable by the Fund, shall prepare and furnish to the Trustees of the Fund for their review, and the Trustees shall review, a written report complying with the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under
1
the Act regarding the amounts expended under this Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
4. Required Approval
This plan shall not take effect until it, together with any related agreement, has been approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Funds Trustees as well as a vote of at least a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons (as defined in the Act) of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any related agreement (the Disinterested Trustees), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on this Plan or any related agreement.
5. Term
This Plan shall remain in effect for one year from the date of its adoption and may be continued thereafter if specifically approved at least annually by a vote of at least a majority of the Trustees of the Fund as well as a majority of the Disinterested Trustees. This Plan may be amended at any time, provided that (a) the Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of the distribution and service expenses without the approval of at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Act) of the Class T shares of the Fund and (b) all material amendments to this Plan must be approved by a majority vote of the Trustees of the Fund and of the Disinterested Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of such vote.
6. Selection of Disinterested Trustees
While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the Act) of the Fund shall be committed to the discretion of the Disinterested Trustees then in office.
7. Related Agreements
Any related agreement shall be in writing and shall provide that (a) such agreement shall be subject to termination, without penalty, by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Act) of the Class T shares of the Fund on not more than 60 days written notice to the other party to the agreement and (b) such agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
8. Termination
This Plan may be terminated at any time by a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Act) of the Class T shares of the Fund. In the event this Plan is terminated or otherwise discontinued, no further payments hereunder will be made hereunder.
2
9. Records
The Fund shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreements and all reports made pursuant to Paragraph 3 hereof, and any other information, estimates, projections and other materials that serve as a basis therefor, considered by the Trustees of the Fund, for a period of not less than six years from the date of this Plan, the agreement or report, as the case may be, the first two years in an easily accessible place.
10. Non-Recourse
A copy of the Funds Declaration of Trust (the Declaration of Trust) is on file in the office of the Secretary of the State of Delaware. The Declaration of Trust refers to the Trustees collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals or personally, and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or agent of the Fund may be held to any personal liability, nor may any resort be had to their private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim or otherwise in connection with the affairs of the Fund but the Fund property only shall be liable.
Effective June 27, 2007
3
APPENDIX A
Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund
4
PHOENIX FUNDS
2007 AMENDED AND RESTATED
PLAN PURSUANT TO RULE 18f-3
under the
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
INTRODUCTION
The Purpose of this Plan is to specify the attributes of the classes of shares offered by the Phoenix Family of Funds including the expense allocations, conversion features and exchange features of each class, as required by Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The Phoenix Funds are comprised of several trusts (each a Trust or Trusts) which in turn are comprised of a number of funds (each a Fund or Funds) offering various classes of shares, all of which are listed on the attached Schedule A. In general, shares of each class will have the same rights and obligations except for one or more expense variables (which will result in different yields, dividends and, in the case of the Trusts non-money market portfolios, net asset values for the different classes), certain related voting and other rights, exchange privileges, conversion rights and class designation.
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE CLASSES
Shares of each class of a Fund of the Trusts shall represent an equal pro rata interest in such Fund and, generally, shall have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights, preferences, powers, restrictions, limitations, qualifications, designations and terms and conditions, except that: (a) each class shall have a different designation; (b) each class shall bear any class expenses: (c) each class shall have exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to its arrangement and each class shall have separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of any other class; and (d) each class may have different exchange and/or conversion features.
ALLOCATION OF INCOME AND EXPENSES
i. | General. |
The gross income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses and expenses (other than Class Expenses, as defined below) of each Fund shall be allocated to each class on the basis of its net asset value relative to the net asset value of the Fund.
ii. | Class Expenses. |
Expenses attributable to a particular class (Class Expenses) shall be limited to Rule 12b-1 and shareholder servicing fees and such other expenses as designated by the Funds Treasurer, subject to Board approval and/or ratification. Class Expenses shall be allocated to the class for which they are incurred.
In the event that a particular class expense is no longer reasonably allocable by class or to a particular class, it shall be treated as a Fund expense and in the event a Fund expense becomes allocable as a Class Expense, it shall be so allocated, subject to compliance with Rule 18f-3 and Board approval or ratification.
The initial determination of expenses that will be allocated as Class Expenses and any subsequent changes thereto as set forth in this Plan shall be reviewed by the Board of Trustees and approved by such Board and by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act (Independent Trustees).
DESIGNATION OF THE CLASSES AND SPECIFIC FEATURES
The types of classes of each of the Funds that are money market portfolios operating pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act (Money Market Funds) are: A Shares and I Shares, and, in the case of the Phoenix Insight Money Market Fund, Exchange Shares. Types of classes of each of the other Funds may include: A Shares, B Shares, C Shares, I Shares, T Shares, X Shares and Y Shares. To the extent that more than one class is offered by a Fund, each class of such Fund has a different arrangement for shareholder services or distribution or both, as follows:
A SHARES
A Shares are offered at net asset value plus an initial sales charge as set forth in the then current prospectuses of a Fund, except for the Money Market Funds which are offered at net asset value. The initial sales charge may be waived or reduced on certain types of purchases as set forth in the Funds then current prospectus. In certain cases, A Shares, other than the Money Market Funds, are also offered subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (subject to certain reductions or eliminations of the sales charge as described in the applicable prospectus).
A Shares of a Fund may pay Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation (the Distributor) Rule 12b-1 fees or shareholder servicing fees of up to 0.25%, (annualized) of the average daily net assets of the Fund's A Shares, with the exception of Phoenix Money Market Fund which pays no Rule 12b-1 fee and the Phoenix Insight Government Money Market Fund, Phoenix Insight Money Market Fund and Phoenix Insight Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund (Insight Money Market Funds), each of which pays fees of up to 0.10% under a Rule 12b-1 plan and fees of up to 0.25% under a shareholder servicing plan not adopted under Rule 12b-1, and except that Phoenix PHOLIOs SM pay a Rule 12b-1 fee for that portion of the assets invested in the underlying fund which does not charge a 12b-1 fee. Rule 12b-1 fees may be used for, but are not limited to, payment of compensation, including incentive compensation to securities dealers and financial institutions and organizations to obtain various distribution related and/or shareholder services for the investors in the A Shares; payment of compensation to and expenses of personnel of the Distributor who support the distribution of the A Shares; expenses related to the cost of financing or providing such financing from the Distributors or an affiliates resources in connection with the Distributors payment of such distribution expenses and the payment of other direct distribution costs such as the cost of sales literature, advertising and prospectuses. Shareholder services include, but are not limited to, transmitting prospectuses, statements of
additional information, shareholder reports, proxy statements and other materials to shareholders; providing educational materials; providing facilities to answer questions about the Funds; receiving and answering correspondence; assisting shareholders in completing application forms and selecting dividend and other account options and providing such other information and services as the Distributor or Fund may reasonably request. Fees paid under a shareholder services plan not adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 may only be used for shareholder service activities. A Shares do not have a conversion feature.
B SHARES
B Shares of a Fund are offered at net asset value without the imposition of any sales charge. B Shares are also offered subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. B Shares of a Fund may pay the Distributor a fee of up to 0.25% (annualized) of the average daily net assets of the Funds B Shares for shareholder services as previously described and a distribution fee of up to 0.75% (annualized) of the average daily net assets of the Funds B Shares pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 plan (0.50% for Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund) for distribution related services. Distribution services include, but are not limited to, payment of compensation, including incentive compensation to securities dealers and financial institutions and organizations; payment of compensation to and expenses of personnel of the Distributor who support the distribution of the B Shares; expenses related to the cost of financing or providing such financing from the Distributors or an affiliates resources in connection with the Distributors payment of such distribution expenses and the payment of other direct distribution costs such as the cost of sales literature, advertising and prospectuses. B Shares will automatically convert to A Shares of a portfolio, without a sales charge, at the relative net asset values of each of such classes, not later than eight years (seven years for Phoenix Market Neutral Fund and six years for Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund) from the acquisition of the B Shares. The conversion of B Shares to A Shares is subject to the continuing availability of an opinion of counsel or a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the conversion of shares does not constitute a taxable event under Federal income tax law.
C SHARES
C Shares of a Fund are offered at net asset value without the imposition of any sales charge. C Shares are also offered subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. C Shares of a Fund may pay the Distributor a fee of up to 0.25% (annualized) of the average daily net assets of the Funds C Shares for shareholder servicing activities and a distribution fee of up to 0.75% (annualized) of the average daily net assets of the Funds C Shares pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 plan (0.25% for Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund) for distribution services. C Shares do not have a conversion feature.
I SHARES
I Shares of a Fund, other than Phoenix Insight Funds Trusts Shares, are offered at net asset value without the imposition of any sales charge, Rule 12b-1 or shareholder servicing fees.
I Shares offered through Phoenix Insight Funds Trust, may pay the Distributor a fee of up to 0.25% (annualized) of the average daily net assets of the funds I Shares pursuant to a shareholder servicing plan for shareholder servicing activities. I Shares do not have a conversion feature.
T SHARES
T Shares of a Fund are offered at net asset value without the imposition of a sales charge. T Shares are also offered subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. T Shares of a Fund may pay the Distributor a fee of up to 0.25% (annualized) of the average daily net assets of the Funds T Shares for shareholder servicing activities and a distribution fee of up to 0.75% (annualized) of the average daily net assets of the Funds T Shares pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 plan for distribution services. T Shares do not have a conversion feature.
X SHARES
X Shares of a Fund are offered at net asset value without the imposition of any sales charge, Rule 12b-1 or shareholder servicing fees. X Shares do not have a conversion feature.
Y SHARES
Y Shares of a Fund are offered at net asset value without the imposition of a sales charge. Y Shares of a Fund may pay the Distributor a fee of up to 0.25% (annualized) of the average daily net assets of the Funds Y Shares pursuant to a 12b-1 plan for shareholder servicing activities and distribution services. Y Shares do not have a conversion feature.
EXCHANGE SHARES
Exchange Shares of the Phoenix Insight Money Market Fund are offered at net asset value without the imposition of any sales charge.
Exchange Shares of the Phoenix Insight Money Market Fund may pay the Distributor a fee of up to 0.10% (annualized) of the average daily net assets of the Funds Exchange Shares pursuant to a shareholder servicing plan for shareholder servicing activities. Exchange Shares do not have a conversion feature.
VOTING RIGHTS
Each class shall have exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to its arrangement. Each class shall have separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of any other class.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES
Shareholders of a class may exchange their shares for shares of another Fund in accordance with Section 11(a) of the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder and the requirements of the applicable prospectuses as follows: Each class of shares of a Fund may be exchanged for the corresponding class of shares of another Fund except for Exchange Shares of the Phoenix Insight Money Market Fund which have no exchange privileges. Shareholders of T Shares of Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund may exchange shares of such class for C Shares in any other affiliated Phoenix Fund for which exchange privileges are available, at the relative net asset values of the respective shares to be exchanged and with no sales charge, provided the shares to be acquired in the exchange are, as may be necessary, qualified for sale in the shareholders state of residence and subject to the applicable requirements, if any as to minimum amount.
BOARD REVIEW
The Board of Trustees shall review this Plan as frequently as it deems necessary. Prior to any material amendments(s) to this Plan, the Trusts Board including a majority of the Board Members who are not interested (including any proposed amendments to the method of allocating class and/or Fund expenses), must find that the Plan is in the best interests of each class of shares of the Trust individually and the Trust as a whole. In considering whether to approve any proposed amendment(s) to the Plan, the Board of Trustees of the Trust shall request and evaluate such information as they consider reasonably necessary to evaluate the proposed amendment(s) to the Plan.
SCHEDULE A
(as of July 13, 2007)
A Shares |
B Shares |
C Shares |
Exchange Shares |
I Shares |
T Shares |
X Shares |
Y Shares |
|||||||||
Phoenix Adviser Trust |
||||||||||||||||
Phoenix Focused Value Fund |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix Foreign Opportunities Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Asset Trust |
||||||||||||||||
Phoenix Rising Dividends Fund |
X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Phoenix Small-Mid Cap Fund |
X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Phoenix Equity Series Fund |
||||||||||||||||
Phoenix Growth & Income Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Equity Trust |
||||||||||||||||
Phoenix Mid-Cap Value Fund |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix Worldwide Strategies Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Funds Trust |
||||||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Balanced Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Bond Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Core Equity Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Emerging Markets Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Equity Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Government Money Market Fund |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight High Yield Bond Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Index Fund |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Intermediate Government Bond Fund |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Intermediate Tax-Exempt Bond Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Money Market Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Short/Intermediate Bond Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Small-Cap Growth Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Small-Cap Opportunity Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Small-Cap Value Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Tax-Exempt Bond Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Insight Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix Institutional Mutual Funds |
||||||||||||||||
Phoenix Institutional Bond Fund |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix Low-Duration Core Plus Bond Fund |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix Investment Series Fund |
||||||||||||||||
Phoenix Income & Growth Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Investment Trust 06 |
||||||||||||||||
Phoenix All-Cap Growth Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Small-Cap Growth Fund |
X | X | X |
A Shares |
B Shares |
C Shares |
Exchange Shares |
I Shares |
T Shares |
X Shares |
Y Shares |
|||||||||
Phoenix Investment Trust 97 |
||||||||||||||||
Phoenix Quality Small-Cap Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Small-Cap Sustainable Growth Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Small-Cap Value Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Multi-Portfolio Fund |
||||||||||||||||
Phoenix International Strategies Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Opportunities Trust |
||||||||||||||||
Phoenix Bond Fund |
X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Phoenix CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix Core Bond Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Earnings Driven Growth Fund |
X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Phoenix Emerging Markets Bond Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Global Utilities Fund |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix Growth Opportunities Fund |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix High Yield Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Market Neutral Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Money Market Fund |
X | |||||||||||||||
Phoenix Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund |
X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Phoenix Real Estate Securities Fund |
X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Phoenix PHOLIOs SM |
||||||||||||||||
Phoenix Diversifier PHOLIO |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix Wealth Accumulator PHOLIO |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix Wealth Builder PHOLIO |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix Wealth Guardian PHOLIO |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix Series Fund |
||||||||||||||||
Phoenix Balanced Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Capital Growth Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Mid-Cap Growth Fund |
X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Phoenix Strategic Equity Series Fund |
||||||||||||||||
Phoenix Dynamic Growth Fund |
X | X | ||||||||||||||
Phoenix Strategic Growth Fund |
X | X | X | X |
ACADIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.
CODE OF ETHICS
Updated as of April, 2006
BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVAL
The undersigned, being all of the Directors of Acadian Asset Management, Inc. hereby consent to the adoption of the following resolutions with the same effect as though they had been adopted at a meeting of the Directors of Acadian Asset Management, Inc.:
Resolved, that the Board of Directors authorizes the adoption of the Acadian Code of Ethics, revised effective , a copy of which is here attached.
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Gary L. Bergstrom | Date | |||||
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Ronald D. Frashure | Date | |||||
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Churchill G. Franklin | Date | |||||
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John R. Chisholm | Date | |||||
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Scott F. Powers | Date |
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction |
8 | |
Part 1. General Principles |
9 | |
Part 2. Scope of the Code |
9 | |
A. Persons Covered by the Code |
9 | |
B. Accounts Covered by the Code |
10 | |
C. Securities Covered by the Code |
10 | |
Part 3. Standards of Business Conduct |
11 | |
A. Compliance with Laws and Regulations |
11 | |
B. Conflicts of Interest |
12 | |
1. Conflicts Among Client Interests |
12 | |
2. Competing with Client Trades |
12 | |
3. Other Potential Conflicts Provisions |
12 | |
a. Disclosure of Personal Interest |
12 | |
b. Referrals/Brokerage |
12 | |
c. Vendors and Suppliers |
13 | |
d. Soft Dollars |
13 | |
e. Frontrunning |
13 | |
f. Churning |
13 | |
g. Unfair Treatment of Certain Clients vis-à-vis Others |
13 | |
h. Dealing with Clients as agent and principal |
13 | |
C. Insider Trading |
13 | |
1. Penalties |
13 | |
2. Material Nonpublic Information |
14 | |
D. Personal Securities Transactions |
15 | |
1. Initial Public Offerings |
15 | |
2. Limited or Private Offerings |
15 | |
3. Blackout Periods |
16 | |
4. Short-Term Trading |
16 |
3
E. Gifts and Entertainment |
18 | |
1. General Statement |
18 | |
2. Gifts |
18 | |
a. Receipt |
18 | |
b. Offer |
18 | |
3. Cash |
18 | |
4. Entertainment |
18 | |
5. Conferences |
19 | |
6. Quarterly Reporting |
19 | |
F. Political and Charitable Contributions |
19 | |
G. Confidentiality |
20 | |
H. Service on a Board of Directors |
20 | |
I. Partnerships |
21 | |
J. Other Outside Activities |
21 | |
K. Marketing and Promotional Activities |
21 | |
L. Old Mutual Stock |
21 | |
M. Affiliated Broker-Dealers |
21 | |
Part 4. Compliance Procedures |
22 | |
A. Access Person Investment Accounts and Duplicate Confirms and Statements |
22 | |
B. Personal Securities Transactions Procedures and Reporting |
22 | |
1. Monthly Reporting |
22 | |
2. Quarterly Reporting |
23 | |
3. Annual Reporting |
23 | |
New Hire Reporting |
23 | |
C. Review and Enforcement |
24 | |
D. Certification of Compliance |
24 | |
1. Initial Certification |
24 | |
2. Acknowledgement of Amendments |
24 | |
3. Annual Certification |
24 |
4
Part 5. Miscellaneous |
25 | |
A. Excessive Trading |
25 | |
B. Access Person Disclosure and Reporting |
25 | |
1. Access Person Background Information |
25 | |
2. Upon Occurrence |
25 | |
C. Responsibility to Know Rules |
25 | |
Part 6. Recordkeeping |
25 | |
Part 7. Form ADV Disclosure |
26 | |
Part 8. Administration and Enforcement of the Code |
26 | |
A. Training and Education |
26 | |
B. Annual Review |
26 | |
C. Board Approval (Fund Advisers) |
26 | |
D. Report to Board (Fund Advisers) |
26 | |
E. Report to Senior Management (All Advisers) |
27 | |
F. Reporting Violations |
27 | |
1. Confidentiality |
27 | |
2. Advice of Counsel |
27 | |
3. Apparent Violations |
27 | |
4. Retaliation |
27 | |
G. Sanctions |
27 | |
H. Further Information about the Code |
28 |
5
ONGOING REPORTING FORMS FOR ALL ACCESS PERSONS
6
Appendices
Appendix A | Definitions of terms used in the Code | |
Appendix B | Special Procedures relating to Rule 17j-1 | |
Appendix C | Frequently Asked Questions and Answers |
7
INTRODUCTION
Acadian Asset Management, Inc. (Acadian) has adopted this Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act) and rule amendments under Section 204 of the Advisers Act. The Code of Ethics sets forth standards of conduct expected of Acadians employees and contractors and addresses conflicts that may arise from personal trading. Acadians Compliance Committee has determined that all of Acadians on-site consultants and employees (and their immediate family members as defined herein) will be considered Access Persons for purposes of the Code.
Certain offsite employees or contractors, depending on their job responsibilities and access to customer and trading information, may also be considered Access Persons but may be exempt at the discretion of the CCO from certain reporting requirements under the Code.
Acadians non-resident Director is also considered an Access Person where specified herein. Non-Resident Director means any director of the Company who does not maintain a business address at the Company and who does not, in the ordinary cause of his or her business, receive current information regarding the purchase or sale of securities by the Company or information regarding recommendations concerning the purchase or sale of securities by the Company. The policies and procedures outlined in the Code of Ethics are intended to promote compliance with fiduciary standards by Acadian and its Access Persons. As a fiduciary, Acadian has the responsibility to render professional, continuous and unbiased investment advice, owes its clients a duty of honesty, good faith and fair dealing, must act at all times in the best interests of clients and must avoid or disclose conflicts of interests.
This Code of Ethics is designed to:
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Protect Acadians clients by deterring misconduct; |
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Educate Access Persons regarding Acadians expectations and the laws governing their conduct; |
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Remind Access Persons that they are in a position of trust and must act with complete propriety at all times; |
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Protect the reputation of Acadian; |
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Guard against violation of the securities laws; and |
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Establish procedures for Access Persons to follow so that Acadian may determine whether Access Persons are complying with its ethical principles. |
This Code of Ethics is based upon the principle that the directors, officers and other Access Persons of Acadian owe a fiduciary duty to, among others, the clients of Acadian to conduct their affairs, including their personal securities transactions, in such a manner as to avoid (i) serving their own personal interests ahead of clients; (ii) taking inappropriate advantage of their position with Acadian; and (iii) any actual or potential conflicts of interest or any abuse of their position of trust and responsibility. This fiduciary duty includes the duty of the Chief Compliance Officer of Acadian to report violations of this Code of Ethics to Acadians Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors of any U.S. registered management investment company for which Acadian acts as adviser or sub-adviser.
8
PART 1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Our principles and philosophy regarding ethics stress Acadians overarching fiduciary duty to its clients and the obligation of its Access Persons to uphold that fundamental duty. In recognition of the trust and confidence placed in Acadian by its clients and to give effect to the belief that Acadians operations should be directed to benefit its clients, Acadian has adopted the following general principles to guide the actions of its Access Persons:
1. | The interests of clients are paramount. All Access Persons must conduct themselves and their operations to give maximum effect to this belief by at all times placing the interests of clients before their own. |
2. | All personal transactions in securities by Access Persons must be accomplished so as to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest on the part of such Access Persons with the interests of any client. |
3. | All Access Persons must avoid actions or activities that allow (or appear to allow) a person to profit or benefit from his or her position with respect to a client, or that otherwise bring into question the persons independence or judgment. |
4. | All information concerning the specific security holdings and financial circumstances of any client is strictly confidential. Access Persons are expected to maintain such confidentiality, secure such information and disclose it only to other Access Persons with a need to know that information. |
5. | All Access Persons will conduct themselves honestly, with integrity and in a professional manner to preserve and protect Acadians reputation. |
Federal law requires that this Code of Ethics not only be adopted but that it must also be enforced with reasonable diligence. The Chief Compliance Officer will keep records of any violation of the Code of Ethics and of the actions taken as a result of such violations. Failure to comply with the Code of Ethics may result in disciplinary action, including monetary penalties and the potential for the termination of employment with Acadian. In addition, noncompliance with the Code of Ethics has severe ramifications, including enforcement actions by regulatory authorities, criminal fines, civil injunctions and penalties, disgorgement of profits and sanctions on your ability to remain employed in any capacity in the investment advisory business or in a related capacity.
PART 2. SCOPE OF THE CODE OF ETHICS
A. Persons Covered by the Code of Ethics
Acadians operational and investment management practices expose many if not all its employees and contractors to client information, including holdings. As a result, to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, Acadian has determined that it will characterize all on site employees and some contract employees and off-site employees (to be determined by the Compliance Committee based primarily on access to client information and trading) as Access Persons under the Code of Ethics.
9
Reporting sections of the Code that are applicable to Acadians non-resident director are the following:
(1) The preclearance of purchases of Initial Public Offerings
(2) The preclearance of the purchase of sale of Limited or Private Offerings.
(3) Quarterly reporting of transactions
(4) Annual Certification of the receipt of the Code of Ethics
(5) Year end holdings report.
With respect to the reporting of personal securities accounts and pre-clearing transactions (requirements outlined below), the definition of an Access Persons is expanded to include the accounts and transactions of the Access Persons immediate family members. An immediate family member is defined to include any relative by blood or marriage living in an Access Persons household (spouse, minor children, a domestic partner etc.), or someone who is primarily supported financially by the Access Person.
B. Accounts Covered by the Code
The Access Person must report accounts and personal securities transactions for any account in which he or she has a direct or indirect beneficial interest and in which a security covered by the Code is eligible for purchase. This typically includes:
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individual and joint accounts (with the exception of your Acadian 401k account) |
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accounts in the name of a spouse or domestic partner |
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accounts in the name of minor children or other living in your household and/or subject to your financial support |
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trust accounts |
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estate accounts |
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accounts where you have power of attorney or trading authority |
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other type of accounts in which you have a present or future interest in the income, principal or right to obtain title to securities. |
Each employee is responsible for any of his or her immediate family members compliance with the requirements imposed by the Code of Ethics. Education and oversight is a must. Noncompliance with the Code of Ethics by an immediate family members will have the same ramifications on the related employee as if it were the employee who did not comply.
