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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2012

1933 Act File No. 333-179887

1940 Act File No. 811-22673

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-2

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

 

 

 

x    REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933     
x    Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3   
¨    Post-Effective Amendment No.   

and

 

x    REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940     
x    Amendment No. 3   

 

 

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

1633 Broadway

New York, New York 10019

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code)

(212) 739-3222

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

Thomas J. Fuccillo, Esq.

c/o Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC

1633 Broadway

New York, New York 10019

(Name and Address (Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code) of Agent for Service)

 

 

Copies of Communications to:

 

David C. Sullivan, Esq.

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02199

 

Joseph A. Hall, Esq.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:

As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If any securities being registered on this form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box ¨ .

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):

 

x when declared effective pursuant to section 8(c).

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

Title of Securities Being Registered  

Amount

Being

Registered (1)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price

Per Unit (1)

 

Proposed

Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price (1)

 

Amount of
Registration

Fee (2)

Common Shares, par value $.00001

  40,000 Shares   $25.00   $1,000,000   $114.60

 

 

(1) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.
(2) A registration fee of $114.60 was previously paid in connection with the initial filing on March 2, 2012.

The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Preliminary Prospectus (Subject to Completion) dated May 11, 2012

PROSPECTUS

            Shares

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund

Common Shares

$25.00 per Share

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “Fund”) is offering             common shares of beneficial interest (“common shares”). This is the initial public offering of the Fund’s common shares and no public market exists for its common shares.

Investment Objectives.   The Fund is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund seeks current income as a primary objective and capital appreciation as a secondary objective. No assurance can be given that the Fund’s investment objectives will be achieved, and you could lose all of your investment in the Fund.

Investment Strategy.   The Fund will invest in fixed-income securities and related instruments of any type and credit quality worldwide and will seek to achieve its investment objectives to produce total return for shareholders by utilizing a dynamic asset allocation strategy among multiple fixed-income sectors, including below investment-grade, mortgage-related and any other asset-backed securities, government and sovereign debt, corporate debt (including fixed- and floating-rate bonds, bank loans and convertible securities), taxable municipal bonds and other income-producing securities of U.S. and foreign issuers, including emerging market issuers. The Fund will be managed according to strategies that focus on credit quality, duration management and other risk management techniques. On behalf of the Fund, Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, the Fund’s sub-adviser (“PIMCO” or the “Sub-Adviser”), employs an active approach to allocation among multiple fixed-income sectors based on, among other things, market conditions, valuation assessments and economic outlook, credit market trends and other economic factors.

(continued on following page)

No Prior History.   Because the Fund is newly organized, its common shares have no history of public trading. Shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a significant discount from their net asset value, which creates a risk of loss for investors purchasing shares in the initial public offering. This risk is greater for investors who expect to sell their shares in a relatively short period after completion of the initial public offering.

The Fund anticipates that its common shares will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to notice of issuance, under the trading or “ticker” symbol “PDI.”

Investment in the Fund’s common shares involves substantial risks arising from, among other strategies, the Fund’s ability to invest in debt instruments that are, at the time of purchase, rated below investment grade (below Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or below BBB by either Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Company, Inc. (“S&P”) or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”)) or unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality, the Fund’s exposure to foreign and emerging markets securities and currencies and to mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, and the Fund’s anticipated use of leverage. Debt securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and to repay principal, and are commonly referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds.” The Fund’s exposure to foreign securities and currencies, and particularly to emerging markets securities and currencies, involves special risks, including foreign currency risk and the risk that the securities may decline in response to unfavorable political and legal developments, unreliable or untimely information or economic and financial instability. Mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are subject to extension and prepayment risk and often have complicated structures that make them difficult to value. Because of the risks associated with investing in high yield securities, foreign and emerging market securities (and related exposure to foreign currencies) and mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, and using leverage, an investment in the Fund should be considered speculative. Before buying any of the Fund’s common shares, you should read the discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Fund in “Principal Risks of the Fund” beginning on page 70 of this prospectus.

 

 

 

     Per Share      Total (1)  

Price to Public

   $ 25.000       $                        

Sales Load (2)

   $ 1.125       $     

Estimated Offering Expenses (3)

   $ 0.050       $     

Proceeds, After Expenses, to the Fund (3)

   $ 23.825       $     

(notes on following page)

The Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities regulators have not approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The underwriters expect to deliver the common shares to purchasers on or about             , 2012.

 

 

 

Morgan Stanley  

    Citigroup

      BofA Merrill Lynch  

    UBS Investment Bank

      Wells Fargo Securities
Barclays       RBC Capital Markets
BB&T Capital Markets   Chardan Capital Markets, LLC   Henley & Company LLC
J.J.B Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC   Janney Montgomery Scott   Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.
Maxim Group LLC   Wedbush Securities Inc.   Wunderlich Securities

 

 

The date of this prospectus is             , 2012


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(notes from previous page)

 

 

 

(1) The Fund has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to             additional common shares at the price to public, less the sales load, within 45 days of the date of this prospectus solely to cover over-allotments, if any. If such option is exercised in full, the total price to public, sales load, estimated offering expenses and proceeds to the Fund will be $            , $            , $            and $            , respectively. See “Underwriters.”

 

(2) The Sub-Adviser has agreed to pay from its own assets, upfront structuring and syndication fees to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, and upfront structuring fees to Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, UBS Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Barclays Capital Inc. These fees are not reflected under sales load in the table above. The Sub-Adviser may pay certain qualifying underwriters a structuring fee, additional compensation or a sales incentive fee in connection with the offering. See “Underwriters—Additional Compensation to be Paid by the Sub-Adviser.”

 

(3) The Fund will pay offering costs (other than the sales load) up to an aggregate of $0.05 per common share sold in this offering. The Sub-Adviser has agreed to pay all organizational expenses of the Fund. The Sub-Adviser has also agreed to pay offering costs of the Fund (other than the sales load) to the extent that they exceed $0.05 per common share. If the Fund issues 12,000,000 common shares at a total price to the public of $300,000,000, total offering expenses are estimated at $750,000 (approximately $0.0625 per common share), of which the Fund would pay $600,000 ($0.05 per common share) and the Sub-Adviser $150,000 (approximately $0.0125 per common share). The actual size of the offering and related expenses may vary substantially from these estimates. See “Summary of Fund Expenses.”

(continued from cover page)

It is expected that the Fund normally will have a short to intermediate average portfolio duration ( i.e. , within a zero- to eight-year (0 to 8) range), as calculated by the Sub-Adviser, although it may be shorter or longer at any time or from time to time depending on market conditions and other factors. PIMCO believes that maintaining duration within this range offers flexibility and the opportunity for above-average returns while potentially limiting exposure to interest rate volatility and related risks.

Portfolio Contents.   The Fund normally invests worldwide in a portfolio of debt obligations and other income-producing securities of any type and credit quality, with varying maturities and related derivative instruments.

The Fund may invest without limit in securities of U.S. issuers and without limit in securities of foreign (non-U.S.) issuers, securities traded principally outside of the United States, and securities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Fund may normally invest up to 40% of its total assets in securities of issuers economically tied to “emerging market” countries. The Fund may also invest directly in foreign currencies, including local emerging market currencies.

The Fund’s portfolio of income-producing securities may include, without limitation, bonds, debentures, notes, and other debt securities of U.S. and foreign corporate and other issuers, including commercial paper; mortgage-related and any other type of asset-backed securities issued on a public or private basis; U.S. Government securities; obligations of foreign governments or their sub-divisions, agencies and government sponsored enterprises and obligations of international agencies and supranational entities; municipal securities and other debt securities issued by states or local governments and their agencies, authorities and other government-sponsored enterprises, including taxable municipal securities (such as Build America Bonds); payment-in-kind securities; zero-coupon bonds; inflation-indexed bonds issued by both governments and corporations; structured notes, including hybrid or indexed securities; catastrophe bonds and other event-linked bonds; credit-linked notes; structured credit products; and bank certificates of deposit, fixed time deposits and bankers’ acceptances. The rate of interest on an income-producing security may be fixed, floating or variable. The Fund may normally invest up to 40% of its total assets in bank loans (including, among others, senior loans, delayed funding loans, revolving credit facilities and loan participations and assignments). The Fund will not normally invest more than 10% of its total assets in convertible debt securities, including synthetic convertible debt securities. Substantially all of the Fund’s portfolio may consist of below investment grade securities and/or mortgage-related or other types of asset-backed securities. However, the Fund will not normally invest more than 20% of its total assets in debt instruments, other than mortgage-related or asset-backed securities, that are, at the time of purchase, rated CCC+ or lower by S&P and Fitch and Caa1 or lower by Moody’s, or that are unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality to securities so rated. The Fund may invest without limitation in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities regardless of rating— i.e ., of any credit quality. The Fund may also invest in preferred securities.

 

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As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will normally invest at least 25% of its total assets in privately-issued (commonly known as “non-agency”) mortgage-related securities.

The Fund may utilize various derivative strategies (both long and short positions) involving the purchase or sale of futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), call and put options, credit default swaps, total return swaps, basis swaps and other swap agreements and other derivative instruments for investment purposes, leveraging purposes or in an attempt to hedge against market, credit, interest rate, currency and other risks in the portfolio. The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis and may engage in short sales.

The Fund will not normally invest directly in common stocks of operating companies. However, the Fund may own and hold common stocks in its portfolio from time to time in connection with a corporate action or the restructuring of a debt instrument or through the conversion of a convertible security held by the Fund. The Fund may invest in securities that have not been registered for public sale in the U.S. or relevant foreign jurisdiction, including without limitation securities eligible for purchase and sale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or relevant provisions of applicable non-U.S. law, and other securities issued in private placements. The Fund may also invest in securities of other investment companies, including, without limitation, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and may invest in foreign ETFs. The Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The Fund may invest in securities of companies with small and medium market capitalizations.

The Fund may invest without limit in illiquid securities ( i.e. , securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the securities).

Leverage.    As soon as reasonably practicable following the completion of the initial public offering of the Fund’s common shares, the Fund intends, subject to then favorable market conditions, to add leverage to its portfolio by utilizing reverse repurchase agreements, such that the leverage initially obtained utilizing reverse repurchase agreements represents approximately 29% of the Fund’s total assets (including the amounts of leverage obtained through the use of such instruments). The Fund may also obtain leverage through dollar rolls or borrowings, such as through bank loans or commercial paper or other credit facilities. The Fund may also enter into transactions other than those noted above that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), credit default swaps, total return swaps and other derivative transactions, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions. Although it has no current intention to do so, the Fund may also determine to issue preferred shares or other types of senior securities to add leverage to its portfolio. The Fund intends to utilize reverse repurchase agreements, borrowings and other forms of leverage opportunistically and may choose to increase or decrease, or eliminate entirely, its use of leverage over time and from time to time ( i.e. , higher or lower than the anticipated approximate 29% initial reverse repurchase agreement level noted above) based on PIMCO’s assessment of the yield curve environment, interest rate trends, market conditions and other factors. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will limit its use of leverage from any combination of reverse repurchase agreements or dollar roll transactions (whether or not these instruments are covered), borrowings ( i.e. , loans or lines of credit from banks or other credit facilities), any future issuance of preferred shares and, to the extent described in this prospectus under the section entitled “Leverage,” credit default swaps, other swap agreements and futures contracts such that the assets attributable to the use of such leverage will not exceed 50% of the Fund’s total assets (including, for purposes of the 50% limit, the amounts of leverage obtained through the use of such instruments). The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, also generally limits the extent to which the Fund may utilize uncovered reverse repurchase agreements and borrowings, together with any other senior securities representing indebtedness, to 33  1 / 3 % of the Fund’s total assets at the time utilized. See “Leverage.” By using leverage, the Fund will seek to obtain a higher return for holders of common shares than if the Fund did not use leverage. Leveraging is a speculative technique and there are special risks and costs involved. There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be used or that it will be successful during any period in which it is employed. See “Leverage” and “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.”

 

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Certain numbers and percentages have been rounded for ease of presentation, which may result in amounts not totaling precisely.

Please read this prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest and retain it for future reference. It sets forth concisely the information about the Fund that a prospective investor ought to know before investing in the Fund. The Fund has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Statement of Additional Information dated             , 2012, containing additional information about the Fund. The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, which means it is part of this prospectus for legal purposes. The Fund will also produce both annual and semi-annual reports that will contain important information about the Fund. Copies of the Statement of Additional Information and the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports, when available, may be obtained upon request, without charge, by calling toll-free (800) 254-5197 or by writing to the Fund at 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019. You may also call this toll-free telephone number to request other information about the Fund or to make shareholder inquiries. The Statement of Additional Information is (for a period of 60 days after completion of the initial public offering of the Fund’s common shares), and the annual report and the semi-annual report will be, made available free of charge on the Fund’s website at www.allianzinvestors.com. Information on, or accessible through, the Fund’s website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus. The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains an internet website (www.sec.gov) that contains other information regarding the Fund. The table of contents for the Statement of Additional Information appears on page 111 of this prospectus.

The Fund’s common shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

       Page  

Prospectus Summary

       1   

Summary of Fund Expenses

       39   

The Fund

       41   

Use of Proceeds

       41   

The Fund’s Investment Objectives and Strategies

       42   

Leverage

       67   

Principal Risks of the Fund

       70   

How the Fund Manages Risk

       88   

Management of the Fund

       89   

Net Asset Value

       91   

Distributions

       92   
Dividend Reinvestment Plan        93   
Description of Shares        95   
Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust        96   
Repurchase of Common Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund        97   
Tax Matters        99   
Underwriters        106   
Custodian and Transfer Agent        110   
Legal Matters        110   
Table of Contents for the Statement of Additional Information        111   
Appendix A—Description of Securities Ratings        A-1   

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The Fund has not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with inconsistent information. If anyone provides you with inconsistent information, you should not assume that the Fund or the underwriters have authorized or verified it. The Fund is not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus. The Fund’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

Until             , 2012 (25 days after the commencement of this offering), all dealers that buy, sell or trade the Fund’s common shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This delivery requirement is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This is only a summary. This summary may not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the Fund’s common shares. You should review the more detailed information contained in this prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information. In particular, you should carefully read the risks of investing in the Fund’s common shares, as discussed under “Principal Risks of the Fund.”

 

The Fund

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. See “The Fund.”

 

The Offering

The Fund is offering             common shares of beneficial interest, with a par value of $0.00001 per share, at $25.00 per share through a group of underwriters led by Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, UBS Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC. The common shares of beneficial interest are sometimes called “Common Shares,” and the holders thereof “Common Shareholders,” in the rest of this prospectus. You must purchase at least 100 Common Shares. The Fund has given the underwriters an option to purchase up to             additional Common Shares to cover over-allotments. See “Underwriters.” The Sub-Adviser has agreed to pay the amount by which the Fund’s offering costs (other than the sales load) exceed $0.05 per share. The Sub-Adviser has agreed to pay all of the Fund’s organizational expenses.

 

Investment Objectives

The Fund seeks current income as a primary objective and capital appreciation as a secondary objective. The Fund will seek to achieve its investment objectives to produce total return for shareholders by utilizing a dynamic asset allocation strategy among multiple fixed-income sectors to invest in a portfolio of fixed-income securities and related instruments of any type and any quality worldwide. The types of securities and instruments in which the Fund may invest are summarized under “—Portfolio Contents” below. The Fund cannot assure you that it will achieve its investment objectives, and you could lose all of your investment in the Fund.

 

 

Dynamic Allocation Strategy.   On behalf of the Fund, PIMCO employs an active approach to allocation among multiple fixed-income sectors based on, among other things, market conditions, valuation assessments and economic outlook, credit market trends and other economic factors. With PIMCO’s macroeconomic analysis as the basis for top-down investment decisions, including geographic and credit sector emphasis, the Fund has the flexibility to allocate its assets among a broad spectrum of asset classes and issuers of any credit quality, including mortgage-related and any other asset-backed securities, government and sovereign debt, corporate debt (including fixed- and floating-rate bonds, bank loans and convertible securities), taxable municipal bonds and other income-producing securities of U.S. and foreign issuers, including emerging market issuers. PIMCO may choose to focus on particular countries/regions ( e.g. , U.S. vs. foreign), asset classes, industries and sectors to the exclusion of others at any time and from time to time based on market conditions and other factors. The relative value assessment within fixed-income sectors draws on PIMCO’s

 

 

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regional and sector specialist expertise. As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will, however, normally invest at least 25% of its total assets in privately-issued (commonly known as “non-agency”) mortgage-related securities. The Fund will observe other guidelines with respect to certain asset classes as summarized below.

 

  Investment Selection Strategies.   Once the Fund’s top-down, portfolio positioning decisions have been made as described above, PIMCO selects particular investments for the Fund by employing a bottom-up, disciplined credit approach which is driven by fundamental, independent research within each asset class/sector represented in the Fund, with a focus on identifying securities and other instruments with solid and/or improving fundamentals.

 

  PIMCO utilizes strategies that focus on credit quality analysis, duration management and other risk management techniques. PIMCO attempts to identify, through fundamental research, driven by independent credit analysis and proprietary analytical tools, debt obligations and other income-producing securities that provide current income and/or opportunities for capital appreciation based on its analysis of the issuer’s credit characteristics and the position of the security in the issuer’s capital structure.

 

  PIMCO also attempts to identify investments that may appreciate in value based on PIMCO’s assessment of the issuer’s credit characteristics, forecast for interest rates and outlook for particular countries/regions, currencies, industries, sectors and the global economy and bond markets generally.

 

  Credit Quality.   The Fund may invest in debt instruments that are, at the time of purchase, rated below investment grade, or unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality. However, the Fund will not normally invest more than 20% of its total assets in debt instruments, other than mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, that are, at the time of purchase, rated CCC+ or lower by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) and Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) and Caa1 or lower by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or that are unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality to securities so rated. The Fund may invest without limitation in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities regardless of rating— i.e. , of any credit quality. Debt instruments of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and to repay principal, and are commonly referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds.” Debt instruments in the lowest investment grade category also may be considered to possess some speculative characteristics. The Fund may, for hedging, investment or leveraging purposes, make use of credit default swaps, which are contracts whereby one party makes periodic payments to a counterparty in exchange for the right to receive from the counterparty a payment equal to the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation in the event of a default or other credit event by the issuer of the debt obligation.

 

 

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  Independent Credit Analysis.   PIMCO relies primarily on its own analysis of the credit quality and risks associated with individual debt instruments considered for the Fund, rather than relying exclusively on rating agencies or third-party research. The Fund’s portfolio managers utilize this information in an attempt to minimize credit risk and to identify issuers, industries or sectors that are undervalued or that offer attractive yields relative to PIMCO’s assessment of their credit characteristics. This aspect of PIMCO’s capabilities will be particularly important to the extent that the Fund invests in high yield securities and in securities of emerging market issuers.

 

  Duration Management.   It is expected that the Fund normally will have a short to intermediate average portfolio duration ( i.e. , within a zero- to eight-year (0 to 8) range), as calculated by the Sub-Adviser, although it may be shorter or longer at any time or from time to time depending on market conditions and other factors. PIMCO believes that maintaining duration within this range offers flexibility and the opportunity for above-average returns while potentially limiting exposure to interest rate volatility and related risk. Duration is a measure used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The Fund’s duration strategy may entail maintaining a negative average portfolio duration from time to time, which would potentially benefit the portfolio in an environment of rising market interest rates, but would generally adversely impact the portfolio in an environment of falling market interest rates. PIMCO may also utilize certain strategies, including without limitation investments in structured notes or interest rate futures contracts or swap, cap, floor or collar transactions, for the purpose of reducing the interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio, although there is no assurance that it will do so or that such strategies will be successful.

 

  Diversification.   The Fund is a “non-diversified” investment company in that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than investment companies that are “diversified.” See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Issuer Non-Diversification Risk.”

 

  Portfolio Contents.   The Fund normally invests worldwide in a portfolio of debt obligations and other income-producing securities of any type and credit quality, with varying maturities and related derivative instruments.

 

  The Fund may invest without limit in securities of U.S. issuers and without limit in securities of foreign (non-U.S.) issuers, securities traded principally outside of the United States, and securities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Fund may normally invest up to 40% of its total assets in securities of issuers economically tied to “emerging market” countries. The Fund may also invest directly in foreign currencies, including local emerging market currencies.

 

 

The Fund’s portfolio of income-producing securities may include, without limitation, bonds, debentures, notes, and other debt securities of U.S. and foreign corporate and other issuers, including commercial

 

 

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paper; mortgage-related and any other type of asset-backed securities issued on a public or private basis; U.S. Government securities; obligations of foreign governments or their sub-divisions, agencies and government sponsored enterprises and obligations of international agencies and supranational entities; municipal securities and other debt securities issued by states or local governments and their agencies, authorities and other government-sponsored enterprises, including taxable municipal securities (such as Build America Bonds); payment-in-kind securities; zero-coupon bonds; inflation-indexed bonds issued by both governments and corporations; structured notes, including hybrid or indexed securities; catastrophe bonds and other event-linked bonds; credit-linked notes; structured credit products; and bank certificates of deposit, fixed time deposits and bankers’ acceptances. The rate of interest on an income-producing security may be fixed, floating or variable. The Fund may normally invest up to 40% of its total assets in bank loans (including, among others, senior loans, delayed funding loans, revolving credit facilities and loan participations and assignments). The Fund will not normally invest more than 10% of its total assets in convertible debt securities ( i.e. , debt securities that may be converted at either a stated price or stated rate into underlying shares of common stock), including synthetic convertible debt securities ( i.e. , instruments created through a combination of separate securities that possess the two principal characteristics of a traditional convertible security, i.e. , an income-producing security and the right to acquire an equity security). Substantially all of the Fund’s portfolio may consist of below investment grade securities and/or mortgage-related or other types of asset-backed securities. The Fund may also invest in preferred securities.

 

  As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will normally invest at least 25% of its total assets in privately-issued (commonly known as “non-agency”) mortgage-related securities.

 

  The Fund may utilize various derivative strategies (both long and short positions) involving the purchase or sale of futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), call and put options, credit default swaps, total return swaps, basis swaps and other swap agreements and other derivative instruments for investment purposes, leveraging purposes or in an attempt to hedge against market, credit, interest rate, currency and other risks in the portfolio. The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis and may engage in short sales.

 

 

The Fund will not normally invest directly in common stocks of operating companies. However, the Fund may own and hold common stocks in its portfolio from time to time in connection with a corporate action or the restructuring of a debt instrument or through the conversion of a convertible security held by the Fund. The Fund may invest in securities that have not been registered for public sale

 

 

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in the U.S. or relevant non-U.S. jurisdiction, including without limitation securities eligible for purchase and sale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or relevant provisions of applicable non-U.S. law, and other securities issued in private placements. The Fund may also invest in securities of other investment companies, including, without limitation, ETFs, and may invest in foreign ETFs. The Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The Fund may invest in securities of companies with small and medium market capitalizations.

 

  The Fund may invest without limit in illiquid securities ( i.e ., securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the securities).

 

  Leverage.   As soon as reasonably practicable following the completion of the initial public offering of the Fund’s Common Shares, the Fund intends, subject to then favorable market conditions, to add leverage to its portfolio by utilizing reverse repurchase agreements, such that the leverage initially obtained utilizing reverse repurchase agreements represents approximately 29% of the Fund’s total assets (including the amounts of leverage obtained through the use of such instruments). The Fund may also obtain leverage through dollar rolls or borrowings, such as through bank loans or commercial paper or other credit facilities. The Fund may also enter into transactions other than those noted above that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), credit default swaps, total return swaps and other derivative transactions, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions. Although it has no current intention to do so, the Fund may also determine to issue preferred shares or other types of senior securities to add leverage to its portfolio. The Fund intends to utilize reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and other forms of leverage opportunistically and may choose to increase or decrease, or eliminate entirely, its use of leverage over time and from time to time ( i.e. , higher or lower than the anticipated approximate 29% initial reverse repurchase agreement level noted above) based on PIMCO’s assessment of the yield curve environment, interest rate trends, market conditions and other factors. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk.”

 

 

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will limit its use of leverage from any combination of (i) reverse repurchase agreements or dollar roll transactions (whether or not these instruments are covered as discussed below), (ii) borrowings ( i.e. , loans or lines of credit from banks or other credit facilities), (iii) any future issuance of preferred shares, and (iv) to the extent described below, credit default swaps, other swap agreements and futures contracts (whether or not these instruments are covered with segregated assets as discussed

 

 

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below) such that the assets attributable to the use of such leverage will not exceed 50% of the Fund’s total assets (including, for purposes of the 50% limit, the amounts of leverage obtained through the use of such instruments) (the “50% policy”). For these purposes, assets attributable to the use of leverage from credit default swaps, other swap agreements and futures contracts will be determined based on the current market value of the instrument if it is cash settled or based on the notional value of the instrument if it is not cash settled. In addition, assets attributable to credit default swaps, other swap agreements or futures contracts will not be counted towards the 50% policy to the extent that the Fund owns offsetting positions or enters into offsetting transactions.

 

  The net proceeds the Fund obtains from reverse repurchase agreements or other forms of leverage utilized will be invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies as described in this prospectus. So long as the rate of return, net of applicable Fund expenses, on the debt obligations and other investments purchased by the Fund exceeds the costs to the Fund of the leverage it utilizes, the investment of the Fund’s net assets attributable to leverage will generate more income than will be needed to pay the costs of the leverage. If so, and all other things being equal, the excess may be used to pay higher dividends to Common Shareholders than if the Fund were not so leveraged.

 

 

The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “1940 Act”), generally prohibits the Fund from engaging in most forms of leverage (including the use of reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, bank loans, commercial paper or other credit facilities, credit default swaps, total return swaps and other derivative transactions, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions, to the extent that these instruments are not covered as described below) unless immediately after the issuance of the leverage the Fund has satisfied the asset coverage test with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness prescribed by the 1940 Act; that is, the value of the Fund’s total assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities (for these purposes, “total net assets”) is at least 300% of the senior securities representing indebtedness (effectively limiting the use of leverage through senior securities representing indebtedness to 33  1 / 3 % of the Fund’s total net assets, including assets attributable to such leverage). In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on Common Shares unless, at the time of such declaration, this asset coverage test is satisfied. The Fund may (but is not required to) cover its commitments under reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, derivatives and certain other instruments by the segregation of liquid assets, or by entering into offsetting transactions or owning positions covering its obligations. To the extent that certain of these instruments are so covered, they will not be considered “senior securities” under the 1940 Act and therefore

 

 

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will not be subject to the 1940 Act 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to forms of leverage used by the Fund. However, reverse repurchase agreements and other such instruments, even if covered, represent a form of economic leverage and create special risks. The use of these forms of leverage increases the volatility of the Fund’s investment portfolio and could result in larger losses to Common Shareholders than if these strategies were not used. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.” To the extent that the Fund engages in borrowings, it may prepay a portion of the principal amount of the borrowing to the extent necessary in order to maintain the required asset coverage. Failure to maintain certain asset coverage requirements could result in an event of default.

 

  Leveraging is a speculative technique and there are special risks and costs involved. There is no assurance that the Fund will utilize reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls or borrowings, issue preferred shares or utilize any other forms of leverage (such as the use of derivatives strategies). If used, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategies will be successful or result in a higher yield on your Common Shares. When leverage is used, the net asset value and market price of the Common Shares and the yield to Common Shareholders will be more volatile. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.” In addition, interest and other expenses borne by the Fund with respect to its use of reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings or any other forms of leverage are borne by the Common Shareholders and result in a reduction of the net asset value of the Common Shares. In addition, because the fees received by the Investment Manager and by the Sub-Adviser (as defined below) are based on the total managed assets of the Fund (including any assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding), the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser have a financial incentive for the Fund to use certain forms of leverage ( e.g. , reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and preferred shares), which may create a conflict of interest between the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser, on the one hand, and the Common Shareholders, on the other hand.

 

  Please see “Leverage” and “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk” in the body of this prospectus for additional information regarding leverage and related risks.

 

Investment Manager

Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC (the “Investment Manager”) serves as the investment manager of the Fund. Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, the Investment Manager is responsible for managing, either directly or through others selected by it, the investment activities of the Fund and the Fund’s business affairs and other administrative matters. The Investment Manager will receive an annual fee from the Fund, payable monthly, in an amount equal to 1.15% of the Fund’s average daily total managed assets. “Total managed assets” means the total assets of the Fund (including

 

 

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assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding) minus accrued liabilities (other than liabilities representing reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings). The Investment Manager is located at 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019. Organized in 2000, the Investment Manager provides investment management and advisory services to a number of closed-end and open-end investment company clients. The Investment Manager is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Allianz SE, a publicly-traded European insurance and financial services company. As of March 31, 2012, the Investment Manager had approximately $47.3 billion in assets under management.

 

  The Investment Manager has retained its affiliate, PIMCO, as a sub-adviser to manage the Fund’s portfolio investments. See “—Sub-Adviser” below.

 

Sub-Adviser

PIMCO serves as the Fund’s sub-adviser responsible for managing the Fund’s portfolio investments. Subject to the supervision of the Investment Manager, PIMCO has full investment discretion and makes all determinations with respect to the investment of the Fund’s assets.

 

  PIMCO is located at 840 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660. Organized in 1971, PIMCO provides investment management and advisory services to private accounts of institutional and individual clients and to a number of open-end and closed-end investment companies. As of March 31, 2012, PIMCO had approximately $1.77 trillion in assets under management.

 

  The Investment Manager (and not the Fund) will pay a portion of the fees it receives to PIMCO in return for PIMCO’s services.

 

Distributions

Commencing with the Fund’s first dividend, the Fund intends to make monthly cash distributions to Common Shareholders at rates that reflect the past and projected net income of the Fund. Subject to applicable law, the Fund expects regularly to fund a portion of its distributions with gains from the sale of portfolio securities and other sources. The dividend rate that the Fund pays on its Common Shares may vary as portfolio and market conditions change, and will depend on a number of factors, including without limitation the amount of the Fund’s undistributed net investment income and net short- and long-term capital gains, as well as the costs of any leverage obtained by the Fund (including interest expenses on any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings and dividends payable on any preferred shares issued by the Fund). As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of distributions on the Common Shares and the Fund’s dividend policy could change. For a discussion of factors that may cause the Fund’s income and capital gains (and therefore the dividend) to vary, see “Principal Risks of the Fund.” The Fund intends to distribute each year all of its net investment income and net short-term capital gains. In addition, at least annually, the Fund intends to distribute net realized long-term capital gains not

 

 

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previously distributed, if any. The net investment income of the Fund consists of all income (other than net short-term and long-term capital gains) less all expenses of the Fund (after it pays accrued dividends on any outstanding preferred shares). Your initial distribution is expected to be declared approximately 45 days, and paid approximately 60 to 90 days, from the completion of this offering, depending on market conditions. To permit the Fund to maintain more stable distributions, the Fund’s distribution rates will be based, in part, on projections as to annual cash available for distribution and, therefore, the distributions paid by the Fund for any particular month may be more or less than the amount of cash available to the Fund for distribution for that monthly period.

 

  The tax treatment and characterization of the Fund’s distributions may vary significantly from time to time because of the varied nature of the Fund’s investments. To the extent required by the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, absent an exemption, a notice will accompany each monthly distribution with respect to the estimated source (as between net income and gains) of the distribution made. (The Fund will report the proportion of its capital gains distributions that constitute long-term and short-term gains annually, generally on Form 1099.) The tax characterization of the Fund’s distributions made in a taxable year cannot finally be determined until at or after the end of the year. As a result, there is a possibility that the Fund may make total distributions during a taxable year in an amount that exceeds the Fund’s net investment income and net realized capital gains for the relevant year (including as reduced by any capital loss carry-forwards). For example, the Fund may distribute amounts early in the year that are derived from short-term capital gains, but incur net short-term capital losses later in the year, thereby offsetting short-term capital gains out of which distributions have already been made by the Fund. In such a situation, the amount by which the Fund’s total distributions exceed net investment income and net realized capital gains would generally be treated as a tax-free return of capital up to the amount of a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Common Shares, with any amounts exceeding such basis treated as gain from the sale of Common Shares. In general terms, a return of capital would occur where a Fund distribution (or portion thereof) represents a return of a portion of your investment, rather than net income or capital gains generated from your investment during a particular period. Although return of capital distributions may not be taxable, such distributions would reduce the basis of a shareholder’s Common Shares and therefore may increase a shareholder’s tax liability for capital gains upon a sale of Common Shares. See “Tax Matters.”

 

  The 1940 Act currently limits the number of times the Fund may distribute long-term capital gains in any tax year, which may increase the variability of the Fund’s distributions and result in certain distributions being comprised more or less heavily than others of long-term capital gains eligible for favorable income tax rates.

 

 

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  Unless a Common Shareholder elects to receive distributions in cash, all distributions of Common Shareholders whose shares are registered with the plan agent will be automatically reinvested in additional Common Shares under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. See “Distributions” and “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

 

  Although it does not currently intend to do so, the Board of Trustees may change the Fund’s distribution policy and the amount or timing of distributions, based on a number of factors, including the amount of the Fund’s undistributed net investment income and net short- and long-term capital gains and historical and projected net investment income and net short- and long-term capital gains.

 

Listing

The Fund anticipates that its Common Shares will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), subject to notice of issuance, under the trading or “ticker” symbol “PDI.” See “Description of Shares.”

 

Custodian and Transfer Agent

State Street Bank & Trust Company will serve as custodian of the Fund’s assets and will also provide certain fund accounting, sub-administrative and compliance services to the Investment Manager on behalf of the Fund. BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. will serve as the Fund’s transfer agent and dividend disbursement agent. See “Custodian and Transfer Agent.”

 

Market Price of Shares

Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at prices lower than net asset value. Shares of closed-end investment companies have during some periods traded at prices higher than net asset value and during other periods traded at prices lower than net asset value. The Fund cannot assure you that Common Shares will trade at a price equal to or higher than net asset value in the future. Net asset value will be reduced immediately following the offering by the sales load and the amount of offering expenses paid or reimbursed by the Fund. See “Use of Proceeds.” In addition to net asset value, market price may be affected by factors relating to the Fund such as dividend levels and stability (which will in turn be affected by Fund expenses, including the costs of any leverage used by the Fund, levels of interest payments by the Fund’s portfolio holdings, levels of appreciation/depreciation of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, regulation affecting the timing and character of Fund distributions and other factors), portfolio credit quality, liquidity, call protection, market supply and demand and similar factors relating to the Fund’s portfolio holdings. See “Leverage,” “Principal Risks of the Fund,” “Description of Shares” and “Repurchase of Common Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund” in this prospectus, and see “Repurchase of Common Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund” in the Statement of Additional Information. The Common Shares are designed for long-term investors and should not be treated as trading vehicles.

 

Principal Risks of the Fund

No Prior History.   The Fund is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company with no history of operations.

 

 

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  Market Discount Risk.   As with any stock, the price of the Fund’s Common Shares will fluctuate with market conditions and other factors. If you sell your Common Shares, the price received may be more or less than your original investment. Net asset value will be reduced immediately following the initial offering by a sales load and offering expenses paid or reimbursed by the Fund. The Common Shares are designed for long-term investors and should not be treated as trading vehicles. Shares of closed-end management investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value. The Common Shares may trade at a price that is less than the initial offering price. This risk may be greater for investors who sell their shares relatively shortly after completion of the initial offering.

 

  Market Risk.   The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. During a general downturn in the securities markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value simultaneously.

 

  Asset Allocation Risk.    The Fund’s investment performance depends upon how its assets are allocated and reallocated. A principal risk of investing in the Fund is that PIMCO may make less than optimal or poor asset allocation decisions. PIMCO employs an active approach to allocation among multiple fixed-income sectors, but there is no guarantee that such allocation techniques will produce the desired results. It is possible that PIMCO will focus on an investment that performs poorly or underperforms other investments under various market conditions. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund as a result of these allocation decisions.

 

  Issuer Risk.   The value of securities may decline for a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuer, such as its financial strength, management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods and services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets.

 

 

Issuer Non-Diversification Risk.   The Fund is a “non-diversified” investment company and therefore may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a limited number of issuers than funds that are “diversified.” Accordingly, the Fund is more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a diversified fund might be. Some of the issuers in which the Fund invests may also present substantial

 

 

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credit or other risks. The Fund will be subject to similar risks to the extent that it enters into derivative transactions with a limited number of counterparties.

 

  Management Risk.   The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. PIMCO and the portfolio managers will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results.

 

  Interest Rate Risk.   Generally, when market interest rates rise, the prices of debt obligations fall, and vice versa. Interest rate risk is the risk that debt obligations and other instruments in the Fund’s portfolio will decline in value because of increases in market interest rates. This risk may be particularly acute because market interest rates are currently at historically low levels. The prices of long-term debt obligations generally fluctuate more than prices of short-term debt obligations as interest rates change. Because the Fund’s normal average portfolio duration range extends up to eight years (normally in the range of 0 to 8 years), as calculated by the Sub-Adviser, the Fund’s net asset value and market price per Common Share will tend to fluctuate more in response to changes in market interest rates than if the Fund invested mainly in short-term debt securities. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of certain types of securities may be extended due to lower than expected rates of prepayments, which could cause the securities’ durations to extend and expose the securities to more price volatility. This may lock in a below market yield, increase the security’s duration and reduce the security’s value. In addition to directly affecting debt securities, rising interest rates may also have an adverse effect on the value of any equity securities held by the Fund. The Fund’s duration strategy may entail maintaining a negative average portfolio duration from time to time, which would potentially benefit the portfolio in an environment of rising market interest rates, but would generally adversely impact the portfolio in an environment of falling market interest rates. The Fund’s use of leverage will tend to increase Common Share interest rate risk. PIMCO may utilize certain strategies, including without limitation investments in structured notes or interest rate futures contracts or swap, cap, floor or collar transactions, for the purpose of reducing the interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio, although there is no assurance that it will do so or that, if used, such strategies will be successful.

 

 

The Fund may invest in variable- and floating-rate debt instruments, which generally are less sensitive to interest rate changes than longer duration fixed-rate instruments, but may decline in value in response to rising interest rates if, for example, the rates at which they pay interest do not rise as much, or as quickly, as market interest rates in general. Conversely, variable- and floating-rate instruments generally will not increase in value if interest rates decline. The Fund also may invest in inverse floating-rate debt securities, which may decrease in value if interest rates increase, and which also may exhibit greater

 

 

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price volatility than fixed-rate debt obligations with similar credit quality. To the extent the Fund holds variable- or floating-rate instruments, a decrease (or, in the case of inverse floating-rate securities, an increase) in market interest rates will adversely affect the income received from such securities and the net asset value of the Fund’s Common Shares.

 

  Credit Risk.   Credit risk is the risk that one or more of the Fund’s investments in debt securities or other instruments will decline in price, or fail to pay interest, liquidation value or principal when due, because the issuer of the obligation or the issuer of a reference security experiences an actual or perceived decline in its financial status.

 

  Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.   The Fund may invest in a variety of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities issued by government agencies or other governmental entities or by private originators or issuers.

 

  As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will normally invest at least 25% of its total assets in privately-issued (commonly known as “non-agency”) mortgage-related securities.

 

  The mortgage-related securities in which the Fund may invest include, without limitation, mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial or residential mortgage-backed securities, mortgage dollar rolls, CMO residuals, stripped mortgage-backed securities (“SMBSs”) and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans on real property. The Fund may also invest in other types of asset-backed securities, including collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), which include collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other similarly structured securities. See “Portfolio Contents––Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities” in this prospectus and “Investment Objectives and Policies––Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities” in the Statement of Additional Information for a description of the various mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities in which the Fund may invest and their related risks.

 

 

Mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities often involve risks that are different from or more acute than risks associated with other types of debt instruments. For instance, these securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-related securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities. This is known as extension risk. In addition, mortgage-related securities are subject to prepayment risk—the risk that borrowers may pay off their mortgages sooner than expected, particularly when interest rates decline. This can reduce the Fund’s returns because the Fund may have to reinvest that money at lower prevailing interest rates. For instance, the Fund

 

 

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may invest in stripped mortgage-backed securities with respect to which one class receives all of the interest from the mortgage assets (the interest-only, or “IO” class), while the other class receives all of the principal (the principal-only, or “PO” class). The yield to maturity on an IO class is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying mortgage assets, and a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s yield to maturity from these investments.

 

  The Fund’s investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-related securities, as well as additional risks associated with their structure and the nature of the assets underlying the security and the servicing of those assets. For instance, certain CDOs in which the Fund may invest are backed by pools of high-risk, below investment grade debt securities and may involve substantial credit and other risks.

Due to their often complicated structures, various mortgage-related and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid investments.

 

  The value of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities may be substantially dependent on the servicing of the underlying asset pools, and are therefore subject to risks associated with the negligence by, or defalcation of, their servicers. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment.

 

  Investments in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities may involve particularly high levels of risk under current market conditions. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Mortgage Market/Subprime Risk.” See also “Principal Risks of the Fund—Recent Economic Conditions Risk.”

 

 

Mortgage Market/Subprime Risk.   The mortgage markets in the United States and in various foreign countries have experienced extreme difficulties over the past few years that may adversely affect the performance and market value of certain of the Fund’s mortgage-related investments. Delinquencies and losses on residential and commercial mortgage loans (especially subprime and second-lien mortgage loans) generally have increased during that period and may continue to increase, and a decline in or flattening of housing and other real property values (as has been experienced during that period and may continue to be experienced in many real estate markets) may exacerbate such delinquencies and losses. Borrowers with adjustable rate mortgage loans are more sensitive to changes in interest rates, which affect their monthly mortgage payments, and may be unable to secure replacement mortgages at comparably low interest rates. Also, a number of mortgage loan originators have experienced serious financial difficulties or bankruptcy in recent periods. Owing largely to the foregoing, reduced investor demand for mortgage loans and

 

 

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mortgage-related securities and increased investor yield requirements have caused limited liquidity in the secondary market for mortgage-related securities, which can adversely affect the market value of mortgage-related securities. It is possible that such limited liquidity in such secondary markets could continue or worsen.

 

  High Yield Risk.   In general, lower rated debt securities carry a greater degree of risk that the issuer will lose its ability to make interest and principal payments, which could have a negative effect on the net asset value of the Fund’s Common Shares or Common Share dividends. Securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds.” High yield securities involve a greater risk of default and their prices are generally more volatile and sensitive to actual or perceived negative developments, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or revenues of underlying borrowers or a general economic downturn, than are the prices of higher grade securities. Debt securities in the lowest investment grade category also may be considered to possess some speculative characteristics by certain rating agencies. The Fund may purchase distressed securities that are in default or the issuers of which are in bankruptcy, which involve heightened risks. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Distressed and Defaulted Securities Risk.” An economic downturn could severely affect the ability of issuers (particularly those that are highly leveraged) to service their debt obligations or to repay their obligations upon maturity. Lower-rated securities are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities, which may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to dispose of a particular security. For example, under adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary market for below investment grade securities could contract further, independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer, and certain securities in the Fund’s portfolio may become illiquid or less liquid. As a result, the Fund could find it more difficult to sell these securities or may be able to sell these securities only at prices lower than if such securities were widely traded. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Liquidity Risk.” To the extent the Fund focuses on below investment grade debt obligations, PIMCO’s capabilities in analyzing credit quality and associated risks will be particularly important, and there can be no assurance that PIMCO will be successful in this regard. See “Portfolio Contents—High Yield Securities (‘Junk Bonds’)” for additional information. Due to the risks involved in investing in high yield securities, an investment in the Fund should be considered speculative.

 

 

The Fund’s credit quality policies apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Fund is not required to dispose of a security in the event that a rating agency or PIMCO downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issue. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, PIMCO may consider factors including,

 

 

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but not limited to, PIMCO’s assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other rating agencies. Analysis of creditworthiness may be more complex for issuers of high yield securities than for issuers of higher quality debt securities.

 

  Distressed and Defaulted Securities Risk.   As noted above, the Fund may invest in the debt securities of financially distressed issuers, including those that are in default or the issuers of which are in bankruptcy. Investments in the securities of financially distressed issuers involve substantial risks. These securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default at the time of investment. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to an investment, the Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value substantially less than its original investment. Among the risks inherent in investments in a troubled issuer is that it frequently may be difficult to obtain information as to the true financial condition of such issuer. PIMCO’s judgments about the credit quality of a financially distressed issuer and the relative value of its securities may prove to be wrong.

 

  Municipal Bond Risk.   Investing in the municipal bond market involves the risks of investing in debt securities generally and certain other risks. The amount of public information available about the municipal bonds in which the Fund may invest is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds, and the investment performance of the Fund’s investment in municipal bonds may therefore be more dependent on the analytical abilities of PIMCO than its investments in taxable bonds. The secondary market for municipal bonds also tends to be less well developed or liquid than many other securities markets, which may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to sell municipal bonds at attractive prices.

 

 

The ability of municipal issuers to make timely payments of interest and principal may be diminished during general economic downturns, by litigation, legislation or political events, or by the bankruptcy of the issuer. Laws, referenda, ordinances or regulations enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or the applicable governmental entity could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or impose other constraints on enforcement of such obligations, or on the ability of municipal issuers to levy taxes. Issuers of municipal securities also might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. In the event of bankruptcy of such an issuer, the Fund could experience delays in collecting principal and interest and the Fund may not, in all circumstances, be able to collect all principal and interest to which it is entitled. To enforce its rights in the event of a default in the payment of interest or repayment of principal, or both,

 

 

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the Fund may take possession of and manage the assets securing the issuer’s obligations on such securities, which may increase the Fund’s operating expenses.

 

  The Fund may invest in revenue bonds, which are typically issued to fund a wide variety of capital projects including electric, gas, water and sewer systems; highways, bridges and tunnels; port and airport facilities; colleges and universities; and hospitals. Because the principal security for a revenue bond is generally the net revenues derived from a particular facility or group of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source, there is no guarantee that the particular project will generate enough revenue to pay its obligations, in which case the Fund’s performance may be adversely affected.

 

 

Inflation-Indexed Security Risk.   Inflation-indexed debt securities are subject to the effects of changes in market interest rates caused by factors other than inflation (real interest rates). In general, the value of an inflation-indexed security, including Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”), tends to decrease when real interest rates increase and can increase when real interest rates decrease. Thus generally, during periods of rising inflation, the value of inflation-indexed securities will tend to increase and during periods of deflation, their value will tend to decrease. Interest payments on inflation-indexed securities are unpredictable and will fluctuate as the principal and interest are adjusted for inflation. There can be no assurance that the inflation index used ( i.e. , the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (“CPI”)) will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Increases in the principal value of TIPS due to inflation are considered taxable ordinary income for the amount of the increase in the calendar year. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed debt security will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though the Fund will not receive the principal until maturity. In order to receive the special treatment accorded to “regulated investment companies” (“RICs”) and their shareholders under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and to avoid U.S. federal income and/or excise taxes at the Fund level, the Fund may be required to distribute this income to shareholders in the tax year in which the income is recognized (without a corresponding receipt of cash). Therefore, the Fund may be required to pay out as an income distribution in any such tax year an amount greater than the total amount of cash income the Fund actually received, and to sell portfolio securities, including at potentially disadvantageous times or prices, to obtain cash needed for these income distributions. Additionally, a CPI swap can potentially lose value if the realized rate of inflation over the life of the swap is less than the fixed market implied inflation rate (fixed breakeven rate) that the investor agrees to pay at the initiation of the swap. With municipal inflation-indexed securities, the inflation adjustment is integrated into the coupon payment. For municipal inflation-indexed securities, there is no

 

 

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adjustment to the principal value. Because municipal inflation-indexed securities are a small component of the municipal bond market, they may be less liquid than conventional municipal bonds.

 

  Senior Debt Risk.   Because it may invest in below-investment grade senior debt, the Fund may be subject to greater levels of credit risk than funds that do not invest in such debt. The Fund may also be subject to greater levels of liquidity risk than funds that do not invest in senior debt. Restrictions on transfers in loan agreements, a lack of publicly available information and other factors may, in certain instances, make senior debt more difficult to sell at an advantageous time or price than other types of securities or instruments. Additionally, if the issuer of senior debt prepays, the Fund will have to consider reinvesting the proceeds in other senior debt or similar instruments that may pay lower interest rates.

 

  Loan Participations and Assignments Risk.   The Fund’s investments in fixed and floating rate loans arranged through private negotiations between an issuer and one or more financial institutions may be in the form of participations in loans or assignments of all or a portion of loans from third parties. In connection with purchasing loan participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower, and the Fund may not directly benefit from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the loan participation. As a result, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling a participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any set-off between the lender and the borrower. Certain loan participations may be structured in a manner designed to prevent purchasers of participations from being subject to the credit risk of the lender with respect to the participation, but even under such a structure, in the event of the lender’s insolvency, the lender’s servicing of the participation may be delayed and the assignability of the participation impaired.

 

  The Fund may have difficulty disposing of loans and loan participations because to do so it will have to assign or sell such securities to a third party. Because there is no liquid market for many such securities, the Fund anticipates that such securities could be sold only to a limited number of institutional investors. The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse impact on the value of such securities and the Fund’s ability to dispose of particular loans and loan participations when that would be desirable, including in response to a specific economic event such as a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the borrower. The lack of a liquid secondary market for loans and loan participations also may make it more difficult for the Fund to assign a value to these securities for purposes of valuing the Fund’s portfolio.

 

 

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  Reinvestment Risk.   Income from the Fund’s portfolio will decline if and when the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called debt obligations at market interest rates that are below the portfolio’s current earnings rate. For instance, during periods of declining interest rates, an issuer of debt obligations may exercise an option to redeem securities prior to maturity, forcing the Fund to invest in lower-yielding securities. The Fund also may choose to sell higher yielding portfolio securities and to purchase lower yielding securities to achieve greater portfolio diversification, because the portfolio manager believes the current holdings are overvalued or for other investment-related reasons. A decline in income received by the Fund from its investments is likely to have a negative effect on dividend levels and the market price, net asset value and/or overall return of the Common Shares.

 

  Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investment Risk.   The Fund may invest without limit in securities of foreign (non-U.S.) issuers and securities traded principally outside of the United States. The Fund’s investments in and exposure to foreign securities involve special risks.

 

  For example, the value of these investments may decline in response to unfavorable political and legal developments, unreliable or untimely information or economic and financial instability. Foreign securities may experience more rapid and extreme changes in value than investments in securities of U.S. issuers. The securities markets of many foreign countries are relatively small, with a limited number of companies representing a small number of industries. Issuers of foreign securities are usually not subject to the same degree of regulation as U.S. issuers. Reporting, accounting, auditing and custody standards of foreign countries differ, in some cases significantly, from U.S. standards. Also, nationalization, expropriation or other confiscation, currency blockage, political changes or diplomatic developments could adversely affect the Fund’s investments in foreign securities. In the event of nationalization, expropriation or other confiscation, the Fund could lose its entire investment in foreign securities. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a particular foreign country or a concentrated geographic area (such as Asia or South America), the Fund will generally have more exposure to regional economic risks associated with foreign investments. Also, adverse conditions in a certain region can adversely affect securities from other countries whose economies appear to be unrelated. The costs of investing in foreign countries frequently are higher than the costs of investing in the United States. Additionally, investments in securities of foreign issuers may be denominated in foreign currencies, subjecting the Fund to foreign currency risk. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Foreign Currency Risk.”

 

 

Emerging Markets Risk.   The Fund may normally invest up to 40% of its total assets in securities of issuers economically tied to “emerging market” countries. Foreign investment risk may be particularly high

 

 

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to the extent that the Fund invests in securities of issuers based in or doing business in emerging market countries or invests in securities denominated in the currencies of emerging market countries. Investing in securities of issuers based in or doing business in emerging markets entails all of the risks of investing in foreign securities noted above, but to a heightened degree.

 

  Investments in emerging market countries pose a greater degree of systemic risk, i.e. , the risk of a cascading collapse of multiple institutions within a country, and even multiple national economies. The inter-relatedness of economic and financial institutions within and among emerging market economies has deepened over the years, with the effect that institutional failures and/or economic difficulties that are of initially limited scope may spread throughout a country, a region or even among all or most emerging market countries. This may undermine any attempt by the Fund to reduce risk through geographic diversification of its portfolio investments among emerging market countries.

 

  There is a heightened possibility of imposition of withholding taxes on interest or dividend income generated from emerging market securities. Governments of emerging market countries may engage in confiscatory taxation or expropriation of income and/or assets to raise revenues or to pursue a domestic political agenda. In the past, emerging market countries have nationalized assets, companies and even entire sectors, including the assets of foreign investors, with inadequate or no compensation to the prior owners. There can be no assurance that the Fund will not suffer a loss of any or all of its investments or, interest or dividends thereon, due to adverse fiscal or other policy changes in emerging market countries.

 

  There is also a greater risk that an emerging market government may take action that impedes or prevents the Fund from taking income and/or capital gains earned in the local currency and converting into U.S. dollars ( i.e. , “repatriating” local currency investments or profits). Certain emerging market countries have sought to maintain foreign exchange reserves and/or address the economic volatility and dislocations caused by the large international capital flows by controlling or restricting the conversion of the local currency into other currencies. This risk tends to become more acute when economic conditions otherwise worsen. There can be no assurance that if the Fund earns income or capital gains in an emerging market currency or PIMCO otherwise seeks to withdraw the Fund’s investments from a given emerging market country, capital controls imposed by such country will not prevent, or cause significant expense in, doing so.

 

 

Bankruptcy law and creditor reorganization processes may differ substantially from those in the United States, resulting in greater uncertainty as to the rights of creditors, the enforceability of such rights, reorganization timing and the classification, seniority and treatment of claims. In certain emerging market countries, although

 

 

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bankruptcy laws have been enacted, the process for reorganization remains highly uncertain. In addition, it may be impossible to seek legal redress against an issuer that is a sovereign state.

 

  Other heightened risks associated with emerging markets investments include without limitation: (i) risks due to less social, political and economic stability; (ii) the smaller size of the market for such securities and a lower volume of trading, resulting in a lack of liquidity and in price volatility; (iii) certain national policies which may restrict the Fund’s investment opportunities, including restrictions on investing in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to relevant national interests and requirements that government approval be obtained prior to investment by foreign persons; (iv) certain national policies that may restrict the Fund’s repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities, including temporary restrictions on foreign capital remittances; (v) the lack of uniform accounting and auditing standards and/or standards that may be significantly different from the standards required in the United States; (vi) less publicly available financial and other information regarding issuers; (vii) potential difficulties in enforcing contractual obligations; and (viii) higher rates of inflation, higher interest rates and other economic concerns. The Fund may invest to a substantial extent in emerging market securities that are denominated in local currencies, subjecting the Fund to a greater degree of foreign currency risk. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Foreign Currency Risk.” Also, investing in emerging market countries may entail purchases of securities of issuers that are insolvent, bankrupt, in default or otherwise of questionable ability to satisfy their payment obligations as they become due, subjecting the Fund to a greater amount of credit risk and/or high yield risk. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Credit Risk” and “Principal Risks of the Fund—High Yield Risk.”

 

 

Foreign Currency Risk.   The Fund may engage in practices and strategies that will result in exposure to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, in which case the Fund will be subject to foreign currency risk. The Fund’s Common Shares are priced in U.S. dollars and the distributions paid by the Fund to Common Shareholders are paid in U.S. dollars. However, a substantial portion of the Fund’s assets may be denominated in foreign (non-U.S.) currencies and income received by the Fund from many foreign debt obligations will be paid in foreign currencies. The Fund may also invest in or gain exposure to foreign currencies themselves in order to gain local currency exposure with respect to foreign instruments denominated in other currencies or for other investment or hedging purposes. The Fund’s investments in or exposure to foreign currencies or in securities or instruments that trade, or receive revenues, in foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar or, in the case of hedging positions (if utilized), that the U.S. dollar will decline in value relative to the currency being hedged. Currency rates in foreign countries may

 

 

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fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, rates of inflation, balance of payments and governmental surpluses or deficits, intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks or supranational entities such as the International Monetary Fund, or by the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad. These fluctuations may have a significant adverse impact on the value of the Fund’s portfolio and/or the level of Fund distributions made to Common Shareholders. As noted above, the Fund may (but is not required to) seek exposure to foreign currencies, or attempt to hedge exposure to reduce the risk of loss due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar. There is no assurance, however, that these strategies will be available or will be used by the Fund or, if used, that they will be successful.

 

  Redenomination Risk.   Continuing uncertainty as to the status of the euro and the European Monetary Union (the “EMU”) has created significant volatility in currency and financial markets generally. Any partial or complete dissolution of the EMU could have significant adverse effects on currency and financial markets, and on the values of the Fund’s portfolio investments. If one or more EMU countries were to stop using the euro as its primary currency, the Fund’s investments in such countries may be redenominated into a different or newly adopted currency. As a result, the value of those investments could decline significantly and unpredictably. In addition, securities or other investments that are redenominated may be subject to foreign currency risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk to a greater extent than similar investments currently denominated in euros. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Foreign Currency Risk,” “Principal Risks of the Fund—Liquidity Risk” and “Principal Risks of the Fund—Valuation Risk.” To the extent a currency used for redenomination purposes is not specified in respect of certain EMU-related investments, or should the euro cease to be used entirely, the currency in which such investments are denominated may be unclear, making such investments particularly difficult to value or dispose of. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek judicial or other clarification of the denomination or value of such securities.

 

 

Real Estate Risk.   To the extent that the Fund invests in real estate related investments, including REITs or real-estate linked derivative instruments, it will be subject to the risks associated with owning real estate and with the real estate industry generally. These include difficulties in valuing and disposing of real estate, the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions, the possibility of adverse changes in the climate for real estate, environmental liability risks, the risk of increases in property taxes and operating expenses, possible adverse changes in zoning laws, the risk of casualty or condemnation losses, limitations on rents, the possibility of adverse changes in interest rates and in the

 

 

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credit markets and the possibility of borrowers paying off mortgages sooner than expected, which may lead to reinvestment of assets at lower prevailing interest rates. To the extent that the Fund invests in REITs, it will also be subject to the risk that a REIT may default on its obligations or go bankrupt. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. The Fund’s investments in REITs could cause the Fund to recognize income in excess of cash received from those securities and, as a result, the Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities, including when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to make distributions.

 

  U.S. Government Securities Risk.   The Fund may invest in debt securities issued or guaranteed by agencies, instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises of the U.S. Government. Some U.S. Government securities, such as U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and mortgage-related securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others, such as those of the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations; and still others, such as those of the Student Loan Marketing Association, are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency, instrumentality or enterprise. Although U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises, such as the Federal Home Loan Banks, FHLMC, FNMA and the Student Loan Marketing Association, may be chartered or sponsored by Congress, they are not funded by Congressional appropriations, and their securities are not issued by the U.S. Treasury or supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government and involve increased credit risks. Although legislation has been enacted to support certain government sponsored entities, including the Federal Home Loan Banks, FHLMC and FNMA, there is no assurance that the obligations of such entities will be satisfied in full, or that such obligations will not decrease in value or default. It is difficult, if not impossible, to predict the future political, regulatory or economic changes that could impact the government sponsored entities and the values of their related securities or obligations. In addition, certain governmental entities, including FNMA and FHLMC, have been subject to regulatory scrutiny regarding their accounting policies and practices and other concerns that may result in legislation, changes in regulatory oversight and/or other consequences that could adversely affect the credit quality, availability or investment character of securities issued by these entities. See “Investment Objectives and Policies—Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

 

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  U.S. Government debt securities generally involve lower levels of credit risk than other types of debt securities of similar maturities, although, as a result, the yields available from U.S. Government debt securities are generally lower than the yields available from such other securities. Like other debt securities, the values of U.S. Government securities change as interest rates fluctuate. Fluctuations in the value of portfolio securities will not affect interest income on existing portfolio securities but will be reflected in the Fund’s net asset value.

 

 

Foreign (Non-U.S.) Government Securities Risk.   The Fund’s investments in debt obligations of foreign (non-U.S.) governments or their sub-divisions, agencies and government sponsored enterprises and obligations of international agencies and supranational entities (together “Foreign Government Securities”) can involve a high degree of risk. The foreign governmental entity that controls the repayment of debt may not be able or willing to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt. A governmental entity’s willingness or ability to repay principal and interest due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the governmental entity’s policy towards the International Monetary Fund and the political constraints to which a governmental entity may be subject. Foreign governmental entities also may be dependent on expected disbursements from other governments, multilateral agencies and others abroad to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on the implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor’s obligations. Failure to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of such third parties’ commitments to lend funds to the foreign governmental entity, which may further impair such debtor’s ability or willingness to timely service its debts. Consequently, foreign governmental entities may default on their debt. Holders of Foreign Government Securities may be requested to participate in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to governmental entities. In the event of a default by a governmental entity, there may be few or no effective legal remedies for collecting on such debt. These risks are particularly severe with respect to the Fund’s investments in Foreign Government Securities of emerging market countries. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Emerging Markets Risk.” Among other risks, if the Fund’s investments in Foreign Government Securities issued by an emerging market country need to be liquidated quickly, the Fund could sustain significant transaction costs. Also, governments in many emerging market countries participate to a significant degree in their economies

 

 

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and securities markets, which may impair investment and economic growth, and which may in turn diminish the value of the Fund’s holdings in emerging market Foreign Government Securities and the currencies in which they are denominated and/or pay revenues.

 

  Convertible Securities Risk.   Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible debt securities of similar quality. The market values of convertible securities tend to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to increase as interest rates decline. However, a convertible security’s market value tends to reflect the market price of the common stock of the issuing company when that stock price approaches or is greater than the convertible security’s “conversion price.” The conversion price is defined as the predetermined price at which the convertible security could be exchanged for the associated stock. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, the price of the convertible security tends to be influenced more by the yield of the convertible security. Thus, it may not decline in price to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities would be paid before the company’s common stockholders but after holders of any senior debt obligations of the company. Consequently, the issuer’s convertible securities generally entail less risk than its common stock but more risk than its debt obligations.

 

  The Fund may invest in synthetic convertible securities, which are created through a combination of separate securities that possess the two principal characteristics of a traditional convertible security, i.e. , an income-producing security (“income-producing component”) and the right to acquire an equity security (“convertible component”). The income-producing component is achieved by investing in non-convertible, income-producing securities such as bonds, preferred stocks and money market instruments. The convertible component is achieved by purchasing warrants or options to buy common stock at a certain exercise price, or options on a stock index. The values of synthetic convertible securities will respond differently to market fluctuations than a traditional convertible security because a synthetic convertible is composed of two or more separate securities or instruments, each with its own market value. Synthetic convertible securities are also subject to the risks associated with derivatives. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Derivatives Risk.” In addition, if the value of the underlying common stock or the level of the index involved in the convertible element falls below the strike price of the warrant or option, the warrant or option may lose all value.