C. Securities Covered by the Code of Ethics
For purposes of the Code of Ethics and its reporting requirements, the term covered security will include the following:
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any stock or bond; |
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investment or futures contracts with the exception of currency; |
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options or warrants to purchase securities; |
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limited partnerships meeting the definition of a security (including limited liability and other companies that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes); |
|
ETFs, ADRs, EDRS and GDRs; |
|
closed-end investment companies; |
10
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shares of open-end mutual funds that are advised or sub-advised by Acadian or one of Acadians affiliates, including all companies under the Old Mutual umbrellas*; and |
|
private investment funds, hedge funds, and investment clubs; |
but specifically does not include:
|
direct obligations of the U.S. government; |
|
bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high quality short-term debt obligations, including repurchase agreements; |
|
shares issued by money market funds (domiciled inside or outside the United States); |
|
shares of open-end mutual funds that are not advised or sub-advised by Acadian or one of Acadians affiliates, including all companies under the Old Mutual umbrellas; and |
|
shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end funds, none of which are funds advised or sub-advised by Acadian or one of Acadians affiliates, including all companies under the Old Mutual umbrellas. |
* | The Chief Compliance Officer will attempt to maintain a current list of firm affiliates and open ended funds that will require pre-approval. If there is any doubt about any open ended fund you wish to purchase you should pre-clear. |
As a best practice, Access Persons are encouraged to report all accounts in which multi-family mutual funds can be purchased. This will address, in advance, the addition of any fund families to the list of those advised or subadvised by Acadian or one of our Old Mutual affiliates. Access Persons should be aware that accounts held directly at a mutual fund sponsor may also require reporting as these circumstances change.
PART 3. STANDARDS OF BUSINESS CONDUCT
The Code of Ethics sets forth standards of business conduct that Acadian requires of its Access Persons and that relate to Acadians and Access Persons fiduciary obligations. Access Persons should maintain the highest ethical standards in carrying out Acadians business activities. Acadians reputation is one of its most important assets. Maintaining the trust and confidence of clients is a vital responsibility. This section sets forth Acadians business conduct standards.
A. Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Each Access Person must comply with applicable federal securities laws and all provisions of Acadians Compliance Manual.
1. | As part of this requirement, Access Persons are not permitted, in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, of a security held or to be acquired by a client: |
a. | to defraud that client in any manner; |
b. | to mislead that client, including by making a statement that omits material facts; |
11
c. | to engage in any act, practice or course of conduct which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon that client; |
d. | to engage in any manipulative practice with respect to that client; or |
e. | to engage in any manipulative practice with respect to securities, including price manipulation. |
B. Conflicts of Interest
As a fiduciary, Acadian has an affirmative duty of care, loyalty, honesty and good faith to act in the best interests of its clients. Compliance with this duty can be achieved by trying to avoid conflicts of interest and by fully disclosing all material facts concerning any conflict that does arise with respect to any client. In addition, Acadian imposes a higher standard by providing that Access Persons must try to avoid situations that have even the appearance of conflict or impropriety.
1. | Conflicts among Client Interests. Conflicts of interest may arise where Acadian or its Access Persons have reason to favor the interests of one client over another client (e.g., larger accounts over smaller accounts, accounts compensated by performance fees over accounts not so compensated, accounts in which Access Persons have made material personal investments, or accounts of close friends or relatives of Access Persons, etc.). Access Persons are prohibited from engaging in inappropriate favoritism of one client over another client that would constitute a breach of fiduciary duty. |
2. | Competing with Client Trades. Access Persons are prohibited from using knowledge about pending or currently considered securities transactions for clients to profit personally, directly or indirectly, as a result of such transactions, including by purchasing or selling such securities. Conflicts raised by personal securities transactions also are addressed more specifically in section D below. |
3. | Other Potential Conflicts Provisions: |
a. | Disclosure of Personal Interest . Access Persons are prohibited from recommending, implementing or considering any securities transaction for a client without having disclosed any material beneficial ownership, business or personal relationship or other material interest in the issuer, or its affiliates, to the Chief Compliance Officer or, with respect to the Chief Compliance Officers interests, another designated senior officer. If such designated person deems the disclosed interest to present a material conflict, the access person may not participate in any decision-making process regarding the securities of that issuer. |
This provision applies in addition to Acadians initial, monthly and annual personal securities reporting requirements for Access Persons.
b. | Referrals/Brokerage. Access Persons are required to act in the best interests of Acadians clients regarding execution and other costs paid by |
12
clients for brokerage services. As part of this principle, Access Persons will strictly adhere to Acadians policies and procedures regarding brokerage allocation, best execution, soft dollars and other related policies.
c. | Vendors and Suppliers. Each Access Person is required to disclose any personal investments or other interests in vendors or suppliers with respect to which that person negotiates or makes decisions on behalf of Acadian. Access Persons with such interests are prohibited from negotiating or making decisions regarding Acadians business with those companies. |
d. | Soft-Dollar Commissions. All soft dollar trades must comply with the safe harbor provisions of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any client specific restrictions. |
e. | Front-running. The Company forbids Access Persons, from purchasing or selling stock before a buy or sell recommendation is made to the Client if such transaction will have a negative impact on the client. |
f. | Churning. Access Persons should not effect transactions to generate increased commissions and unnecessary expenses for a Client. The volume and frequency of all sales and purchases of securities must be measured against the need and purpose for the activities, a Clients investment objectives, and the expenses and benefits to the account. All trading for a Clients account must be undertaken solely in the Clients interest. |
g. | Unfair Treatment of Certain Clients vis-à-vis Others. An Access Person who handles one or more Clients may be faced with situations in which it is possible to give preference to certain Clients over others. Access Persons must be careful not to give preference to one Client over another even if the preferential treatment would benefit Acadian or the Access Person. Each situation should be examined closely to determine whether the Client has consented to the Access Persons actions favoring another Client and whether the resulting relationship with the Client that was not favored is fair and consistent with the securities laws. If both parts of this test have been satisfied, most likely there has been no breach of fiduciary duty. |
C. Insider Trading
Access Persons are prohibited from trading, either personally or on behalf of others, while in possession of material nonpublic information and from communicating material nonpublic information to others in violation of the law. This specifically includes personally trading or informing others of the securities held in a client portfolio or securities transaction contemplated on behalf of any client.
1. |
Penalties . Trading securities while in possession of material nonpublic information or improperly communicating that information to others may expose you to severe penalties. Criminal sanctions may include a fine of up to $1,000,000 and/or ten years imprisonment. The Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) can |
13
recover the profits gained or losses avoided through violative trading, impose a penalty of up to three times the illicit windfall and can permanently bar you from the securities industry. You may also be sued by those seeking to recover damages for insider trading violations. Regardless of whether a government inquiry occurs, Acadian views seriously any violation of its insider trading policies, and such violations constitute grounds for disciplinary sanctions, including immediate dismissal. |
2. | Material Nonpublic Information. The term material nonpublic information relates not only to issuers but also to Acadians securities recommendations and client securities holdings and transactions. |
Information is material when there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in making his or her investment decisions. Generally, this is information the disclosure of which will have a substantial effect on the price of a companys securities. You should direct any questions about whether information is material to the Chief Compliance Officer.
Material information often relates to a companys results and operations, including, for example, dividend changes, earnings results, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, major litigation, liquidation problems and extraordinary management developments. Material information also may relate to the market for a companys securities. Information about a significant order to purchase or sell securities may, in some contexts, be deemed material. Similarly, prepublication information regarding reports in the financial press also may be deemed material.
Information is public when it has been disseminated broadly to investors in the marketplace. Tangible evidence of such dissemination is the best indication that the information is public. For example, information is public after it has become available to the general public through a public filing with the SEC or some other governmental agency, The Wall Street Journal , other publications of general circulation, media broadcasts, or over public internet websites.
Access Persons shall not disclose any nonpublic information (whether or not it is material) relating to Acadian or its securities transactions to any person outside Acadian (unless such disclosure has been authorized by Acadian). Material nonpublic information may not be communicated to anyone, including persons within Acadian, with the exception of the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee, unless this is required for the performance of job responsibilities. Such information should be secured. For example, access to files containing material nonpublic information and computer files containing it should be restricted to Acadian employees, and conversations containing such information, if appropriate at all, should be conducted in private to avoid potential interception.
3. | Before executing any trade for yourself or others, including clients, an Access Person must determine whether he or she has access to material nonpublic information. If you think that you might have access to material nonpublic information, you should take the following steps: |
a. | report the information and proposed trade immediately to the Chief Compliance Officer. |
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b. | do not purchase or sell the securities on behalf of yourself or others, including clients. |
c. | do not communicate the information inside or outside Acadian, other than to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee. |
d. | after the Chief Compliance Officer has reviewed the issue, Acadian will determine whether the information is material and nonpublic and, if so, what action Acadian should take, if any. |
D. Personal Securities Transactions
All Access Persons will strictly comply with Acadians policies and procedures regarding personal securities transactions. Acadians Pre-Clearance form is attached as Exhibit 2 and is discussed in greater detail in Section 4 (B) below
1. | Initial Public Offerings - Pre-clearance . Unless prohibited from purchasing IPOs as a result of licensing with the NASD, Access Personsmust pre-clear for their personal accounts purchases of any securities in an initial public offering (IPO). Acadian will maintain a written record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the personal acquisition of an IPO for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval was granted. Before granting such approval Acadian will evaluate such investment to determine that the investment creates no material conflict between the access person and Acadian. Acadian may consider approving the transaction if it can determine that: (i) the investment did not result from directing Firm brokerage business to the underwriter of the issuer of the security, (ii) the access person is not misappropriating an opportunity that should have been offered to eligible clients, and (iii) the access persons investment decisions for clients will not be unduly influenced by his or her personal holdings, and investment decisions are based solely on the best interests of clients. Any access person authorized to purchase securities in an IPO shall disclose that investment when they play a part in the clients subsequent consideration of an investment in that issuer. In such circumstances, the clients decision to purchase securities of the issuer shall be subject to independent review by investment Access Persons with no personal interest in the issuer. |
2. |
Limited or Private Offerings - Pre-Clearance. Access Personsmust pre-clear for their personal accounts purchases of any securities in limited or private offerings (commonly referred to as private placements). Acadian will maintain a record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the personal acquisition of a private placement for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval was granted. Before granting such approval Acadian will evaluate such investment to determine that the investment creates no material conflict between the access person and Acadian. Acadian may consider approving the transaction if it can determine that: (i) the investment did not result from directing Firm brokerage business to the underwriter of the issuer of the security, |
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(ii) the access person is not misappropriating an opportunity that should have been offered to eligible clients, and (iii) the access persons investment decisions for clients will not be unduly influenced by his or her personal holdings, and investment decisions are based solely on the best interests of clients. Any access person authorized to purchase securities in a private placement shall disclose that investment when they play a part in the clients subsequent consideration of an investment in that issuer. In such circumstances, the clients decision to purchase securities of the issuer shall be subject to independent review by investment Access Persons with no personal interest in the issuer. Qualified Access Persons are permitted to invest in private offering offered and/or managed by Acadian. |
3. | Blackout Periods. A five (5) day blackout period applies to access person trading. A pre-trade blackout period of trade date plus two days prior to trade date will apply to all access persons who become aware or reasonably should have been aware because of their job responsibilities that a security is being considered for purchase or sale for a client account. This pre-trade blackout period will not apply to access persons who did not know of and had no reason to know of the pending transaction. A post-trade blackout period of trade date plus two days after trade date will apply to all access persons regardless of job responsibilities. |
Depending on the occurrence, trades made within the proscribed period shall generally be unwound, if possible. Otherwise, profits realized on trades within the proscribed period shall generally be disgorged to a charity designated by Acadian or to a client if appropriate at the discretion of the Chief Compliance Officer.
4. | Short-Term Trading. Unless an exception is granted by the Chief Compliance Officer, no access person may profit in the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the same securities within sixty (60) calendar days. Trades made in violation of this prohibition should be unwound, if possible. Otherwise, any profits realized on such short-term trades shall be subject to disgorgement to a charity designated by Acadian or to a client if appropriate at the discretion of the Chief Compliance Officer. |
Access Persons are reminded that they are specifically prohibited from engaging in short-term trading in mutual funds advised by Acadian or sub-advised by Acadian.
The ban on short-term trading profits is specifically designed to deter potential conflicts of interest and frontrunning transactions, which typically involve a quick trading pattern to capitalize on a short-lived market impact of a trade by a Client. Acadian shall consider the policy reasons for the ban on these short-term trades, as stated herein, in determining when an exception to this prohibition is permissible. An Access Person wishing to execute a short term trade must complete both the Pre-Clearance Form (Exhibit 2) and the Short Term Trading Form (Exhibit 4) and submit each to the Chief Compliance Officer for review and approval.
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Personal securities that are subject to Preclearance requirements but are exempt from the blackout restrictions noted above:
Acadians Chief Compliance Officer may allow exceptions to policy on a case-by-case basis when the abusive practices that the policy is designed to prevent, such as frontrunning or conflicts of interest, are not present and the equity of the situation strongly supports an exemption. Acadian has determined that the following categories of transactions will be subject to preclearance requirements but will be exempt from the blackout restrictions noted above as these transactions appear upon reasonable inquiry and investigation to present no reasonable likelihood of harm to the Client provided they are otherwise executed in accordance with this Code, Section 206 of the Advisers Act, and Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
1. | purchases or sales of any securities with > $2 billion market capitalization on transaction date; |
2. | purchases or sales of 500 or fewer shares of an equity security within any three-consecutive month period (all trades within a three-consecutive month period shall be aggregated to determine the availability of this exemption); |
or
any amount if the actual or proposed acquisition or disposition by the Client is in the amount of 1,000 or fewer shares (or less than $25,000 market value) and the Security is listed on a national securities exchange or the NASDAQ system.
Personal securities trades that are exempt from both the Preclearance requirements and the prohibitions noted above:
1. | purchases or sales affected in any account over which the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or Control including accounts in which the Access Person has granted to a broker, dealer, trust officer or other third party non-access person full discretion to execute transactions on behalf of the Access Person without consultation or Access person input or direction. |
2. | purchases or sales which are involuntary on the part of the Access Person; |
3. | purchases or sales within Acadians 401k plan; |
4. | purchases which are part of an automatic dividend reinvestment plan; |
5. | purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuer, and sales of such rights so acquired; |
6. | purchases or sales of currencies and interest rate instruments or futures or options on them. |
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E. Gifts and Entertainment .
1. | General Statement |
A conflict of interest occurs when the personal interests of Access Persons interfere or could potentially interfere with their responsibilities to Acadian and its clients. Access Persons may not accept inappropriate gifts, favors, entertainment, special accommodations or other things of material value that could influence their decision-making or make them feel beholden to a person or firm. Access Persons are expressly prohibited from considering gifts, gratuities or entertainment when choosing brokers or vendors. Similarly, Access Persons may not offer gifts, favors, entertainment or other things of value that could be viewed as overly generous or aimed at influencing decision-making or making a client feel beholden to Acadian or the Access Person.
2. | Gifts |
a. | Receipt - No Access Person may receive any gift, service or other thing totaling more than de minimis value ($250 per year) from any person or entity that does business with or on behalf of Acadian. (Note - If the access person is also registered with the NASD, the permissible limit is only $100 per year). Access Persons are expressly prohibited from soliciting any gift. |
b. | Offer No Access Person may give or offer any gift of more than de minimis value ($250 per year) to existing clients, prospective clients or any entity that does business with or on behalf of Acadian without pre-approval by the Chief Compliance Officer. (Note Regulations relating to the investment management of state or municipal pension funds often severely restrict or prohibit the offer of gifts or entertainment of any value to government officials (elected officials and employees of elected offices) who have involvement or influence over the selection of an investment manager. As a best practice, it is advisable to consult with such individuals prior to providing any type gift or entertainment.) |
3. | Cash - No Access Person may give or accept cash gifts or cash equivalents to or from a client, prospective client or any entity that does business with or on behalf of Acadian. |
4. | Entertainment - No Access Person may provide or accept extravagant or excessive entertainment to or from a client, prospective client, or any person or entity that does or seeks to do business with or on behalf of Acadian. Access Persons may provide or accept an occasional business entertainment event, at a venue where business is typically discussed, such as dinner or a sporting event, of reasonable value, provided that the person or a representative of the entity providing the entertainment is present. |
If the anticipated value of the entertainment is expected to exceed $250, preapproval from a supervisor is required prior to acceptance of the entertainment. Please use the form provided as Exhibit 5 for this purpose.
Access Persons are expressly prohibited from soliciting any entertainment. (Note Regulations relating to the investment management of state or municipal pension funds often severely restrict or prohibit the offer of gifts or entertainment of any value to government officials (elected officials and employees of elected offices)
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who have involvement or influence over the selection of an investment manager. As a best practice, it is advisable to consult with such individuals prior to providing any type gift or entertainment.) |
Using the form provided as Exhibit 6 attached, on a quarterly basis each Access Persons must disclose to his or her supervisor all gifts and entertainment received.
5. | Conferences Employee attendance at all industry conferences must be pre-approved by the employees supervisor. If any part of the conference will be paid for by the host or a third party, conference attendance will require approval by the Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Compliance Officer will review, among other factors, the purpose of the conference, the conference agenda, and the proposed costs that will be paid or reimbursed by the third party. |
It is against Acadian policy to pay to attend any conference where the payment to attend will directly or indirectly impact whether Acadian is awarded client business.
6. | Quarterly Reporting Acadian will require all Access Persons to report any gifts or entertainment received on a Quarterly basis using the form provided at Exhibit 6. |
F. Political and Charitable Contributions
a. Political
Acadian as a firm does not make political contributions.
Access persons are prohibited from making a political contribution to any candidate for office in a state or district for which the employee is not eligible to vote. Individual exceptions may be granted by the CCO if it is determined that a candidate would not be in the position or appear to be in the position to potentially influence the direction of business to Acadian.
An example of a prohibited contribution would be: A Massachusetts resident would be prohibited by the Code from donating money to the Rhode Island governors race.
Access Persons are prohibited from making any political contributions to any political campaign for the office of Treasurer, office of Comptroller or any similar office or position that could or may appear to have any influence or control over the selection or retention of an investment manager.
Political contributions requested by a client or prospect will be prohibited as these may be deemed as an attempt to retain or win business.
b. Charitable
Although Acadian encourages its Access Persons to be charitable, no donations should be made or should appear to have been made for the purpose of obtaining or retaining client business.
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Any client or prospect request to Acadian or an Acadian employee for a charitable donation should be brought to the attention of the Compliance Committee. Any donation made by the firm to a client or prospect charity should be nominal as to not appear to have been made to obtain or retain the business and should be done in accordance with the firms Charitable giving policy.
G. Confidentiality . Access Persons have the highest fiduciary obligation not to reveal confidential company information to any party that does not have a clear and compelling need to know such information and to safeguard all client information. Access Persons must keep confidential at all times any nonpublic information they may obtain in the course of their employment at Acadian. This information includes but is not limited to:
a. | any clients identity (unless the client consents), any information regarding a clients financial circumstances or advice furnished to a client by Acadian; |
b. | information on specific client accounts, including recent or impending securities transactions by clients and activities of the portfolio managers for client accounts; |
c. | specific information on Acadians investments for clients (including former clients) and prospective clients and account transactions; |
d. | information on other Access Persons, including their compensation, benefits, position level and performance rating; and |
e. | information on Acadians business activities, including new services, products, technologies and business initiatives, unless disclosure has been authorized by Acadian. |
Access Persons should be sensitive to the problem of inadvertent or accidental disclosure, through careless conversation in a public place or the failure to safeguard papers and documents. Documents and papers should be kept in appropriately marked file folders and locked in file cabinets when appropriate.
H. Service on a Board of Directors
Prior to accepting a position as an officer, director, trustee, partner, or Controlling person in any other company or business venture (other than a non-profit organization that is not a Client of the Company), or as a member of an investment organizations (e.g., an investment club), Access persons, must disclose the position to the Chief Compliance Officer using the form provided at Exhibit 8. Any such position should also be disclosed to the Chief Compliance Officer at least annually using the same form. Notice of such positions may be given to the compliance officer of any Fund advised or subadvised by the Company.
As a firm policy, Acadian will restrict from its potential investment universe, and will not invest in or recommend client investment in, any publicly traded company for which an Acadian employee serves as a Board member.
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I . Partnerships
Any partnership or similar arrangement, either participated in or formulated by an Access Person, should be disclosed to the Chief Compliance Officer prior to formation or if already in existence, at the time of employment using the form provided at Exhibit 7. Any such partnership interest should also be disclosed to the Chief Compliance Officer at least annually using the same form.
J. Other Outside Activities
Access Persons may not engage in outside business interests or employment that could in any way conflict with the proper performance of their duties as Access Persons of Acadian. All Access Persons must obtain the approval of their Department Supervisor and Human Resources prior to accepting any employment outside of Acadian. Supervisors will keep a record of all approvals and involve the Chief Compliance Officer as needed.
K. Marketing and Promotional Activities
Acadian has instituted policies and procedures relating to its marketing, performance, advertising and promotional materials to comply with relevant securities laws. All oral and written statements by Access Persons, including those made to clients, their representatives, the public or the media, must be professional, accurate, balanced and not misleading in any way.
L. Old Mutual Stock or other affiliate stock
No Access Person shall advise a Client to purchase, hold or sell Old Mutual stock or stock in any of our other affiliated companies. No Access Person having discretionary authority over Client funds shall exercise such discretion to invest such funds in Old Mutual Stock or stock of any of our other affiliated companies. As of March 13, 2006, Old Mutual affiliates include:
Mutual & Federal Insurance Company Limited
Nedcor Limited
Skandia AB
Longview Fibre Company
An updated list of affiliated companies is available through the Compliance Department upon request.
M. Affiliated Broker-Dealers
Through the common ownership of our parent company, Acadian has affiliated broker-dealers. Acadian will not utilize the services of any of these firms to trade for the accounts of any firm client. Acadian will also abide by any restrictions imposed by a client regarding the use of any specific broker-dealer including those that may be an affiliate of the client.
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PART 4. COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES
In general, any reports, statements or confirmations described herein and submitted pursuant to this Code of Ethics to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee shall be treated as confidential. Access Persons are expected to respond truthfully and accurately to all requests for information. Access Person should be aware that copies of such reports, statements or confirmations, or summaries of each, may be provided to certain managers, officers or directors at Acadian, chief compliance officers of any registered investment company client Acadian advises or sub-advises, outside counsel, and/or regulatory authorities upon appropriate request.
A. | Access Person investment accounts and Duplicate Trade Confirmations and Statements |
All Access Persons as defined in the Code are required to notify the Chief Compliance Officer in writing of any investment account in which he or she has direct or indirect beneficial interest and in which a security covered by the Code can be purchased. A form has been provided at Exhibit 1 for this purpose Notification can also be made as part of the Monthly Reporting form attached as Exhibit 3. For all such accounts in which a covered security as defined in this Code can be purchased, Acadian will directly request the account custodian to be made an interested third party on the account for the purpose of receiving duplicate trade confirmations and account statements.
B. | Personal Securities Transaction Procedures and Reporting |
Utilizing the Personal Securities Transaction Pre-Clearance Form provided at Exhibit 2, each Access Person, must pre-clear any proposed transaction in covered securities with the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee prior to proceeding with the transaction. No transaction in a covered security shall be effected without the prior written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee. Once granted, each pre-clearance is only effective until the close of the next trading day from which it was granted unless granted on a Friday then it will expire at the close of the US markets on Friday.
In the absence of the Chief Compliance Officer, Kacie Gough, Compliance Analyst or Mark Minichiello, Chief Financial Officer, is authorized to pre-clear transactions. Either will pre-clear any proposed transactions by the Chief Compliance Officer.
1. | Monthly Reporting |
All Access Persons, must make a monthly report to the Chief Compliance Officer of all transactions involving covered securities in which they have direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership and the account in which the security was purchased using the form provided at Exhibit 3. The Compliance Officer will submit his or her own personal transactions report to a designated Alternate Review Officer. Every report should be signed and dated and filed with the Chief Compliance Officer no later than 10 days after the end of the calendar month. If no trading occurred, a report so stating is still required..