 

 

Valuation Risk.   When market quotations are not readily available or are deemed to be unreliable, the Fund values its investments at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. See “Net Asset Value.” Fair value pricing may require subjective determinations about the value of a security or other asset. As a result, there can be no assurance that fair

 

 

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value pricing will result in adjustments to the prices of securities or other assets, or that fair value pricing will reflect actual market value, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security or other asset will be materially different from quoted or published prices, from the prices used by others for the same security or other asset and/or from the value that actually could be or is realized upon the sale of that security or other asset.

 

  Leverage Risk.   The Fund’s use of leverage (as described under “Leverage” in the body of this prospectus) creates the opportunity for increased Common Share net income, but also creates special risks for Common Shareholders. To the extent used, there is no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategies will be successful. Leverage is a speculative technique that may expose the Fund to greater risk and increased costs. The net proceeds that the Fund obtains from its use of reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and/or borrowings (as well as from any future issuance of preferred shares) will be invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies as described in this prospectus. It is anticipated that interest expense payable by the Fund with respect to its reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings (or dividends payable with respect to any outstanding preferred shares) will be based on shorter-term interest rates that would be periodically reset. So long as the Fund’s portfolio investments provide a higher rate of return (net of applicable Fund expenses) than the interest rates and other costs to the Fund of such leverage, the investment of the proceeds thereof will generate more income than will be needed to pay the costs of the leverage. If so, and all other things being equal, the excess may be used to pay higher dividends to Common Shareholders than if the Fund were not so leveraged. If, however, shorter-term interest rates rise relative to the rate of return on the Fund’s portfolio, the interest and other costs to the Fund of leverage (including interest expenses on reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings and the dividend rate on any outstanding preferred shares) could exceed the rate of return on the debt obligations and other investments held by the Fund, thereby reducing return to Common Shareholders. In addition, fees and expenses of any form of leverage used by the Fund will be borne entirely by the Common Shareholders (and not by preferred shareholders, if any) and will reduce the investment return of the Common Shares. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of leverage will result in a higher yield on the Common Shares, and it may result in losses. In addition, any preferred shares issued by the Fund are expected to pay cumulative dividends, which may tend to increase leverage risk.

 

  Leverage creates several major types of risks for Common Shareholders, including:

 

   

the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of Common Shares, and of the investment return to Common Shareholders, than a comparable portfolio without leverage;

 

 

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the possibility either that Common Share dividends will fall if the interest and other costs of leverage rise, or that dividends paid on Common Shares will fluctuate because such costs vary over time; and

 

   

the effects of leverage in a declining market or a rising interest rate environment, as leverage is likely to cause a greater decline in the net asset value of the Common Shares than if the Fund were not leveraged and may result in a greater decline the market value of the Common Shares.

 

  In addition, the counterparties to the Fund’s leveraging transactions and any preferred shareholders of the Fund will have priority of payment over the Fund’s Common Shareholders.

 

  The use by the Fund of reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls to obtain leverage also involves special risks. For instance, the market value of the securities that the Fund is obligated to repurchase under a reverse repurchase agreement or dollar roll may decline below the repurchase price. See “The Fund’s Investment Objectives and Policies—Portfolio Contents and Other Information––Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Dollar Rolls.”

 

  In addition to reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and/or borrowings (or a future issuance of preferred shares), the Fund may engage in other transactions that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), credit default swaps, total return swaps and other derivative transactions, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions). The Fund’s use of such transactions give rise to associated leverage risks described above, and may adversely affect the Fund’s income, distributions and total returns to Common Shareholders. The Fund manages some of its derivative positions by segregating an amount of cash or liquid securities equal to the face value or the market value, as applicable, of those positions. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk.” The Fund may also offset derivatives positions against one another or against other assets to manage effective market exposure resulting from derivatives in its portfolio. To the extent that any offsetting positions do not behave in relation to one another as expected, the Fund may perform as if it is leveraged through use of these derivative strategies. See “Leverage.”

 

  Because the fees received by the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser are based on the total managed assets of the Fund (including assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding), the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser have a financial incentive for the Fund to use reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings or to issue preferred shares, which may create a conflict of interest between the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser, on the one hand, and the Common Shareholders, on the other hand.

 

 

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  Segregation and Coverage Risk.   Certain portfolio management techniques, such as, among other things, using reverse repurchase agreements or dollar rolls, purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, entering into swap agreements, futures contracts or other derivative transactions, or engaging in short sales, may be considered senior securities unless steps are taken to segregate the Fund’s assets or otherwise cover its obligations. To avoid having these instruments considered senior securities, the Fund may segregate liquid assets with a value equal (on a daily mark-to-market basis) to its obligations under these types of leveraged transactions, enter into offsetting transactions or otherwise cover such transactions. See “Leverage” in this prospectus. The Fund may be unable to use such segregated assets for certain other purposes, which could result in the Fund earning a lower return on its portfolio than it might otherwise earn if it did not have to segregate those assets in respect of or otherwise cover such portfolio positions. To the extent the Fund’s assets are segregated or committed as cover, it could limit the Fund’s investment flexibility. Segregating assets and covering positions will not limit or offset losses on related positions.

 

  Focused Investment Risk.   To the extent that the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry, the net asset value of the common shares will be more susceptible to events or factors affecting companies in that industry. These may include, but are not limited to, governmental regulation, inflation, rising interest rates, cost increases in raw materials, fuel and other operating expenses, technological innovations that may render existing products and equipment obsolete, competition from new entrants, high research and development costs, increased costs associated with compliance with environmental or other regulation and other economic, market, political or other developments specific to that industry. Also, the Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets in companies in related sectors that may share common characteristics, are often subject to similar business risks and regulatory burdens and whose securities may react similarly to the types of events and factors described above, which will subject the Fund to greater risk. The Fund also will be subject to focused investment risk to the extent that it invests a substantial portion of its assets in a particular country or geographic region. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investment Risk,” “Principal Risks of the Fund—Emerging Markets Risk” and “Principal Risks of the Fund—Foreign Currency Risk.”

 

  As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will normally invest at least 25% of its total assets in privately-issued (commonly known as “non-agency”) mortgage-related securities, and therefore will be particularly susceptible to the risks associated with these securities. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.”

 

 

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  Derivatives Risk.   The Fund may utilize a variety of derivative instruments (both long and short positions) for investment or risk management purposes. The Fund may use derivatives to gain exposure to securities markets in which it may invest ( e.g. , pending investment of the proceeds of this offering in individual securities, as well as on an ongoing basis). The Fund may also use derivatives to add leverage to its portfolio. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.” Derivatives transactions that the Fund may utilize include, but are not limited to, purchases or sales of futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), call and put options, credit default swaps, total return swaps, basis swaps and other swap agreements. The Fund may also have exposure to derivatives, such as interest rate or credit-default swaps, through investment in credit-linked trust certificates and other securities issued by special purpose or structured vehicles. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of risks described elsewhere in this prospectus, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, issuer risk, credit risk, leveraging risk, counterparty risk, management risk and, if applicable, smaller company risk. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk.” They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation, the risk of unfavorable or ambiguous documentation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. If the Fund invests in a derivative instrument, it could lose more than the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to other risks when that would be beneficial. The Fund’s use of derivatives also may increase the amount and affect the character and/or timing of taxes payable by Common Shareholders.

 

 

Counterparty Risk.   The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivative contracts and other instruments entered into by the Fund or held by special purpose or structured vehicles in which the Fund invests. In the event that the Fund enters into a derivative transaction with a counterparty that subsequently becomes insolvent or becomes the subject of a bankruptcy case, the derivative transaction may be terminated in accordance with its terms and the Fund’s ability to realize its rights under the derivative instrument and its ability to distribute the proceeds could be adversely affected. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery (including recovery of any collateral it has provided to the counterparty) in a dissolution, assignment for the benefit of creditors, liquidation, winding-up, bankruptcy, or other analogous proceeding. In addition,

 

 

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in the event of the insolvency of a counterparty to a derivative transaction, the derivative transaction would typically be terminated at its fair market value. If the Fund is owed this fair market value in the termination of the derivative transaction and its claim is unsecured, the Fund will be treated as a general creditor of such counterparty, and will not have any claim with respect to any underlying security or asset. The Fund may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.

 

  Equity Securities and Related Market Risk.   Subject to the Fund’s investment policies, the Fund may hold common stocks and other equity securities from time to time, including without limitation those it has received through the conversion of a convertible security held by the Fund or in connection with the restructuring of a debt security. The market price of common stocks and other equity securities may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Equity securities may decline in value due to factors affecting equity securities markets generally, particular industries represented in those markets, or the issuer itself. See “Principal Risks of the Fund ––Issuer Risk.” The values of equity securities may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than bonds and other debt securities.

 

 

Preferred Securities Risk.   In addition to equity securities risk (see “Principal Risks of the Fund—Equity Securities and Related Market Risk”), credit risk (see “Principal Risks of the Fund—Credit Risk”) and possibly high yield risk (see “Principal Risks of the Fund—High Yield Risk”), investment in preferred securities involves certain other risks. Certain preferred securities contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip or defer distributions. If the Fund owns a preferred security that is deferring its distribution, the Fund may be required to include the amount of the deferred distribution in its taxable income for tax purposes despite the fact that it does not currently receive such amount. In order to receive the special treatment accorded to RICs and their shareholders under the Code and to avoid U.S. federal income and/or excise taxes at the Fund level, the Fund may be required to distribute this income to shareholders in the tax year in which the income is recognized (without a corresponding receipt of cash). Therefore, the Fund may be required to pay out as an income distribution in any such tax year an amount greater than the total amount of cash income the Fund actually received, and to sell portfolio securities, including at potentially disadvantageous times or prices, to obtain cash needed for these income distributions. Preferred securities often are subject to legal provisions that allow for redemption in the event of certain tax

 

 

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or legal changes or at the issuer’s call. In the event of redemption, the Fund may not be able to reinvest the proceeds at comparable rates of return. Preferred securities are subordinated to bonds and other debt securities in an issuer’s capital structure in terms of priority for corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt securities. Preferred securities may trade less frequently and in a more limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than many other securities, such as common stocks, corporate debt securities and U.S. Government securities.

 

  Smaller Company Risk.   The general risks associated with debt instruments or equity securities are particularly pronounced for securities issued by companies with small market capitalizations. Small capitalization companies involve certain special risks. They are more likely than larger companies to have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, or to depend on a small, inexperienced management group. Securities of smaller companies may trade less frequently and in lesser volume than more widely held securities and their values may fluctuate more sharply than other securities. They may also have limited liquidity. These securities may therefore be more vulnerable to adverse developments than securities of larger companies, and the Fund may have difficulty purchasing or selling securities positions in smaller companies at prevailing market prices. Also, there may be less publicly available information about smaller companies or less market interest in their securities as compared to larger companies. Companies with medium-sized market capitalizations may have risks similar to those of smaller companies.

 

 

Confidential Information Access Risk.   In managing the Fund, PIMCO may from time to time have the opportunity to receive material, non-public information (“Confidential Information”) about the issuers of certain investments, including, without limitation, senior floating rate loans, other bank loans and related investments being considered for acquisition by the Fund or held in the Fund’s portfolio. For example, a bank issuer of privately placed senior floating rate loans considered by the Fund may offer to provide PIMCO with financial information and related documentation regarding the bank issuer that is not publicly available. Pursuant to applicable policies and procedures, PIMCO may (but is not required to) seek to avoid receipt of Confidential Information from the issuer so as to avoid possible restrictions on its ability to purchase and sell investments on behalf of the Fund and other clients to which such Confidential Information relates ( e.g ., other securities issued by the bank used in the example above). In such circumstances, the Fund (and other PIMCO clients) may be disadvantaged in comparison to other investors, including with respect to the price the Fund pays or receives when it buys or sells an investment. Further, PIMCO’s and the Fund’s abilities to assess the desirability of proposed consents, waivers or amendments with respect to certain investments may be compromised if they are not privy to available Confidential

 

 

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Information. PIMCO may also determine to receive such Confidential Information in certain circumstances under its applicable policies and procedures. If PIMCO intentionally or unintentionally comes into possession of Confidential Information, it may be unable, potentially for a substantial period of time, to purchase or sell investments to which such Confidential Information relates.

 

 

Short Sale Risk.   The Fund may use short sales for investment and risk management purposes, including when PIMCO anticipates that the market price of securities will decline or will underperform relative to other securities held in the Fund’s portfolio. Short sales are transactions in which the Fund sells a security or other instrument (such as an option, forward, futures or other derivative contract) that it does not own. Short exposure with respect to securities or market segments may also be achieved through the use of derivative instruments, such as futures or swaps on indices or on individual securities. When the Fund engages in a short sale on a security or other instrument, it must, to the extent required by law, borrow the security or other instrument sold short and deliver it to the counterparty. The Fund will ordinarily have to pay a fee or premium to borrow particular securities and be obligated to repay the lender of the security any dividends or interest that accrue on the security during the period of the loan. The amount of any gain from a short sale will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of the premium, dividends, interest or expenses the Fund pays in connection with the short sale. Short sales expose the Fund to the risk that it will be required to cover its short position at a time when the securities have appreciated in value, thus resulting in a loss to the Fund. The Fund may, to the extent permitted by law, engage in short sales where it does not own or have the right to acquire the security (or basket of securities) sold short at no additional cost. The Fund’s loss on a short sale could theoretically be unlimited in a case in which the Fund is unable, for whatever reason, to close out its short position. The use by the Fund of short sales in combination with long positions in its portfolio in an attempt to improve performance may not be successful and may result in greater losses or lower positive returns than if the Fund held only long positions. It is possible that the Fund’s long positions will decline in value at the same time that the value of the securities underlying its short positions increase, thereby increasing potential losses to the Fund. In addition, the Fund’s short selling strategies may limit its ability to fully benefit from increases in the relevant securities markets. Short selling also involves a form of financial leverage that may exaggerate any losses realized by the Fund. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.” Also, there is the risk that the counterparty to a short sale may fail to honor its contractual terms, causing a loss to the Fund. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Counterparty Risk.” To the extent the Fund seeks to obtain some or all of its short exposure by using derivative instruments instead of engaging directly in short sales on individual securities, it will be subject to many of the foregoing risks, as well as to those

 

 

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described under “Principal Risks of the Fund—Derivatives Risk.” See also “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk.”

 

  Other Investment Companies Risk.   The Fund may invest in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies, including without limitation ETFs, to the extent that such investments are consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies and permissible under the 1940 Act. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s investment management fees with respect to the assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. In addition, these other investment companies may utilize leverage, in which case an investment would subject the Fund to additional risks associated with leverage. See “Principal Risks of the Fund —Leverage Risk.”

 

  Private Placements Risk.   A private placement involves the sale of securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act, or relevant provisions of applicable non-U.S. law, to certain institutional and qualified individual purchasers, such as the Fund. In addition to the general risks to which all securities are subject, securities received in a private placement generally are subject to strict restrictions on resale, and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Liquidity Risk.” Therefore, the Fund may be unable to dispose of such securities when it desires to do so, or at the most favorable time or price. Private placements may also raise valuation risks. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Valuation Risk.”

 

  Inflation/Deflation Risk.   Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from the Fund’s investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of payments at future dates. As inflation increases, the real value of the Fund’s portfolio could decline. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio and Common Shares.

 

  Risk of Regulatory Changes.   To the extent that legislation or national or sub-national bank or other regulators in the U.S. or relevant foreign jurisdiction impose additional requirements or restrictions on the ability of certain financial institutions to make loans, particularly in connection with highly leveraged transactions, the availability of investments sought after by the Fund may be reduced. Further, such legislation or regulation could depress the market value of investments held by the Fund. Additionally, legislative, regulatory or tax developments may affect the investment techniques available to PIMCO and the portfolio managers in connection with managing the Fund and may also adversely affect the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objectives.

 

 

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  On July 21, 2010, the President signed into law major financial services reform legislation in the form of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”). The Dodd-Frank Act, among other things, grants regulatory authorities, such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), broad rulemaking authority to implement various provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, including comprehensive regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market. It is unclear how these regulators will exercise these revised and expanded powers and whether they will undertake rulemaking, supervisory or enforcement actions (in addition to those that have been proposed or taken thus far) that would adversely affect the Fund or investments made by the Fund. Possible regulatory actions taken under these revised and expanded powers may include actions related to, among others, financial consumer protection, proprietary trading and derivatives. There can be no assurance that future regulatory actions authorized by the Dodd-Frank Act will not adversely affect the Fund’s performance and/or yield, perhaps to a significant extent. For example, the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act could adversely affect the Fund by increasing transaction and/or regulatory compliance costs. In addition, greater regulatory scrutiny may increase the Fund’s and the Investment Manager’s or Sub-Adviser’s exposure to potential liabilities or restrictions. Increased regulatory oversight can also impose administrative burdens on the Fund and the Investment Manager or Sub-Adviser including, without limitation, making them subject to examinations or investigations and requiring them to implement new policies and procedures.

 

  Regulatory Risk—Commodity Pool Operator.   The Fund has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the CEA promulgated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). The Fund currently is not, therefore, subject to registration or regulation as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA and the Fund intends to be operated so as not to be deemed to be a “commodity pool” under the regulations of the CFTC under current law. On February 9, 2012, the CFTC adopted amendments to its rules that, once effective, may affect the ability of the Fund to continue to claim this exclusion. The Fund would be limited in its ability to use futures or options on futures or engage in swaps transactions if it continued to claim the exclusion. If the Fund did not continue to claim the exclusion, the Fund believes that the Investment Manager and/or Sub-Adviser would likely become subject to registration and regulation as a commodity pool operator with respect to the Fund. The Fund may incur additional expenses as a result of the CFTC’s registration and regulatory requirements. The impact of the rule changes on the operations of the Fund and the Investment Manager and/or Sub-Adviser is not fully known at this time. The Fund and the Investment Manager and/or Sub-Adviser are continuing to analyze the effect of these rule changes on the Fund.

 

 

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  Liquidity Risk.   The Fund may invest without limit in illiquid securities (i.e. , securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the securities). Many of the Fund’s investments may be illiquid. Illiquid securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments, and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Also, the Fund may not be able to dispose readily of illiquid securities when that would be beneficial at a favorable time or price or at prices approximating those at which the Fund then values them. Further, the lack of an established secondary market for illiquid securities may make it more difficult to value such securities, which may negatively affect the price the Fund would receive upon disposition of such securities. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Valuation Risk.”

 

 

Tax Risk.   The Fund intends to elect to be treated as a “regulated investment company” under the Code and intends each year to qualify and be eligible to be treated as such. If the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company, it generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its net investment income or net short-term or long-term capital gains, distributed (or deemed distributed, as described below) to shareholders, provided that, for each taxable year, the Fund distributes (or is treated as distributing) to its shareholders an amount equal to or exceeding 90% of its “investment company taxable income” as that term is defined in the Code (which includes, among other things, dividends, taxable interest and the excess of any net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, as reduced by certain deductible expenses). The Fund intends to distribute all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain each year. In order for the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company in any taxable year, the Fund must meet certain asset diversification tests and at least 90% of its gross income for such year must be certain types of qualifying income. Foreign currency gains will generally be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement. However, the U.S. Treasury Department has authority to issue regulations in the future that could treat some or all of the Fund’s foreign currency gains as non-qualifying income, thereby jeopardizing the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company for all years to which the regulations are applicable. Income derived from some commodity-linked derivatives is not qualifying income, and the treatment of income from some other commodity-linked derivatives is uncertain, for purposes of the 90% gross income test. If for any taxable year the Fund were to fail to meet the income or diversification test described above, the Fund could in some cases cure such failure, including by paying a fund-level tax and, in the case of a diversification test failure, disposing of certain assets. If the Fund were ineligible to or otherwise did not cure such failure for any year, or were otherwise to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company accorded special tax treatment in any taxable year, it would be treated as a corporation

 

 

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subject to U.S. federal income tax, thereby subjecting any income earned by the Fund to tax at the corporate level (currently at a 35% U.S. federal tax rate) and, when such income is distributed, to a further tax at the shareholder level to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits.

 

  Recent Economic Conditions Risk.   The debt and equity capital markets in the United States and in foreign countries have been negatively affected by significant write-offs in the banking and financial services sectors relating to subprime mortgages and the re-pricing of credit risk in the broadly syndicated market, among other things. These events, along with the deterioration of housing markets, the failure of banking and other major financial institutions and resulting governmental actions have led to worsening general economic conditions, which have materially and adversely affected the broader financial and credit markets and have reduced the availability of debt and equity capital for the market as a whole and financial firms in particular. These developments may increase the volatility of the value of securities owned by the Fund, and also may make it more difficult for the Fund to accurately value securities or to sell securities on a timely basis. These developments have adversely affected the broader global economy, and may continue to do so, which in turn may adversely affect the ability of issuers of securities owned by the Fund to make payments of principal and interest when due, lead to lower credit ratings and increase the rate of defaults. Such developments could, in turn, reduce the value of securities owned by the Fund and adversely affect the net asset value and/or market value of the Fund’s Common Shares. In addition, the prolonged continuation or further deterioration of current market conditions could adversely affect the Fund’s portfolio.

 

  The above-noted instability in the financial markets discussed above has led the U.S. and certain foreign governments to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain banking and other financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility, and in some cases a lack of liquidity. Federal, state and other governments and their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable or not fully understood or anticipated. See “Principal Risks of the Fund––Risk of Regulatory Changes.”

 

  The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such programs may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the Fund’s portfolio holdings and the value of the Common Shares. Governments or their agencies have and may in the future acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions.

 

 

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  U.S. legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the Fund itself is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives. See “Principal Risks of the Fund––Risk of Regulatory Changes.”

 

  Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk.   The wars with Iraq and Afghanistan and similar conflicts and geopolitical developments, their aftermath and substantial military presence in Afghanistan are likely to have a substantial effect on the U.S. and world economies and securities markets. The nature, scope and duration of the wars and the potential costs of rebuilding infrastructure cannot be predicted with any certainty. Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 closed some of the U.S. securities markets for a four-day period and similar future events cannot be ruled out. The war and occupation, terrorism and related geopolitical risks have led, and may in the future lead, to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets generally. Likewise, natural and environmental disasters, such as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in early 2011, and systemic market dislocations of the kind surrounding the insolvency of Lehman Brothers in 2008, if repeated, could be highly disruptive to economies and markets. Those events as well as other changes in foreign and domestic economic and political conditions also could have an acute effect on individual issuers or related groups of issuers. These risks also could adversely affect individual issuers and securities markets, interest rates, secondary trading, ratings, credit risk, inflation, deflation and other factors relating to the Fund’s investments and the market value and net asset value of the Fund’s Common Shares.

 

  Potential Conflicts of Interest Risk—Allocation of Investment Opportunities. The Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser are involved worldwide with a broad spectrum of financial services and asset management activities and may engage in the ordinary course of business in activities in which their interests or the interests of their clients may conflict with those of the Fund. The Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser may provide investment management services to other funds and discretionary managed accounts that follow an investment program similar to that of the Fund. Subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser intend to engage in such activities and may receive compensation from third parties for their services. The results of the Fund’s investment activities may differ from those of the Fund’s affiliates, or another account managed by the Fund’s affiliates, and it is possible that the Fund could sustain losses during periods in which one or more of the Fund’s affiliates or and other accounts achieve profits on their trading for proprietary or other accounts.

 

 

Certain Affiliations .  Certain broker-dealers may be considered to be affiliated persons of the Fund, the Investment Manager and/or PIMCO due to their possible affiliations with Allianz SE, the ultimate

 

 

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parent of the Investment Manager and PIMCO. Absent an exemption from the SEC or other regulatory relief, the Fund is generally precluded from effecting certain principal transactions with affiliated brokers, and its ability to purchase securities being underwritten by an affiliated broker or a syndicate including an affiliated broker, or to utilize affiliated brokers for agency transactions, is subject to restrictions. This could limit the Fund’s ability to engage in securities transactions and take advantage of market opportunities. In addition, unless and until the underwriting syndicate is broken in connection with the initial public offering of the Common Shares, the Fund will be precluded from effecting principal transactions with brokers who are members of the syndicate.

 

  Anti-Takeover Provisions .  The Fund’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration”) includes provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to open-end status. See “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust.” These provisions in the Declaration could have the effect of depriving the Common Shareholders of opportunities to sell their Common Shares at a premium over the then-current market price of the Common Shares or at net asset value.

 

 

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SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES

The following table and the expenses shown assume the use by the Fund of leverage in the form of reverse repurchase agreements in an amount equal to 29% of the Fund’s total assets (including the amounts of leverage obtained through the use of such instruments), and show Fund expenses as a percentage of net assets attributable to Common Shares. Footnote 4 to the table also shows Fund expenses as a percentage of net assets attributable to Common Shares, but assumes that the Fund does not utilize reverse repurchase agreements, borrowings or other leverage.

 

     Percentage of Offering Price

Shareholder Transaction Expenses

  

Sales Load Paid by Investors

   4.50%

Offering Expenses Borne by the Fund (1),(2)

   0.20%

Dividend Reinvestment Plan Fees (3)

       None

 

     Percentage of Net Assets
Attributable to Common Shares

(assuming reverse repurchase
agreements are utilized) (4)

Annual Expenses

  

Management Fees

   1.62%

Interest Payments on Borrowed Funds (5)

   0.46%

Other Expenses (6)

   0.13%
  

 

Total Annual Expenses (1)

   2.21%
  

 

 

(1) The Sub-Adviser has agreed to pay the amount by which the Fund’s offering costs (other than the sales load) exceed $0.05 per share (0.20% of the offering price). The Sub-Adviser has agreed to pay all of the Fund’s organizational expenses. Assuming that the Fund issues 12,000,000 Common Shares in the offering at a total public offering price of $300,000,000, the total offering costs are estimated to be $750,000 (or approximately $0.0625 per share), of which the Fund would pay or reimburse offering expenses estimated at $600,000 (or $0.05 per share) from the proceeds of the offering, and the Sub-Adviser would pay the balance of the offering expenses estimated at $150,000 (or approximately $0.0125 per share). These figures represent estimates as the actual size of the offering and related expenses are not known as of the date of this prospectus, and the actual offering expenses to be paid or reimbursed by the Fund (or by the Sub-Adviser if the expense cap is exceeded) may vary substantially from these estimates. The offering costs to be paid or reimbursed by the Fund are not included in the Annual Expenses table above or in footnote 4 below. However, these expenses will be borne by Common Shareholders and result in a reduction of the net asset value of the Common Shares.

 

(2) The Sub-Adviser has agreed to pay from its own assets, upfront structuring and syndication fees to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, and upfront structuring fees to Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, UBS Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Barclays Capital Inc. These fees are not reflected under Offering Expenses Borne by the Fund in the table above. The Sub-Adviser may pay certain qualifying underwriters a structuring fee, additional compensation or a sales incentive fee in connection with the offering. See “Underwriters—Additional Compensation to be Paid by the Sub-Adviser.”

 

(3) You will pay brokerage charges if you direct your broker or the plan agent to sell your Common Shares that you acquired pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan. You may also pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred in connection with open-market purchases pursuant to the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

 

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(4) The table presented below in this footnote 4 estimates what the Fund’s annual expenses would be, stated as percentages of the Fund’s net assets attributable to Common Shares, but, unlike the table above, assumes that the Fund does not utilize reverse repurchase agreements, borrowings or other leverage. See “Leverage.” In accordance with these assumptions, the Fund’s expenses would be estimated to be as follows:

 

     Percentage of Net Assets
Attributable to Common Shares

(assuming no use of reverse
repurchase agreements or
other leverage)

Annual Expenses

  

Management Fees

   1.15%

Other Expenses (6)

   0.13%
  

 

Total Annual Expenses (1)

   1.28%
  

 

 

(5) Assumes the use of leverage in the form of reverse repurchase agreements representing 29% of the Fund’s total assets (including the amounts of leverage obtained through the use of such instruments) at an annual interest rate cost to the Fund of 1.13%, which is based on current market conditions. See “Leverage—Effects of Leverage.” The actual amount of interest expense borne by the Fund will vary over time in accordance with the level of the Fund’s use of reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and/or borrowings and variations in market interest rates. Interest expense is required to be treated as an expense of the Fund for accounting purposes. Any associated income or gains (or losses) realized from leverage obtained through such instruments is not reflected in the Annual Expenses table above, but would be reflected in the Fund’s performance results.

 

(6) Other Expenses are estimated for the Fund’s initial fiscal year ending March 31, 2013.

The purpose of the table above is to help you understand all fees and expenses that you, as a Common Shareholder, would bear directly or indirectly. The Other Expenses shown in the table and related footnotes are based on estimated amounts for the Fund’s first year of operations and assume that the Fund issues approximately 12,000,000 Common Shares. If the Fund issues fewer Common Shares, all other things being equal, these expenses would increase. See “Management of the Fund” and “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

Example

As required by relevant SEC regulations, the following example illustrates the expenses (including the sales load of $45 and estimated offering expenses of this offering of approximately $2) that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in Common Shares, assuming (a) the sales load and the offering expenses listed in the parenthetical above, (b) total annual expenses of 2.21% of net assets attributable to Common Shares in years 1 through 10 (assuming reverse repurchase agreements are utilized in an amount equal to 29% of the Fund’s total assets) and (c) a 5% annual return (1) :

 

     1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

Total Expenses Incurred

   $ 66       $ 111       $ 158       $ 288   

 

(1) The example above should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be higher or lower than those shown . The example assumes that the estimated Interest Payments on Borrowed Funds and Other Expenses set forth in the Annual Expenses table are accurate, that the rate listed under Total Annual Expenses remains the same each year and that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at net asset value. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the Fund’s actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% annual return shown in the example.

 

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THE FUND

The Fund is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on January 19, 2011, pursuant to the Declaration, which is governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As a newly organized entity, the Fund has no operating history. The Fund’s principal office is located at 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019, and its telephone number is (800)  254-5197.

USE OF PROCEEDS

The net proceeds of the offering of Common Shares will be approximately $            (or $            if the underwriters exercise the over-allotment option in full) after payment or reimbursement of the estimated offering costs. The Sub-Adviser has agreed to pay the amount by which the Fund’s offering costs (other than the sales load) exceed $0.05 per Common Share. The Sub-Adviser has agreed to pay all of the Fund’s organizational expenses. The Fund will invest the net proceeds of the offering in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies as stated below. It is presently anticipated that the Fund will be able to invest substantially all of the net proceeds in investments that meet its investment objectives and policies within three months after the completion of the offering. Pending such investment, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in high grade, short-term instruments, credit default swaps, total return swaps and/or index futures contracts or similar derivative instruments designed to give the Fund exposure to the securities and markets in which it intends to invest while PIMCO selects specific investments.

 

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THE FUND’S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES

Investment Objectives

The Fund seeks current income as a primary objective and capital appreciation as a secondary objective. The Fund will seek to achieve its investment objectives to produce total return for shareholders by utilizing a dynamic asset allocation strategy among multiple fixed-income sectors to invest in a portfolio of fixed-income securities and related instruments of any type and any quality worldwide. The types of securities and instruments in which the Fund may invest are summarized under “—Portfolio Contents” below. The Fund cannot assure you that it will achieve its investment objectives, and you could lose all of your investment in the Fund.

The Fund cannot change its investment objectives without the approval of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” shares of the Fund. A “majority of the outstanding” shares (whether voting together as a single class or voting as a separate class) means (i) 67% or more of such shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of those shares are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of such shares, whichever is less.

Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC serves as the investment manager of the Fund and retains its affiliate, PIMCO, to serve as sub-adviser and to manage the Fund’s portfolio. See “Management of the Fund” below. The portfolio management strategies and techniques to be utilized by PIMCO are described below.

Portfolio Management Strategies

Dynamic Allocation Strategy.     On behalf of the Fund, PIMCO employs an active approach to allocation among multiple fixed-income sectors based on, among other things, market conditions, valuation assessments and economic outlook, credit market trends and other economic factors. With PIMCO’s macroeconomic analysis as the basis for top-down investment decisions, including geographic and credit sector emphasis, the Fund has the flexibility to allocate its assets among a broad spectrum of asset classes and issuers of any credit quality, including mortgage-related and any other asset-backed securities, government and sovereign debt, corporate debt (including fixed- and floating-rate bonds, bank loans and convertible securities), taxable municipal bonds and other income-producing securities of U.S. and foreign issuers, including emerging market issuers. PIMCO may choose to focus on particular countries/regions ( e.g. , U.S. vs. foreign), asset classes, industries and sectors to the exclusion of others at any time and from time to time based on market conditions and other factors. The relative value assessment within fixed-income sectors draws on PIMCO’s regional and sector specialist expertise. As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will, however, normally invest at least 25% of its total assets in privately-issued (commonly known as “non-agency”) mortgage-related securities. The Fund will observe other guidelines with respect to certain asset classes as summarized below.

Investment Selection Strategies.     Once the Fund’s top-down, portfolio positioning decisions have been made as described above, PIMCO selects particular investments for the Fund by employing a bottom-up, disciplined credit approach which is driven by fundamental, independent research within each asset class/sector represented in the Fund, with a focus on identifying securities and other instruments with solid and/or improving fundamentals. PIMCO utilizes strategies that focus on credit quality analysis, duration management and other risk management techniques. PIMCO attempts to identify, through fundamental research, driven by independent credit analysis and proprietary analytical tools, debt obligations and other income-producing securities that provide current income and/or opportunities for capital appreciation based on its analysis of the issuer’s credit characteristics and the position of the security in the issuer’s capital structure.

PIMCO also attempts to identify investments that may appreciate in value based on PIMCO’s assessment of the issuer’s credit characteristics, forecast for interest rates and outlook for particular countries/regions, currencies, industries, sectors and the global economy and bond markets generally.

Credit Quality.     The Fund may invest in debt instruments that are, at the time of purchase, rated below investment grade, or unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality. However, the Fund will not normally invest more than 20% of its total assets in debt instruments, other than mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, that are, at the time of purchase, rated CCC+ or lower by S&P and Fitch and Caa1 or lower by Moody’s or that are unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality to securities so rated. The Fund may invest without limitation in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities regardless of rating— i.e. , of any

 

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credit quality. Debt instruments of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and to repay principal, and are commonly referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds.” Debt instruments in the lowest investment grade category also may be considered to possess some speculative characteristics. The Fund may, for hedging, investment or leveraging purposes, make use of credit default swaps, which are contracts whereby one party makes periodic payments to a counterparty in exchange for the right to receive from the counterparty a payment equal to the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation in the event of a default or other credit event by the issuer of the debt obligation.

Independent Credit Analysis.     PIMCO relies primarily on its own analysis of the credit quality and risks associated with individual debt instruments considered for the Fund, rather than relying exclusively on rating agencies or third-party research. The Fund’s portfolio managers utilize this information in an attempt to minimize credit risk and to identify issuers, industries or sectors that are undervalued or that offer attractive yields relative to PIMCO’s assessment of their credit characteristics. This aspect of PIMCO’s capabilities will be particularly important to the extent that the Fund invests in high yield securities and in securities of emerging market issuers.

Duration Management.     It is expected that the Fund normally will have a short to intermediate average portfolio duration ( i.e. , within a zero- to eight-year (0 to 8) range), as calculated by the Sub-Adviser, although it may be shorter or longer at any time or from time to time depending on market conditions and other factors. PIMCO believes that maintaining duration within this range offers flexibility and the opportunity for above-average returns while potentially limiting exposure to interest rate volatility and related risk. Duration is a measure used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The Fund’s duration strategy may entail maintaining a negative average portfolio duration from time to time, which would potentially benefit the portfolio in an environment of rising market interest rates, but would generally adversely impact the portfolio in an environment of falling market interest rates. PIMCO may also utilize certain strategies, including without limitation investments in structured notes or interest rate futures contracts or swap, cap, floor or collar transactions, for the purpose of reducing the interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio, although there is no assurance that it will do so or that such strategies will be successful.

Diversification.     The Fund is a “non-diversified” investment company in that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than investment companies that are “diversified.” See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Issuer Non-Diversification Risk.”

Portfolio Contents and Other Information

The Fund normally invests worldwide in a portfolio of debt obligations and other income-producing securities of any type and credit quality, with varying maturities and related derivative instruments.

The Fund may invest without limit in securities of U.S. issuers and without limit in securities of foreign (non-U.S.) issuers, securities traded principally outside of the United States, and securities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Fund may normally invest up to 40% of its total assets in securities of issuers economically tied to “emerging market” countries. The Fund may also invest directly in foreign currencies, including local emerging market currencies.

The Fund’s portfolio of income-producing securities may include, without limitation, bonds, debentures, notes, and other debt securities of U.S. and foreign corporate and other issuers, including commercial paper; mortgage-related and any other type of asset-backed securities issued on a public or private basis; U.S. Government securities; obligations of foreign governments or their sub-divisions, agencies and government sponsored enterprises and obligations of international agencies and supranational entities; municipal securities and other debt securities issued by states or local governments and their agencies, authorities and other government-sponsored enterprises, including taxable municipal securities (such as Build America Bonds); payment-in-kind securities; zero-coupon bonds; inflation-indexed bonds issued by both governments and corporations; structured notes, including hybrid or indexed securities; catastrophe bonds and other event-linked bonds; credit-linked notes; structured credit products; and bank certificates of deposit, fixed time deposits and bankers’ acceptances. The rate of interest on an income-producing security may be fixed, floating or variable. The Fund may normally invest up to 40% of its total assets in bank loans (including, among others, senior loans,

 

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delayed funding loans, revolving credit facilities and loan participations and assignments). The Fund will not normally invest more than 10% of its total assets in convertible debt securities ( i.e. , debt securities that may be converted at either a stated price or stated rate into underlying shares of common stock), including synthetic convertible debt securities ( i.e. , instruments created through a combination of separate securities that possess the two principal characteristics of a traditional convertible security, i.e. , an income-producing security and the right to acquire an equity security). Substantially all of the Fund’s portfolio may consist of below investment grade securities and/or mortgage-related or other types of asset-backed securities. However, the Fund will not normally invest more than 20% of its total assets in debt instruments, other than mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, that are, at the time of purchase, rated CCC+ or lower by S&P and Fitch and Caa1 or lower by Moody’s, or that are unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality to securities so rated. The Fund may invest without limitation in mortgage-related and other asset backed securities regardless of rating— i.e. , of any credit quality. The Fund may also invest in preferred securities.

As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will normally invest at least 25% of its total assets in privately-issued (commonly known as “non-agency”) mortgage-related securities.

The Fund may utilize various derivative strategies (both long and short positions) involving the purchase or sale of futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), call and put options, credit default swaps, total return swaps, basis swaps and other swap agreements and other derivative instruments for investment purposes, leveraging purposes or in an attempt to hedge against market, credit, interest rate, currency and other risks in the portfolio. The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis and may engage in short sales.

The Fund will not normally invest directly in common stocks of operating companies. However, the Fund may own and hold common stocks in its portfolio from time to time in connection with a corporate action or the restructuring of a debt instrument or through the conversion of a convertible security held by the Fund. The Fund may invest in securities that have not been registered for public sale in the U.S. or relevant non-U.S. jurisdiction, including without limitation securities eligible for purchase and sale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, or relevant provisions of applicable non-U.S. law, and other securities issued in private placements. The Fund may also invest in securities of other investment companies, including without limitation ETFs, and may invest in foreign ETFs. The Fund may invest in REITs. The Fund may invest in securities of companies with small and medium market capitalizations.

The Fund may invest without limit in illiquid securities ( i.e. , securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the securities).

Upon the Investment Manager’s or PIMCO’s recommendation, for temporary defensive purposes and in order to keep its cash fully invested, including during the period in which the net proceeds of this offering are being invested, the Fund may deviate from its investment strategy by investing some or all of its total assets in investments such as high grade debt securities, including high quality, short-term debt securities, and cash and cash equivalents. The Fund may not achieve its investment objectives when it does so.

The following provides additional information regarding the types of securities and other instruments in which the Fund will ordinarily invest. A more detailed discussion of these and other instruments and investment techniques that may be used by the Fund is provided under “Investment Objectives and Policies” in the Statement of Additional Information.

High Yield Securities (“Junk Bonds”)

The Fund may invest in debt instruments that are rated below investment grade (below Baa3 by Moody’s or below BBB by either S&P or Fitch) or unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality. However, the Fund will not normally invest more than 20% of its total assets in debt instruments, other than mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, that are, at the time of purchase, rated CCC+ or lower by S&P and Fitch and Caa1 or lower by Moody’s or that are unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality to securities so rated. The Fund may invest without limitation in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities

 

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regardless of rating— i.e., of any credit quality. Below investment grade securities are commonly referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds.” High yield securities involve a greater degree of risk (in particular, a greater risk of default) than, and special risks in addition to the risks associated with, investment grade debt obligations. While offering a greater potential opportunity for capital appreciation and higher yields, high yield securities typically entail greater potential price volatility and may be less liquid than higher-rated securities. High yield securities may be regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make timely principal and interest payments. They also may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than higher-rated securities. Debt securities in the lowest investment grade category also may be considered to possess some speculative characteristics by certain ratings agencies.

The market values of high yield securities tend to reflect individual developments of the issuer to a greater extent than do higher-quality securities, which tend to react mainly to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. In addition, lower-quality debt securities tend to be more sensitive to general economic conditions. Certain emerging market governments that issue high yield securities in which the Fund may invest are among the largest debtors to commercial banks, foreign governments and supranational organizations, such as the World Bank, and may not be able or willing to make principal and/or interest payments as they come due.

Credit Ratings and Unrated Securities.     Rating agencies are private services that provide ratings of the credit quality of debt obligations. Appendix A to this prospectus describes the various ratings assigned to debt obligations by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch. As noted in Appendix A, Moody’s, S&P and Fitch may modify their ratings of securities to show relative standing within a rating category, with the addition of numerical modifiers (1, 2 or 3) in the case of Moody’s, and with the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign in the case of S&P and Fitch. Ratings assigned by a rating agency are not absolute standards of credit quality and do not evaluate market risks. Rating agencies may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings and an issuer’s current financial condition may be better or worse than a rating indicates. The Fund will not necessarily sell a security when its rating is reduced below its rating at the time of purchase. PIMCO does not rely solely on credit ratings, and develops and relies primarily on its own analysis of issuer credit quality. The ratings of a debt security may change over time. Moody’s, S&P and Fitch monitor and evaluate the ratings assigned to securities on an ongoing basis. As a result, debt instruments held by the Fund could receive a higher rating (which would tend to increase their value) or a lower rating (which would tend to decrease their value) during the period in which they are held by the Fund.

The Fund may purchase unrated securities (which are not rated by a rating agency) if PIMCO determines that the securities are of comparable quality to rated securities that the Fund may purchase. Unrated securities may be less liquid than comparable rated securities and involve the risk that PIMCO may not accurately evaluate the security’s comparative credit rating. Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of high yield securities may be more complex than for issuers of higher-quality debt obligations. The Fund’s success in achieving its investment objectives may depend more heavily on PIMCO’s credit analysis to the extent that the Fund invests in below investment grade quality and unrated securities.

Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investments

The Fund may invest without limit in instruments of corporate and other foreign (non-U.S.) issuers, and in instruments traded principally outside of the United States. The Fund may invest in sovereign and other debt securities issued by foreign governments and their respective sub-divisions, agencies or instrumentalities, government sponsored enterprises and supranational government entities. Supranational entities include international organizations that are organized or supported by one or more government entities to promote economic reconstruction or development and by international banking institutions and related governmental agencies. As a holder of such debt securities, the Fund may be requested to participate in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to governmental entities. In addition, there are generally no bankruptcy proceedings similar to those in the United States by which defaulted foreign debt securities may be collected. Investing in foreign securities involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investment Risk.”

 

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The Fund may invest in Brady Bonds, which are securities created through the exchange of existing commercial bank loans to sovereign entities for new obligations in connection with a debt restructuring. Investments in Brady Bonds may be viewed as speculative. Brady Bonds acquired by the Fund may be subject to restructuring arrangements or to requests for new credit, which may cause the Fund to realize a loss of interest or principal on any of its portfolio holdings.

The foreign securities in which the Fund may invest include without limitation Eurodollar obligations and “Yankee Dollar” obligations. Eurodollar obligations are U.S. dollar-denominated certificates of deposit and time deposits issued outside the U.S. capital markets by foreign branches of U.S. banks and by foreign banks. Yankee Dollar obligations are U.S. dollar-denominated obligations issued in the U.S. capital markets by foreign banks. Eurodollar and Yankee Dollar obligations are generally subject to the same risks that apply to domestic debt issues, notably credit risk, interest rate risk, market risk and liquidity risk. Additionally, Eurodollar (and to a limited extent, Yankee Dollar) obligations are subject to certain sovereign risks. One such risk is the possibility that a sovereign country might prevent capital, in the form of U.S. dollars, from flowing across its borders. Other risks include adverse political and economic developments; the extent and quality of government regulation of financial markets and institutions; the imposition of foreign withholding taxes; and the expropriation or nationalization of foreign issuers.

Emerging Markets Investments

The Fund may normally invest up to 40% of its total assets in securities of issuers economically tied to “emerging market” countries. PIMCO generally considers an instrument to be economically tied to an emerging market country if the security’s “country of exposure” is an emerging market country, as determined by the criteria set forth below. Alternatively, such as when a “country of exposure” is not available or when PIMCO believes the following tests more accurately reflect which country the security is economically tied to, PIMCO may consider an instrument to be economically tied to an emerging market country if the issuer or guarantor is a government of an emerging market country (or any political subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality of such government), if the issuer or guarantor is organized under the laws of an emerging market country, or if the currency of settlement of the security is a currency of an emerging market country. With respect to derivative instruments, PIMCO generally considers such instruments to be economically tied to emerging market countries if the underlying assets are currencies of emerging market countries (or baskets or indexes of such currencies), or instruments or securities that are issued or guaranteed by governments of emerging market countries or by entities organized under the laws of emerging market countries. An instrument’s “country of exposure” is determined by PIMCO using certain factors provided by a third-party analytical service provider. The factors are applied in order such that the first factor to result in the assignment of a country determines the “country of exposure.” The factors, listed in the order in which they are applied, are: (i) if an asset-backed or other collateralized security, the country in which the collateral backing the security is located, (ii) if the security is guaranteed by the government of a country (or any political subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality of such government), the country of the government or instrumentality providing the guarantee, (iii) the “country of risk” of the issuer, (iv) the “country of risk” of the issuer’s ultimate parent, or (v) the country where the issuer is organized or incorporated under the laws thereof. “Country of risk” is a separate four-part test determined by the following factors, listed in order of importance: (i) management location, (ii) country of primary listing, (iii) sales or revenue attributable to the country, and (iv) reporting currency of the issuer. PIMCO has broad discretion to identify countries that it considers to qualify as emerging markets. Emerging market countries are generally located in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe but may be in other regions as well. PIMCO will consider emerging market country and currency composition based on its evaluation of relative interest rates, inflation rates, exchange rates, monetary and fiscal policies, trade and current account balances, legal and political developments and any other specific factors it believes to be relevant.

The securities and currency markets of emerging market countries are generally smaller, less developed, less liquid, and more volatile than the securities and currency markets of the United States and other developed markets and disclosure and regulatory standards in many respects are less stringent. There also may be a lower level of monitoring and regulation of securities markets in emerging market countries and the activities of investors in such markets and enforcement of existing regulations may be extremely limited. Government

 

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enforcement of existing securities regulations is limited, and any enforcement may be arbitrary and the results may be difficult to predict. In addition, reporting requirements of emerging market countries with respect to the ownership of securities are more likely to be subject to interpretation or changes without prior notice to investors than more developed countries.

Many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may continue to have negative effects on such countries’ economies and securities markets.

Economies of emerging market countries generally are heavily dependent upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be affected adversely 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. The economies of emerging market countries also have been and may continue to be adversely affected by economic conditions in the countries with which they trade. The economies of emerging market countries may also be predominantly based on only a few industries or dependent on revenues from particular commodities. In addition, custodial services and other investment-related costs may be more expensive in emerging markets than in many developed markets, which could reduce the Fund’s income from securities or debt instruments of emerging market country issuers.

Governments of many emerging market countries have exercised and continue to exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector. In some cases, the government owns or controls many companies, including some of the largest in the country. Accordingly, government actions could have a significant effect on economic conditions in an emerging country and on market conditions, prices and yields of securities in the Fund’s portfolio.

Emerging market countries are more likely than developed market countries to experience political uncertainty and instability, including the risk of war, terrorism, nationalization, limitations on the removal of funds or other assets, or diplomatic developments that affect investments in these countries. No assurance can be given that adverse political changes will not cause the Fund to suffer a loss of any or all of its investments in emerging market countries or interest/dividend income thereon.

Foreign investment in certain emerging market country securities is restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions or controls may at times limit or preclude foreign investment in certain emerging market country securities and increase the costs and expenses of the Fund. Certain emerging market countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons, limit the amount of investment by foreign persons in a particular issuer, limit the investment by foreign persons only to a specific class of securities of an issuer that may have less advantageous rights than the classes available for purchase by domiciliaries of the countries and/or impose additional taxes on foreign investors. Certain emerging market countries may also restrict investment opportunities in issuers in industries deemed important to national interests. Emerging market countries may require governmental approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors.

Also, because publicly traded debt instruments of emerging market issuers represent a relatively recent innovation in the world debt markets, there is little historical data or related market experience concerning the attributes of such instruments under all economic, market and political conditions.

As reflected in the above discussion, investments in emerging market securities involve a greater degree of risk than, and special risks in addition to the risks associated with, investments in domestic securities or in securities of foreign developed countries. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Emerging Markets Risk.”

Foreign Currencies and Related Transactions

The Fund’s Common Shares are priced in U.S. dollars and the distributions paid by the Fund to Common Shareholders are paid in U.S. dollars. However, a significant portion of the Fund’s assets may be denominated in foreign (non-U.S.) currencies and the income received by the Fund from many foreign debt obligations will be paid in foreign currencies. The Fund also may invest in or gain exposure to foreign currencies themselves for

 

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investment or hedging purposes. The Fund’s investments in securities that trade in, or receive revenues in, foreign currencies will be subject to currency risk, which is the risk that fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies may negatively affect an investment. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Foreign Currency Risk.” The Fund may (but is not required to) hedge some or all of its exposure to foreign currencies through the use of derivative strategies. For instance, the Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts, and may buy and sell foreign currency futures contracts and options on foreign currencies and foreign currency futures. A forward foreign currency exchange contract, which involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of the contract, may reduce the Fund’s exposure to changes in the value of the currency it will deliver and increase its exposure to changes in the value of the currency it will receive for the duration of the contract. The effect on the value of the Fund is similar to selling securities denominated in one currency and purchasing securities denominated in another currency. Contracts to sell foreign currency would limit any potential gain that might be realized by the Fund if the value of the hedged currency increases. The Fund may enter into these contracts to hedge against foreign exchange risk arising from the Fund’s investment or anticipated investment in securities denominated in foreign currencies. Suitable hedging transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will engage in such transactions at any given time or from time to time when they would be beneficial. Although PIMCO has the flexibility to engage in such transactions for the Fund, it may determine not to do so or to do so only in unusual circumstances or market conditions. Also, these transactions may not be successful and may eliminate any chance for the Fund to benefit from favorable fluctuations in relevant foreign currencies.

The Fund may also use derivatives contracts for purposes of increasing exposure to a foreign currency or to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one currency to another. To the extent that it does so, the Fund will be subject to the additional risk that the relative value of currencies will be different than anticipated by PIMCO.

Please see “Investment Objectives and Policies—Non-U.S. Securities,” “Investment Objectives and Policies—Foreign Currency Transactions” and “Investment Objectives and Policies—Foreign Currency Exchange-Related Securities” in the Statement of Additional Information for a more detailed description of the types of foreign investments and foreign currency transactions in which the Fund may invest or engage and their related risks.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities

The Fund may invest in a variety of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities issued by government agencies or other governmental entities or by private originators or issuers.

As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will normally invest at least 25% of its total assets in privately-issued (commonly known as “non-agency”) mortgage-related securities.

Mortgage-related securities include mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBSs”), mortgage dollar rolls, CMO residuals, adjustable rate mortgage-backed securities (“ARMs”), stripped mortgage-backed securities (“SMBSs”) and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans on real property.

Mortgage Pass-Through Securities.     Interests in pools of mortgage-related securities differ from 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. Instead, these securities provide a monthly payment which consists 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 that may be incurred. Some mortgage-related securities (such as securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”)) are described as “modified pass-through.” These securities entitle the holder to receive all interest

 

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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 rate of pre-payments on underlying mortgages will affect the price and volatility of a mortgage-related security, and may have the effect of shortening or extending the effective duration of the security relative to what was anticipated at the time of purchase. To the extent that unanticipated rates of prepayment on underlying mortgages increase the effective duration of a mortgage-related security, the volatility of such security can be expected to increase. The mortgage market in the United States has experienced heightened difficulties over the past several years that may adversely affect the performance and market value of mortgage-related investments. Delinquencies and losses on residential and commercial mortgage loans (especially subprime and second-lien residential mortgage loans) generally have increased recently and may continue to increase, and a decline in or flattening of property values (as has recently been experienced and may continue to be experienced in many markets) may exacerbate such delinquencies and losses. Borrowers with adjustable-rate mortgage loans are more sensitive to changes in interest rates, which affect their monthly mortgage payments, and may be unable to secure replacement mortgages at comparably low interest rates. Also, a number of residential mortgage loan originators have recently experienced serious financial difficulties or bankruptcy. Owing largely to the foregoing, reduced investor demand for mortgage loans and mortgage-related securities and increased investor yield requirements have caused limited liquidity in the secondary market for mortgage-related securities, which can adversely affect the market value of mortgage-related securities. It is possible that such limited liquidity in such secondary markets could continue or worsen.

The principal U.S. governmental guarantor of mortgage-related securities is GNMA. GNMA is a wholly owned U.S. Government corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. GNMA is authorized to guarantee, with the full faith and credit of the U.S. 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 mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (the “FHA”), or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (the “VA”). Government-related guarantors ( i.e. , not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government) include the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”). FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation the common stock of which is owned entirely by private stockholders. 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. Pass-through securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA, but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored corporation that issues Participation Certificates (“PCs”), which are pass-through securities, each representing an undivided interest in a pool of residential mortgages. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

On September 6, 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) placed FNMA and FHLMC into conservatorship. As the conservator, FHFA succeeded to all rights, titles, powers and privileges of FNMA and FHLMC and of any stockholder, officer or director of FNMA and FHLMC with respect to FNMA and FHLMC and the assets of FNMA and FHLMC. FHFA selected a new chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors for each of FNMA and FHLMC. In connection with the conservatorship, the U.S. Treasury entered into a Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement with each of FNMA and FHLMC pursuant to which the U.S. Treasury will purchase up to an aggregate of $100 billion of each of FNMA and FHLMC to maintain a positive net worth in each enterprise. This agreement contains various covenants that severely limit each enterprise’s operations. In exchange for entering into these agreements, the U.S. Treasury received $1 billion of each enterprise’s senior preferred stock and warrants to purchase 79.9% of each enterprise’s common stock. On February 18, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was doubling the size of its commitment to each enterprise under the Senior Preferred Stock Program to $200 billion. The U.S. Treasury’s obligations under the Senior Preferred Stock Program are for an indefinite period of time for a maximum amount of $200 billion per

 

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enterprise. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced further amendments to the Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements which included additional financial support to certain governmentally supported entities, including the Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”), FNMA and FHLMC, there is no assurance that the obligations of such entities will be satisfied in full, or that such obligations will not decrease in value or default. It is difficult, if not impossible, to predict the future political, regulatory or economic changes that could impact the FNMA, FHLMC and the FHLBs, and the values of their related securities or obligations.

FNMA and FHLMC are continuing to operate as going concerns while in conservatorship and each remain liable for all of its obligations, including its guaranty obligations, associated with its mortgage-backed securities.

Under the Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of 2008 (the “Reform Act”), which was included as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, FHFA, as conservator or receiver, has the power to repudiate any contract entered into by FNMA or FHLMC prior to FHFA’s appointment as conservator or receiver, as applicable, if FHFA determines, in its sole discretion, that performance of the contract is burdensome and that repudiation of the contract promotes the orderly administration of FNMA’s or FHLMC’s affairs. The Reform Act requires FHFA to exercise its right to repudiate any contract within a reasonable period of time after its appointment as conservator or receiver. FHFA, in its capacity as conservator, has indicated that it has no intention to repudiate the guaranty obligations of FNMA or FHLMC because FHFA views repudiation as incompatible with the goals of the conservatorship. However, in the event that FHFA, as conservator or if it is later appointed as receiver for FNMA or FHLMC, were to repudiate any such guaranty obligation, the conservatorship or receivership estate, as applicable, would be liable for actual direct compensatory damages in accordance with the provisions of the Reform Act. Any such liability could be satisfied only to the extent of FNMA’s or FHLMC’s assets available therefor. In the event of repudiation, the payments of interest to holders of FNMA or FHLMC mortgage-backed securities would be reduced if payments on the mortgage loans represented in the mortgage loan groups related to such mortgage-backed securities are not made by the borrowers or advanced by the servicer. Any actual direct compensatory damages for repudiating these guaranty obligations may not be sufficient to offset any shortfalls experienced by such mortgage-backed security holders. Further, in its capacity as conservator or receiver, FHFA has the right to transfer or sell any asset or liability of FNMA or FHLMC without any approval, assignment or consent. Although FHFA has stated that it has no present intention to do so, if FHFA, as conservator or receiver, were to transfer any such guaranty obligation to another party, holders of FNMA or FHLMC mortgage-backed securities would have to rely on that party for satisfaction of the guaranty obligation and would be exposed to the credit risk of that party. In addition, certain rights provided to holders of mortgage-backed securities issued by FNMA and FHLMC under the operative documents related to such securities may not be enforced against FHFA, or enforcement of such rights may be delayed, during the conservatorship or any future receivership. The operative documents for FNMA and FHLMC mortgage-backed securities may provide (or with respect to securities issued prior to the date of the appointment of the conservator may have provided) that upon the occurrence of an event of default on the part of FNMA or FHLMC, in its capacity as guarantor, which includes the appointment of a conservator or receiver, holders of such mortgage-backed securities have the right to replace FNMA or FHLMC as trustee if the requisite percentage of mortgage-backed securities holders consent. The Reform Act prevents mortgage-backed security holders from enforcing such rights if the event of default arises solely because a conservator or receiver has been appointed. The Reform Act also provides that no person may exercise any right or power to terminate, accelerate or declare an event of default under certain contracts to which FNMA or FHLMC is a party, or obtain possession of or exercise control over any property of FNMA or FHLMC, or affect any contractual rights of FNMA or FHLMC, without the approval of FHFA, as conservator or receiver, for a period of 45 or 90 days following the appointment of FHFA as conservator or receiver, respectively.

In addition, in a February 2011 report to Congress from the Treasury Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Obama administration provided a plan to reform America’s housing finance market. The plan would reduce the role of and eventually eliminate FNMA and FHLMC. Notably, the plan does not propose similar significant changes to GNMA, which guarantees payments on mortgage-related securities backed by federally insured or guaranteed loans such as those issued by the Federal Housing Association or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The report also identified three proposals for

 

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Congress and the administration to consider for the long-term structure of the housing finance markets after the elimination of FNMA and FHLMC, including implementing: (i) a privatized system of housing finance that limits government insurance to very limited groups of creditworthy low- and moderate-income borrowers; (ii) a privatized system with a government backstop mechanism that would allow the government to insure a larger share of the housing finance market during a future housing crisis; and (iii) a privatized system where the government would offer reinsurance to holders of certain highly-rated mortgage-related securities insured by private insurers and would pay out under the reinsurance arrangements only if the private mortgage insurers were insolvent.

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 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 in the former pools. 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, which may be issued by governmental entities or private insurers. Such insurance and guarantees and the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof will be considered in determining whether a mortgage-related security should be purchased for the Fund. There can be no assurance that the private insurers or guarantors can meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements. The Fund may, however, invest in mortgage-related securities without insurance or guarantees if PIMCO believes that the securities will help to achieve the Fund’s investment objectives. Securities issued by certain private organizations may not be readily marketable.

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations.     A CMO is a debt obligation of a legal entity that is collateralized by mortgages and divided into classes. Similar to a bond, interest and prepaid principal is paid, in most cases, on a monthly basis. CMOs may be collateralized by whole mortgage loans or private mortgage bonds, but are generally collateralized by portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities guaranteed by GNMA, FHLMC or FNMA and their income streams. CMOs are structured into multiple classes, often referred to as “tranches,” with each class bearing a different stated maturity and entitled to a different schedule for payments of principal and interest, including prepayments. Actual maturity and average life will depend upon the pre-payment experience of the collateral. In the case of certain CMOs (known as “sequential pay” CMOs), payments of principal received from the pool of underlying mortgages, including prepayments, are applied to the classes of CMOs in the order of their respective final distribution dates. Thus, no payment of principal will be made to any class of sequential pay CMOs until all other classes having an earlier final distribution date have been paid in full. CMOs may be less liquid and may exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or asset-backed securities.

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities.     CMBSs include securities that reflect an interest in, and are secured by, mortgage loans on commercial real property. Many of the risks of investing in commercial mortgage-backed securities reflect the risks of investing in the real estate securing the underlying mortgage loans. These risks reflect the effects of local and other economic conditions on real estate markets, the ability of tenants to make loan payments and the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants. Commercial mortgage-backed securities may be less liquid and exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or asset-backed securities.

CMO Residuals.     CMO residuals are mortgage securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the foregoing. The cash flow generated by the mortgage assets underlying a series of a CMO is applied first to make required payments of principal and interest on the CMO and second to pay the related administrative expenses and any management fee 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

 

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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 the prepayment experience on the mortgage assets. In particular, the yield to maturity on CMO residuals is extremely sensitive to prepayments on the related underlying mortgage assets, in the same manner as an interest-only (“IO”) class of stripped mortgage-backed securities (described below). 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 the 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. CMO residuals may, or pursuant to an exemption therefrom, may not, have been registered under the Securities Act. CMO residuals, whether or not registered under the Securities Act, may be subject to certain restrictions on transferability.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage-Backed Securities.     ARMs have interest rates that reset at periodic intervals. Acquiring ARMs permits the Fund to participate in increases in prevailing current interest rates through periodic adjustments in the coupons of mortgages underlying the pool on which ARMs are based. Such ARMs generally have higher current yield and lower price fluctuations than is the case with more traditional fixed income debt securities of comparable rating and maturity. In addition, when prepayments of principal are made on the underlying mortgages during periods of rising interest rates, the Fund can reinvest the proceeds of such prepayments at rates higher than those at which they were previously invested. Mortgages underlying most ARMs, however, have limits on the allowable annual or lifetime increases that can be made in the interest rate that the mortgagor pays. Therefore, if current interest rates rise above such limits over the period of the limitation, the Fund, when holding an ARM, does not benefit from further increases in interest rates. Moreover, when interest rates are in excess of coupon rates ( i.e. , the rates being paid by mortgagors) of the mortgages, ARMs behave more like fixed income securities and less like adjustable-rate securities and are subject to the risks associated with fixed income securities. In addition, during periods of rising interest rates, increases in the coupon rate of adjustable-rate mortgages generally lag current market interest rates slightly, thereby creating the potential for capital depreciation on such securities.

Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities.     SMBSs are derivative multi-class mortgage securities. SMBSs may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the foregoing. SMBSs 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 “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 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 the Fund’s yield to maturity from these securities. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Fund may fail to recoup some or all of its initial investment in these securities even if the security is in one of the highest rating categories.

Collateralized Debt Obligations.     The Fund may invest in collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), which include collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other similarly structured securities. CBOs and CLOs are types of asset-backed securities. A CBO is a trust which is often backed by a diversified pool of high risk, below investment grade fixed income securities. The collateral can be from many different types of fixed-income securities such as high-yield debt, residential privately-issued mortgage-related securities, commercial privately-issued mortgage-related securities, trust preferred securities and emerging market debt. A CLO is a trust typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and foreign senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans and subordinate corporate

 

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loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. CDOs may charge management fees and administrative expenses. For both CBOs and CLOs, the cash flows from the trust are split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. The riskiest portion is the “equity” tranche which bears the bulk of defaults from the bonds or loans in the trust and serves to protect the other, more senior tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since it is partially protected from defaults, a senior tranche from a CBO trust or CLO trust typically has higher ratings and lower yields than the underlying securities, and can be rated investment grade. Despite the protection from the equity tranche, CBO or CLO tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults and aversion to CBO or CLO securities as a class. The risks of an investment in a CDO depend largely on the type of the collateral securities and the class of the CDO in which the Fund invests. Normally, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold, and thus are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, investments in CDOs may be characterized by the Fund as illiquid securities; however, an active dealer market may exist for CDOs allowing a CDO to qualify under Rule 144A under the Securities Act. In addition to the normal risks associated with debt instruments discussed elsewhere in this prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information ( e.g. , interest rate risk and default risk), CDOs carry additional risks including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the Fund may invest in CDOs that are subordinate to other classes; and (iv) the complex structure of the security may not be fully understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results.

Asset-Backed Securities.     Asset-backed securities (“ABS”) are bonds backed by pools of loans or other receivables. ABS are created from many types of assets, including auto loans, credit card receivables, home equity loans and student loans. ABS are typically issued through special purpose vehicles that are bankruptcy remote from the issuer of the collateral. The credit quality of an ABS transaction depends on the performance of the underlying assets. To protect ABS investors from the possibility that some borrowers could miss payments or even default on their loans, ABS include various forms of credit enhancement. Some ABS, particularly home equity loan ABS, are subject to interest rate risk and prepayment risk. A change in interest can affect the pace of payments on the underlying loans, which in turn affects total return on the securities. ABS also carry credit or default risk. If many borrowers on the underlying loans default, losses could exceed the credit enhancement level and result in losses to investors in an ABS. In addition, ABS have structural risk due to a unique characteristic known as early amortization, or early payout, risk. Built into the structure of most ABS are triggers for early payout, designed to protect investors from losses. These triggers are unique to each transaction and can include: a big rise in defaults on the underlying loans, a sharp drop in the credit enhancement level or even the bankruptcy of the originator. Once early amortization begins, all incoming loan payments (after expenses are paid) are used to pay investors as quickly as possible based upon a predetermined priority of payment.

Please see “Investment Objectives and Policies—Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities” in the Statement of Additional Information and “Principal Risks of the Fund—Mortgage-Related and Asset-Backed Securities Risk” in this prospectus for a more detailed description of the types of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities in which the Fund may invest and their related risks.

Municipal Bonds

Municipal bonds share the attributes of debt/fixed income securities in general, but are generally issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities, and may be either taxable or tax-exempt instruments. The municipal bonds that the Fund may purchase include without limitation general obligation bonds and limited obligation bonds (or revenue bonds), including industrial development bonds issued pursuant to former federal tax law. General obligation bonds are obligations involving the credit of an issuer possessing taxing power and are payable from such issuer’s general revenues and not from any particular source. Limited obligation bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source. Tax exempt private activity bonds and industrial development

 

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bonds generally are also limited obligation bonds and thus are not payable from the issuer’s general revenues. The credit and quality of private activity bonds and industrial development bonds are usually related to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities. Payment of interest on and repayment of principal of such bonds is the responsibility of the corporate user (and/or any guarantor).

The Fund may invest in Build America Bonds, which are tax credit bonds created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which authorizes state and local governments to issue Build America Bonds as taxable bonds in 2009 and 2010, without volume limitations, to finance any capital expenditures for which such issuers could otherwise issue traditional tax-exempt bonds. State and local governments may receive a direct federal subsidy payment for a portion of their borrowing costs on Build America Bonds equal to 35% of the total coupon interest paid to investors. The state or local government issuer can elect to either take the federal subsidy or pass the 35% tax credit along to bondholders. The Fund’s investments in Build America Bonds will result in taxable income and the Fund may elect to pass through to shareholders the corresponding tax credits. The tax credits can generally be used to offset federal income taxes and the alternative minimum tax, but such credits are generally not refundable. Build America Bonds involve similar risks as municipal bonds, including credit and market risk. They are intended to assist state and local governments in financing capital projects at lower borrowing costs and are likely to attract a broader group of investors than tax-exempt municipal bonds. For example, taxable funds, such as the Fund, may choose to invest in Build America Bonds. Although Build America Bonds were only authorized for issuance during 2009 and 2010, the program may have resulted in reduced issuance of tax-exempt municipal bonds during the same period. The Build America Bond program expired on December 31, 2010, at which point no further issuance of new Build America Bonds was permitted. As of the date of this prospectus, there is no indication that Congress will renew the program to permit issuance of new Build America Bonds.

The Fund may invest in pre-refunded municipal bonds. Pre-refunded municipal bonds are tax-exempt bonds that have been refunded to a call date prior to the final maturity of principal, or, in the case of pre-refunded municipal bonds commonly referred to as “escrowed-to-maturity bonds,” to the final maturity of principal, and remain outstanding in the municipal market. The payment of principal and interest of the pre-refunded municipal bonds held by the Fund is funded from securities in a designated escrow account that holds U.S. Treasury securities or other obligations of the U.S. Government (including its agencies and instrumentalities (“Agency Securities”)). While still tax-exempt, pre-refunded municipal bonds usually will bear an AAA/Aaa rating (if a re-rating has been requested and paid for) because they are backed by U.S. Treasury securities or Agency Securities. Because the payment of principal and interest is generated from securities held in an escrow account established by the municipality and an independent escrow agent, the pledge of the municipality has been fulfilled and the original pledge of revenue by the municipality is no longer in place. The escrow account securities pledged to pay the principal and interest of the pre-refunded municipal bond do not guarantee the price movement of the bond before maturity. Issuers of municipal bonds refund in advance of maturity the outstanding higher cost debt and issue new, lower cost debt, placing the proceeds of the lower cost issuance into an escrow account to pre-refund the older, higher cost debt. Investment in pre-refunded municipal bonds held by the Fund may subject the Fund to interest rate risk and market risk. In addition, while a secondary market exists for pre-refunded municipal bonds, if the Fund sells pre-refunded municipal bonds prior to maturity, the price received may be more or less than the original cost, depending on market conditions at the time of sale.

The Fund may invest in municipal lease obligations. A lease is not a full faith and credit obligation of the issuer and is usually backed only by the borrowing government’s unsecured pledge to make annual appropriations for lease payments. There have been challenges to the legality of lease financing in numerous states, and, from time to time, certain municipalities have considered not appropriating money for lease payments. In deciding whether to purchase a lease obligation for the Fund, PIMCO will assess the financial condition of the borrower, the merits of the project, the level of public support for the project and the legislative history of lease financing in the state. These securities may be less readily marketable than other municipal securities.

Some longer-term municipal bonds give the investor the right to “put” or sell the security at par (face value) within a specified number of days following the investor’s request—usually one to seven days. This demand

 

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feature enhances a security’s liquidity by shortening its effective maturity and enables it to trade at a price equal to or very close to par. If a demand feature terminates prior to being exercised, the Fund would hold the longer-term security, which could experience substantially more volatility.

The Fund may invest in municipal warrants, which are essentially call options on municipal bonds. In exchange for a premium, municipal warrants give the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, to purchase a municipal bond in the future. The Fund may purchase a warrant to lock in forward supply in an environment in which the current issuance of bonds is sharply reduced. Like options, warrants may expire worthless and may have reduced liquidity.

The Fund may invest in municipal bonds with credit enhancements such as letters of credit, municipal bond insurance and standby bond purchase agreements (“SBPAs”). Letters of credit are issued by a third party, usually a bank, to enhance liquidity and to ensure repayment of principal and any accrued interest if the underlying municipal bond should default. Municipal bond insurance, which is usually purchased by the bond issuer from a private, nongovernmental insurance company, provides an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee that the insured bond’s principal and interest will be paid when due. Insurance does not guarantee the price of the bond. The credit rating of an insured bond reflects the credit rating of the insurer, based on its claims-paying ability. The obligation of a municipal bond insurance company to pay a claim extends over the life of each insured bond. Although defaults on insured municipal bonds have been low to date and municipal bond insurers have met their claims, there is no assurance that this will continue. A higher-than expected default rate could strain the insurer’s loss reserves and adversely affect its ability to pay claims to bondholders. Because a significant portion of insured municipal bonds that have been issued and are outstanding is insured by a small number of insurance companies, not all of which have the highest credit rating, an event involving one or more of these insurance companies, such as a credit rating downgrade, could have a significant adverse effect on the value of the municipal bonds insured by such insurance company or companies and on the municipal bond markets as a whole. An SBPA is a liquidity facility provided to pay the purchase price of bonds that cannot be re-marketed. The obligation of the liquidity provider (usually a bank) is only to advance funds to purchase tendered bonds that cannot be re-marketed and does not cover principal or interest under any other circumstances. The liquidity provider’s obligations under the SBPA are usually subject to numerous conditions, including the continued creditworthiness of the underlying borrower.

Bank Loans

The Fund may normally invest up to 40% of its total assets in bank loans, which include fixed- and floating-rate loans issued by banks (including, among others, interests in senior floating rate loans made to or issued by U.S. or non-U.S. banks or other corporations (“Senior Loans”), delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities). Bank loans may also take the form of direct interests acquired during a primary distribution or the form of assignments of, novations of or participations in a bank loan acquired in secondary markets. The Fund may also gain exposure to bank loans and related investments through the use of total return swaps and/or other derivative instruments.

As noted, the Fund may purchase or gain economic exposure to “assignments” of bank loans from lenders. The purchaser of an assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the loan agreement with the same rights and obligations as the assigning lender. Assignments may, however, be arranged through private negotiations between potential assignees and potential assignors, and the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of an assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assigning lender.

The Fund also may invest in “participations” in bank loans. Participations by the Fund in a lender’s portion of a bank loan typically will result in the Fund having a contractual relationship only with such lender, not with the borrower. As a result, the Fund may have the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the lender selling the participation and only upon receipt by such lender of such payments from the borrower. In connection with purchasing participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement, nor any rights with respect to any funds acquired by other lenders through set-off against the borrower, and the Fund may not directly benefit from

 

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any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation. As a result, the Fund may assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender selling the participation.

Among the types of bank loan investments that the Fund may make are interests in Senior Loans. Senior Loans typically pay interest at rates that are re-determined periodically on the basis of a floating base lending rate (such as LIBOR) plus a premium. Senior Loans are typically of below investment grade quality. Senior Loans may hold a senior position in the capital structure of a borrower and are often secured with collateral. A Senior Loan is typically originated, negotiated and structured by a U.S. or foreign commercial bank, insurance company, finance company or other financial institution (the “Agent”) for a lending syndicate of financial institutions (“Lenders”). The Agent typically administers and enforces the Senior Loan on behalf of the other Lenders in the syndicate. In addition, an institution, typically but not always the Agent, holds any collateral on behalf of the Lenders. A financial institution’s employment as an Agent might be terminated in the event that it fails to observe a requisite standard of care or becomes insolvent. A successor Agent would generally be appointed to replace the terminated Agent, and assets held by the Agent under the loan agreement would likely remain available to holders of such indebtedness. However, if assets held by the Agent for the benefit of the Fund were determined to be subject to the claims of the Agent’s general creditors, the Fund might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on a loan or loan participation and could suffer a loss of principal and/or interest. In situations involving other interposed financial institutions ( e.g. , an insurance company or government agency) similar risks may arise.

Purchasers of Senior Loans and other forms of direct indebtedness depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the corporate or other borrower for payment of principal and interest. If the Fund does not receive scheduled interest or principal payments on such indebtedness, the net asset value, market price and/or yield of the Common Shares could be adversely affected. Senior Loans that are fully secured may offer the Fund more protection than an unsecured loan in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal. However, there is no assurance that the liquidation of any collateral from a secured Senior Loan would satisfy the borrower’s obligation, or that such collateral could be liquidated. Also, the Fund may invest in or gain economic exposure to Senior Loans that are unsecured.

Senior Loans and interests in other bank loans may not be readily marketable and may be subject to restrictions on resale. In some cases, negotiations involved in disposing of indebtedness may require weeks to complete. Consequently, some indebtedness may be difficult or impossible to dispose of readily at what PIMCO believes to be a fair price.

Senior Loans usually require, in addition to scheduled payments of interest and principal, the prepayment of the Senior Loan from free cash flow. The degree to which borrowers prepay Senior Loans, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, may be affected by general business conditions, the financial condition of the borrower and competitive conditions among lenders, among others. As such, prepayments cannot be predicted with accuracy. Upon a prepayment, either in part or in full, the actual outstanding debt on which the Fund derives interest income will be reduced. However, the Fund may receive both a prepayment penalty fee from the prepaying borrower and a facility fee upon the purchase of a new Senior Loan with the proceeds from the prepayment of the former. The effect of prepayments on the Fund’s performance may be mitigated by the receipt of prepayment fees and the Fund’s ability to reinvest prepayments in other Senior Loans that have similar or identical yields.

Economic exposure to loan interests through the use of derivative transactions, including, among others, total return swaps, generally involves greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the loan interest directly during a primary distribution or through assignments of, novations of or participations in a bank loan acquired in secondary markets since, in addition to the risks described above, certain derivative transactions may be subject to leverage risk and greater illiquidity risk, counterparty risk, valuation risk and other risks. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Derivatives Risk” for more information on these risks.

Delayed Funding Loans and Revolving Credit Facilities

As noted above under “—Bank Loans,” the Fund may enter into, or acquire participations in, delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities, in which a bank or other lender agrees to make loans up to a

 

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maximum amount upon demand by the borrower during a specified term. These commitments may have the effect of requiring the Fund to increase its investment in a company at a time when it might not be desirable to do so (including at a time when the company’s financial condition makes it unlikely that such amounts will be repaid). Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities are subject to credit, interest rate and liquidity risk and the risks of being a lender.

Bonds

The Fund may invest in a wide variety of bonds of varying maturities issued by non-U.S. (foreign) and U.S. corporations and other business entities, governments and quasi-governmental entities and municipalities and other issuers. Bonds may include, among other things, fixed or variable/floating-rate debt obligations, including bills, notes, debentures, money market instruments and similar instruments and securities. Bonds generally are used by corporations as well as governments and other issuers to borrow money from investors. The issuer pays the investor a fixed or variable rate of interest and normally must repay the amount borrowed on or before maturity. Certain bonds are “perpetual” in that they have no maturity date.

Preferred Securities

Preferred securities represent an equity interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of other stocks such as common stocks, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from liquidation of the company. Unlike common stocks, preferred stocks usually do not have voting rights. Preferred stocks in some instances are convertible into common stock. Some preferred stocks also entitle their holders to receive additional liquidation proceeds on the same basis as holders of a company’s common stock, and thus also represent an ownership interest in the company. Some preferred stocks offer a fixed rate of return with no maturity date. Because they never mature, these preferred stocks may act like long-term bonds, can be more volatile than other types of preferred stocks and may have heightened sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Other preferred stocks have a variable dividend, generally determined on a quarterly or other periodic basis, either according to a formula based upon a specified premium or discount to the yield on particular U.S. Treasury securities or based on an auction process, involving bids submitted by holders and prospective purchasers of such stocks. Although they are equity securities, preferred securities have certain characteristics of both debt securities and common stock. They are like debt securities in that their stated income is generally contractually fixed. They are like common stocks in that they do not have rights to precipitate bankruptcy proceedings or collection activities in the event of missed payments. Furthermore, preferred securities have many of the key characteristics of equity due to their subordinated position in an issuer’s capital structure and because their quality and value are heavily dependent on the profitability of the issuer rather than on any legal claims to specific assets or cash flows. Because preferred securities represent an equity ownership interest in a company, their value usually will react more strongly than bonds and other debt instruments to actual or perceived changes in a company’s financial condition or prospects, or to fluctuations in the equity markets.

In order to be payable, dividends on preferred securities must be declared by the issuer’s board of directors. In addition, distributions on preferred securities may be subject to deferral and thus may not be automatically payable. Income payments on some preferred securities are cumulative, causing dividends and distributions to accrue even if they are not declared by the board of directors of the issuer or otherwise made payable. Other preferred securities are non-cumulative, meaning that skipped dividends and distributions do not continue to accrue. There is no assurance that dividends on preferred securities in which the Fund invests will be declared or otherwise made payable.

Preferred securities have a liquidation value that generally equals their original purchase price at the date of issuance. The market values of preferred securities may be affected by favorable and unfavorable changes affecting the issuers’ industries or sectors. They also may be affected by actual and anticipated changes or ambiguities in the tax status of the security and by actual and anticipated changes or ambiguities in tax laws, such as changes in corporate and individual income tax rates or the characterization of dividends as tax-advantaged. The dividends paid on the preferred securities in which the Fund may invest might not be eligible for tax-advantaged “qualified dividend” treatment. See “Tax Matters.” Because the claim on an issuer’s earnings

 

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represented by preferred securities may become disproportionately large when interest rates fall below the rate payable on the securities or for other reasons, the issuer may redeem preferred securities, generally after an initial period of call protection in which the security is not redeemable. Thus, in declining interest rate environments in particular, the Fund’s holdings of higher dividend-paying preferred securities may be reduced and the Fund may be unable to acquire securities paying comparable rates with the redemption proceeds.

Convertible Securities and Synthetic Convertible Securities

The Fund will not normally invest more than 10% of its total assets in convertible debt securities ( i.e. , debt securities that may be converted at either a stated price or stated rate into underlying shares of common stock), including synthetic convertible debt securities ( i.e. , instruments created through a combination of separate securities that possess the two principal characteristics of a traditional convertible security, i.e. , an income-producing security (“income-producing component”) and the right to acquire an equity security (“convertible component”)). Convertible securities have general characteristics similar to both debt securities and equity securities. Although to a lesser extent than with debt obligations, the market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In addition, because of the conversion feature, the market value of convertible securities tends to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying common stocks and, therefore, also will react to variations in the general market for equity securities.

Convertible securities are investments that provide for a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than common stocks. There can be no assurance of current income because the issuers of the convertible securities may default on their obligations. Convertible securities, however, generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible debt securities of similar credit quality because of the potential for equity-related capital appreciation. A convertible security, in addition to providing current income, offers the potential for capital appreciation through the conversion feature, which enables the holder to benefit from increases in the market price of the underlying common stock.

The Fund may invest in synthetic convertible securities, which are created through a combination of separate securities that possess the two principal characteristics of a traditional convertible security, that is, an income-producing component and the right to acquire a convertible component. The income-producing component is achieved by investing in non-convertible, income-producing securities such as bonds, preferred stocks and money market instruments. The convertible component is achieved by purchasing warrants or options to buy common stock at a certain exercise price, or options on a stock index. The Fund may also purchase synthetic securities created by other parties, typically investment banks, including convertible structured notes. The income-producing and convertible components of a synthetic convertible security may be issued separately by different issuers and at different times. The values of synthetic convertible securities will respond differently to market fluctuations than a traditional convertible security because a synthetic convertible is composed of two or more separate securities or instruments, each with its own market value. Synthetic convertible securities are also subject to the risks associated with derivatives. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Derivatives Risk.” In addition, if the value of the underlying common stock or the level of the index involved in the convertible element falls below the strike price of the warrant or option, the warrant or option may lose all value.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Dollar Rolls

As described under “Leverage,” the Fund initially intends to use reverse repurchase agreements to add leverage to its portfolio, and may also use dollar rolls for this purpose. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund sells securities to a bank or broker dealer and agrees to repurchase the securities at a mutually agreed future date and price. A dollar roll is similar to a reverse repurchase agreement except that the counterparty 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 that are “substantially identical.” Generally, the effect of a reverse repurchase agreement or dollar roll transaction is that the Fund can recover and reinvest all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the agreement and still be entitled to the returns associated with those portfolio securities, thereby resulting in a transaction similar to a borrowing and giving rise to

 

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leverage for the Fund. The Fund will incur interest expense as a cost of utilizing reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls. In the event the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement or dollar roll files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the Fund’s use of the proceeds of the agreement may be restricted pending a determination by the other party, or its trustee or receiver, whether to enforce the Fund’s obligation to repurchase the securities.

Commercial Paper

Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by corporations such as banks or bank holding companies and finance companies. The rate of return on commercial paper may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies.

U.S. Government Securities

U.S. Government securities are obligations of and, in certain cases, guaranteed by, the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. The U.S. Government does not guarantee the net asset value of the Fund’s shares. Some U.S. Government securities, such as Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and securities guaranteed by GNMA, are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “U.S. Treasury”); others, such as those of FNMA, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations; and still others, such as those of the Student Loan Marketing Association, are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. U.S. Government securities may include zero coupon securities, which do not distribute interest on a current basis and tend to be subject to greater risk than interest-paying securities of similar maturities.

Bank Capital Securities and Bank Obligations

The Fund may invest in bank capital securities of both non-U.S. (foreign) and U.S. issuers. Bank capital securities are issued by banks to help fulfill their regulatory capital requirements. There are three common types of bank capital: Lower Tier II, Upper Tier II and Tier I. Upper Tier II securities are commonly thought of as hybrids of debt and preferred stock. Upper Tier II securities are often perpetual (with no maturity date), callable and have a cumulative interest deferral feature. This means that under certain conditions, the issuer bank can withhold payment of interest until a later date. However, such deferred interest payments generally earn interest. Tier I securities often take the form of trust preferred securities.

The Fund may also invest in other bank obligations including without limitation certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and fixed time deposits. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates that are issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and that earn a specified return. Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are “accepted” by a bank, meaning, in effect, that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. Fixed time deposits are bank obligations payable at a stated maturity date and bearing interest at a fixed rate. Fixed time deposits may be withdrawn on demand by the investor, but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties which vary depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. There are generally no contractual restrictions on the right to transfer a beneficial interest in a fixed time deposit to a third party, although there is generally no market for such deposits. The Fund may also hold funds on deposit with its custodian bank in an interest-bearing account for temporary purposes.

Zero-Coupon Bonds, Step-Ups and Payment-In-Kind Securities

Zero-coupon bonds pay interest only at maturity rather than at intervals during the life of the security. Like zero-coupon bonds, “step up” bonds pay no interest initially but eventually begin to pay a coupon rate prior to maturity, which rate may increase at stated intervals during the life of the security. Payment-in-kind securities (“PIKs”) are debt obligations that pay “interest” in the form of other debt obligations, instead of in cash. Each of these instruments is normally issued and traded at a deep discount from face value. Zero-coupon bonds, step-ups

 

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and PIKs allow an issuer to avoid or delay the need to generate cash to meet current interest payments and, as a result, may involve greater credit risk than bonds that pay interest currently or in cash. The Fund would be required to distribute the income on these instruments as it accrues, even though the Fund will not receive the income on a current basis or in cash. Thus, the Fund may have to sell other investments, including when it may not be advisable to do so, to make income distributions to its shareholders.

Inflation-Indexed Bonds

Inflation-indexed bonds (other than municipal inflation-indexed bonds and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds) are fixed income securities the principal value of which is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. If the index measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds (other than municipal inflation-indexed bonds and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds) will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds (“TIPS”). For bonds that do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal. With regard to municipal inflation-indexed bonds and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds, the inflation adjustment is typically reflected in the semi-annual coupon payment. As a result, the principal value of municipal inflation-indexed bonds and such corporate inflation-indexed bonds does not adjust according to the rate of inflation.

The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates may rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed bonds. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though investors do not receive their principal until maturity. See “Tax Matters.”

Event-Linked Instruments

The Fund may obtain event-linked exposure by investing in “event-linked bonds” or “event-linked swaps” or by implementing “event-linked strategies.” Event-linked exposure results in gains or losses that typically are contingent upon, or formulaically related to, defined trigger events. Examples of trigger events include hurricanes, earthquakes, weather-related phenomena or statistics relating to such events. Some event-linked bonds are commonly referred to as “catastrophe bonds.” If a trigger event occurs, the Fund may lose a portion or its entire principal invested in the bond or notional amount on a swap. Event-linked exposure often provides for an extension of maturity to process and audit loss claims when a trigger event has, or possibly has, occurred. An extension of maturity may increase volatility. Event-linked exposure may also expose the Fund to certain other risks including credit risk, counterparty risk, adverse regulatory or jurisdictional interpretations and adverse tax consequences. Event-linked exposures may also be subject to liquidity risk.

Variable- and Floating-Rate Securities

Variable- and floating-rate instruments are instruments that pay interest at rates that adjust whenever a specified interest rate changes and/or that reset on predetermined dates (such as the last day of a month or calendar quarter). In addition to Senior Loans, variable- and floating-rate instruments may include, without limitation, instruments such as catastrophe and other event-linked bonds, bank capital securities, unsecured bank loans, corporate bonds, money market instruments and certain types of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities. Due to their variable- or floating-rate features, these instruments will generally pay higher levels of income in a rising interest rate environment and lower levels of income as interest rates decline. For the same reason, the market value of a variable- or floating-rate instrument is generally expected to have less sensitivity to fluctuations in market interest rates than a fixed-rate instrument, although the value of a variable- or floating-rate instrument may nonetheless decline as interest rates rise and due to other factors, such as changes in credit quality.

The Fund also may engage in credit spread trades. A credit spread trade is an investment position relating to a difference in the prices or interest rates of two bonds or other securities, in which the value of the investment

 

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position is determined by changes in the difference between the prices or interest rates, as the case may be, of the respective securities.

Inverse Floaters

An inverse floater is a type of debt instrument that bears a floating or variable interest rate that moves in the opposite direction to interest rates generally or the interest rate on another security or index. Changes in interest rates generally, or the interest rate of the other security or index, inversely affect the interest rate paid on the inverse floater, with the result that the inverse floater’s price will be considerably more volatile than that of a fixed-rate bond. The Fund may invest without limitation in inverse floaters, which brokers typically create by depositing an income-producing instrument, which may be a mortgage-related security, in a trust. The trust in turn issues a variable rate security and inverse floaters. The interest rate for the variable rate security is typically determined by an index or an auction process, while the inverse floater holder receives the balance of the income from the underlying income-producing instrument less an auction fee. The market prices of inverse floaters may be highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and prepayment rates on the underlying securities, and may decrease significantly when interest rates increase or prepayment rates change. In a transaction in which the Fund purchases an inverse floater from a trust, and the underlying bond was held by the Fund prior to being deposited into the trust, the Fund typically treats the transaction as a secured borrowing for financial reporting purposes. As a result, for financial reporting purposes, the Fund will generally incur a non-cash interest expense with respect to interest paid by the trust on the variable rate securities, and will recognize additional interest income in an amount directly corresponding to the non-cash interest expense. Therefore, the Fund’s net asset value per Common Share and performance are not affected by the non-cash interest expense. This accounting treatment does not apply to inverse floaters acquired by the Fund when the Fund did not previously own the underlying bond.

Derivatives

The Fund may, but is not required to, use a variety of derivative instruments (both long and short positions) for both investment and risk management purposes. The Fund may use various derivatives transactions to add leverage to its portfolio. See “Leverage.” Generally, derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index, and may relate to, among others, individual debt instruments, interest rates, currencies or currency exchange rates, commodities and related indexes. Examples of derivative instruments that the Fund may use include, without limitation, futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), call and put options (including options on futures contracts), credit default swaps, total return swaps, basis swaps and other swap agreements. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investment directly in securities and other more traditional investments. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Derivatives Risk.” Certain types of derivative instruments that the Fund may utilize are described elsewhere in this section, including those described under “—Certain Interest Rate Transactions,” “—Credit Default Swaps” and “—Structured Notes and Related Instruments.” Please see “Investment Objectives and Policies—Derivative Instruments” in the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about these and other derivative instruments that the Fund may use and the risks associated with such instruments. There is no assurance that these derivative strategies will be available at any time or that PIMCO will determine to use them for the Fund or, if used, that the strategies will be successful. In addition, the Fund may be subject to certain restrictions on its use of derivative strategies imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies that may issue ratings for any preferred shares issued by the Fund.

Certain Interest Rate Transactions

In order to reduce the interest rate risk inherent in the Fund’s underlying investments and capital structure, the Fund may (but is not required to) enter into interest rate swap transactions. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with a counterparty of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments. These transactions generally involve an agreement with the swap counterparty to pay a fixed or variable rate payment in exchange for the counterparty paying the Fund the other type of payment stream ( i.e. , variable or fixed). The payment obligation would be based on the notional amount of the

 

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swap. Other forms of interest rate swap agreements in which the Fund may invest include without limitation interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap;” interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor;” and interest rate “collars,” under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. The Fund may (but is not required to) use interest rate swap transactions with the intent to reduce or eliminate the risk that an increase in short-term interest rates could pose for the performance of the Fund’s Common Shares as a result of leverage, and also may use these instruments for other hedging or investment purposes. Any termination of an interest rate swap transaction could result in a termination payment by or to the Fund.

Credit Default Swaps

The Fund may enter into credit default swaps for both investment and risk management purposes, as well as to add leverage to the Fund’s portfolio. A credit default swap may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not currently held by the Fund. The protection “buyer” in a credit default swap is generally obligated to pay the protection “seller” an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no credit event, such as a default, on a reference obligation has occurred. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount, if the swap is cash settled. The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund may recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer generally may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap from the seller, who, in turn, generally will recover an amount significantly lower than the equivalent face amount of the obligations of the reference entity, whose value may have significantly decreased, through (i) physical delivery of such obligations by the buyer, (ii) cash settlement or (iii) an auction process. As a seller, the Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. As the seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

The spread of a credit default swap is the annual amount the protection buyer must pay the protection seller over the length of the contract, expressed as a percentage of the notional amount. When spreads rise, market perceived credit risk rises and when spreads fall, market perceived credit risk falls. Wider credit spreads and decreasing market values, when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. For credit default swaps on asset-backed securities and credit indices, the quoted market prices and resulting values, as well as the annual payment rate, serve as an indication of the current status of the payment/performance risk.

Credit default swaps involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly since, in addition to general market risks, credit default swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risk, among other risks associated with derivative instruments. A buyer generally also will lose its investment and recover nothing should no credit event occur and the swap is held to its termination date. If a credit event were to occur, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the seller, coupled with the upfront or periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the seller. The Fund’s obligations under a credit default swap will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund). In connection with credit default swaps in which the Fund is the buyer, the Fund may segregate or “earmark” cash or liquid assets, or enter into certain offsetting positions, with a value at least equal to the Fund’s exposure (any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed by the Fund to any counterparty), on a marked-to-market basis. In connection with credit default swaps in which the Fund is the seller, the Fund may segregate or “earmark” cash or liquid assets, or enter into offsetting positions, with a value at least equal to the full notional amount of the swap (minus any amounts owed to the Fund). Such segregation or “earmarking” will not limit the Fund’s exposure to loss. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk” and “Principal Risks of the Fund—Regulatory Risk—Commodity Pool Operator.”

 

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Hybrid Instruments

A hybrid instrument is a type of potentially high-risk derivative that combines a traditional bond, stock or commodity with an option or forward contract. Generally, the principal amount, amount payable upon maturity or redemption, or interest rate of a hybrid is tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some commodity, currency or securities index or another interest rate or some other economic factor (each a “benchmark”). The interest rate or (unlike most fixed income securities) the principal amount payable at maturity of a hybrid security may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the benchmark. An example of a hybrid could be a bond issued by an oil company that pays a small base level of interest with additional interest that accrues in correlation to the extent to which oil prices exceed a certain predetermined level. Such a hybrid instrument would be a combination of a bond and a call option on oil.

Hybrids can be used as an efficient means of pursuing a variety of investment goals, including currency hedging, duration management and increased total return. Hybrids may not bear interest or pay dividends. The value of a hybrid or its interest rate may be a multiple of a benchmark and, as a result, may be leveraged and move (up or down) more steeply and rapidly than the benchmark. These benchmarks may be sensitive to economic and political events, such as commodity shortages and currency devaluations, which cannot be readily foreseen by the purchaser of a hybrid. Under certain conditions, the redemption value of a hybrid could be zero. Thus, an investment in a hybrid may entail significant market risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional, U.S. dollar-denominated bond that has a fixed principal amount and pays a fixed rate or floating rate of interest. The purchase of hybrids also exposes the Fund to the credit risk of the issuer of the hybrids. These risks may cause significant fluctuations in the net asset value of the Common Shares if the Fund invests in hybrid instruments.

Certain hybrid instruments may provide exposure to the commodities markets. These are derivative securities with one or more commodity-linked components that have payment features similar to commodity futures contracts, commodity options or similar instruments. Commodity-linked hybrid instruments may be either equity or debt securities, leveraged or unleveraged, and are considered hybrid instruments because they have both security and commodity-like characteristics. A portion of the value of these instruments may be derived from the value of a commodity, futures contract, index or other economic variable.

Certain issuers of structured products such as hybrid instruments may be deemed to be investment companies as defined in the 1940 Act. As a result, the Fund’s investments in these products may be subject to limits applicable to investments in investment companies and may be subject to restrictions contained in the 1940 Act.

The Fund’s use of commodity-linked instruments can be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a “regulated investment company,” and can limit the Fund’s ability to so qualify. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders, the Fund must, among other things, derive at least 90% of its income from certain specified sources (qualifying income). Income from certain commodity-linked instruments does not constitute qualifying income to the Fund. The tax treatment of certain other commodity-linked instruments in which the Fund might invest is not certain, in particular with respect to whether income and gains from such instruments constitute qualifying income. If the Fund were to treat income from a particular instrument as qualifying income and the income were later determined not to constitute qualifying income and, together with any other nonqualifying income, caused the Fund’s nonqualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, the Fund would fail to qualify as a regulated investment company unless it is eligible to and does pay a tax at the Fund level. See “Tax Matters.”

Structured Notes and Related Instruments

The Fund may invest in “structured” notes and other related instruments, which are privately negotiated debt obligations in which the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a benchmark asset, market or interest rate (an “embedded index”), such as selected securities, an index of securities or specified interest rates, or the differential performance of two assets or markets, such as indexes reflecting bonds. Structured instruments may be issued by corporations, including banks, as well as by governmental agencies. Structured instruments frequently are assembled in the form of medium-term notes, but a variety of forms are available and may be used in particular circumstances. The terms of such structured instruments normally

 

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provide that their principal and/or interest payments are to be adjusted upwards or downwards (but ordinarily not below zero) to reflect changes in the embedded index while the structured instruments are outstanding. As a result, the interest and/or principal payments that may be made on a structured product may vary widely, depending on a variety of factors, including the volatility of the embedded index and the effect of changes in the embedded index on principal and/or interest payments. The rate of return on structured notes may be determined by applying a multiplier to the performance or differential performance of the referenced index(es) or other asset(s). Application of a multiplier involves leverage that will serve to magnify the potential for gain and the risk of loss.

The Fund may use structured instruments for investment purposes and also for risk management purposes, such as to reduce the duration and interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio, and for leveraging purposes. While structured instruments may offer the potential for a favorable rate of return from time to time, they also entail certain risks. Structured instruments may be less liquid than other debt securities, and the price of structured instruments may be more volatile. In some cases, depending on the terms of the embedded index, a structured instrument may provide that the principal and/or interest payments may be adjusted below zero. Structured instruments also may involve significant credit risk and risk of default by the counterparty. Structured instruments may also be illiquid. Like other sophisticated strategies, the Fund’s use of structured instruments may not work as intended. If the value of the embedded index changes in a manner other than that expected by PIMCO, principal and/or interest payments received on the structured instrument may be substantially less than expected. Also, if PIMCO chooses to use structured instruments to reduce the duration of the Fund’s portfolio, this may limit the Fund’s return when having a longer duration would be beneficial (for instance, when interest rates decline).

Credit-Linked Trust Certificates

The Fund may invest in credit-linked trust certificates, which are investments in a limited purpose trust or other vehicle which, in turn, invests in a basket of derivative instruments, such as credit default swaps, total return swaps, interest rate swaps or other securities, in order to provide exposure to the high yield or another debt securities market. Like an investment in a bond, investments in credit-linked trust certificates represent the right to receive periodic income payments (in the form of distributions) and payment of principal at the end of the term of the certificate. However, these payments are conditioned on the trust’s receipt of payments from, and the trust’s potential obligations to, the counterparties to the derivative instruments and other securities in which the trust invests. For instance, the trust may sell one or more credit default swaps, under which the trust would receive a stream of payments over the term of the swap agreements provided that no event of default has occurred with respect to the referenced debt obligation upon which the swap is based. If a default occurs, the stream of payments may stop and the trust would be obligated to pay to the counterparty the par (or other agreed upon value) of the referenced debt obligation. This, in turn, would reduce the amount of income and principal that the Fund would receive as an investor in the trust. The Fund’s investments in these instruments are indirectly subject to the risks associated with derivative instruments, including, among others, credit risk, default or similar event risk, counterparty risk, interest rate risk, leverage risk, valuation risk and management risk. It is expected that the trusts that issue credit-linked trust certificates will constitute “private” investment companies, exempt from registration under the 1940 Act. Therefore, the certificates will not be subject to applicable investment limitations and other regulation imposed by the 1940 Act (although the Fund will remain subject to such limitations and regulation, including with respect to its investments in the certificates). Although the trusts are typically private investment companies, they generally are not actively managed such as a “hedge fund” might be. It also is expected that the certificates will be exempt from registration under the Securities Act. Accordingly, there may be no established trading market for the certificates and they may constitute illiquid investments. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Liquidity Risk.” If market quotations are not readily available for the certificates, they will be valued by the Fund at fair value as determined by the Board or persons acting at its direction. See “Net Asset Value.” The Fund may lose its entire investment in a credit-linked trust certificate.

Other Investment Companies

The Fund may invest in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies, including without limitation exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), to the extent that such investments are consistent with the Fund’s

 

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investment objectives, strategies and policies and permissible under the 1940 Act. The Fund may invest in other investment companies to gain broad market or sector exposure, including during periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash (such as the period shortly after the Fund receives the proceeds of the offering of its Common Shares) or when PIMCO believes share prices of other investment companies offer attractive values. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund would bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s management fees and other expenses with respect to assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. The securities of other investment companies may be leveraged, in which case the net asset value and/or market value of the investment company’s shares will be more volatile than unleveraged investments. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.”

Common Stocks and Other Equity Securities

The Fund will not normally invest directly in common stocks of operating companies. However, the Fund may own and hold common stocks in its portfolio from time to time in connection with a corporate action or the restructuring of a debt instrument or through the conversion of a convertible security held by the Fund. For instance, in connection with the restructuring of a debt instrument, either outside of bankruptcy court or in the context of bankruptcy court proceedings, the Fund may determine or be required to accept common stocks or other equity securities in exchange for all or a portion of the debt instrument. Depending upon, among other things, PIMCO’s evaluation of the potential value of such securities in relation to the price that could be obtained by the Fund at any given time upon sale thereof, the Fund may determine to hold these equity securities in its portfolio. The Fund may invest in common shares of pooled vehicles, such as those of other investment companies, and in common shares of REITs.

Although common stocks and other equity securities have historically generated higher average returns than debt securities over the long term, they also have experienced significantly more volatility in those returns and in certain years have significantly underperformed relative to debt securities. An adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of a particular equity security held by the Fund. Also, prices of common stocks and other equity securities are sensitive to general movements in the equity markets and a decline in those markets may depress the prices of the equity securities held by the Fund. The prices of equity securities fluctuate for many different reasons, including changes in investors’ perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market or when political or economic events affecting the issuer occur. In addition, prices of equity securities may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.

Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, in which the Fund purchases a security from a bank or broker-dealer and the bank or broker-dealer agrees to repurchase the security at the Fund’s cost plus interest within a specified time. If the party agreeing to repurchase should default, the Fund will seek to sell the securities it holds. This could involve transaction costs or delays in addition to a loss on the securities if their value should fall below their repurchase price. Repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days are considered to be illiquid securities.

When Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Transactions

The Fund may purchase securities that it is eligible to purchase on a when-issued basis, may purchase and sell such securities for delayed delivery and may make contracts to purchase such securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond normal settlement time (forward commitments). When-issued transactions, delayed delivery purchases and forward commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the securities declines prior to the settlement date. The risk is in addition to the risk that the Fund’s other assets will decline in value. Therefore, these transactions may result in a form of leverage and increase the Fund’s overall investment exposure. Typically, no income accrues on securities the Fund has committed to purchase prior to the time delivery of the securities is made, although the Fund may earn income on securities it has segregated to cover these positions. When the Fund has sold a security on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis, the Fund does not participate in future gains or losses with respect to the security. If the other party to a transaction fails to

 

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pay for the securities, the Fund could suffer a loss. Additionally, when selling a security on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis without owning the security, the Fund will incur a loss if the security’s price appreciates in value such that the security’s price is above the agreed-upon price on the settlement date.

Short Sales

A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security or other instrument that it does not own in anticipation that the market price will decline. The Fund may use short sales for investment purposes or for hedging and risk management purposes. The Fund may also take short positions with respect to the performance of securities, indexes, interest rates, currencies and other assets or markets through the use of derivative or forward instruments. When the Fund engages in a short sale of a security, it must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the counterparty. The Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and would often be obligated to pay over any payments received on such borrowed securities. The Fund’s obligation to replace the borrowed security will be secured by collateral deposited with the Fund’s custodian in the name of the lender. The Fund may not receive any payments (including interest) on its collateral. Short sales expose the Fund to the risk that it will be required to cover its short position at a time when the securities have appreciated in value, thus resulting in a loss to the Fund. The Fund may engage in so-called “naked” short sales when it does not own or have the immediate right to acquire the security sold short at no additional cost, in which case the Fund’s losses theoretically could be unlimited. If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time that the Fund replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a 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 securities being hedged if the short sale is being used for hedging purposes. See “—Derivatives” and “Principal Risks of the Fund—Short Sales Risk.” See also “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk” and “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk.” The Fund may engage in short selling to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules and interpretations thereunder and other federal securities laws.

Lending of Portfolio Securities

For the purpose of achieving income, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers or other financial institutions provided a number of conditions are satisfied, including that the loan is fully collateralized. See “Investment Objectives and Policies—Securities Loans” in the Statement of Additional Information for details. When the Fund lends portfolio securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned. The Fund will also receive a fee or interest on the collateral. Securities lending involves the risk of loss of rights in the collateral or delay in recovery of the collateral if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent, or the risk of loss due to the investment performance of the collateral. The Fund may pay lending fees to the party arranging the loan.

Please see “Investment Objectives and Policies” in the Statement of Additional Information for additional information regarding the investments of the Fund and their related risks.

Portfolio Turnover

The length of time the Fund has held a particular security is not generally a consideration in investment decisions. A change in the securities held by the Fund is known as “portfolio turnover.” The Fund may engage in frequent and active trading of portfolio securities to achieve its investment objectives, particularly during periods of volatile market movements. High portfolio turnover ( e.g., over 100%) generally involves correspondingly greater expenses to the Fund, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestments in other securities. Sales of portfolio securities may also result in realization of taxable capital gains, including short-term capital gains (which are generally treated as ordinary income upon distribution in the form of dividends). The trading costs and tax effects associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

Please see “Investment Objectives and Policies” in the Statement of Additional Information for additional information regarding the investments of the Fund and their related risks.

 

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LEVERAGE

As soon as reasonably practicable following the completion of the initial public offering of the Fund’s Common Shares, the Fund intends, subject to then favorable market conditions, to add leverage to its portfolio by utilizing reverse repurchase agreements, such that the leverage initially obtained utilizing reverse repurchase agreements represents approximately 29% of the Fund’s total assets (including the amounts of leverage obtained through the use of such instruments). The Fund may also obtain leverage through dollar rolls or borrowings, such as through bank loans or commercial paper or other credit facilities. The Fund may also enter into transactions other than those noted above that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), credit default swaps, total return swaps and other derivative transactions, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions. Although it has no current intention to do so, the Fund may also determine to issue preferred shares or other types of senior securities to add leverage to its portfolio.

The Fund intends to utilize reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and other forms of leverage opportunistically and may choose to increase or decrease, or eliminate entirely, its use of leverage over time and from time to time ( i.e. , higher or lower than the anticipated approximate 29% initial reverse repurchase agreement level noted above) based on PIMCO’s assessment of the yield curve environment, interest rate trends, market conditions and other factors. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk.”

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will limit its use of leverage from any combination of (i) reverse repurchase agreements or dollar roll transactions (whether or not these instruments are covered as discussed below), (ii) borrowings ( i.e. , loans or lines of credit from banks or other credit facilities), (iii) any future issuance of preferred shares, and (iv) to the extent described below, credit default swaps, other swap agreements and futures contracts (whether or not these instruments are covered with segregated assets as discussed below) such that the assets attributable to the use of such leverage will not exceed 50% of the Fund’s total assets (including, for purposes of the 50% limit, the amounts of leverage obtained through the use of such instruments) (the “50% policy”). For these purposes, assets attributable to the use of leverage from credit default swaps, other swap agreements and futures contracts will be determined based on the current market value of the instrument if it is cash settled or based on the notional value of the instrument if it is not cash settled. In addition, assets attributable to credit default swaps, other swap agreements or futures contracts will not be counted towards the 50% policy to the extent that the Fund owns offsetting positions or enters into offsetting transactions.

The net proceeds the Fund obtains from reverse repurchase agreements or other forms of leverage utilized will be invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies as described in this prospectus. So long as the rate of return, net of applicable Fund expenses, on the debt obligations and other investments purchased by the Fund exceeds the costs to the Fund of the leverage it utilizes, the investment of the Fund’s net assets attributable to leverage will generate more income than will be needed to pay the costs of the leverage. If so, and all other things being equal, the excess may be used to pay higher dividends to Common Shareholders than if the Fund were not so leveraged.

The 1940 Act generally prohibits the Fund from engaging in most forms of leverage (including the use of reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, bank loans, commercial paper or other credit facilities, credit default swaps, total return swaps and other derivative transactions, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions, to the extent that these instruments are not covered as described below) unless immediately after the issuance of the leverage the Fund has satisfied the asset coverage test with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness prescribed by the 1940 Act; that is, the value of the Fund’s total assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities (for these purposes, “total net assets”) is at least 300% of the senior securities representing indebtedness (effectively limiting the use of leverage through senior securities representing indebtedness to 33  1 / 3 % of the Fund’s total net assets, including assets attributable to such leverage). In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on Common Shares unless, at the time of such declaration, this asset coverage test is satisfied. The Fund may (but is not required to) cover its commitments under reverse repurchase agreements,

 

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dollar rolls, derivatives and certain other instruments by the segregation of liquid assets, or by entering into offsetting transactions or owning positions covering its obligations. To the extent that certain of these instruments are so covered, they will not be considered “senior securities” under the 1940 Act and therefore will not be subject to the 1940 Act 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to forms of leverage used by the Fund. However, reverse repurchase agreements and other such instruments, even if covered, represent a form of economic leverage and create special risks. The use of these forms of leverage increases the volatility of the Fund’s investment portfolio and could result in larger losses to Common Shareholders than if these strategies were not used. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.” To the extent that the Fund engages in borrowings, it may prepay a portion of the principal amount of the borrowing to the extent necessary in order to maintain the required asset coverage. Failure to maintain certain asset coverage requirements could result in an event of default.

Leveraging is a speculative technique and there are special risks and costs involved. There is no assurance that the Fund will utilize reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls or borrowings, issue preferred shares or utilize any other forms of leverage (such as the use of derivatives strategies). If used, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategies will be successful or result in a higher yield on your Common Shares. When leverage is used, the net asset value and market price of the Common Shares and the yield to Common Shareholders will be more volatile. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.” In addition, interest and other expenses borne by the Fund with respect to its use of reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings or any other forms of leverage are borne by the Common Shareholders and result in a reduction of the net asset value of the Common Shares. In addition, because the fees received by the Investment Manager and by the Sub-Adviser are based on the total managed assets of the Fund (including any assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding), the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser have a financial incentive for the Fund to use certain forms of leverage ( e.g. , reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and preferred shares), which may create a conflict of interest between the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser, on the one hand, and the Common Shareholders, on the other hand.

The Fund also may borrow money in order to repurchase its shares or as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, including for the payment of dividends or the settlement of securities transactions which otherwise might require untimely dispositions of portfolio securities held by the Fund.

Effects of Leverage

Assuming the Fund engages in reverse repurchase agreements, representing 29% of the Fund’s total assets (including the amounts of leverage obtained through the use of such instruments), at an annual effective interest expense rate of 1.13% payable by the Fund on such instruments (based on market interest rates as of the date of this prospectus), the annual return that the Fund’s portfolio must experience (net of expenses) in order to cover such costs of the reverse repurchase agreements would be 0.46%. Of course, the figures are merely estimates based on current market conditions, used for illustration purposes only. Actual interest expenses associated with reverse repurchase agreements (or dollar rolls or borrowings, if any) used by the Fund may vary frequently and may be significantly higher or lower that the rate used for the example above.

The following table is furnished in response to requirements of the SEC. It is designed to illustrate the effects of leverage on Common Share total return, assuming investment portfolio total returns (consisting of income and changes in the value of investments held in the Fund’s portfolio) of -10%, -5%, 0%, 5% and 10%. These assumed investment portfolio returns are hypothetical figures and are not necessarily indicative of the investment portfolio returns expected to be experienced by the Fund. The table further assumes that the Fund utilizes reverse repurchase agreements representing 29% of the Fund’s total assets (including the amounts of leverage obtained through the use of such instruments) and a projected annual rate of interest expense on the Fund’s reverse repurchase agreements of 1.13%. Your actual returns may be greater or less than those appearing below.

 

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Assumed Portfolio Total Return

     (10.00)%         (5.00)%         0.00%         5.00%         10.00%   

Common Share Total Return

     (14.73)%         (7.69)%         (0.65)%         6.39%         13.44%   

Common Share total return is composed of two elements—the Common Share dividends paid by the Fund (the amount of which is largely determined by the net investment income of the Fund after paying interest expenses on the Fund’s leveraging transactions as described above and dividend payments on any preferred shares issued by the Fund) and gains or losses on the value of the securities the Fund owns. As required by SEC rules, the table assumes that the Fund is more likely to suffer capital losses than to enjoy capital appreciation. For example, to assume a total return of 0%, the Fund must assume that the income it receives on its investments is entirely offset by losses in the value of those investments. This table reflects hypothetical performance of the Fund’s portfolio and not the performance of the Fund’s Common Shares, the value of which will be determined by market forces and other factors.

Any benefits of leverage used by the Fund cannot be fully achieved until the proceeds resulting from the use of leverage have been received by the Fund and invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. The Fund’s willingness to use leverage, and the extent to which leverage is used at any time, will depend on many factors, including, among other things, PIMCO’s assessment of the yield curve environment, interest rate trends, market conditions and other factors.

Possible Future Issuance of Preferred Shares

As noted above, although the Fund has no present intention to do so, the Fund may determine in the future to issue preferred shares to add leverage to its portfolio. Any such preferred shares would have complete priority upon distribution of assets over the Common Shares. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund would not be permitted to issue preferred shares unless immediately after such issuance the value of the Fund’s total net assets was at least 200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding preferred shares plus the aggregate amount of any senior securities representing indebtedness (as defined in the 1940 Act) held by the Fund as described above ( i.e. , such liquidation value plus the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness may not exceed 50% of the Fund’s total net assets). In addition, if the Fund issues preferred shares, the 1940 Act prohibits the declaration of any dividend (except a dividend payable in common shares of the Fund) or distribution upon the Common Shares of the Fund, or purchase of any such Common Shares, unless in every such case the preferred share class has, at the time of the declaration of any such dividend or distribution or at the time of any such purchase, an asset coverage of at least 200% (as described above) after deducting the amount of such dividend, distribution, or purchase price, as the case may be. The 1940 Act requires that the holders of any preferred shares, voting separately as a single class, have the right to elect two Trustees at all times, and, if dividends on preferred shares shall be unpaid in an amount equal to two full years’ dividends on such preferred shares, to elect a majority of the Trustees. The Fund might also be subject to certain restrictions imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies that may issue ratings for preferred shares issued by the Fund. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Fund by the 1940 Act.

 

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PRINCIPAL RISKS OF THE FUND

The net asset value and the market price of the Common Shares will fluctuate with and be affected by, among other things, various principal risks of the Fund and its investments which are summarized below.

No Prior History

The Fund is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company with no history of operations.

Market Discount Risk

As with any stock, the price of the Fund’s Common Shares will fluctuate with market conditions and other factors. If you sell your Common Shares, the price received may be more or less than your original investment. Net asset value will be reduced immediately following the initial offering by a sales load and offering expenses paid or reimbursed by the Fund. The Common Shares are designed for long-term investors and should not be treated as trading vehicles. Shares of closed-end management investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value. The Common Shares may trade at a price that is less than the initial offering price. This risk may be greater for investors who sell their shares relatively shortly after completion of the initial offering.

Market Risk

The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. During a general downturn in the securities markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value simultaneously.

Asset Allocation Risk

The Fund’s investment performance depends upon how its assets are allocated and reallocated. A principal risk of investing in the Fund is that PIMCO may make less than optimal or poor asset allocation decisions. PIMCO employs an active approach to allocation among multiple fixed-income sectors, but there is no guarantee that such allocation techniques will produce the desired results. It is possible that PIMCO will focus on an investment that performs poorly or underperforms other investments under various market conditions. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund as a result of these allocation decisions.

Issuer Risk

The value of securities may decline for a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuer, such as its financial strength, management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods and services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets.

Issuer Non-Diversification Risk

The Fund is a “non-diversified” investment company and therefore may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a limited number of issuers than funds that are “diversified.” Accordingly, the Fund is more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a diversified fund might be. Some of the issuers in which the Fund invests may also present substantial credit or other risks. The Fund will be subject to similar risks to the extent that it enters into derivative transactions with a limited number of counterparties.

 

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Management Risk

The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. PIMCO and the portfolio managers will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results.

Interest Rate Risk

Generally, when market interest rates rise, the prices of debt obligations fall, and vice versa. Interest rate risk is the risk that debt obligations and other instruments in the Fund’s portfolio will decline in value because of increases in market interest rates. This risk may be particularly acute because market interest rates are currently at historically low levels. The prices of long-term debt obligations generally fluctuate more than prices of short-term debt obligations as interest rates change. Because the Fund’s normal average portfolio duration range extends up to eight years (normally in the range of 0 to 8 years), as calculated by the Sub-Adviser, the Fund’s net asset value and market price per Common Share will tend to fluctuate more in response to changes in market interest rates than if the Fund invested mainly in short-term debt securities. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of certain types of securities may be extended due to lower than expected rates of prepayments, which could cause the securities’ durations to extend and expose the securities to more price volatility. This may lock in a below market yield, increase the security’s duration and reduce the security’s value. In addition to directly affecting debt securities, rising interest rates may also have an adverse effect on the value of any equity securities held by the Fund. The Fund’s duration strategy may entail maintaining a negative average portfolio duration from time to time, which would potentially benefit the portfolio in an environment of rising market interest rates, but would generally adversely impact the portfolio in an environment of falling market interest rates. The Fund’s use of leverage will tend to increase Common Share interest rate risk. PIMCO may utilize certain strategies, including without limitation investments in structured notes or interest rate futures contracts or swap, cap, floor or collar transactions, for the purpose of reducing the interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio, although there is no assurance that it will do so or that, if used, such strategies will be successful.

The Fund may invest in variable- and floating-rate debt instruments, which generally are less sensitive to interest rate changes than longer duration fixed-rate instruments, but may decline in value in response to rising interest rates if, for example, the rates at which they pay interest do not rise as much, or as quickly, as market interest rates in general. Conversely, variable- and floating-rate instruments generally will not increase in value if interest rates decline. The Fund also may invest in inverse floating-rate debt securities, which may decrease in value if interest rates increase, and which also may exhibit greater price volatility than fixed-rate debt obligations with similar credit quality. To the extent the Fund holds variable- or floating-rate instruments, a decrease (or, in the case of inverse floating-rate securities, an increase) in market interest rates will adversely affect the income received from such securities and the net asset value of the Fund’s Common Shares.

Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk that one or more of the Fund’s investments in debt securities or other instruments will decline in price, or fail to pay interest, liquidation value or principal when due, because the issuer of the obligation or the issuer of a reference security experiences an actual or perceived decline in its financial status.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk

The Fund may invest in a variety of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities issued by government agencies or other governmental entities or by private originators or issuers.

As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will normally invest at least 25% of its total assets in privately-issued (commonly known as “non-agency”) mortgage-related securities.

The mortgage-related securities in which the Fund may invest include, without limitation, mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial or residential mortgage-backed securities, mortgage dollar rolls, CMO residuals, stripped mortgage-backed securities (“SMBSs”) and other

 

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securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans on real property. The Fund may also invest in other types of asset-backed securities, including collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), which include collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other similarly structured securities. See “Portfolio Contents––Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities” in this prospectus and “Investment Objectives and Policies––Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities” in the Statement of Additional Information for a description of the various mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities in which the Fund may invest and their related risks.

Mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities often involve risks that are different from or more acute than risks associated with other types of debt instruments. For instance, these securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-related securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities. This is known as extension risk. In addition, mortgage-related securities are subject to prepayment risk—the risk that borrowers may pay off their mortgages sooner than expected, particularly when interest rates decline. This can reduce the Fund’s returns because the Fund may have to reinvest that money at lower prevailing interest rates. For instance, the Fund may invest in stripped mortgage-backed securities with respect to which one class receives all of the interest from the mortgage assets (the interest-only, or “IO” class), while the other class receives all of the principal (the principal-only, or “PO” class). The yield to maturity on an IO class is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying mortgage assets, and a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s yield to maturity from these investments.

The Fund’s investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-related securities, as well as additional risks associated with their structure and the nature of the assets underlying the security and the servicing of those assets. For instance, certain CDOs in which the Fund may invest are backed by pools of high-risk, below investment grade debt securities and may involve substantial credit and other risks.

Due to their often complicated structures, various mortgage-related and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid investments.

The value of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities may be substantially dependent on the servicing of the underlying asset pools, and are therefore subject to risks associated with the negligence by, or defalcation of, their servicers. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment.

Investments in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities may involve particularly high levels of risk under current market conditions. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Mortgage Market/Subprime Risk.” See also “Principal Risks of the Fund—Recent Economic Conditions Risk.”

Mortgage Market/Subprime Risk

The mortgage markets in the United States and in various foreign countries have experienced extreme difficulties over the past few years that may adversely affect the performance and market value of certain of the Fund’s mortgage-related investments. Delinquencies and losses on residential and commercial mortgage loans (especially subprime and second-lien mortgage loans) generally have increased during that period and may continue to increase, and a decline in or flattening of housing and other real property values (as has been experienced during that period and may continue to be experienced in many real estate markets) may exacerbate such delinquencies and losses. Borrowers with adjustable rate mortgage loans are more sensitive to changes in interest rates, which affect their monthly mortgage payments, and may be unable to secure replacement mortgages at comparably low interest rates. Also, a number of mortgage loan originators have experienced serious financial difficulties or bankruptcy in recent periods. Owing largely to the foregoing, reduced investor demand for mortgage loans and mortgage-related securities and increased investor yield requirements have caused limited liquidity in the secondary market for mortgage-related securities, which can adversely affect the market value of mortgage-related securities. It is possible that such limited liquidity in such secondary markets could continue or worsen.

 

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High Yield Risk

In general, lower rated debt securities carry a greater degree of risk that the issuer will lose its ability to make interest and principal payments, which could have a negative effect on the net asset value of the Fund’s Common Shares or Common Share dividends. Securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds.” High yield securities involve a greater risk of default and their prices are generally more volatile and sensitive to actual or perceived negative developments, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or revenues of underlying borrowers or a general economic downturn, than are the prices of higher grade securities. Debt securities in the lowest investment grade category also may be considered to possess some speculative characteristics by certain rating agencies. The Fund may purchase distressed securities that are in default or the issuers of which are in bankruptcy, which involve heightened risks. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Distressed and Defaulted Securities Risk.” An economic downturn could severely affect the ability of issuers (particularly those that are highly leveraged) to service their debt obligations or to repay their obligations upon maturity. Lower-rated securities are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities, which may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to dispose of a particular security. For example, under adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary market for below investment grade securities could contract further, independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer, and certain securities in the Fund’s portfolio may become illiquid or less liquid. As a result, the Fund could find it more difficult to sell these securities or may be able to sell these securities only at prices lower than if such securities were widely traded. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Liquidity Risk.” To the extent the Fund focuses on below investment grade debt obligations, PIMCO’s capabilities in analyzing credit quality and associated risks will be particularly important, and there can be no assurance that PIMCO will be successful in this regard. See “Portfolio Contents—High Yield Securities (‘Junk Bonds’)” for additional information. Due to the risks involved in investing in high yield securities, an investment in the Fund should be considered speculative.

The Fund’s credit quality policies apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Fund is not required to dispose of a security in the event that a rating agency or PIMCO downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issue. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, PIMCO may consider factors including, but not limited to, PIMCO’s assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other rating agencies. Analysis of creditworthiness may be more complex for issuers of high yield securities than for issuers of higher quality debt securities.

Distressed and Defaulted Securities Risk

As noted above, the Fund may invest in the debt securities of financially distressed issuers, including those that are in default or the issuers of which are in bankruptcy. Investments in the securities of financially distressed issuers involve substantial risks. These securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default at the time of investment. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to an investment, the Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value substantially less than its original investment. Among the risks inherent in investments in a troubled issuer is that it frequently may be difficult to obtain information as to the true financial condition of such issuer. PIMCO’s judgments about the credit quality of a financially distressed issuer and the relative value of its securities may prove to be wrong.