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2. | Quarterly Reporting |
All Non-Resident Directors must make a quarterly report to the Compliance Officer of all transactions involving Securities in which they have Beneficial Ownership. If the Non-Resident Director establishes a securities account during the period, the quarterly report must also disclose the name of broker, dealer, or bank with whom the account is established. This information will be kept confidential if requested by the Non-Resident Director subject to any obligations the Company may have to disclose information to regulatory authorities or under law or court order. Every report should be signed and dated and filed with the Chief Compliance Officer no later than 10 days after the end of the calendar quarter. If no trading occurred, a report so stating is still required.
3. | Annual Reporting |
By January 31 of each year, each Access Person must also complete an annual report confirming that they have read and understood the Code of Ethics, have complied with its requirements, and have reported all personal securities transactions required to be reported pursuant to the requirements of the Code of Ethics. This confirmation should take the form attached as Year End - Exhibit A and shall be delivered to the Compliance Officer.
a. | Each Access Person must provide to the Chief Compliance Officer a complete listing of all securities covered under the Code in which he/she has Beneficial Ownership and securities accounts covered under the Code that the Access Person maintains in a broker, dealer, or bank as of December 31 of the previous year. The report shall be made on the Year End Exhibits B and C attached and shall be delivered to the Chief Compliance Officer. |
b. | Each Access Personmust annually disclose any relationship (such as a directorship, trusteeship, etc.). This disclosure should be made on the form attached as Year End - Exhibit E and shall be delivered to the Chief Compliance Officer. |
c. | Each Access Personmust annually disclose any participation in a partnership. This disclosure should be made on the form attached as Year End - Exhibit D and shall be delivered to the Chief Compliance Officer. |
4. | New Hire Reporting |
New Access Persons are required to file the following forms within ten (10) days of their hire date:
a. | Initial Certification of Receipt of Code. (New Hire Exhibit A) |
b. | Initial Report of Reportable Investment Accounts. (New Hire - Exhibit B) |
c. | Initial Report of Securities Holdings. (New Hire Exhibit C) |
d. | Access Person Partnership Involvement Relationship Report. (New Hire - Exhibit -D), |
e. | Access Person Report of Director/Relationship Involvement. (New Hire - Exhibit E) |
Thereafter, the above referenced reports will be required on an annual basis.
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C. | Review and Enforcement |
The Chief Compliance Officer (or other designated compliance associate) will review personal securities transactions and holdings reports periodically submitted by Access Persons under this Code. The review may include, but not limited to, the following:
a. | An assessment of whether the access person followed the Code and any required internal procedures, such as pre-clearance, including the comparison of the Pre-Clearance Reports to the monthly account statements; |
b. | Comparison of personal trading to any restricted lists; |
c. | An assessment of whether the access person and Acadian are trading in the same securities and, if so, whether the clients are receiving terms as favorable as the access person; |
d. | Periodically analyzing the access persons trading for patterns that may indicate potential compliance issues including front running, excessive or short term trading or market timing. |
e. | Any pattern of trading raising the appearance that the access person may be taking advantage of their position at Acadian. |
Before any determination is made that a personal trading or any other material code violation has been committed by any Access Person, the Access Person will have the opportunity to supply additional explanatory material. If the Chief Compliance Officer initially determines that a violation has occurred, he will prepare a written summary of the occurrence, together will all supporting information/documentation including any explanatory material provided by the Access Person, and present the situation to the Compliance Committee for initial determination and recommendation for resolution. If deemed warranted by the Compliance Committee, the report of the incident and the recommendation for resolution will be forwarded to Acadians Executive Committee and potentially outside counsel for evaluation and recommendation for resolution. No Access Person will participate in a determination of whether he/she has committed a violation or impose any sanction against him/her. All violations and resolutions will be documented.
D. | Certification of Compliance |
1. | Initial Certification. Acadian provides all Access Persons with a copy of this Code of Ethics. Acadian requires all Access Persons to certify in writing that they have: (a) received a copy of the Code; (b) read and understand all provisions of the Code; and (c) agreed to comply with the terms of the Code. |
2. | Acknowledgement of Amendments. Acadian will provide Access Persons with any material amendments to its Code of Ethics and Access Persons will submit a written acknowledgement that they have received, read, and understood the amendments to the Code. Acadian and members of its compliance staff will make every attempt to bring important changes to the attention of Access Persons. |
3. | Annual Certification. All Access Persons are required annually to certify that they have read, understood, and complied with the Code of Ethics. |
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PART 5. MISCELLANEOUS
A. | Excessive or Inappropriate Trading |
The Company understands that it is appropriate for Access Persons to participate in the public securities markets as part of their overall personal investment programs. As in other areas, however, this should be done in a way that creates no potential conflicts with the interests of any Fund or Portfolio. Further, it is important to recognize that otherwise appropriate trading, if excessive (measured in terms of frequency, complexity of trading programs, numbers of trades, or other measure as deemed appropriate by the Chief Compliance Officer), may compromise the best interests of any Funds or Portfolios if such excessive trading is conducted during the workday or using Fund/Portfolio resources. Accordingly, if personal trading rises to such dimension as to create an environment that is not consistent with the Code of Ethics, such personal transactions may not be approved or may be limited by the Chief Compliance Officer.
B. | Access Person Disclosures and Reporting |
1. | Access Person Background Information. The SEC registration form for investment advisors requires the reporting, under oath, of past disciplinary actions taken against all advisory affiliates. The Investment Advisers Act requires similar disclosure to the Client. The term advisory affiliate includes directors and chief officers of an advisor; individuals who have the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a company; and all current Access Persons except those performing only clerical, administrative, support or similar functions. Many advisory affiliates must also provide biographical information that must be reported to the SEC. If any of the information becomes inaccurate or needs to be updated to make it accurate, it shall be your obligation to bring this to the attention of the Compliance Officer. |
2. | Upon occurrence. Any prior, current, or potential litigation in which the Access Person is, or has been, a party, or is aware of the possibility of being named as a party, which in any way relates to the Company business, must be disclosed to the Chief Compliance Officer. |
C. | Responsibility to Know the Rules |
Access Persons are responsible for their actions under the law and are therefore required to be sufficiently familiar with the Advisers Act and other applicable federal and state securities laws and regulations to avoid violating them. Claimed ignorance of any rule or regulation or of any requirement under this Code or any other Acadian policy or procedure is not a defense for employee conduct.
PART 6. RECORDKEEPING
Acadian will maintain the following records in a readily accessible place pertaining to this Code of Ethics:
|
A copy of each Code that has been in effect at any time during the past five years; |
|
A record of any violation of the Code and any action taken as a result of such violation for five years from the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred; |
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A record of all written acknowledgements of receipt of the Code and amendments for each person who is currently, or within the past five years was, a Access Person (these records must be kept for five years after the individual ceases to be a Access Person of Acadian); |
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Holdings and transactions reports made pursuant to the Code; |
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A list of the names of persons who are currently, or within the past five years were, Access Persons; |
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A record of any decision and supporting reasons for approving the acquisition of securities by Access Persons in IPOs and limited offerings for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which approval was granted. |
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A record of persons responsible for reviewing Access Persons reports currently or during the last five years; and |
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A copy of reports provided to the board of directors of any U.S. registered management investment company for which Acadian acts as adviser or sub-adviser regarding the Code. |
PART 7. FORM ADV DISCLOSURE
Acadian will include on Schedule F of Form ADV, Part II a description of Acadians Code of Ethics, and Acadian will provide a copy of its Code of Ethics to any client or prospective client upon request.
PART 8. ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE CODE
A. | Training and Education |
Acadian has designated the Chief Compliance Officer and head of Human Resources as the persons primarily responsible for training and educating Access Persons regarding the Code. In addition to training newly hire Access Persons, a training session for all Access Persons will occur at least yearly.
B. | Annual Review |
The Chief Compliance Officer will review the Code on an ongoing basis to ensure effective implementation and to make any revisions necessary to comply with regulatory requirements, industry best practices and/or Acadians changing business requirements.
C. | Board Approval (Fund Advisers) |
Acadian will submit any material amendments to its own Board of Directors, the Board of Directors of Old Mutual and any fund we advise or sub-advise.
D. | Report to the Board(s) of Investment Company Clients |
If requested, Acadian will provide an annual written report to the board of directors of each of its U.S. registered management investment company clients that describes any issues arising under
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Acadians Code of Ethics since the last report, including information about material violations of the Code and sanctions imposed in response to such violations. The report will include discussion of whether any waivers that might be considered important by the board were granted during the period. The report must also certify that the adviser has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the code.
E. | Report to Senior Management |
The Chief Compliance Officer will report to Acadians Compliance and Executive Committees regarding the annual review of this Code and to bring all material violations to their attention.
F. | Reporting Violations |
All Access Persons must report violations of Acadians Code of Ethics promptly to the Chief Compliance Officer or other appropriate Access Persons designated in this Code. Failure to report a violation known to you will also be considered a violation of the Code.
1. | Confidentiality. Any reports pursuant to Acadians Code of Ethics will be treated confidentially to the extent permitted by law and investigated promptly and appropriately. Access Persons may submit any violation report referenced herein anonymously. |
2. | Advice of Counsel. Access Persons are encouraged to seek advice from the Chief Compliance Officer with respect to any action or transaction which may violate Acadians Code of Ethics and should also refrain from any action or transaction with might lead to the appearance of a violation of this Code. |
3. | Apparent Violations. Acadian encourages Access Persons to report apparent or suspected violations of the Code of Ethics in addition to actual or known violations of the Code. |
4. | Retaliation. Retaliation against any Access Person who reports a violation with respect to Acadians Code of Ethics is prohibited and constitutes a further violation of this Code. Whistle Blower protections will be afforded those who report Code violations. |
G. | Sanctions |
Any violation of Acadians Code of Ethics may result in disciplinary action that the Chief Compliance Officer or other Firm employee(s) responsible for its administration deem appropriate, including but not limited to a warning, fines, disgorgement, suspension, demotion, or termination of employment. In addition to sanctions, violations may result in referral to civil or criminal authorities where appropriate.
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H. | Further Information about the Code |
Access Persons are encouraged to contact the Chief Compliance Officer (Scott Dias) with any questions about permissible conduct under the Code.
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PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT
Primary
Chief Compliance Officer: | Scott Dias | |
Alternate Review Officer | ||
Compliance Analyst: | Kacie Gough | |
Chief Financial Officer: | Mark Minichiello | |
Managing Director, Singapore Office: | Rick Barry | |
Training | ||
Head of Human Resources: | Joann Biles |
Acadians Compliance and Executive Committees are also responsible for Code of Ethics implementation and enforcement
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ONGOING REPORTING FORMS FOR ALL ACCESS PERSONS
Exhibit 1: | INVESTMENT ACCOUNT APPROVAL | |
Exhibit 2: | PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTION PRECLEARANCE | |
Exhibit 3: | MONTHLY TRANSACTION REPORTING | |
Exhibit 4: | SHORT-TERM TRADING REPORTING AND APPROVAL | |
Exhibit 5: | ENTERTAINMENT APPROVAL | |
Exhibit 6: | QUARTERLY GIFT AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTING | |
Exhibit 7: | REPORT OF PARTNERSHIP INVOLVMENT | |
Exhibit 8: | REPORT OF DIRECTOR/RELATIONSHIP INVOLVEMENT | |
Exhibit 9: | CERTIFICATION OF RECEIPT OF CODE AMENDMENTS |
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Exhibit 1
Investment Account Approval
I request approval of the following investment accounts in which I have a direct or indirect interest and in which a reportable security under the Code of Ethics may be purchased.
Where the Account is located |
Account
number |
Account registration |
Direct owner |
Indirect owner |
Previously disclosed |
|||||
Example: Charles Schwab |
xxxx-xxxx | Employee, IRA | X | X |
|
|
|||||
Access Person Name | Compliance | Date |
|
Access Person Signature Date |
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Exhibit 2
PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS PRE-CLEARANCE FORM
I hereby request pre-clearance of the securities listed below. I am aware that each pre-clearance is only effective until the close of the next trading day from which it was granted unless granted on a Friday then it will expire at the close of the US markets on Friday. The Access Person is required to obtain additional preclearance if the trade is not completed before the authority expires.
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank and Account number |
Symbol/Name
of security |
# of shares |
Price per
share |
Principal
amount |
Transaction
type (i.e. Buy, Sell, etc.) |
Compliance
authorized |
||||||||
Yes | No | |||||||||||||
This report (i) excludes transactions with respect to which I had no direct or indirect influence or Control.
Is any proposed transaction described above within sixty (60) days of a prior transaction in the same or equivalent Security? Yes: ¨ No: ¨
If yes, the Access Person must submit a Securities Transactions Report Relating to Short Term Trading (Exhibit E) for pre-approval.
Is any proposed transaction described above considered an Initial Public Offering (IPO) or Private Placement? Yes: ¨ No: ¨
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|
|||||
Access Person name | Compliance | Date |
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Access Person Signature Date |
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Exhibit 3
ACCESS PERSON SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS REPORT FOR THE CALENDAR MONTH ENDED:
(submit within 10 days of month end)
1. | During the month referred to above, the following transactions were effected in securities of which I had, or by reason of such transaction acquired, direct or indirect beneficial ownership, and which are required to be reported pursuant to the Code of Ethics adopted by the Company. (if none were transacted, write none). You do not need to report transactions in direct obligations of the U.S. government, bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, high quality short-term debt instruments and unaffiliated registered open-end investment companies (mutual funds). Please check this box if an addendum is attached listing additional securities ¨ |
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank and Account number |
Name of security |
Buy or
sell |
Number
of shares |
Shares owned as
of month end |
Type of
ownership (direct or indirect) |
New Account this month* (Y/N) |
||||||
If a new account in which a trade was executed was opened this month, please provide the following information for each account:
Account Registration (i.e. Name of the account) ex. Employee, IRA |
Direct Owner (Y/N) |
Indirect Owner (Y/N) |
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This report (i) excludes transactions with respect to which I had no direct or indirect influence or Control.
|
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Access Person name | Compliance | Date |
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Access Person Signature Date |
33
Exhibit 4
SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS REPORT RELATING TO SHORT-TERM TRADING FOR THE SIXTY-DAY PERIOD FROM TO
During the sixty (60) calendar day period referred to above, the following purchases and sales, or sales and purchases, of the same securities were effected or are proposed to be effected in covered securities of which I have, or by reason of such transaction acquired, direct or indirect beneficial ownership. (Please provide information for the original and the proposed trade.)
Transaction 1: [ ] authorized [ ] not authorized |
||||||||||||
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank and Account number |
Name of
security |
Original transaction
date |
Buy/Sell
other |
Price per
share |
Number
of shares |
Principal
amount |
||||||
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank and Account number |
Name of
security |
Proposed
transaction date |
Buy/Sell
other |
Price per
share |
Number
of shares |
Principal
amount |
||||||
Transaction 2: [ ] authorized [ ] not authorized |
||||||||||||
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank and Account number |
Name of
security |
Original transaction
date |
Buy/Sell
other |
Price per
share |
Number
of shares |
Principal
amount |
||||||
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank and Account number |
Name of
security |
Proposed
transaction date |
Buy/Sell
other |
Price per
share |
Number
of shares |
Principal
amount |
||||||
Transaction 3: [ ] authorized [ ] not authorized |
||||||||||||
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank and Account number |
Name of
security |
Original transaction
date |
Buy/Sell
other |
Price per
share |
Number
of shares |
Principal
amount |
||||||
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank and Account number |
Name of
security |
Proposed
transaction date |
Buy/Sell
other |
Price per
share |
Number
of shares |
Principal
amount |
||||||
Transaction 4: [ ] authorized [ ] not authorized |
||||||||||||
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank and Account number |
Name of
security |
Original transaction
date |
Buy/Sell
other |
Price per
share |
Number
of shares |
Principal
amount |
||||||
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank and Account number |
Name of
security |
Proposed
transaction date |
Buy/Sell
other |
Price per
share |
Number
of shares |
Principal
amount |
Reason for transaction: | ||
|
|
|||||
Access Person name | Compliance | Date |
|
Access Person Signature Date |
34
Exhibit 5
EMPLOYEE ENTERTAIMENT FORM WHEN ANTICIPATED BENEFIT WILL EXCEED $250.
1. Name and department of Acadian employee who will be attending the event: _________________ | ||
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2. Date of event: |
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3. Location: |
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4. Purpose: |
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5. Name of Company sponsoring the event or offering the event: |
||
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6. Name and title of Company representative offering the event: |
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7. Anticipated benefits and value received: |
||
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8. Have you received or accepted any other entertainment or gifts from this individual or company since January 1 of this year? Yes No |
||
If Yes, provide details on when, what and what amount | ||
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Access Person name | Supervisor | Date | ||||
|
|
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Access Person Signature Date | Compliance | Date |
35
Exhibit 6
ACCESS PERSON QUARTERLY REPORT OF GIFTS OR ENTERTAINMENT RECEIVED
Date of gift/event |
Name and title of individual
|
Name of company providing |
If event, was
present |
Description of gift/event |
Actual or
approximate value |
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|
|
|||||
Access Person name | Supervisor | Date | ||||
|
|
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Access Person Signature Date | Compliance | Date |
36
Exhibit 7
Report of Partnership Involvement
The Code of Ethics requires any partnership or similar arrangement, either to be participated in or formulated by an employee to be disclosed to the CCO prior to involvement and on at least an annual basis thereafter. Please complete a separate report for each partnership that you are involved with addressing the following questions.
1. | Name of Partnership: | |||||||
2. | Type of Organization: | |||||||
3. | Your position: | |||||||
4. | Start Date of Affiliation: | |||||||
5. | Any clients involved? Yes No | |||||||
6. | Do you have an equity interest in the partnership? | Yes | No | |||||
7. | Are you compensated for your involvement? | Yes | No | |||||
8. | Do you have any investment responsibilities on behalf of the partnership? | |||||||
Yes | No | |||||||
9. | Is this partnership eligible for client investment? | Yes | No | |||||
10. | Provide a description of your role and responsibilities | |||||||
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
|
|
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Access Person name | Compliance | Date |
|
Access Person Signature Date |
37
Exhibit 8
Report of Directorship/Relationship Involvement
The Code of Ethics requires prior disclosure to the CCO, and at least annual disclosure thereafter, of your involvement as an Officer, Board of Director member, Trustee, Executive Member, or Controlling Person in any Business Venture including, but not limited to, investment organizations, including investment clubs. Please complete a separate report for each Directorship/Relationship that you are involved with addressing the following questions.
In addition, if your spouse, domestic partner or any immediate family member subject to your financial support is an Officer, Board of Director member, Trustee, or Executive Member of a publicly traded company , please complete a copy of this report on their behalf to disclose each position.
|
|
|||||
Access Person name | Compliance | Date |
|
Access Person Signature Date |
38
Exhibit 9
WRITTEN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF THE AMENDMENTS TO
ACADIANS CODE OF ETHICS
|
I have received a copy of amendments to the Acadian Code of Ethics dated . |
|
I recognize that I and my immediate family members as defined in the Code of Ethics are subject to these amendments and all provisions of the Code. |
|
I have read and understand these amendments to the Code of Ethics. |
|
I have had the opportunity to ask questions about any amendment that is unclear to me. |
|
I agree to comply with theses amendments and all other terms of the Code. |
|
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Access Person name | Compliance | Date |
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Access Person Signature |
|
Date |
39
NEW HIRE REPORTING FORMS
New Hire Exhibit A: | WRITTEN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF ACADIANS CODE OF ETHICS | |
New Hire Exhibit B: | REPORTABLE INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS | |
New Hire Exhibit C: | REPORTABLE SECURITIES HOLDINGS | |
New Hire Exhibit D: | REPORT OF PARTNERSHIP INVOLVEMENT | |
New Hire Exhibit E: | REPORT OF DIRECTOR/RELATIONSHIP INVOLVEMENT |
40
New Hire Exhibit A
Written Acknowledgement of Receipt of the Code of Ethics
|
I acknowledge receipt of and have access to a copy of the Acadian Code of Ethics dated April 2006. |
|
I recognize that I and my immediate family members, as defined in the Code of Ethics, are subject to the provisions of the Code. |
|
I have read and understand all provisions of the Code of Ethics. |
|
I have received training on the Code and have had the opportunity to ask questions about any provisions that are unclear to me. |
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Access Person name | Compliance | Date | ||||
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Access Person Signature | ||||||
|
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Date |
41
New Hire Exhibit B
Investment Accounts
As of my day of hire the following is a listing of all the investment accounts reportable under the Code in which I have a direct or indirect interest and in which a reportable security under the Code of Ethics may be purchased 1 .
Where the Account is located |
Account
number |
Account
registration |
Direct
owner |
Indirect
owner |
Previously
disclosed |
|||||
Example: Charles Schwab |
xxxx-xxxx | Employee, IRA | X | X |
{ } Please check here if additional form is required to complete the reporting.
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Access Person Name | Compliance | Date | ||||||||
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Access Person Signature | Date |
1 |
The attached page contains a summary of reportable accounts and securities. |
42
Examples of reportable accounts include:
|
individual and joint accounts |
|
accounts in the name of a spouse or domestic partner |
|
accounts in the name of minor children or other living in your household and/or subject to your financial support |
|
trust accounts |
|
estate accounts |
|
accounts where you have power of attorney or trading authority |
|
other type of accounts in which you have a present or future interest |
Examples of Reportable Securities requiring preclearence and the approval of any account in which they can be transacted:
|
any stock or bond; |
|
investment or futures contracts with the exception of currency; |
|
options or warrants to purchase securities; |
|
limited partnerships meeting the definition of a security (including limited liability and other companies that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes); |
|
ETFs, ADRs and GDRs; |
|
closed-end investment companies; |
|
shares of open-end mutual funds that are advised or sub-advised by Acadian or one of Acadians affiliates, including all companies under the Old Mutual umbrellas; and |
|
private investment funds, hedge funds, and investment clubs. |
43
New Hire Exhibit C
Investment Holdings
As of my day of hire the following is a list all of my direct or indirect holdings in any reportable security under the Code of Ethics. ( In lieu of listing, you can attach a copy of your year end statement for each account in which a reportable security was purchased.) 2
Where is account located |
Account Number |
Security Name/ID |
# of
shares |
Price per
share as of last statement |
Type of
ownership (direct or indirect) |
|||||
Example Charles Schwab |
xxxx-xxxx | Microsoft | 250 | 26.50 | d | |||||
Example Charles Schwab |
xxxx-xxxx | statement attached |
{ } Please check here if additional form is required to complete the reporting.
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Access Person Name | Compliance | Date | ||||||
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Access Person Signature | Date |
2 |
The attached page contains a summary of reportable securities. |
44
Examples of Reportable Securities requiring preclearence and the approval of any account in which they can be transacted:
|
any stock or bond; |
|
investment or futures contracts with the exception of currency; |
|
options or warrants to purchase securities; |
|
limited partnerships meeting the definition of a security (including limited liability and other companies that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes); |
|
ETFs, ADRs and GDRs; |
|
closed-end investment companies; |
|
shares of open-end mutual funds that are advised or sub-advised by Acadian or one of Acadians affiliates, including all companies under the Old Mutual umbrellas; and |
|
private investment funds, hedge funds, and investment clubs. |
45
New Hire Exhibit D
Report of Partnership Involvement
The Code of Ethics requires any partnership or similar arrangement, either to be participated in or formulated by an employee to be disclosed to the CCO prior to involvement and on at least an annual basis thereafter. Please complete a separate report for each partnership that you are involved with as of your day of hire addressing the following questions. Please respond None and sign and return if appropriate.
|
|
|||||||
Access Person name | Compliance | Date | ||||||
|
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Access Person Signature | Date |
46
New Hire Exhibit E
Report of Directorship/Relationship Involvement
The Code of Ethics requires prior disclosure to the CCO, and at least annual disclosure thereafter, of your involvement as an Officer, Board of Director member, Trustee, Executive Member, or Controlling Person in any Business Venture including, but not limited to, investment organizations, including investment clubs. Please complete a separate report for each Directorship/Relationship that you are involved with as of your day of hire addressing the following questions.
In addition, if your spouse, domestic partner or any immediate family member subject to your financial support is an Officer, Board of Director member, Trustee, or Executive Member of a publicly traded company , please complete a copy of this report on their behalf to disclose each position.
Please respond None and sign and return if appropriate.