Municipal Bond Risk

Investing in the municipal bond market involves the risks of investing in debt securities generally and certain other risks. The amount of public information available about the municipal bonds in which the Fund may invest is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds, and the investment performance of the Fund’s investment in municipal bonds may therefore be more dependent on the analytical abilities of PIMCO than its

 

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investments in taxable bonds. The secondary market for municipal bonds also tends to be less well developed or liquid than many other securities markets, which may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to sell municipal bonds at attractive prices.

The ability of municipal issuers to make timely payments of interest and principal may be diminished during general economic downturns, by litigation, legislation or political events, or by the bankruptcy of the issuer. Laws, referenda, ordinances or regulations enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or the applicable governmental entity could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or impose other constraints on enforcement of such obligations, or on the ability of municipal issuers to levy taxes. Issuers of municipal securities also might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. In the event of bankruptcy of such an issuer, the Fund could experience delays in collecting principal and interest and the Fund may not, in all circumstances, be able to collect all principal and interest to which it is entitled. To enforce its rights in the event of a default in the payment of interest or repayment of principal, or both, the Fund may take possession of and manage the assets securing the issuer’s obligations on such securities, which may increase the Fund’s operating expenses.

The Fund may invest in revenue bonds, which are typically issued to fund a wide variety of capital projects including electric, gas, water and sewer systems; highways, bridges and tunnels; port and airport facilities; colleges and universities; and hospitals. Because the principal security for a revenue bond is generally the net revenues derived from a particular facility or group of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source, there is no guarantee that the particular project will generate enough revenue to pay its obligations, in which case the Fund’s performance may be adversely affected.

Inflation-Indexed Security Risk

Inflation-indexed debt securities are subject to the effects of changes in market interest rates caused by factors other than inflation (real interest rates). In general, the value of an inflation-indexed security, including Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”), tends to decrease when real interest rates increase and can increase when real interest rates decrease. Thus generally, during periods of rising inflation, the value of inflation-indexed securities will tend to increase and during periods of deflation, their value will tend to decrease. Interest payments on inflation-indexed securities are unpredictable and will fluctuate as the principal and interest are adjusted for inflation. There can be no assurance that the inflation index used ( i.e. , the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (“CPI”)) will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Increases in the principal value of TIPS due to inflation are considered taxable ordinary income for the amount of the increase in the calendar year. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed debt security will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though the Fund will not receive the principal until maturity. In order to receive the special treatment accorded to “regulated investment companies” (“RICs”) and their shareholders under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and to avoid U.S. federal income and/or excise taxes at the Fund level, the Fund may be required to distribute this income to shareholders in the tax year in which the income is recognized (without a corresponding receipt of cash). Therefore, the Fund may be required to pay out as an income distribution in any such tax year an amount greater than the total amount of cash income the Fund actually received, and to sell portfolio securities, including at potentially disadvantageous times or prices, to obtain cash needed for these income distributions. Additionally, a CPI swap can potentially lose value if the realized rate of inflation over the life of the swap is less than the fixed market implied inflation rate (fixed breakeven rate) that the investor agrees to pay at the initiation of the swap. With municipal inflation-indexed securities, the inflation adjustment is integrated into the coupon payment. For municipal inflation-indexed securities, there is no adjustment to the principal value. Because municipal inflation-indexed securities are a small component of the municipal bond market, they may be less liquid than conventional municipal bonds.

Senior Debt Risk

Because it may invest in below investment-grade senior debt, the Fund may be subject to greater levels of credit risk than funds that do not invest in such debt. The Fund may also be subject to greater levels of liquidity

 

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risk than funds that do not invest in senior debt. Restrictions on transfers in loan agreements, a lack of publicly available information and other factors may, in certain instances, make senior debt more difficult to sell at an advantageous time or price than other types of securities or instruments. Additionally, if the issuer of senior debt prepays, the Fund will have to consider reinvesting the proceeds in other senior debt or similar instruments that may pay lower interest rates.

Loan Participations and Assignments Risk

The Fund’s investments in fixed and floating rate loans arranged through private negotiations between an issuer and one or more financial institutions may be in the form of participations in loans or assignments of all or a portion of loans from third parties. In connection with purchasing loan participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower, and the Fund may not directly benefit from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the loan participation. As a result, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling a participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any set-off between the lender and the borrower. Certain loan participations may be structured in a manner designed to prevent purchasers of participations from being subject to the credit risk of the lender with respect to the participation, but even under such a structure, in the event of the lender’s insolvency, the lender’s servicing of the participation may be delayed and the assignability of the participation impaired.

The Fund may have difficulty disposing of loans and loan participations because to do so it will have to assign or sell such securities to a third party. Because there is no liquid market for many such securities, the Fund anticipates that such securities could be sold only to a limited number of institutional investors. The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse impact on the value of such securities and the Fund’s ability to dispose of particular loans and loan participations when that would be desirable, including in response to a specific economic event such as a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the borrower. The lack of a liquid secondary market for loans and loan participations also may make it more difficult for the Fund to assign a value to these securities for purposes of valuing the Fund’s portfolio.

Reinvestment Risk

Income from the Fund’s portfolio will decline if and when the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called debt obligations at market interest rates that are below the portfolio’s current earnings rate. For instance, during periods of declining interest rates, an issuer of debt obligations may exercise an option to redeem securities prior to maturity, forcing the Fund to invest in lower-yielding securities. The Fund also may choose to sell higher yielding portfolio securities and to purchase lower yielding securities to achieve greater portfolio diversification, because the portfolio manager believes the current holdings are overvalued or for other investment-related reasons. A decline in income received by the Fund from its investments is likely to have a negative effect on dividend levels and the market price, net asset value and/or overall return of the Common Shares.

Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investment Risk

The Fund may invest without limit in securities of foreign (non-U.S.) issuers and securities traded principally outside of the United States. The Fund’s investments in and exposure to foreign securities involve special risks.

For example, the value of these investments may decline in response to unfavorable political and legal developments, unreliable or untimely information or economic and financial instability. Foreign securities may experience more rapid and extreme changes in value than investments in securities of U.S. issuers. The securities markets of many foreign countries are relatively small, with a limited number of companies representing a small number of industries. Issuers of foreign securities are usually not subject to the same degree of regulation as U.S. issuers. Reporting, accounting , auditing and custody standards of foreign countries differ, in some cases significantly, from U.S. standards. Also, nationalization, expropriation or other confiscation, currency blockage, political changes or diplomatic developments could adversely affect the Fund’s investments in foreign securities.

 

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In the event of nationalization, expropriation or other confiscation, the Fund could lose its entire investment in foreign securities. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a particular foreign country or a concentrated geographic area (such as Asia or South America), the Fund will generally have more exposure to regional economic risks associated with foreign investments. Also, adverse conditions in a certain region can adversely affect securities from other countries whose economies appear to be unrelated. The costs of investing in foreign countries frequently are higher than the costs of investing in the United States. Additionally, investments in securities of foreign issuers may be denominated in foreign currencies, subjecting the Fund to foreign currency risk. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Foreign Currency Risk.”

Emerging Markets Risk

The Fund may normally invest up to 40% of its total assets in securities of issuers economically tied to “emerging market” countries. Foreign investment risk may be particularly high to the extent that the Fund invests in securities of issuers based in or doing business in emerging market countries or invests in securities denominated in the currencies of emerging market countries. Investing in securities of issuers based in or doing business in emerging markets entails all of the risks of investing in foreign securities noted above, but to a heightened degree.

Investments in emerging market countries pose a greater degree of systemic risk, i.e. , the risk of a cascading collapse of multiple institutions within a country, and even multiple national economies. The inter-relatedness of economic and financial institutions within and among emerging market economies has deepened over the years, with the effect that institutional failures and/or economic difficulties that are of initially limited scope may spread throughout a country, a region or even among all or most emerging market countries. This may undermine any attempt by the Fund to reduce risk through geographic diversification of its portfolio investments among emerging market countries.

There is a heightened possibility of imposition of withholding taxes on interest or dividend income generated from emerging market securities. Governments of emerging market countries may engage in confiscatory taxation or expropriation of income and/or assets to raise revenues or to pursue a domestic political agenda. In the past, emerging market countries have nationalized assets, companies and even entire sectors, including the assets of foreign investors, with inadequate or no compensation to the prior owners. There can be no assurance that the Fund will not suffer a loss of any or all of its investments or, interest or dividends thereon, due to adverse fiscal or other policy changes in emerging market countries.

There is also a greater risk that an emerging market government may take action that impedes or prevents the Fund from taking income and/or capital gains earned in the local currency and converting into U.S. dollars ( i.e. , “repatriating” local currency investments or profits). Certain emerging market countries have sought to maintain foreign exchange reserves and/or address the economic volatility and dislocations caused by the large international capital flows by controlling or restricting the conversion of the local currency into other currencies. This risk tends to become more acute when economic conditions otherwise worsen. There can be no assurance that if the Fund earns income or capital gains in an emerging market currency or PIMCO otherwise seeks to withdraw the Fund’s investments from a given emerging market country, capital controls imposed by such country will not prevent, or cause significant expense in, doing so.

Bankruptcy law and creditor reorganization processes may differ substantially from those in the United States, resulting in greater uncertainty as to the rights of creditors, the enforceability of such rights, reorganization timing and the classification, seniority and treatment of claims. In certain emerging market countries, although bankruptcy laws have been enacted, the process for reorganization remains highly uncertain. In addition, it may be impossible to seek legal redress against an issuer that is a sovereign state.

Other heightened risks associated with emerging markets investments include without limitation: (i) risks due to less social, political and economic stability; (ii) the smaller size of the market for such securities and a lower volume of trading, resulting in a lack of liquidity and in price volatility; (iii) certain national policies which may restrict the Fund’s investment opportunities, including restrictions on investing in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to relevant national interests and requirements that government approval be obtained prior to investment by foreign persons; (iv) certain national policies that may restrict the Fund’s repatriation of

 

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investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities, including temporary restrictions on foreign capital remittances; (v) the lack of uniform accounting and auditing standards and/or standards that may be significantly different from the standards required in the United States; (vi) less publicly available financial and other information regarding issuers; (vii) potential difficulties in enforcing contractual obligations; and (viii) higher rates of inflation, higher interest rates and other economic concerns. The Fund may invest to a substantial extent in emerging market securities that are denominated in local currencies, subjecting the Fund to a greater degree of foreign currency risk. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Foreign Currency Risk.” Also, investing in emerging market countries may entail purchases of securities of issuers that are insolvent, bankrupt, in default or otherwise of questionable ability to satisfy their payment obligations as they become due, subjecting the Fund to a greater amount of credit risk and/or high yield risk. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Credit Risk” and “Principal Risks of the Fund—High Yield Risk.”

Foreign Currency Risk

The Fund may engage in practices and strategies that will result in exposure to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, in which case the Fund will be subject to foreign currency risk. The Fund’s Common Shares are priced in U.S. dollars and the distributions paid by the Fund to Common Shareholders are paid in U.S. dollars. However, a substantial portion of the Fund’s assets may be denominated in foreign (non-U.S.) currencies and income received by the Fund from many foreign debt obligations will be paid in foreign currencies. The Fund may also invest in or gain exposure to foreign currencies themselves in order to gain local currency exposure with respect to foreign instruments denominated in other currencies or for other investment or hedging purposes. The Fund’s investments in or exposure to foreign currencies or in securities or instruments that trade, or receive revenues, in foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar or, in the case of hedging positions (if utilized), that the U.S. dollar will decline in value relative to the currency being hedged. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, rates of inflation, balance of payments and governmental surpluses or deficits, intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks or supranational entities such as the International Monetary Fund, or by the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad. These fluctuations may have a significant adverse impact on the value of the Fund’s portfolio and/or the level of Fund distributions made to Common Shareholders. As noted above, the Fund may (but is not required to) seek exposure to foreign currencies, or attempt to hedge exposure to reduce the risk of loss due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar. There is no assurance, however, that these strategies will be available or will be used by the Fund or, if used, that they will be successful.

Redenomination Risk

Continuing uncertainty as to the status of the euro and the European Monetary Union (the “EMU”) has created significant volatility in currency and financial markets generally. Any partial or complete dissolution of the EMU could have significant adverse effects on currency and financial markets, and on the values of the Fund’s portfolio investments. If one or more EMU countries were to stop using the euro as its primary currency, the Fund’s investments in such countries may be redenominated into a different or newly adopted currency. As a result, the value of those investments could decline significantly and unpredictably. In addition, securities or other investments that are redenominated may be subject to foreign currency risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk to a greater extent than similar investments currently denominated in euros. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Foreign Currency Risk,” “Principal Risks of the Fund—Liquidity Risk,” and “Principal Risks of the Fund—Valuation Risk.” To the extent a currency used for redenomination purposes is not specified in respect of certain EMU-related investments, or should the euro cease to be used entirely, the currency in which such investments are denominated may be unclear, making such investments particularly difficult to value or dispose of. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek judicial or other clarification of the denomination or value of such securities.

 

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Real Estate Risk

To the extent that the Fund invests in real estate related investments, including REITs or real-estate linked derivative instruments, it will be subject to the risks associated with owning real estate and with the real estate industry generally. These include difficulties in valuing and disposing of real estate, the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions, the possibility of adverse changes in the climate for real estate, environmental liability risks, the risk of increases in property taxes and operating expenses, possible adverse changes in zoning laws, the risk of casualty or condemnation losses, limitations on rents, the possibility of adverse changes in interest rates and in the credit markets and the possibility of borrowers paying off mortgages sooner than expected, which may lead to reinvestment of assets at lower prevailing interest rates. To the extent that the Fund invests in REITs, it will also be subject to the risk that a REIT may default on its obligations or go bankrupt. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. The Fund’s investments in REITs could cause the Fund to recognize income in excess of cash received from those securities and, as a result, the Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities, including when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to make distributions.

U.S. Government Securities Risk

The Fund may invest in debt securities issued or guaranteed by agencies, instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises of the U.S. Government. Some U.S. Government securities, such as U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and mortgage-related securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others, such as those of the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations; and still others, such as those of the Student Loan Marketing Association, are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency, instrumentality or enterprise. Although U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises, such as the Federal Home Loan Banks, FHLMC, FNMA and the Student Loan Marketing Association, may be chartered or sponsored by Congress, they are not funded by Congressional appropriations, and their securities are not issued by the U.S. Treasury or supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government and involve increased credit risks. Although legislation has been enacted to support certain government sponsored entities, including the Federal Home Loan Banks, FHLMC and FNMA, there is no assurance that the obligations of such entities will be satisfied in full, or that such obligations will not decrease in value or default. It is difficult, if not impossible, to predict the future political, regulatory or economic changes that could impact the government sponsored entities and the values of their related securities or obligations. In addition, certain governmental entities, including FNMA and FHLMC, have been subject to regulatory scrutiny regarding their accounting policies and practices and other concerns that may result in legislation, changes in regulatory oversight and/or other consequences that could adversely affect the credit quality, availability or investment character of securities issued by these entities. See “Investment Objectives and Policies—Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities” in the Statement of Additional Information.

U.S. Government debt securities generally involve lower levels of credit risk than other types of debt securities of similar maturities, although, as a result, the yields available from U.S. Government debt securities are generally lower than the yields available from such other securities. Like other debt securities, the values of U.S. Government securities change as interest rates fluctuate. Fluctuations in the value of portfolio securities will not affect interest income on existing portfolio securities but will be reflected in the Fund’s net asset value.

Foreign (Non-U.S.) Government Securities Risk

The Fund’s investments in debt obligations of foreign (non-U.S.) governments or their sub-divisions, agencies and government sponsored enterprises and obligations of international agencies and supranational entities (together “Foreign Government Securities”) can involve a high degree of risk. The foreign governmental entity that controls the repayment of debt may not be able or willing to repay the principal and/or interest when

 

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due in accordance with the terms of such debt. A governmental entity’s willingness or ability to repay principal and interest due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the governmental entity’s policy towards the International Monetary Fund and the political constraints to which a governmental entity may be subject. Foreign governmental entities also may be dependent on expected disbursements from other governments, multilateral agencies and others abroad to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on the implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor’s obligations. Failure to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of such third parties’ commitments to lend funds to the foreign governmental entity, which may further impair such debtor’s ability or willingness to timely service its debts. Consequently, foreign governmental entities may default on their debt. Holders of Foreign Government Securities may be requested to participate in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to governmental entities. In the event of a default by a governmental entity, there may be few or no effective legal remedies for collecting on such debt. These risks are particularly severe with respect to the Fund’s investments in Foreign Government Securities of emerging market countries. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Emerging Markets Risk.” Among other risks, if the Fund’s investments in Foreign Government Securities issued by an emerging market country need to be liquidated quickly, the Fund could sustain significant transaction costs. Also, governments in many emerging market countries participate to a significant degree in their economies and securities markets, which may impair investment and economic growth, and which may in turn diminish the value of the Fund’s holdings in emerging market Foreign Government Securities and the currencies in which they are denominated and/or pay revenues.

Convertible Securities Risk

Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible debt securities of similar quality. The market values of convertible securities tend to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to increase as interest rates decline. However, a convertible security’s market value tends to reflect the market price of the common stock of the issuing company when that stock price approaches or is greater than the convertible security’s “conversion price.” The conversion price is defined as the predetermined price at which the convertible security could be exchanged for the associated stock. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, the price of the convertible security tends to be influenced more by the yield of the convertible security. Thus, it may not decline in price to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities would be paid before the company’s common stockholders but after holders of any senior debt obligations of the company. Consequently, the issuer’s convertible securities generally entail less risk than its common stock but more risk than its debt obligations.

The Fund may invest in synthetic convertible securities, which are created through a combination of separate securities that possess the two principal characteristics of a traditional convertible security, i.e. , an income-producing security (“income-producing component”) and the right to acquire an equity security (“convertible component”). The income-producing component is achieved by investing in non-convertible, income-producing securities such as bonds, preferred stocks and money market instruments. The convertible component is achieved by purchasing warrants or options to buy common stock at a certain exercise price, or options on a stock index. The values of synthetic convertible securities will respond differently to market fluctuations than a traditional convertible security because a synthetic convertible is composed of two or more separate securities or instruments, each with its own market value. Synthetic convertible securities are also subject to the risks associated with derivatives. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Derivatives Risk.” In addition, if the value of the underlying common stock or the level of the index involved in the convertible element falls below the strike price of the warrant or option, the warrant or option may lose all value.

 

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Valuation Risk

When market quotations are not readily available or are deemed to be unreliable, the Fund values its investments at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. See “Net Asset Value.” Fair value pricing may require subjective determinations about the value of a security or other asset. As a result, there can be no assurance that fair value pricing will result in adjustments to the prices of securities or other assets, or that fair value pricing will reflect actual market value, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security or other asset will be materially different from quoted or published prices, from the prices used by others for the same security or other asset and/or from the value that actually could be or is realized upon the sale of that security or other asset.

Leverage Risk

The Fund’s use of leverage (as described under “Leverage” in the body of this prospectus) creates the opportunity for increased Common Share net income, but also creates special risks for Common Shareholders. To the extent used, there is no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategies will be successful. Leverage is a speculative technique that may expose the Fund to greater risk and increased costs. The net proceeds that the Fund obtains from its use of reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and/or borrowings (as well as from any future issuance of preferred shares) will be invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies as described in this prospectus. It is anticipated that interest expense payable by the Fund with respect to its reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings (or dividends payable with respect to any outstanding preferred shares) will be based on shorter-term interest rates that would be periodically reset. So long as the Fund’s portfolio investments provide a higher rate of return (net of applicable Fund expenses) than the interest rates and other costs to the Fund of such leverage, the investment of the proceeds thereof will generate more income than will be needed to pay the costs of the leverage. If so, and all other things being equal, the excess may be used to pay higher dividends to Common Shareholders than if the Fund were not so leveraged. If, however, shorter-term interest rates rise relative to the rate of return on the Fund’s portfolio, the interest and other costs to the Fund of leverage (including interest expenses on reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings and the dividend rate on any outstanding preferred shares) could exceed the rate of return on the debt obligations and other investments held by the Fund, thereby reducing return to Common Shareholders. In addition, fees and expenses of any form of leverage used by the Fund will be borne entirely by the Common Shareholders (and not by preferred shareholders, if any) and will reduce the investment return of the Common Shares. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of leverage will result in a higher yield on the Common Shares, and it may result in losses. In addition, any preferred shares issued by the Fund are expected to pay cumulative dividends, which may tend to increase leverage risk.

Leverage creates several major types of risks for Common Shareholders, including:

 

   

the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of Common Shares, and of the investment return to Common Shareholders, than a comparable portfolio without leverage;

 

   

the possibility either that Common Share dividends will fall if the interest and other costs of leverage rise, or that dividends paid on Common Shares will fluctuate because such costs vary over time; and

 

   

the effects of leverage in a declining market or a rising interest rate environment, as leverage is likely to cause a greater decline in the net asset value of the Common Shares than if the Fund were not leveraged and may result in a greater decline the market value of the Common Shares.

In addition, the counterparties to the Fund’s leveraging transactions and any preferred shareholders of the Fund will have priority of payment over the Fund’s Common Shareholders.

The use by the Fund of reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls to obtain leverage also involves special risks. For instance, the market value of the securities that the Fund is obligated to repurchase under a reverse repurchase agreement or dollar roll may decline below the repurchase price. See “The Fund’s Investment Objectives and Policies––Portfolio Contents and Other Information––Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Dollar Rolls.”

 

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In addition to reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and/or borrowings (or a future issuance of preferred shares), the Fund may engage in other transactions that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), credit default swaps, total return swaps and other derivative transactions, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions). The Fund’s use of such transactions give rise to associated leverage risks described above, and may adversely affect the Fund’s income, distributions and total returns to Common Shareholders. The Fund manages some of its derivative positions by segregating an amount of cash or liquid securities equal to the face value or the market value, as applicable, of those positions. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk.” The Fund may also offset derivatives positions against one another or against other assets to manage effective market exposure resulting from derivatives in its portfolio. To the extent that any offsetting positions do not behave in relation to one another as expected, the Fund may perform as if it is leveraged through use of these derivative strategies. See “Leverage.”

Because the fees received by the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser are based on the total managed assets of the Fund (including assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding), the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser have a financial incentive for the Fund to use reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings or to issue preferred shares, which may create a conflict of interest between the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser, on the one hand, and the Common Shareholders, on the other hand.

Segregation and Coverage Risk

Certain portfolio management techniques, such as, among other things, using reverse repurchase agreements or dollar rolls, purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, entering into swap agreements, futures contracts or other derivative transactions, or engaging in short sales, may be considered senior securities unless steps are taken to segregate the Fund’s assets or otherwise cover its obligations. To avoid having these instruments considered senior securities, the Fund may segregate liquid assets with a value equal (on a daily mark-to-market basis) to its obligations under these types of leveraged transactions, enter into offsetting transactions or otherwise cover such transactions. See “Leverage” in this prospectus. The Fund may be unable to use such segregated assets for certain other purposes, which could result in the Fund earning a lower return on its portfolio than it might otherwise earn if it did not have to segregate those assets in respect of or otherwise cover such portfolio positions. To the extent the Fund’s assets are segregated or committed as cover, it could limit the Fund’s investment flexibility. Segregating assets and covering positions will not limit or offset losses on related positions.

Focused Investment Risk

To the extent that the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry, the net asset value of the common shares will be more susceptible to events or factors affecting companies in that industry. These may include, but are not limited to, governmental regulation, inflation, rising interest rates, cost increases in raw materials, fuel and other operating expenses, technological innovations that may render existing products and equipment obsolete, competition from new entrants, high research and development costs, increased costs associated with compliance with environmental or other regulation and other economic, market, political or other developments specific to that industry. Also, the Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets in companies in related sectors that may share common characteristics, are often subject to similar business risks and regulatory burdens and whose securities may react similarly to the types of events and factors described above, which will subject the Fund to greater risk. The Fund also will be subject to focused investment risk to the extent that it invests a substantial portion of its assets in a particular country or geographic region. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investment Risk,” “Principal Risks of the Fund—Emerging Markets Risk” and “Principal Risks of the Fund—Foreign Currency Risk.”

As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will normally invest at least 25% of its total assets in privately-issued (commonly known as “non-agency”) mortgage-related securities, and therefore will be particularly

 

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susceptible to the risks associated with these securities. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.”

Derivatives Risk

The Fund may utilize a variety of derivative instruments (both long and short positions) for investment or risk management purposes. The Fund may use derivatives to gain exposure to securities markets in which it may invest ( e.g. , pending investment of the proceeds of this offering in individual securities, as well as on an ongoing basis). The Fund may also use derivatives to add leverage to its portfolio. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.” Derivatives transactions that the Fund may utilize include, but are not limited to, purchases or sales of futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), call and put options, credit default swaps, total return swaps, basis swaps and other swap agreements. The Fund may also have exposure to derivatives, such as interest rate or credit-default swaps, through investment in credit-linked trust certificates and other securities issued by special purpose or structured vehicles. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of risks described elsewhere in this prospectus, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, issuer risk, credit risk, leveraging risk, counterparty risk, management risk and, if applicable, smaller company risk. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk.” They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation, the risk of unfavorable or ambiguous documentation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. If the Fund invests in a derivative instrument, it could lose more than the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to other risks when that would be beneficial. The Fund’s use of derivatives also may increase the amount and affect the character and/or timing of taxes payable by Common Shareholders.

Counterparty Risk

The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivative contracts and other instruments entered into by the Fund or held by special purpose or structured vehicles in which the Fund invests. In the event that the Fund enters into a derivative transaction with a counterparty that subsequently becomes insolvent or becomes the subject of a bankruptcy case, the derivative transaction may be terminated in accordance with its terms and the Fund’s ability to realize its rights under the derivative instrument and its ability to distribute the proceeds could be adversely affected. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery (including recovery of any collateral it has provided to the counterparty) in a dissolution, assignment for the benefit of creditors, liquidation, winding-up, bankruptcy, or other analogous proceeding. In addition, in the event of the insolvency of a counterparty to a derivative transaction, the derivative transaction would typically be terminated at its fair market value. If the Fund is owed this fair market value in the termination of the derivative transaction and its claim is unsecured, the Fund will be treated as a general creditor of such counterparty, and will not have any claim with respect to any underlying security or asset. The Fund may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.

Equity Securities and Related Market Risk

Subject to the Fund’s investment policies, the Fund may hold common stocks and other equity securities from time to time, including without limitation those it has received through the conversion of a convertible security held by the Fund or in connection with the restructuring of a debt security. The market price of common stocks and other equity securities may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Equity securities may decline in value due to factors affecting equity securities markets generally, particular industries represented in those markets, or the issuer itself. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Issuer Risk.” The values of equity securities may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in

 

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interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than bonds and other debt securities.

Preferred Securities Risk

In addition to equity securities risk (see “Principal Risks of the Fund—Equity Securities and Related Market Risk”), credit risk (see “Principal Risks of the Fund—Credit Risk”) and possibly high yield risk (see “Principal Risks of the Fund—High Yield Risk”), investment in preferred securities involves certain other risks. Certain preferred securities contain provisions that allow an issuer under certain conditions to skip or defer distributions. If the Fund owns a preferred security that is deferring its distribution, the Fund may be required to include the amount of the deferred distribution in its taxable income for tax purposes despite the fact that it does not currently receive such amount. In order to receive the special treatment accorded to RICs and their shareholders under the Code and to avoid U.S. federal income and/or excise taxes at the Fund level, the Fund may be required to distribute this income to shareholders in the tax year in which the income is recognized (without a corresponding receipt of cash). Therefore, the Fund may be required to pay out as an income distribution in any such tax year an amount greater than the total amount of cash income the Fund actually received, and to sell portfolio securities, including at potentially disadvantageous times or prices, to obtain cash needed for these income distributions. Preferred securities often are subject to legal provisions that allow for redemption in the event of certain tax or legal changes or at the issuer’s call. In the event of redemption, the Fund may not be able to reinvest the proceeds at comparable rates of return. Preferred securities are subordinated to bonds and other debt securities in an issuer’s capital structure in terms of priority for corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt securities. Preferred securities may trade less frequently and in a more limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than many other securities, such as common stocks, corporate debt securities and U.S. Government securities.

Smaller Company Risk

The general risks associated with debt instruments or equity securities are particularly pronounced for securities issued by companies with small market capitalizations. Small capitalization companies involve certain special risks. They are more likely than larger companies to have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, or to depend on a small, inexperienced management group. Securities of smaller companies may trade less frequently and in lesser volume than more widely held securities and their values may fluctuate more sharply than other securities. They may also have limited liquidity. These securities may therefore be more vulnerable to adverse developments than securities of larger companies, and the Fund may have difficulty purchasing or selling securities positions in smaller companies at prevailing market prices. Also, there may be less publicly available information about smaller companies or less market interest in their securities as compared to larger companies. Companies with medium-sized market capitalizations may have risks similar to those of smaller companies.

Confidential Information Access Risk

In managing the Fund, PIMCO may from time to time have the opportunity to receive material, non-public information (“Confidential Information”) about the issuers of certain investments, including, without limitation, senior floating rate loans, other bank loans and related investments being considered for acquisition by the Fund or held in the Fund’s portfolio. For example, a bank issuer of privately placed senior floating rate loans considered by the Fund may offer to provide PIMCO with financial information and related documentation regarding the bank issuer that is not publicly available. Pursuant to applicable policies and procedures, PIMCO may (but is not required to) seek to avoid receipt of Confidential Information from the issuer so as to avoid possible restrictions on its ability to purchase and sell investments on behalf of the Fund and other clients to which such Confidential Information relates ( e.g. , other securities issued by the bank used in the example above). In such circumstances, the Fund (and other PIMCO clients) may be disadvantaged in comparison to other investors, including with respect to the price the Fund pays or receives when it buys or sells an investment. Further, PIMCO’s and the Fund’s abilities to assess the desirability of proposed consents, waivers or

 

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amendments with respect to certain investments may be compromised if they are not privy to available Confidential Information. PIMCO may also determine to receive such Confidential Information in certain circumstances under its applicable policies and procedures. If PIMCO intentionally or unintentionally comes into possession of Confidential Information, it may be unable, potentially for a substantial period of time, to purchase or sell investments to which such Confidential Information relates.

Short Sale Risk

The Fund may use short sales for investment and risk management purposes, including when PIMCO anticipates that the market price of securities will decline or will underperform relative to other securities held in the Fund’s portfolio. Short sales are transactions in which the Fund sells a security or other instrument (such as an option, forward, futures or other derivative contract) that it does not own. Short exposure with respect to securities or market segments may also be achieved through the use of derivative instruments, such as futures or swaps on indices or on individual securities. When the Fund engages in a short sale on a security or other instrument, it must, to the extent required by law, borrow the security or other instrument sold short and deliver it to the counterparty. The Fund will ordinarily have to pay a fee or premium to borrow particular securities and be obligated to repay the lender of the security any dividends or interest that accrue on the security during the period of the loan. The amount of any gain from a short sale will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of the premium, dividends, interest or expenses the Fund pays in connection with the short sale. Short sales expose the Fund to the risk that it will be required to cover its short position at a time when the securities have appreciated in value, thus resulting in a loss to the Fund. The Fund may, to the extent permitted by law, engage in short sales where it does not own or have the right to acquire the security (or basket of securities) sold short at no additional cost. The Fund’s loss on a short sale could theoretically be unlimited in a case in which the Fund is unable, for whatever reason, to close out its short position. The use by the Fund of short sales in combination with long positions in its portfolio in an attempt to improve performance may not be successful and may result in greater losses or lower positive returns than if the Fund held only long positions. It is possible that the Fund’s long positions will decline in value at the same time that the value of the securities underlying its short positions increase, thereby increasing potential losses to the Fund. In addition, the Fund’s short selling strategies may limit its ability to fully benefit from increases in the relevant securities markets. Short selling also involves a form of financial leverage that may exaggerate any losses realized by the Fund. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.” Also, there is the risk that the counterparty to a short sale may fail to honor its contractual terms, causing a loss to the Fund. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Counterparty Risk.” To the extent the Fund seeks to obtain some or all of its short exposure by using derivative instruments instead of engaging directly in short sales on individual securities, it will be subject to many of the foregoing risks, as well as to those described under “Principal Risks of the Fund—Derivatives Risk.” See also “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk.”

Other Investment Companies Risk

The Fund may invest in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies, including without limitation ETFs, to the extent that such investments are consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies and permissible under the 1940 Act. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s investment management fees with respect to the assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. In addition, these other investment companies may utilize leverage, in which case an investment would subject the Fund to additional risks associated with leverage. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.”

Private Placements Risk

A private placement involves the sale of securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act, or relevant provisions of applicable non-U.S. law, to certain institutional and qualified individual purchasers, such as the Fund. In addition to the general risks to which all securities are subject, securities received in a private placement generally are subject to strict restrictions on resale, and there may be no liquid secondary market or

 

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ready purchaser for such securities. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Liquidity Risk.” Therefore, the Fund may be unable to dispose of such securities when it desires to do so, or at the most favorable time or price. Private placements may also raise valuation risks. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Valuation Risk.”

Inflation/Deflation Risk

Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from the Fund’s investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of payments at future dates. As inflation increases, the real value of the Fund’s portfolio could decline. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio and Common Shares.

Risk of Regulatory Changes

To the extent that legislation or national or sub-national bank or other regulators in the U.S. or relevant foreign jurisdiction impose additional requirements or restrictions on the ability of certain financial institutions to make loans, particularly in connection with highly leveraged transactions, the availability of investments sought after by the Fund may be reduced. Further, such legislation or regulation could depress the market value of investments held by the Fund. Additionally, legislative, regulatory or tax developments may affect the investment techniques available to PIMCO and the portfolio managers in connection with managing the Fund and may also adversely affect the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objectives.

On July 21, 2010, the President signed into law major financial services reform legislation in the form of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”). The Dodd-Frank Act, among other things, grants regulatory authorities, such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and SEC, broad rulemaking authority to implement various provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, including comprehensive regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market. It is unclear how these regulators will exercise these revised and expanded powers and whether they will undertake rulemaking, supervisory or enforcement actions (in addition to those that have been proposed or taken thus far) that would adversely affect the Fund or investments made by the Fund. Possible regulatory actions taken under these revised and expanded powers may include actions related to, among others, financial consumer protection, proprietary trading and derivatives. There can be no assurance that future regulatory actions authorized by the Dodd-Frank Act will not adversely affect the Fund’s performance and/or yield, perhaps to a significant extent. For example, the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act could adversely affect the Fund by increasing transaction and/or regulatory compliance costs. In addition, greater regulatory scrutiny may increase the Fund’s and the Investment Manager’s or Sub-Adviser’s exposure to potential liabilities or restrictions. Increased regulatory oversight can also impose administrative burdens on the Fund and the Investment Manager or Sub-Adviser including, without limitation, making them subject to examinations or investigations and requiring them to implement new policies and procedures.

Regulatory Risk—Commodity Pool Operator

The Fund has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the CEA pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the CEA promulgated by the CFTC. The Fund currently is not, therefore, subject to registration or regulation as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA and the Fund intends to be operated so as not to be deemed to be a “commodity pool” under the regulations of the CFTC under current law. On February 9, 2012, the CFTC adopted amendments to its rules that, once effective, may affect the ability of the Fund to continue to claim this exclusion. The Fund would be limited in its ability to use futures or options on futures or engage in swaps transactions if it continued to claim the exclusion. If the Fund did not continue to claim the exclusion, the Fund believes that the Investment Manager and/or Sub-Adviser would likely become subject to registration and regulation as a commodity pool operator with respect to the Fund. The Fund may incur additional expenses as a result of the CFTC’s registration and regulatory requirements. The impact of the rule changes on the operations of the Fund and the Investment Manager and/or Sub-Adviser is not fully known at this time. The Fund and the Investment Manager and/or Sub-Adviser are continuing to analyze the effect of these rule changes on the Fund.

 

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Liquidity Risk

The Fund may invest without limit in illiquid securities (i.e. , securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the securities). Many of the Fund’s investments may be illiquid. Illiquid securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments, and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Also, the Fund may not be able to dispose readily of illiquid securities when that would be beneficial at a favorable time or price or at prices approximating those at which the Fund then values them. Further, the lack of an established secondary market for illiquid securities may make it more difficult to value such securities, which may negatively affect the price the Fund would receive upon disposition of such securities. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Valuation Risk.”

Tax Risk

The Fund intends to elect to be treated as a “regulated investment company” under the Code and intends each year to qualify and be eligible to be treated as such. If the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company, it generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its net investment income or net short-term or long-term capital gains, distributed (or deemed distributed, as described below) to shareholders, provided that, for each taxable year, the Fund distributes (or is treated as distributing) to its shareholders an amount equal to or exceeding 90% of its “investment company taxable income” as that term is defined in the Code (which includes, among other things, dividends, taxable interest and the excess of any net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, as reduced by certain deductible expenses). The Fund intends to distribute all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain each year. In order for the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company in any taxable year, the Fund must meet certain asset diversification tests and at least 90% of its gross income for such year must be certain types of qualifying income. Foreign currency gains will generally be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement. However, the U.S. Treasury Department has authority to issue regulations in the future that could treat some or all of the Fund’s foreign currency gains as non-qualifying income, thereby jeopardizing the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company for all years to which the regulations are applicable. Income derived from some commodity-linked derivatives is not qualifying income, and the treatment of income from some other commodity-linked derivatives is uncertain, for purposes of the 90% gross income test. If for any taxable year the Fund were to fail to meet the income or diversification test described above, the Fund could in some cases cure such failure, including by paying a fund-level tax and, in the case of a diversification test failure, disposing of certain assets. If the Fund were ineligible to or otherwise did not cure such failure for any year, or were otherwise to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company accorded special tax treatment in any taxable year, it would be treated as a corporation subject to U.S. federal income tax, thereby subjecting any income earned by the Fund to tax at the corporate level (currently at a 35% U.S. federal tax rate) and, when such income is distributed, to a further tax at the shareholder level to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits.

Recent Economic Conditions Risk

The debt and equity capital markets in the United States and in foreign countries have been negatively affected by significant write-offs in the banking and financial services sectors relating to subprime mortgages and the re-pricing of credit risk in the broadly syndicated market, among other things. These events, along with the deterioration of housing markets, the failure of banking and other major financial institutions and resulting governmental actions have led to worsening general economic conditions, which have materially and adversely affected the broader financial and credit markets and have reduced the availability of debt and equity capital for the market as a whole and financial firms in particular. These developments may increase the volatility of the value of securities owned by the Fund, and also may make it more difficult for the Fund to accurately value securities or to sell securities on a timely basis. These developments have adversely affected the broader global economy, and may continue to do so, which in turn may adversely affect the ability of issuers of securities owned by the Fund to make payments of principal and interest when due, lead to lower credit ratings and increase the rate of defaults. Such developments could, in turn, reduce the value of securities owned by the Fund and

 

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adversely affect the net asset value and/or market value of the Fund’s Common Shares. In addition, the prolonged continuation or further deterioration of current market conditions could adversely affect the Fund’s portfolio.

The above-noted instability in the financial markets discussed above has led the U.S. and certain foreign governments to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain banking and other financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility, and in some cases a lack of liquidity. Federal, state and other governments and their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable or not fully understood or anticipated. See “Principal Risks of the Fund––Risk of Regulatory Changes.”

The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such programs may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the Fund’s portfolio holdings and the value of the Common Shares. Governments or their agencies have and may in the future acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions.

U.S. legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the Fund itself is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives. See “Principal Risks of the Fund––Risk of Regulatory Changes.”

Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk

The wars with Iraq and Afghanistan and similar conflicts and geopolitical developments, their aftermath and substantial military presence in Afghanistan are likely to have a substantial effect on the U.S. and world economies and securities markets. The nature, scope and duration of the wars and the potential costs of rebuilding infrastructure cannot be predicted with any certainty. Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 closed some of the U.S. securities markets for a four-day period and similar future events cannot be ruled out. The war and occupation, terrorism and related geopolitical risks have led, and may in the future lead, to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets generally. Likewise, natural and environmental disasters, such as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in early 2011, and systemic market dislocations of the kind surrounding the insolvency of Lehman Brothers in 2008, if repeated, could be highly disruptive to economies and markets. Those events as well as other changes in foreign and domestic economic and political conditions also could have an acute effect on individual issuers or related groups of issuers. These risks also could adversely affect individual issuers and securities markets, interest rates, secondary trading, ratings, credit risk, inflation, deflation and other factors relating to the Fund’s investments and the market value and net asset value of the Fund’s Common Shares.

Potential Conflicts of Interest Risk—Allocation of Investment Opportunities

The Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser are involved worldwide with a broad spectrum of financial services and asset management activities and may engage in the ordinary course of business in activities in which their interests or the interests of their clients may conflict with those of the Fund. The Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser may provide investment management services to other funds and discretionary managed accounts that follow an investment program similar to that of the Fund. Subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser intend to engage in such activities and may receive compensation from third parties for their services. The results of the Fund’s investment activities may differ from those of the Fund’s affiliates, or another account managed by the Fund’s affiliates, and it is possible that the Fund could sustain losses during periods in which one or more of the Fund’s affiliates or and other accounts achieve profits on their trading for proprietary or other accounts.

 

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Certain Affiliations

Certain broker-dealers may be considered to be affiliated persons of the Fund, the Investment Manager and/or PIMCO due to their possible affiliations with Allianz SE, the ultimate parent of the Investment Manager and PIMCO. Absent an exemption from the SEC or other regulatory relief, the Fund is generally precluded from effecting certain principal transactions with affiliated brokers, and its ability to purchase securities being underwritten by an affiliated broker or a syndicate including an affiliated broker, or to utilize affiliated brokers for agency transactions, is subject to restrictions. This could limit the Fund’s ability to engage in securities transactions and take advantage of market opportunities. In addition, unless and until the underwriting syndicate is broken in connection with the initial public offering of the Common Shares, the Fund will be precluded from effecting principal transactions with brokers who are members of the syndicate.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

The Fund’s Declaration includes provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to open-end status. See “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust.” These provisions in the Declaration could have the effect of depriving the Common Shareholders of opportunities to sell their Common Shares at a premium over the then-current market price of the Common Shares or at net asset value.

HOW THE FUND MANAGES RISK

Hedging and Related Strategies

The Fund may (but is not required to) use various investment strategies to seek exposure to foreign currencies, or attempt to hedge exposure to reduce the risk of loss and preserve capital, due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar. See “Portfolio Contents—Foreign Currencies and Related Transactions.” The Fund may also purchase credit default swaps for the purpose of hedging the Fund’s credit exposure to certain issuers and, thereby, seek to decrease its exposure to credit risk, and it may invest in structured notes or interest rate futures contracts or swap, cap, floor or collar transactions for the purpose of reducing the interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio and, thereby, seek to decrease the Fund’s exposure to interest rate risk. See “Portfolio Contents—Credit Default Swaps,” “Portfolio Contents—Structured Notes and Related Instruments” and “Portfolio Contents—Certain Interest Rate Transactions” in this prospectus. Other derivatives strategies and instruments that the Fund may use include without limitation: financial futures contracts; short sales; other types of swap agreements or options thereon; options on financial futures; and options based on either an index or individual debt securities whose prices, PIMCO believes, correlate with the prices of the Fund’s investments. Income earned by the Fund from its hedging and related transactions may be subject to one or more special U.S. federal income tax rules that can affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to Common Shareholders. For instance, income earned by the Fund from its foreign currency hedging activities, if any, may give rise to ordinary income that, to the extent not offset by losses from such activities, may be distributed to Common Shareholders and taxable at ordinary income rates. Therefore, any foreign currency hedging activities by the Fund can increase the amount of distributions taxable to Common Shareholders as ordinary income. See “Tax Matters.” There is no assurance that these hedging strategies will be available at any time or that PIMCO will determine to use them for the Fund or, if used, that the strategies will be successful. PIMCO may determine not to engage in hedging strategies or to do so only in unusual circumstances or market conditions. In addition, the Fund may be subject to certain restrictions on its use of hedging strategies imposed by guidelines of one or more ratings agencies that may issue ratings on any preferred shares issued by the Fund.

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Trustees and Officers

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the management of the Fund, including supervision of the duties performed by the Investment Manager and PIMCO. There are currently seven trustees of the Fund, three of whom are treated by the Fund as “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act). Certain of the Trustees are interested persons due to beneficial ownership of common stock of one or more principal underwriters of the Fund in its initial public offering of Common Shares. After the completion of the initial public offering of the Common Shares, it is expected that only one Trustee will be treated as an “interested person” of the Fund. The names and business addresses of the trustees and officers of the Fund and their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years are set forth under “Management of the Fund” in the Statement of Additional Information.

Investment Manager

The Investment Manager serves as the investment manager of the Fund. Subject to the supervision of the Board, the Investment Manager is responsible for managing, either directly or through others selected by it, the investment activities of the Fund and the Fund’s business affairs and other administrative matters. The Investment Manager is located at 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019.

Organized in 2000, the Investment Manager provides investment management and advisory services to a number of closed-end and open-end investment company clients. The Investment Manager is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Allianz SE, a publicly-traded European insurance and financial services company. As of March 31, 2012, the Investment Manager had approximately $47.3 billion in assets under management.

The Investment Manager has retained its affiliate, PIMCO, as a sub-adviser to manage the Fund’s portfolio investments. See “—Sub-Adviser” below. The Investment Manager may retain affiliates to provide various administrative and other services required by the Fund.

Sub-Adviser

PIMCO, an affiliate of the Investment Manager, serves as the sub-adviser for the Fund pursuant to a portfolio management agreement between the Investment Manager and PIMCO. Subject to this agreement and to the supervision of the Investment Manager, PIMCO has full investment discretion and makes all determinations with respect to the investment of the Fund’s assets.

PIMCO is located at 840 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660. Organized in 1971, PIMCO provides investment management and advisory services to private accounts of institutional and individual clients and to a number of open-end and closed-end investment companies. As of March 31, 2012, PIMCO had approximately $1.77 trillion in assets under management.

The Investment Manager (and not the Fund) pays a portion of the fees it receives under the Investment Management Agreement (as defined below) to PIMCO in return for PIMCO’s services. The Investment Manager will pay a monthly fee to PIMCO at the annual rate of 1.025% of the Fund’s average daily total managed assets.

Bill Gross, a founder of PIMCO, is a Managing Director and Co-Chief Investment Officer of PIMCO. In his role as Co-Chief Investment Officer, he serves as the head of the Investment Committee, which oversees setting investment policy decisions, including duration positioning, yield curve management, sector allocation, credit quality and overall portfolio composition, for all PIMCO portfolios and strategies, including the Fund.

 

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The following team of investment professionals, led by Daniel J. Ivascyn, has primary responsibility for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund:

 

Name

  

Since

  

Recent Professional Experience

Daniel J. Ivascyn

   2012 (Inception)    Mr. Ivascyn is a Managing Director, portfolio manager and a member of PIMCO’s mortgage- and asset-backed securities (ABS) team. He joined PIMCO in 1998, previously having been associated with Bear Stearns in the asset-backed securities group as well as with T. Rowe Price and Fidelity Investments. Mr. Ivascyn has twenty years of investment experience and holds a degree in economics from Occidental College and an MBA in analytic finance from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

Alfred Murata

   2012 (Inception)    Mr. Murata is an executive vice president, portfolio manager and a member of PIMCO’s mortgage- and ABS team. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2001, he researched and implemented exotic equity and interest-rate derivatives at Nikko Financial Technologies. He has 13 years of investment experience and holds a Ph.D. in engineering-economic systems and operations research from Stanford University. He also earned a J.D. from Stanford Law School and is a member of the State Bar of California.

Joshua Anderson

   2012 (Inception)    Mr. Anderson is an executive vice president and portfolio manager, focusing on global structured credit investments. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2003, he was an analyst at Merrill Lynch covering both the residential ABS and collateralized debt obligation sectors. He was previously a portfolio manager at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers. He has 17 years of investment experience and holds an MBA from the State University of New York, Buffalo.

The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the Fund.

Investment Management Agreement

Pursuant to an investment management agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund (the “Investment Management Agreement”), the Fund has agreed to pay the Investment Manager an annual fee, payable monthly, in an amount equal to 1.15% of the Fund’s average daily total managed assets, for its services rendered, for the facilities furnished and for certain expenses borne by the Investment Manager pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement. “Total managed assets” means the total assets of the Fund (including assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding) minus accrued liabilities (other than liabilities representing reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings). For purposes of calculating “total managed assets,” the liquidation preference of any preferred shares outstanding is not considered a liability. By way of clarification, with respect to any reverse repurchase agreement, dollar roll or similar transaction, “total managed assets” include any proceeds from the sale of an asset of the Fund to a counterparty in such a transaction, in addition to the value of the underlying asset as of the relevant measuring date.

In addition to the fees of the Investment Manager, the Fund pays all other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its trustees (other than those affiliated with the Investment Manager), custodial expenses, shareholder servicing expenses, transfer agency, sub-transfer agency and dividend disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses, shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies, and taxes, if any.

 

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Because the fees received by the Investment Manager and PIMCO are based on the total managed assets of the Fund (including assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding), the Investment Manager and PIMCO have a financial incentive for the Fund to utilize reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings or to issue preferred shares, which may create a conflict of interest between the Investment Manager and PIMCO, on the one hand, and the holders of the Fund’s Common Shares, on the other hand.

A discussion regarding the considerations of the Fund’s Board of Trustees for approving the Investment Management Agreement and the portfolio management agreement between the Investment Manager and PIMCO will be included in the Fund’s first semi-annual report to shareholders.

NET ASSET VALUE

The net asset value per share (“NAV”) of the Fund’s Common Shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding. Fund shares are valued as of a particular time (the “Valuation Time”) on each day (“Business Day”) that the NYSE is open for trading. The Valuation Time is ordinarily at the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) (the “NYSE Close”). In unusual circumstances, the Board of Trustees may determine that the Valuation Time shall be as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, notwithstanding an earlier, unscheduled close or halt of trading on the NYSE.

For purposes of calculating NAV, the Fund’s investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at market value. Market values for various types of securities and other instruments are determined on the basis of closing prices or last sales prices on an exchange or other market, or based on quotes or other market information obtained from quotation reporting systems, established market makers or pricing services. Short-term investments having a maturity of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost.

If market quotations are not readily available (including in cases where available market quotations are deemed to be unreliable), the Fund’s investments will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees (so called “fair value pricing”). Fair value pricing may require subjective determinations about the value of a security or other asset, and fair values used to determine the Fund’s NAV may differ from quoted or published prices, or from prices that are used by others, for the same investments. Also, the use of fair value pricing may not always result in adjustments to the prices of securities or other assets held by the Fund.

The Fund may determine that market quotations are not readily available due to events relating to a single issuer ( e.g. , corporate actions or announcements) or events relating to multiple issuers ( e.g. , governmental actions or natural disasters). The Fund may determine the fair value of investments based on information provided by pricing services and other third-party vendors, which may recommend fair value prices or adjustments with reference to other securities, indices or assets. In considering whether fair value pricing is required and in determining fair values, the Fund may, among other things, consider significant events (which may be considered to include changes in the value of U.S. securities or securities indices) that occur after the close of the relevant market and before the Valuation Time. The Fund may use modeling tools provided by third-party vendors to determine fair values of certain non-U.S. securities.

For purposes of calculating NAV, the Fund normally uses pricing data for domestic equity securities received shortly after the NYSE Close and does not normally take into account trading, clearances or settlements that take place after the NYSE Close. Domestic fixed income and non-U.S. securities are normally priced using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities, subject to possible fair value adjustments. Information that becomes known to the Fund or its agents after NAV has been calculated on a particular day will not generally be used to retroactively adjust the price of a security or NAV determined earlier that day.

Investments initially valued in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted to U.S. dollars using exchange rates obtained from pricing services. As a result, NAV of the Fund’s shares may be affected by changes

 

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in the value of currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. The value of investments traded in markets outside the United States or denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar may be affected significantly on a day that the NYSE is closed. The calculation of the Fund’s NAV may not take place contemporaneously with the determination of the prices of non-U.S. securities used in NAV calculations.

In unusual circumstances, instead of valuing securities in the usual manner, the Fund may value securities at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees, generally based upon recommendations provided by the Investment Manager or PIMCO. Fair valuation also may be required due to material events that occur after the close of the relevant market but prior to the NYSE Close.

DISTRIBUTIONS

Commencing with the Fund’s first dividend, the Fund intends to make monthly cash distributions to Common Shareholders at rates that reflect the past and projected net income of the Fund. Subject to applicable law, the Fund expects regularly to fund a portion of its distributions with gains from the sale of portfolio securities and other sources. The dividend rate that the Fund pays on its Common Shares may vary as portfolio and market conditions change, and will depend on a number of factors, including without limitation the amount of the Fund’s undistributed net investment income and net short- and long-term capital gains, as well as the costs of any leverage obtained by the Fund (including interest expenses on any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings and dividends payable on any preferred shares issued by the Fund). As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of distributions on the Common Shares and the Fund’s dividend policy could change. For a discussion of factors that may cause the Fund’s income and capital gains (and therefore the dividend) to vary, see “Principal Risks of the Fund.” The Fund intends to distribute each year all of its net investment income and net short-term capital gains. In addition, at least annually, the Fund intends to distribute net realized long-term capital gains not previously distributed, if any. The net investment income of the Fund consists of all income (other than net short-term and long-term capital gains) less all expenses of the Fund (after it pays accrued dividends on any outstanding preferred shares). Your initial distribution is expected to be declared approximately 45 days, and paid approximately 60 to 90 days, from the completion of this offering, depending on market conditions. To permit the Fund to maintain more stable distributions, the Fund’s distribution rates will be based, in part, on projections as to annual cash available for distribution and, therefore, the distributions paid by the Fund for any particular month may be more or less than the amount of cash available to the Fund for distribution for that monthly period.

The tax treatment and characterization of the Fund’s distributions may vary significantly from time to time because of the varied nature of the Fund’s investments. To the extent required by the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, absent an exemption, a notice will accompany each monthly distribution with respect to the estimated source (as between net income and gains) of the distribution made. (The Fund will report the proportion of its capital gains distributions that constitute long-term and short-term gains annually, generally on Form 1099.) The tax characterization of the Fund’s distributions made in a taxable year cannot finally be determined until at or after the end of the year. As a result, there is a possibility that the Fund may make total distributions during a taxable year in an amount that exceeds the Fund’s net investment income and net realized capital gains for the relevant year (including as reduced by any capital loss carry-forwards). For example, the Fund may distribute amounts early in the year that are derived from short-term capital gains, but incur net short-term capital losses later in the year, thereby offsetting short-term capital gains out of which distributions have already been made by the Fund. In such a situation, the amount by which the Fund’s total distributions exceed net investment income and net realized capital gains would generally be treated as a tax-free return of capital up to the amount of a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Common Shares, with any amounts exceeding such basis treated as gain from the sale of Common Shares. In general terms, a return of capital would occur where a Fund distribution (or portion thereof) represents a return of a portion of your investment, rather than net income or capital gains generated from your investment during a particular period. Although return of capital distributions may not be taxable, such distributions would reduce the basis of a shareholder’s Common Shares and therefore may increase a shareholder’s tax liability for capital gains upon a sale of Common Shares. See “Tax Matters.”

 

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The 1940 Act currently limits the number of times the Fund may distribute long-term capital gains in any tax year, which may increase the variability of the Fund’s distributions and result in certain distributions being comprised more or less heavily than others of long-term capital gains eligible for favorable income tax rates.

Unless a Common Shareholder elects to receive distributions in cash, all distributions of Common Shareholders whose shares are registered with the plan agent will be automatically reinvested in additional Common Shares under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. See “Distributions” and “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

Although it does not currently intend to do so, the Board of Trustees may change the Fund’s distribution policy and the amount or timing of distributions, based on a number of factors, including the amount of the Fund’s undistributed net investment income and net short- and long-term capital gains and historical and projected net investment income and net short- and long-term capital gains.

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

The Fund has adopted a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”) which allows Common Shareholders to reinvest Fund distributions in additional Common Shares of the Fund. BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the “Plan Agent”) serves as agent for Common Shareholders in administering the Plan. It is important to note that participation in the Plan and automatic reinvestment of Fund distributions does not ensure a profit, nor does it protect against losses in a declining market.

Automatic Enrollment / Voluntary Participation

Under the Plan, Common Shareholders whose shares are registered with the Plan Agent (“registered shareholders”) are automatically enrolled as participants in the Plan and will have all Fund distributions of income, capital gains and returns of capital (together, “distributions”) reinvested by the Plan Agent in additional Common Shares of the Fund, unless the shareholder elects to receive cash. Registered shareholders who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all distributions in cash paid by check and mailed directly to the shareholder of record (or if the shares are held in street or other nominee name, to the nominee) by the Plan Agent.

Participation in the Plan is voluntary. Participants may terminate or resume their enrollment in the Plan at any time without penalty by notifying the Plan Agent online at www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/equityaccess, by calling (800) 254-5197, by writing to the Plan Agent, P.O. Box 358035, Pittsburgh, PA 15252, or, as applicable, by completing and returning the transaction form attached to a Plan statement. A proper notification will be effective immediately and apply to the Fund’s next distribution if received by the Plan Agent at least ten (10) days prior to the record date for the distribution; otherwise, a notification will be effective shortly following the Fund’s next distribution and will apply to the Fund’s next succeeding distribution thereafter. If you withdraw from the Plan and so request, the Plan Agent will arrange for the sale of your shares and send you the proceeds, minus a transaction fee and brokerage commissions.

How Shares are Purchased Under the Plan

For each Fund distribution, the Plan Agent will acquire Common Shares for participants either (i) through receipt of newly issued Common Shares from the Fund (“newly issued shares”) or (ii) by purchasing Common Shares of the Fund on the open market (“open market purchases”). If, on a distribution payment date, the net asset value per Common Share of the Fund (“NAV”) is equal to or less than the market price per Common Share plus estimated brokerage commissions (often referred to as a “market premium”), the Plan Agent will invest the distribution amount on behalf of participants in newly issued shares at a price equal to the greater of (i) NAV or (ii) 95% of the market price per Common Share on the payment date. If the NAV is greater than the market price per Common Share plus estimated brokerage commissions (often referred to as a “market discount”) on a distribution payment date, the Plan agent will instead attempt to invest the distribution amount through open market purchases. If the Plan Agent is unable to invest the full distribution amount in open market purchases, or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the purchase period, the Plan Agent will invest any un-invested portion of the distribution in newly issued shares at a price equal to the greater of (i) NAV or

 

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(ii) 95% of the market price per share as of the last business day immediately prior to the purchase date (which, in either case, may be a price greater or lesser than the NAV per Common Share on the distribution payment date). No interest will be paid on distributions awaiting reinvestment.

Under the Plan, the market price of Common Shares on a particular date is the last sales price on the exchange where the shares are listed on that date or, if there is no sale on the exchange on that date, the mean between the closing bid and asked quotations for the shares on the exchange on that date. The NAV per Common Share on a particular date is the amount calculated on that date (normally at the close of regular trading on the NYSE) in accordance with the Fund’s then current policies.

Fees and Expenses

No brokerage charges are imposed on reinvestments in newly issued shares under the Plan. However, all participants will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred by the Plan Agent when it makes open market purchases. There are currently no direct service charges imposed on participants in the Plan, although the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include such charges. The Plan Agent imposes a transaction fee (in addition to brokerage commissions that are incurred) if it arranges for the sale of your Common Shares held under the Plan.

Shares Held Through Nominees

If your Common Shares are held through a broker, bank or other nominee (together, a “nominee”) and are not registered with the Plan Agent, neither you nor the nominee will be participants in or have distributions reinvested under the Plan. If you are a beneficial owner of Common Shares and wish to participate in the Plan, and your nominee is unable or unwilling to become a registered shareholder and a Plan participant on your behalf, you may request that your nominee arrange to have all or a portion of your shares re-registered with the Plan Agent in your name so that you may be enrolled as a participant in the Plan. Please contact your nominee for details or for other possible alternatives. Participants whose shares are registered with the Plan Agent in the name of one nominee firm may not be able to transfer the shares to another firm and continue to participate in the Plan.

Tax Consequences

Automatically reinvested dividends and distributions are taxed in the same manner as cash dividends and distributions— i.e. , automatic reinvestment in additional shares does not relieve shareholders of, or defer the need to pay, any income tax that may be payable (or that is required to be withheld) on Fund dividends and distributions.

The Fund and the Plan Agent reserve the right to amend or terminate the Plan. Additional information about the Plan, as well as a copy of the full Plan itself, may be obtained from the Plan Agent, P.O. Box 358035, Pittsburgh, PA 15252; telephone number: (800) 254-5197; web site: www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/equityaccess.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

The following is a brief description of the anticipated capital structure of the Fund. This description does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Declaration and the Fund’s Bylaws, as amended and restated through the date hereof (the “Bylaws”). The Declaration and Bylaws are each exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

The Fund is an unincorporated voluntary association with transferable shares of beneficial interest (commonly referred to as a “Massachusetts business trust”) established under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts by the Declaration. The Declaration provides that the Trustees of the Fund may authorize separate classes of shares of beneficial interest. Preferred shares may be issued in one or more series, with such par value and with such rights as determined by the Board, by action of the Board without the approval of the Common Shareholders.

The Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Common Shares. The Common Shares will be issued with a par value of $0.00001 per share.

Common Shareholders are entitled to share equally in dividends declared by the Board and in the net assets of the Fund available for distribution to Common Shareholders after payment of the preferential amounts payable to any outstanding preferred shares of beneficial interest. All Common Shares have equal rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. Common Shares will, when issued, be fully paid and, subject to matters discussed in “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust,” non-assessable, and will have no pre-emptive or conversion rights or rights to cumulative voting, and have no right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares. Upon liquidation of the Fund, after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities of the Fund and the liquidation preference with respect to any outstanding preferred shares, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining assets of the Fund among the Fund’s Common Shareholders.

Common Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each Common Share held. Each fractional share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote, except as otherwise provided by the Declaration, Bylaws, or required by applicable law.

The Fund will send unaudited reports at least semiannually and audited financial statements annually to all of its Common Shareholders.

The Fund anticipates that its Common Shares will be listed on the NYSE, subject to notice of issuance, under the trading or “ticker” symbol “PDI.” The Fund intends to hold annual meetings of shareholders so long as the Common Shares are listed on a national securities exchange and annual meetings are required as a condition of such listing.

Net asset value will be reduced immediately following the offering by the amount of the sales load and offering expenses paid or reimbursed by the Fund. The Sub-Adviser has agreed to pay the amount by which the Fund’s offering costs (other than the sales load) exceed $0.05 per Common Share. The Sub-Adviser has agreed to pay all of the Fund’s organizational expenses.