1. Name of Company/Organization: |
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2. Type of Company/Organization: |
||||||
3. Name of Person involved: |
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4. Position: |
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5. Start Date of Affiliation: |
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6. Is this publicly traded company? |
Yes No | |||||
If yes, symbol: |
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7. Are you compensated for your involvement? |
Yes No | |||||
How: |
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8. Do you have any investment responsibilities on behalf of the company? |
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Yes No | ||||||
9. Provide a description of your role and responsibilities |
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______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | ||||||
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | ||||||
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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Access Person name | Compliance | Date | ||||||
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Access Person Signature | Date |
47
YEAR END REPORTING FORMS FOR ALL ACCESS PERSON
Year End Exhibit A: | WRITTEN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF THE ACADIANS CODE OF ETHICS | |
Year End Exhibit B: | REPORTABLE INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS | |
Year End Exhibit C: | REPORTABLE SECURITIES HOLDINGS | |
Year End Exhibit D: | REPORT OF PARTNERSHIP INVOLVEMENT | |
Year End Exhibit E: | REPORT OF DIRECTOR/RELATIONSHIP INVOLVEMENT |
48
Year End Exhibit A
Annual Certification and Written Acknowledgement of Receipt of the Code of Ethics
|
I acknowledge receipt of and have access to a copy of the Acadian Code of Ethics dated . |
|
I recognize that I and my immediate family members, as defined in the Code of Ethics, are subject to the provisions of the Code. |
|
I have read and understand all provisions of the Code of Ethics. |
|
I have received training on the Code and have had the opportunity to ask questions about any provisions that are unclear to me. |
|
It is my belief that I have complied with the provisions of the Code of Ethics during the past year including the reporting of all securities transactions. |
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Access Person name | Compliance | Date | ||||
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Access Person Signature | ||||||
|
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Date |
49
Year End Exhibit B
Investment Accounts
Annual Code of Ethics Reporting as of
As of , please list all the investment accounts in which you have a direct or indirect interest and in which a reportable security under the Code of Ethics may be purchased. 3
Respond None then sign and return if appropriate.
Where the Account is located |
Account number |
Account
registration |
Direct
owner |
Indirect
owner |
Previously
disclosed |
|||||
Example: Charles Schwab |
xxxx-xxxx | Employee, IRA | X | X |
|
|
|||||||
Access Person Name | Compliance | Date | ||||||
|
||||||||
Access Person Signature | Date |
{ } | Please check here if an additional form is required to complete reporting. |
3 |
On the accompanying page are examples from the Code of Ethics of reportable accounts and reportable securities. |
50
Examples of reportable accounts include:
|
individual and joint accounts |
|
accounts in the name of a spouse or domestic partner |
|
accounts in the name of minor children or other living in your household and/or subject to your financial support |
|
trust accounts |
|
estate accounts |
|
accounts where you have power of attorney or trading authority |
|
other type of accounts in which you have a present or future interest |
Examples of Reportable Securities requiring preclearence and the approval of any account in which they can be transacted:
|
any stock or bond; |
|
investment or futures contracts with the exception of currency; |
|
options or warrants to purchase securities; |
|
limited partnerships meeting the definition of a security (including limited liability and other companies that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes); |
|
ETFs, ADRs, EDRS and GDRs; |
|
closed-end investment companies; |
|
shares of open-end mutual funds that are advised or sub-advised by Acadian or one of Acadians affiliates, including all companies under the Old Mutual umbrellas*; and |
|
private investment funds, hedge funds, and investment clubs. |
51
Year End Exhibit C
Investment Holdings
Annual Code of Ethics Reporting as of
As of , please list all of your direct or indirect holdings in any reportable security under the Code of Ethics. 4 In lieu of listing, you can attach a copy of your year end statement for each account in which a reportable security was purchased. Respond None then sign and return if appropriate.
Where is account located |
Account Number | Security Name/ID |
# of
shares as of 12/31 |
Price per
share as of 12/31 statement |
Type of
ownership (direct or indirect) |
|||||
Example Charles Schwab | xxxx-xxxx | Microsoft | 250 | 26.50 | d | |||||
Example Charles Schwab | xxxx-xxxx | 12/31 statement attached |
|
|
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Access Person Name | Compliance | Date | ||||||
|
||||||||
Access Person Signature | Date |
{ } | Please check here if an additional form is attached to complete your reporting. |
4 |
On the accompanying page are examples from the Code of Ethics of reportable securities. |
52
Examples of Reportable Securities requiring preclearence and the approval of any account in which they can be transacted:
|
any stock or bond; |
|
investment or futures contracts with the exception of currency; |
|
options or warrants to purchase securities; |
|
limited partnerships meeting the definition of a security (including limited liability and other companies that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes); |
|
ETFs, ADRs and GDRs; |
|
closed-end investment companies; |
|
shares of open-end mutual funds that are advised or sub-advised by Acadian or one of Acadians affiliates, including all companies under the Old Mutual umbrellas; and |
|
private investment funds, hedge funds, and investment clubs. |
53
Year End Exhibit D
Report of Partnership Involvement
Annual Code of Ethics Reporting as of
The Code of Ethics requires any partnership or similar arrangement, either to be participated in or formulated by an employee to be disclosed to the CCO prior to involvement and on at least an annual basis thereafter. As of , please complete a separate report for each partnership that you are involved with addressing the following questions. Please respond None and sign and return if appropriate.
|
|
|||||||
Access Person name | Compliance | Date | ||||||
|
||||||||
Access Person Signature | Date |
54
Year End Exhibit E
Report of Directorship/Relationship Involvement
Annual Code of Ethics Reporting as of
The Code of Ethics requires prior disclosure to the CCO, and at least annual disclosure thereafter, of your involvement as an Officer, Board of Director member, Trustee, Executive Member, or Controlling Person in any Business Venture including, but not limited to, investment organizations, including investment clubs. As of , please complete a separate report for each Directorship/Relationship that you are involved with addressing the following questions.
In addition, if your spouse, domestic partner or any immediate family member subject to your financial support is an Officer, Board of Director member, Trustee, or Executive Member of a publicly traded company , please complete a copy of this report on their behalf to disclose each position.
Please respond None and sign and return if appropriate.
|
|
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Access Person name | Compliance | Date | ||||||
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Access Person Signature | Date |
55
APPENDIX A
DEFINITIONS
Access Person includes:
a. | Any officer, director or employee of Acadian (or other person occupying a similar status or performing a similar function); |
b. | Any other person who provides advice on behalf of Acadian and is subject to Acadians supervision and control; and |
c. | Any temporary worker, consultant, independent contractor, or any particular person designated by the Chief Compliance Officer. |
d. | Immediate family member is defined to include any relative by blood or marriage living in an Access Persons household (spouse, minor children, a domestic partner etc.), or someone who is primarily supported financial by the Access Person. |
e. | Any person whos account you have a direct or indirect beneficial interest in, including investment accounts where you act as trustee, power or attorney or have some sort of legal authority. |
Access person is a person who:
a. | has access to nonpublic information regarding any clients purchase or sale of securities, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any investment company Acadian or its control affiliates manage; |
b. | is involved in making securities recommendations to clients, or has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic; or |
c. | is a director or officer of Acadian (or other person occupying a similar status or performing a similar function). |
Beneficial Ownership is to be determined in the same manner as it is for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder which, generally speaking, encompasses those situations where the Beneficial Owner has the right to enjoy some economic benefit from the investment account or ownership of the Security . Direct means that the account is in the name of the access person. Indirect means the account is in the name of another party but you have an interest i.e. spouses account.
Clients mean those persons or entities for whom the Company acts as investment manager or fiduciary, including any trusts or funds which fall under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Security is defined to include:
|
options on securities, on indexes and on currencies; |
|
futures contracts; |
|
limited partnerships (including limited liability and other companies that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes); |
|
foreign unit trusts and foreign mutual funds; |
|
closed-end investment companies; |
|
shares of open-end mutual funds that are advised or sub-advised by Acadian or one of Acadians affiliates, including all companies under the Old Mutual umbrellas*; and |
|
private investment funds, hedge funds, and investment clubs; |
56
but specifically does not include:
|
direct obligations of the U.S. government; |
|
bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high quality short-term debt obligations, including repurchase agreements; |
|
shares issued by money market funds (domiciled inside or outside the United States); |
|
shares of open-end mutual funds that are not advised or sub-advised by Acadian or one of Acadians affiliates, including all companies under the Old Mutual umbrellas; and |
|
shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end funds, none of which are funds advised or sub-advised by Acadian or one of Acadians affiliates, including all companies under the Old Mutual umbrellas. |
57
APPENDIX B
Acadian, an investment adviser and sub-adviser to certain Investment Company Act mutual funds, follows specific procedures mandated by Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act and any other reporting requirements required by the Trust or investment adviser whose fund Acadian advises.
I. | SEI Institutional Investments Trust |
This section applies to the SEI Institutional Investments Trust (the Trust).
In the instances where the Company serves as an investment advisor to the Trust, the Company will:
1. Submit to the Board of Trustees of the Trust a copy of its code of ethics adopted pursuant to Rule 17j-1, which code shall comply with the recommendations of the Investment Company Institutes Advisory Group on Personal Investing;
2. Promptly report to the Trust in writing any material amendments to such Code;
3. Promptly furnish to the Trust upon request copies of any reports made pursuant to such Code by any person who is an Access Person as to the Trust, and
4. Shall immediately furnish to the Trust, without request, all material information regarding any violation of such Code by any person who is an Access Person as to the Trust.
II. | The Advisers Inner Circle Fund - Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio |
This section applies to the AIC Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio (the Fund).
A. | Reporting of Violations to the Board of Directors of the Fund |
1. | The Compliance Officer of the Fund shall promptly report to the Board of Directors of the Fund (the Board) all material violations of this Code of Ethics and the reporting requirements thereunder. |
2. | When the Compliance Officer of the Fund finds that a transaction otherwise reportable to the Board under Paragraph 1.) of this Section could not reasonably be found to have resulted in a fraud, deceit or manipulative practice in violation of Rule 17j-1(a), he may, in his discretion, lodge a written memorandum of such finding and the reasons therefore with the reports made pursuant to this Code of Ethics, in lieu of reporting the transaction to the Board. |
3. | The Board, or a Committee of Directors created by the Board for that purpose, shall consider reports made to the Board hereunder and shall determine whether or not this Code of Ethics has been violated and what sanctions, if any, should be imposed. |
58
B. | Annual reporting to the Board of Directors of the Fund |
The Compliance Officer of the Fund shall prepare an annual report relating to this Code of Ethics to the Board. Such annual report shall:
1. | summarize existing procedures concerning personal investing and any changes in the procedures made during the past year; |
2. | identify material violations requiring significant remedial actions during the past year; and |
3. | identify any recommended changes in the existing restrictions or procedures based upon the Funds experience under its Code of Ethics, evolving industry practices or developments in applicable laws or regulations. |
C. | Sanctions |
Upon discovering a violation of this Code, the Board of Directors may impose such sanctions as they deem appropriate, including, among other things, a letter of censure or suspension or termination of the employment of the violator.
D. | Miscellaneous |
In the event of conflict between the Code of Ethics and the terms of the Code of Ethics of the Fund, the terms of the Funds Code will govern.
59
APPENDIX C
ANSWERS TO COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I. General Questions
1. I am a new employee. What forms do I fill out?
New employees are required to fill out the following 5 forms (exhibits A-B in the Code of Ethics):
|
Written Acknowledgment of Receipt of Acadians Code of Ethics |
|
Reportable Investment Accounts |
|
Reportable Securities Holdings |
|
Report of Partnership Involvement |
|
Report of Director/Relationship Involvement |
These forms must be completed and returned to the Compliance Officer no later than 10 days after the employees start date. (See page 23 for information on New Hire Reporting)
2. Where can I find a list of mutual funds that are advised or sub-advised by Acadian affiliates?
A complete list of mutual funds that are advised or sub-advised by Acadian or one of Acadians affiliates (including all companies under the Old Mutual umbrellas) is maintained by the Chief Compliance Officer and is updated quarterly. The most recent list is available on Acadians employee website.
3. Who is covered by the Code?
All on-site employees and their dependents are considered Access Persons and are subject to the principles, procedures and regulations outlined in the Code. Examples of Access Persons include, but are not limited to spouses, domestic partners, children, and dependent family members. If you require further clarification as to who is considered an Access Person, please ask a member of the Compliance Committee before any action is taken that could be considered contrary to the Code (See Page 9 for a complete description of who is covered by the Code)
4. Which accounts require notice and approval and how do I notify you of a new investment account?
You must notify a member of the compliance team when opening any new account in which you have a direct or indirect beneficial interest and in which a security covered by the Code can be purchased. This includes but is not limited to:
|
Individual and joint accounts |
|
Accounts in the name of a spouse or domestic partner |
|
Accounts in the name of minor children or any other person living in your house and/or dependent on you for financial support |
|
Trust accounts |
|
Estate accounts |
|
Accounts where you have power of attorney or trading authority |
60
Please use the Investment Account Approval form (exhibit 1) in the Code of Ethics to report new accounts or disclose a new account as part of the monthly transaction reporting. A copy of these forms are also available on the employee web site. (See page 10 for information on accounts covered by the Code)
5. Do I have to report or preclear transactions in my Acadian 401K?
No, employees are not required to report or preclear transactions that they make in their 401K accounts. (See page 10 for a list of accounts covered by the Code)
6. What type of securities require preclearance and how do I get a trade approved?
Securities covered by the scope of the Code of Ethics include:
|
All stocks and bonds |
|
Investment or futures contracts (except for currency forwards) |
|
Options or warrants |
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Limited partnerships |
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ETFs, ADRs, EDRs and GDRs |
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Closed-end investment companies |
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Open-end mutual funds that are advised or sub-advised by Acadian or one of its affiliates |
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Private investment funds, hedge funds and investment clubs |
All transactions in these security types must be pre-cleared by a member of the Compliance group. Preclearance is good for a period of 24 hours. To obtain trading approval, please complete the Personal Securities Transaction Preclearance form (exhibit 2 in the Code) which is available on the employee web site. (See pages 15-16 for details on personal securities transactions)
7. How long do I have to wait before I can sell a stock?
Unless the Chief Compliance Officer grants an exception, no Access Person may profit in the purchase or sale, or sale and purchase of the same securities within 60 calendar days. Trades made in violation of this prohibition should be unwound immediately if possible. Otherwise, any profits realized on such a transaction are subject to disgorgement to a charity designated by Acadian or to a client if appropriate. (See page 16 for Acadians short-term trading policy)
8. How can I obtain pre-clearance for a short-term trade (less than 60 days between trades)?
The short-term trade rule can be circumvented with prior approval from the Chief Compliance Officer. To submit a request for approval of a short-term trade, please complete the Short-Term Trading Reporting and Approval form (exhibit 4 in the Code) which is available on the employee web site.
9. Does Acadian have a blackout period? If so, are there any exceptions?
A five (5) day blackout period applies to Access Person trading. A pre-trade blackout period of trade date plus two days prior to trade date will apply to all Access Persons who become aware or reasonably should have been aware because of their job responsibilities that a security is being considered for purchase or sale for a client account. This pre-trade blackout period will not apply to Access Persons who did not know of and had no reason to know of the pending transaction. A post-trade blackout period of trade date plus two days after trade date will apply
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to all Access Persons regardless of job responsibilities. Exeptions to this rule include transactions in stocks where the market cap exceeds $2 billion and/or where the number of shares being purchased or sold is less than 500. Also exempt from the blackout period are transactions effected for the employees 401K plan or purchases made as part of a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP). (See page 16 for additional details about black-out periods)
10. What is Acadians gift and entertainment policy?
Persons may not accept inappropriate gifts, favors, entertainment, special accommodations or other things of material value that could influence their decision making or make them feel beholden to a person or firm. Access Persons are expressly prohibited from considering gifts, gratuities or entertainment when choosing brokers or vendors. Similarly, Access Persons may not offer gifts, favors, entertainment or other things of value that could be viewed as overly generous or aimed at influencing decision-making or making a client feel beholden to Acadian or the Access Person. For purposes of the Code, value of gifts or services received or offered may not exceed $250 ($100 if the Access Person is registered with the NASD). If the anticipated value of the entertainment is expected to exceed $250 per person, preapproval from a supervisor is required prior to acceptance of the entertainment. Persons may provide or accept an occasional business entertainment event, at a venue where business is typically discussed, such as dinner or a sporting event, of reasonable value, provided that the person or a representative of the entity providing the entertainment is present. Approval for such events should be solicited using the Entertainment Approval form (exhibit 5). All employees are required to report any gifts or entertainment received on a quarterly basis using the Quarterly Gift and Entertainment Reporting form (exhibit 6). (See pages 18-19 for details on Acadians gift and entertainment policy)
11. What is the policy regarding political contributions? Charitable contributions?
Acadian and all Access Persons are prohibited from making political contributions to any candidate or party for the purpose of obtaining or retaining advisory contracts. This includes contributing to any candidate involved with or having any influence over the investment manager selection process. Acadian as a firm does not make political contributions. In general, access persons are prohibited from making a political contribution to any candidate for office in a state or district for which the employee is not eligible to vote.
Although Acadian encourages its Access Persons to be charitable, no donations should be made or should appear to have been made for the purpose of obtaining or retaining client business. Any client or prospect request to Acadian or an Acadian employee for a charitable donation should be brought to the attention of the Compliance Committee. Any donation made by the firm or an employee to a client or prospect charity should be nominal so as not appear to have been made to obtain or retain the business. (See page 19 for details on Acadians contributions policy)
II. Fiduciary Duty and Conflicts of Interest (See pages 12-13 for additional information on conflicts of interest)
1. What constitutes a conflict of interest?
Conflicts of interest can arise in any number of situations. No comprehensive list of all possible conflicts of interest can be provided in this memorandum. However, the following example may be helpful. Consider these two cases: an Access Person seeking to induce a bank to give the Access Person a loan in exchange for maintaining excessive cash balances of a Client with the
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bank, and an Access Person executing trades for a Client through a broker-dealer that provides research services for the Company but charges commissions higher than other broker-dealers. In the first case, such activity would be a violation of an Access Persons fiduciary duty and might subject the Access Person and the Company to liability under the Advisers Act and other applicable laws. In the latter case, if the Company determines in good faith that the higher commissions are reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided, the payment of higher commissions may be permitted under the safe harbor of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as long as appropriate disclosure is made to the Client and in the Companys Form ADV.
Another common conflict of interest occurs when the Company pays some consideration to a person for recommending the Company as an adviser. In those circumstances, an Access Person must make disclosure to any prospective Client of any consideration paid for recommending the Companys services to that prospective Client and the Company must comply with Rule 206(4)-3 of the Advisers Act. This Rule governs situations involving cash payments for Client solicitations and requires that specific disclosure documents containing information about the solicitor and the adviser be provided to a prospective Client at the time of the solicitation.
2. How should conflicts of interest be handled?
The Company and its Access Persons have a fiduciary duty to act for the benefit of the Clients and to take action on the Clients behalf before taking action in the interest of any Access Person or the Company.
The manner in which any Access Person discharges this fiduciary duty depends on the circumstances. Sometimes general disclosure of common conflicts of interest may suffice. In other circumstances, explicit consent of the Client to the particular transaction giving rise to a conflict of interest may be required or an Access Person may be prohibited from engaging in the transaction regardless of whether the Client consents.
The Clients consent will not in all cases insulate the Access Person against a claim of breach of the Access Persons fiduciary duty. Full disclosure of all material facts must be given if consent is to be effective. As a result, consents concerning possible future breaches of laws will not usually work. However, waivers of known past violations may be effective. In addition, a Client under the Control and influence of the Access Person or who has come to rely on the Access Persons investment decisions cannot effectively consent to a conflict of interest or breach of fiduciary duty. Consent must be competent, informed and freely given.
The duty to disclose and obtain a Clients consent to a conflict of interest must always be undertaken in a manner consistent with the Access Persons duty to deal fairly with the Client. Therefore, even when taking action with a Clients consent, each Access Person must always seek to assure that the action taken is fair to the Client.
If any Access Person is faced with any conflict of interest, he or she should consult the Chief Compliance Officer or designee prior to taking any action.
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III. Material Inside Information (See pages 13-14 for additional information on Insider Trading)
1. Who is subject to the insider trading rules?
All Company staff and all persons friends, relatives, business associates and others who receive nonpublic material inside information from Company staff concerning an issuer of securities (whether such issuer is a Client or not) are subject to these rules. It does not matter whether the issuer is public or private.
At the Company, the rules apply to officers, marketing, advisory, administrative, secretarial, or other staff. Furthermore, if any Access Person gives nonpublic material inside information concerning an issuer of securities to a person outside the Company and that person trades in securities of that issuer, the Access Person and that person may have both civil and criminal liability.
2. What is material inside information?
Generally speaking, material inside information is significant information about an issuers business or operations (past, present or prospective) that becomes known to an Access Person and which is not otherwise available to the public. While the exact meaning of the word material is not entirely clear, it turns on whether the information about an issuer would influence an investor in any investment decision concerning that issuers securities and whether the information has not already been disclosed to the public. Under current court decisions, it makes no difference whether the material inside information is good or bad. Needless to say, if the undisclosed information would influence an Access Persons own decision to buy or sell or to trade for a Client or the Company, the information probably is material and an Access Person should not trade or permit the Company to trade for a Client or itself until it has been publicly disclosed.
3. How does material inside information differ from confidential information?
Here is an example that should clarify the difference between the two. Suppose the Company is engaged by the president of a publicly traded corporation to provide advice concerning her personal pension fund and while working on the matter an Access Person learns the amount of alimony she pays to her former spouse. That discovery should be kept confidential, but it almost certainly has no bearing on the value of her corporations securities (i.e., it is not material) and, in fact, it probably is not inside information about the corporation itself. Accordingly, an Access Person of the Company could buy or sell securities of that issuer so long as the Access Person possesses no material nonpublic information about the corporation. But disclosure of the presidents alimony payments would be entirely improper and in breach of fiduciary duty.
In other words, confidential information should never be disclosed, but it is not always material inside information. Knowing it is not necessarily an impediment to participating in the securities markets concerning a particular issuer.
4. Are there certain kinds of information that are particularly likely to be material inside information?
Yes. While the following list is by no means complete, information about the following subjects is particularly sensitive:
a. | Dividends, stock dividends and stock splits. |
b. | Sales and earnings and forecasts of sales and earnings. |
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c. | Changes in previously disclosed financial information. |
d. | Corporate acquisitions, tender offers, major joint ventures or merger proposals. |
e. | Significant negotiations, new contracts or changes in significant business relationships. |
f. | Changes in Control or a significant change in management. |
g. | Adoption of stock option plans or other significant compensation plans. |
h. | Proposed public or private sales of additional or new securities. |
i. | Significant changes in operations. |
j. | Large sales or purchases of stock by principal stockholders. |
k. | Purchases or sales of substantial corporate assets, or decisions or agreements to make any such purchase or sale. |
1. | Significant increases or declines in backlogs of orders. |
m. | Significant new products to be introduced. |
n. | Write-offs. |
o. | Changes in accounting methods. |
p. | Unusual corporate developments such as major layoffs, personnel furloughs or unscheduled vacations for a significant number of workers. |
q. | Labor slowdowns, work stoppages, strikes, or the pending negotiation of a significant labor contract. |
r. | Significant reductions in the availability of goods from suppliers or shortages of these goods. |
s. | Extraordinary borrowings. |
t. | Major litigation. |
u. | Governmental investigations concerning the Company or any of its officers or directors. |
v. | Financial liquidity problems. |
w. | Bankruptcy proceedings. |
x. | Establishment of a program to repurchase outstanding securities. |
5. What is the law regarding the use of material inside information?
Federal law, and the policy of the Company, prohibit any Access Person from using material inside information, whether obtained in the course of working at the Company or otherwise, for his or her private gain, for the Companys gain or for a Clients gain and prohibit any Access Person from furnishing such information to others for their private gain. This is true whether or not the information is considered confidential. When in doubt, the information should be presumed to be material and not to have been disclosed to the public. No trades should be executed for any Access Person, any Client or for the Company, if the person executing the trade or the Company has material inside information about the issuer.
6. What is tipping?
Under the federal securities laws, it is illegal to disclose (or tip) material inside information to another person who subsequently uses that information for his or her profit.
Questions regarding whether such information may constitute inside information should be referred to the Chief Compliance Officer.
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7. To whom must material inside information be disclosed before an Access Person can trade?
To the public. Public disclosure of material events is usually made by means of an official press release or filing with the SEC. An Access Persons disclosure to a broker or other person will not be effective, and such Access Person may face civil or criminal liability if such Access Person (or the person to whom the Access Person makes disclosure) trades on the basis of the information. Company staff should be aware that in most cases they are not authorized to disclose material events about an issuer to the public and that right usually belongs to the issuer alone.