Unlike open-end funds, closed-end funds like the Fund do not continuously offer shares and do not provide daily redemptions. Rather, if a shareholder determines to buy additional Common Shares or sell shares already held, the shareholder may do so by trading on the exchange through a broker or otherwise. The Declaration limits the ability of the Fund to convert to open-end status. See “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust.”

Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at prices lower than net asset value. Shares of closed-end investment companies have during some periods traded at prices higher than net asset value and during other periods traded at prices lower than net asset value. The Fund cannot assure you that Common Shares will trade at a price equal to or higher than net asset value in the future. Net asset value will be reduced immediately following the offering by the sales load and the amount of offering expenses paid or reimbursed by the Fund. See “Use of Proceeds.” In addition to net asset value, market price may be affected by factors relating

 

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to the Fund such as dividend levels and stability (which will in turn be affected by Fund expenses, including the costs of any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings or other leverage used by the Fund, levels of dividend and interest payments by the Fund’s portfolio holdings, levels of appreciation/depreciation of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, regulation affecting the timing and character of Fund distributions and other factors), portfolio credit quality, liquidity, call protection, market supply and demand, and similar factors relating to the Fund’s portfolio holdings. The Fund’s market price may also be affected by general market or economic conditions, including market trends affecting securities values generally or values of closed-end fund shares more specifically. The Common Shares are designed primarily for long-term investors, and investors in the Common Shares should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes. See the Statement of Additional Information under “Repurchase of Common Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund.”

As noted under “Leverage,” as soon as reasonably practicable following the completion of the initial public offering of the Fund’s Common Shares, the Fund intends, subject to then favorable market conditions, to add leverage to its portfolio by utilizing reverse repurchase agreements, such that the leverage initially obtained represents approximately 29% of the Fund’s total assets (including the amounts of leverage obtained through the use of such instruments). The Fund may also obtain leverage through dollar rolls or borrowings, such as through bank loans or commercial paper or other credit facilities. The Fund may also enter into transactions other than those noted above that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), credit default swaps, total return swaps and other derivative transactions, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions.

Although it has no present intention to do so, the Fund may determine in the future to issue preferred shares or other senior securities to add leverage to its portfolio. Any such preferred shares would have complete priority upon distribution of assets over the Common Shares. See “Leverage—Possible Future Issuance of Preferred Shares.”

ANTI-TAKEOVER AND OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST

The Declaration and the Bylaws include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to open-end status. The Fund’s Trustees are divided into three classes. At each annual meeting of shareholders, the term of one class will expire and each Trustee elected to that class will hold office until the third annual meeting thereafter. The classification of the Board of Trustees in this manner could delay for an additional year the replacement of a majority of the Board of Trustees. In addition, the Declaration provides that a Trustee may be removed only for cause and only (i) by action of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the outstanding shares of the classes or series of shares entitled to vote for the election of such Trustee, or (ii) by written instrument, signed by at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the remaining Trustees, specifying the date when such removal shall become effective. Cause for these purposes shall require willful misconduct, dishonesty or fraud on the part of the Trustee in the conduct of his office or such Trustee being convicted of a felony.

As described below, the Declaration grants special approval rights with respect to certain matters to members of the Board who qualify as “Continuing Trustees,” which term means a Trustee who either (i) has been a member of the Board for a period of at least thirty-six months (or since the commencement of the Fund’s operations, if less than thirty-six months) or (ii) was nominated to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees by a majority of the Continuing Trustees then members of the Board.

The Declaration requires the affirmative vote or consent of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Board of Trustees and holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Fund’s shares to authorize certain Fund transactions not in the ordinary course of business, including a merger or consolidation or share exchange, issuance or transfer by the Fund of the Fund’s shares having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more (except as may be made pursuant to a public offering, the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan or upon exercise of any stock subscription rights), a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of Fund assets, having an aggregated fair market value of $1,000,000 or more, or any shareholder proposal

 

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regarding specific investment decisions, unless the transaction is authorized by both a majority of the Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees (in which case no shareholder authorization would be required by the Declaration, but may be required in certain cases under the 1940 Act). The Declaration also requires the affirmative vote or consent of holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Fund’s shares entitled to vote on the matter to authorize a conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company, unless the conversion is authorized by both a majority of the Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees (in which case shareholders would have only the minimum voting rights required by the 1940 Act with respect to the conversion). Also, the Declaration provides that the Fund may be terminated at any time by vote or consent of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Fund’s shares or, alternatively, by vote or consent of both a majority of the Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees. See “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust” in the Statement of Additional Information for a more detailed summary of these provisions.

The Trustees may from time to time grant other voting rights to shareholders with respect to these and other matters in the Bylaws, certain of which are required by the 1940 Act.

The overall effect of these provisions is to render more difficult the accomplishment of a merger or the assumption of control of the Fund by a third party. These provisions also provide, however, the advantage of potentially requiring persons seeking control of the Fund to negotiate with its management regarding the price to be paid and facilitating the continuity of the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. The provisions of the Declaration and Bylaws described above could have the effect of depriving the Common Shareholders of opportunities to sell their Common Shares at a premium over the then current market price of the Common Shares by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund in a tender offer or similar transaction. The Board of Trustees of the Fund has considered the foregoing anti-takeover provisions and concluded that they are in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders, including Common Shareholders.

The foregoing is intended only as a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Declaration and the Bylaws, both of which are on file with the SEC.

Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, in certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. However, the Declaration contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for debts or obligations of the Fund and requires that notice of such limited liability be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Fund or the Trustees. The Declaration further provides for indemnification out of the assets and property of the Fund for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund would be unable to meet its obligations. The Fund believes that the likelihood of such circumstances is remote.

REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND

The Fund is a closed-end investment company and as such its shareholders will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares. Instead, the Common Shares will trade in the open market at a price that will be a function of factors relating to the Fund such as dividend levels and stability (which will in turn be affected by Fund expenses, including the costs of any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and other leverage used by the Fund, levels of dividend and interest payments by the Fund’s portfolio holdings, levels of appreciation/depreciation of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, regulation affecting the timing and character of Fund’s distributions and other factors), portfolio credit quality, liquidity, call protection, market supply and demand and similar factors relating to the Fund’s portfolio holdings. The market price of the Common Shares may also be affected by general market or economic conditions, including market trends affecting securities values generally or values of closed-end fund shares more specifically. Shares of a closed-end investment company may frequently trade at prices lower than net asset value. The Fund’s Board of Trustees regularly monitors the relationship between the market price and net asset value of the Common Shares. If the Common Shares were to trade at a substantial discount to net asset value for an extended period of time, the Board of Trustees may consider the repurchase of its Common Shares on the open market or in private transactions, the

 

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making of a tender offer for such shares or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company. The Fund cannot assure you that its Board of Trustees will decide to take or propose any of these actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers will actually reduce any market discount. See “Tax Matters” in the Statement of Additional Information for a discussion of the tax implications of a tender offer by the Fund.

If the Fund were to convert to an open-end company, the Common Shares likely would no longer be listed on the NYSE. In contrast to a closed-end investment company, shareholders of an open-end investment company may require the company to redeem their shares at any time (except in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their net asset value, less any redemption charge that is in effect at the time of redemption.

Before deciding whether to take any action to convert the Fund to an open-end investment company, the Board of Trustees would consider all relevant factors, including the extent and duration of the discount, the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio, the impact of any action that might be taken on the Fund or its shareholders, and market considerations. Based on these considerations, even if the Common Shares should trade at a discount, the Board of Trustees may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders, no action should be taken. See the Statement of Additional Information under “Repurchase of Common Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund” for a further discussion of possible action to reduce or eliminate any such discount to net asset value.

 

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TAX MATTERS

U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters

The following is a summary discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a Common Shareholder that acquires, holds and/or disposes of Common Shares of the Fund, and reflects provisions of the Code, existing Treasury regulations, rulings published by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), and other applicable authority, as of the date of this prospectus. These authorities are subject to change by legislative or administrative action, possibly with retroactive effect. The following discussion is only a summary of some of the important tax considerations generally applicable to investments in the Fund. For more detailed information regarding tax considerations, see the Statement of Additional Information. There may be other and different tax considerations applicable to particular investors, such as insurance companies, financial institutions, broker-dealers, tax-deferred retirement plans and non-U.S. shareholders (as defined below). Residents of Puerto Rico may be subject to special U.S. tax rules. See “Tax Matters” in the Statement of Additional Information for more information. In addition, income earned through an investment in the Fund may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes. Common Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers regarding their particular situation and the possible application of U.S. federal, state, local, foreign or other tax laws.

Taxation of the Fund

The Fund intends to elect to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code and intends each year to qualify and be eligible to be treated as such. In order for the Fund to qualify as a RIC, it must meet an income and asset diversification test each year. To satisfy the income test, the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as defined in the Code). To satisfy the asset diversification test, the Fund must diversify its holdings so that at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (a) at least 50% of the value of its total assets consists of cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. Government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities limited, with respect to any one issuer, to no more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested in the securities (other than those of the U.S. Government or other RICs) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or in the securities of one or more “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as defined in the Code). If the Fund qualifies as a RIC and satisfies certain distribution requirements, the Fund (but not its shareholders) will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent it distributes its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), its net tax-exempt income and its net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital loss) in a timely manner to its shareholders in the form of dividends or capital gain distributions. The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of such income and gains each year.

If the Fund does retain any investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it also will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain and pays tax on such amount, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gain in a notice to its shareholders who would then (i) be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim such refunds on a properly filed U.S. tax return to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. If the Fund makes this designation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of Common Shares owned by a shareholder will be increased by an amount equal under current law to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income under clause (i) of the preceding sentence and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder

 

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under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. The Fund is not required to, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will, make this designation if it retains all or a portion of its net capital gain in a taxable year.

A nondeductible excise tax at the rate of 4% will be imposed on the excess, if any, of the Fund’s “required distribution” over its actual distributions in any calendar year. Generally, the required distribution is 98% of the Fund’s ordinary income for the calendar year plus 98.2% of its capital gain net income recognized during the one-year period ending on October 31 (or later if the Fund is permitted to elect and so elects), plus undistributed amounts from prior years. For purposes of the required excise tax distribution, a RIC’s ordinary gains and losses from the sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of property that would otherwise be taken into account after October 31 (or later if the Fund makes the election referred to immediately above) are generally treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year. Also, for purposes of the excise tax, the Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount for which it is subject to corporate income tax for the taxable year ending within the calendar year. The Fund intends to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the excise tax, although there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so. The Fund may determine to pay the excise tax in a year to the extent it is deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund ( e.g. , if the excise tax is de minimis).

The Fund’s intention to qualify for treatment as a RIC may negatively affect the Fund’s return to Common Shareholders by limiting its ability to acquire or continue to hold positions that would otherwise be consistent with its investment strategy or by requiring it to engage in transactions it would otherwise not engage in, resulting in additional transaction costs. In certain circumstances, it may be difficult for the Fund to meet the income or diversification test for RIC qualification. Failure to qualify as a RIC would likely materially reduce the investment return to the Common Shareholders. If the Fund were to fail to meet the income, diversification, or distribution test, the Fund could in some cases cure such failure, including by paying a fund-level tax, paying interest, making additional distributions, or disposing of certain assets. If the Fund were ineligible to or otherwise did not cure such failure for any taxable year, or if the Fund were otherwise to fail to qualify as a RIC accorded special tax treatment for such year, the Fund would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, would be taxable to Common Shareholders as dividend income. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before re-qualifying as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment.

Distributions

The Fund intends to make monthly distributions of net investment income. Unless a Common Shareholder elects to receive distributions in cash, all distributions of Common Shareholders whose shares are registered with the Plan Agent will be automatically reinvested in additional Common Shares of the Fund pursuant to the Plan. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, all dividends are generally taxable in the same manner, whether a shareholder takes them in cash or they are reinvested pursuant to the Plan in additional Common Shares of the Fund. A shareholder whose distributions are reinvested in Common Shares under the Plan will be treated as having received a dividend equal to either (i) if newly issued Common Shares are issued under the Plan, generally the fair market value of the newly issued Common Shares issued to the shareholder or (ii) if reinvestment is made through open-market purchases under the Plan, the amount of cash allocated to the shareholder for the purchase of Common Shares on its behalf in the open market. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” above.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions of net investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Fund owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her Common Shares. In general, the Fund will recognize long-term capital gain or loss on investments it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for more than one year, and short-term capital gain or loss on investments it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for one year or less. Distributions of net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss, determined in each case with reference to any loss carryforwards) that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains. The Fund is permitted to carry forward net capital losses to one or more

 

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subsequent taxable years without expiration. Any such carryforward losses will retain their character as short-term or long-term. Capital loss carryforwards are reduced to the extent they offset current-year net realized capital gains, whether the Fund retains or distributes such gains. Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013. These reduced rates will expire for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise. Distributions of net short-term capital gain (as reduced by any net long-term capital loss for the taxable year) will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013, the Fund may report certain dividends as derived from “qualified dividend income,” which, when received by a non-corporate shareholder, will be taxed at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain, provided holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund levels. This provision will expire for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise. The Fund does not expect a significant portion of distributions to be derived from qualified dividend income.

In general, dividends of net investment income received by corporate shareholders of the Fund will qualify for the 70% dividends-received deduction generally available to corporations to the extent of the amount of eligible dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations for the taxable year. The Fund does not expect a significant portion of its distributions to be eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction.

If the Fund makes a distribution in excess of its current and accumulated “earnings and profits” in any taxable year, the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Common Shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of such shares.

The determination of the character for U.S. federal income tax purposes of any distribution from the Fund ( i.e. , ordinary income dividends, Capital Gain Dividends, qualified dividends, or return of capital distributions) will be made as of the end of the Fund’s taxable year. Generally, the Fund will provide shareholders with a written statement reporting the amount of any capital gain distributions or other distributions.

Dividends and distributions on the Common Shares are generally subject to federal income tax as described herein to the extent they do not exceed the Fund’s realized income and gains, even though such dividends and distributions may economically represent a return of a particular shareholder’s investment. Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of Common Shares purchased at a time when the Fund’s net asset value reflects unrealized gains or income or gains that are realized but not yet distributed. Such realized income and gains may be required to be distributed even when the Fund’s net asset value also reflects unrealized losses.

A distribution by the Fund will be treated as paid on December 31 of any calendar year if it is declared by the Fund in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid by the Fund during January of the following calendar year. Such distributions will be taxable to shareholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received.

Sale or Exchange of Common Shares

Common Shareholders who sell or exchange their Common Shares will generally recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount received and the Common Shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the Common Shares sold or exchanged. If the Common Shares are held as a capital asset, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of the Common Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of Common Shares will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Common Shares held by a shareholder for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of Capital Gain Dividends received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. For purposes of determining whether Common Shares have been held for six months or less, the holding period is suspended for any periods during which the Common Shareholder’s risk of loss is diminished as a result of holding one or more other positions in substantially similar or related property, or

 

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through certain options or short sales. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange of Common Shares will be disallowed to the extent those Common Shares are replaced by other substantially identical shares within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of the Common Shares (including through the reinvestment of distributions, which could occur, for example, if the Common Shareholder is a participant in the Plan). In that event, the basis of the replacement shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

Medicare Tax

Effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, the “net investment income” of individuals, estates and trusts will be subject to a new 3.8% Medicare contribution tax, to the extent such income exceeds certain threshold amounts. Net investment income generally includes for this purpose dividends, including any Capital Gain Dividends paid by the Fund, and net capital gains recognized on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund.

Foreign Taxes

The Fund may be liable to foreign governments for taxes relating primarily to investment income or capital gains on foreign securities in the Fund’s portfolio. If at the close of its taxable year, more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets consists of securities of foreign corporations (including foreign governments), the Fund will be permitted to make an election under the Code that would allow Common Shareholders who are U.S. citizens or U.S. corporations to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction (but not both) on their income tax returns for their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries in respect of foreign securities that the Fund held for at least the minimum period specified in the Code. In such a case, Common Shareholders will include in gross income from foreign sources their pro rata shares of such taxes paid by the Fund. A Common Shareholder’s ability to claim an offsetting foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by the Fund is subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, which may result in the shareholder’s not receiving a full credit or deduction (if any) for the amount of such taxes. Shareholders who do not itemize deductions on their U.S. federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but not a deduction) for such foreign taxes.

Certain Fund Investments

Any transaction by the Fund in foreign currencies, foreign-currency denominated debt obligations or certain foreign currency options, futures contracts, or forward contracts (or similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. Such ordinary income treatment may accelerate Fund distributions to Common Shareholders and increase the distributions taxed to Common Shareholders as ordinary income. Because a RIC is permitted only to carry forward net capital losses, any net losses so created cannot be carried forward by the Fund to offset income or gains earned in subsequent taxable years.

The Fund’s transactions in derivative instruments ( e.g. , options, futures, forward contracts, structured notes and swap agreements), as well as any of its other hedging, short sale, securities loan or similar transactions, may be subject to uncertainty with respect to their tax treatment, and to one or more special tax rules ( e.g. , notional principal contract, straddle, constructive sale, wash sale, and short sale rules). The aforementioned rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Fund are treated as ordinary or capital or as short-term or long-term, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to Common Shareholders. Because the tax treatment and the tax rules applicable to these types of transactions are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules or treatment (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether the Fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements, to maintain its qualification as a RIC and avoid a Fund-level tax.

 

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Income from certain commodity-linked instruments does not constitute qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income test described above. The tax treatment of commodity-linked notes and certain other commodity-linked instruments in which the Fund might invest is not certain, in particular with respect to whether income and gains from such instruments constitute qualifying income. If the Fund treats income from a particular instrument as qualifying income and the income is later determined not to constitute qualifying income, and, together with any other nonqualifying income, causes the Fund’s nonqualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, the Fund will fail to qualify as a regulated investment company unless it is eligible to and does pay a tax at the Fund level.

It is possible that the Fund’s use of derivatives and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and any of the Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, will produce a difference between its book income and the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any). If such a difference arises, and the Fund’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and its net tax-exempt income, the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment and to eliminate Fund-level tax. In the alternative, if the Fund’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income (including realized capital gains) and its net tax-exempt income, the distribution (if any) of such excess generally will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits, (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in its Common Shares, and (iii) thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.

From time to time, a substantial portion of the Fund’s investments in loans and other debt obligations could be treated as having “market discount” and/or “original issue discount” (“OID”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which, in some cases, could be significant and could cause the Fund to recognize income in respect of these investments before or without receiving cash representing such income. If so, the Fund could be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount which is greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. As a result, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate investments (including at potentially disadvantageous times or prices) in order to satisfy its distribution requirements or to avoid incurring Fund-level U.S. federal income or excise taxes. If the Fund liquidates portfolio securities to raise cash, the Fund may realize gain or loss on such liquidations; in the event the Fund realizes net long-term or short-term capital gains from such liquidation transactions, its shareholders may receive larger capital gain or ordinary dividends, respectively, than they would in the absence of such transactions.

The interest paid on municipal bonds is generally exempt from U.S. federal income tax. However, because the Fund does not expect to be eligible to pay “exempt-interest dividends” to its shareholders under the Code, any distribution received by Common Shareholders that is attributable to the interest received by the Fund on its municipal bond holdings is taxable to Common Shareholders. In addition, any gains realized by the Fund on the sale or exchange of municipal bonds generally are taxable to Common Shareholders when distributed to them by the Fund.

Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues for the Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether or to what extent the Fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation; when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount; when and to what extent the Fund may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities; and how the Fund should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by the Fund when, as, and if it invests in such securities in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a RIC and avoid becoming subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.

Any investment by the Fund in equity securities of REITs may result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Investments in REIT equity securities also may require the Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. Dividends received by the Fund from a REIT will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction and generally will not constitute qualified dividend income.

 

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The Fund may invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs (including by investing in residual interests in CMOs with respect to which an election to be treated as a REMIC is in effect) or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”). Under a notice issued by the IRS in October 2006 and Treasury regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively, a portion of the Fund’s income (including income allocated to the Fund from a REIT or other pass-through entity) that is attributable to a residual interest in a REMIC or an equity interest in a TMP (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a RIC will be allocated to shareholders of the RIC in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related interest directly. As a result, the Fund may not be a suitable investment for certain tax-exempt investors, as noted below.

In general, excess inclusion income allocated to Common Shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) to entities (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or other tax-exempt entity) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income; and (iii) in the case of a foreign shareholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax. Charitable remainder trusts and other tax-exempt shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers concerning the consequences of investing in the Fund.

Backup Withholding

Backup withholding is generally required with respect to taxable distributions or the gross proceeds of a sale of Common Shares paid to any non-corporate shareholder who fails to properly furnish a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify that he or she is not subject to such withholding. The backup withholding rate is 28% for amounts paid through 2012. This rate will expire and the backup withholding rate will be 31% for amounts paid after December 31, 2012, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise. Amounts withheld as a result of backup withholding are remitted to the U.S. Treasury but do not constitute an additional tax imposed on the shareholder; such amounts may be claimed as a credit on the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax return, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

Non-U.S. Shareholders

Absent a specific statutory exemption, dividends other than Capital Gain Dividends paid to a shareholder that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of the Code (a “non-U.S. shareholder”) are subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate). Capital Gain Dividends paid to foreign shareholders are generally not subject to withholding. Effective for taxable years of a RIC beginning before January 1, 2012, the RIC was not required to withhold any amounts with respect to distributions of (i) U.S.-source interest income that would not have been subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual foreign shareholder, and (ii) net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, in each case to the extent the RIC properly reported such distributions in a written notice to shareholders. It is currently unclear whether Congress will extend these exemptions from withholding for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2012, or what the terms of any such an extension would be, including whether such extension would have retroactive effect.

The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act, enacted in March 2010, generally imposes a reporting and 30% withholding tax regime with respect to certain U.S.-source income, including dividends and interest, and gross proceeds from the sale or other disposal of property that can produce U.S.-source interest or dividends. Very generally, subject to future guidance, it is possible that, beginning in 2014 or 2015, depending on the type of payment, distributions to a Common Shareholder by the Fund will be subject to the 30% withholding requirement, unless the Common Shareholder provides certain information, certifications, or other documentation, as the Fund requires, to comply with the new rules. For more information, see the Statement of Additional Information.

 

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Shares Purchased Through Tax-Qualified Plans

Special tax rules apply to investments though defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Common Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the suitability of Common Shares as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of an investment on their particular tax situation.

General

The foregoing discussion relates solely to U.S. federal income tax laws. Dividends and distributions also may be subject to state and local taxes. Common Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding specific questions as to federal, state, local, and, where applicable, foreign taxes. Foreign investors should consult their tax advisors concerning the tax consequences of ownership of Common Shares.

The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the applicable provisions of the Code and related regulations currently in effect. For the complete provisions, reference should be made to the pertinent Code sections and regulations. The Code and regulations are subject to change by legislative or administrative actions.

Please see “Tax matters” in the Statement of Additional Information for additional information regarding the tax aspects of investing in Common Shares of the Fund.

 

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UNDERWRITERS

Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus, the underwriters named below, for which Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, UBS Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as representatives, have severally agreed to purchase, and the Fund has agreed to sell to them, the number of Common Shares indicated below.

 

Underwriters

  

Number of
Common Shares

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

  

UBS Securities LLC

  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

  

Barclays Capital Inc.

  

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

  

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of Scott & Stringfellow, LLC

  

Chardan Capital Markets, LLC

  

Henley & Company LLC

  

J.J.B Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC

  

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

  

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.

  

Maxim Group LLC

  

Wedbush Securities Inc.

  

Wunderlich Securities, Inc.

  
  

 

Total

  
  

 

The underwriters are offering the Common Shares subject to their acceptance of the Common Shares from the Fund and subject to prior sale. The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the Common Shares offered by this prospectus are subject to the approval of legal matters by their counsel and to certain other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to take and pay for all of the Common Shares offered by this prospectus if any such Common Shares are taken. However, the underwriters are not required to take or pay for the Common Shares covered by the underwriters’ over-allotment option described below.

The underwriters initially propose to offer part of the Common Shares directly to the public at the initial offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus and part to certain dealers at a price that represents a concession not in excess of $0.75 per Common Share under the initial offering price. The underwriting discounts and commissions (sales load) of $1.125 per Common Share are equal to 4.50% of the initial offering price. Investors must pay for any Common Shares purchased on or before             , 2012.

The Fund has granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 45 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to an aggregate of Common Shares at the initial offering price per Common Share listed on the cover page of this prospectus, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, made in connection with the offering of the Common Shares offered by this prospectus. To the extent the option is exercised, each underwriter will become obligated, subject to limited conditions, to purchase approximately the same percentage of the additional Common Shares as the number listed next to the underwriter’s name in the preceding table bears to the total number of Common Shares listed next to the names of all underwriters in the preceding table. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, the total public offering price would be $            , the total sales load would be $            , the estimated offering expenses would be $             and the total proceeds, after expenses, to the Fund would be $            .

 

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The following table summarizes the estimated expenses (assuming the Fund issues approximately              Common Shares) and compensation that the Fund will pay:

 

     Per Common Share      Total  
     Without
Over-allotment
     With
Over-allotment
     Without
Over-allotment
     With
Over-allotment
 

Public offering price

   $ 25.000       $ 25.000       $                    $                

Sales load

   $ 1.125       $ 1.125       $         $     

Estimated offering expenses

   $ 0.050       $ 0.050       $         $     

Proceeds, after expenses, to the Fund

   $ 23.825       $ 23.825       $         $     

The fees described below under “Additional Compensation to be Paid by the Sub-Adviser” are not reimbursable to the Sub-Adviser by the Fund, and are therefore not reflected in expenses payable by the Fund in the table above.

Offering expenses paid by the Fund (other than sales load) will not exceed $0.05 per Common Share sold by the Fund in this offering. If the offering expenses referred to in the preceding sentence exceed this amount, the Sub-Adviser will pay the excess. The aggregate offering expenses (excluding the sales load) are estimated to be $             in total, $             of which will be borne by the Fund (or $             if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full). See “Summary of Fund Expenses.”

The underwriters have informed the Fund that they do not intend for sales to discretionary accounts to exceed five percent of the total number of Common Shares offered by them.

In order to meet requirements of the NYSE, the underwriters have undertaken to sell lots of 100 or more shares to a minimum of 400 beneficial owners. The minimum investment requirement is 100 Common Shares ($2,500).

The Fund anticipates that its Common Shares will be approved for listing on the NYSE, under the ticker symbol “PDI,” subject to notice of issuance.

At the Fund’s request, the underwriters have agreed to reserve less than     % of the Common Shares for sale in this offering to certain portfolio managers and other officers and employees of the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates and their relatives (the “affiliated purchasers”), at the offering price of $25.00 per Common Share.

The Fund has agreed, and, subject to certain exceptions, certain affiliated purchasers purchasing Common Shares in this offering have agreed, that, without the prior written consent of the representatives on behalf of the underwriters, it will not, during the period ending 180 days after the date of this prospectus, (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Common Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) file any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any Common Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares. In the event that either (x) during the last 17 days of the 180-day period referred to above, the Fund issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Fund occurs or (y) prior to the expiration of such 180-day period, the Fund announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of such 180-day period, the restrictions described above shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable. This lock-up agreement will not apply to the Common Shares to be sold pursuant to the underwriting agreement or any Common Shares issued pursuant to the Plan.

In order to facilitate the offering of the Common Shares, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Common Shares. The underwriters currently expect to sell more Common Shares than they are obligated to purchase under the underwriting agreement, creating a short

 

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position in the Common Shares for their own account. A short sale is covered if the short position is no greater than the number of Common Shares available for purchase by the underwriters under the over-allotment option (exercisable for 45 days from the date of this prospectus). The underwriters can close out a covered short sale by exercising the over-allotment option or purchasing Common Shares in the open market. In determining the source of Common Shares to close out a covered short sale, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the open market price of the Common Shares compared to the price available under the over-allotment option. The underwriters may also sell Common Shares in excess of the over-allotment option, creating a naked short position. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing Common Shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the Common Shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. As an additional means of facilitating the offering, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, Common Shares in the open market to stabilize the price of the Common Shares. Finally, the underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers in respect of the Common Shares sold in this offering for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if such Common Shares are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. Any of these activities may raise or maintain the market price of the Common Shares above independent market levels or prevent, limit or slow a decline in the market price of the Common Shares. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public or private market for the Common Shares or any other securities of the Fund. Consequently, the offering price for the Common Shares was determined by negotiation among the Fund, the Investment Manager and the representatives of the underwriters. There can be no assurance, however, that the price at which the Common Shares trade after this offering will not be lower than the price at which they are sold by the underwriters or that an active trading market in the Common Shares will develop and continue after this offering.

The Fund anticipates that certain of the underwriters may, from time to time, act as brokers and dealers in connection with the execution of its portfolio transactions after they have ceased to be underwriters and, subject to certain restrictions, may act as such brokers while they are underwriters.

In connection with this offering, certain of the underwriters or selected dealers may distribute prospectuses electronically. The Fund, Investment Manager and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the underwriters or their respective affiliates from time to time have provided in the past, and may provide in the future, investment banking, securities trading, hedging, brokerage activities, commercial lending and financial advisory services to the Fund, certain of its executive officers and affiliates and the Investment Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates in the ordinary course of business, for which they have received, and may receive, customary fees and expenses.

No action has been taken in any jurisdiction (except in the United States) that would permit a public offering of the Common Shares, or the possession, circulation or distribution of this prospectus or any other material relating to the Fund or the Common Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, the Common Shares may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither this prospectus nor any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the Common Shares may be distributed or published, in or from any country or jurisdiction except in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of any such country or jurisdiction.

Prior to the public offering of Common Shares, Allianz Asset Management of America L.P., an affiliate of the Investment Manager, purchased Common Shares from the Fund in an amount satisfying the net worth requirements of Section 14(a) of the 1940 Act. As of the date of this prospectus, Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. owned 100% of the outstanding Common Shares. Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. may

 

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be deemed to control the Fund until such time as it owns less than 25% of the outstanding Common Shares, which is expected to occur as of the completion of the offering of Common Shares.

The principal business address of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036. The principal business address of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. is 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013. The principal business address of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated is One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036. The principal business address of UBS Securities LLC is 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10171. The principal business address of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC is 375 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10152.

Additional Compensation to be Paid by the Sub-Adviser

The Sub-Adviser (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC from its own assets, upfront structuring and syndication fees in the amount of $             for advice relating to the structure, design and organization of the Fund, including without limitation, views from an investor, market, distribution and syndication perspective on (i) marketing issues with respect to the Fund’s investment polices and proposed investments, (ii) the overall marketing and positioning thesis for the offering of the Fund’s Common Shares, (iii) securing participants in the Fund’s initial public offering, (iv) preparation of the marketing and diligence materials for the underwriters, (v) conveying information and market updates to the underwriters, and (vi) coordinating syndicate orders in this offering. The upfront structuring and syndication fees paid to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC will not exceed             % of the total public offering price of the Common Shares sold in this offering. These services provided by Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC are unrelated to the Investment Manager’s or the Sub-Adviser’s function of advising the Fund as to its investments in securities or use of investment strategies and investment techniques.

The Sub-Adviser (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay to each of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, UBS Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Barclays Capital Inc., from its own assets, a structuring fee for advice relating to the structure, design and organization of the Fund as well as services related to the sale and distribution of the Common Shares in the amount of $            , $            , $            , $             and $            , respectively. The structuring fee paid to each of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, UBS Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Barclays Capital Inc., will not exceed             %,             %,             %,             % and             %, respectively, of the total public offering price of the Common Shares sold in this offering.

The Sub-Adviser (and not the Fund) also may pay certain qualifying underwriters a structuring fee, additional compensation or a sales incentive fee in connection with this offering. The total amounts of these payments paid to any qualifying underwriter, excluding the underwriters named above but including those named below, will not exceed             % of the total public offering price of the Common Shares sold in this offering.

As part of the Fund’s payment of the Fund’s offering expenses, the Fund has agreed to pay expenses related to the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the underwriters in connection with, the review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) of the terms of the sale of the Common Shares.

Total underwriting compensation determined in accordance with FINRA rules is summarized as follows. The sales load the Fund will pay of $1.125 per share is equal to 4.50% of gross proceeds. The Fund has agreed to reimburse the underwriters the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the underwriters in connection with the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Common Shares in an amount not to exceed $             in the aggregate, which amount will not exceed             % of the total public offering price of the Fund’s Common Shares. The Sub-Adviser (and not the Fund) will pay a structuring and/or syndication fee to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, UBS Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, and Barclays Capital Inc., which in the aggregate will not exceed $            . Total compensation to the underwriters will not exceed 9.0% of gross proceeds.

 

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CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT

The custodian of the assets of the Fund is State Street Bank and Trust Company. The custodian performs custodial and fund accounting services as well as sub-administrative and compliance services on behalf of the Fund.

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., P.O. Box 358035, Pittsburgh, PA 15252 serves as the Fund’s transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursement agent and shareholder servicing agent, as well as agent for the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters will be passed on for the Fund by Ropes & Gray LLP, Boston, Massachusetts. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

The Fund

   3

Investment Objectives and Policies

   3

Investment Restrictions

   69

Management of the Fund

   72

Investment Manager and Sub-Adviser

   83

Portfolio Transactions

   91

Distributions

   95

Description of Shares

   95

Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust

   96

Repurchase of Common Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund

   98

Tax Matters

   100

Performance Related and Comparative Information

   118

Custodian, Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursement Agent

   118

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   118

Counsel

   118

Registration Statement

   119

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   120

Financial Statements

   121

Appendix A—Proxy Voting Guidelines

   A-1

 

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APPENDIX A

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

The Fund’s investments may range in quality from securities rated in the lowest category to securities rated in the highest category (as rated by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch or, if unrated, determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality). The percentage of the Fund’s assets invested in securities in a particular rating category will vary. The following terms are generally used to described the credit quality of fixed income securities:

High Quality Debt Securities are those rated in one of the two highest rating categories (the highest category for commercial paper) or, if unrated, deemed comparable by PIMCO.

Investment Grade Debt Securities are those rated in one of the four highest rating categories or, if unrated deemed comparable by PIMCO.

Below Investment Grade, High Yield Securities (“Junk Bonds”) are those rated lower than Baa3 by Moody’s or BBB by S&P or Fitch and comparable securities. They are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s ability to repay principal and interest.

The following is a description of Moody’s, S&P’s and Fitch’s rating categories applicable to fixed income securities.

MOODY’S LONG-TERM RATINGS

Moody’s long-term ratings are opinions of the relative credit risk of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more. They address the possibility that a financial obligation will not be honored as promised. Such ratings use Moody’s Global Scale and reflect both the likelihood of default and any financial loss suffered in the event of default.

Aaa: Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.

Aa: Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

A: Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa: Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba: Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B: Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa: Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca: Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

C: Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

Moody’s applies numerical modifiers, 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classified from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.

Corporate short-term debt ratings

Moody’s short-term debt ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to repay punctually senior debt obligations which have an original maturity not exceeding one year. Obligations relying upon support mechanisms such as letters of credit and bonds of indemnity are excluded unless explicitly rated.

 

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Moody’s employs the following three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

P-1: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

P-2: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

P-3: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

N-P: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

Short-term municipal bond ratings

There are three rating categories for short-term municipal obligations that are considered investment grade. These ratings are designated as Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) and are divided into three levels—MIG 1 through MIG 3. In addition, those short-term obligations that are of speculative quality are designated SG, or speculative grade. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation.

MIG 1: This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

MIG 2: This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

MIG 3: This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

SG: This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

In the case of variable-rate demand obligations (VRDOs), a two-component rating is assigned; a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of the degree of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of the degree of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”), using a variation of the MIG rating scale, the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or VMIG rating.

When either the long- or short-term aspect of a VRDO is not rated, that piece is designated NR, e.g. , Aaa/NR or NR/VMIG 1.

VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.

VMIG 1: This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

VMIG 2: This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

VMIG 3: This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

SG: This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

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STANDARD & POOR’S RATINGS SERVICES

Corporate and municipal bond ratings

Long-term issue credit ratings

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:

 

   

Likelihood of payment—capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

 

   

Nature of and provisions of the obligation;

 

   

Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

AAA: An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

AA: An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

A: An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

BBB: An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB: An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B: An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CCC: An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CC: An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

C: A ‘C’ rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the

 

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‘C’ rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms or when preferred stock is the subject of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

D: An obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation, including a regulatory capital instrument, are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within the shorter of the stated grace period but not longer than five business days. Both a longer stated grace period and the absence of a stated grace period are irrelevant. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ upon completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

Plus (+) or Minus (-): The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

NR: This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

A-1: A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

A-2: A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

A-3: A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B: A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

C: A short-term obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

D: A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation, including a regulatory capital instrument, are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

Active qualifiers (currently applied and/or outstanding)

i: This subscript is used for issues in which the credit factors, terms, or both, that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of interest are different from the credit factors, terms or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of principal on the obligation. The ‘i’ subscript indicates that the rating addresses the interest portion of the obligation only. The ‘i’ subscript will always be used in conjunction with the ‘p’ subscript, which addresses likelihood of receipt of principal. For example, a rated obligation could be assigned ratings of “AAAp NRi” indicating that the principal portion is rated “AAA” and the interest portion of the obligation is not rated.

L: Ratings qualified with ‘L’ apply only to amounts invested up to federal deposit insurance limits.

 

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P: This subscript is used for issues in which the credit factors, the terms, or both, that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of principal are different from the credit factors, terms or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of interest on the obligation. The ‘p’ subscript indicates that the rating addresses the principal portion of the obligation only. The ‘p’ subscript will always be used in conjunction with the ‘i’ subscript, which addresses likelihood of receipt of interest. For example, a rated obligation could be assigned ratings of “AAAp NRi” indicating that the principal portion is rated “AAA” and the interest portion of the obligation is not rated.

pi: Ratings with a ‘pi’ subscript are based on an analysis of an issuer’s published financial information, as well as additional information in the public domain. They do not, however, reflect in-depth meetings with an issuer’s management and are therefore based on less comprehensive information than ratings without a ‘pi’ subscript. Ratings with a ‘pi’ subscript are reviewed annually based on a new year’s financial statements, but may be reviewed on an interim basis if a major event occurs that may affect the issuer’s credit quality.

Preliminary: Preliminary ratings, with the ‘prelim’ qualifier, may be assigned to obligors or obligations, including financial programs, in the circumstances described below. Assignment of a final rating is conditional on the receipt by Standard & Poor’s of appropriate documentation. Standard & Poor’s reserves the right not to issue a final rating. Moreover, if a final rating is issued, it may differ from the preliminary rating.

 

   

Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations, most commonly structured and project finance issues, pending receipt of final documentation and legal opinions.

 

   

Preliminary ratings are assigned to Rule 415 Shelf Registrations. As specific issues, with defined terms, are offered from the master registration, a final rating may be assigned to them in accordance with Standard & Poor’s policies.

 

   

Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations that will likely be issued upon the obligor’s emergence from bankruptcy or similar reorganization, based on late-stage reorganization plans, documentation and discussions with the obligor. Preliminary ratings may also be assigned to the obligors. These ratings consider the anticipated general credit quality of the reorganized or postbankruptcy issuer as well as attributes of the anticipated obligation(s).

 

   

Preliminary ratings may be assigned to entities that are being formed or that are in the process of being independently established when, in Standard & Poor’s opinion, documentation is close to final. Preliminary ratings may also be assigned to these entities’ obligations.

 

   

Preliminary ratings may be assigned when a previously unrated entity is undergoing a well-formulated restructuring, recapitalization, significant financing or other transformative event, generally at the point that investor or lender commitments are invited. The preliminary rating may be assigned to the entity and to its proposed obligation(s). These preliminary ratings consider the anticipated general credit quality of the obligor, as well as attributes of the anticipated obligation(s), assuming successful completion of the transformative event. Should the transformative event not occur, Standard & Poor’s would likely withdraw these preliminary ratings.

 

   

A preliminary recovery rating may be assigned to an obligation that has a preliminary issue credit rating.

sf: The (sf) subscript is assigned to all issues and issuers to which a regulation, such as the European Union Regulation on Credit Rating Agencies, requires the assignment of an additional symbol which distinguishes a structured finance instrument or obligor (as defined in the regulation) from any other instrument or obligor. The addition of this subscript to a credit rating does not change the definition of that rating or our opinion about the issue’s or issuer’s creditworthiness.

t: This symbol indicates termination structures that are designed to honor their contracts to full maturity or, should certain events occur, to terminate and cash settle all their contracts before their final maturity date.

Unsolicited: Unsolicited ratings are those credit ratings assigned at the initiative of Standard & Poor’s and not at the request of the issuer or its agents.

 

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Inactive qualifiers (no longer applied or outstanding)

*: This symbol indicated continuance of the ratings is contingent upon Standard & Poor’s receipt of an executed copy of the escrow agreement or closing documentation confirming investments and cash flows. Discontinued use in August 1998.

c: This qualifier was used to provide additional information to investors that the bank may terminate its obligation to purchase tendered bonds if the long-term credit rating of the issuer is below an investment-grade level and/or the issuer’s bonds are deemed taxable. Discontinued use in January 2001.

G: The letter ‘G’ followed the rating symbol when a fund’s portfolio consists primarily of direct U. S. government securities.

pr: The letters ‘pr’ indicate that the rating is provisional. A provisional rating assumes the successful completion of the project financed by the debt being rated and indicates that payment of debt service requirements is largely or entirely dependent upon the successful, timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while addressing credit quality subsequent to completion of the project, makes no comment on the likelihood of or the risk of default upon failure of such completion. The investor should exercise his own judgment with respect to such likelihood and risk.

q: A ‘q’ subscript indicates that the rating is based solely on quantitative analysis of publicly available information. Discontinued use in April 2001.

r: The ‘r’ modifier was assigned to securities containing extraordinary risks, particularly market risks, that are not covered in the credit rating. The absence of an ‘r’ modifier should not be taken as an indication that an obligation will not exhibit extraordinary non-credit related risks. Standard & Poor’s discontinued the use of the ‘r’ modifier for most obligations in June 2000 and for the balance of obligations (mainly structured finance transactions) in November 2002.

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks: Country risk considerations are a standard part of Standard & Poor’s analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligor’s capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government’s own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues. Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.

FITCH, INC.

A brief description of the applicable Fitch ratings symbols and meanings (as published by Fitch) follows:

Long-term credit ratings

Long-Term Credit Ratings

AAA: Highest credit quality. “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

AA: Very high credit quality. “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

A: High credit quality. “A” ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

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BBB: Good credit quality. “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

BB: Speculative. “BB” ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists which supports the servicing of financial commitments.

B: Highly speculative. “B” ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.

CCC: Substantial credit risk. Default is a real possibility.

CC: Very high levels of credit risk. Default of some kind appears probable.

C: Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. Default is imminent or inevitable, or the issuer is in standstill. Conditions that are indicative of a ‘C’ category rating for an issuer include: (a) the issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation; (b) the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; or (c) Fitch Ratings otherwise believes a condition of ‘RD’ or ‘D’ to be imminent or inevitable, including through the formal announcement of a distressed debt exchange.

RD: Restricted Default: ‘RD’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings’ opinion has experienced an uncured payment default on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation but which has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, and which has not otherwise ceased operating. This would include: (a) the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt; (b) the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation; (c) the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; or (d) execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations.

D. Default: ‘D’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings’ opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, or which has otherwise ceased business.

Note: The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the ‘AAA’ Long-Term IDR category, or to Long-Term IDR categories below ‘B’.

Recovery Ratings

Recovery Ratings are assigned to selected individual securities and obligations. These currently are published for most individual obligations of corporate issuers with IDRs in the ‘B’ rating category and below.

Among the factors that affect recovery rates for securities are the collateral, the seniority relative to other obligations in the capital structure (where appropriate), and the expected value of the company or underlying collateral in distress.

The Recovery Rating scale is based upon the expected relative recovery characteristics of an obligation upon the curing of a default, emergence from insolvency or following the liquidation or termination of the obligor or its associated collateral.

Recovery Ratings are an ordinal scale and do not attempt to precisely predict a given level of recovery. As a guideline in developing the rating assessments, the agency employs broad theoretical recovery bands in its ratings approach based on historical averages, but actual recoveries for a given security may deviate materially from historical averages.

 

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RR1: Outstanding recovery prospects given default. “RR1” rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 91%-100% of current principal and related interest.

RR2: Superior recovery prospects given default. “RR2” rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 71%-90% of current principal and related interest.

RR3: Good recovery prospects given default. “RR3” rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 51%-70% of current principal and related interest.

RR4: Average recovery prospects given default. “RR4” rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 31%-50% of current principal and related interest.

RR5: Below average recovery prospects given default. “RR5” rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 11%-30% of current principal and related interest.

RR6: Poor recovery prospects given default. “RR6” rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 0%-10% of current principal and related interest.

Short-Term Ratings Assigned to Obligations in Corporate, Public and Structured Finance

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

F1: Highest credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

F2: Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

F3: Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

B: Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

C: High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

RD: Restricted Default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Applicable to entity ratings only.

D: Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

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Until            , 2012 (25 days after the commencement of this offering), all dealers that buy, sell or trade the Common Shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This delivery requirement is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

                 Shares

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund

Common Shares

$25.00 per Share

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

Morgan Stanley

Citigroup

BofA Merrill Lynch

UBS Investment Bank

Wells Fargo Securities

Barclays

RBC Capital Markets

BB&T Capital Markets

Chardan Capital Markets, LLC

Henley & Company LLC

J.J.B Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC

Janney Montgomery Scott

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.

Maxim Group LLC

Wedbush Securities Inc.

Wunderlich Securities

                , 2012


Table of Contents

The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Statement of Additional Information, which is not a prospectus, is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state or jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

DATED May 11, 2012

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND

Statement of Additional Information

            , 2012

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND (the “Fund”) is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company.

This Statement of Additional Information relating to the common shares of the Fund (the “Common Shares”) is not a prospectus, and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s prospectus relating thereto dated             , 2012 (the “Prospectus”). This Statement of Additional Information does not include all information that a prospective investor should consider before purchasing Common Shares, and investors should obtain and read the Prospectus prior to purchasing such shares. A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by calling (800) 254-5197. You may also obtain a copy of the Prospectus on the Web site of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) at http://www.sec.gov. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Statement of Additional Information have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

The Fund

     3   

Investment Objectives and Policies

     3   

Investment Restrictions

     69   

Management of the Fund

     72   

Investment Manager and Sub-Adviser

     83   

Portfolio Transactions

     91   

Distributions

     95   

Description of Shares

     95   

Anti-Takeover And Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust

     96   

Repurchase of Common Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund

     98   

Tax Matters

     100   

Performance Related and Comparative Information

     118   

Custodian, Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursement Agent

     118   

Independent Registered Public Accounting firm

     118   

Counsel

     118   

Registration Statement

     119   

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     120   

Financial Statements

     121   

Appendix A – Description of Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures

     A–1   

 

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THE FUND

The Fund was formed on January 19, 2011 as a Massachusetts business trust.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

The investment objectives and general investment policies of the Fund are described in the Prospectus. Additional information concerning the characteristics of certain of the Fund’s investments is set forth below.

High Yield Securities (“Junk Bonds”)

The Fund may invest in debt instruments that are, at the time of purchase, rated below investment grade (below Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), below BBB- by either Standard & Poor’s, a division of the McGraw Hill Companies (“S&P”), or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch Ratings”)), or unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality. However, the Fund will not normally invest more than 20% of its total assets in debt instruments, other than mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, that are, at the time of purchase, rated CCC+ or lower by S&P and Fitch and Caa1 or lower by Moody’s, or that are unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality to securities so rated. The Fund may invest without limitation in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities regardless of rating— i.e. , of any credit quality. Below investment grade securities are commonly referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds.”

Investments in high yield securities generally provide greater income and increased opportunity for capital appreciation than investments in higher quality securities, but they also typically entail greater potential price volatility and principal and income risk, including the possibility of issuer default and bankruptcy. High yield securities may be regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make timely principal and interest payments. Debt securities in the lowest investment grade category also may be considered to possess some speculative characteristics by certain rating agencies. In addition, analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of high yield securities may be more complex than for issuers of higher quality securities.

High yield securities may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than investment grade securities. A projection of an economic downturn or of a period of rising interest rates, for example, could cause a decline in high yield security prices because the advent of a recession could lessen the ability of an issuer to make principal and interest payments on its debt obligations. If an issuer of high yield securities defaults, in addition to risking non-payment of all or a portion of interest and principal, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. The market prices of high yield securities structured as zero-coupon, step-up or payment-in-kind securities will normally be affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes, and therefore tend to be more volatile than the prices of securities that pay interest currently and in cash.

The secondary market on which high yield securities are traded may be less liquid than the market for investment grade securities. Less liquidity in the secondary trading market could adversely affect the price at which the Fund could sell a high yield security, and could adversely

 

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affect the net asset value of the 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 high yield securities are less liquid than the market for investment grade securities, it may be more difficult to value the lower rated securities because such valuation may require more research, and elements of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation because there is less reliable, objective data available. During periods of thin trading in these markets, the spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly and the Fund may have greater difficulty selling its portfolio securities. The Fund will be more dependent on PIMCO’s research and analysis when investing in high yield securities.

The Fund’s credit quality policies apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Fund is not required to dispose of a security in the event that a rating agency or PIMCO downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issue. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, PIMCO may consider factors including, but not limited to, PIMCO’s assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other rating agencies. Analysis of creditworthiness may be more complex for issuers of high yield securities than for issuers of higher quality debt securities.

A general description of the ratings of securities by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch Ratings is set forth in Appendix A to the Prospectus. The ratings of Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch Ratings represent their opinions as to the quality of the securities they rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, debt obligations with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields while obligations with the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield. For these reasons, the use of credit ratings as the sole method of evaluating high yield securities can involve certain risks. For example, credit ratings evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments, not the market value risk of high yield securities. Also, credit rating agencies may fail to change credit ratings in a timely fashion to reflect events since the security was last rated. PIMCO relies primarily on its own analysis of the credit quality and risks associated with individual debt instruments considered for the Fund, rather than relying exclusively on rating agencies or third-party research.

Distressed Securities

Securities in which the Fund invests may be subject to significant risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on the obligations and also may be subject to price volatility due to such factors as market perception of the creditworthiness of an issuer and general market liquidity. If PIMCO’s evaluation of the anticipated outcome of an investment situation should prove incorrect, such Fund investments could experience a loss.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities

The Fund may invest in a variety of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities issued by government agencies or other governmental entities or by private originators or issuers.

 

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As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will normally invest at least 25% of its total assets in privately-issued (commonly known as “non-agency”) mortgage-related securities.

Mortgage-related securities are interests in pools of residential or commercial mortgage loans, including mortgage loans made by savings and loan institutions, mortgage bankers, commercial banks and others. Pools of mortgage loans are assembled as securities for sale to investors by various governmental, government-related and private organizations. The value of some mortgage-related or asset-backed securities in which the Fund invests may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and, like other debt securities, the ability of the Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of PIMCO to forecast certain macro-economic factors correctly. See “–Mortgage Pass-Through Securities” below. Certain debt obligations are also secured with collateral consisting of mortgage-related securities. See “–Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”)” below.

The mortgage-related securities in which the Fund may invest may pay variable or fixed rates of interest.

Through investments in mortgage-related securities, including those that are issued by private issuers, the Fund may have some exposure to subprime loans as well as to the mortgage and credit markets generally. Private issuers include commercial banks, savings associations, mortgage companies, investment banking firms, finance companies and special purpose finance entities (called special purpose vehicles or SPVs) and other entities that acquire and package mortgage loans for resale as mortgage-related securities.

In addition, mortgage-related securities that are issued by private issuers are not subject to the underwriting requirements for the underlying mortgages that are applicable to those mortgage-related securities that have a government or government-sponsored entity guarantee. As a result, the mortgage loans underlying private mortgage-related securities may, and frequently do, have less favorable collateral, credit risk or other underwriting characteristics than government or government-sponsored mortgage-related securities and have wider variances in a number of terms including interest rate, term, size, purpose and borrower characteristics. Privately issued pools more frequently include second mortgages, high loan-to-value mortgages and manufactured housing loans. The coupon rates and maturities of the underlying mortgage loans in a private-label mortgage-related securities pool may vary to a greater extent than those included in a government guaranteed pool, and the pool may include subprime mortgage loans. Subprime loans refer to loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their loans. For these reasons, the loans underlying these securities have had in many cases higher default rates than those loans that meet government underwriting requirements.

The risk of non-payment is greater for mortgage-related securities that are backed by mortgage pools that contain subprime loans, but a level of risk exists for all loans. Market factors adversely affecting mortgage loan repayments may include a general economic turndown, high unemployment, a general slowdown in the real estate market, a drop in the market prices of real estate, or an increase in interest rates resulting in higher mortgage payments by holders of adjustable rate mortgages.

 

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The recent financial downturn—particularly the increase in delinquencies and defaults on residential mortgages, falling home prices, and unemployment—has adversely affected the market for mortgage-related securities. In addition, various market and governmental actions may impair the ability to foreclose on or exercise other remedies against underlying mortgage holders, or may reduce the amount received upon foreclosure. These factors have caused certain mortgage-related securities to experience lower valuations and reduced liquidity. There is also no assurance that the U.S. Government will take further action to support the mortgage-related securities industry, as it has in the past, should the economic downturn continue or the economy experience another downturn. Further, recent legislative action and any future government actions may significantly alter the manner in which the mortgage-related securities market functions. Each of these factors could ultimately increase the risk that a Fund could realize losses on mortgage-related securities.

Mortgage Pass-Through Securities. Mortgage pass-through securities are securities representing interests in “pools” of mortgage loans secured by residential or commercial real property. Interests in pools of mortgage-related securities differ from other forms of debt securities, which normally provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed or variable amounts with principal payments at maturity or specified call dates. Instead, these securities provide a monthly payment which consists 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 that may be incurred. Some mortgage-related securities (such as securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”)) are described as “modified pass-through.” These securities 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 rate of prepayments on underlying mortgages will affect the price and volatility of a mortgage-related security, and may have the effect of shortening or extending the effective duration of the security relative to what was anticipated at the time of purchase. Early repayment of principal on some mortgage-related securities (arising from prepayments of principal due to the sale of the underlying property, refinancing, or foreclosure, net of fees and costs which may be incurred) may expose the Fund to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Also, if a security subject to prepayment has been purchased at a premium, the value of the premium would be lost in the event of prepayment. Like other fixed-rate debt obligations, when interest rates rise, the value of a fixed-rate mortgage-related security generally will decline; however, when interest rates are declining, the value of fixed-rate mortgage-related securities with prepayment features may not increase as much as other debt obligations. Adjustable rate mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are also subject to some interest rate risk. For example, because interest rates on most adjustable rate mortgage- and other asset-backed securities only reset periodically ( e.g. , monthly or quarterly), changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause some fluctuations in the market value of these securities, including declines in value as interest rates rise. In addition, to the extent that unanticipated rates of prepayment on underlying mortgages increase the effective duration of a mortgage-related security, the volatility of such security can be expected to increase.

 

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The residential mortgage market in the United States recently has experienced difficulties that may adversely affect the performance and market value of certain of the Fund’s mortgage-related investments. Delinquencies and losses on residential mortgage loans (especially subprime and second-lien mortgage loans) generally have increased recently and may continue to increase, and a decline in or flattening of housing values (as has recently been experienced and may continue to be experienced in many housing markets) may exacerbate such delinquencies and losses. Borrowers with adjustable rate mortgage loans are more sensitive to changes in interest rates, which affect their monthly mortgage payments, and may be unable to secure replacement mortgages at comparably low interest rates. Also, a number of residential mortgage loan originators have recently experienced serious financial difficulties or bankruptcy. Owing largely to the foregoing, reduced investor demand for mortgage loans and mortgage-related securities and increased investor yield requirements have caused limited liquidity in the secondary market for certain mortgage-related securities, which can adversely affect the market value of mortgage-related securities. It is possible that such limited liquidity in such secondary markets could continue or worsen.

Agency Mortgage-Related Securities. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage pass-through securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by GNMA) or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”)). The principal governmental guarantor of mortgage-related securities is GNMA. GNMA is a wholly-owned U.S. Government corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. GNMA is authorized to guarantee, with the full faith and credit of the U.S. 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 mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (the “FHA”), or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (the “VA”).

Government-related guarantors ( i.e. , not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government) include the FNMA and the FHLMC. FNMA was, until recently, a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders and subject to general regulation by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight. As described below, FNMA is now under conservatorship by the FHFA. FNMA primarily purchases conventional ( i.e. , not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers, which includes state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks, and credit unions and mortgage bankers, although it may purchase other types of mortgages as well. Pass-through securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

 

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Instead, they are supported only by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations.

FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. As described below, FHLMC is now under in conservatorship by the FHFA. FHLMC issues Participation Certificates (“PCs”) which represent interests in conventional mortgages from FHLMC’s national portfolio. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Instead, they are supported only by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations.

On September 6, 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) placed FNMA and FHLMC into conservatorship. As the conservator, FHFA succeeded to all rights, titles, powers and privileges of FNMA and FHLMC and of any stockholder, officer or director of FNMA and FHLMC with respect to FNMA and FHLMC and the assets of FNMA and FHLMC. FHFA selected a new chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors for each of FNMA and FHLMC.

On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced three additional steps taken by it in connection with the conservatorship. First, the U.S. Treasury entered into a Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement with each of FNMA and FHLMC pursuant to which the U.S. Treasury will purchase up to an aggregate of $100 billion of each of FNMA and FHLMC to maintain a positive net worth in each enterprise. This agreement contains various covenants that severely limit each enterprise’s operations. In exchange for entering into these agreements, the U.S. Treasury received $1 billion of each enterprise’s senior preferred stock and warrants to purchase 79.9% of each enterprise’s common stock. Second, the U.S. Treasury announced the creation of a new secured lending facility which is available to each of FNMA and FHLMC as a liquidity backstop. Third, the U.S. Treasury announced the creation of a temporary program to purchase mortgage-backed securities issued by each of FNMA and FHLMC. On February 18, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was doubling the size of its commitment to each enterprise under the Senior Preferred Stock Program to $200 billion. The U.S. Treasury’s obligations under the Senior Preferred Stock Program are for an indefinite period of time for a maximum amount of $200 billion per enterprise.

On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced further amendments to the Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements which included additional financial support to certain governmentally supported entities, including the Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”), FNMA and FHLMC, there is no assurance that the obligations of such entities will be satisfied in full, or that such obligations will not decrease in value or default. It is difficult, if not impossible, to predict the future political, regulatory or economic changes that could impact the FNMA, FHLMC and the FHLBs, and the values of their related securities or obligations.

 

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FNMA and FHLMC are continuing to operate as going concerns while in conservatorship and each remain liable for all of its obligations, including its guaranty obligations, associated with its mortgage-backed securities.

Under the Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of 2008 (the “Reform Act”), which was included as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, FHFA, as conservator or receiver, has the power to repudiate any contract entered into by FNMA or FHLMC prior to FHFA’s appointment as conservator or receiver, as applicable, if FHFA determines, in its sole discretion, that performance of the contract is burdensome and that repudiation of the contract promotes the orderly administration of FNMA’s or FHLMC’s affairs. The Reform Act requires FHFA to exercise its right to repudiate any contract within a reasonable period of time after its appointment as conservator or receiver.

FHFA, in its capacity as conservator, has indicated that it has no intention to repudiate the guaranty obligations of FNMA or FHLMC because FHFA views repudiation as incompatible with the goals of the conservatorship. However, in the event that FHFA, as conservator or if it is later appointed as receiver for FNMA or FHLMC, were to repudiate any such guaranty obligation, the conservatorship or receivership estate, as applicable, would be liable for actual direct compensatory damages in accordance with the provisions of the Reform Act. Any such liability could be satisfied only to the extent of FNMA’s or FHLMC’s assets available therefor.

In the event of repudiation, the payments of interest to holders of FNMA or FHLMC mortgage-backed securities would be reduced if payments on the mortgage loans represented in the mortgage loan groups related to such mortgage-backed securities are not made by the borrowers or advanced by the servicer. Any actual direct compensatory damages for repudiating these guaranty obligations may not be sufficient to offset any shortfalls experienced by such mortgage-backed security holders.

Further, in its capacity as conservator or receiver, FHFA has the right to transfer or sell any asset or liability of FNMA or FHLMC without any approval, assignment or consent. Although FHFA has stated that it has no present intention to do so, if FHFA, as conservator or receiver, were to transfer any such guaranty obligation to another party, holders of FNMA or FHLMC mortgage-backed securities would have to rely on that party for satisfaction of the guaranty obligation and would be exposed to the credit risk of that party.

In addition, certain rights provided to holders of mortgage-backed securities issued by FNMA and FHLMC under the operative documents related to such securities may not be enforced against FHFA, or enforcement of such rights may be delayed, during the conservatorship or any future receivership. The operative documents for FNMA and FHLMC mortgage-backed securities may provide (or with respect to securities issued prior to the date of the appointment of the conservator may have provided) that upon the occurrence of an event of default on the part of FNMA or FHLMC, in its capacity as guarantor, which includes the appointment of a conservator or receiver, holders of such mortgage-backed securities have the right to replace FNMA or FHLMC as trustee if the requisite percentage of mortgage-backed securities holders consent. The Reform Act prevents mortgage-backed security holders from enforcing such rights if the event of default arises solely because a conservator or receiver has been appointed. The Reform

 

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Act also provides that no person may exercise any right or power to terminate, accelerate or declare an event of default under certain contracts to which FNMA or FHLMC is a party, or obtain possession of or exercise control over any property of FNMA or FHLMC, or affect any contractual rights of FNMA or FHLMC, without the approval of FHFA, as conservator or receiver, for a period of 45 or 90 days following the appointment of FHFA as conservator or receiver, respectively.

In addition, in a February 2011 report to Congress from the Treasury Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Obama administration provided a plan to reform America’s housing finance market. The plan would reduce the role of and eventually eliminate FNMA and FHLMC. Notably, the plan does not propose similar significant changes to GNMA, which guarantees payments on mortgage-related securities backed by federally insured or guaranteed loans such as those issued by the Federal Housing Association or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The report also identified three proposals for Congress and the administration to consider for the long-term structure of the housing finance markets after the elimination of FNMA and FHLMC, including implementing: (i) a privatized system of housing finance that limits government insurance to very limited groups of creditworthy low- and moderate-income borrowers; (ii) a privatized system with a government backstop mechanism that would allow the government to insure a larger share of the housing finance market during a future housing crisis; and (iii) a privatized system where the government would offer reinsurance to holders of certain highly-rated mortgage-related securities insured by private insurers and would pay out under the reinsurance arrangements only if the private mortgage insurers were insolvent.

Privately Issued Mortgage-Related (Non-Agency) Securities. 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 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 in such pools. 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. There can be no assurance that the private insurers or guarantors can meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements. Securities issued by certain private organizations may not be readily marketable.

Privately issued mortgage-related securities are not subject to the same underwriting requirements for the underlying mortgages that are applicable to those mortgage-related securities that have a government or government-sponsored entity guarantee. As a result, the mortgage loans underlying privately issued mortgage-related securities may, and frequently do, have less favorable collateral, credit risk or other underwriting characteristics than government or government-sponsored mortgage-related securities and have wider variances in a number of terms including interest rate, term, size, purpose and borrower characteristics. Mortgage pools

 

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underlying privately issued mortgage-related securities more frequently include second mortgages, high loan-to-value ratio mortgages and manufactured housing loans, in addition to commercial mortgages and other types of mortgages where a government or government-sponsored entity guarantee is not available. The coupon rates and maturities of the underlying mortgage loans in a privately-issued mortgage-related securities pool may vary to a greater extent than those included in a government guaranteed pool, and the pool may include subprime mortgage loans. Subprime loans are loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their loans. For these reasons, the loans underlying these securities have had in many cases higher default rates than those loans that meet government underwriting requirements. The risk of non-payment is greater for mortgage-related securities that are backed by loans that were originated under weak underwriting standards, including loans made to borrowers with limited means to make repayment. A level of risk exists for all loans, although, historically, the poorest performing loans have been those classified as subprime. Other types of privately issued mortgage-related securities, such as those classified as pay-option adjustable rate or Alt-A have also performed poorly. Even loans classified as prime have experienced higher levels of delinquencies and defaults. The substantial decline in real property values across the U.S. has exacerbated the level of losses that investors in privately issued mortgage-related securities have experienced. It is not certain when these trends may reverse. Market factors that may adversely affect mortgage loan repayment include adverse economic conditions, unemployment, a decline in the value of real property, or an increase in interest rates.

Privately issued mortgage-related securities are not traded on an exchange and there may be a limited market for the securities, especially when there is a perceived weakness in the mortgage and real estate market sectors. Without an active trading market, mortgage-related securities held in a Fund’s portfolio may be particularly difficult to value because of the complexities involved in assessing the value of the underlying mortgage loans.

The Fund may purchase privately issued mortgage-related securities that are originated, packaged and serviced by third party entities. It is possible these third parties could have interests that are in conflict with the holders of mortgage-related securities, and such holders (such as the Fund) could have rights against the third parties or their affiliates. For example, if a loan originator, servicer or its affiliates engaged in negligence or willful misconduct in carrying out its duties, then a holder of the mortgage-related security could seek recourse against the originator/servicer or its affiliates, as applicable. Also, as a loan originator/servicer, the originator/servicer or its affiliates may make certain representations and warranties regarding the quality of the mortgages and properties underlying a mortgage-related security. If one or more of those representations or warranties is false, then the holders of the mortgage-related securities (such as the Fund) could trigger an obligation of the originator/servicer or its affiliates, as applicable, to repurchase the mortgages from the issuing trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, many of the third parties that are legally bound by trust and other documents have failed to perform their respective duties, as stipulated in such trust and other documents, and investors have had limited success in enforcing terms.

Mortgage-related securities that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, are not subject to the Fund’s industry concentration restriction (see

 

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“Investment Restrictions”) by virtue of the exclusion from that restriction available to all U.S. Government securities. 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 FHA or the VA. In the case of privately issued 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 a debt obligation of a legal entity that is collateralized by mortgages and divided into classes. Similar to a bond, interest and prepaid principal is paid, in most cases, on a monthly basis. CMOs may be collateralized by whole mortgage loans or private mortgage bonds, but are generally collateralized by portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities guaranteed by GNMA, FHLMC, or FNMA, and their income streams.

CMOs are structured into multiple classes, often referred to as “tranches,” with each class bearing a different stated maturity and entitled to a different schedule for payments of principal and interest, including pre-payments. Actual maturity and average life will depend upon the pre-payment experience of the collateral. In the case of certain CMOs (known as “sequential pay” CMOs), payments of principal received from the pool of underlying mortgages, including pre-payments, are applied to the classes of CMOs in the order of their respective final distribution dates. Thus, no payment of principal will be made to any class of sequential pay CMOs until all other classes having an earlier final distribution date have been paid in full.

In a typical CMO transaction, a corporation (“issuer”) issues multiple series ( e.g. , A, B, C, Z) of CMO bonds (“Bonds”). Proceeds of the Bond offering are used to purchase mortgages or mortgage pass-through certificates (“Collateral”). The Collateral is pledged to a third party trustee as security for the Bonds. Principal and interest payments from the Collateral are used to pay principal on the Bonds in the order A, B, C, Z. The Series A, B, and C Bonds all bear current interest. Interest on the Series Z Bond is accrued and added to principal and a like amount is paid as principal on the Series A, B, or C Bond currently being paid off. When the Series A, B, and C Bonds are paid in full, interest and principal on the Series Z Bond begins to be paid currently.

CMOs may be less liquid and may exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or asset-backed securities.

As CMOs have evolved, some classes of CMO bonds have become more common. For example, the Fund may invest in parallel-pay and planned amortization class (“PAC”) CMOs and multi-class pass through certificates. Parallel-pay CMOs and multi-class pass-through certificates are structured to provide payments of principal on each payment date to more than one class. These simultaneous payments are taken into account in calculating the stated maturity date or final

 

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distribution date of each class, which, as with other CMO and multi-class pass-through structures, must be retired by its stated maturity date or final distribution date but may be retired earlier. PACs generally require payments of a specified amount of principal on each payment date. PACs are parallel-pay CMOs with the required principal amount on such securities having the highest priority after interest has been paid to all classes. Any CMO or multi-class pass through structure that includes PAC securities must also have support tranches—known as support bonds, companion bonds or non-PAC bonds—which lend or absorb principal cash flows to allow the PAC securities to maintain their stated maturities and final distribution dates within a range of actual prepayment experience. These support tranches are subject to a higher level of maturity risk compared to other mortgage-related securities, and usually provide a higher yield to compensate investors. If principal cash flows are received in amounts outside a pre-determined range such that the support bonds cannot lend or absorb sufficient cash flows to the PAC securities as intended, the PAC securities are subject to heightened maturity risk. The Fund may invest in various tranches of CMO bonds, including support bonds.

FHLMC Collateralized Mortgage Obligations. FHLMC CMOs are debt obligations of FHLMC issued in multiple classes having different maturity dates which are secured by the pledge of a pool of conventional mortgage loans purchased by FHLMC. Payments of principal and interest on the CMOs are made semi-annually, as opposed to monthly. The amount of principal payable on each semi-annual payment date is determined in accordance with FHLMC’s mandatory sinking fund schedule, which in turn, is equal to approximately 100% of FHA prepayment experience applied to the mortgage collateral pool. All 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 FHLMC’s 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 FHLMC’s 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 semi-annual payment period is not sufficient to meet FHLMC’s minimum sinking fund obligation on the next sinking fund payment date, FHLMC agrees to make up the deficiency from its general funds.

Criteria for the mortgage loans in the pool backing the FHLMC CMOs are identical to those of FHLMC PCs. FHLMC has the right to substitute collateral in the event of delinquencies and/or defaults.

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities. Commercial mortgage-backed securities include securities that reflect an interest in, and are secured by, mortgage loans on commercial real property. Many of the risks of investing in commercial mortgage-backed securities reflect the risks of investing in the real estate securing the underlying mortgage loans. These risks reflect the effects of local and other economic conditions on real estate markets, the ability of tenants to make loan payments, and the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants. Commercial mortgage-backed securities may be less liquid and exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or asset-backed securities.

 

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CMO Residuals. CMO residuals are mortgage securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the foregoing.

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 and any management fee 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 the prepayment experience on the mortgage assets in the same manner as an interest only (“IO”) class of stripped mortgage-backed securities. In particular, the yield to maturity on CMO residuals is extremely sensitive to prepayments on the related underlying 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. The Fund may fail to recoup some or all of 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 developed fairly recently and CMO residuals currently may not have the liquidity of other more established securities trading in other markets. CMO residuals may, or pursuant to an exemption therefrom, may not, have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). CMO residuals, whether or not registered under the Securities Act, may be subject to certain restrictions on transferability, and may be deemed “illiquid.” As used in this Statement of Additional Information, the term CMO residual does not include residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage Backed Securities. Adjustable rate mortgage-backed securities (“ARMs”) have interest rates that reset at periodic intervals. Acquiring ARMs permits the Fund to participate in increases in prevailing current interest rates through periodic adjustments in the coupons of mortgages underlying the pool on which ARMs are based. Such ARMs generally have higher current yield and lower price fluctuations than is the case with more traditional fixed income debt securities of comparable rating and maturity. In addition, when prepayments of principal are made on the underlying mortgages during periods of rising interest rates, the Fund can reinvest the proceeds of such prepayments at rates higher than those at which they were previously invested. Mortgages underlying most ARMs, however, have limits on the allowable annual or lifetime increases that can be made in the interest rate that the mortgagor pays. Therefore, if current interest rates rise above such limits over the period of the limitation, the Fund, when holding an ARM, does not benefit from further increases in interest rates. Moreover, when interest rates are in excess of coupon rates ( i.e. , the rates being paid by mortgagors) of the mortgages, ARMs behave more like fixed income securities and less like adjustable rate securities and are subject to the risks associated with fixed income securities. In

 

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addition, during periods of rising interest rates, increases in the coupon rate of adjustable rate mortgages generally lag current market interest rates slightly, thereby creating the potential for capital depreciation on such securities.

Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities . SMBS are derivative multi-class mortgage securities. SMBS may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the foregoing.

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 “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 is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including pre-payments) on the related underlying mortgage assets, and a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s yield to maturity from these securities. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated pre-payments of principal, the Fund may fail to recoup some or all of its initial investment in these securities even if the security is in one of the highest rating categories.

Other Mortgage-Related Securities. Other mortgage-related securities include securities other than those described above that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans on real property, including CMO residuals and stripped mortgage-backed securities. Other mortgage-related securities may be equity or debt securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks, partnerships, trusts and special purpose entities of the foregoing.

Asset-Backed Securities. The Fund may invest in, or have exposure to, asset-backed securities, which are securities that represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, a stream of payments generated by particular assets, most often a pool or pools of similar assets ( e.g. , trade receivables). The credit quality of these securities depends primarily upon the quality of the underlying assets and the level of credit support and/or enhancement provided.

The underlying assets ( e.g. , loans) are subject to prepayments that shorten the securities’ weighted average maturity and may lower their return. If the credit support or enhancement is exhausted, losses or delays in payment may result if the required payments of principal and interest are not made. The value of these securities also may change because of changes in the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool, the originator of the pool, or the financial institution or trust providing the credit support or enhancement. Typically, there is no perfected security interest in the collateral that relates to the financial assets that support asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities have many of the same characteristics and risks as the mortgage backed securities described above.

 

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The Fund may purchase or have exposure to commercial paper, including asset-backed commercial paper (“ABCP”), that is issued by structured investment vehicles or other conduits. These conduits may be sponsored by mortgage companies, investment banking firms, finance companies, hedge funds, private equity firms and special purpose finance entities. ABCP typically refers to a short-term debt security, the payment of which is supported by cash flows from underlying assets, or one or more liquidity or credit support providers, or both. Assets backing ABCP include credit card, car loan and other consumer receivables and home or commercial mortgages, including subprime mortgages. The repayment of ABCP issued by a conduit depends primarily on the cash collections received from the conduit’s underlying asset portfolio and the conduit’s ability to issue new ABCP. Therefore, there could be losses to the Fund if investing in ABCP in the event of credit or market value deterioration in the conduit’s underlying portfolio, mismatches in the timing of the cash flows of the underlying asset interests and the repayment obligations of maturing ABCP, or the conduit’s inability to issue new ABCP. To protect investors from these risks, ABCP programs may be structured with various protections, such as credit enhancement, liquidity support, and commercial paper stop-issuance and wind-down triggers. However there can be no guarantee that these protections will be sufficient to prevent losses to investors in ABCP. Some ABCP programs provide for an extension of the maturity date of the ABCP if, on the related maturity date, the conduit is unable to access sufficient liquidity through the issue of additional ABCP. This may delay the sale of the underlying collateral and the Fund may incur a loss if the value of the collateral deteriorates during the extension period. Alternatively, if collateral for ABCP deteriorates in value, the collateral may be required to be sold at inopportune times or at prices insufficient to repay the principal and interest on the ABCP. ABCP programs may provide for the issuance of subordinated notes as an additional form of credit enhancement. The subordinated notes are typically of a lower credit quality and have a higher risk of default. To the extent the Fund purchases these subordinated notes, it will have a higher likelihood of loss than investors in the senior notes.

Some ABS, particularly home equity loan transactions, are subject to interest-rate risk and prepayment risk. A change in interest rates can affect the pace of payments on the underlying loans, which in turn, affects total return on the securities. ABS also carry credit or default risk. If many borrowers on the underlying loans default, losses could exceed the credit enhancement level and result in losses to investors in an ABS transaction. Finally, ABS have structure risk due to a unique characteristic known as early amortization, or early payout, risk. Built into the structure of most ABS are triggers for early payout, designed to protect investors from losses. These triggers are unique to each transaction and can include: a big rise in defaults on the underlying loans, a sharp drop in the credit enhancement level, or even the bankruptcy of the originator. Once early amortization begins, all incoming loan payments (after expenses are paid) are used to pay investors as quickly as possible based upon a predetermined priority of payment.

Collateralized Debt Obligations. The Fund may invest in Collateralized Debt Obligations (“CDOs”), which include, among other things, collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other similarly structured securities. CBOs and CLOs are types of asset-backed securities. A CBO is a trust which is often backed by a diversified pool of high risk, below investment grade fixed income securities. The collateral can

 

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be from many different types of fixed income securities such as high yield debt, residential privately issued mortgage-related securities, commercial privately issued mortgage-related securities, trust preferred securities and emerging market debt. A CLO is a trust typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and non-U.S. senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. CDOs may charge management fees and administrative expenses.

For both CBOs and CLOs, the cash flows from the trust are split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. The riskiest portion is the residual or “equity” tranche which bears the bulk of defaults from the bonds or loans in the trust and serves to protect the other, more senior tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since it is partially protected from defaults, a senior tranche from a CBO trust or CLO trust typically has higher ratings and lower yields than the underlying securities, and can be rated investment grade. Despite the protection from the equity tranche, CBO or CLO tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, downgrades of the underlying collateral by rating agencies, forced liquidation of the collateral pool due to a failure of coverage tests, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as aversion to CBO or CLO securities as a class. Interest on certain tranches of a CDO may be paid in kind or deferred and capitalized (paid in the form of obligations of the same type rather than cash), which involves continued exposure to default risk with respect to such payments.

The risks of an investment in a CDO depend largely on the type of the collateral securities and the class of the CDO in which the Fund invests. Normally, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold, and thus, are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, investments in CDOs may be characterized by the Fund as illiquid securities; however, an active dealer market, or other relevant measures of liquidity, may exist for CDOs allowing a CDO to potentially to be deemed liquid by PIMCO under liquidity policies approved by the Fund’s Board. In addition to the risks associated with debt instruments ( e.g. , interest rate risk and credit risk), CDOs carry additional risks that include, but are not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the risk that the collateral may default or decline in value or be downgraded, if rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”); (iii) the possibility that the Fund may invest in tranches of CDOs that are subordinate to other tranches; (iv) the structure and complexity of the transaction and the legal documents could lead to disputes among investors regarding the characterization of proceeds; (v) the investment return achieved by the Fund could be significantly different than those predicted by financial models; (vi) the lack of a readily available secondary market for CDOs; (vii) risk of forced “fire sale” liquidation due to technical defaults such as coverage test failures; and (viii) the CDO’s manager may perform poorly.

Other Asset-Backed Securities. Other asset-backed securities (unrelated to mortgage loans) will be offered to investors in the future and may be purchased by the Fund. Several types of asset-backed securities have already been offered to investors, including Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (“EETCs”) and Certificates for Automobile Receivables SM (“CARS SM ”).

 

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Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (“EETCs”) are typically issued by specially-created trusts established by airlines, railroads, or other transportation corporations. The proceeds of EETCs are used to purchase equipment, such as airplanes, railroad cars, or other equipment, which in turn serve as collateral for the related issue of the EETCs. The equipment generally is leased by the airline, railroad or other corporation, which makes rental payments to provide the projected cash flow for payments to EETC holders. Holders of EETCs must look to the collateral securing the certificates, typically together with a guarantee provided by the lessee corporation or its parent company for the payment of lease obligations, in the case of default in the payment of principal and interest on the EETCs. However, because principal and interest payments on EETCs are funded in the ordinary course by the lessee corporation, the Fund treats EETCs as corporate bonds/obligations for purposes of compliance testing and related classifications.

CARS SM represent undivided fractional interests in a trust whose assets consist of a pool of motor vehicle retail installment sales contracts and security interests in the vehicles securing the contracts. Payments of principal and interest on CARS SM are passed through monthly to certificate holders, and are guaranteed up to certain amounts and for a certain time period by a letter of credit issued by a financial institution unaffiliated with the trustee or originator of the trust. An investor’s return on CARS SM may be affected by early prepayment of principal on the underlying vehicle sales contracts. If the letter of credit is exhausted, the trust may be prevented from realizing the full amount due on a sales contract because of state law requirements and restrictions relating to foreclosure sales of vehicles and the obtaining of deficiency judgments following such sales or because of depreciation, damage or loss of a vehicle, the application of federal and state bankruptcy and insolvency laws, or other factors. As a result, certificate holders may experience delays in payments or losses if the letter of credit is exhausted.

Consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies, PIMCO also may invest in other types of mortgage-related and asset-backed securities offered currently or in the future. Other asset-backed securities may be collateralized by the fees earned by service providers. The value of asset-backed securities may be substantially dependent on the servicing of the underlying asset pools and are therefore subject to risks associated with the negligence by, or defalcation of, their servicers. In certain circumstances, the mishandling of related documentation may also affect the rights of the security holders in and to the underlying collateral. The insolvency of entities that generate receivables or that utilize the assets may result in added costs and delays in addition to losses associated with a decline in the value of the underlying assets.

Investors should note that Congress from time to time may consider actions that would limit or remove the explicit or implicit guarantee of the payment of principal and/or interest on many types of asset-backed securities. Any such action would likely adversely impact the value of such securities.

Real Estate Securities and Related Derivatives

The Fund may gain exposure to the real estate sector by investing in real estate-linked derivatives, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and common, preferred and convertible

 

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securities of issuers in real estate-related industries. Each of these types of investments is subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including loss to casualty or condemnation, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, zoning law amendments, changes in interest rates, overbuilding and increased competition, variations in market value and possible environmental liabilities. Real estate-related investments may entail leverage and may be highly volatile.

REITs are pooled investment vehicles that own, and typically operate, income-producing real estate. If a REIT meets certain requirements, including distributing to shareholders annually substantially all of its taxable income (other than net capital gains), then it is not taxed on the income distributed to shareholders. REITs are subject to management fees and other expenses, and so the Fund would bear its proportionate share of the costs of the REITs’ operations.

There are three general categories of REITs: equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs. Equity REITs invest primarily in direct fee ownership or leasehold ownership of real property; they derive most of their income from rents. Mortgage REITs invest mostly in mortgages on real estate, which may secure construction, development or long-term loans, and the main source of their income is mortgage interest payments. Hybrid REITs hold both ownership and mortgage interests in real estate.

Along with the risks common to different types of real estate-related securities, REITs, no matter the type, involve additional risk factors. These include poor performance by the REIT’s manager, changes to the tax laws, and failure by the REIT to qualify for tax-free distribution of income or exemption under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Furthermore, REITs are not diversified and are heavily dependent on cash flow.

Foreign/Non-U.S. Securities

The Fund may invest without limit in instruments of corporate and other non-U. S./foreign issuers (and securities traded principally outside of the United States), including obligations of non-U.S. banks, non-U.S. governments or their subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities, international agencies and supranational government entities and other issuers, and securities traded principally outside of the United States.

The foreign securities in which the Fund may invest include without limitation Eurodollar obligations and “Yankee Dollar” obligations. Eurodollar obligations are U.S. dollar-denominated certificates of deposit and time deposits issued outside the U.S. capital markets by non-U.S. branches of U.S. banks and by non-U.S. banks. Yankee Dollar obligations are U.S. dollar-denominated obligations issued in the U.S. capital markets by non-U.S. banks. Eurodollar and Yankee Dollar obligations are generally subject to the same risks that apply to domestic debt issues, notably credit risk, interest rate risk, market risk and liquidity risk. Additionally, Eurodollar (and to a limited extent, Yankee Dollar) obligations are subject to certain sovereign risks. One such risk is the possibility that a sovereign country might prevent capital, in the form of U.S. dollars, from flowing across its borders. Other risks include adverse political and economic developments; the extent and quality of government regulation of financial markets and institutions; the imposition of foreign withholding taxes; and the expropriation or nationalization of foreign issuers.

 

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The Fund may invest in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) or Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”). ADRs are U.S. dollar-denominated receipts issued generally by domestic banks and represent the deposit with the bank of a security of a non-U.S. issuer. EDRs are foreign currency-denominated receipts similar to ADRs and are issued and traded in Europe, and are publicly traded on exchanges or over-the-counter in the United States. GDRs may be offered privately in the United States and also trade in public or private markets in other countries. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may be issued as sponsored or unsponsored programs. In sponsored programs, an issuer has made arrangements to have its securities trade in the form of ADRs, EDRs or GDRs. In unsponsored programs, the issuer may not be directly involved in the creation of the program. Although regulatory requirements with respect to sponsored and unsponsored programs are generally similar, in some cases it may be easier to obtain financial information from an issuer that has participated in the creation of a sponsored program.

The Fund may invest in Brady Bonds. Brady Bonds are securities created through the exchange of existing commercial bank loans to sovereign entities for new obligations in connection with debt restructurings under a debt restructuring plan introduced by former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Nicholas F. Brady (the “Brady Plan”). Brady Plan debt restructurings have been implemented in a number of countries, including: Albania, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Columbia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Uruguay, Venezuela and Vietnam.

Brady Bonds may be collateralized or uncollateralized, are issued in various currencies (primarily the U.S. dollar) and are actively traded in the over-the-counter secondary market. Brady Bonds are not considered to be U.S. Government securities. U.S. dollar-denominated, collateralized Brady Bonds, which may be fixed rate par bonds or floating rate discount bonds, are generally collateralized in full as to principal by U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bonds having the same maturity as the Brady Bonds. Interest payments on these Brady Bonds generally are collateralized on a one-year or longer rolling-forward basis by cash or securities in an amount that, in the case of fixed rate bonds, is equal to at least one year of interest payments or, in the case of floating rate bonds, initially is equal to at least one year’s interest payments based on the applicable interest rate at that time and is adjusted at regular intervals thereafter. Certain Brady Bonds are entitled to “value recovery payments” in certain circumstances, which in effect constitute supplemental interest payments but generally are not collateralized. Brady Bonds are often viewed as having three or four valuation components: (i) the collateralized repayment of principal at final maturity; (ii) the collateralized interest payments; (iii) the uncollateralized interest payments; and (iv) any uncollateralized repayment of principal at maturity (the uncollateralized amounts constitute the “residual risk”).

A significant portion of the Argentine Brady Bonds issued to date have repayments at final maturity collateralized by U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bonds (or comparable collateral denominated in other currencies) and/or interest coupon payments collateralized on a 12-month rolling-forward basis by securities held by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as collateral agent.

 

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Brady Bonds involve various risk factors including residual risk and the history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities of countries issuing Brady Bonds. There can be no assurance that Brady Bonds in which the Fund may invest will not be subject to restructuring arrangements or to requests for new credit, which may cause the Fund to suffer a loss of interest or principal on any of its holdings.

Investing in the securities of non-U.S. issuers 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 non-U.S. portfolio transactions; the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation; adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations (which may include suspension of the ability to transfer currency from a country); political instability which can affect U.S. investments in non-U.S. countries; and potential restrictions on the flow of international capital. In addition, non-U.S. securities and dividends and interest payable on those securities may be subject to non-U.S. taxes, including taxes withheld from payments on those securities. Non-U.S. 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. The currencies of non-U.S. countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by the Fund.

Emerging Market Securities . The Fund may normally invest up to 40% of its total assets in securities of issuers economically tied to “emerging market” countries. PIMCO generally considers an instrument to be economically tied to an emerging market country if the security’s “country of exposure” is an emerging market country, as determined by the criteria set forth below. Alternatively, such as when a “country of exposure” is not available or when PIMCO believes the following tests more accurately reflect which country the security is economically tied to, PIMCO may consider an instrument to be economically tied to an emerging market country if the issuer or guarantor is a government of an emerging market country (or any political subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality of such government), if the issuer or guarantor is organized under the laws of an emerging market country, or if the currency of settlement of the security is a currency of an emerging market country. With respect to derivative instruments, PIMCO generally considers such instruments to be economically tied to emerging market countries if the underlying assets are currencies of emerging market countries (or baskets or indexes of such currencies), or instruments or securities that are issued or guaranteed by governments of emerging market countries or by entities organized under the laws of emerging market countries. An instrument’s “country of exposure” is determined by PIMCO using certain factors provided by a third-party analytical service provider. The factors are applied in order such that the first factor to result in the assignment of a country determines the “country of exposure.” The factors, listed in the order in which they are applied, are: (i) if an asset-backed or other collateralized security, the country in which the collateral backing the security is located, (ii) if the security is guaranteed by the government of a country (or any political subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality of such government), the country of the government or instrumentality providing the guarantee, (iii) the “country of risk” of the issuer, (iv) the “country of risk” of the issuer’s ultimate parent, or (v) the country where the issuer is organized or

 

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incorporated under the laws thereof. “Country of risk” is a separate four-part test determined by the following factors, listed in order of importance: (i) management location, (ii) country of primary listing, (iii) sales or revenue attributable to the country, and (iv) reporting currency of the issuer. PIMCO has broad discretion to identify countries that it considers to qualify as emerging markets. Emerging market countries are generally located in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe, but may be in other regions as well. PIMCO will consider emerging market country and currency composition based on its evaluation of relative interest rates, inflation rates, exchange rates, monetary and fiscal policies, trade and current account balances, legal and political developments and any other specific factors it believes to be relevant.

Investment risk may be particularly high to the extent that the Fund invests in instruments economically tied to emerging market countries. These securities may present market, credit, currency, liquidity, legal, political and other risks different from, or greater than, the risks of investing in developed countries. The Fund may invest in emerging markets that may be in the process of opening to trans-national investment, which may increase these risks. Risks particular to emerging market countries include, but are not limited to, the following risks:

General Emerging Market Risk. The securities markets of countries in which the Fund may invest may be relatively small, with a limited number of companies representing a small number of industries. Additionally, issuers in countries in which the Fund may invest may not be subject to a high degree of regulation and the financial institutions with which the Fund may trade may not possess the same degree of financial sophistication, creditworthiness or resources as those in developed markets. Furthermore, the legal infrastructure and accounting, auditing and reporting standards in certain countries in which the Fund may invest may not provide the same degree of investor protection or information to investors as would generally apply in major securities markets.

Nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, currency blockage, political changes or diplomatic developments could adversely affect the Fund’s investments in a foreign country. In the event of nationalization, expropriation or other confiscation, the Fund could lose its entire investment in that country. Adverse conditions in a certain region can adversely affect securities of other countries whose economies appear to be unrelated. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of assets in a concentrated geographic area, the Fund will generally have more exposure to regional economic risks associated with those investments.

Restrictions on Foreign Investment. A number of emerging securities markets restrict foreign investment to varying degrees. Furthermore, repatriation of investment income, capital and the proceeds of sales by foreign investors may require governmental registration and/or approval in some countries. While the Fund will only invest in markets where these restrictions are considered acceptable, new or additional repatriation or other restrictions might be imposed subsequent to the Fund’s investment. If such restrictions were to be imposed subsequent to the Fund’s investment in the securities markets of a particular country, the Fund’s response might include, among other things, applying to the appropriate authorities for a waiver of the restrictions or engaging in

 

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transactions in other markets designed to offset the risks of decline in that country. Such restrictions will be considered in relation to the Fund’s liquidity needs and all other acceptable positive and negative factors. Some emerging markets limit foreign investment, which may decrease returns relative to domestic investors. The Fund may seek exceptions to those restrictions. If those restrictions are present and cannot be avoided by the Fund, the Fund’s returns may be lower.

Settlement Risks. Settlement systems in emerging markets may be less well organized and less transparent than in developed markets and transactions may take longer to settle as a result. Supervisory authorities may also be unable to apply standards comparable with those in developed markets. Thus there may be risks that settlement may be delayed and that cash or securities belonging to the Fund may be in jeopardy because of failures of or defects in the systems. In particular, market practice may require that payment be made prior to receipt of the security which is being purchased or that delivery of a security must be made before payment is received. In such cases, default by a broker or bank through whom the relevant transaction is effected might result in a loss being suffered by the Fund. The Fund may not know the identity of a counterparty, which may increase the possibility of the Fund not receiving payment or delivery of securities in a transaction. The Fund seeks, when possible, to use counterparties whose financial status is such that this risk is reduced. However, there can be no certainty that the Fund will be successful in eliminating or reducing this risk, particularly as counterparties operating in developing countries frequently lack the substance, capitalization and/or financial resources of those in developed countries.

There may also be a danger that, because of uncertainties in the operation of settlement systems in individual markets, competing claims may arise in respect of securities held by or to be transferred to the Fund. Furthermore, compensation schemes may be non-existent, limited or inadequate to meet the Fund’s claims in any of these events.

Counterparty Risk. Trading in the securities of developing markets presents additional credit and financial risks. The Fund may have limited access to, or there may be a limited number of, potential counterparties that trade in the securities of emerging market issuers. Governmental regulations may restrict potential counterparties to certain financial institutions located or operating in the particular emerging market. Potential counterparties may not possess, adopt or implement creditworthiness standards, financial reporting standards or legal and contractual protections similar to those in developed markets. Currency hedging techniques may not be available or may be limited. The Fund may not be able to reduce or mitigate risks related to trading with emerging market counterparties. The Fund seeks, when possible, to use counterparties whose financial status is such that the risk of default is reduced, but the risk of losses resulting from default is still possible.

Government in the Private Sector. Government involvement in the private sector varies in degree among the emerging markets in which the Fund may invest. Such involvement may, in some cases, include government ownership of companies in certain sectors, wage and price controls or imposition of trade barriers and other protectionist measures. With

 

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respect to any developing country, there is no guarantee that some future economic or political crisis will not lead to price controls, forced mergers of companies, expropriation, or creation of government monopolies, to the possible detriment of the Fund’s investment in that country.

Litigation. The Fund may encounter substantial difficulties in obtaining and enforcing judgments against individuals and companies located in certain developing countries. It may be difficult or impossible to obtain or enforce legislation or remedies against governments, their agencies and sponsored entities.

Fraudulent Securities. It is possible, particularly in markets in developing countries, that purported securities in which the Fund invests may subsequently be found to be fraudulent and as a consequence the Fund could suffer losses.

Taxation. The local taxation of income and capital gains accruing to non-residents varies among developing countries and, in some cases, is comparatively high. In addition, developing countries typically have less well-defined tax laws and procedures and such laws may permit retroactive taxation so that the Fund could in the future become subject to local tax liabilities that had not been anticipated in conducting its investment activities or valuing its assets. The Fund seeks to reduce these risks by careful management of assets. However, there can be no assurance that these efforts will be successful.

Political Risks/Risks of Conflicts. Recently, various countries have seen significant internal conflicts and in some cases, civil wars may have had an adverse impact on the securities markets of the countries concerned. In addition, the occurrence of new disturbances due to acts of war or other political developments cannot be excluded. Apparently stable systems may experience periods of disruption or improbable reversals of policy. Nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, currency blockage, political changes, government regulation, political, regulatory or social instability or uncertainty or diplomatic developments could adversely affect the Fund’s investments. The transformation from a centrally planned, socialist economy to a more market oriented economy has also resulted in many economic and social disruptions and distortions. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the economic, regulatory and political initiatives necessary to achieve and sustain such a transformation will continue or, if such initiatives continue and are sustained, that they will be successful or that such initiatives will continue to benefit foreign (or non-national) investors. Certain instruments, such as inflation index instruments, may depend upon measures compiled by governments (or entities under their influence) which are also the obligors.

Sovereign Debt. The Fund may invest in sovereign debt issued by non-U.S. developed and emerging market governments and their respective sub-divisions, agencies or instrumentalities, government sponsored enterprises and supranational government entities. Supranational entities include international organizations that are organized or supported by one or more government entities to promote economic reconstruction or development and by international banking institutions and related governmental agencies. Investment in sovereign debt can involve a high degree of risk. The governmental entity that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be

 

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able or willing to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of the debt. A governmental entity’s willingness or ability to repay principal and interest due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the governmental entity’s policy toward the International Monetary Fund, and the political constraints to which a governmental entity may be subject. Governmental entities also may depend on expected disbursements from non-U.S. governments, multilateral agencies and others to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on a governmental entity’s implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor’s obligations. Failure to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of such third parties’ commitments to lend funds to the governmental entity, which may further impair such debtor’s ability or willingness to service its debts in a timely manner. Consequently, governmental entities may default on their sovereign debt. Holders of sovereign debt (including the Fund) may be requested to participate in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to governmental entities. There is no bankruptcy proceeding by which sovereign debt on which governmental entities have defaulted may be collected in whole or in part.

The Fund’s investments in foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and hedging activities will likely produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. This difference may cause a portion of the Fund’s income distributions to constitute returns of capital for tax purposes or require the Fund to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company or to eliminate fund-level tax for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Foreign Currency Transactions

Subject to the limitations discussed above and in the Prospectus, the Fund also may purchase and sell foreign currency options and foreign currency futures contracts and related options (see “–Derivative Instruments” below), and may engage in foreign currency transactions either on a spot (cash) basis at the rate prevailing in the currency exchange market at the time or through forward foreign currency exchange contracts (“forwards”) with terms generally of less than one year. The Fund may (but is not required to) engage in these transactions in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign exchange rates in the purchase and sale of securities. The Fund may also use foreign currency options and foreign currency forward contracts to increase exposure to a foreign currency or to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one country to another. Suitable currency hedging transactions may not be available in all circumstances and PIMCO may decide not to use hedging transactions that are available.

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 from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts may be bought or sold to seek to protect the Fund against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar or to increase exposure

 

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to a particular foreign currency. Although forwards are intended to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currencies, at the same time, they tend to limit any potential gain which might result should the value of such currencies increase. The Fund might be expected to enter into such contracts under, among others, the following circumstances:

Lock In. When PIMCO desires to lock in the U.S. dollar price on the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency.

Cross Hedge. If a particular currency is expected to decrease against another currency, the Fund may sell the currency expected to decrease and purchase a currency that is expected to increase against the currency sold in an amount approximately equal to some or all of the Fund’s portfolio holdings denominated in the currency sold.

Direct Hedge. If PIMCO wants to try to eliminate substantially all of the risk of owning a particular currency, and/or if PIMCO believes that the Fund can benefit from price appreciation in a given country’s debt obligations but does not want to hold the currency, it may employ a direct hedge back into the U.S. dollar. In either case, the Fund might enter into a forward contract to sell the currency in which a portfolio security is denominated and purchase U.S. dollars at an exchange rate established at the time it initiated a contract. The cost of the direct hedge transaction may offset most, if not all, of the yield advantage offered by the non-U.S. security, but the Fund would hope to benefit from an increase (if any) in the value of the debt obligation.

Proxy Hedge. PIMCO might choose to use a proxy hedge, which may be less costly than a direct hedge. In this case, the Fund, having purchased a security, will sell a currency whose value is believed to be closely linked to the currency in which the security is denominated. Interest rates prevailing in the country whose currency was sold would be expected to be closer to those in the United States and lower than those of securities denominated in the currency of the original holding. This type of hedging entails greater risk than a direct hedge because it is dependent on a stable relationship between the two currencies paired as proxies and the relationships can be very unstable at times.

Costs of Hedging. When the Fund purchases a non-U.S. bond with a higher interest rate than is available on U.S. bonds of a similar maturity, the additional yield on the non-U.S. bond could be substantially reduced or lost if the Fund were to enter into a direct hedge by selling the foreign currency and purchasing the U.S. dollar. This is what is known as the “cost” of hedging. Proxy hedging attempts to reduce this cost through an indirect hedge back to the U.S. dollar.

It is important to note that hedging costs are treated as capital transactions and are not, therefore, deducted from the Fund’s dividend distribution and are not reflected in its yield. Instead such costs will, over time, be reflected in the Fund’s net asset value per share.

The Fund may enter into foreign currency transactions as a substitute for cash investments and for other investment purposes not involving hedging, including, without limitation, to exchange payments received in a foreign currency into U.S. dollars or in anticipation of settling a transaction that requires the Fund to deliver a foreign currency.

 

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The forecasting of currency market movement is extremely difficult, and whether any hedging strategy will be successful is highly uncertain. Moreover, it is impossible to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration of a foreign currency forward contract. Accordingly, the Fund may be required to buy or sell additional currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such transaction) if PIMCO’s predictions regarding the movement of foreign currency or securities markets prove inaccurate. In addition, the use of cross-hedging transactions may involve special risks, and may leave the Fund in a less advantageous position than if such a hedge had not been established. Because foreign currency forward contracts are privately negotiated transactions, there can be no assurance that the Fund will have flexibility to roll-over a foreign currency forward contract upon its expiration if it desires to do so. Additionally, there can be no assurance that the other party to the contract will perform its services thereunder.

The Fund may hold a portion of its assets in bank deposits denominated in foreign currencies, so as to facilitate investment in foreign securities as well as to protect against currency fluctuations and the need to convert such assets into U.S. dollars (thereby also reducing transaction costs). To the extent these monies are converted back into U.S. dollars, the value of the assets so maintained will be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

Tax Consequences of Hedging. Income earned by the Fund from its foreign currency hedging activities, if any, may give rise to ordinary income that, to the extent there is no offset by losses from such activities, will be distributed to shareholders and taxable at ordinary income rates. In addition, under applicable tax law, the Fund’s foreign currency hedging activities may result in the application of, among other rules, the mark-to-market and straddle provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). These provisions could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to Fund shareholders. See “Tax Matters.”

Among the risks of utilizing foreign currencies and related transactions is the risk that the relative value of currencies will be different than anticipated by PIMCO. The Fund may segregate liquid assets to cover forward currency contracts entered into for non-hedging purposes. If the Fund does not segregate liquid assets in such manner, then the Fund’s foreign currency contracts will be considered senior securities representing indebtedness for purposes of the 1940 Act.

Foreign Currency Exchange-Related Securities

Foreign Currency Warrants. Foreign currency warrants, such as Currency Exchange Warrants SM , are warrants that entitle their holders to receive from their 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 specific date and time. Foreign currency warrants have been issued in connection with U.S. dollar-denominated debt offerings by major issuers in an attempt to reduce the foreign currency exchange risk that, from the point of view of

 

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the prospective purchasers of the securities, is inherent in the international debt obligation marketplace. Foreign currency warrants may attempt to reduce the foreign exchange risk assumed by purchasers of a security by, for example, providing for a supplement payment in the event that the U.S. dollar depreciates against the value of a major foreign currency such as the Japanese yen. 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. In the case of any exercise of warrants, there may be a time delay between the time a holder of warrants gives instructions to exercise and the time the exchange rate relating to exercise is determined, during which time the exchange rate could change significantly, 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 the OCC, the terms of foreign exchange warrants generally will not be amended in the event of government 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 (“PERLs SM ”) 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” principal exchange rate linked securities are like “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

 

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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 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 that 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.

U.S. Government Securities

U.S. Government securities are obligations of and, in certain cases, guaranteed by, the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. The U.S. Government does not guarantee the net asset value of the Fund’s shares. Some U.S. Government securities, such as Treasury bills, notes, and bonds, and mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by the GNMA, are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others, such as those of FNMA, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations; and still others, such as those of the Student Loan Marketing Association, are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. U.S. Government securities may include zero coupon securities, which do not distribute interest on a current basis and tend to be subject to greater risk than interest-paying securities of similar maturities. Although U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises (“GSEs”), such as the Federal Home Loan Banks, FHLMC, FNMA and the Student Loan Marketing Association, may be chartered or sponsored by Congress, they are not funded by Congressional appropriations, and their securities are not issued by the U.S. Treasury or supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government and involve increased credit risks. Although legislation has been enacted to support certain GSEs, including the Federal Home Loan Banks, FHLMC and FNMA, there is no assurance that GSE obligations will be satisfied in full, or that such obligations will not decrease in value or default. It is difficult, if not impossible, to predict the future political, regulatory or economic changes that could impact the GSEs and the values of their related securities or obligations. In addition, certain governmental entities have been subject to regulatory scrutiny regarding their accounting policies and practices and other concerns that may result in legislation, changes in regulatory oversight and/or other consequences that could adversely affect the credit quality, availability or investment character of securities issued or guaranteed by these entities.

U.S. Government securities include securities that have no coupons, or have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons, individual interest coupons from such securities that trade separately, and evidences of receipt of such securities. Such securities may pay no cash income, and are purchased at a deep discount from their value at maturity. See “–Zero-Coupon Bonds, Step-Ups and Payment-In-Kind Securities.” Custodial receipts issued in connection with so-called trademark zero-coupon securities, such as CATs and TIGRs, are not issued by the U.S.

 

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Treasury, and are therefore not U.S. Government securities, although the underlying bond represented by such receipt is a debt obligation of the U.S. Treasury. Other zero-coupon Treasury securities ( e.g. , STRIPs and CUBEs) are direct obligations of the U.S. Government.

While some U.S. Government securities are guaranteed as to principal and interest, their market value is not guaranteed. U.S. Government securities are subject to the same interest rate and credit risks as are other debt securities. The U.S. Government does not guarantee the net asset value or market value of the Fund’s Common Shares. The U.S. Government’s ability to borrow money or otherwise finance its obligations, including as a result of legislatively-imposed limits on the amount of money it may borrow, could cause the values of U.S. Government securities, including those of the U.S. Government’s agencies and instrumentalities and other government-sponsored enterprises, to decline.

Municipal Bonds

The Fund may invest in municipal bonds which pay interest that, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer (or on the basis of other authority believed by PIMCO to be reliable), is exempt from federal income taxes (“municipal bonds”), although dividends that the Fund pays that are attributable to such interest will not be tax-exempt to shareholders of the Fund.

Municipal bonds share the attributes of debt/fixed-income securities in general, but are generally issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities and may be either taxable or tax-exempt instruments. The municipal bonds that the Fund may purchase include general obligation bonds and limited obligation bonds (or revenue bonds), including industrial development bonds issued pursuant to former federal tax law. General obligation bonds are obligations involving the credit of an issuer possessing taxing power and are payable from such issuer’s general revenues and not from any particular source. Limited obligation bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source. Tax-exempt private activity bonds and industrial development bonds generally are also revenue bonds and thus are not payable from the issuer’s general revenues. The credit and quality of private activity bonds and industrial development bonds are usually related to the credit of the user of the facilities. Payment of interest on and repayment of principal of such bonds is the responsibility of the user (and/or any guarantor).

Municipal bonds are subject to credit and market risk. Generally, prices of higher quality issues tend to fluctuate less with changes in market interest rates than prices of lower quality issues and prices of longer maturity issues tend to fluctuate more than prices of shorter maturity issues. Prices and yields on municipal bonds are dependent on a variety of factors, including general money-market conditions, the financial condition of the issuer, general conditions of the municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. A number of these factors, including the ratings of particular issues, are subject to change from time to time. Information about the financial condition of an issuer of municipal bonds may not be as extensive as that which is made available by corporations whose securities are publicly traded. Obligations of issuers of municipal bonds are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act

 

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of 1978, affecting the rights and remedies of creditors. Congress or state legislatures may seek to extend the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or to impose other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations. There is also the possibility that as a result of litigation or other conditions, the power or ability of issuers to meet their obligations for the payment of interest and principal on their municipal bonds may be materially affected or their obligations may be found to be invalid or unenforceable.

The Fund may also invest in residual interest municipal bonds (“RIBS”) whose interest rates bear an inverse relationship to the interest rate on another security or the value of an index. RIBS are created by dividing the income stream provided by the underlying bonds to create two securities, one short-term and one long-term. The interest rate on the short-term component is reset by an index or auction process normally every seven to 35 days. After income is paid on the short-term securities at current rates, the residual income from the underlying bond(s) goes to the long-term securities. Therefore, rising short-term interest rates result in lower income for the longer-term portion, and vice versa. The longer-term bonds can be very volatile and may be less liquid than other municipal bonds of comparable maturity. An investment in RIBS typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate bond. Because increases in the interest rate on the other security or index reduce the residual interest paid on a RIB, the value of a RIB is generally more volatile than that of a fixed rate bond. RIBS have interest rate adjustment formulas that generally reduce or, in the extreme, eliminate the interest paid to the Fund when short-term interest rates rise, and increase the interest paid to the Fund when short-term interest rates fall. RIBS have varying degrees of liquidity that approximate the liquidity of the underlying bond(s), and the market price for these securities is volatile. These securities generally will underperform the market of fixed rate bonds in a rising interest rate environment, but tend to outperform the market of fixed rate bonds when interest rates decline or remain relatively stable. Although volatile, RIBS typically offer the potential for yields exceeding the yields available on fixed rate bonds with comparable credit quality, coupon, call provisions and maturity. The Fund may also invest in RIBS for the purpose of increasing the Fund’s leverage. Should short-term and long-term interest rates rise, the combination of the Fund’s investment in RIBS and its use of other forms of leverage (including the use of various derivative instruments) likely will adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value per share and income, distributions and total returns to shareholders. Trusts in which RIBS may be held could be terminated, in which case the residual bond holder would take possession of the underlying bond(s) on an unleveraged basis.

The Fund may invest in Build America Bonds, which are taxable municipal bonds with federal subsidies for a portion of the issuer’s borrowing costs. Build America Bonds were issued through the Build America Bond program, which was created as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The objective of the program was to reduce the borrowing costs of state and local governments. Pursuant to the Act, issuers could elect to receive the federal subsidies on Build America Bonds in one of two forms: (i) in the form of direct payments from the U.S. Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) to the issuer over the life of the bond in an amount generally equal to 35% (or 45% in the case of Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds) of the total coupon interest payable by the issuer to its bondholders (“direct pay” Build America Bonds) or (ii) in the form of a federal tax credit, which is passed along directly to bondholders, generally in an amount equal to 35% of the total coupon interest payable by the issuer to the bondholders (“tax credit Build America Bonds”).

 

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The interest the Fund receives from its investments in either type of Build America Bonds is included in a Fund’s taxable income and distributed to shareholders as taxable ordinary income. For any tax credit Build America Bond held by the Fund, the Fund may elect to pass through to its shareholders any tax credits from those bonds that otherwise would be allowed to the Fund. These tax credits can generally be used to offset U.S. federal income taxes and the federal alternative minimum tax, but such credits are generally not refundable. Any unused credits may be carried forward to succeeding taxable years.

Issuance of Build America Bonds ceased on December 31, 2010. Although the Build America Bond program was not extended, the Build America Bonds outstanding and issued before such date will continue to be eligible for the federal interest rate subsidy, which continues for the life of the Build America Bonds; however, no bonds issued following the expiration of the Build America Bond program will be eligible for the federal tax subsidies (either in the form of direct payments to the issuers or as federal tax credits passed along to bondholders). As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, there is no indication that Congress will renew the program to permit issuance of new Build America Bonds.

Corporate Debt Securities

The Fund may invest in a variety of bonds and related debt obligations of varying maturities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. corporations, banks and other business entities. Bonds include bills, notes, debentures, money market instruments and similar instruments and securities, and are generally used by corporations and other issuers to borrow money from investors for such purposes as working capital or capital expenditures. The issuer pays the investor a variable or fixed rate of interest and normally must repay the amount borrowed on or before maturity. Certain bonds are “perpetual” in that they have no maturity date.

The Fund’s investments in bonds are often subject to a number of risks described in the Prospectus and/or elaborated upon elsewhere in this section of the Statement of Additional Information, including credit risk, high yield risk, interest rate risk, issuer risk, foreign (non-U.S.) investment risk, inflation/deflation risk, liquidity risk, smaller company risk and management risk.

Commercial Paper

Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by corporations such as banks or bank holding companies and finance companies. The Fund may invest in commercial paper of any credit quality consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies, including unrated commercial paper for which PIMCO has made a credit quality assessment. See Appendix A to the Prospectus for a description of the ratings assigned by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch Ratings to commercial paper. The rate of return on commercial paper may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies.

 

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Convertible Securities and Synthetic Convertible Securities

A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock, or other security that entitles the holder to acquire common stock or other equity securities of the same or a different issuer. A convertible security generally entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to non-convertible debt or preferred securities, as applicable. The Fund will not normally invest more than 10% of its total assets in convertible debt securities, including synthetic convertible debt securities ( i.e. , instruments created through a combination of separate securities that possess the two principal characteristics of a traditional convertible security, i.e. , an income-producing security (“income-producing component”) and the right to acquire an equity security (“convertible component”)).

Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure and, therefore, generally entail less risk than the corporation’s common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income security. Convertible securities are subordinate in rank to any senior debt obligations of the issuer, and, therefore, an issuer’s convertible securities entail more risk than its debt obligations. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible debt securities of similar credit quality because of the potential for capital appreciation. In addition, convertible securities are often lower-rated securities.

Because of the conversion feature, the price of the convertible security will normally fluctuate in some proportion to changes in the price of the underlying asset, and as such is subject to risks relating to the activities of the issuer and/or general market and economic conditions. The income component of a convertible security may tend to cushion the security against declines in the price of the underlying asset. However, the income component of convertible securities causes fluctuations based upon changes in interest rates and the credit quality of the issuer.

If the convertible security’s “conversion value,” which is the market value of the underlying common stock that would be obtained upon the conversion of the convertible security, is substantially below the “investment value,” which is the value of a convertible security viewed without regard to its conversion feature ( i.e. , strictly on the basis of its yield), the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value. If the conversion value of a convertible security increases to a point that approximates or exceeds its investment value, the value of the security will be principally influenced by its conversion value. A convertible security will sell at a premium over its conversion value to the extent investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding an income-producing security.

A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a predetermined price. If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption, the Fund would be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security and convert it to underlying common stock, or would sell the convertible security to a third party, which may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives.

 

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A third party or PIMCO also may create a “synthetic” convertible security by combining separate securities that possess the two principal characteristics of a traditional convertible security, i.e. , an income producing component and a convertible component. The income-producing component is achieved by investing in non-convertible, income-producing securities such as bonds, preferred stocks and money market instruments, which may be represented by derivative instruments. The convertible component is achieved by investing in securities or instruments such as warrants or options to buy common stock at a certain exercise price, or options on a stock index. Unlike a traditional convertible security, which is a single security having a single market value, a synthetic convertible comprises two or more separate securities, each with its own market value.

Therefore, the “market value” of a synthetic convertible security is the sum of the values of its income-producing component and its convertible component. For this reason, the values of a synthetic convertible security and a traditional convertible security may respond differently to market fluctuations.

More flexibility is possible in the assembly of a synthetic convertible security than in the purchase of a convertible security. Although synthetic convertible securities may be selected where the two components are issued by a single issuer, thus making the synthetic convertible security similar to the traditional convertible security, the character of a synthetic convertible security allows the combination of components representing distinct issuers, when PIMCO believes that such a combination may better achieve the Fund’s investment objectives. A synthetic convertible security also is a more flexible investment in that its two components may be purchased separately. For example, the Fund may purchase a warrant for inclusion in a synthetic convertible security but temporarily hold short-term investments while postponing the purchase of a corresponding bond pending development of more favorable market conditions.

A holder of a synthetic convertible security faces the risk of a decline in the price of the security or the level of the index involved in the convertible component, causing a decline in the value of the security or instrument, such as a call option or warrant, purchased to create the synthetic convertible security. Should the price of the stock fall below the exercise price and remain there throughout the exercise period, the entire amount paid for the call option or warrant would be lost.

Because a synthetic convertible security includes the income-producing component as well, the holder of a synthetic convertible security also faces the risk that interest rates will rise, causing a decline in the value of the income-producing instrument.

The Fund also may purchase synthetic convertible securities created by other parties, including convertible structured notes. Convertible structured notes are income-producing debentures linked to equity, and are typically issued by investment banks. Convertible structured notes have the attributes of a convertible security; however, the investment bank that issues the convertible note, rather than the issuer of the underlying common stock into which the note is convertible, assumes credit risk associated with the underlying investment, and the Fund in turn assumes credit risk associated with the convertible note.

 

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Preferred Stock

Preferred stock represents an equity interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of other stocks such as common stocks, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Some preferred stocks also entitle their holders to receive additional liquidation proceeds on the same basis as holders of a company’s common stock, and thus also represent an ownership interest in that company. The Fund may invest in preferred stocks that pay variable or fixed rates of return. The value of a company’s preferred stock may fall as a result of factors relating directly to that company’s products or services. A preferred stock’s value may also fall because of factors affecting not just the company, but companies in the same industry or in a number of different industries, such as increases in production costs. The value of preferred stock may also be affected by changes in financial markets that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates. In addition, a company’s preferred stock generally pays dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of the preferred stock will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred stocks of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of larger companies.

Adjustable Rate and Auction Preferred Stocks. Typically, the dividend rate on an adjustable rate preferred stock is determined prospectively each quarter by applying an adjustment formula established at the time of issuance of the stock. Although adjustment formulas vary among issues, they typically involve a fixed premium or discount relative to rates on specified debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury. The premium or discount adjustment to be added to or subtracted from this highest U.S. Treasury base rate yield is fixed at the time of issue and cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of the stock. The dividend rate on certain other preferred stocks in which the Fund may invest, commonly known as auction preferred stocks, is adjusted at intervals that may be more frequent than quarterly, such as every 49 days, based on bids submitted by holders and prospective purchasers of such stocks and may be subject to stated maximum and minimum dividend rates. The issues of most adjustable rate and auction preferred stocks currently outstanding are perpetual, but may be redeemable after a specified date at the option of the issuer. Certain issues supported by the credit of a high-rated financial institution provide for mandatory redemption prior to expiration of the credit arrangement. No redemption can occur if full cumulative dividends are not paid. Although the dividend rates on adjustable and auction preferred stocks are generally adjusted or reset frequently, the market values of these preferred stocks may still fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. Market values of adjustable preferred stocks also may substantially fluctuate if interest rates increase or decrease once the maximum or minimum dividend rate for a particular stock is approached. Auctions for U.S. auction preferred stocks have failed since early 2008, and the dividend rates payable on such preferred shares since that time typically have been paid at their maximum applicable rate (typically a function of a reference rate of interest). The Fund expects that auction preferred stocks will continue to pay dividends at their maximum applicable rate for the foreseeable future and cannot predict whether or when the auction markets for auction preferred stocks may resume normal functioning.

 

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Fixed Rate Preferred Stocks. Some fixed rate preferred stocks in which the Fund may invest, known as perpetual preferred stocks, offer a fixed return with no maturity date. Because they never mature, perpetual preferred stocks act like long-term bonds, can be more volatile than other types of preferred stocks that have a maturity date and may have heightened sensitivity to changes in interest rates. The Fund may also invest in sinking fund preferred stocks. These preferred stocks also offer a fixed return, but have a maturity date and are retired or redeemed on a predetermined schedule. The shorter duration of sinking fund preferred stocks makes them perform somewhat like intermediate-term bonds and they typically have lower yields than perpetual preferred stocks.

Bank Capital Securities and Obligations

The Fund may invest in bank capital securities of both non-U.S. (foreign) and U.S. issuers. Bank capital securities are issued by banks to help fulfill their regulatory capital requirements. There are three common types of bank capital: Lower Tier II, Upper Tier II and Tier I. Upper Tier II securities are commonly thought of as hybrids of debt and preferred stock. Upper Tier II securities are often perpetual (with no maturity date), callable and have a cumulative interest deferral feature. This means that under certain conditions, the issuer bank can withhold payment of interest until a later date. However, such deferred interest payments generally earn interest. Tier I securities often take the form of trust preferred securities.

The Fund may also invest in other bank obligations including without limitation certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and fixed time deposits. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates that are issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and that earn a specified return. Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are “accepted” by a bank, meaning, in effect, that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. Fixed time deposits are bank obligations payable at a stated maturity date and bearing interest at a fixed rate. Fixed time deposits may be withdrawn on demand by the investor, but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties which vary depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. There are generally no contractual restrictions on the right to transfer a beneficial interest in a fixed time deposit to a third party, although there is generally no market for such deposits. The Fund may also hold funds on deposit with its custodian bank in an interest-bearing account for temporary purposes.

Bank Loans

The Fund may normally invest up to 40% of its total assets in bank loans, which include fixed-and floating-rate loans issued by banks (including, among others, interests in senior floating rate loans made to or issued by U.S. or non-U.S. banks or other corporations (“Senior Loans”), delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities). Bank loans may also take the form of direct interests acquired during a primary distribution or the form of assignments of, novations of or participations in a bank loan acquired in secondary markets. The Fund may also gain exposure to bank loans and related investments through the use of total return swaps and/or other derivative instruments.

 

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Senior Loans include floating rate loans and institutionally traded floating rate debt obligations issued by asset-backed pools and other issues, and interests therein. Loan interests may be acquired from U.S. or non-U.S. commercial banks, insurance companies, finance companies or other financial institutions who have made loans or are members of a lending syndicate or from other holders of loan interests.

Senior Loans typically pay interest at rates which are re-determined periodically on the basis of a floating base lending rate (such as the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate, “LIBOR”) plus a premium. Senior Loans are typically of below investment grade quality. Senior Loans generally may hold a senior position in the capital structure of a borrower and are often secured with collateral. A Senior Loan is typically originated, negotiated and structured by a U.S. or non-U.S. commercial bank, insurance company, finance company or other financial institution (the “Agent”) for a lending syndicate of financial institutions (“Lenders”). The Agent typically administers and enforces the Senior Loan on behalf of the other Lenders in the syndicate. In addition, an institution, typically but not always the Agent, holds any collateral on behalf of the Lenders.

The Fund may purchase or gain economic exposure to assignments and participations in commercial loans, as well as debtor-in-possession loans. Such indebtedness may be secured or unsecured. Loan participations typically represent direct participations in a loan to a corporate borrower, and generally are offered by banks or other financial institutions or lending syndicates. The Fund may participate in such syndications, or can buy part of a loan, becoming a part lender. When purchasing or gaining economic exposure to loan participations, the Fund assumes the credit risk associated with the corporate or other borrower and may assume the credit risk associated with an interposed bank or other financial intermediary. The participation interests in which the Fund may invest may not be rated by any nationally recognized rating service.

Unless, under the terms of the loan or other indebtedness (such as may be the case in an assignment), the Fund has direct recourse against the borrower, the Fund may have to rely on the Agent or other financial intermediary to apply appropriate credit remedies against a borrower.

Purchasers of Senior Loans and other forms of direct indebtedness depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the corporate or other borrower for payment of principal and interest. If the Fund does not receive scheduled interest or principal payments on such indebtedness, the Fund’s share price and yield could be adversely affected. Senior Loans that are fully secured may offer the Fund more protection than an unsecured loan in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal. However, there is no assurance that the liquidation of any collateral from a secured Senior Loan would satisfy the borrower’s obligation, or that such collateral could be liquidated.

The Fund may invest in loan participations with credit quality comparable to that of many issuers of its other debt securities investments. Indebtedness of companies whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks, and may be highly speculative.

 

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Some companies may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. Consequently, when investing in indebtedness of companies with poor credit, the Fund bears a substantial risk of losing the entire amount invested.

Loans and other types of direct indebtedness may not be readily marketable and may be subject to restrictions on resale. In some cases, negotiations involved in disposing of indebtedness may require weeks to complete. Consequently, some indebtedness may be difficult or impossible to dispose of readily at what PIMCO believes to be a fair price. In addition, valuation of illiquid indebtedness involves a greater degree of judgment in determining the Fund’s net asset value than if that value were based on available market quotations. At the same time, many loan interests are actively traded among certain financial institutions and considered to be liquid. PIMCO will determine the liquidity of the Fund’s investments by reference to market conditions and contractual provisions. Investments in loan participations are considered to be debt obligations for purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction relating to the lending of funds or assets.

Investments in loans through a direct assignment of the financial institution’s interests with respect to the loan may involve additional risks to the Fund. For example, if a loan is foreclosed, the Fund could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. In addition, it is conceivable that, under emerging legal theories of lender liability, the Fund could be held liable as co-lender. It is unclear whether loans and other forms of direct indebtedness offer securities law protections against fraud and misrepresentation.

Economic exposure to loan interests through the use of derivative transactions, including, among others, total return swaps, generally involves greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the loan interest directly during a primary distribution or through assignments of, novations of or participations in a bank loan acquired in secondary markets since, in addition to the risks described above, certain derivative transactions may be subject to greater illiquidity risk and counterparty risk. See “—Derivative Instruments” for more information on these and related risks.

From time to time, PIMCO and its affiliates may borrow money from various banks in connection with their business activities. Such banks may also sell Senior Loans to or acquire them from the Fund or may be intermediate participants with respect to Senior Loans in which the Fund owns interests. Such banks may also act as Agents for Senior Loans held by the Fund.

Lending Fees. In the process of buying, selling and holding Senior Loans, the Fund may receive and/or pay certain fees. These fees are in addition to interest payments received and may include facility fees, commitment fees, commissions and prepayment penalty fees. When the Fund buys a Senior Loan it may receive a facility fee and when it sells a Senior Loan it may pay a facility fee. On an ongoing basis, the Fund may receive a commitment fee based on the undrawn portion of the underlying line of credit portion of the Senior Loan. In certain circumstances, the Fund may receive a prepayment penalty fee upon the prepayment of a Senior Loan by a borrower. Other fees received by the Fund may include covenant waiver fees and covenant modification fees.