8. How does an Access Person know whether particular material inside information has been publicly disclosed?
If an Access Person sees information in a newspaper or public magazine, that information will clearly have been disclosed. Information in a filing with the SEC or a press release will also have been disclosed. However, the courts have said that one should wait for a reasonable period of time after the publication, filing or release date to assure that the information has been widely disseminated and that the public has had sufficient time to evaluate the news. If any Access Person has any questions about whether information has been disclosed, such Access Person should not trade in the affected securities.
9. What must an Access Person do with respect to material inside information obtained after a decision is already made or buy or sell that Security?
Company staff may not purchase or sell any securities about which they have inside information for their own, the Companys or for a Clients account or cause Clients to trade on such information until after such information becomes public. The foregoing prohibition applies whether or not the material inside information is the basis for the trade. Company staff should be alert for information they receive about issuers on their recommendation or approved lists that may be material inside information. Whenever Company staff come into possession of what they believe may be material nonpublic information about an issuer, they should notify the Chief Compliance Officer because the Company as a whole may have an obligation not to trade in the securities of the issuer.
10. Who is available for additional advice or advice about a particular situation?
The Chief Compliance Officer or his designee will oversee matters relating to inside information and prohibitions on insider trading. Currently, all questions should be addressed to Scott Dias or, in his absence, Mark Minichiello.
IV. Confidential Information (See page 20 for additional information regarding confidentiality)
1. What is confidential information?
An investment adviser has a fiduciary duty to its Clients not to divulge information obtained in connection with its services as an adviser. Therefore, all information, whether of a personal or business nature, that an Access Person obtains about a Clients affairs during employment with the Company should be treated as confidential both during the Access Persons employment and after employment terminates. Such information may sometimes include information about non-Clients, and that information should likewise be held in confidence. Even the fact that the Company advises a particular Client should ordinarily be treated as confidential.
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2. Who is subject to the Companys policies concerning confidential information?
All personnel officers and advisory, marketing, administrative and secretarial staff are subject to these policies. (For the sake of convenience, this group is sometimes referred to in this memorandum as Company staff).
3. What are the duties and responsibilities of Company staff with respect to confidential information?
Since an investment adviser has a fiduciary duty to its Clients not to divulge information obtained from or about a Client in connection with its services as an adviser, Company staff must not repeat or disclose confidential information received from or about Clients outside the Company to anyone, including relatives, friends or strangers. Any misuse of confidential information about a Client is a disservice to the Client that may cause both the Client and the Company substantial injury. Failure to comply with this policy may have very serious consequences for Company staff and for the Company, including termination and criminal action.
4. What are some steps that Company staff can take to assure that confidential information is not disclosed to persons outside the office?
There are a number of steps Company staff should take to help preserve Client and other confidences, including the following:
i. | Company staff should be sensitive to the problem of inadvertent or accidental disclosure. Careless conversation, naming names or describing details of a current or proposed trade, investment or transaction in a lounge, hallway, elevator or restore, or in a train, taxi, airplane, restaurant or other public place, can result in the disclosure of confidential information and should be strictly avoided. |
ii. | Maintenance of confidentiality requires careful safeguarding of papers and documents, both inside and outside the Company. Documents and papers should be kept in appropriately marked file folders and locked in file cabinets when appropriate. |
iii. | If an Access Person uses a speakerphone, the Access Person should be careful to refrain from using it in any way that might increase the likelihood of accidental disclosure. Use caution, for example, when participating in a speakerphone conversation dealing with confidential information if the office door is open, or if the speakerphone volume is set too high. The same applies if an Access Person knows or suspects that a speakerphone or a second extension phone is being used at the other end of a telephone conversation. |
iv. | In especially sensitive situations, it may be necessary to establish barriers to the exchange of information within the Company and to take other steps to prevent the leak of confidential information. |
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CODE OF CONDUCT
JUNE 2007
New Star Asset Management Group
Code of Conduct
1. | INTRODUCTION | 2 | ||
2. | GENERAL PRINCIPLES | 3 | ||
3. | PERSONAL ACCOUNT DEALING and the CODE OF ETHICS | 4 | ||
4. | LEVEL 1 POLICY (FSA Policy) | 5 | ||
Avoiding conflicts of interest | ||||
Pre-clearance/pre-approval of transactions | ||||
Mutual funds | ||||
Holding periods | ||||
Prohibited dealings | ||||
Dealing on inside information | ||||
Rights issues, takeovers etc | ||||
Non-discretionary portfolios | ||||
Contract notes | ||||
Periodic statements | ||||
Consequences of breaches | ||||
5. | LEVEL 2 POLICY (SEC Policy) | 10 | ||
Level 2 Requirements | ||||
Prohibited Transactions | ||||
Pre-Approval Requirements | ||||
Initial and Annual Holdings Reports | ||||
Quarterly Transaction Reports | ||||
Exceptions to Reporting Requirements | ||||
Review of Reports | ||||
Mutual Fund Reporting | ||||
Pension Plans | ||||
Reports to Fund Board of Directors | ||||
Recordkeeping | ||||
6. | NEW STAR SHARE DEALING CODE | 15 | ||
7. | CONFIDENTIALITY | 16 | ||
Protecting confidential information | ||||
Disclosure of holdings | ||||
8. | INSIDER TRADING | 17 | ||
9. | GIFTS AND HOSPITALITY | 18 | ||
Providing gifts and hospitality | ||||
Receiving gifts and hospitality | ||||
Avoiding conflicts of interest | ||||
10. | SERVICE AS A DIRECTOR & OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT AND ACTIVITIES | 20 | ||
11. | SANCTIONS | 21 |
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New Star Asset Management Group
Code of Conduct
1 | INTRODUCTION |
The Code of Conduct (the Code) is designed to reinforce New Star Asset Management Groups (New Star) reputation for integrity by avoiding even the appearance of impropriety in the conduct of our business. The Code sets out standards of conduct expected from every New Star employee (regardless of position or level of seniority) in the UK.
New Stars lead regulator is the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA). Certain group companies are regulated by overseas regulators and New Star is also subject to specific requirements enforced by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) in its capacity as an Investment Advisor to US clients. As a consequence New Star and its employees are subject to both high level principles and specific regulations regarding personal securities trading, disclosure of external directorships and business interests and gifts and hospitality.
We have developed this Code to promote the highest standards of behaviour and ensure compliance with applicable regulations. In addition to the provisions outlined in this document, employees must also read the documents that make up the Compliance Manual which set out specific requirements relating to our regulated activities under the FSA. In addition, staff involved in the management and administration for our institutional business should read the SEC Compliance Programme which sets out the requirements and procedures under the SEC regulations.
Employees should be aware that they may be held personally liable for any improper or illegal acts committed during the course of their employment, and that ignorance of the law is not a defense. Employees may be subject to civil penalties such as fines and regulatory sanctions including suspension, as well as criminal penalties.
Employees must read the Code and ensure that they not only comply with the specific requirements, but also meet the spirit of the requirements. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Code may result in serious sanctions including, but not limited to:
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Unwinding transactions that breach the code; |
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Payments to charity of profits made as a result of actions that breached the code; |
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Disciplinary proceedings, including dismissal; |
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Potentially substantial personal liability; and |
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Referral to law enforcement agencies or other regulatory agencies. |
Employees should retain a copy of the Code in their records for future reference. Any questions regarding the Code should be directed to Compliance.
This Code applies to all employees of the New Star Asset Management Group. For this purpose, the term employee includes consultants, secondees, temporary employees, fixed term contractors and work experience students. In the case of personal account dealing, the Code will also include closely connected persons. A more detailed definition of this term can be found in the Level 1 Policy.
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New Star Asset Management Group
Code of Conduct
2 | GENERAL PRINCIPLES |
Each New Star employee is responsible for maintaining the very highest ethical standards when conducting business. More specifically, this means:
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Each employee has a duty at all times to place the interests of our clients first; |
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Each employee is required to report any circumstance that gives rise to, could give rise to or could appear to give rise to a conflict of interest between that staff member or New Star and any of New Stars clients (e.g. other business interests of that employee, family relationships etc). This should be reported to the employees head of department, who should escalate to senior management; |
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All personal securities transactions must be conducted in accordance with our personal dealing rules incorporated in this Code and in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or other abuse of the employees position of trust and responsibility; and |
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No employee should take inappropriate advantage of his/her position at New Star or engage in any fraudulent or manipulative practice. |
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New Star Asset Management Group
Code of Conduct
3 | PERSONAL ACCOUNT DEALING |
Personal account dealing by employees of New Star is governed by the Code. This sets out the requirements and procedures to be followed by staff.
New Star is required to manage potential conflicts of interest between itself, staff members and its customers and to organise and control its internal affairs responsibly and effectively. These requirements are especially important to ensure that none of the groups customers are disadvantaged in any way by the personal dealings of any of the groups employees.
The Code has 2 levels reflecting the differing standards and requirements under the FSAs and the SEC regulations.
Level 1
This relates to the requirements of the FSA regulations. As such, it relates to all staff employed by the New Star Group (whether in the UK or otherwise).
Level 2
As it relates to the SEC regulations, the Level 2 requirements govern directors, officers and advisory persons of New Star (collectively Access Persons). For this purpose, the term advisory person means:
1. | any employee of New Star who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of a security by New Star for the account of any U.S. mutual fund managed by New Star (a Fund), or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales; and |
2. | any natural person who controls New Star and who obtains information concerning recommendations made by New Star to Fund clients with regard to the purchase or sale of a security by such Funds. |
Accordingly, advisory persons include all Fund management staff, all dealers and relevant back office staff. The Code permits Access Persons to buy and sell securities for their own accounts, including securities that may be purchased and sold for the accounts of Fund clients, subject to certain restrictions.
Please note that employees that are subject to the level 2 requirements are still subject to the level 1 requirements.
Violations
Any violations of the policies discussed below should be reported to Compliance (Gihullam Ashia or Sally Winstanley) as soon as they are identified. In addition, please contact Compliance if you have any queries on how the policies relate to yourself.
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New Star Asset Management Group
Code of Conduct
4 | LEVEL 1 POLICY |
As noted above, New Star is required under FSA regulations to maintain and apply a code of conduct in relation to personal securities transactions of staff within New Star.
The FSA regulations require New Star to manage conflicts of interest fairly between itself and its customers and to organise and control its internal affairs responsibly and effectively. These requirements are especially important to ensure that none of the firms customers are disadvantaged by the personal dealings of any of the firms employees.
Definitions
In addition to the definitions set forth under the heading Introduction above, for purposes of the Level 1 Policy, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
The term closely connected person of an employee includes:
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the employees spouse, person cohabiting with the employee as a spouse and, if under the age of 18, any child, stepchild and adopted child of either party; |
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any company in which the employee and/or any closely connected person is interested, directly or indirectly, in 15% or more of the equity capital; |
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any estate or trust where the employee is a personal representative of that estate or a trustee of that trust, if the employee holds, or may hold, a significant interest or such an interest is held, or may be held, by anyone whose relationship with the employee might reasonably be expected to give rise to a community of interest between them which may involve a conflict of interest in dealings with a third party; |
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any estate or trust where the employee is a personal representative of that estate or a trustee of that trust, whatever his interest, if the employee is not relying entirely on the advice of another person from whom it is appropriate to seek advice in the circumstances; and |
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any other person connected to the employee by reason of a domestic or business relationship (other than as arises solely because that person is a customer of the firm), such that the employee has material influence over that persons judgement in respect of his dealings. |
This definition is not exhaustive and may, in individual circumstances, be extended to apply to persons who can, otherwise than as specified above, reasonably be deemed to fall within an employees sphere of influence.
Under no circumstances may employees deal for unconnected friends or acquaintances on their personal account or on the account of a closely connected person if such persons would not qualify under these definitions.
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Securities means all types of investment, including their derivatives except for life policies, unit trusts, mutual funds and subscriptions through investment trust or unit trust savings schemes. It covers UK and foreign securities, both listed and unlisted. Included are the following: stocks and shares in UK or foreign companies; debenture stock, loan stock, bonds, notes, certificates of deposit, commercial paper or other debt instruments, including government, public agency, municipal and corporate issues; warrants; depository receipts; traded and conventional options; financial, currency and commodity futures; contracts for differences, e.g. FTSE, S&P 500 or other contracts on indices. |
For the avoidance of doubt, securities does not include spot foreign exchange dealing for delivery of the currency. Forward or roll-over contracts are, however, included. Spread betting on non-financial products is allowed and does not need approval but this activity should be kept to a minimum during business hours. No prior approval is required for OEICS, unit trusts, government bonds and life policies.
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Dealing means the application for, and the acquisition or disposal of, securities, either on a regulated market or over the counter whether in the UK or overseas. It does not include decisions to take up or allow to lapse rights, scrip dividends, options and warrants, any gifts of securities or acceptance of formal take-over or merger offers. |
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New Star Asset Management Group
Code of Conduct
General policy
Please note that New Star Employees whose personal dealings breach the letter or the spirit of the level 1 policy requirements set forth below will render themselves liable to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.
The requirements of the Level 1 Policy are as follows:
Avoiding conflicts of interest
Each New Star Employee is responsible for maintaining the highest ethical standards when conducting business. More specifically this means:
1. | Each employee has a duty at all times to place the interests of our clients first; |
2. | No New Star Employee may effect a personal account transaction that will, or may, conflict with the firms duties to its customers and all such transactions must comply with this Code; |
3. | No New Star Employee should take inappropriate advantage of his/her position or engage in any fraudulent or manipulative practice with respect to our clients accounts; and |
4. | No New Star Employee may effect a personal account transaction with any customer of the firm, subject to certain exceptions, except on an arms length basis under standard business terms. |
Pre-clearance/pre-approval of transactions
All personal account transactions must be approved by someone within the Compliance Department. If no one from Compliance is available, the CIO or one of the Deputy CIOs may also sign off transactions. Transactions should be placed within 24 hours of obtaining authorisation.
Certain deals, including those listed below, may require sign off by the Compliance Director, Chairman or CEO.
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For any transaction or series of transactions (based on trading by that individual over the last 5 working days) which is likely to exceed £25,000 in gross value (for derivatives, the market exposure will be the determining factor); and |
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For any transaction (regardless of value) bought or sold within seven days of another transaction in the same security by New Star. |
No New Star Employee may effect a personal account transaction in an unquoted company without Group Board approval .
Note: Subject to a deminimus of £15,000, if an individual buys a security at a lower price, or sells at a higher price than that obtained by a New Star client who buys or sells the same security within seven days, the difference in price will be given to the client; i.e. the purchase price obtained by the individual will be the same as for the client.
The Compliance Director has discretion to waive the above in special circumstances such as if the individual can demonstrate, without doubt, that they would not have had any prior knowledge or say in the client transaction.
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New Star Asset Management Group
Code of Conduct
The following types of transaction do not require pre-approval:
1. | purchase of a mutual fund (with the exception of a US Mutual fund that we are sub-adviser to), a government or other public security or life policies; |
2. | purchases or sales effected in any account over which the employee has no direct influence or control (even though they may have a beneficial interest); and |
3. | purchases or sales which are not voluntary on the part of the employee (i.e. stock splits, recapitalizations, and mergers); |
4. | purchases which are part of an automatic dividend reinvestment plan (although in the case of Access Persons, the establishment of the plan should be notified to Compliance); |
5. | purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from the issuer, and sales of such rights so acquired; and |
6. | gifts of securities to charitable organisations. |
Where a New Star Employee has been precluded from effecting a personal account transaction, they must not procure another person to enter into such a transaction or communicate any information or opinion to another person if they know, or ought to know, that the person will, as a result, enter into such a transaction, or counsel or procure some other person to do so.
Mutual funds
Transactions in mutual funds (with the exception of a US Mutual fund that we are sub-adviser to) do not require pre-approval by Compliance. However Access Persons should read and understand the reporting requirements for mutual funds detailed in the Level 2 Policy.
Holding periods
Speculative, short term trading of securities should not be undertaken by New Star Employees. New Star Employees are therefore required to hold securities, including funds, for a minimum period of 3 months. All investment decisions made by employees should be made on the basis that the shares will be held for the medium to long term.
There may be certain circumstances when securities bought in the previous 3 months may need to be sold within that period to meet liabilities (e.g., unexpected bills requiring settlement). In such cases, the reasons for the sale must be given in an attachment to the Personal Dealing authorisation form and must be approved by the Head of Compliance or the Compliance Director.
Prohibited Dealings
No Employees, either on their own account or that of any Connected Person, may:
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deal in securities on the basis of unpublished price sensitive information (inside information); |
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deal in securities where unpublished price sensitive information relevant to those securities is held by New Star; |
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take a financial interest in transactions entered into by New Star; |
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make multiple applications for new issues; |
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take speculative positions which they are unable to settle; and |
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accept credit, other financial accommodation or preferential terms of business. |
Dealing on inside information
New Star Employees are reminded about the insider dealing provisions contained in Part V of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 making it a criminal offence, with a maximum penalty of 7 years imprisonment and an
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New Star Asset Management Group
Code of Conduct
unlimited fine, for an individual who has non-public information to deal in price-affected securities. There is also a similar offense under the FSAs Market Conduct Sourcebook. This applies to trading undertaken on behalf of New Star and personal account transactions.
New Star maintains a restricted list of securities on which it has non-public information. No personal share dealing will be permitted in such companies.
New Star investment trusts
Trading in shares of New Stars investment trusts is subject to pre-approval. Requests for trading in a New Star investment trust must be approved by either Rupert Ruvigny or Howard Covington, as well as Compliance, before trading can be undertaken.
Rights Issues, Takeovers etc.
Please note that these rules extend to making any formal or informal offer to buy, sell or take up rights on a rights issue and exercising conversion or subscription rights and exercising an option. The rules also extends to buying or selling an investment under any offer, including a takeover or tender offer, which is made to the public or all (or substantially all) the holders of the investment concerned. Authorisation would still need to be sought in these instances.
Non-discretionary portfolios
Pre-approval is not required on transactions executed on behalf of any New Star Employee who is the beneficiary of a portfolio or trust but has no direct influence over the management of the portfolio. In these cases, staff are required to provide details of the portfolio. The manager of the portfolio will be required to provide an annual statement that the relevant New Star Employee has not exercised any influence over the management of the Fund in the relevant time period. In the case of access persons, we also require an annual statement of holdings and transaction.
Influence can include:
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Deciding asset allocation; and |
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Directing a manager to invest in in-house funds. |
In all cases, non-discretionary portfolios should be discussed with Compliance, to ensure that the definition of influence is understood.
Contract notes
Staff are required to provide New Star with copies of contract notes of all personal account transactions. Where staff are establishing an on-going brokerage relationship/account, please request that the broker sends a copy of any contract note direct to the Compliance Department.
Periodic statements
Each employee shall sign an annual statement of purchases and sales of all investments.
Nominated discretionary fund managers will be asked to provide an annual statement of purchases and sales (at calendar year end).
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New Star Asset Management Group
Code of Conduct
Consequence of breaches of this policy
New Star reserves the right to require a New Star Employee to unwind or cancel any personal account transaction or require any profit made to be given to a charity of New Stars choosing.
New Star Employees who are subject to the Level 1 Policy will be asked to submit an annual confirmation of all the transactions undertaken in the period. New Star Employees should consult the Compliance Department if they are in any doubt as to whether or not an instrument is a security for the purpose of the Level 1 Policy.
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New Star Asset Management Group
Code of Conduct
Because New Star acts as a sub-adviser of a US mutual fund, New Star is subject to the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and in relation to all US Clients to Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act (collectively the Rules). These Rules govern the personal account dealing activities of New Star staff.
The Rules prohibit New Star and its affiliates from engaging in fraud, deceit or manipulative practices with respect to any US Client managed by New Star. Accordingly, this Level 2 Policy has been adopted by New Star to prevent Access Persons from:
(1) | serving their own personal interests ahead of a client; |
(2) | taking inappropriate advantage of their position with New Star; and |
(3) | engaging in any actual or potential conflicts of interest. |
Access Persons will be given a copy of this Code annually and will be required to certify in writing to New Star that they have read and understand the Level 2 Policy contained herein as it relates to them, and have complied with it in all material respects.
Definitions
In addition to the definitions set forth under the heading Introduction, for purposes of the Level 2 Policy, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
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The term beneficial ownership refers to situations where a person has the right to direct the disposition of a security or possess voting power over the security or enjoys some economic benefit from the ownership of the security. This will include indirect ownership, e.g. through ownership by a closely connected person. Please also see the explanatory note on Exemptions from Reporting Requirements below. |
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The term securities means any note, stock, treasury stock, security future, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, preorganisation certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege on any security (including a certificate of deposit) or on any group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put, call, straddle, option or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a security, or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing. The term does not include: |
(1) | direct obligations of the U.S. government; |
(2) | bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments (e.g., repurchase agreements); or |
(3) | shares issued by open-end investment companies registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act (i.e., U.S. mutual funds). |
please note that this exemption does not extend to UK funds although pre-approval on UK funds is not required. Please also refer to the explanatory note on New Star managed funds detailed under Mutual Fund Reporting .
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Code of Conduct
General
The requirements of the Level 2 Policy are as follows:
Prohibited Transactions
Subject to a deminimus of £15,000, Access Persons may not purchase or sell any security that, within the preceding 7 days, is or has been traded by a US client, or is being or has been considered for purchase or sale by a US Client, unless the transaction is executed at the same or worse price as that received by the US Client.
This prohibition will be monitored by the Compliance Department through a review of trading after all personal account dealing. Access Persons may be required to unwind or cancel any personal account transaction if it is believed that the transaction has breached these procedures.
Pre-Approval Requirements
Access persons are required to have all personal securities transactions pre-approved by someone within the Compliance Department in accordance with the requirements under the Level I procedures. In addition to approval by Compliance, all fund managers, trainee fund managers, fund manager assistants and dealers are required to have trades pre-approved by the Head of the Desk of the market in which they are requesting to trade. Where a Head of Desk is requesting to trade in their own market or if the Head of Desk is away from the office, trades should be pre-approved by one of the CIOs or Deputy CIOs. All requests should include a detailed explanation of the reasons for the trade.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, access persons must obtain the approval of someone within the Compliance Department before directly or indirectly acquiring beneficial ownership in any securities issued in an initial public offering in the U.S. or in a private placement transaction in the U.S. Once the transaction is completed the number of shares purchased during an IPO or private placement must be reported to Compliance.
Initial and Annual Holdings Reports
No later than 30 days after a person becomes an Access Person, Access Persons must report the following information to the Compliance Department:
1. | the title, number of shares and principal amount of each security, including UK unit trusts or OEICs , in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership when the person became an Access Person; and |
2. | the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person maintained an account in which any securities were held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person as of the date the person became an Access Person. |
This information is required to be broken down into the following groups:
- | Direct holdings in securities/stocks (which would include debentures, bonds etc); |
- | Details of any personal portfolios or pensions over which the Access Person exercises discretion. In such cases, staff will be required to provide details of holding in such portfolios/plans; |
- | Investments in New Star funds; and |
- | Investment in non-New Star funds. |
In addition, the same information must be reported to the Compliance Department on an annual basis. New Star has set an annual confirmation date of 30 September. With regard to the annual report, the information provided must be current as of a date no more than 30 days before the report is submitted.
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New Star Asset Management Group
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Quarterly Transaction Reports
No later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, Access Persons must report the following information to the Compliance Department:
(a) | with respect to any personal dealing transaction during the quarter in a security over which the Access Person had any direct or indirect influence, |
- | the date of the transaction, the title, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares and the principal amount of each security involved; |
- | the nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase or sale); |
- | the price of the security at which the transaction was effected; and |
- | the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through whom the transaction was effected. |
(b) | with respect to any account established by the Access Person in which securities were held during the quarter for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person, |
- | the name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person established the account; and |
- | the date the account was established. The quarterly report must be submitted to the Head of Compliance or Compliance Director by each Access Person even if such person did not effect any securities transactions during the quarter. |
Exceptions to Reporting Requirements
No direct or indirect influence
An Access Person need not submit the initial, annual or quarterly reports discussed above with respect to transactions effected for, and securities held in, any account over which the person has no direct or indirect influence or control.
In the case of pension plans or personal portfolios where the Access Person does not exercise discretion, the Access Person is only required to provide the name of the operator or manager of the plan. In the case of personal portfolios, we will request that the firm managing the portfolio provides an annual statement that the Access Person has not influenced the management and an annual statement of holdings and transaction.
Please note that if the Access Person chose an allocation between funds, this information will need to be reported, along with any changes in the allocation.
Duplication of information
In addition, an Access Person need not submit the quarterly reports discussed above if the report would duplicate information contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements submitted to the Compliance Department by the Access Person in lieu of the reports. Please note that this exemption only applies if it has been specifically agreed with the Compliance Department.
Mutual Fund reporting
New Star mutual funds
New Star has previously reviewed the trading in mutual funds by New Star Employees. This indicated that the level of trading was very low, with those staff who are purchasing shares/units in our funds holding them as longer term investments. We therefore have not imposed any holding period requirements on New Star mutual funds.
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New Star Asset Management Group
Code of Conduct
Access Persons are not required to seek pre-approval of purchases in mutual funds. This exemption may be removed if it is believed that any staff are short term trading in New Star funds.
On a quarterly basis, Compliance will obtain transaction details from the funds administrator, which will be included in each Access Persons personal dealing records.
Other mutual fund investments
Investments in the shares/units of other mutual funds do not require pre-approval. However access persons are required to notify Compliance as follows:
- | On at least a quarterly basis, notify of new investments or establishment of any new regular savings plan; |
- | On at least a quarterly basis, notify of any changes to allocation of existing investments (i.e. switches), of changes in the allocation of regular saving plans, or of any redemptions; and |
- | Semi-annually (in line with fund operators reporting schedule), provide copies of semi-annual statements issued by the operator. |
Pension plans
The reporting requirements for pension plans depends on the type of plan that is being used. Below are three types of plan and the relevant reporting requirements. If any Access Person is not clear which category their plan falls into, they should contact Compliance.
Non-discretionary pension plans
These are plans were the New Star Employee does not exercise any discretion over the management of the plan or the selection of investments in the plan. For these type of plans, staff are only required to provide New Star with the name of the plan.
Self-selected asset allocation pension plans
Typically in this category of plans, a plan holder can select which markets or funds the plan will invest in but has no discretion over the selection of underlying investments. The New Star Pension Plan falls into this category of plan.
For this type of plan, Access Persons are required to provide New Star with the name of the plan, details of the manager and the asset allocation (including names of funds if mutual funds are used). Thereafter, Access Persons are required to report to any changes in the allocation.
For New Star Pension Plans, this information will be sought directly from the plan manager.
Self-invested or self-managed pensions
Access Persons who actively manage their own pension plans should follow the standard pre-approval procedures for any investments that they make and include details of the portfolio and transactions in their reporting under the SEC Rules.
Review of Reports
The Compliance Department shall be responsible for reviewing the initial, annual and quarterly reports of Access Persons in order to detect violations of the Level 2 Policy. In the event a violation is detected, the Compliance Director, in conjunction with other senior management personnel, shall determine what sanctions, if any, shall be imposed on the violator, including reprimands, fines or assessments, removal
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New Star Asset Management Group
Code of Conduct
from office, or suspension or termination of employment in accordance with New Stars disciplinary procedure.
Reports to Fund Board of Directors
No less frequently than annually, New Star will furnish to the board of New Star Institutional Managers Limited and to the board of directors of any Fund it manages a written report that:
1. | describes any issues arising under the Level 2 Policy since the last report to the board, including information about material violations of the Level 2 Policy and sanctions imposed in response thereto; and |
2. | certifies that New Star has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the Level 2 Policy. |
Recordkeeping
New Star will maintain records relating to the Level 2 Policy, as required by the Rules.
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6 | NEW STAR SHARE DEALING CODE |
The New Star Share Dealing Code (the Code) ( W:\NSAM\Compliance Manuals\NSAM Share Dealing Code.doc ) has been put in place by the New Star Board to ensure that all directors and employees and their connected persons do not deal in New Star shares at a time when they are, or might be thought to be, in possession of unpublished price sensitive information about New Star.
As an employee of New Star, you are automatically bound by the Code, meaning that you are restricted if you wish to purchase, sell, transfer or otherwise deal in New Star shares. In essence, no dealing is allowed at any time during the two month period prior to the announcement of the Companys interim and final results, referred to as the Close Period. At all other times, no dealing must occur by you or any person connected with you unless you have sought clearance to deal, using the Share Dealing Authorisation Form, W:\NSAM\Compliance Manuals\NSAM SHARE DEALING AUTHORISATION FORM.doc , and have been granted permission to do so.
For completeness, the Code has been incorporated into the Code of Conduct being a much wider document dealing with the standards of conduct expected from all New Star employees.
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New Star Asset Management Group
Code of Conduct
7 | CONFIDENTIALITY |
We have a responsibility to maintain confidentiality around our clients investments and any other information that we maintain on clients (e.g. settlement details, client specific terms of business).
Protecting confidential information
During the course of their employment, New Star employees may receive information about New Star (or other group companies), our clients or other parties. All such information should be treated as confidential, unless you know that it is in the public domain. As such, it should not be discussed with any third parties outside of New Star and usually should not be discussed between departments within New Star unless necessary.
All employees are expected to implement and comply with measures designed to preserve the confidentiality of such information. These include, but are not limited to:
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Maintenance of passwords to prevent inappropriate access to New Star systems; |
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Secure filing of confidential paperwork; and |
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Use of relevant disposal bins for confidential waste. |
Some clients require that we do not use their name on lists of current clients that may be provided to third parties as part of our marketing efforts. In no circumstances should these clients names be used. This may breach of terms of business with the client.
The institutional marketing team (Annie McEwen) maintains a list of clients whose names may be used.
Disclosure of holdings
We have a responsibility to maintain confidentiality around our clients investments. Information on holdings by clients (whether through a fund or a segregated portfolio) should not be made available to third parties (except where required under any relevant securities legislation).
Any requests for information should be handled as follows:
1. | New Star retail funds requests should be referred to the retail sales and marketing department. |
2. | New Star Hedge funds requests should be referred to hedge fund marketing team. |
3. | Institutional clients requests should be referred back to our client contact. |
4. | Third party funds (including mutual funds where we are the appointed sub-adviser)requests for information will be referred back to the investment manager unless specifically covered in the investment management agreement. |
Information on clients holdings (whether through a fund or a segregated portfolio) should not be made available to third parties (except where required under any relevant securities legislation). In any circumstance where a member of staff receives a request for information from a third party, this should be referred to senior management.
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New Star Asset Management Group
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8 | INSIDER TRADING |
The misuse of material non-public information, or inside information, is prohibited under securities law in the UK, the United States and many other countries. In the UK, the insider dealing provisions are contained in Part V of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 and are also covered by the FSA in the Market Abuse Sourcebook.
The provisions are very complex but essentially apply to all securities traded on a regulated market, and to warrants and derivatives (including options and futures) relating to these securities.
Misuse of inside information includes buying or selling securities while in the possession of inside information. It applies to transactions for personal or related accounts, proprietary accounts and for client accounts. It would also cover disclosing or tipping such information to someone else who then trades on it, or using such information as a basis for recommending the purchase or sale of a security.
The Criminal Justice Act makes it a criminal offence, with a maximum penalty of 7 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine, for an individual who has non-public information to deal in price-affected securities.
Securities are price-affected if the inside information, if made public, would be likely to have a significant effect on the price of the securities. This applies to all companies affected by the information, whether directly or indirectly.
More information on what constitutes inside information is contained within the Market Abuse section of the Compliance Manual.
Procedures
In the event that a New Star employee receives or believes that they have received inside information:
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You should inform someone in the Compliance Department or the Chief Investment Officer. |
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The security will then be placed on a restricted list. |
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No dealing will be permitted by the group or any member of staff. |
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This information should not be disclosed to anyone outside of New Star, with the exception of disclosure to legal counsel and/or disclosure to a regulatory body. |
The Compliance Director may allow dealing in very rare circumstances, e.g. as part of a programme trade to match a portfolio or if a security no longer meets the stated investment policy.
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9 | GIFTS AND HOSPITALITY |
Our obligations to minimise the risk of conflict of interest between employees and the duty and they and the Group owe to its customers require that we take reasonable steps to ensure that New Star, and any employee acting on its behalf, does not offer, give, solicit or accept an inducement, if it is likely to conflict to a material extent with any duty that the Group owes to its customers.
The term gift or benefits includes credit or any other financial advantage, any opportunity to make, receive or increase any gain or revenue or to avoid or reduce any loss or expense, money or other property, and any service, facility, system or information.
Providing gifts and hospitality
Personal Gifts
Unless authorised by someone in senior management (i.e. a director) and reported to Compliance, subject to a de minimis of £25, personal gifts or any other benefits must not be offered or provided by New Star to employees of any other company or person in an existing or potential business relationship.
Hospitality
Reasonable hospitality can be offered to employees of other companies where there is an existing or potential business relationship. Typically we do not pay for accommodation or traveling expenses for third parties. Any such payments should be referred to Compliance in advance.
Please note that there are additional provisions under Inducements and Soft Commissions that impact intermediaries in relation to packaged products.
Receiving gifts and hospitality
Gifts in the form of money
Under no circumstances may cash or cash convertible gifts be offered or accepted. Any such gift which is offered to an employee in the course of, or in connection with, a current or prospective business relationship must be declined, and reported immediately to relevant senior management or the Compliance Department.
Gifts and hospitality that can be accepted without requiring approval
Normal business courtesies, such as lunch and dinner invitations or entry to and reasonable hospitality at a social event, do not require approval provided the host is present. Repeated and lavish entertainment or hospitality is not acceptable.
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New Star Asset Management Group
Code of Conduct
Gifts and hospitality that require approval before they can be accepted
Gifts over £25 in value or believed to be over £25 in value should be reported to Compliance, using the Gift and Hospitality Form, as soon as possible after receipt. This includes attendance at sporting occasions, including golf days, football matches etc. These should be reported to Compliance in advance of attending.
Where possible, gifts of a value in excess of £200 (e.g. cases of wine) should be shared with other staff.
Guidelines on what can be accepted
In general, there will always be flexibility in the implementation of these guidelines. Reasonable entertaining will normally be accepted. Please note that reasonableness is a factor not only of the cost of a specific event, but also of what is involved. At these events, you are representing New Star.
The following are general principles on what will not be approved:
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Hospitality that involves overseas travel typically you will be asked to pay for your own travel, or if this is not possible, to make an equivalent contribution to charity. |
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Excessive accommodation in general, reasonable overnight accommodation will be approved (e.g. at a moderate hotel or B&B). 3 nights stay at a 5 star hotel will not be approved. |
Avoidance of conflicts of interest
As an authorised firm, situations may arise where two or more interests that exist legitimately may also compete or conflict between different operating activities within the firm or between the firm, its employees and its clients. As such, any actual or potential conflicts arising from the activities of the firm, its employees and its clients must be identified and resolved as a matter of urgency.
The compliance procedures must be observed to ensure that:
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unmanageable conflicts of interest do not develop; |
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the firm properly fulfils its contractual and fiduciary duties to its clients and, in particular, does not give or appear to give unfair preference to its own or its employees interests; |
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confidential or inside information acquired in one business area does not leak into other areas; and |
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the firm abides by the principles and rules of the FSA and the Panel on Take-overs and Mergers, who have established requirements in respect of conflicts of interest. |
All members of staff are responsible for considering potential conflicts of interest in the giving and receiving of gifts and hospitality. Any potential conflicts of interest should be escalated to management and/or Compliance.
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10 | SERVICE AS A DIRECTOR & OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT AND ACTIVITIES |
In certain cases employees of New Star may wish to hold positions outside their role within the company, for example, a Trustee of a family Trust or a Director of an unrelated New Star company.
As an authorised firm, situations may arise where two or more interests that exist legitimately may also compete or conflict between different operating activities within the firm or between the firm, its employees and its clients. As such, any actual or potential conflicts arising from the activities of the firm, its employees and its clients must be identified and resolved as a matter of urgency. In order to mitigate the likelihood of conflicts arising, the Code of Conduct must be followed.
The policy includes the following provisions:
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Employees must avoid any business activity, outside employment or professional service that competes with New Star or conflicts with the interests of New Star or its customers. |
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An employee is required to obtain the approval of his/her Head of Department and a main board director before becoming a director, officer, employee, partner or sole proprietor of a another organisation, with the exception of charitable or not for profit organisations. This includes non-executive directorships of private and public companies. |
The request for approval should disclose the name of the organisation, the nature of the business, whether any conflicts of interest could reasonably result from the association, whether fees, income or other compensation will be earned and whether there are any relationships between the organisation and New Star.
The request for approval along with the preliminary approval of the Head of Department is subject to final review and approval by a main board director. This should then be passed to Human Resources who will maintain this for our records. This matter is also covered in your employment contract.
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Employees must not accept any personal fiduciary appointments such as administrator, executor or trustee other than those arising from family or other close personal relationships. |
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Employees should not use New Star resources, including software, proprietary information, letterhead and other property in connection with any employment or other activity outside New Star. |
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Employees must disclose to their Head of Department any situation that could present a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict with New Star and discuss how to control the risk. |
When completing their annual certification acknowledging receipt and understanding of the Code of Conduct, New Star employees will be asked to disclose and re-confirm previously disclosed outside affiliations.
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11 | SANCTIONS |
Upon discovering a violation of this Code by an employee or his/her family member or related party, Senior Management may impose such sanctions as it deems appropriate, including, among other things, the following:
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Suspension of employment, in accordance with New Stars disciplinary procedure; |
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A verbal warning, in accordance with New Stars disciplinary procedure; |
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A written warning, in accordance with New Stars disciplinary procedure; |
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Requirement to return or donate to charity any profits arising from the violation; |
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Termination of employment, in accordance with New Stars disciplinary procedure; |
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Civil referral to the FSA or other civil regulatory authorities determined by New Star; or |
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Criminal referral determined by New Star. |
Examples of other possible sanctions include, but are not limited to:
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A warning letter, copied to the employees Head of Department, for a more minor violation (e.g. omitting to request pre-clearance of a personal security transaction where there is no conflict with our duty to customers); |
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Donation to charity of any profits when an employee profits on the purchase of a security that violated the Code; and |
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Recommendation for suspension or termination if an employee is a serial violator of the Code. |
Appeals Process
If an employee decides to appeal a sanction, he/she should contact Human Resources. The Staff Handbook details the appeals process under New Stars disciplinary procedure in more detail.
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CODE OF ETHICS | Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. |
Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. |
450 Park Avenue | Telephone +1-212-415 70 00 | ||||
New York, N.Y.10022 | Telefax +1-646-840 58 88 |
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Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
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Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. |
1. | STATEMENT OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES |
1.1 | Adherence to Ethical Standards of Vontobel Group |
The emphasis placed on the observance of the highest ethical standards by the Vontobel Groups management is well known to the Swiss financial marketplace. The cornerstones of its standing in the financial community are its integrity and, as a predominantly family-controlled organization, its independence from commerci al considerations that could lead it to place its own interest before that of its clients. As a subsidiary of Vontobel Holding, Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. is held to the same standards of ethical conduct that govern the business activities of the Vontobel Group.
1.2 | Compliance with Applicable U.S. Legislation |
As an investment adviser registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. is subject to the provisions of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act). Section 206 of the Advisers Act provides that it shall be unlawful for any investment adviser:
(1) | to employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud any client or prospective client; |
(2) | to engage in any transaction, practice, or course of business which operates as a fraud or deceit upon any client or prospective client; |
(3) | acting as principal for his own account, knowingly to sell any security to or purchase any security from a client, or acting as broker for a person other than such client, knowingly to effect any sale or purchase of any security for the account of such client, without disclosing to such client in writing before the completion of such transaction the capacity in which he is acting and obtaining the consent of the client to such transaction; |
(4) | to engage in any act, practice, or course of business which is fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative. |
Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. is also subject to certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 with respect to fraudulent trading, as discussed in Section 4 hereunder, and the Insider Trading and Securities Fraud Enforcement Act of 1988, as discussed in Section 5 hereunder.
Vontobel Personnel shall at all times comply with these and all other laws and regulations that may be applicable to Vontobel Asset Management, Inc.s business. In some instances, where such laws and regulations may be ambiguous and difficult to interpret, Vontobel Personnel shall seek the advice of Vontobel Asset Management, Inc.s management, who shall obtain the advice of outside counsel as is necessary to comply with this policy of observance of all applicable laws and regulations. Excerpts from the securities legislation cited above are provided in Appendix A .
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Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. |
1.3 | General Principles |
This Code of Ethics is based on the following principles:
(a) | The officers, directors and employees of Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. owe a fiduciary duty to all Vontobel Clients and, therefore, must at all times place the interests of Vontobel Clients ahead of their own. |
(b) | Vontobel Personnel shall avoid any conduct that could create any actual or potential conflict of interest, and must ensure that their personal securities transactions do not in any way interfere with, or appear to take advantage of, the portfolio transactions undertaken on behalf of Vontobel Clients. |
(c) | Vontobel Personnel shall not take inappropriate advantage of their positions with Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. to secure personal benefits that would otherwise be unavailable to them. |
It is imperative that all Vontobel Personnel avoid any situation that might compromise, or call into question, the exercise of fully independent judgment in the interests of Vontobel Clients. All Vontobel Personnel are expected to adhere to these general principles in the conduct of the firms business, even in situations that are not specifically addressed in this Codes provisions, procedures and restrictions. Serious and/or repeated violations of this Code may constitute grounds for dismissal.
2. | DEFINITIONS |
For purposes of this Code:
Beneficial Ownership and Beneficial Owner(s) shall be as defined in Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which, generally speaking, encompasses those situations where the Beneficial Owner has the right to enjoy some economic benefits which are substantially equivalent to ownership regardless of who is the registered owner (see Appendix A ). This would include:
(a) | securities which a person holds for his or her own benefit either in bearer form, registered in his or her own name or otherwise, regardless of whether the securities are owned individually or jointly; |
(b) | securities held in the name of a member of his or her immediate family or any adult living in the same household; |
(c) | securities held by a trustee, executor, administrator, custodian or broker; |
(d) | securities owned by a general partnership of which the person is a member or a limited partnership of which such person is a general partner; |
(e) | securities held by a corporation which can be regarded as a personal holding company of a person; and |
(f) | securities recently purchased by a person and awaiting transfer into his or her name. |
3
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Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. |
The Corporation shall mean Vontobel Asset Management, Inc.
Security shall have the meaning set forth in Section 202(a)(18)of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (see Appendix A ), irrespective of whether the issuer is a US or non-US entity and whether the security is being held by a US or non-US custodian or, directly or indirectly, in personal custody ; except that it shall not include:
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shares of an investment club account |
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securities issued by the US Government or US federal agencies that are direct obligations of the US |
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bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposits and commercial paper |
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shares of registered open-end investment companies (mutual funds) that Vontobel does not advise or sub-advise. |
The following are expressly deemed to be securities subject to this Code :
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securities issued by any foreign government or agency thereof |
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ADRs, ADSs, GDRs, any type of preferred stock |
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futures or options on futures |
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corporate bonds |
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shares of registered open-end investment companies (mutual funds) that Vontobel advises or sub-advises. |
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closed-end investment funds. |
Purchase or sale of a security shall include the writing of an option to purchase or sell a security.
A security is being considered for purchase or sale or is being purchased or sold when a recommendation to purchase or sell the security by a Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. portfolio manager is under serious consideration or has already been made and the transaction executed.
Vontobel Client(s) shall mean both individual and institutional clients (including corporations, investment companies, trusts, endowments, foundations and other legal entities), whether resident or non-US-resident, for whom Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. provides investment supervisory services (discretionary management) or manages investment advisory accounts not involving investment supervisory services (non-discretionary management).
Vontobel Employee(s) shall include officers and employees of the Corporation.
Vontobel Personnel shall include officers, employees and directors of the Corporation.
New Security shall mean the establishment of a position which is not currently held by a client portfolio on the day the position is established.
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3. | PRINCIPLES FOR DOING BUSINESS |
3.1 | Confidentiality |
Confidentiality is a fundamental principle of the investment management business. Vontobel Employees must maintain the confidential relationship between the Corporation and each of its Clients. Confidential information such as the identity of Vontobel Clients and the extent of their account relationship, must be held inviolate by those to whom it is entrusted and must never be discussed outside the normal and necessary course of the Corporations business. To the extent possible, all information concerning Vontobel Clients and their accounts shall be shared among Vontobel Employees on a strictly need-to-know basis. In this regard, Vontobel Employees shall be careful not to divulge to their colleagues or any third party any information concerning a Vontobel Client that could be considered inside information, as that term is defined in Section 5 hereof.
3.2 | Conflicts of Interest |
It shall be the first obligation of every Vontobel Employee to fulfill his or her fiduciary duty to Vontobel Clients. No Vontobel Employee shall undertake any outside employment, or engage in any personal business interest, that would interfere with the performance of this fiduciary duty. No Vontobel Employee may act on behalf of the Corporation in any transaction involving persons or organizations with whom he or she, or his or her family, have any significant connection or financial interest. In any closely held enterprise, even a modest financial interest held by the Vontobel Employee, or any member of his or her family, should be viewed as significant.
3.3 | Service as an Outside Director |
No Vontobel Employee shall become a director or any official of a business organized for profit without first obtaining written approval from the Board of Directors of the Corporation based upon its determination that such board service would not be inconsistent with the interests of the Corporation and its Clients.
3.4 | Personal Fiduciary Appointments |
No Vontobel Employee shall accept a personal fiduciary appointment without first obtaining the written approval of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, unless such appointment results from a close family relationship.
3.5 | Service on Civic and Charitable Organizations |
The Corporation encourages its employees to participate in local civic and charitable activities. In some cases, however, it may be improper for a Vontobel Employee to serve as a member, director, officer or employee of a municipal corporation, agency, school board, or library board. Such service is appropriate when adequate assurances, in writing, are first given to the Corporation that business relationships between the Corporation and such entities would not be prohibited or limited because of statutory or administrative requirements regarding conflicts of interest.
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3.6 | Fees to Consultants and Agents |
Any and all fees and payments, direct or indirect, to consultants, agents, solicitors and other third-party providers of professional services must be approved by the Chief Executive Officer prior to conclusion of any formal arrangements for services. No remuneration or consideration of any type shall be given by any Vontobel Employee to any person or organization outside of a contractual relationship that has received the prior approval of the Chief Executive Officer.
3.7 | Personal Benefits |
No Vontobel Employee, or member of his or her family, may accept a personal gift, benefit, service, form of entertainment or anything of more than de minimis value (gift) from Vontobel Clients, suppliers, service providers, brokers and all other parties with whom the Corporation has contractual or other business arrangements if such gift is made because of the recipients affiliation with the Corporation or with a Vontobel Employee. Any Vontobel Employee who receives a gift of more than de minimis value (typically greater than $200), or a gift with an unclear status under this Section 3.7, shall promptly notify the Chief Compliance Officer and may accept the gift only upon the latters written approval. The Chief Compliance Officer shall determine whether the gift shall be retained by the Vontobel Employee or member of his or her family, returned to the donor, or donated without tax deduction to a charitable organization selected by the Chief Compliance Officer, subject to the approval of the Chief Executive Officer.
3.8 | Personal Fees and Commissions |
No Vontobel Employee shall accept personal fees, commissions or any other form of remuneration in connection with any transactions on behalf of the Corporation or any of its Clients.
3.9 | Dealings with Suppliers |
Vontobel Employees shall award orders or contracts to outside suppliers on behalf of the Corporation solely on the basis of merit and competitive pricing, without regard to favoritism or nepotism.
3.10 | Borrowing |
No Vontobel Employee, or member of his or her family, may borrow money from any Vontobel Client or any of the Corporations suppliers, service providers, brokers and all other parties with whom the Corporation has contractual or other business arrangements under any circumstances.
3.11 | Political Contributions |
Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. shall make no contributions to political parties or candidates for public office.
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3.12 | Duty to Report Violations or Potential Conflicts of Interest |
The Corporations management and Board of Directors must be informed at all times of matters that may constitute violations of this Code of Ethics, or that may be considered of fraudulent or illegal nature, or potentially injurious to the good reputation of the Corporation or the Vontobel Group. Vontobel Employees shall have a duty to report such events immediately to the Chief Compliance Officer or the Chief Executive Officer or, if such events concern the Corporations management, they should be reported to the Chairman.
3.13 | Full Disclosure |
In responding to requests for information concerning the Corporations business practices from the Corporations internal or independent accountants and auditors, counsel, regulatory agencies or other third parties, Vontobel Employees shall be truthful in their communications and shall make full disclosure at all times.