 

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Borrower Covenants. A borrower under a Senior Loan typically must comply with various restrictive covenants contained in a loan agreement or note purchase agreement between the borrower and the Lender or lending syndicate (the “Loan Agreement”). Such covenants, in addition to requiring the scheduled payment of interest and principal, may include restrictions on dividend payments and other distributions to stockholders, provisions requiring the borrower to maintain specific minimum financial ratios and limits on total debt. In addition, the Loan Agreement may contain a covenant requiring the borrower to prepay the Senior Loan with any free cash flow. Free cash flow is generally defined as net cash flow after scheduled debt service payments and permitted capital expenditures, and includes the proceeds from asset dispositions or sales of securities. A breach of a covenant which is not waived by the Agent, or by the lenders directly, as the case may be, is normally an event of acceleration; i.e. , the Agent, or the lenders directly, as the case may be, has the right to call the outstanding Senior Loan. The typical practice of an Agent or a Lender in relying exclusively or primarily on reports from the borrower may involve a risk of fraud by the borrower. In the case of a Senior Loan in the form of a participation, the agreement between the buyer and seller may limit the rights of the holder of a Senior Loan to vote on certain changes which may be made to the Loan Agreement, such as waiving a breach of a covenant. However, the holder of the participation will, in almost all cases, have the right to vote on certain fundamental issues such as changes in principal amount, payment dates and interest rate.

Administration of Loans. In a typical Senior Loan, the Agent administers the terms of the Loan Agreement. In such cases, the Agent is normally responsible for the collection of principal and interest payments from the borrower and the apportionment of these payments to the credit of all institutions which are parties to the Loan Agreement. The Fund will generally rely upon the Agent or an intermediate participant to receive and forward to the Fund its portion of the principal and interest payments on the Senior Loan. Furthermore, unless under the terms of a participation agreement the Fund has direct recourse against the borrower, the Fund will rely on the Agent and the other members of the lending syndicate to use appropriate credit remedies against the borrower. The Agent is typically responsible for monitoring compliance with covenants contained in the Loan Agreement based upon reports prepared by the borrower. The seller of the Senior Loan usually does, but is often not obligated to, notify holders of Senior Loans of any failures of compliance. The Agent may monitor the value of the collateral, if any, and if the value of such collateral declines, may accelerate the Senior Loan, may give the borrower an opportunity to provide additional collateral or may seek other protection for the benefit of the participants in the Senior Loan. The Agent is compensated by the borrower for providing these services under a Loan Agreement, and such compensation may include special fees paid upon structuring and funding the Senior Loan and other fees paid on a continuing basis. With respect to Senior Loans for which the Agent does not perform such administrative and enforcement functions, PIMCO will perform such tasks on behalf of the Fund, although a collateral bank will typically hold any collateral on behalf of the Fund and the other lenders pursuant to the applicable Loan Agreement.

A financial institution’s appointment as Agent may usually be terminated in the event that it fails to observe the requisite standard of care or becomes insolvent, enters Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) receivership, or, if not FDIC insured, enters into bankruptcy proceedings.

 

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A successor Agent would generally be appointed to replace the terminated Agent, and assets held by the Agent under the Loan Agreement should remain available to holders of Senior Loans. However, if assets held by the Agent for the benefit of the Fund were determined to be subject to the claims of the Agent’s general creditors, the Fund might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on a Senior Loan, or suffer a loss of principal and/or interest. In situations involving other intermediate participants similar risks may arise.

Prepayments. Senior Loans usually require, in addition to scheduled payments of interest and principal, the prepayment of the Senior Loan from free cash flow, as defined above. The degree to which borrowers prepay Senior Loans, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, may be affected by general business conditions, the financial condition of the borrower and competitive conditions among lenders, among others. As such, prepayments cannot be predicted with accuracy. Upon a prepayment, either in part or in full, the actual outstanding debt on which the Fund derives interest income will be reduced. However, the Fund may receive both a prepayment penalty fee from the prepaying borrower and a facility fee upon the purchase of a new Senior Loan with the proceeds from the prepayment of the former.

Bridge Financings . The Fund may acquire interests in Senior Loans which are designed to provide temporary or “bridge” financing to a borrower pending the sale of identified assets or the arrangement of longer-term loans or the issuance and sale of debt obligations. The Fund may also invest in Senior Loans of borrowers who have obtained bridge loans from other parties. A borrower’s use of bridge loans involves a risk that the borrower may be unable to locate permanent financing to replace the bridge loan, which may impair the borrower’s perceived creditworthiness.

Secured Senior Loans. To the extent that the collateral, if any, securing a Senior Loan consists of the stock of the borrower’s subsidiaries or other affiliates, the Fund will be subject to the risk that this stock will decline in value. Such a decline, whether as a result of bankruptcy proceedings or otherwise, could cause the Senior Loan to be undercollateralized or unsecured. In most credit agreements there is no formal requirement to pledge additional collateral. In addition, the Fund may invest in Senior Loans guaranteed by, or fully secured by assets of, shareholders or owners, even if the Senior Loans are not otherwise collateralized by assets of the borrower. There may be temporary periods when the principal asset held by a borrower is the stock of a related company, which may not legally be pledged to secure a secured Senior Loan. On occasions when such stock cannot be pledged, the secured Senior Loan will be temporarily unsecured until the stock can be pledged or is exchanged for or replaced by other assets, which will be pledged as security for such Senior Loan. However, the borrower’s ability to dispose of such securities, other than in connection with such pledge or replacement, will be strictly limited for the protection of the holders of secured Senior Loans.

If a borrower becomes involved in bankruptcy proceedings, a court may invalidate the Fund’s security interest in any loan collateral or subordinate the Fund’s rights under a secured Senior Loan to the interests of the borrower’s unsecured creditors. Such action by a court could be based, for example, on a “fraudulent conveyance” claim to the effect that the borrower did not receive fair consideration for granting the security interest in the loan collateral to the Fund. For secured Senior Loans made in connection with a highly leveraged transaction, consideration for

 

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granting a security interest may be deemed inadequate if the proceeds of such loan were not received or retained by the borrower, but were instead paid to other persons, such as shareholders of the borrower, in an amount which left the borrower insolvent or without sufficient working capital. There are also other events, such as the failure to perfect a security interest due to faulty documentation or faulty official filings, which could lead to the invalidation of the Fund’s security interest in any loan collateral. If the Fund’s security interest in loan collateral is invalidated or a secured Senior Loan is subordinated to other debt of a borrower in bankruptcy or other proceedings, it is unlikely that the Fund would be able to recover the full amount of the principal and interest due on the secured Senior Loan.

The Fund may also invest in or gain economic exposure to Senior Loans that are not secured by collateral or otherwise.

Delayed Funding Loans and Revolving Credit Facilities

The Fund may enter into, or acquire participations in, delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities are borrowing arrangements in which the lender agrees to make loans up to a maximum amount upon demand by the borrower during a specified term. A revolving credit facility differs from a delayed funding loan in that as the borrower repays the loan, an amount equal to the repayment may be borrowed again during the term of the revolving credit facility. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities usually provide for floating or variable rates of interest. These commitments may have the effect of requiring the Fund to increase its investment in a company at a time when it might not otherwise be desirable to do so (including at a time when the company’s financial condition makes it unlikely that such amounts will be repaid).

The Fund may invest in delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities with credit quality comparable to that of issuers of its securities investments. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities may be subject to restrictions on transfer, and only limited opportunities may exist to resell such instruments. As a result, the Fund may be unable to sell such investments at an opportune time or may have to resell them at less than fair market value. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities are considered to be debt obligations for the purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction relating to the lending of funds or assets by the Fund. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities are subject to credit, interest rate and liquidity risks, among other risks.

Zero-Coupon Bonds, Step-Ups and Payment-In-Kind Securities

Zero-coupon securities are debt obligations that do not entitle the holder to any periodic payments of interest either for the entire life of the obligation or for an initial period after the issuance of the obligations. Like zero-coupon bonds, “step-up” bonds pay no interest initially but eventually begin to pay a coupon rate prior to maturity, which rate may increase at stated intervals during the life of the security. Payment-in-kind securities (“PIKs”) are debt obligations that pay “interest” in the form of other debt obligations instead of cash. Each of these instruments is normally issued and traded at a deep discount from face value. The amount of the discount varies depending on such factors as the time remaining until maturity of the

 

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securities, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. The market prices of zero-coupon bonds, step-ups and PIKs generally are more volatile than the market prices of debt instruments that pay interest currently and in cash and are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than do other types of securities having similar maturities and credit quality.

In order to satisfy a requirement for qualification as a “regulated investment company” under the Code, an investment company, such as the Fund, must distribute each year at least 90% of its net investment income, including the original issue discount accrued on zero-coupon bonds, step-ups and PIKs. Because the Fund will not, on a current basis, receive cash payments from the issuer of these securities in respect of any accrued original issue discount, in some years, the Fund may have to sell other portfolio holdings in order to obtain cash to satisfy the distribution requirements under the Code even though investment considerations might otherwise make it undesirable for the Fund to sell securities at such time. Under many market conditions, investments in zero-coupon bonds, step-ups and PIKs may be illiquid, making it difficult for the Fund to dispose of them or determine their current value.

Variable and Floating Rate Debt Instruments

The Fund may invest in floating rate debt instruments, including Senior Loans (described in more detail above). Floating rate debt instruments are instruments that pay interest at rates that adjust whenever a specified interest rate changes, float at a fixed margin above a generally recognized base lending rate and/or reset or are redetermined ( e.g. , pursuant to an auction) on specified dates (such as the last day of a month or calendar quarter). These floating rate debt instruments may include, in addition to Senior Loans, instruments such as catastrophe and other event-linked bonds, bank capital securities, unsecured bank loans, corporate bonds, money market instruments and certain types of mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities. Due to their floating rate features, these instruments will generally pay higher levels of income in a rising interest rate environment and lower levels of income as interest rates decline. For the same reason, the market value of a floating rate debt instrument is generally expected to have less sensitivity to fluctuations in market interest rates than a fixed-rate debt instrument, although the value of a floating rate instrument may nonetheless decline as interest rates rise and due to other factors, such as changes in credit quality.

The Fund also may invest in inverse floating rate debt instruments (“inverse floaters”). The interest rate on an inverse floater resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of interest to which the inverse floater is indexed. An inverse floating rate security may exhibit greater price volatility than a fixed rate obligation of similar credit quality.

Inflation-Indexed Bonds

The Fund may invest in inflation-indexed bonds, which are debt obligations whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. Two structures are common. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers utilize a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. Many other issuers pay out the Consumer Price Index accruals as part of a semiannual coupon.

 

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Inflation-indexed bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury have maturities of approximately five, ten or thirty years, although it is possible that securities with other maturities will be issued in the future. The U.S. Treasury securities pay interest on a semi-annual basis equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. For example, if the Fund purchased an inflation-indexed bond with a par value of $1,000 and a 3% real rate of return coupon (payable 1.5% semi-annually), and the rate of inflation over the first six months was 1%, the mid-year par value of the bond would be $1,010 and the first semi-annual interest payment would be $15.15 ($1,010 times 1.5%). If inflation during the second half of the year resulted in the whole year’s inflation equaling 3%, the end-of-year par value of the bond would be $1,030 and the second semi-annual interest payment would be $15.45 ($1,030 times 1.5%).

If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the bonds is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. The Fund may also invest in other inflation-related bonds which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal amount. With regard to municipal inflation-indexed bonds and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds, the inflation adjustment is typically reflected in the semi-annual coupon payment. As a result, the principal value of municipal inflation-indexed bonds and such corporate inflation-indexed bonds does not adjust according to the rate of inflation.

The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates in turn are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if the rate of inflation rises at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-indexed bonds. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed bonds.

While these securities may provide protection from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond’s inflation measure.

The periodic adjustment of U.S. inflation-indexed bonds is tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”), which is calculated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI-U is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation and energy. Inflation-indexed bonds issued by a non-U.S. government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index calculated by that government. There can be no assurance that the CPI-U or any non-U.S. inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a non-U.S. country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States.

 

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Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will be original issue discount which is taxable as ordinary income in the year accrued, even though investors do not receive their principal, including any increases thereto, until maturity. See “Tax Matters–Original Issue Discount and Payment-in-Kind Securities.”

Event-Linked Exposure

The Fund may obtain event-linked exposure by investing in “event-linked bonds” or “event-linked swaps,” or by implementing “event-linked strategies.” Event-linked exposure results in gains or losses that typically are contingent on the nonoccurrence of a specific “trigger” event, such as a hurricane, earthquake or other physical or weather-related phenomena. Some event-linked bonds are commonly referred to as “catastrophe bonds.” They may be issued by government agencies, insurance companies, reinsurers, special purpose corporations or other on-shore or off-shore entities (such special purpose entities are created to accomplish a narrow and well-defined objective, such as the issuance of a note in connection with a reinsurance transaction). If a trigger event causes losses exceeding a specific amount in the geographic region and time period specified in a bond, the Fund may lose a portion or all of its principal invested in the bond. If no trigger event occurs, the Fund will recover its principal plus interest. For some event-linked bonds, the trigger event or losses may be based on company-wide losses, index-portfolio losses, industry indices or readings of scientific instruments rather than specified actual losses. Often the event-linked bonds provide for extensions of maturity that are mandatory, or optional at the discretion of the issuer, in order to process and audit loss claims in those cases where a trigger event has, or possibly has, occurred. An extension of maturity may increase volatility. In addition to the specified trigger events, event-linked bonds also may expose the Fund to certain unanticipated risks including but not limited to issuer risk, credit risk, counterparty risk, adverse regulatory or jurisdictional interpretations and adverse tax consequences.

Event-linked bonds are a relatively new type of financial instrument. As such, there is no significant trading history for many of these bonds, and there can be no assurance that a liquid market in these bonds will develop. Lack of a liquid market may impose the risk of higher transaction costs and the possibility that the Fund may be forced to liquidate positions when it would not be advantageous to do so. Event-linked bonds are typically rated.

Derivative Instruments

The Fund may (but is not required to) use a variety of other derivative instruments (including both long and short positions) in an attempt to enhance the Fund’s investment returns, to hedge against market and other risks in the portfolio, to add leverage to the portfolio and/or to obtain market exposure with reduced transaction costs.

Generally, derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index, and may relate to individual debt instruments, interest rates, currencies or currency exchange rates, commodities or related indexes. Examples of derivative instruments that the Fund may use include, but are not limited to, options contracts, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, swap agreements (including total return and credit default swaps) and short sales. The Fund also may engage in credit spread

 

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trades. A credit spread trade is an investment position relating to a difference in the prices or interest rates of two bonds or other securities, in which the value of the investment position is determined by changes in the difference between the prices or interest rates, as the case may be, of the respective securities. The Fund may also have exposure to derivatives, such as interest rate or credit-default swaps, through investment in credit-linked trust certificates and other securities issued by special purpose or structured vehicles. The Fund may also use derivatives to add leverage to the portfolio. If other types of financial instruments, including other types of options, futures contracts or futures options are traded in the future, the Fund may also use those instruments, provided that their use is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies.

Like the other investments of the Fund, the ability of the Fund to utilize derivative instruments successfully may depend in part upon the ability of PIMCO to assess the issuer’s credit characteristics and other macro-economic factors correctly. If PIMCO incorrectly forecasts such factors and has taken positions in derivative instruments contrary to prevailing market trends, the Fund could lose money.

The Fund might not employ any of the strategies described below, and no assurance can be given that any strategy used will succeed. If PIMCO incorrectly forecasts market values or other economic factors in utilizing a derivatives strategy for the Fund, the Fund might have been in a better position if it had not entered into the transaction at all. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The use of these strategies involves certain special risks, including a possible imperfect correlation, or even no correlation, between price movements of derivative instruments and price movements of related investments. While some strategies involving derivative instruments can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in related investments or otherwise, due to the possible inability of the Fund to purchase or sell a portfolio security at a time that otherwise would be favorable or the possible need to sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time because the Fund is required to maintain asset coverage or offsetting positions in connection with transactions in derivative instruments, and the possible inability of the Fund to close out or to liquidate its derivatives positions. In addition, the Fund’s use of such instruments may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates) than if it had not used such instruments; also, the requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company can limit the extent to which the Fund may enter into commodity-linked derivatives, such as commodity futures contracts discussed in more detail below. See “Tax Matters” below. The Fund may be subject to certain restrictions on its use of derivative strategies imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies that may issue ratings for any preferred shares issued by the Fund.

Options on Securities and Indexes. The Fund may purchase and sell put and call options on securities or indexes in standardized contracts traded on domestic or other securities exchanges, boards of trade, or similar entities, or quoted on NASDAQ or on an over-the-counter market, and agreements, sometimes called cash puts, which may accompany the purchase of a new issue of debt obligations from a dealer.

 

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An option on a security (or an index) is a contract that gives the holder of the option, in return for a premium, the right to buy from (in the case of a call) or sell to (in the case of a put) the writer of the option the security underlying the option (or the cash value of the index) at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. The writer of an option on a security has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security upon payment of the exercise price or to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the underlying security. Upon exercise, the writer of an option on an index is obligated to pay the difference between the cash value of the index and the exercise price multiplied by the specified multiplier for the index option. (An index is designed to reflect features of a particular financial or securities market, a specific group of financial instruments or securities, or certain economic indicators.)

The Fund may (but is not required to) “cover” its obligations when it writes call options or put options. In the case of a call option on a debt obligation or other security, the option is covered if the Fund owns the security underlying the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that security without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, cash or other assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, in such amount are segregated by its custodian) upon conversion or exchange of other securities held by the Fund.

A call option on a security is also “covered” if the Fund does not hold the underlying security or have the right to acquire it, but the Fund segregates assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees in an amount equal to the contract value of the position (minus any collateral deposited with a broker-dealer), on a mark-to-market basis (a so-called “naked” call option).

For a call option on an index, the option is covered if the Fund maintains with its custodian liquid assets in an amount equal to the contract value of the index. A call option is also covered if the Fund holds a call on the same index or security as the call written where the exercise price of the call held is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written, or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call written, provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in segregated liquid assets. A put option on a security or an index is covered if the Fund segregates liquid assets equal to the exercise price. A put option is also covered if the Fund holds a put on the same security or index as the put written where the exercise price of the put held is (i) equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put written, or (ii) less than the exercise price of the put written, provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in segregated liquid assets. Obligations under written call and put options so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Fund’s investment restrictions concerning senior securities and borrowings.

If an option written by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes on the expiration date a capital gain equal to the premium the Fund received at the time the option was written. If an option purchased by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a capital loss equal to the premium paid. Prior to the earlier of exercise or expiration, an exchange-traded option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series (type, exchange, underlying security or index, exercise price and expiration). There can be no assurance, however, that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Fund desires.

 

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The Fund may sell put or call options it has previously purchased, which could result in a net gain or loss depending on whether the amount realized on the sale is more or less than the premium and other transaction costs paid on the put or call option which is sold. Prior to exercise or expiration, an option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series. The Fund will realize a capital gain from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the closing option is less than the premium received from writing the option, or, if it is more, the Fund will realize a capital loss. If the premium received from a closing sale transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, the Fund will realize a capital gain or, if it is less, the Fund will realize a capital loss. The principal factors affecting the market value of a put or a call option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market price of the underlying security or index in relation to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the underlying security or index and the time remaining until the expiration date.

The premium paid for a put or call option purchased by the Fund is an asset of the Fund. The premium received for an option written by the Fund is recorded as a deferred credit. The value of an option purchased or written is marked to market daily and is valued at the closing price on the exchange on which it is traded or, if not traded on an exchange or no closing price is available, at the mean between the last bid and asked prices.

The Fund may write straddles (covered or uncovered) consisting of a combination of a call and a put written on the same underlying security. A straddle will be covered when sufficient assets are deposited to meet the Fund’s immediate obligations. The Fund may use the same liquid assets to cover both the call and put options where the exercise price of the call and put are the same, or the exercise price of the call is higher than that of the put. In such cases, the Fund will also segregate liquid assets equivalent to the amount, if any, by which the put is “in the money.”

Risks Associated with Options on Securities and Indexes. There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities and on indexes. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve the intended result. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful because of market behavior or unexpected events.

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 security 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 security at the exercise price. If a put or call option purchased by the Fund is not sold when it has remaining value, and if the market price of the underlying security remains equal to or greater than the exercise price (in the case of a put), or remains less than or equal to the exercise price (in the case of a call), the Fund will lose its entire investment in the option. Also, where a put or call option on a particular

 

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security is purchased to hedge against price movements in a related security, the price of the put or call 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 Fund seeks to close out an option position. If the Fund were unable to close out an option that it had purchased on a security or index, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit or the option may expire worthless. If the Fund were unable to close out a call option that it had written on a security held in its portfolio, it would not be able to sell the underlying security unless the option expired without exercise. As the writer of a call option on an individual security held in its portfolio, the Fund forgoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security or index position covering the call option above the sum of the premium and the exercise price of the call.

If trading were suspended in an option purchased by the Fund, the Fund would not be able to close out the option. If restrictions on exercise were imposed, the Fund might be unable to exercise an option it has purchased. Except to the extent that a call option on an index written by the Fund is covered by an option on the same index purchased by the Fund, movements in the index may result in a loss to the Fund; however, such losses may be mitigated by changes in the value of the Fund’s securities during the period the option was outstanding.

Foreign Currency Options. The Fund may buy or sell put and call options on foreign currencies for investment purposes or as a hedge against changes in the value of the U.S. dollar (or another currency) in relation to a foreign currency in which the Fund’s securities may be denominated. The Fund may buy or sell put and call options on foreign currencies either on exchanges or in the over-the-counter market. A put option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell a foreign currency at the exercise price on one or more exercise dates. A call option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to purchase the currency at the exercise price on one or more exercise dates. Currency options traded on U.S. or other exchanges may be subject to position limits which may limit the ability of the Fund to reduce foreign currency risk using such options.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. The Fund may invest in futures contracts and options thereon (“futures options”), including interest rates, securities indexes, debt obligations (to the extent they are available) and U.S. Government and agency securities, as well as purchase put and call options on such futures contracts.

Generally, a futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified quantity of the security or other financial instrument 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, physical delivery of these securities is not always made. A public market exists in futures contracts covering a number of indexes as well as financial instruments, including, without limitation: U.S. Treasury bonds; U.S. Treasury notes; GNMA Certificates; three-month U.S. Treasury bills; 90-day commercial paper; bank certificates of deposit;

 

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Eurodollar certificates of deposit; the Australian dollar; the Canadian dollar; the British pound; the Japanese yen; the Swiss franc; the Mexican peso; and certain multinational currencies, such as the euro. It is expected that other futures contracts will be developed and traded in the future.

The Fund may purchase and write call and put futures options. 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 on one or more exercise dates. 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 may enter into futures contracts and futures options that are standardized and traded on a U.S. or other exchange, board of trade, or similar entity, or quoted on an automated quotation system, and the Fund may also enter into OTC options on futures contracts.

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 assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees (“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. Margin requirements on foreign exchanges may be different than on U.S. exchanges. The initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the futures contract that is returned to the Fund upon termination of the contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. The Fund expects to earn taxable 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 to 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 (involving the 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 capital gain, or if it is more, the Fund realizes a capital loss. Conversely, if an offsetting sale 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.

 

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The Fund may write straddles (covered or uncovered) consisting of a call and a put written on the same underlying futures contract. A straddle will be covered when sufficient assets are deposited to meet the Fund’s immediate obligations. The Fund may use the same liquid assets to cover both the call and put options where the exercise price of the call and put are the same, or the exercise price of the call is higher than that of the put. In such cases, the Fund will also segregate liquid assets equivalent to the amount, if any, by which the put is “in the money.”

The Fund is operated by a person who has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”), and, therefore, such person is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the CEA.

The Fund has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the CEA promulgated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). The Fund currently is not, therefore, subject to registration or regulation as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA and the Fund intends to be operated so as not to be deemed to be a “commodity pool” under the regulations of the CFTC under current law. On February 9, 2012, the CFTC adopted amendments to its rules that, once effective, may affect the ability of the Fund to continue to claim this exclusion. The Fund would be limited in its ability to use futures or options on futures or engage in swaps transactions if it continued to claim the exclusion. If the Fund did not continue to claim the exclusion, the Fund believes that the Investment Manager and/or Sub-Adviser would likely become subject to registration and regulation as a commodity pool operator with respect to the fund. The Fund may incur additional expenses as a result of the CFTC’s registration and regulatory requirements. The impact of the rule changes on the operations of the Fund and the Investment Manager and/or Sub-Adviser is not fully known at this time. The Fund and the Investment Manager and/or Sub-Adviser are continuing to analyze the effect of these rule changes on the Fund.

Limitations on Use of Futures and Futures Options. When purchasing a futures contract, the Fund will maintain with its custodian (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees that, when added to the amounts 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 as or higher than the price of the contract held by the Fund.

When selling a futures contract, the Fund will maintain with its custodian (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees that 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 Fund’s custodian).

With respect to futures contracts that are not legally required to “cash settle,” the Fund may cover the open position by setting aside or “earmarking” liquid assets in an amount equal to the

 

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market value of the futures contract. With respect to futures that are required to “cash settle,” however, the Fund is permitted to set aside or “earmark” liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked to market (net) obligation, if any, (in other words, the Fund’s daily net liability, if any) rather than the market value of the futures contract. By setting aside or “earmarking” assets equal to only its net obligation under cash-settled futures, the Fund will have the ability to utilize these contracts to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to segregate or “earmark” assets equal to the full market value of the futures contract.

When selling a call option on a futures contract, the Fund will maintain with its custodian (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) liquid assets 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, or by taking other offsetting positions.

When selling a put option on a futures contract, the Fund will maintain with its custodian (and mark to market on a daily basis) a liquid assets 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 purchased put option is the same as or higher than the strike price of the put option sold by the Fund, or by taking other offsetting positions.

To the extent that securities with maturities greater than one year are used to segregate liquid assets to cover the Fund’s obligations under futures contracts and related options, such use may tend to exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio, and may require liquidation of portfolio positions when it is not advantageous to do so. If the Fund does not segregate liquid assets in such manner, then such securities will be considered senior securities representing indebtedness for purposes of the 1940 Act.

The requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company also may limit the extent to which the Fund may enter into futures, futures options or forward contracts. See “Tax Matters.”

The Fund’s self-imposed limit on leverage may also limit the extent to which the Fund may enter into futures contracts. See “Leverage and Borrowing” below.

Risks Associated with Futures and Futures Options. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts and futures options. A purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in excess of the amount invested in the futures contract. In addition, there is a risk of loss by the Fund of margin deposits in the event of the bankruptcy of the custodian or broker with whom the Fund has an open position in an option or futures or forward contract. There can be no guarantee that there will be a correlation between price movements in futures used as a hedging

 

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vehicle and in the Fund securities being hedged. In addition, there are significant differences between the securities and futures markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between the markets, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objective. The degree of imperfection of correlation depends on circumstances such as variations in speculative market demand for futures and futures options on securities, including technical influences in futures trading and futures options, and differences between the financial instruments being hedged and the instruments underlying the standard contracts available for trading in such respects as interest rate levels, maturities, and creditworthiness of issuers. A decision as to whether, when and how to hedge involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived hedge may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected interest rate trends.

Futures contracts on U.S. Government securities historically have reacted to an increase or decrease in interest rates in a manner similar to that in which the underlying U.S. Government securities reacted. To the extent, however, that the Fund enters into such futures contracts, the value of such futures may not vary in direct proportion to the value of the Fund’s holdings of debt obligations. Thus, the anticipated spread between the price of the futures contract and the hedged security may be distorted due to differences in the nature of the markets. The spread also may be distorted by differences in initial and variation margin requirements, the liquidity of such markets and the participation of speculators in such markets.

Futures exchanges may limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in certain futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of the current trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a futures contract subject to the limit, no more trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses because the limit may work to prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. For example, futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of positions and subjecting some holders of futures contracts to substantial losses.

There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when the Fund seeks to close out a futures contract or a futures option position, and the Fund would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. As a result, there can be no assurance that an active secondary market will develop or continue to exist.

Additional Risks of Options on Securities, Futures Contracts, Options on Futures Contracts and Forward Currency Exchange Contracts and Options Thereon. Options on securities or indexes, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, 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, non-U.S. securities. Some foreign exchanges may be principal markets so that no common clearing facility exists and a trader may look only to the broker for performance of the contract. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (i) other complex non-U.S. political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make

 

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trading decisions, (iii) delays in the Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in non-U.S. markets during non-business hours in the 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. In addition, unless the Fund hedges against fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the currencies in which trading is done on non-U.S. exchanges, any profits that the Fund might realize in trading could be eliminated by adverse changes in the exchange rate, or the Fund could suffer losses as a result of those changes. The Fund’s use of such instruments may cause the Fund to pay higher amounts of distributions that are taxable to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates than if the Fund had not used such instruments.

Swap Agreements and Options on Swap Agreements. The Fund may enter into total return swap agreements, basis swap agreements, credit default swap agreements (see “Credit Default Swaps” below) and other swap agreements made with respect to interest rates, currencies, indexes of securities and other assets or measures of risk or return. These transactions are entered into in an attempt to obtain a particular return when it is considered desirable to do so, possibly 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 for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. Swap agreements are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of types of investments or market factors. 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, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount;” that is, the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. The Fund may enter into basis swap agreements. In a basis swap, the rate of return of each instrument involved in the swap is floating, with each based on a different index. Generally, no cash is exchanged at the outset of the contract and no principal payments are made by either party. A single net payment is usually made by one counterparty at each due date.

Forms of swap agreements include interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap”; interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor”; and interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. The Fund may use interest rate caps, floors and collars to a substantial degree in connection with its leveraging strategies. See “–Certain Interest Rate Transactions” below and “Portfolio Contents–Certain Interest Rate Transactions” in the Prospectus.

The Fund may also enter into options on swap agreements (“swaptions”). A swaption is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement, at some

 

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designated future time on specified terms. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions.

Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, the Fund will generally incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swaption than it will incur when it purchases a swaption. When the Fund purchases a swaption, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when the Fund writes a swaption, upon exercise of the option the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying swap agreement.

Some types of swap agreements entered into by the Fund calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreements on a “net basis.” Consequently, the Fund’s current obligations (or rights) under such swap agreements will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreements based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). The Fund’s current obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owed to the Fund). The Fund may (but is not required to) cover any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty through the segregation or “earmarking” of liquid assets. Obligations under swap agreements so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction concerning senior securities and borrowings.

Whether the Fund’s use of swap agreements or swap options will be successful will depend on PIMCO’s ability to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Moreover, the 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 counterparty. The Fund will enter into swap agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness. Certain restrictions imposed on the Fund by the Code may limit the Fund’s ability to use swap agreements. The swaps market is largely unregulated. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques, risk analyses, and tax planning different from those associated with traditional investments. The use of a swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all possible market conditions. Because they are two party contracts that may be subject to contractual restrictions on transferability and termination, swap agreements may be illiquid. If a swap is not liquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses.

Like most other investments, swap agreements are subject to the risk that the market value of the instrument will change in a way detrimental to the Fund’s interest. The Fund bears the risk that PIMCO will not accurately forecast future market trends or the values of assets, reference rates, indexes, or other economic factors in establishing swap positions for the Fund. If PIMCO attempts to use a swap as a hedge against, or as a substitute for, a portfolio investment, the Fund

 

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will be exposed to the risk that the swap will have or will develop imperfect or no correlation with the portfolio investment. This could cause substantial losses for the Fund. While hedging strategies involving swap instruments can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other Fund investments. Many swaps are complex and often valued subjectively.

The U.S. Government recently enacted legislation that provides for new regulation of swap agreements, including clearing, margin, reporting, recordkeeping and registration requirements. Because the legislation leaves much to rule making, its ultimate impact remains unclear. New regulations could, among other things, restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in swap transactions (for example, by making certain types of swap transactions no longer available to the Fund) and/or increase the costs of such swap transactions (for example, by increasing margin or capital requirements), and the Fund may be unable to execute its investment strategies as a result. It is also unclear how the regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk.

The Fund’s self-imposed limit on leverage may also limit the extent to which the Fund may enter into swap agreements, including credit default swap agreements, total return swap agreements, basis swap agreements and other swap agreements and swaptions. See “Leverage and Borrowing” below.

Risk of Potential Government Regulation of Derivatives . It is possible that government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures and swap agreements, may limit or prevent the Fund from using such instruments as a part of its investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent the Fund from being able to achieve its investment objectives. It is impossible to fully predict the effects of past, present or future legislation and regulation in this area, but the effects could be substantial and adverse. It is possible that legislative and regulatory activity could limit or restrict the ability of the Fund to use certain instruments as a part of its investment strategy. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which the Fund engages in derivative transactions could also prevent the Fund from using certain instruments.

There is a possibility of future regulatory changes altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment in the Fund or the ability of the Fund to continue to implement its investment strategies. The futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. In addition, the SEC, CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the implementation or reduction of speculative position limits, the implementation of higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits and the suspension of trading. The regulation of swaps and futures transactions in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action.

In particular, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) was signed into law on July 21, 2010. The Dodd-Frank Act will change the way in which the U.S. financial system is supervised and regulated. Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act sets forth a new legislative framework for over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives, including financial instruments, such as swaps, in which the Funds may invest. Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act makes broad changes to the OTC derivatives market, grants significant new authority to the SEC

 

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and the CFTC to regulate OTC derivatives and market participants, and will require clearing and exchange trading of many OTC derivatives transactions.

Provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act include new capital and margin requirements and the mandatory use of clearinghouse mechanisms for many OTC derivative transactions. The CFTC, SEC and other federal regulators have been tasked with developing the rules and regulations enacting the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. Because there is a prescribed phase-in period during which most of the mandated rulemaking and regulations will be implemented, it is not possible at this time to gauge the exact nature and scope of the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act on the Fund. However, it is expected that swap dealers, major market participants and swap counterparties will experience new and/or additional regulations, requirements, compliance burdens and associated costs. The new law and the rules to be promulgated may negatively impact the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objectives either through limits or requirements imposed on it or upon its counterparties. In particular, new position limits imposed on the Fund or its counterparties may impact the Fund’s ability to invest in futures, options and swaps in a manner that efficiently meets its investment objectives. New requirements, including capital and mandatory clearing, may increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors.

Credit Default Swaps

The Fund may enter into credit default swaps for both investment and risk management purposes, as well as to add leverage to the Fund’s portfolio. A credit default swap may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not currently held by the Fund. The protection “buyer” in a credit default swap is generally obligated to pay the protection “seller” an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no credit event, such as a default, on a reference obligation has occurred. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount, if the swap is cash settled. The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund may recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer generally may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap from the seller, who in turn, generally will recover an amount significantly lower than the equivalent face amount of the obligations of the reference entity, whose value may have significantly decreased through (i) physical delivery of such obligations by the buyer, (ii) cash settlement or (iii) on auction process. As a seller, the Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. As the seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

The spread of a credit default swap is the annual amount the protection buyer must pay the protection seller over the length of the contract, expressed as a percentage of the notional amount. When spreads rise, market perceived credit risk rises and when spreads fall, market perceived credit risk falls. Wider credit spreads and decreasing market values, when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. For credit default swaps on asset-backed securities

 

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and credit indices, the quoted market prices and resulting values, as well as the annual payment rate, serve as an indication of the current status of the payment/performance risk.

Credit default swap agreements involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly since, in addition to general market risks, credit default swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risk among other risks associated with derivative instruments. The Fund will enter into credit default swap agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness. A buyer generally also will lose its investment and recover nothing should no credit event occur and the swap is held to its termination date. If a credit event were to occur, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the seller, coupled with the upfront or periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the seller. The Fund’s obligations under a credit default swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund). In connection with credit default swaps in which the Fund is the buyer or the seller, the Fund may segregate or “earmark” cash or liquid assets, or enter into certain offsetting positions, with a value at least equal to the Fund’s exposure (any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed by the Fund to any counterparty), on a marked-to-market basis (when the Fund is the buyer), or the full notional amount of the swap (minus any amounts owed to the Fund) (when the Fund is the seller). Such segregation or “earmarking” seeks to ensure that the Fund has assets available to satisfy its obligations with respect to the transaction and could have the effect of limiting any potential leveraging of the Fund’s portfolio. Such segregation or “earmarking” will not limit the Fund’s exposure to loss.

Hybrid Instruments

A hybrid instrument is a type of potentially high-risk derivative that combines a traditional stock, bond, or commodity with an option or forward contract. Generally, the principal amount, amount payable upon maturity or redemption, or interest rate of a hybrid is tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some commodity, currency or securities index or another interest rate

 

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or some other economic factor (each a “benchmark”). The interest rate or (unlike most fixed income securities) the principal amount payable at maturity of a hybrid security may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the benchmark. An example of a hybrid could be a bond issued by an oil company that pays a small base level of interest with additional interest that accrues in correlation to the extent to which oil prices exceed a certain predetermined level. Such a hybrid instrument would be a combination of a bond and a call option on oil.

Hybrids can be used as an efficient means of pursuing a variety of investment goals, including currency hedging, duration management and increased total return. Hybrids may not bear interest or pay dividends. The value of a hybrid or its interest rate may be a multiple of a benchmark and, as a result, may be leveraged and move (up or down) more steeply and rapidly than the benchmark. These benchmarks may be sensitive to economic and political events, such as commodity shortages and currency devaluations, which cannot be readily foreseen by the purchaser of a hybrid. Under certain conditions, the redemption value of a hybrid could be zero. Thus, an investment in a hybrid may entail significant market risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional, U.S. dollar-denominated bond that has a fixed principal amount and pays a fixed rate or floating rate of interest. The purchase of hybrids also exposes the Fund to the credit risk of the issuer of the hybrids. These risks may cause significant fluctuations in the net asset value of the Fund.

Certain hybrid instruments may provide exposure to the commodities markets. These are derivative securities with one or more commodity-linked components that have payment features similar to commodity futures contracts, commodity options, or similar instruments. Commodity-linked hybrid instruments may be either equity or debt securities, leveraged or unleveraged, and are considered hybrid instruments because they have both security and commodity-like characteristics. A portion of the value of these instruments may be derived from the value of a commodity, futures contract, index or other economic variable.

Certain issuers of structured products such as hybrid instruments may be deemed to be investment companies, as defined in the 1940 Act. As a result, the Fund’s investments in these products may be subject to limits applicable to investments in investment companies and may be subject to restrictions contained in the 1940 Act.

The Fund’s use of commodity-linked instruments can be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a “regulated investment company , ” and can limit the Fund’s ability to so qualify. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders, the Fund must, among other things, derive at least 90% of its income from certain specified sources (qualifying income). Income from certain commodity-linked instruments does not constitute qualifying income to the Fund. The tax treatment of certain other commodity-linked instruments in which the Fund might invest is not certain, in particular with respect to whether income and gains from such instruments constitute qualifying income. If the Fund were to treat income from a particular instrument as qualifying income and the income is later determined not to constitute qualifying income, and, together with any other nonqualifying income, caused the Fund’s nonqualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, the Fund

 

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would fail to qualify as a regulated investment company unless it is eligible to and does pay a tax at the Fund level. For more information, see “Tax Matters.”

Structured Notes and Indexed Securities . Structured notes are derivative debt instruments, the interest rate or principal of which is typically determined by an unrelated indicator (for example, a currency, security, commodity or index thereof). The terms of the instrument may be “structured” by the purchaser and the borrower issuing the note. Indexed securities may include structured notes as well as securities other than debt securities, the interest rate or principal of which is determined by an unrelated indicator. Indexed securities may include a multiplier that multiplies the indexed element by a specified factor and, therefore, the value of such securities may be very volatile. The terms of structured notes and indexed securities may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity, which may result in a loss of invested capital. Structured notes and indexed securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the unrelated indicator may produce an increase or a decrease in the interest rate or the value of the structured note or indexed security at maturity may be calculated as a specified multiple of the change in the value of the unrelated indicator. Therefore, the value of such notes and securities may be very volatile. Structured notes and indexed securities may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of debt securities because the investor bears the risk of the unrelated indicator. Structured notes or indexed securities also may be more volatile, less liquid, and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities and instruments or more traditional debt securities. PIMCO analyzes these notes and securities in its overall assessment of the effective duration of the Fund’s holdings in an effort to monitor the Fund’s interest rate risk.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements and economically similar transactions for hedging or cash management purposes or to add leverage to its portfolio. See the sections “Leverage” in the Prospectus and “Leverage and Borrowing” below. A reverse repurchase agreement involves the sale of a portfolio-eligible security by the Fund, coupled with its agreement to repurchase the instrument at a specified time and price. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund continues to be entitled to receive any principal and interest payments on the underlying security during the term of the agreement. Reverse repurchase agreements involve leverage risk and 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 may segregate liquid assets equal (on a daily mark-to-market basis) to its obligations under reverse repurchase agreements. To the extent that positions in reverse repurchase agreements are not so covered, they would be deemed senior securities representing indebtedness for purposes of the 1940 Act.

The Fund also may effect simultaneous purchase and sale transactions that are known as “sale-buybacks.” A sale-buyback is similar to a reverse repurchase agreement, except that in a sale-buyback, the counterparty who purchases the security is entitled to receive any principal or interest payments made on the underlying security pending settlement of the Fund’s repurchase of the underlying security.

 

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Mortgage Dollar Rolls

A mortgage dollar roll is similar to a reverse repurchase agreement in certain respects. In a “dollar roll” transaction, the Fund sells a mortgage-related security, such as a security issued by GNMA, to a dealer and simultaneously agrees to repurchase 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. However, unlike 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 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 amounts of the securities delivered and received back must be within 2.5% of the initial amount delivered.

As with reverse repurchase agreements, to the extent that positions in dollar roll agreements are not covered by segregated liquid assets at least equal to the amount of any forward purchase commitment, such transactions would be deemed senior securities representing indebtedness for purposes of the 1940 Act.

Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with domestic commercial banks or registered broker/dealers. A repurchase agreement is a contract under which the Fund would acquire a security for a relatively short period (usually not more than one week) subject to the obligation of the seller to repurchase and the Fund to resell such security at a fixed time and price (representing the Fund’s cost plus interest). In the case of repurchase agreements with broker-dealers, the value of the underlying securities (or collateral) will be at least equal at all times to the total amount of the repurchase obligation, including the interest factor. The Fund bears a risk of loss in the event that the other party to a repurchase agreement defaults on its obligations and the Fund is delayed or prevented from exercising its rights to dispose of the collateral securities. This risk includes the risk of procedural costs or delays in addition to a loss on the securities if their value should fall below their repurchase price. PIMCO will monitor the creditworthiness of the counterparties.

Credit-Linked Trust Certificates

The Fund may invest in credit-linked trust certificates, which are investments in a limited purpose trust or other vehicle which, in turn, invests in a basket of derivative instruments, such as credit default swaps, total return swaps, basis swaps, interest rate swaps and other derivative transactions or securities, in order to provide exposure to the high yield or another debt securities market. For instance, the Fund may invest in credit-linked trust certificates as a cash management tool in order to gain exposure to the high yield markets and/or to remain fully invested when more traditional income-producing securities are not available,

 

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including during the period when the net proceeds of this offering and any future offering are being invested.

Like an investment in a bond, investments in these credit-linked trust certificates represent the right to receive periodic income payments (in the form of distributions) and payment of principal at the end of the term of the certificate. However, these payments are conditioned on the trust’s receipt of payments from, and the trust’s potential obligations to, the counterparties to the derivative instruments and other securities in which the trust invests. For instance, the trust may sell one or more credit default swaps, under which the trust would receive a stream of payments over the term of the swap agreements provided that no event of default has occurred with respect to the referenced debt obligation upon which the swap is based. If a default occurs, the stream of payments may stop and the trust would be obligated to pay to the counterparty the par (or other agreed upon value) of the referenced debt obligation. This, in turn, would reduce the amount of income and principal that the Fund would receive as an investor in the trust. Please see “–Credit Default Swaps” in this Statement of Additional Information for additional information about credit default swaps. The Fund’s investments in these instruments are indirectly subject to the risks associated with derivative instruments, including, among others, credit risk, default or similar event risk, counterparty risk, interest rate risk, leverage risk and management risk. It is expected that the trusts which issue credit-linked trust certificates will constitute “private” investment companies, exempt from registration under the 1940 Act. Therefore, the certificates will be subject to the risks described under “Other Investment Companies,” and will not be subject to applicable investment limitations and other regulation imposed by the 1940 Act (although the Fund will remain subject to such limitations and regulation, including with respect to its investments in the certificates). Although the trusts are typically private investment companies, they generally are not actively managed such as a “hedge fund” might be. It is also expected that the certificates will be exempt from registration under the Securities Act. Accordingly, there may be no established trading market for the certificates and they may constitute illiquid investments. See “Principal risks of the Fund–Liquidity Risk” in the Prospectus. If market quotations are not readily available for the certificates, they will be valued by the Fund at fair value as determined by the Board of Trustees or persons acting at its direction. See “Net asset value” in the Prospectus.

When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Transactions

The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis. When such purchases are outstanding, the Fund may segregate liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price. Typically, no income accrues on securities the Fund has committed to purchase prior to the time delivery of the securities is made, although the Fund may earn income on securities it has segregated. If the Fund does not segregate liquid assets in such manner, then such securities will be considered senior securities representing indebtedness for purposes of the 1940 Act.

When purchasing a security on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations, and takes such fluctuations into account when determining its net asset value. Because the Fund is not required to pay for the security until the delivery date, these risks are in

 

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addition to the risks associated with the Fund’s other investments. If the other party to a transaction fails to deliver the securities, the Fund could miss a favorable price or yield opportunity. If the Fund remains substantially fully invested at a time when when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment purchases are outstanding, the purchases may result in a form of leverage.

When the Fund has sold a security on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis, the Fund does not participate in future gains or losses with respect to the security. If the other party to a transaction fails to pay for the securities, the Fund could suffer a loss. Additionally, when selling a security on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis without owning the security, the Fund will incur a loss if the security’s price appreciates in value such that the security’s price is above the agreed upon price on the settlement date.

The Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a transaction after it is entered into, and may sell when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment securities before the settlement date, which may result in a capital gain or loss. There is no percentage limitation on the extent to which the Fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis.

Leverage and Borrowing

As soon as reasonably practicable following the completion of the initial public offering of the Fund’s Common Shares, the Fund intends, subject to then favorable market conditions, to add leverage to its portfolio by utilizing reverse repurchase agreements, such that the leverage initially obtained utilizing reverse repurchase agreements represents approximately 29% of the Fund’s total assets (including the amounts of leverage obtained through the use of such instruments). The Fund may also obtain leverage through dollar rolls or borrowings, such as through bank loans or commercial paper or other credit facilities. The Fund may also enter into transactions other than those noted above that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), credit default swaps, total return swaps and other derivative transactions, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions. Although it has no current intention to do so, the Fund may also determine to issue preferred shares or other types of senior securities to add leverage to its portfolio.

The Fund intends to utilize reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and other forms of leverage opportunistically and may choose to increase or decrease, or eliminate entirely, its use of leverage over time and from time to time ( i.e. , higher or lower than the anticipated approximate 29% initial reverse repurchase agreement level noted above) based on PIMCO’s assessment of the yield curve environment, interest rate trends, market conditions and other factors.

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will limit its use of leverage from any combination of (i) reverse repurchase agreements or dollar roll transactions (whether or not these instruments are covered as discussed below), (ii) borrowings ( i.e. , loans or lines of credit from banks or other credit facilities), (iii) any future issuance of preferred shares, and (iv) to the extent described below, credit default swaps, other swap agreements and futures contracts (whether or not these instruments are covered with segregated assets as discussed below) such that the assets

 

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attributable to the use of such leverage will not exceed 50% of the Fund’s total assets (including, for purposes of the 50% limit, the amounts of leverage obtained through the use of such instruments) (the “50% policy”). For these purposes, assets attributable to the use of leverage from credit default swaps, other swap agreements and futures contracts will be determined based on the current market value of the instrument if it is cash settled or based on the notional value of the instrument if it is not cash settled. In addition, assets attributable to credit default swaps, other swap agreement or futures contract will not be counted towards the 50% policy to the extent that the Fund owns offsetting positions or enters into offsetting transactions.

The net proceeds the Fund obtains from reverse repurchase agreements or other forms of leverage utilized will be invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies as described in the Prospectus. So long as the rate of return, net of applicable Fund expenses, on the debt obligations and other investments purchased by the Fund exceeds the costs to the Fund of the leverage it utilizes, the investment of the Fund’s net assets attributable to leverage will generate more income than will be needed to pay the costs of the leverage. If so, and all other things being equal, the excess may be used to pay higher dividends to Common Shareholders than if the Fund were not so leveraged.

The 1940 Act generally prohibits the Fund from engaging in most forms of leverage (including the use of reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, bank loans, commercial paper or other credit facilities, credit default swaps, total return swaps and other derivative transactions, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions, to the extent that these instruments are not covered as described below) unless immediately after the issuance of the leverage the Fund has satisfied the asset coverage test with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness prescribed by the 1940 Act; that is, the value of the Fund’s total assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities (for these purposes, “total net assets”) is at least 300% of the senior securities representing indebtedness (effectively limiting the use of leverage through senior securities representing indebtedness to 33  1 / 3% of the Fund’s total net assets, including assets attributable to such leverage). In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on Common Shares unless, at the time of such declaration, this asset coverage test is satisfied. The Fund may (but is not required to) cover its commitments under reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, derivatives and certain other instruments by the segregation of liquid assets, or by entering into offsetting transactions or owning positions covering its obligations To the extent that certain of these instruments are so covered, they will not be considered “senior securities” under the 1940 Act and therefore will not be subject to the 1940 Act 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to forms of leverage used by the Fund. However, reverse repurchase agreements and other such instruments, even if covered, represent a form of economic leverage and create special risks. The use of these forms of leverage increases the volatility of the Fund’s investment portfolio and could result in larger losses to Common Shareholders than if these strategies were not used. To the extent that the Fund engages in borrowings, it may prepay a portion of the principal amount of the borrowing to the extent necessary in order to maintain the required asset coverage. Failure to maintain certain asset coverage requirements could result in an event of default.

Leveraging is a speculative technique and there are special risks and costs involved. There is no assurance that the Fund will utilize reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls or borrowings,

 

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issue preferred shares or utilize any other forms of leverage (such as the use of derivatives strategies). If used, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategies will be successful or result in a higher yield on your Common Shares. When leverage is used, the net asset value and market price of the Common Shares and the yield to Common Shareholders will be more volatile. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk” in the Prospectus. In addition, interest and other expenses borne by the Fund with respect to its use of reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings or any other forms of leverage are borne by the Common Shareholders and result in a reduction of the net asset value of the Common Shares. In addition, because the fees received by the Investment Manager and by the Sub-Adviser are based on the total managed assets of the Fund (including any assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding), the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser have a financial incentive for the Fund to use certain forms of leverage ( e.g. , reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls , borrowings and preferred shares), which may create a conflict of interest between the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser, on the one hand, and the Common Shareholders, on the other hand.

The Fund also may borrow money in order to repurchase its shares or as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, including for the payment of dividends or the settlement of securities transactions which otherwise might require untimely dispositions of portfolio securities held by the Fund.

Common Stocks

The Fund will normally not invest directly in common stocks of operating companies. However, the Fund may own and hold common stocks in its portfolio from time to time in connection with a corporate action or the restructuring of a debt instrument or through the conversion of a convertible security held by the Fund. The Fund may invest in common stocks of pooled vehicles, such as those of other investment companies and in the common stocks of REITs.

Common stock generally takes the form of shares in a corporation. The value of a company’s stock may fall as a result of factors directly relating to that company, such as decisions made by its management or lower demand for the company’s products or services. A stock’s value also may fall because of factors affecting not just the company, but also companies in the same industry or in a number of different industries, such as increases in production costs. The value of a company’s stock also may be affected by changes in financial markets that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates. In addition, a company’s stock generally pays dividends only after the company invests in its own business and makes required payments to holders of its bonds, other debt and preferred stock. For this reason, the value of a company’s stock will usually react more strongly than its bonds, other debt and preferred stock to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Stocks of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of larger companies. Stocks of companies that the portfolio managers believe are fast-growing may trade at a higher multiple of current earnings than other stocks. The value of such stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the values of other stocks.

 

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Short Sales

The Fund may make short sales of securities 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. The Fund intends to take short positions, if at all, principally for hedging purposes and/or with respect to securities held in the Fund’s portfolio. A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security or other instrument it does not own in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.

When the Fund engages in a short sale of a security, it must, to the extent required by law, borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the counterparty. The Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and would often be obligated to pay over any payments received on such borrowed securities.

If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time that the Fund replaces the borrowed security, 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 if the short sale is being used for hedging purposes.

To the extent the Fund engages in short sales, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales “against the box”) may maintain additional asset coverage in the form of segregated or “earmarked” liquid assets equal to the current market value of the securities sold short, or may ensure that such positions are covered by “offsetting” positions, until the Fund replaces the borrowed security. If the Fund does not segregate liquid assets in such manner, then such securities will be considered senior securities representing indebtedness for purposes of the 1940 Act. A short sale is “against the box” to the extent that the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short. The Fund will engage in short selling to the extent permitted by the federal securities laws and rules and interpretations thereunder. To the extent the Fund engages in short selling in foreign (non-U.S.) jurisdictions, the Fund will do so to the extent permitted by the laws and regulations of such jurisdiction.

Illiquid Securities

The Fund may invest without limit in illiquid securities (determined using the SEC’s standard applicable to open-end investment companies, that is, securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the securities). Illiquid securities may include, among other things, certain written over-the-counter options and various other derivative instruments, certain securities or other liquid assets being used as cover for such options, repurchase agreements with maturities in excess of seven days, certain loan participation interests, fixed time deposits which are not subject to prepayment or provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight

 

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deposits), and certain other securities whose disposition is restricted under the federal securities laws.

Illiquid securities may include privately placed securities, which are sold directly to a small number of investors, usually institutions. Unlike public offerings, such securities are not registered under the federal securities laws. Although certain of these securities may be readily sold, others may be illiquid, and their sale may involve substantial delays and additional costs.

Other Investment Companies

The Fund may invest in securities of open- or closed-end investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), to the extent that such investments are consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies and permissible under the 1940 Act.

In general, under the 1940 Act, an investment company such as the Fund may not (i) own more than 3% of the outstanding voting securities of any one registered investment company, (ii) invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any single registered investment company or (iii) invest more than 10% of its total assets in securities of other registered investment companies.

The Fund may invest in other investment companies to gain broad market or sector exposure, including during periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash (such as the period shortly after the Fund receives the proceeds of the offering of its Common Shares) or when PIMCO believes share prices of other investment companies offer attractive values.

As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s management fees and other expenses with respect to assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. In addition, the securities of other investment companies may also be leveraged and will therefore be subject to the same leverage risks described in the Prospectus and herein. As described in the Prospectus in the section entitled “Principal Risks of the Fund–Leverage Risk,” the net asset value and market value of leveraged shares will be more volatile and the yield to shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged shares.

Portfolio Trading and Turnover Rate

A change in the securities held by the Fund is known as “portfolio turnover.” PIMCO manages the Fund without regard generally to restrictions on portfolio turnover. Trading in fixed income securities does not generally involve the payment of brokerage commissions, but does involve indirect transaction costs. The use of futures contracts may involve the payment of commissions to futures commission merchants. High portfolio turnover ( e.g. , greater than 100%) generally involves correspondingly greater expenses to the Fund, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestments in other securities. The

 

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higher the rate of portfolio turnover of the Fund, the higher these transaction costs borne by the Fund generally will be. Such sales may result in realization of taxable capital gains, including short-term capital gains (which are generally treated as ordinary income upon distribution in the form of dividends).

The portfolio turnover rate of the Fund is calculated by dividing (a) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the particular fiscal year by (b) the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the particular fiscal year. In calculating the rate of portfolio turnover, there is excluded from both (a) and (b) all securities, including options, whose maturities or expiration dates at the time of acquisition were one year or less. Proceeds from short sales and assets used to cover short positions undertaken are included in the amounts of securities sold and purchased, respectively, during the year.

Because the Fund is newly organized, there are no portfolio turnover rates to report from prior fiscal years.

Warrants to Purchase Securities

The Fund may invest in warrants to purchase debt securities. Debt obligations 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. Debt obligations also may be issued with warrants attached to purchase additional debt securities at the same coupon rate. A decline in interest rates would permit the 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.

Securities Loans

Subject to the Fund’s “Investment Restrictions” listed below, the Fund may make secured loans of its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions amounting to no more than one-third of its total assets. The risks in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of credit, consist of possible delay in recovery of the securities or possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. However, such loans will be made only to broker-dealers that are believed by PIMCO to be of relatively high credit standing. Securities loans are made to broker-dealers pursuant to agreements requiring that loans be continuously secured by collateral consisting of U.S. Government securities, cash or cash equivalents (negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit) maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities lent. The borrower pays to the Fund, as the lender, an amount equal to any dividends or interest received on the securities lent.

The Fund may invest the cash collateral received in interest-bearing, short-term securities or receive a fee from the borrower. In the case of cash collateral, the Fund typically pays a rebate to the lender. Although voting rights (if any) or rights to consent with respect to the loaned securities (if any) pass to the borrower, the Fund, as the lender, retains the right to call the loans and obtain the return of the securities loaned at any time on reasonable notice, and it will do so in

 

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order that the securities may be voted by the Fund if the holders of such securities are asked to vote upon or consent to matters materially affecting the investment. The Fund may also call such loans in order to sell the securities involved. When engaged in securities lending, the Fund’s performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned and will also reflect the receipt of either interest, through investment of cash collateral by the Fund in permissible investments, or a fee, if the collateral is U.S. Government securities. It is possible that the Fund will realize losses on the investment of any cash collateralizing a securities loan; any such losses would be for the account of the Fund, not the borrower.

Participation on Creditors Committees

The Fund may from time to time participate on committees formed by creditors to negotiate with the management of financially troubled issuers of securities held by the Fund. Such participation may subject the Fund to expenses such as legal fees and may make the Fund an “insider” of the issuer for purposes of the federal securities laws, and therefore may restrict the Fund’s ability to trade in or acquire additional positions in 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.

Short-Term Investments / Temporary Defensive Strategies

Upon PIMCO’s recommendation, for temporary defensive purposes and in order to keep the Fund’s cash fully invested, including the period during which the net proceeds of the initial public offering of the Fund’s Common Shares are being invested, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its net assets in investment grade debt securities, including high quality, short-term debt instruments, credit-linked trust certificates and/or index futures contracts or similar derivative instruments. Such investments may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objectives.

Government Intervention in Financial Markets

Recent instability in the financial markets has led the U.S. Government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility, and in some cases a lack of liquidity. Federal, state, and other governments, their regulatory agencies, or self regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable or not fully understood or anticipated. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the Fund itself is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives.

Governments or their agencies have and may in the future acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose the Fund to greater market and

 

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liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the Fund. The Fund has established procedures to assess the liquidity of portfolio holdings and to value instruments for which market prices may not be readily available. PIMCO will monitor developments and seek to manage the Fund in a manner consistent with achieving the Fund’s investment objectives, but there can be no assurance that it will be successful in doing so.

Tax Consequences

The requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company limit the extent to which the Fund may invest in certain securities and transactions described above. In addition, the Fund’s utilization of certain investment instruments may alter the character and timing of income attributable to the Fund relative to other means of achieving similar investment exposure. In certain circumstances, accelerated attribution of income may require the Fund to sell assets in order to meet regulated investment company distribution requirements even when investment considerations make such sales otherwise undesirable. For more information concerning these requirements and the taxation of investments, see “Tax Matters” below.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

Except as described below, the Fund, as a fundamental policy, may not, without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares and, if issued, preferred shares voting together as a single class, and of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred shares voting as a separate class:

 

(1) Purchase any security if as a result 25% or more of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value at the time of investment) would be invested in a single industry (for purposes of this restriction, investment companies are not considered to be part of any industry). As a fundamental policy, the Fund, under normal circumstances, will invest at least 25% of its total assets in mortgage-related securities not issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities and other investments that the Fund’s investment adviser or sub-adviser determines have the same primary economic characteristics.

 

(2) Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase securities secured by real estate or interests therein, or securities issued by companies that invest in real estate, or interests therein.

 

(3) Purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts or oil, gas or mineral programs. This restriction shall not prohibit the Fund, subject to restrictions described in the Prospectus and elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information, from purchasing, selling or entering into futures contracts, options on futures contracts, forward contracts, or any interest rate, securities-related or other derivative instrument, including swap agreements and other derivative instruments, subject to compliance with any applicable provisions of the federal securities or commodities laws.

 

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(4) Borrow money or issue any senior security, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and as interpreted, modified, or otherwise permitted from time to time by regulatory authority having jurisdiction.

 

(5) Make loans, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted, modified, or otherwise permitted from time to time by regulatory authority having jurisdiction.

 

(6) Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers, except to the extent that in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under the federal securities laws.

Subject to the Fund’s self-imposed limitations, if any, as they may be amended from time to time, the Fund interprets its policies with respect to leverage and borrowing, issuing senior securities and lending to permit such activities as may be lawful for the Fund, to the full extent permitted by the 1940 Act or by exemption from the provisions therefrom pursuant to exemptive order of the SEC.

Currently, under the 1940 Act, the Fund may generally not lend money or property to any person, directly or indirectly, if such person controls or is under common control with the Fund, except for a loan from the Fund to a company that owns all of the outstanding securities of the Fund, except directors’ and qualifying shares.

For purposes of the foregoing, “majority of the outstanding,” when used with respect to particular shares of the Fund (whether voting together as a single class or voting as separate classes), means (i) 67% or more of such shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of such shares are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of such shares, whichever is less.

Unless otherwise indicated, all limitations applicable to the Fund’s investments (as stated above and elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information) apply only at the time a transaction is entered into. Any subsequent change in a rating assigned by any rating service to a security (or, if unrated, deemed by PIMCO to be of comparable quality), or change in the percentage of the Fund’s total assets invested in certain securities or other instruments, or change in the average maturity or duration of the Fund’s investment portfolio, resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in the Fund’s total assets will not require the Fund to dispose of an investment until PIMCO determines that it is practicable to sell or close out the investment without undue market or tax consequences to the Fund. In the event that rating agencies assign different ratings to the same security, PIMCO will determine which rating it believes best reflects the security’s quality and risk at that time, which may be the higher of the several assigned ratings.

Under the 1940 Act, a “senior security” does not include any promissory note or evidence of indebtedness where such loan is for temporary purposes only and in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of the total assets of the issuer at the time the loan is made. A loan is presumed to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within sixty days and is not extended or renewed.

 

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For purposes of applying the terms of the Fund’s policy in the first sentence of paragraph (1) above (the “industry concentration policy”), PIMCO will, on behalf of the Fund, make reasonable determinations as to the appropriate industry classification to assign to each security or instrument in which the Fund invests. The definition of what constitutes a particular “industry” is an evolving one, particularly for industries or sectors within industries that are new or are undergoing rapid development. Some securities could reasonably fall within more than one industry category. The Fund’s industry concentration policy does not preclude it from focusing investments in issuers in a group of related industrial sectors (such as different types of utilities). For purposes of the industry concentration policy, a foreign government is considered to be an industry, although currency positions are not considered to be an investment in a foreign government for these purposes. Mortgage-related or asset-backed securities that are issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities are not subject to the Fund’s industry concentration policy, by virtue of the exclusion from that test available to all U.S. Government securities. Similarly, municipal bonds issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies and authorities are not subject to the Fund’s industry concentration policy.