3.14 | Policy for Portfolio Holding Disclosure |
For existing separate, institutional and commingled accounts (or the consultant representing the account), advised and sub-advised portfolios and managed accounts, full portfolio holdings are available upon request by the client or the consultant representing the client. Full portfolio holdings for representative accounts will be disseminated monthly with a 30 day lag to consultant databases, RFPs, questionnaires, client reports, marketing books, and finals presentations.
Top 10 holdings with portfolio weightings for representative accounts will be disseminated monthly and or quarterly with a 10 day lag to consultant databases, upon client request, questionnaires, RFPs, quarterly client reports, marketing books, and finals presentations.
Sector, industry, and country weightings will be made available to existing clients upon request as of the most recent month end with no lag. Sector, industry and country weightings for representative accounts will be disseminated monthly with no lag to consultant databases, RFPs, questionnaires,quarterly client reports, upon client request, marketing books, and finals presentations.
4. | PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS |
4.1 | Summary |
This Section 4 of the Code of Ethics is based on the recommendations of the Advisory Group on Personal Investing of the Investment Company Institute in its May 1994 report. The key provisions of this Code with respect to personal trading are summarized as follows:
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Prohibition on investing in initial public offerings |
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Restrictions on investing in private placements |
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Prior written clearance of personal trades |
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Seven-day blackout period |
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Sixty-day ban on short-term trading profits of securities held, or likely to be held, in portfolios of Vontobel Clients |
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Full disclosure of all securities trades and securities holdings |
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4.2 | Prohibited and Restricted Transactions |
4.2.1 | In addition to the prohibitions of Section 206 of the Advisers Act cited in Section 1.2 above, Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. is subject to the provisions of Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the Company Act). Rule 17j-1 requires investment advisers to investment companies to adopt written codes of ethics designed to prevent fraudulent trading and, further, to use reasonable diligence and institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent violations of their code of ethics. Vontobel Employees shall not engage in any act, practice or course of conduct that would violate the provisions of Rule 17j-1. |
All Vontobel Employees are considered access persons as that term is defined under Rule 17j-1 of the Company Act. As may be required by the investment companies for which it acts as adviser or subadviser, Vontobel shall provide periodic reports with respect to the personal securities transactions of its access persons, as well as an annual compliance report.
No Vontobel Employee shall purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, any security in which he/she has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, Beneficial Ownership and which, to his/her actual knowledge at the time of such purchase or sale , (i) is being considered for purchase or sale on behalf of a Vontobel Client; or (ii) is being purchased or sold by a Vontobel Client; except that the prohibitions of this section shall not apply to:
(a) | purchases or sales which are nonvolitional on the part of any Vontobel Employee; |
(b) | purchases which are part of an automatic dividend reinvestment or other plan established by any Vontobel Employee prior to the time the security involved came within the purview of this Code; and |
(c) | purchases effected upon the rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuer, and sales of such rights so acquired. |
4.2.2 | No Vontobel Employee shall acquire any securities in an initial public offering. |
4.2.3 | No Vontobel Employee shall acquire securities in a private placement without the prior written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer or other officer designated by the Chief Executive Officer. In considering a request to invest in a private placement, the Chief Compliance Officer will take into account, among other factors, whether the investment opportunity should be reserved for a Vontobel Client, and whether the opportunity is being offered to a Vontobel Employee by virtue of his or her position with the Corporation. |
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4.3 | Blackout Period * |
4.3.1 | No Vontobel Employee shall execute a securities transaction on a day during which Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. has a pending buy or sell order in that same security for a Vontobel Client or its own account until that order is executed or withdrawn. |
4.3.2 | Vontobel Employees are prohibited from purchasing or selling a security within seven (7) calendar days before or after the date on which a transaction in the same security is effected for a Vontobel Client. |
Should any Vontobel Employee make an authorized personal trade within such blackout period, the Chief Compliance Officer (or, in his absence, any officer authorized to approve trades), shall, in his sole discretion and based on his assessment of the facts and circumstances surrounding such personal trade, determine whether it can be deemed to have benefited, or appear to have benefited, from the market effect of the trade for the Vontobel Client. If such officer so determines, the Vontobel Employee shall cancel the trade or promptly disgorge the imputed profit, if any, from his or her personal trade that shall have accrued between the date thereof and the trade date of the transaction in the same security for the Vontobel Client. Imputed profit shall in all cases mean the difference between the price at which the Vontobel Employee transacted and the price at which the trade for the Vontobel Client was transacted.
The prohibitions of this section shall not apply to:
(a) | purchases or sales which are nonvolitional on the part of either the Vontobel Employee or the Vontobel Client account; |
(b) | purchases or sales which are part of an automatic dividend reinvestment or other plan established by Vontobel Employees prior to the time the security involved came within the purview of this Code; and |
(c) | purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuer, and sales of such rights so acquired. |
(d) | purchases or sales of up to 500 shares of a security, per day, of any security listed on any exchange and held in a client account. However, the purchase or sale of up to 500 shares of common stock per day must not exceed more then one (1) percent of the average of the prior seven (7) days liquidity of the security being traded. VAMUSs Chief Compliance Officer along with the firms trading desk will review the liquidity of each requested purchase or sale prior to the transaction being approved. No VAMUS employee will be |
* | The purpose of the blackout period before a client trade is to address front-running violations that occur when personal trades are made shortly before a client trade and benefit from the market effect of that trade. The blackout period after a client trade is intended to allow dissipation of the market effect of the client trade. It is also designed to prevent individuals from benefiting from a trade that is opposite the client trade (e.g., selling a security shortly after a purchase of the same security for a client boosted its price, or purchasing a security shortly after a sale of the same security for a client lowered its price). |
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allowed to effect a purchase or sale of a security while a client has a pending purchase or sale order, for that security, until the clients order is executed or withdrawn. Lastly, the seven (7) day blackout period shall remain in effect, with no exceptions, when a new security is purchased for client accounts.
4.4 | Short-Term Trading |
No Vontobel Employee shall profit from the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the same (or equivalent) securities which are owned by a Vontobel Client or which are of a type suitable for purchase on behalf of Vontobel Clients, within sixty (60) calendar days. Any profits realized on such short-term trades must be disgorged and the profits will be paid to a charity selected by the Chief Compliance Officer and the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Compliance Officer and any other officer authorized by the Chief Executive Officer to approve trades (see Appendix B ) may permit exemptions to the prohibition of this section, on a case-by-case basis, when no abuse is involved and the circumstances of the subject trades, as they are best able to determine, support an exemption, and shall note the reason for any any such exemption on the trading authorization form (see 4.5.1. below).
4.5 | Prior Written Clearance of Personal Securities Trades and Full Disclosure of Securities Holdings |
4.5.1 | All Vontobel Employees shall obtain written authorization of their personal securities transactions prior to executing an order. A written request must be submitted to one of the officers listed in Appendix C, and such officer must give his written authorization prior to the Vontobel Employees placing a purchase or sell order with a broker. Should such officer deny the request, he will give a reason for the denial. An approved request will remain valid for two (2) business days from the date of the approval. |
Should any Vontobel Employee make an unauthorized personal trade in a security, he or she may be obliged, without benefit of tax deduction, to promptly sell the position and/or disgorge any imputed or realized profit that shall have accrued between the date of such unauthorized personal trade and the date of disgorgement. Profits disgorged by Vontobel Employees pursuant to this Code shall be paid to a charity selected by the Chief Compliance Officer and approved by the Chief Executive Officer.
Attached hereto as Appendix C is the personal securities trading authorization form.
4.5.2 | Vontobel Employees shall instruct their broker(s), including the Corporations affiliate brokers, to supply the Chief Compliance Officer, on a timely basis, with duplicate copies of confirmations of all personal securities transactions and copies of all periodic statements for all securities accounts containing securities in which Vontobel Employees have Beneficial Ownership. |
4.5.3 | Vontobel Personnel shall submit written reports on a quarterly basis (or at such lesser intervals as may be required from time to time) showing (i) all transactions in securities as defined herein in which they and their families have, or by reason of such transaction acquire, Beneficial Ownership, and (ii) the name of any covered securities account established during the quarter and the date the account was established. |
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4.5.4 | Every report to be made under subparagraph 4.5.3 above shall be made not later than ten (10) days after the end of the calendar quarter in which the transaction to which the report relates was effected. The report shall contain the following information concerning any transaction required to be reported therein: |
(a) | the date of the transaction; |
(b) | the title and number of shares; |
(c) | the principal amount involved; |
(d) | the nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or other type of acquisition or disposition); |
(e) | the price at which the transaction was effected; and |
(f) | the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through whom the transaction was effected. |
4.5.5 | The Chief Compliance Officer shall receive all reports required hereunder. |
4.5.6 | The Chief Compliance Officer shall promptly report to the Corporations Board of Directors (a) any apparent violation of the prohibitions contained in this Section 4 and (b) any reported transactions in a security which was purchased or sold by the Corporation for a Vontobel Client account within seven (7) days before or after the date of the reported transaction. |
4.5.7 | The Corporations Board of Directors shall consider reports made to the Board of Directors hereunder and shall determine whether or not this Section 4 has been violated and what sanctions, if any, should be imposed. |
4.5.8 | This Code of Ethics, a copy of each report made by Vontobel Personnel, each memorandum made by the Chief Compliance Officer hereunder, and a record of any violation hereof and any action taken as a result of such violation, shall be maintained by the Chief Compliance Officer, as required by Rule 17j-1 of the Company Act. |
4.5.9 | Vontobel Employees shall disclose their personal securities holdings to the Chief Compliance Officer within ten (10) days of the commencement of employment. |
4.5.10 | Annually, Vontobel Personnel shall be required to certify that they have (a) read and understand the Code, and recognize that they are subject thereto; (b) instructed each financial institution through which they, or any member of their household, effect securities transactions to send duplicate copies of their account statements and trading confirmations to Vontobel; (c) complied with the requirements of the Code; (d) disclosed and reported all personal securities transactions required to be disclosed; and (e) disclosed all personal securities holdings. Such annual report and certification shall be submitted within fifteen (15) days of the end of the calendar year and shall be current as of a date no more than thirty (30) days before submission. |
4.5.11 | The Chief Compliance Officer shall prepare an annual report to the Corporations Board of Directors. Such report shall (a) include a copy of the Code of Ethics; (b) summarize existing procedures concerning personal investing and any changes in the Codes policies or procedures during the past year; (c) identify any violations of the Code; and (d) identify any recommended changes in existing restrictions, policies or procedures based upon the Corporations experience under the Code, any evolving practices, or developments in applicable laws or regulations. |
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5. | INSIDER TRADING |
The Insider Trading and Securities Fraud Enforcement Act of 1988 (ITSFEA) requires that all investment advisers and broker-dealers establish, maintain and enforce written policies and procedures designed to detect and prevent the misuse of material nonpublic information by such investment adviser and/or broker-dealer, or any person associated with the investment adviser and/or broker-dealer.
Section 204A of the Advisers Act states that an investment adviser must adopt and disseminate written policies with respect to ITSFEA, and an investment adviser must also vigilantly review, update and enforce them. Accordingly, Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. has adopted the following policy, procedures and supervisory procedures as an integral part of its Code of Ethics applicable to all of its officers, employees and directors (sometimes referred to herein as Vontobel Personnel).
5.1 | Policy |
The purpose of this Section 5 is to familiarize Vontobel Personnel with issues concerning insider trading and assist them in putting into context the policy and procedures on insider trading.
Policy Statement :
No Vontobel Personnel may trade in a security, either personally or on behalf of Vontobel Clients, while in possession of material, nonpublic information regarding that security; nor may any officer, employee or director communicate material, nonpublic information to others in violation of the law. This conduct is commonly referred to as insider trading. This policy extends to activities within and without the individual job functions of Vontobel Personnel and covers not only their personal transactions, but indirect trading by family, friends and others, or the nonpublic distribution of inside information from them to others. Any questions regarding the policy and procedures should be referred to the Chief Compliance Officer.
The term insider trading is not defined in federal securities laws, but generally is used to refer to the use of material nonpublic information to trade in securities (whether or not one is an insider) or the communication of material nonpublic information to others who may then seek to benefit from such information.
While the law concerning insider trading is not static and may undergo revisions from time to time, it is generally understood that the law prohibits:
(a) | trading by an insider, while in possession of material nonpublic information, or |
(b) | trading by a non-insider, while in possession of material nonpublic information, where the information either was disclosed to the non-insider in violation of an insiders duty to keep it confidential or was misappropriated, or |
(c) | communicating material nonpublic information to others. |
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5.2 | Elements of Insider Trading |
5.2.1 | Who Is an Insider? |
The concept of insider is broad. It includes officers, directors and employees of a company. In addition, a person can be a temporary insider if he or she enters into a special confidential relationship in the conduct of a companys affairs and as a result is given access to information solely for the companys purposes. A temporary insider can include, among others, a companys attorneys, accountants, consultants, bank lending officers, and the employees of such service providers. In addition, an investment adviser may become a temporary insider of a company it advises or for which it performs other services. According to the Supreme Court, the company must expect the outsider to keep the disclosed nonpublic information confidential and the relationship must at least imply such a duty before the outsider will be considered an insider.
5.2.2 | What Is Material Information? |
Trading on inside information can be the basis for liability when the information is material. In general, information is material when there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in making his or her investment decisions, or information that is reasonably certain to have a substantial effect on the price of a companys securities. Information that officers, directors and employees should consider material includes, but is not limited to: dividend changes, earnings estimates, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, major litigation, liquidation problems and extraordinary management developments.
5.2.3 | What Is Nonpublic Information? |
Information is nonpublic until it has been effectively communicated to the marketplace. One must be able to point to some fact to show that the information is generally public. For example, information found in a report filed with the SEC, or appearing in Bloomberg electronic news reports, or in The Wall Street Journal or other publications of general circulation would be considered public. (Depending on the nature of the information, and the type and timing of the filing or other public release, it may be appropriate to allow for adequate time for the information to be effectively disseminated.)
5.2.4 | Legal Bases for Liability |
(a) | Fiduciary Duty Theory : In 1980 the Supreme Court found that there is no general duty to disclose before trading on material nonpublic information, but that such a duty arises only where there is a direct or indirect fiduciary relationship with the issuer or its agents. That is, there must be a relationship between the parties to the transaction such that one party has a right to expect that the other party will disclose any material nonpublic information or refrain from trading. |
(b) | Misappropriation Theory : Another basis for insider trading liability is the misappropriation theory, where liability is established when trading occurs on material on nonpublic information that was stolen or misappropriated from any other person. |
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5.3 | Penalties for Insider Trading |
Penalties for trading on or communicating material nonpublic information are severe, both for individuals and their employers. An individual can be subject to some or all of the penalties below even if he or she does not personally benefit from the violation:
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civil injunctions |
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treble damages |
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disgorgement of profits |
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jail sentences |
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fines for the person who committed the violation of up to three times the profit gained or loss avoided, whether or not the person actually benefitted, and |
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fines for the employer or other controlling person of up to the greater of $1 million or three times the amount of the profit gained or loss avoided. |
5.4. | Procedures |
The following procedures have been established to aid Vontobel Personnel in avoiding insider trading, and to aid in preventing, detecting and imposing sanctions against insider trading. Vontobel Personnel must follow these procedures or risk serious sanctions, including dismissal, substantial personal liability and/or criminal penalties. If you have any questions about these procedures, you should consult the Chief Compliance Officer.
5.4.1 | Identifying Inside Information . Before trading for yourself or others, including Vontobel Clients, in the securities of a company about which you may have potential inside information, ask yourself the following questions: |
(a) | Is the information material? Is this information that an investor would consider important in making his or her investment decisions? If this information that would substantially affect the market price of the securities if generally disclosed? |
(b) | Is the information nonpublic? To whom has this information been provided? Has the information been effectively communicated to the marketplace, e.g., by being published electronically by Bloomberg, or in The Wall Street Journal or other publications of general circulation? |
If, after consideration of the above, you believe that the information is material and nonpublic, or if you have questions as to whether the information is material and nonpublic, you should report the matter immediately to the Chief Compliance Officer. Until he has had an opportunity to review the matter, you should not (i) purchase or sell the security on behalf of yourself or others, including Vontobel Clients, and (ii) communicate the information to anyone, other than to the Chief Compliance Officer. After the Chief Compliance Officer has reviewed the issue, you will be instructed to either continue the prohibitions against trading and communication, or you will be allowed to communicate the information and then trade.
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5.4.2 | Personal Security Trading . Each officer, director and employee shall submit to the Chief Compliance Officer, on a quarterly basis (or at such lesser intervals as may be required from time to time) a report of every securities transaction in which they, their families (including the spouse, minor children, and adults living in the same household), and trusts of which they are trustees or in which they have beneficial ownership have participated. The report shall include the name of the security, date of the transaction, quantity, price and broker-dealer through which the transaction was effected. Each officer, director and employee must also instruct their broker(s) to supply the Chief Compliance Officer, on a timely basis, with duplicate copies of confirmations of all personal securities transactions and copies of all periodic statements for all securities accounts. |
5.4.3 | Restricting Access to Material Nonpublic Information . Any information in your possession that you identify as material and nonpublic may not be communicated other than in the course of performing your duties to anyone, including your colleagues at Vontobel Asset Management, Inc., with the exception of the Chief Compliance Officer as provided in subparagraph 5.4.1 above. In addition, care should be taken so that such information is secure. For example, files containing material nonpublic information should be locked; access to computer files containing material nonpublic information should be restricted. |
5.4.4 | Resolving Issues Concerning Insider Trading . If, after considerations of the items set forth in Section 5.2, doubt remains as to whether information is material or nonpublic, or if there is any unresolved question as to the applicability or interpretation of the foregoing procedures, or as to the propriety of any action, it must be discussed with the Chief Compliance Officer before trading or communicating the information to anyone. |
5.5 | Supervision |
The supervisory role of the Chief Compliance Officer is critical to the implementation and maintenance of this Statement on Insider Trading, and encompasses the following.
5.5.1 | Prevention of Insider Trading |
To prevent insider trading, the Chief Compliance Officer shall:
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answer promptly any questions regarding the Statement on Insider Trading |
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resolve issues of whether information received by any officer, employee or director is material and nonpublic |
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update the Statement on Insider Trading and distribute amendments thereto, as necessary, to all officers, employees and directors |
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obtain an annual written acknowledgement from all officers, employees and directors that they have reviewed the Corporations Code of Ethics, including the Statement on Insider Trading contained in this Section 5 |
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when it has been determined that any officer, director or employee has material nonpublic information: |
(i) | implement measures to prevent dissemination of such information, and |
(ii) | if necessary, restrict officers, directors and employees from trading the securities. |
5.5.2 | Detection of Insider Trading |
To | detect insider trading, the Chief Compliance Officer shall: |
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review the trading activity reports filed quarterly by each officer, director and employee, as well as the duplicate confirmations and periodic account statements forwarded by their brokers, to ensure that no trading took place in securities in which the Corporation was in possession of material nonpublic information; |
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review the trading activity of the mutual funds and private account portfolios managed by the Corporation quarterly; and |
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coordinate, if necessary, the review of such reports with other appropriate officers, directors or employees of the Corporation. |
5.5.3 | Special Reports to Management |
Promptly upon learning of a potential violation of the Statement on Insider Trading, the Chief Compliance Officer shall prepare a written report to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors of the Corporation and, if the violation occurred with respect to an investment company client, provide a copy of such report to the Board of Directors of the investment company concerned.
5.5.4 | Annual Reports |
On an annual basis, the Chief Compliance Officer shall prepare a written report to the Corporations Board of Directors setting forth the following:
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a summary of the existing procedures to detect and prevent insider trading; |
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full details of any investigation, either internal or by a regulatory agency, of any suspected insider trading and the results of such investigation; |
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an evaluation of the current procedures and any recommendations for improvement. |
An annual compliance report shall be furnished to the Board of Directors of the investment companies to which the Corporation acts as investment adviser or subadviser.
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APPENDIX A
Excerpts from cited SEC legislation:
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Section 206 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 - Prohibited Transactions by Investment Advisers |
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Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 - Certain Unlawful Acts, Practices, or Courses of Business and Requirements Relating to Codes of Ethics with Respect to Registered Investment Companies |
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Section 204A of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 - Prevention of Misuse of Nonpublic Information |
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Definitions: |
Beneficial Owner - as defined in Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Security(ies) - as defined in Section 202(a)(18) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
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Section 206 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
Prohibited Transactions by Investment Advisers
It shall be unlawful for any investment adviser, by use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, directly or indirectly
(1) | to employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud any client or prospective client; |
(2) | to engage in any transaction, practice, or course of business which operates as a fraud or deceit upon any client or prospective client; |
(3) | acting as principal for his own account, knowingly to sell any security to or purchase any security from a client, or acting as broker for a person other than such client, knowingly to effect any sale or purchase of any security for the account of such client, without disclosing to such client in writing before the completion of such transaction the capacity in which he is acting and obtaining the consent of the client to such transaction. The prohibitions of this paragraph (3) shall not apply to any transaction with a customer of a broker or dealer if such broker or dealer is not acting as an investment adviser in relation to such transaction; |
(4) | to engage in any act, practice, or course of business which is fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative. The Commission shall, for the purposes of this paragraph (4) by rules and regulations define, and prescribe means reasonably designed to prevent, such acts, practices, and courses of business as are fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative. |
Section 206A of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
Exemptions
The Commission, by rules and regulations, upon its own motion, or by order upon application, may conditionally or unconditionally exempt any person or transaction, or any class or classes or persons, or transactions, from any provision or provisions of this title or of any rule or regulation thereunder, if and to the extent that such exemption is necessary or appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors and the purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of this title.
Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940
Certain Unlawful Acts, Practices, or Courses of Business and Requirements Relating to Codes of Ethics with Respect to Registered Investment Companies
Unlawful Actions. It is unlawful for any affiliated person of or principal underwriter for a Fund, or any affiliated person of an investment adviser of or principal underwriter for a Fund, in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, by the person of a Security Held or to be Acquired by the Fund:
(1) To employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the Fund;
(2) To make any untrue statement of a material fact to the Fund or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made to the Fund, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;
(3) To engage in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit on the Fund; or
(4) To engage in any manipulative practice with respect to the Fund.
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Code of Ethics.
(1) Adoption and Approval of Code of Ethics .
(i) Every Fund (other than a money market fund or a Fund that does not invest in Covered Securities) and each investment adviser of and principal underwriter for the Fund, must adopt a written code of ethics containing provisions reasonably necessary to prevent its Access Persons from engaging in any conduct prohibited by paragraph (b) of this section.
(ii) The board of directors of a Fund, including a majority of directors who are not interested persons, must approve the code of ethics of the Fund, the code of ethics of each investment adviser and principal underwriter of the Fund, and any material changes to these codes. The board must base its approval of a code and any material changes to the code on a determination that the code contains provisions reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from engaging in any conduct prohibited by paragraph (b) of this section. Before approving a code of a Fund, investment adviser or principal underwriter or any amendment to the code, the board of directors must receive a certification from the Fund, investment adviser or principal underwriter that it has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the Funds, investment advisers, or principal underwriters code of ethics. The Funds board must approve the code of an investment adviser or principal underwriter before initially retaining the services of the investment adviser or principal underwriter. The Funds board must approve a material change to a code no later than six months after adoption of the material change.
(iii) If a Fund is a unit investment trust, the Funds principal underwriter or depositor must approve the Funds code of ethics, as required by paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section. If the Fund has more than one principal underwriter or depositor, the principal underwriters and depositors may designate, in writing, which principal underwriter or depositor must conduct the approval required by paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section, if they obtain written consent from the designated principal underwriter or depositor.
(2) Administration of Code of Ethics.
(i) The Fund, investment adviser and principal underwriter must use reasonable diligence and institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent violations of its code of ethics.
(ii) No less frequently than annually, every Fund (other than a unit investment trust) and its investment advisers and principal underwriters must furnish to the Funds board of directors, and the board of directors must consider, a written report that:
(A) Describes any issues arising under the code of ethics or procedures since the last report to the board of directors, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the code or procedures and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and
(B) Certifies that the Fund, investment adviser or principal underwriter, as applicable, has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the code.
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(3) Exception for Principal Underwriters. The requirements of paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section do not apply to any principal underwriter unless:
(i) The principal underwriter is an affiliated person of the Fund or of the Funds investment adviser; or
(ii) An officer, director or general partner of the principal underwriter serves as an officer, director or general partner of the Fund or of the Funds investment adviser.
(d) Reporting Requirements of Access Persons.
(1) Reports Required. Unless excepted by paragraph (d)(2) of this section, every Access Person of a Fund (other than a money market fund or a Fund that does not invest in Covered Securities) and every Access Person of an investment adviser of or principal underwriter for the Fund, must report to that Fund, investment adviser or principal underwriter:
(i) Initial Holdings Reports. No later than 10 days after the person becomes an Access Person, the following information:
(A) The title, number of shares and principal amount of each Covered Security in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership when the person became an Access Person;
(B) The name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person maintained an account in which any securities were held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person as of the date the person became an Access Person; and
(C) The date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.
(ii) Quarterly Transaction Reports. No later than 10 days after the end of a calendar quarter, the following information:
(A) With respect to any transaction during the quarter in a Covered Security in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership:
(1) The date of the transaction, the title, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares and the principal amount of each Covered Security involved;
(2) The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);
(3) The price of the Covered Security at which the transaction was effected;
(4) The name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected; and
(5) The date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.
(B) With respect to any account established by the Access Person in which any securities were held during the quarter for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person:
(1) The name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person established the account;
(2) The date the account was established; and
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(3) The date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.
(iii) Annual Holdings Reports. Annually, the following information (which information must be current as of a date no more than 30 days before the report is submitted):
(A) The title, number of shares and principal amount of each Covered Security in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership;
(B) The name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person maintains an account in which any securities are held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person; and
(C) The date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.
(2) Exceptions from Reporting Requirements.
(i) A person need not make a report under paragraph (d)(1) of this section with respect to transactions effected for, and Covered Securities held in, any account over which the person has no direct or indirect influence or control.
(ii) A director of a Fund who is not an interested person of the Fund within the meaning of section 2(a)(19) of the Act [15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(19)], and who would be required to make a report solely by reason of being a Fund director, need not make:
(A) An initial holdings report under paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section and an annual holdings report under paragraph (d)(1)(iii) of this section; and
(B) A quarterly transaction report under paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section, unless the director knew or, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duties as a Fund director, should have known that during the 15-day period immediately before or after the directors transaction in a Covered Security, the Fund purchased or sold the Covered Security, or the Fund or its investment adviser considered purchasing or selling the Covered Security.
(iii) An Access Person to a Funds principal underwriter need not make a report to the principal underwriter under paragraph (d)(1) of this section if:
(A) The principal underwriter is not an affiliated person of the Fund (unless the Fund is a unit investment trust) or any investment adviser of the Fund; and
(B) The principal underwriter has no officer, director or general partner who serves as an officer, director or general partner of the Fund or of any investment adviser of the Fund.
(iv) An Access Person to an investment adviser need not make a quarterly transaction report to the investment adviser under paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section if all the information in the report would duplicate information required to be recorded under Secs. 275.204-2(a)(12) or 275.204-2(a)(13) of this chapter.
(v) An Access Person need not make a quarterly transaction report under paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section if the report would duplicate information contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements received by the Fund, investment adviser or principal underwriter with respect to the Access Person in the time period required by paragraph (d)(1)(ii), if all of the
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information required by that paragraph is contained in the broker trade confirmations or account statements, or in the records of the Fund, investment adviser or principal underwriter.
(3) Review of Reports. Each Fund, investment adviser and principal underwriter to which reports are required to be made by paragraph (d)(1) of this section must institute procedures by which appropriate management or compliance personnel review these reports.
(4) Notification of Reporting Obligation. Each Fund, investment adviser and principal underwriter to which reports are required to be made by paragraph (d)(1) of this section must identify all Access Persons who are required to make these reports and must inform those Access Persons of their reporting obligation.
(5) Beneficial Ownership. For purposes of this section, beneficial ownership is interpreted in the same manner as it would be under §240.16a-1(a)(2) of this chapter in determining whether a person is the beneficial owner of a security for purposes of section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [15 U.S.C. 78p] and the rules and regulations thereunder. Any report required by paragraph (d) of this section 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 Covered Security to which the report relates.
(e) Pre-approval of Investments in IPOs and Limited Offerings. Investment Personnel of a Fund or its investment adviser must obtain approval from the Fund or the Funds investment adviser before directly or indirectly acquiring beneficial ownership in any securities in an Initial Public Offering or in a Limited Offering.
(f) Recordkeeping Requirements.
(1) Each Fund, investment adviser and principal underwriter that is required to adopt a code of ethics or to which reports are required to be made by Access Persons must, at its principal place of business, maintain records in the manner and to the extent set out in this paragraph (f), and must make these records available to the Commission or any representative of the Commission at any time and from time to time for reasonable periodic, special or other examination:
(A) A copy of each code of ethics for the organization that is in effect, or at any time within the past five years was in effect, must be maintained in an easily accessible place;
(B) A record of any violation of the code of ethics, and of any action taken as a result of the violation, must be maintained in an easily accessible place for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurs;
(C) A copy of each report made by an Access Person as required by this section, including any information provided in lieu of the reports under paragraph (d)(2)(v) of this section, must be maintained for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the report is made or the information is provided, the first two years in an easily accessible place;
(D) A record of all persons, currently or within the past five years, who are or were required to make reports under paragraph (d) of this section, or who are or were responsible for reviewing these reports, must be maintained in an easily accessible place; and
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(E) A copy of each report required by paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section must be maintained for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, the first two years in an easily accessible place.
(2) A Fund or investment adviser must maintain a record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition by investment personnel of securities under paragraph (e), for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted.
Definitions. For purposes of this section:
(1) Access Person means:
(i) Any director, officer, general partner or Advisory Person of a Fund or of a Funds investment adviser.
(A) If an investment adviser is primarily engaged in a business or businesses other than advising Funds or other advisory clients, the term Access Person means any director, officer, general partner or Advisory Person of the investment adviser who, with respect to any Fund, makes any recommendation, participates in the determination of which recommendation will be made, or whose principal function or duties relate to the determination of which recommendation will be made, or who, in connection with his or her duties, obtains any information concerning recommendations on Covered Securities being made by the investment adviser to any Fund.
(B) An investment adviser is primarily engaged in a business or businesses other than advising Funds or other advisory clients if, for each of its most recent three fiscal years or for the period of time since its organization, whichever is less, the investment adviser derived, on an unconsolidated basis, more than 50 percent of its total sales and revenues and more than 50 percent of its income (or loss), before income taxes and extraordinary items, from the other business or businesses.
(ii) Any director, officer or general partner of a principal underwriter who, in the ordinary course of business, makes, participates in or obtains information regarding, the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by the Fund for which the principal underwriter acts, or whose functions or duties in the ordinary course of business relate to the making of any recommendation to the Fund regarding the purchase or sale of Covered Securities.
(2) Advisory Person of a Fund or of a Funds investment adviser means:
(i) Any employee of the Fund or investment adviser (or of any company in a control relationship to the Fund or investment adviser) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by a Fund, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to the purchases or sales; and
(ii) Any natural person in a control relationship to the Fund or investment adviser who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Fund with regard to the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by the Fund.
(3) Control has the same meaning as in section 2(a)(9) of the Act [15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(9)].
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(4) Covered Security means a security as defined in section 2(a)(36) of the Act [15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(36)], except that it does not include:
(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; and
(iii) Shares issued by open-end Funds.
(5) Fund means an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act.
(6) An Initial Public Offering means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. 77a], the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)].
(7) Investment Personnel of a Fund or of a Funds investment adviser means:
(i) Any employee of the Fund or investment adviser (or of any company in a control relationship to the Fund or investment adviser) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes or participates in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities by the Fund.
(ii) Any natural person who controls the Fund or investment adviser and who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Fund regarding the purchase or sale of securities by the Fund.
(8) A Limited Offering means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to section 4(2) or section 4(6) [15 U.S.C. 77d(2) or 77d(6)] or pursuant to rule 504, rule 505, or rule 506 [17 CFR 230.504, 230.505, or 230.506] under the Securities Act of 1933.
(9) Purchase or sale of a Covered Security includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a Covered Security.
(10) Security Held or to be Acquired by a Fund means:
(i) Any Covered Security which, within the most recent 15 days:
(A) Is or has been held by the Fund; or
(B) Is being or has been considered by the Fund or its investment adviser for purchase by the Fund; and
(ii) Any option to purchase or sell, and any security convertible into or exchangeable for, a Covered Security described in paragraph (a)(10)(i) of this section.
[45 FR 73919, Nov. 7, 1980; 64 FR 46821 8/27/99 eff: 10/29/99; 65 FR 12943 3/10/2000 eff: 3/6/2000.]
Section 204A of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
Prevention of Misuse of Nonpublic Information
Every investment adviser subject to section 204 of this title shall establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed, taking into consideration the nature of such investment advisers business, to prevent the misuse in violation of this Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the rules or regulations thereunder, of material, nonpublic information by such investment adviser or any person associated with such investment adviser. The Commission, as it deems necessary or appropriate in the public
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interest or for the protection of investors, shall adopt rules or regulations to require specific policies or procedures reasonably designed to prevent misuse in violation of this Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or the rules or regulations thereunder) of material, nonpublic information.
Definitions:
Beneficial Owner - as defined in Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 - The term beneficial owner shall have the following applications:
Solely for purposes of determining whether a person is a beneficial owner of more than ten percent of any class of equity securities registered pursuant to section 12 of the Act, the term beneficial owner shall mean any person who is deemed a beneficial owner pursuant to section 13(d) of the Act and the rules thereunder; provided, however, that the following institutions or persons shall not be deemed the beneficial owner of securities of such class held for the benefit of third parties or in customer or fiduciary accounts in the ordinary course of business (or in the case of an employee benefit plan specified in paragraph (a)(1)(vi) of this section, of securities of such class allocated to plan participants where participants have voting power) as long as such shares are acquired by such institutions or persons without the purpose or effect of changing or influencing control of the issuer or engaging in any arrangement subject to Rule 13d-3(b) (§ 240.13d-3(b)):
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A broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o); |
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A bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); |
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An insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); |
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An investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8); |
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Any person registered as an investment adviser under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3) or under the laws of any state; |
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An employee benefit plan as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, 29 U.S.C. 1001 et seq. (ERISA) that is subject to the provisions of ERISA, or any such plan that is not subject to ERISA that is maintained primarily for the benefit of the employees of a state or local government or instrumentality, or an endowment fund; |
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A parent holding company or control person, provided the aggregate amount held directly by the parent or control person, and directly and indirectly by their subsidiaries or affiliates that are not persons specified in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (ix), does not exceed one percent of the securities of the subject class; |
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A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); |
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A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3); and |
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A group, provided that all the members are persons specified in § 240.16a-1(a)(1)(i) through (ix). |
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A group, provided that all the members are persons specified in § 240.16a-1(a)(1) (i) through (vii). |
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Note to paragraph (a). Pursuant to this section, a person deemed a beneficial owner of more than ten percent of any class of equity securities registered under section 12 of the Act would file a Form 3 (§ 249.103), but the securities holdings disclosed on Form 3, and changes in beneficial ownership reported on subsequent Forms 4 (§ 249.104) or 5 (§ 249.105), would be determined by the definition of beneficial owner in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.
Other than for purposes of determining whether a person is a beneficial owner of more than ten percent of any class of equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Act, the term beneficial owner shall mean any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the equity securities, subject to the following:
The term pecuniary interest in any class of equity securities shall mean the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in the subject securities.
The term indirect pecuniary interest in any class of equity securities shall include, but not be limited to:
Securities held by members of a persons immediate family sharing the same household; provided, however, that the presumption of such beneficial ownership may be rebutted; see also § 240.16a-1(a)(4);
A general partners proportionate interest in the portfolio securities held by a general or limited partnership. The general partners proportionate interest, as evidenced by the partnership agreement in effect at the time of the transaction and the partnerships most recent financial statements, shall be the greater of:
The general partners share of the partnerships profits, including profits attributed to any limited partnership interests held by the general partner and any other interests in profits that arise from the purchase and sale of the partnerships portfolio securities; or
The general partners share of the partnership capital account, including the share attributable to any limited partnership interest held by the general partner.
A performance-related fee, other than an asset-based fee, received by any broker, dealer, bank, insurance company, investment company, investment adviser, investment manager, trustee or person or entity performing a similar function; provided, however, that no pecuniary interest shall be present where:
The performance-related fee, regardless of when payable, is calculated based upon net capital gains and/or net capital appreciation generated from the portfolio or from the fiduciarys overall performance over a period of one year or more; and
Equity securities of the issuer do not account for more than ten percent of the market value of the portfolio. A right to a nonperformance-related fee alone shall not represent a pecuniary interest in the securities;
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A persons right to dividends that is separated or separable from the underlying securities. Otherwise, a right to dividends alone shall not represent a pecuniary interest in the securities;
A persons interest in securities held by a trust, as specified in § 240.16a-8(b); and
A persons right to acquire equity securities through the exercise or conversion of any derivative security, whether or not presently exercisable.
A shareholder shall not be deemed to have a pecuniary interest in the portfolio securities held by a corporation or similar entity in which the person owns securities if the shareholder is not a controlling shareholder of the entity and does not have or share investment control over the entitys portfolio.
Where more than one person subject to section 16 of the Act is deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same equity securities, all such persons must report as beneficial owners of the securities, either separately or jointly, as provided in § 240.16a-3(j). In such cases, the amount of short-swing profit recoverable shall not be increased above the amount recoverable if there were only one beneficial owner.
Any person filing a statement pursuant to section 16(a) of the Act may state that the filing shall not be deemed an admission that such person is, for purposes of section 16 of the Act or otherwise, the beneficial owner of any equity securities covered by the statement.
The following interests are deemed not to confer beneficial ownership for purposes of section 16 of the Act:
Interests in portfolio securities held by any holding company registered under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (15 U.S.C. 79a et seq.);
Interests in portfolio securities held by any investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq.); and
Interests in securities comprising part of a broad-based, publicly traded market basket or index of stocks, approved for trading by the appropriate federal governmental authority.
The term call equivalent position shall mean a derivative security position that increases in value as the value of the underlying equity increases, including, but not limited to, a long convertible security, a long call option, and a short put option position.
The term derivative securities shall mean any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege at a price related to an equity security, or similar securities with a value derived from the value of an equity security, but shall not include:
Rights of a pledgee of securities to sell the pledged securities;
Rights of all holders of a class of securities of an issuer to receive securities pro rata, or obligations to dispose of securities, as a result of a merger, exchange offer, or consolidation involving the issuer of the securities;
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Rights or obligations to surrender a security, or have a security withheld, upon the receipt or exercise of a derivative security or the receipt or vesting of equity securities, in order to satisfy the exercise price or the tax withholding consequences of receipt, exercise or vesting;
Interests in broad-based index options, broad-based index futures, and broad-based publicly traded market baskets of stocks approved for trading by the appropriate federal governmental authority;
Interests or rights to participate in employee benefit plans of the issuer;
Rights with an exercise or conversion privilege at a price that is not fixed; or
Options granted to an underwriter in a registered public offering for the purpose of satisfying over-allotments in such offering.
The term equity security of such issuer shall mean any equity security or derivative security relating to an issuer, whether or not issued by that issuer.
The term immediate family shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, and shall include adoptive relationships.
The term officer shall mean an issuers president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer (or, if there is no such accounting officer, the controller), any vice-president of the issuer in charge of a principal business unit, division or function (such as sales, administration or finance), any other officer who performs a policy-making function, or any other person who performs similar policy-making functions for the issuer. Officers of the issuers parent(s) or subsidiaries shall be deemed officers of the issuer if they perform such policy-making functions for the issuer. In addition, when the issuer is a limited partnership, officers or employees of the general partner(s) who perform policy-making functions for the limited partnership are deemed officers of the limited partnership. When the issuer is a trust, officers or employees of the trustee(s) who perform policy-making functions for the trust are deemed officers of the trust.
Note: Policy-making function is not intended to include policy-making functions that are not significant. If pursuant to Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K (§ 229.401(b)) the issuer identifies a person as an executive officer, it is presumed that the Board of Directors has made that judgment and that the persons so identified are the officers for purposes of Section 16 of the Act, as are such other persons enumerated in this paragraph (f) but not in Item 401(b).
The term portfolio securities shall mean all securities owned by an entity, other than securities issued by the entity.
The term put equivalent position shall mean a derivative security position that increases in value as the value of the underlying equity decreases, including, but not limited to, a long put option and a short call option position.
Security(ies) - as defined in Section 202(a)(18) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 - Security means any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, preorganization certificate or subscription,
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transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege on any security (including a certificate of deposit) or on any group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a security, or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guaranty of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase any of the foregoing.
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APPENDIX B
Officers authorized to approve trades:
Joseph Mastoloni
Henry Schlegel
Thomas Wittwer
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APPENDIX C
Personal securities trading authorization form
Authorization of Personal Securities Transaction
Submit a separate authorization for each account in which a transaction is intended.
I request prior written authorization to make a transaction in the following security for my personal account(s), for which I have instructed duplicate trade
Name of security No. of shares Purchase Sale
Broker (personal a/c) Broker (personal IRA a/c)
Broker (family a/c) Broker (Schwab pension a/c)
Held in any Vontobel Client portfolio(s): Yes No
(If yes, identify: )
Exemption to prohibition on short-term trading:
1. | I have no knowledge of an intended or pending purchase or sale of the above security in any Vontobel Client portfolio. If Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. places a trade in this security in any Vontobel Client portfolio within a 7-day period following the trade date of the transaction hereby authorized, I acknowledge that: |
Pursuant to Section 4.3 of the Code of Ethics, the Chief Compliance Officer (or, in his absence, any officer authorized to approve trades) shall, based on his assessment of the facts and circum-stances surrounding the trade hereby authorized, determine whether I shall be obliged to cancel the transaction or disgorge any imputed or realized profit that shall have accrued between the date of my personal trade and that effected by Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. for a Vontobel Client.
2. | If the officer to whom I submit this request determines that the above trade would contravene the Code of Ethics, I undertake to abide by his decision. |
3. | I have received and read the policies with respect to reporting of securities transactions and insider trading in the Code of Ethics, and I am aware that violation of such policies may represent cause for dismissal. |
4. | This authorization is valid for two business days only . If the trade hereby authorized is not effected within two days of the date hereof, I acknowledge that I shall be obliged to obtain a new authorization, and that if I fail to do so, I shall be considered to have placed an unauthorized trade. |
Date: | Employee Signature: |
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Authorization: |
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Comments:
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APPENDIX D
Initial, quarterly and annual report forms
Initial Report of Securities Holdings
To the Chief Compliance Officer of Vontobel Asset Management:
1. | I hereby acknowledge receipt of a copy of Vontobel Asset Managements Code of Ethics. |
2. | I have read and understand the Code of Ethics and recognize that I am subject thereto. |
3. | Except as noted below, I hereby certify that I have no knowledge of the existence of any personal conflict of interest relationship that may involve Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. or a Vontobel Client, such as any economic relationship between my transactions and securities held or to be acquired by Vontobel Asset Management on behalf of a Vontobel Client. |
4. | As of the date below I had a direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership in the following securities: |
AS REPORTED ON THE ATTACHED STATEMENT(S)
AND/OR:
AS INDICATED BELOW:
Security |
No. of
Shares |
Principal
Amount |
Broker /
Dealer |
Type of Interest
(Direct /Indirect) |
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Date: | Signature: |
|
||
Print Name: |
|
32
|
Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. |
Securities Transactions Report for Calendar Quarter: Q2 2005
To the Chief Compliance Officer of Vontobel Asset Management:
With regard to
transactions in securities of which I, or a member of my household, had, or by reason of such transaction acquired, direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership during the quarter, and which are required to be reported pursuant to the Code of Ethics of
DETAILS OF ALL TRANSACTIONS HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON DUPLICATE STATEMENTS FORWARDED TO VONTOBEL ASSET MANAGEMENT
AND/OR:
ARE INDICATED BELOW:
Security |
Date of
Transaction |
No. of
Shares |
Price |
Principal
Amount of Transaction |
Purchase /
Sale / Other |
Broker/
Dealer |
If New
Account: Opening Date |
|||||||
Except as noted on the reverse side of this report, I hereby certify that I have no knowledge of the existence of any personal conflict of interest relationship that may involve Vontobel Asset Management or a Vontobel Client, such as the existence of any economic relationship between my transactions and securities held or to be acquired by Vontobel Asset Management on behalf of a Vontobel Client.
Date: | Signature: |
|
||
Print Name: |
|
33
|
Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. |
Annual Certification of Compliance and Disclosure of Securities Holdings
To the Chief Compliance Officer of Vontobel Asset Management:
1. | I hereby acknowledge that I have read and understand the Code of Ethics and recognize that I am subject thereto. |
2. | Except as noted below, I hereby certify that I have no knowledge of the existence of any personal conflict of interest relationship that may involve Vontobel Asset Management or a Vontobel Client, such as any economic relationship between my transactions and securities held or to be acquired by Vontobel Asset Management on behalf of a Vontobel Client. |
3. | I certify that I have instructed each financial institution with whom I, or any member of my household, effects securities transactions (as defined in the Code) to send duplicate copies of brokerage statements and trading confirmations to Vontobel Asset Management. |
4. | I have disclosed and reported all personal securities transactions required to be disclosed. |
5. | As of December 31, , I had a direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership in the following securities: |
AS REPORTED ON DUPLICATE STATEMENTS FORWARDED
AND/OR:
AS INDICATED BELOW :
Security |
Date of
Transaction |
No. of
Shares |
US$
Amount of Transaction |
Purchase,
Sale, Other |
Price |
Broker/
Dealer |
||||||
Date: | Signature: |
|
||
Print Name: |
|
34
POWER OF ATTORNEY
I, the undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of the below-named trusts, with their respective file numbers under the Securities Act of 1933 noted, hereby constitute and appoint George R. Aylward, Tracy L. Rich and Kevin J. Carr, or any of them as my true and lawful attorneys and agents with full power to sign for me in the capacity indicated below, any or all registration statements on Form N-1A, amendments thereto, and such other filings as may be appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940 relating to each of said mutual funds, and hereby ratify and confirm my signature as it may be signed by said attorneys and agents.
Phoenix Adviser Trust | (333-106142 | ) | |
Phoenix Asset Trust | (333-08045 | ) | |
Phoenix CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund | (002-83024 | ) | |
Phoenix Equity Series Fund | (333-29043 | ) | |
Phoenix Equity Trust | (002-16590 | ) | |
Phoenix Insight Funds Trust | (033-64915 | ) | |
Phoenix Institutional Mutual Funds | (033-80057 | ) | |
Phoenix Investment Series Fund | (033-06930 | ) | |
Phoenix Investment Trust 06 | (033-01922 | ) | |
Phoenix Investment Trust 97 | (333-34537 | ) | |
Phoenix Multi-Portfolio Fund | (033-19423 | ) | |
Phoenix Multi-Series Trust | (033-45758 | ) | |
Phoenix PHOLIOs(sm) | (333-05039 | ) | |
Phoenix Portfolios | (333-45675 | ) | |
Phoenix Opportunities Trust | (033-65137 | ) | |
Phoenix Series Fund | (002-14069 | ) | |
Phoenix Strategic Equity Series Fund | (033-06931 | ) |
I hereby declare that a photostatic, xerographic or other similar copy of this original instrument shall be as effective as the original.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this 22nd day of August, 2007.
/s/ E. Virgil Conway E. Virgil Conway, Trustee |
/s/ Harry Dalzell-Payne Harry Dalzell-Payne, Trustee |
|||
/s/ Francis E. Jeffries Francis E. Jeffries, Trustee |
/s/ Dr. Leroy Keith, Jr. Dr. Leroy Keith, Jr., Trustee |
|||
/s/ Marilyn E. LaMarche Marilyn E. LaMarche, Trustee |
/s/ Philip R. McLoughlin Philip R. McLoughlin, Trustee |
|||
/s/ Geraldine M. McNamara Geraldine M. McNamara, Trustee |
/s/ James M. Oates James M. Oates, Trustee |
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/s/ Richard E. Segerson Richard E. Segerson, Trustee |
/s/ George R. Aylward George R. Aylward, Trustee |
|||
/s/ Ferdinand L.J. Verdonck Ferdinand L. J. Verdonck, Trustee |
All signatures need not appear on the same copy of this Power of Attorney.