For purposes of applying the terms of the policy in the second sentence of paragraph (1) above, privately-issued mortgage-related securities include, but are not limited to, any mortgage-related security (other than those issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S Government or its agencies or instrumentalities), securities representing interests in, collateralized or backed by, or whose values are determined in whole or in part by reference to any number of mortgages or pools of mortgages or the payment experience of such mortgages or pools of mortgages, including Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”), which could include resecuritizations of REMICs (“Re-REMICs”), mortgage pass-through securities, inverse floaters, collateralized mortgage obligations, collateralized loan obligations, multiclass pass-through securities, private mortgage pass-through securities, and stripped mortgage securities (generally interest-only and principal-only securities). Exposures to mortgage-related securities through derivatives or other financial instruments may be considered investments in mortgage-related securities. Privately-issued mortgage-related securities also may include, without limitation, interests in pools of residential mortgages or commercial mortgages, and may relate to domestic or non-US mortgages. It shall not be a violation of the policy in the second sentence of paragraph (1) above if the Fund has less than 25% of its total assets invested in privately-issued mortgage-related securities and other investments that PIMCO determines have the same primary economic characteristics at a time when the market for privately-issued mortgage-related securities is inactive or ceases to exist in sufficient volume, such that it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to invest 25% or more of its total assets in privately-issued mortgage-related securities in the best interests of the Fund. Because the market for mortgage-related securities continues to develop, it is possible that instruments that have not yet been created will be issued in the future by non-governmental entities and will be determined by PIMCO to have similar economic characteristics as the instruments named in this paragraph. Such new instruments would be applied towards satisfying the Fund’s policy in the second sentence of paragraph (1) above.

To the extent the Fund covers its commitment under a reverse repurchase agreement, credit default swap or other derivative instrument by the segregation of assets determined by PIMCO to

 

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be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, equal in value to the amount of the Fund’s commitment, such instrument will not be considered a “senior security” for purposes of the 1940 Act asset coverage requirements otherwise applicable to borrowings by the Fund.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Trustees and Officers

The business of the Fund is managed under the direction of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Subject to the provisions of the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as may be amended from time to time (the “Declaration”), its Bylaws, as may be amended from time to time (the “Bylaws”) and Massachusetts law, the Trustees have all powers necessary and convenient to carry out this responsibility, including the election and removal of the Fund’s officers.

Board Leadership Structure. The Fund’s Board of Trustees consists of seven Trustees, four of whom are not “interested persons” (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Fund or of the Investment Manager (the “Independent Trustees”). Two additional Trustees who will not initially be treated as Independent Trustees due to their ownership of shares of members of the underwriting syndicate for the initial public offering of the Fund’s Common Shares, are expected to qualify as Independent Trustees following the completion of the initial public offering.

An Independent Trustee serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and is selected by vote of the majority of the Independent Trustees. The Chairman of the Trustees presides at meetings of the Board and acts as a liaison with service providers, officers, attorneys and other Trustees generally between meetings, and performs such other functions as may be requested by the Board from time to time.

The Board of Trustees has established certain standing Committees to facilitate the Trustees’ oversight of the management of the Fund: the Audit Oversight Committee, the Nominating Committee, the Valuation Committee and the Compensation Committee. The functions and role of each Committee are described below under “—Committees of the Board of Trustees.” The membership of each Committee consists of all of the Independent Trustees, which the Board believes allows them to participate in the full range of the Board’s oversight duties.

The Board has determined that its leadership structure, including an Independent Chairman, a majority of Independent Trustees and Committee membership limited to Independent Trustees, is appropriate in light of the characteristics and circumstances of the Fund. In reaching this conclusion, the Board considered, among other things, the predominant role of the Investment Manager and Sub-Adviser in the day-to-day management of Fund affairs and the extent to which the work of the Board is conducted through the Committees. The Board also believes that its structure, including the presence of one Trustee who is an executive with various Investment Manager-affiliated entities, facilitates an efficient flow of information concerning the management of the Fund to the Independent Trustees.

 

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Risk Oversight. The Fund has retained the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser to provide investment advisory services, and, in the case of the Investment Manager, administrative services, and these service providers are immediately responsible for the management of risks that may arise from Fund investments and operations. Some employees of the Investment Manager and its affiliates serve as the Fund’s officers, including the Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer, chief compliance officer and chief legal officer. The Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser employ different processes, procedures and controls to identify and manage different types of risks that may affect the Fund. The Board oversees the performance of these functions by the Investment Manager and Sub-Adviser, both directly and through the Committee structure it has established. The Board will receive from the Investment Manager and Sub-Adviser a wide range of reports, both on a regular and as-needed basis, relating to the Fund’s activities and to the actual and potential risks of the Fund. These include reports on investment risks, custody and valuation of Fund assets, compliance with applicable laws, and the Fund’s financial accounting and reporting. In addition, the Board intends to meet periodically with the portfolio managers of the Fund to receive reports regarding the portfolio management of the Fund and its performance, including its investment risks. The Board has emphasized to the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management programs and procedures.

In addition, the Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”). The CCO oversees the development of compliance policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to minimize the risk of violations of the federal securities laws (“Compliance Policies”). The CCO reports directly to the Independent Trustees, interacts with individuals within the Investment Manager’s organization including its Head of Risk Management, and will provide presentations to the Board at its quarterly meetings and an annual report on the application of the Compliance Policies. The Board will periodically discuss relevant risks affecting the Fund with the CCO at these meetings. The Board has approved the Compliance Policies and will review the CCO’s reports. Further, the Board will annually review the sufficiency of the Compliance Policies, as well as the appointment and compensation of the CCO.

The Board recognizes that the reports it will receive concerning risk management matters are, by their nature, typically summaries of the relevant information. Moreover, the Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified in advance; that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks; that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) in seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objectives; and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. As a result of the foregoing and for other reasons, the Board’s risk management oversight is subject to substantial limitations.

The Trustees and executive officers of the Fund, their dates of birth, the position they hold with the Fund, their term of office and length of time served, a description of their principal occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the fund complex (as defined in SEC regulations) that the Trustee oversees and any other directorships held by the Trustee are listed in the following tables. Except as shown, each Trustee’s and officer’s principal occupation

 

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and business experience for the last five years have been with the employer(s) indicated, although in some cases the Trustee may have held different positions with such employer(s). Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of the persons listed below is c/o Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC, 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019.

Independent Trustees (1)

 

Name,
Address and
Date of Birth

  

Position(s)
Held with
the Fund

   Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served
  

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years

   Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex (2)
Overseen
by Trustee
  

Other

Directorships

Held by

Trustee

During the

Past 5 Years

Hans W. Kertess 07/12/1939 Class I    Trustee & Chairman of the Board    Since
inception.
   President, H. Kertess & Co., a financial advisory company. Formerly, Managing Director, Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets.    58    None

Deborah A. DeCotis

11/13/1952

Class III

   Trustee    Since
inception.
   Advisory Director, Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. (since 1996); Director, Helena Rubenstein Foundation (since 1997); Co-Chair Special Projects Committee, Memorial Sloan Kettering (since 2005); Board Member and Member of the Investment and Finance Committees, Henry Street Settlement (since 2007); Trustee, Stanford University (since 2010). Formerly, Advisory Council, Stanford Business School (2002-2008) and Director, Armor Holdings, a manufacturing company (2002-2007).    58    None

Bradford K. Gallagher

02/28/1944

Class II

   Trustee    Since
inception.
   Partner, New Technology Ventures Capital Management LLC, a venture capital fund (since 2011); Chairman and Trustee, Atlantic Maritime Heritage Foundation (since 2007); Trustee, The Common Fund (since 2005); Founder, Spyglass Investments LLC, a private investment vehicle (since 2001); and Founder, President and CEO of Cypress Holding Company and Cypress Tree Investment Management Company (since 1995).    58    Formerly, Chairman and Trustee of Grail Advisors ETF Trust (2009-2010) and Trustee of Nicholas-Applegate Institutional Funds (2007-2010)

James A. Jacobson

02/03/1945

Class II

   Trustee    Since
inception.
   Retired. Formerly, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Spear, Leeds & Kellogg Specialists, LLC, a specialist firm on the New York Stock Exchange.    58    Trustee, Alpine Mutual Funds Complex consisting of 17 funds

 

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Interested Trustee (3)

 

Name, Address
and Date of Birth

  

Position(s)
Held with
the Fund

   Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served
  

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years

   Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex (2)
Overseen
by Trustee
   Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee

John C. Maney 680 Newport Center Drive, Suite 250, Newport Beach, CA 92660 08/03/1959

Class III

   Trustee    Since
inception.
   Management Board, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC; Management Board and Managing Director of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. (since January 2005) and also Chief Operating Officer of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. (since November 2006).    81    None

William B. Ogden, IV

01/11/1945

Class I

   Trustee    Since
inception.
   Asset Management Industry Consultant. Formerly, Managing Director, Investment Banking Division of Citigroup Global Markets Inc.    58    None

Alan Rappaport

03/13/1953

Class I

   Trustee    Since
inception.
   Vice Chairman, Roundtable Investment Partners (since 2009); Chairman (formerly President), Private Bank of Bank of America; Vice Chairman, US Trust (2001-2008); Trustee, American Museum of Natural History (since 2005) and Trustee, NYU Langone Medical Center (since 2007).    58    None

 

(1) “Independent Trustees” are those Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act).

 

(2) The term “Fund Complex” as used herein includes the Fund and the following registered investment companies: each series of Allianz Funds, each series of Allianz Funds Multi-Strategy Trust, PIMCO Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO Corporate and Income Opportunity Fund, PIMCO Corporate and Income Fund, PIMCO High Income Fund, AGIC Convertible & Income Fund, AGIC Convertible & Income Fund II, PIMCO Income Strategy Fund, PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II, NFJ Dividend, Interest and Premium Strategy Fund, AGIC International and Premium Strategy Fund, PIMCO Global StocksPLUS & Income Fund, AGIC Equity & Convertible Income Fund, AGIC Global Equity & Convertible Income Fund, PCM Fund Inc., PIMCO Income Opportunity Fund, PIMCO Strategic Global Government Fund, Inc. and each series of Allianz Global Investors Managed Accounts Trust.

 

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(3) “Interested Trustees” are those Trustees treated as “interested persons” (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Fund. Mr. Maney is an “interested person” of the Fund due to his affiliation with Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. and the Investment Manager. Mr. Ogden owns shares of Citigroup Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co./Wachovia Corp., two of the underwriters of the Fund’s initial Common Share offering. Mr. Ogden will be treated by the Fund as an “interested person” of the Fund through his ownership of shares of Citigroup Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co./Wachovia Corp. until such time as each such entity completes its participation in the distribution of the Fund’s Common Shares, and thereafter is expected to qualify as and be treated as an Independent Trustee. Mr. Rappaport owns shares of Bank of America Corporation/Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., one of the underwriters of the Fund’s initial Common Share offering. Mr. Rappaport will be treated by the Fund as an “interested person” of the Fund through his ownership of shares of Bank of America Corporation/Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., until such time as each such entity completes its participation in the distribution of the Fund’s Common Shares, and thereafter is expected to qualify as and be treated as an Independent Trustee.

In accordance with the Fund’s staggered board (see “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust”), the Common Shareholders of the Fund elect Trustees to fill the vacancies of Trustees whose terms expire at each annual meeting of Common Shareholders.

Officers

 

Name and Date of
Birth
   Position(s)
Held with the
Fund
   Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served
   Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years

Brian S. Shlissel

11/14/1964

   President & Chief Executive Officer    Since inception.    Management Board, Managing Director, and Head of Mutual Fund Services of Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC; President and Chief Executive Officer of 28 funds in the Fund Complex; President of 53 funds in the Fund Complex and Treasurer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of The Korea Fund, Inc. Formerly, Treasurer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of 50 funds in the Fund Complex.

Lawrence G. Altadonna

03/10/1966

   Treasurer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer    Since inception.    Senior Vice President, Director of Fund Administration of Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC; Treasurer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of 81 funds in the Fund Complex and Assistant Treasurer of The Korea Fund. Formerly, Assistant Treasurer of 50 funds in the Fund Complex.

 

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Name and Date
of Birth

  

Position(s)
Held with the
Fund

  

Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served

  

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years

Thomas J. Fuccillo

03/22/1968

   Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer    Since inception.    Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC; Executive Vice President, Chief Regulatory Counsel and Head of U.S. Compliance of Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC; Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of 81 funds in the Fund Complex; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of The Korea Fund, Inc.

Youse E. Guia

680 Newport Center Drive Suite 250

Newport Beach, CA 92660

09/03/1972

   Chief Compliance Officer    Since inception.    Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer and Deputy Chief of U.S. Compliance, Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC; Chief Compliance Officer of 81 funds in the Fund Complex and of The Korea Fund, Inc.

Scott Whisten

03/13/1971

   Assistant Treasurer    Since inception.    Senior Vice President, Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC and Assistant Treasurer of 81 funds in the Fund Complex.

Richard J. Cochran

01/23/1961

   Assistant Treasurer    Since inception.    Vice President, Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC; Assistant Treasurer of 81 funds in the Fund Complex and of The Korea Fund, Inc. Formerly, Tax Manager, Teachers Insurance Annuity Association/College Retirement Equity Fund (TIAA-CREF) (2002-2008).

Orhan Dzemaili

04/18/1974

   Assistant Treasurer    Since inception.    Vice President, Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC and Assistant Treasurer of 81 funds in the Fund Complex.

Lagan Srivastava

09/20/1977

   Assistant Secretary    Since inception.    Vice President of Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC; Assistant Secretary of 81 funds in the Fund Complex and of The Korea Fund, Inc.

Each of the Fund’s executive officers is an “interested person” of the Fund (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) as a result of his or her position(s) set forth in the table above.

Trustee Qualifications . The Board has determined that each Trustee should serve as such based on several factors (none of which alone is decisive). Each Trustee has served in such role since prior to the Fund commencing operations and is familiar with the Fund’s business and service provider arrangements, and each has also served for several years as trustee/director to a number of other investment companies advised by the Investment Manager and its affiliates, except Messrs. Gallagher and Rappaport and Ms. DeCotis, who have served in such capacity since September 2010, June 2010 and March 2011, respectively. Among the factors the Board considered when concluding that an individual should serve on the Board were the following: (i) the individual’s business and professional experience and accomplishments; (ii) the individual’s ability to work effectively with other members of the Board; (iii) the individual’s prior experience, if any, serving on the boards of public companies (including, where relevant, other investment companies) and other complex enterprises and organizations; and (iv) how the individual’s skills, experiences and attributes would contribute to an appropriate mix of relevant skills and experience on the Board.

 

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In respect of each current Trustee, the individual’s substantial professional accomplishments and prior experience, including, in some cases, in fields related to the operations of the Fund, were a significant factor in the determination that the individual should serve as a Trustee of the Fund. Following is a summary of various qualifications, experiences and skills of each Trustee (in addition to business experience during the past five years set forth in the table above) that contributed to the Board’s conclusion that an individual should serve on the Board. References to qualifications, experiences and skills are not intended to hold out the Board or individual Trustees as having any special expertise or experience, and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.

Deborah A. DeCotis — Ms. DeCotis has substantial senior executive experience in the investment banking industry, having served as a Managing Director for Morgan Stanley. She has extensive board experience and/or experience in oversight of investment management functions through her experience as a Director of the Helena Rubenstein Foundation, Stanford Graduate School of Business and Armor Holdings.

Bradford K. Gallagher — Mr. Gallagher has substantial executive and board experience in the financial services and investment management industries. He has served as director to several other investment companies. Having served on the Operating Committee of Fidelity Investments and as a Managing Director and President of Fidelity Investments Institutional Services Company, he provides the Fund with significant asset management industry expertise. He also brings significant securities industry experience, having served as a developer and founder of several enterprises and private investment vehicles.

James A. Jacobson — Mr. Jacobson has substantial executive and board experience in the financial services industry. He served for more than 15 years as a senior executive at a New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) specialist firm. He has also served on the NYSE Board of Directors, including terms as Vice Chair. As such, he provides significant expertise on matters relating to portfolio brokerage and trade execution. He also provides the Fund with significant financial expertise and serves as the Audit Oversight Committee’s Chair and has been determined by the Board to be an “audit committee financial expert.” He has expertise in investment company matters through his service as a trustee of another fund family.

Hans W. Kertess — Mr. Kertess has substantial executive experience in the investment management industry. He is the president of a financial advisory company, H. Kertess & Co., and formerly served as a Managing Director of Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets. He has significant expertise in the investment banking industry.

John C. Maney — Mr. Maney has substantial executive and board experience in the investment management industry. He has served in a variety of senior-level positions with investment advisory firms affiliated with the Investment Manager. Because of his familiarity with the Investment Manager and affiliated entities, he serves as an important information resource for the Independent Trustees and as a facilitator of communication with the Investment Manager.

William B. Ogden, IV — Mr. Ogden has substantial senior executive experience in the investment banking industry. He served as Managing Director at Citigroup, where he established

 

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and led the firm’s efforts to raise capital for and provide mergers and acquisition advisory services to asset managers and investment advisers. He also has significant expertise with fund products through his senior-level responsibility for originating and underwriting a broad variety of such products.

Alan Rappaport — Mr. Rappaport has substantial senior executive experience in the financial services industry. He formerly served as Chairman and President of the private banking division of Bank of America and as Vice Chairman of U.S. Trust. He is currently the Vice Chairman of an investment banking firm.

Committees of the Board of Trustees

Audit Oversight Committee. The Fund’s Board has established an Audit Oversight Committee in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Fund’s Audit Oversight Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Gallagher, Jacobson and Kertess and Ms. DeCotis, each of whom is an Independent Trustee. The Fund expects Messrs. Ogden and Rappaport to join the committee when they become Independent Trustees. Mr. Jacobson is the current Chairman of the Fund’s Audit Oversight Committee.

The Audit Oversight Committee provides oversight with respect to the internal and external accounting and auditing procedures of the Fund and, among other things, considers the selection of independent public accountants for the Fund and the scope of the audit, approves all audit and permitted non-audit services proposed to be performed by those auditors on behalf of the Fund and certain affiliates, including the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser, and entities in a control relationship with the Investment Manager or the Sub-Adviser, that provide services to the Fund where the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The Audit Oversight Committee considers the possible effect of those services on the independence of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Because the Fund is newly organized, the committee members did not meet during the prior fiscal year.

Nominating Committee . The Fund has a Nominating Committee currently composed of Messrs. Gallagher, Jacobson and Kertess and Ms. DeCotis, each of whom is an Independent Trustee. The Fund expects Messrs. Ogden and Rappaport to join the committee when they become Independent Trustees. The Nominating Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending qualified candidates to the Board in the event that a position is vacated or created or when Trustees are to be re-elected. The Nominating Committee will review and consider nominees recommended by shareholders to serve as Trustee, provided any such recommendation is submitted in writing to the Fund, c/o Thomas J. Fuccillo, Secretary, at the address of the principal executive offices of the Fund. The Nominating Committee has full discretion to reject nominees recommended by shareholders, and there is no assurance that any such person so recommended and considered by a committee will be nominated for election to the Board. Because the Fund is newly organized, the committee members did not meet during the prior fiscal year.

Valuation Committee. The Fund’s Valuation Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Gallagher, Jacobson, and Kertess and Ms. DeCotis, each of whom is an Independent Trustee. The Fund expects Messrs. Ogden and Rappaport to join the committee when they become Independent Trustees. The Valuation Committee has been delegated responsibility by the Fund’s Board for overseeing determinations of the fair value of the Fund’s portfolio securities on behalf of the Board in accordance with the Fund’s valuation procedures. The Valuation Committee reviews and

 

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approves procedures for the fair valuation of the Fund’s portfolio securities and periodically reviews information from the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser regarding fair value and liquidity determinations made pursuant to Board-approved procedures, and makes related recommendations to the full Board and assists the full Board in resolving particular fair valuation and other valuation matters . Because the Fund is newly organized, the committee members did not meet during the prior fiscal year.

Compensation Committee. The Fund’s Compensation Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Gallagher, Jacobson and Kertess and Ms. DeCotis, each of whom is an Independent Trustee. The Fund expects Messrs. Ogden and Rappaport to join the committee when they become Independent Trustees. The Compensation Committee meets as the Board deems necessary to review and make recommendations regarding compensation payable to the Trustees of the Fund who are not directors, officers, partners or employees of the Investment Manager, the Sub-Adviser or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Investment Manager or the Sub-Adviser. Because the Fund is newly organized, the committee members did not meet during the prior fiscal year.

Securities Ownership

For each Trustee, the following table discloses the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustee in the Fund and, on an aggregate basis, in any registered investment companies overseen by the Trustee within the Fund’s family of investment companies as of December 31, 2011:

 

Name of Trustee    Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Fund
   Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in
All Registered Investment Companies
Overseen by Trustee in Family of Investment
Companies*

Independent Trustees

     

Deborah A. DeCotis (1)

   None    Over $100,000

Bradford K. Gallagher

   None    $50,001 - $100,000

James A. Jacobson

   None    Over $100,000

Hans W. Kertess

   None    Over $100,000

Interested Trustee

     

John C. Maney

   None    Over $100,000

William B. Ogden, IV

   None    Over $100,000

Alan Rappaport

   None    Over $100,000

 

* The term “Family of Investment Companies” as used herein includes the Fund and the following registered investment companies: each series of Allianz Funds, each series of Allianz Funds Multi-Strategy Trust, PIMCO Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO Corporate and Income Opportunity Fund, PIMCO Corporate and Income Fund, PIMCO High Income Fund, AGIC Convertible & Income Fund, AGIC Convertible & Income Fund II, PIMCO Income Strategy Fund, PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II, NFJ Dividend, Interest and Premium Strategy Fund, AGIC International & Premium Strategy Fund, PIMCO Global StocksPLUS & Income Fund, AGIC Equity & Convertible Income Fund, AGIC Global Equity & Convertible Income Fund, PCM Fund, Inc., PIMCO Income Opportunity Fund, PIMCO Strategic Global Government Fund, Inc., and each series of Allianz Global Investors Managed Accounts Trust.

 

(1)

Ms. DeCotis’ ownership information is as of February 29, 2012.

 

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For Independent Trustees and their immediate family members, the following table provides information regarding each class of securities owned beneficially in an investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Fund, or a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with an investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Fund as of December 31, 2011:

 

Name of Trustee    Name of Owners and
Relations to Trustee
   Company      Title of Class      Value of Securities      Percent of Class  
Deborah A. DeCotis    None      N/A         N/A         N/A         N/A   

Bradford K. Gallagher

   None      N/A         N/A         N/A         N/A   

James A. Jacobson

   None      N/A         N/A         N/A         N/A   

Hans W. Kertess

   None      N/A         N/A         N/A         N/A   

As of April 23, 2012, the Fund’s officers and Trustees as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding Common Shares.

As of April 23, 2012 to the knowledge of the Fund, the following entities owned beneficially or of record more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding Common Shares of the Fund as indicated:

 

Beneficial Owner

   Number of
Common Shares
     Percentage of the Fund’s
outstanding Common
Shares
 

Allianz Asset Management of America L.P.

     4,189         100

Compensation

Each of the Independent Trustees also serves as a trustee of PIMCO Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO High Income Fund, PIMCO Income Strategy Fund, PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II, AGIC Convertible & Income Fund, AGIC Convertible & Income Fund II, NFJ Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund, AGIC International & Premium Strategy Fund, PIMCO Global StocksPLUS ® & Income Fund, AGIC Equity & Convertible Income Fund, AGIC Global Equity & Convertible Income Fund, PCM Fund, Inc. and PIMCO Strategic Global Government Fund , Inc. , each a closed-end fund for which the Investment Manager serves as investment manager and affiliates of the Investment Manager serve as sub-advisers (together, the “Allianz Closed-End Funds”); and Allianz Global Investors Managed Accounts Trust and Allianz Funds Multi-Strategy Trust (together with the Allianz Closed-End Funds, the “Allianz Managed Funds”).

Each of the Allianz Managed Funds is expected to hold joint meetings of their Boards of Trustees whenever possible. Each Trustee, other than any Trustee who is a director, officer, partner or employee of the Investment Manager, PIMCO, or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Investment Manager or PIMCO, receives annual compensation of $ 250,000, which is payable quarterly. The Independent

 

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Chairman of the Boards receives an additional $75,000 per year, payable quarterly. The Audit Oversight Committee chairman receives an additional $50,000 per year, payable quarterly. Trustees will also be reimbursed for meeting-related expenses.

Each Trustee’s compensation and other costs of joint meetings is allocated pro rata among the Allianz Managed Funds for which such Trustee serves as trustee based on the complexity of issues relating to each such Fund and relative time spent by the Trustees in addressing them, and secondarily, on each such Fund’s relative net assets (including assets attributable to any outstanding preferred shares issued by an Allianz Closed-End Fund).

Trustees do not currently receive any pension or retirement benefits from the Fund or the Fund Complex.

It is estimated that the Trustees will receive the amounts set forth in the following table from the Fund for its initial fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. For the calendar year ended December 31, 2011, the Independent Trustees and Messrs. Ogden and Rappaport (who are expected to be Independent Trustees of the Fund following the completion of the initial public offering of the Common Shares) received the compensation set forth in the table below for serving as trustees of the funds in the same “Fund Complex” as the Fund. Each officer and each Trustee who is a director, officer, partner, member or employee of the Investment Manager or the Sub-Adviser, or of any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Investment Manager or the Sub-Adviser serves without any compensation from the Fund.

 

Name of Trustee

   Estimated
Compensation
from the
Fund for the
Fiscal Year
Ending
March 31,
2013*
   Pension or
Retirement
Benefits
Accrued as
Part of
Fund
Expenses
   Estimated
Annual
Benefits
Upon
Retirement
   Total
Compensation
from the
Fund
Complex Paid
to the
Trustees for
the Calendar
Year Ending
December 31,
2011

Trustees

           

Deborah A. DeCotis

   $3,592    N/A    N/A    $204,861

Bradford K. Gallagher

   $3,592    N/A    N/A    $250,000

James A. Jacobson

   $4,312    N/A    N/A    $300,000

Hans W. Kertess

   $4,672    N/A    N/A    $325,000

Interested Trustees

           

William B. Ogden, IV

   $3,592    N/A    N/A    $250,000

Alan Rappaport

   $3,592    N/A    N/A    $250,000

 

* Since the Fund has not completed its first full fiscal year, compensation is estimated based upon future payments to be made by the Fund during its initial fiscal year and upon estimated relative net assets of the Allianz Managed Funds for which the particular Trustee serves.

The Fund has no employees. Its officers and Mr. Maney are compensated by the Investment Manager and/or PIMCO and/or their affiliates.

Codes of Ethics

The Fund, the Investment Manager and PIMCO have each adopted a separate code of ethics governing personal trading activities of, as applicable, all Trustees and officers of the Fund, and directors, officers and employees of the Investment Manager and PIMCO, who, in connection with their regular functions, play a role in the recommendation of any purchase or sale of a

 

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security by the Fund or obtain information pertaining to such purchase or sale or who have the power to influence the management or policies of the Fund, the Investment Manager or PIMCO, as applicable. Such persons are prohibited from effecting certain transactions, allowed to effect certain exempt transactions (including with respect to securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund), and are required to preclear certain security transactions with the applicable compliance officer or his designee and to report certain transactions on a regular basis. The Fund, the Investment Manager and PIMCO have each developed procedures for administration of their respective codes. Text-only versions of the codes of ethics can be viewed online or downloaded from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s internet Web site at www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy those documents by visiting the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC, information on the operation of which may be obtained by calling 1-800-551-8090. Copies may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request to publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102.

INVESTMENT MANAGER AND SUB-ADVISER

Investment Manager

Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC (as previously defined, the “Investment Manager”) serves as investment manager to the Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Investment Management Agreement”) between it and the Fund.

The Investment Manager is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. (“Allianz”). Allianz was organized as a limited partnership under Delaware law in 1987. Allianz’s sole general partner is Allianz Asset Management of America LLC. Allianz Asset Management of America LLC has two members, Allianz of America, Inc. (“Allianz of America”), a Delaware corporation that owns a 99.9% non-managing interest, and Allianz Asset Management of America Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation that owns a 0.01% managing interest. Allianz of America is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Allianz SE. Allianz Asset Management of America Holdings Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Allianz Asset Management Aktiengesellschaft, which is an indirect subsidiary of Allianz SE. Allianz SE indirectly holds a controlling interest in Allianz. Allianz SE is a European-based, multinational insurance and financial services holding company. The address for Allianz, Allianz Asset Management of America LLC and Allianz Asset Management of America Holdings Inc. is 680 Newport Center Drive, Suite 250, Newport Beach, California 92660. The address for Allianz Asset Management Aktiengesellschaft is Seidlstrasse, 24-24a, D-80335, Munich, Germany. Allianz SE’s address is Koeniginstrasse 28, D-80802, Munich, Germany.

The general partner of Allianz has substantially delegated its management and control of Allianz to a Management Board.

The Investment Manager is located at 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. The Investment Manager had approximately $47.3 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2012.

As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, there are currently no significant institutional shareholders of Allianz SE. As of December 31, 2011, Allianz SE owned approximately 5% of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (“Hartford”).

 

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Certain broker-dealers that might be controlled by or affiliated with Hartford, may be considered to be affiliated persons of the Investment Manager and its affiliates. (Broker-dealer affiliates of such significant institutional shareholders are sometimes referred to herein as “Affiliated Brokers.”) Absent an SEC exemption or other regulatory relief, the Fund generally is precluded from effecting principal transactions with the Affiliated Brokers, and its ability to purchase securities being underwritten by an Affiliated Broker or a syndicate including an Affiliated Broker is subject to restrictions. Similarly, the Fund’s ability to utilize the Affiliated Brokers for agency transactions is subject to the restrictions of Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act.

The Investment Manager does not believe that the restrictions on transactions with the Affiliated Brokers described above will materially adversely affect its ability to provide services to the Fund, the Fund’s ability to take advantage of market opportunities, or the Fund’s overall performance.

The Investment Manager, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, is responsible for managing, either directly or through others selected by the Investment Manager, the investments of the Fund. The Investment Manager also furnishes to the Board of Trustees periodic reports on the investment performance of the Fund. As more fully discussed below, the Investment Manager has retained its affiliate, PIMCO, to serve as the Fund’s sub-adviser.

Investment Management Agreement

Under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, subject to such policies as the Trustees of the Fund may determine, the Investment Manager, at its expense, will furnish continuously an investment program for the Fund and will make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund and place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities subject always to the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions; provided that, so long as the Investment Manager retains one or more sub-advisers for the Fund, the Investment Manager’s obligation under the Investment Management Agreement with respect to the Fund is, subject always to the control of the Trustees, to determine and review with the Sub-Adviser the investment policies of the Fund.

Subject to the control of the Trustees, the Investment Manager also manages, supervises and conducts the other affairs and business of the Fund, furnishes office space and equipment, provides bookkeeping and certain clerical services (excluding determination of the net asset value of the Fund, shareholder accounting services and the accounting services for the Fund) and pays all salaries, fees and expenses of officers and Trustees of the Fund who are affiliated with the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager has, at its own expense, retained State Street Bank and Trust Company to perform certain administrative services for the Fund and may retain affiliates to provide other administrative service. As indicated under “Portfolio Transactions—Brokerage and Research Services,” the Fund’s portfolio transactions may be placed with broker-dealers which furnish the Investment Manager and PIMCO, without cost, certain research, statistical and quotation services of value to them or their respective affiliates in advising the Fund or their other clients. In so doing, the Fund may incur greater brokerage commissions and other transactions costs than it might otherwise pay.

Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, the Fund has agreed to pay the Investment Manager an annual management fee, payable on a monthly basis, at the annual rate of 1.15% of the Fund’s average daily total managed assets for the services and facilities it provides. “Total

 

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managed assets” means the total assets of the Fund (including assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding) minus accrued liabilities (other than liabilities representing reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings). For purposes of calculating “total managed assets,” the liquidation preference of any preferred shares outstanding is not considered a liability. By way of clarification, with respect to any reverse repurchase agreement, dollar roll or similar transaction, “total managed assets” include any proceeds from the sale of an asset of the Fund to a counterparty in such a transaction, in addition to the value of the underlying asset as of the relevant measuring date. All fees and expenses are accrued daily and deducted before payment of dividends to investors.

Except as otherwise described in the Prospectus, the Fund pays, in addition to the investment management fee described above, all expenses not assumed by the Investment Manager, including, without limitation, fees and expenses of Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Investment Manager or the Fund, interest charges, taxes, brokerage commissions, expenses of issue of shares, fees and expenses of registering and qualifying the Fund and its classes of shares for distribution under federal and state laws and regulations, charges of custodians, auditing and legal expenses, expenses of determining net asset value of the Fund, reports to shareholders, expenses of meetings of shareholders, expenses of printing and mailing prospectuses, proxy statements and proxies to existing shareholders, and its proportionate share of insurance premiums and professional association dues or assessments. The Fund is also responsible for such nonrecurring expenses as may arise, including litigation in which the Fund may be a party, and other expenses as determined by the Trustees. The Fund may have an obligation to indemnify its officers and Trustees with respect to such litigation.

Because the Fund is newly organized, no fees were paid to the Investment Management pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement in any prior fiscal year.

Sub-Adviser

PIMCO, an affiliate of the Investment Manager, serves as sub-adviser for the Fund pursuant to a portfolio management agreement (the “Portfolio Management Agreement”) between PIMCO and the Investment Manager. PIMCO, a Delaware limited liability company, provides investment management and advisory services to private accounts of institutional and individual clients and to mutual funds. PIMCO is a majority owned subsidiary of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. with minority interests held by PIMCO Partners, LLC, a California limited liability company and certain officers of PIMCO. Prior to December 31, 2011, Allianz Asset Management L.P. was named Allianz Global Investors of America L.P. PIMCO Partners, LLC is owned by current and former officers of PIMCO. Through various holding company structures, Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. is majority-owned by Allianz SE.

Portfolio Management Agreement

Under the Portfolio Management Agreement, subject always to the control of the Trustees and the supervision of the Investment Manager, PIMCO’s obligation is to furnish continuously an investment program for the Fund, to make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund and to

 

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place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and all other investments for the Fund.

The Investment Manager (and not the Fund) pays a portion of the fees it receives under the Investment Management Agreement to PIMCO in return for PIMCO’s services. The fee is currently paid monthly at the annual rate of 1.025% of the Fund’s average daily total managed assets.

Because the Fund is newly organized, no fees were paid to PIMCO pursuant to the Portfolio Management Agreement in any prior fiscal year.

PIMCO is located at 840 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660. PIMCO had approximately $1.77 trillion of assets under management as of March 31, 2012.

Certain Terms of the Investment Management and Portfolio Management Agreements

The Investment Management Agreement and Portfolio Management Agreement are subject to the approval of the Trustees of the Fund (including all of the Trustees who are not “interested persons of the Investment Manager or PIMCO). The Investment Management Agreement and Portfolio Management Agreement will each continue in force with respect to the Fund for two years from their respective dates, and from year to year thereafter, but only so long as their continuance is approved at least annually by (i) vote, cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose, of a majority of those Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Investment Manager, PIMCO or the Fund, and (ii) the majority vote of either the full Board of Trustees or the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes of the Fund. Each of the Investment Management Agreement and Portfolio Management Agreement automatically terminates on assignment. The Investment Management Agreement may be terminated on not less than 60 days’ notice by the Investment Manager to the Fund or by the Fund to the Investment Manager. The Portfolio Management Agreement may be terminated on not less than 60 days’ notice by the Investment Manager to PIMCO or by PIMCO to the Investment Manager, or by the Fund at any time by notice to the Investment Manager and PIMCO.

The Investment Management Agreement and the Portfolio Management Agreement each provide that the Investment Manager or PIMCO, as applicable, shall not be subject to any liability in connection with the performance of its services thereunder in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties.

Portfolio Managers

Other Accounts Managed. Messrs. Anderson, Ivascyn and Murata also manage the other registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles and/or other accounts indicated below. The following table identifies, as of March 31, 2012: (i) the number of registered investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and other accounts managed by the portfolio managers; and (ii) the total assets of such companies, vehicles and accounts, and the number and total assets of such companies, vehicles and accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on performance.

 

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     Total
Number of
Accounts
     Total Assets
of All
Accounts

(in $Millions)
     Number of
Accounts
Paying a
Performance
Fee
     Total Assets of
Accounts Paying a
Performance Fee
(in $Millions)
 

Daniel Ivascyn

           

Registered Investment Companies

     8       $ 10,353.04         0         N/A   

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

     7       $ 631.06         2       $ 535.22   

Other Accounts

     24       $ 9,955.01         1       $ 2,054.85   

Joshua Anderson

           

Registered Investment Companies

     0       $ 0         0         N/A   

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

     1       $ 243.13         1       $ 243.13   

Other Accounts

     25       $ 1,981.14         1       $ 1,421.08   

Alfred Murata

           

Registered Investment Companies

     0       $ 0         0         N/A   

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

     1       $ 329.83         0         N/A   

Other Accounts

     3       $ 409.10         0         N/A   

Conflicts of Interest

From time to time, potential and actual conflicts of interest may arise between a portfolio manager’s management of the investments of the Fund, on the one hand, and the management of other accounts, on the other. Potential and actual conflicts of interest may also arise as a result of PIMCO’s other business activities and PIMCO’s possession of material non-public information about an issuer. Other accounts managed by a portfolio manager might have similar investment objectives or strategies as the Fund, track the same index the Fund tracks or otherwise hold, purchase, or sell securities that are eligible to be held, purchased or sold by the Fund. The other accounts might also have different investment objectives or strategies than the Fund.

Knowledge and Timing of Fund Trades. A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio manager’s day-to-day management of the Fund. Because of his or her position with the Fund, a portfolio manager knows the size, timing and possible market impact of the Fund’s trades. It is theoretically possible that the portfolio manager could use this information to the advantage of other accounts he or she manages and to the possible detriment of the Fund.

Investment Opportunities. A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio manager’s management of a number of accounts with varying investment guidelines. Often, an investment opportunity may be suitable for both the Fund and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, but may not be available in sufficient quantities for both the Fund and the other accounts to participate fully. Similarly, there may be limited opportunity to sell an investment held by the Fund and another account. PIMCO has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities on a fair and equitable basis over time.

 

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Under PIMCO’s allocation procedures, investment opportunities are allocated among various investment strategies based on individual account investment guidelines and PIMCO’s investment outlook. PIMCO has also adopted additional procedures to complement the general trade allocation policy that are designed to address potential conflicts of interest due to the side-by-side management of the Fund and certain pooled investment vehicles, including investment opportunity allocation issues.

Conflicts potentially limiting the Fund’s investment opportunities may also arise when the Fund and other PIMCO clients invest in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure, such as when the Fund owns senior debt obligations of an issuer and other clients own junior tranches of the same issuer. In such circumstances, decisions over whether to trigger an event of default, over the terms of any workout, or how to exit an investment may result in conflicts of interest. In order to minimize such conflicts, a portfolio manager may avoid certain investment opportunities that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other PIMCO clients or PIMCO may enact internal procedures designed to minimize such conflicts, which could have the effect of limiting the Fund’s investment opportunities. Additionally, if PIMCO acquires material non-public confidential information in connection with its business activities for other clients, a portfolio manager may be restricted from purchasing securities or selling securities for the Fund. When making investment decisions where a conflict of interest may arise, PIMCO will endeavor to act in a fair and equitable manner as between the Fund and other clients; however, in certain instances the resolution of the conflict may result in PIMCO acting on behalf of another client in a manner that may not be in the best interest, or may be opposed to the best interest, of the Fund.

Performance Fees. A portfolio manager may advise certain accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based entirely or partially on performance. Performance fee arrangements may create a conflict of interest for the portfolio manager in that the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate the investment opportunities that he or she believes might be the most profitable to such other accounts instead of allocating them to the Fund. PIMCO has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities between the Fund and such other accounts on a fair and equitable basis over time.

Broad and Wide-Ranging Activities. The portfolio managers, the Investment Manager, PIMCO and their affiliates engage in a broad spectrum of activities. In the ordinary course of their business activities, the portfolio managers, the Investment Manager, PIMCO and their affiliates may engage in activities where the interests of certain divisions of the Investment Manager, PIMCO and their affiliates or the interests of their clients may conflict with the interests of the shareholders of the Fund.

Possible Future Activities. The Investment Manager, PIMCO and their affiliates may expand the range of services that they provide over time. Except as provided herein, the Investment Manager, PIMCO and their affiliates will not be restricted in the scope of their business or in the performance of any such services (whether now offered or undertaken in the future) even if such activities could give rise to conflicts of interest, and whether or not such conflicts are described herein. The Investment Manager, PIMCO and their affiliates have, and will continue to develop, relationships with a significant number of companies, financial sponsors and their senior

 

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managers, including relationships with clients who may hold or may have held investments similar to those intended to be made by the Fund. These clients may themselves represent appropriate investment opportunities for the Fund or may compete with the Fund for investment opportunities.

Use of Leverage. During periods in which the Fund is using leverage, the fees paid to the Investment Manager and PIMCO for investment advisory services, which may directly or indirectly affect the portfolio managers’ compensation, will be higher than if the Fund did not use leverage because the fees paid will be calculated on the basis of the Fund’s total managed assets, including assets attributable to reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls borrowings, and any preferred shares that may be outstanding, which may create an incentive for a portfolio manager to leverage the Fund or to leverage using strategies that increase the Investment Manager’s and PIMCO’s fees.

Portfolio Manager Compensation

PIMCO has adopted a Total Compensation Plan for its professional level employees, including its portfolio managers, that is designed to pay competitive compensation and reward performance, integrity and teamwork consistent with the firm’s mission statement. The Total Compensation Plan includes an incentive component that rewards high performance standards, work ethic and consistent individual and team contributions to the firm. The compensation of portfolio managers consists of a base salary, discretionary performance bonus, and may include an equity or long term incentive component.

Certain employees of PIMCO, including portfolio managers, may elect to defer compensation through PIMCO’s deferred compensation plan. PIMCO also offers its employees a non-contributory defined contribution plan through which PIMCO makes a contribution based on the employee’s compensation. PIMCO’s contribution rate increases at a specified compensation level, which is a level that would include portfolio managers.

The Total Compensation Plan consists of three components:

 

 

Base Salary – Base salary is determined based on core job responsibilities, market factors and internal equity. Base salary levels are reviewed annually, when there is a significant change in job responsibilities or a significant change in the market. Base salary is paid in regular installments throughout the year and payment dates are in line with local practice.

 

 

Performance Bonus – Performance bonuses are designed to reward individual performance. Each professional and his or her supervisor will agree upon performance objectives to serve as a basis for performance evaluation during the year. The objectives will outline individual goals according to pre-established measures of the group or department success. Achievement against these goals as measured by the employee and supervisor will be an important, but not exclusive, element of the Compensation Committee’s bonus decision process. Final award amounts are determined at the discretion of the Compensation Committee and will also consider firm performance.

 

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Equity or Long Term Incentive Compensation – Equity allows certain professionals to participate in the long-term growth of the firm. The M unit program provides for annual option grants which vest over a number of years and may convert into PIMCO equity that shares in the profit distributions of the firm. M Units are non-voting common equity of PIMCO and provide a mechanism for individuals to build a significant equity stake in PIMCO over time. Option awards may represent a significant portion of individual’s total compensation.

In certain countries with significant tax implications for employees to participate in the M Unit Option Plan, PIMCO continues to use the Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) in place of the M Unit Option Plan. The LTIP provides cash awards that appreciate or depreciate based upon the performance of PIMCO’s parent company, Allianz, and PIMCO over a three-year period. The aggregate amount available for distribution to participants is based upon Allianz’s profit growth and PIMCO’s profit growth.

Participation in the M Unit Option Plan and LTIP is contingent upon continued employment at PIMCO.

In addition, the following non-exclusive list of qualitative criteria may be considered when specifically determining the total compensation for portfolio managers:

 

 

3-year, 2-year and 1-year dollar-weighted and account-weighted, pre-tax investment performance as judged against the applicable benchmarks for each account managed by a portfolio manager (including the Fund) and relative to applicable industry peer groups;

 

 

Appropriate risk positioning that is consistent with PIMCO’s investment philosophy and the Investment Committee/CIO approach to the generation of alpha;

 

 

Amount and nature of assets managed by the portfolio manager;

 

 

Consistency of investment performance across portfolios of similar mandate and guidelines (reward low dispersion);

 

 

Generation and contribution of investment ideas in the context of PIMCO’s secular and cyclical forums, portfolio strategy meetings, Investment Committee meetings, and on a day-to-day basis;

 

 

Absence of defaults and price defaults for issues in the portfolios managed by the portfolio manager;

 

 

Contributions to asset retention, gathering and client satisfaction;

 

 

Contributions to mentoring, coaching and/or supervising; and

 

 

Personal growth and skills added.

 

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A portfolio manager’s compensation is not based directly on the performance of any fund or any other account managed by that portfolio manager.

Profit Sharing Plan . Instead of a bonus, portfolio managers who are Managing Directors of PIMCO receive compensation from a non-qualified profit sharing plan consisting of a portion of PIMCO’s net profits. Portfolio managers who are Managing Directors receive an amount determined by the Partner Compensation Committee, based upon an individual’s overall contribution to the firm.

Securities Ownership

Because the Fund is newly organized, currently no shares of the Fund are owned by Fund portfolio management. At the Fund’s request, the underwriters have agreed to reserve less than     % of the Common Shares for sale in this offering to certain portfolio managers and other officers and employees of the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates and their relatives (the “affiliated purchasers”), at the offering price of $25.00 per Common Share.

Proxy Voting Policies

The Fund and its Board of Trustees have delegated to the Investment Manager, and the Investment Manager has in turn delegated to PIMCO, responsibility for voting any proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund in accordance with PIMCO’s proxy voting policies and procedures. A description of the proxy voting policies and procedures to be followed by PIMCO on behalf of the Fund, including procedures to be used when a vote represents a conflict of interest, is attached hereto as Appendix A (“Description of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures”).

Information about how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held during the most recent twelve month period ended June 30th will be made available without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund’s shareholder servicing agent at (800) 254-5197, on the Fund’s website at http://www.allianzinvestors.com/closedendfunds and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Investment Decisions and Portfolio Transactions

Investment decisions for the Fund and for the other investment advisory clients of the Investment Manager and PIMCO are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives. Investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular client involved (including the Fund). Some securities considered for investments by the Fund also may be appropriate for other clients served by the Investment Manager and PIMCO. Thus, a particular security may be bought or sold for certain clients even though it could have been bought or sold for other clients at the same time, including accounts in which the Investment Manager, PIMCO, their affiliates and their employees may have a financial

 

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interest. If a purchase or sale of securities consistent with the investment policies of the Fund and one or more of these clients served by the Investment Manager PIMCO is considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities will be allocated among the Fund and other clients pursuant to the Investment Manager’s or PIMCO’s trade allocation policy, as applicable, that is designed to ensure that all accounts, including the Fund, are treated fairly, equitably, and in a non-preferential manner, such that allocations are not based upon fee structure or portfolio manager preference. The Investment Manager or PIMCO may acquire on behalf of its clients (including the Fund) securities or other financial instruments providing exposure to different aspects of the capital and debt structure of an issuer, including without limitation those that relate to senior and junior/subordinate obligations of such issuer. In certain circumstances, the interests of those clients exposed to one portion of the issuer’s capital and debt structure may diverge from those clients exposed to a different portion of the issuer’s capital and debt structure. The Investment Manager or PIMCO may advise some clients or take actions for them in their best interests with respect to their exposures to an issuer’s capital and debt structure that may diverge from the interests of other clients with different exposures to the same issuer’s capital and debt structure.

The Investment Manager or PIMCO may aggregate orders for the Fund with simultaneous transactions entered into on behalf of its other clients when, in its reasonable judgment, aggregation may result in an overall economic benefit to the Fund and the other clients in terms of pricing, brokerage commissions or other expenses. When feasible, PIMCO allocates trades prior to execution. When pre-execution allocation is not feasible, PIMCO promptly allocates trades following established and objective procedures. Allocations generally are made at or about the time of execution and before the end of the trading day. As a result, one account may receive a price for a particular transaction that is different from the price received by another account for a similar transaction on the same day. In general, trades are allocated among portfolio managers on a pro rata basis (to the extent a portfolio manager decides to participate fully in the trade), for further allocation by each portfolio manager among that manager’s eligible accounts. In allocating trades among accounts, portfolio managers generally consider a number of factors, including, but not limited to, each account’s deviation (in terms of risk exposure and/or performance characteristics) from a relevant model portfolio, each account’s investment objectives, restrictions and guidelines, its risk exposure, its available cash, and its existing holdings of similar securities. Once trades are allocated, they may be reallocated only in unusual circumstances due to recognition of specific account restrictions. In some cases, the Investment Manager or PIMCO may sell a security on behalf of a client, including the Fund, to a broker-dealer that thereafter may be purchased for the accounts of one or more other clients, including the Fund, from that or another broker-dealer. The Investment Manager and PIMCO have adopted procedures they believe are reasonably designed to obtain the best execution for the transactions by each account.

Brokerage and Research Services

There is generally no stated commission in the case of fixed-income securities, which are traded in the over-the-counter markets, but the price paid by the Fund usually includes an undisclosed dealer commission or mark-up. In underwritten offerings, the price paid by the Fund includes a disclosed, fixed commission or discount retained by the underwriter or dealer. Transactions on

 

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U.S. stock exchanges and other agency transactions involve the payment by the Fund of negotiated brokerage commissions. Such commissions vary among different brokers. Also, a particular broker may charge different commissions according to such factors as the difficulty and size of the transaction. Transactions in foreign securities generally involve the payment of fixed brokerage commissions, which are generally higher than those in the United States.

Subject to the supervision of the Investment Manager, PIMCO places all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities, options, futures contracts, swap agreements and other instruments for the Fund and buys and sells such securities, options, futures, swap agreements and other instruments for the Fund through a substantial number of brokers and dealers. In so doing, PIMCO uses its best efforts to obtain for the Fund the best execution available. In seeking best execution, PIMCO, having in mind the Fund’s best interests, considers all factors it deems relevant, including, by way of illustration, price, the size of the transaction, the nature of the market for the security, the amount of the commission, the timing of the transaction taking into account market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the broker-dealer involved and the quality of service rendered by the broker-dealer in other transactions.

Because the Fund is newly-organized, it did not pay any brokerage commissions in a prior fiscal year.

Subject to the supervision of the Investment Manager, PIMCO places orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for the Fund’s account with brokers or dealers selected by it in its discretion. In effecting purchases and sales of portfolio securities for the account of the Fund, PIMCO will seek the best execution of the Fund’s orders. In doing so, the Fund may pay higher commission rates than the lowest available when PIMCO believes it is reasonable to do so in light of the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the broker effecting the transaction, as discussed below.

It has for many years been a common practice in the investment advisory business for advisers of investment companies and other institutional investors to receive research services from broker-dealers that execute portfolio transactions for the clients of such advisers. Consistent with this practice, PIMCO may receive research services from many broker-dealers with which PIMCO places the Fund’s portfolio transactions. PIMCO also may receive research or research related credits from brokers that are generated from underwriting commissions when purchasing new issues of fixed-income securities or other assets for the Fund. These services, which in some cases also may be purchased for cash, include such matters as general economic and security market reviews, industry and company reviews, evaluations of securities and recommendations as to the purchase and sale of securities. Such information may be provided in the form of meetings with analysts, telephone contacts and written materials. Some of these services are of value to PIMCO in advising various of its clients (including the Fund), although not all of these services are necessarily useful and of value in managing the Fund. Neither the management fee paid by the Fund to the Investment Manager nor the portfolio management fee paid by the Investment Manager to PIMCO is reduced in the event that PIMCO and its affiliates received such services. Although PIMCO considers the research products and services it receives from broker-dealers to be supplemental to its own internal research, PIMCO would likely incur

 

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additional costs if it had to generate these research products and services through its own efforts or if it paid for these products or services itself.

As permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, PIMCO may cause the Fund to pay a broker-dealer that provides “brokerage and research services” (as defined in such Act) to PIMCO an amount of disclosed commission or spread for effecting a securities transaction for the Fund in excess of the commission or spread which another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction.

As noted above, PIMCO may purchase new issues of securities for the Fund in underwritten fixed price offerings. In these situations, the underwriter or selling group member may provide PIMCO with research in addition to selling the securities (at the fixed public offering price) to the Fund or other advisory clients. Because the offerings are conducted at a fixed price, the ability to obtain research from a broker-dealer in this situation provides knowledge that may benefit the Fund, other PIMCO clients, and PIMCO without incurring additional costs. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e) because the broker-dealer is considered to be acting in a principal capacity in underwritten transactions. However, FINRA has adopted rules expressly permitting broker-dealers to provide bona fide research to advisers in connection with fixed price offerings under certain circumstances. As a general matter in these situations, the underwriter or selling group member will provide research credits at a rate that is higher than that which is available for secondary market transactions.

PIMCO may place orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities with a broker-dealer that is an affiliate of the Investment Manager or PIMCO where, in the judgment of the Investment Manager or PIMCO, such firm will be able to obtain a price and execution at least as favorable as other qualified broker-dealers. Pursuant to applicable sections under the 1940 Act, a broker-dealer that is an affiliate of the Investment Manager or PIMCO may receive and retain compensation for effecting portfolio transactions for the Fund if the commissions paid to such an affiliated broker-dealer by the Fund do not exceed applicable 1940 Act limitations.

SEC rules further require that commissions paid to such an affiliated broker dealer, the Investment Manager or PIMCO by the Fund on exchange transactions not exceed “usual and customary brokerage commissions.” The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.”

Since the securities in which the Fund will invest consist primarily of fixed income securities, which are generally not subject to stated brokerage commissions, as described above, the Fund’s anticipated investments in securities subject to stated commissions are expected to generally constitute a small percentage of the aggregate dollar amount of the Fund’s transactions.

The Fund is newly-organized and did not pay any commissions to affiliated brokers in a prior fiscal year.

 

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References to PIMCO in this section would apply equally to the Investment Manager if the Investment Manager were to assume portfolio management responsibilities for the Fund and place orders for the purchase and sale of the Fund’s portfolio investments.

Holdings of Securities of the Fund’s Regular Brokers and Dealers

The Fund is newly-organized and did not acquire or hold any securities of its regular broker-dealers in a prior fiscal year.

DISTRIBUTIONS

See “Distributions” in the Prospectus for information relating to distributions to Fund shareholders.

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

Common Shares

The Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Common Shares. The Common Shares will be issued with a par value of $0.00001 per share. All Common Shares of the Fund have equal rights as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation of the Fund. The Common Shares will, when issued, be fully paid and, subject to matters discussed in “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust—Shareholder Liability” below, non-assessable, and will have no pre-emptive or conversion rights or rights to cumulative voting.

The Common Shares are expected to be listed on the NYSE subject to notice of issuance. The Fund intends to hold annual meetings of shareholders so long as the Common Shares are listed on a national securities exchange and such meetings are required as a condition to such listing.

Shares of closed-end investment companies may frequently trade on an exchange at prices lower than net asset value, although they have during some periods traded at prices equal to or higher than net asset value. There can be no assurance that Common Shares or shares of other similar funds will trade at a price equal to a higher than net asset value in the future. Net asset value will be reduced immediately following the offering of Common Shares after payment of the sales load and payment or reimbursement of offering expenses. Net asset value fluctuations are expected to be greater if the Fund has a leveraged capital structure. Whether investors will realize gains or losses upon the sale of Common Shares will not depend upon the Fund’s net asset value but will depend entirely upon whether the market price of the Common Shares at the time of sale is above or below the original purchase price for the shares. Since the market price of the Fund’s Common Shares will be determined by factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot predict whether the Common Shares will trade at, below or above net asset value or at, below or above the initial public offering price. Accordingly, the Common Shares are designed primarily for long-term investors, and investors in the Common Shares should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes.

 

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ANTI-TAKEOVER AND OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST

Shareholder Liability

Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. However, the Declaration contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund and requires that notice of such limited liability be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Fund or the Trustees. The Declaration also provides for indemnification out of the Fund’s assets and property for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable on account of being or having been a shareholder. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability should be limited to circumstances in which such disclaimer is inoperative or the Fund is unable to meet its obligations, and thus should be considered remote.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

As described below, the Declaration includes provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund, convert the Fund to open-end status or to change the composition of its Board of Trustees, and could have the effect of depriving shareholders of opportunities to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund.

The Fund’s Trustees are divided into three classes (Class I, Class II and Class III), having initial terms of one, two and three years, respectively. At each annual meeting of shareholders, the term of one class will expire and each Trustee elected to that class will hold office until the third annual meeting thereafter. The classification of the Board of Trustees in this manner could delay for an additional year the replacement of a majority of the Board of Trustees. In addition, the Declaration provides that a Trustee may be removed only for cause and only (i) by action of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the outstanding shares of the classes or series of shares entitled to vote for the election of such Trustee, or (ii) by written instrument, signed by at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the remaining Trustees, specifying the date when such removal shall become effective. Cause for these purposes shall require willful misconduct, dishonesty or fraud on the part of the Trustee in the conduct of his office or such Trustee being convicted of a felony.

Except as provided in the next paragraph, the affirmative vote or consent of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Board of Trustees and at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the holders of shares of the Fund outstanding and entitled to vote thereon are required to authorize any of the following transactions (each a “Material Transaction”): (1) a merger, consolidation or share exchange of the Fund or any series or class of shares of the Fund with or into any other person or company, or of any such person or company with or into the Fund or any such series or class of shares; (2) the issuance or transfer by the Fund or any series or class of shares (in one or a series of transactions in any twelve-month period) of any securities of the Fund or such series or class to any other person or entity for cash, securities or other property (or combination thereof) having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more, excluding sales of securities of the Fund or such series or class in connection with a public offering, issuances of securities of the

 

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Fund or such series or class pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan adopted by the Fund and issuances of securities of the Fund or such series or class upon the exercise of any stock subscription rights distributed by the Fund; or (3) a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition by the Fund or any series or class of shares (in one or a series of transactions in any twelve-month period) to or with any person of any assets of the Fund or such series or class having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more, except for transactions in securities effected by the Fund or such series or class in the ordinary course of its business. The same affirmative votes are required with respect to any shareholder proposal as to specific investment decisions made or to be made with respect to the Fund’s assets or the assets of any series or class of shares of the Fund. Notwithstanding the approval requirements specified in the preceding paragraph, the Declaration requires no vote or consent of the Fund’s shareholders to authorize a Material Transaction if the transaction is approved by a vote of both a majority of the Board of Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees (as defined below), so long as all other conditions and requirements, if any, provided for in the Fund’s Bylaws and applicable law (including any shareholder voting rights under the 1940 Act) have been satisfied.

In addition, the Declaration provides that the Fund may be terminated at any time by vote or consent of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Fund’s shares entitled to vote or, alternatively, by vote or consent of both a majority of the Board of Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees (as defined below) upon written notice to shareholders of the Fund.

In certain circumstances, the Declaration also imposes shareholder voting requirements that are more demanding than those required under the 1940 Act in order to authorize a conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company. See “Repurchase of Common Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund” below.

As noted, the voting provisions described above could have the effect of depriving Common Shareholders of an opportunity to sell their Common Shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund in a tender offer or similar transaction. In the view of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, however, these provisions offer several possible advantages, including: (1) requiring persons seeking control of the Fund to negotiate with its management regarding the price to be paid for the amount of Common Shares required to obtain control; (2) promoting continuity and stability; and (3) enhancing the Fund’s ability to pursue long-term strategies that are consistent with its investment objectives and management policies. The Board of Trustees has determined that the voting requirements described above, which are generally greater than the minimum requirements under the 1940 Act, are in the best interests of the Fund’s Common Shareholders generally.

A “Continuing Trustee,” as used in the discussion above, is any member of the Fund’s Board of Trustees who either (i) has been a member of the Board for a period of at least thirty-six months (or since the commencement of the Fund’s operations, if less than thirty-six months) or (ii) was nominated to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees by a majority of the Continuing Trustees then members of the Board.

 

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The foregoing is intended only as a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Declaration and the Fund’s Bylaws, both of which have been filed as exhibits to the Fund’s registration statement on file with the SEC.

Liability of Trustees

The Declaration provides that the obligations of the Fund are not binding upon the Trustees of the Fund individually, but only upon the assets and property of the Fund, and that the Trustees shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. Nothing in the Declaration, however, protects a Trustee against any liability to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.

REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND

The Fund is a closed-end investment company and as such its shareholders will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares. Instead, the Fund’s Common Shares will trade in the open market at a price that will be a function several factors, including dividend levels and stability (which will in turn be affected by dividend and interest payments by the Fund’s portfolio holdings, regulations affecting the timing and character of Fund’s distributions, Fund expenses and other factors), portfolio credit quality, liquidity, call protection, market supply and demand, and similar factors relating to the Fund’s portfolio holdings. Shares of a closed-end investment company may frequently trade at prices lower than net asset value. The Fund’s Board of Trustees will regularly monitor the relationship between the market price and net asset value of the Common Shares. If the Common Shares were to trade at a substantial discount to net asset value for an extended period of time, the Board may consider the repurchase of its Common Shares on the open market or in private transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company. The Fund cannot assure you that the Board of Trustees will decide to take or propose any of these actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers will actually reduce any market discount. The Fund has no present intention to repurchase its Common Shares and would do so only in the circumstances described in this section.

Subject to its investment limitations, the Fund may borrow to finance the repurchase of shares or to make a tender offer. Interest on any borrowings to finance share repurchase transactions or the accumulation of cash by the Fund in anticipation of share repurchases or tenders will reduce the Fund’s net income. Any share repurchase, tender offer or borrowing that might be approved by the Board of Trustees would have to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

The Fund’s Board of Trustees may also from time to time consider submitting to the holders of the shares of beneficial interest of the Fund a proposal to convert the Fund to an open-end investment company. In determining whether to exercise its sole discretion to submit this issue to shareholders, the Board of Trustees would consider all factors then relevant, including the

 

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relationship of the market price of the Common Shares to net asset value, the extent, if any, to which the Fund’s capital structure is leveraged and general market and economic conditions.

The Declaration requires the affirmative vote or consent of holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of each class of the Fund’s shares entitled to vote on the matter to authorize a conversion of the Fund from a closed-end investment company to an open-end investment company, unless the conversion is authorized by both a majority of the Board of Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees (as defined above under “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust–Anti-Takeover Provisions”). This seventy-five percent (75%) shareholder approval requirement is higher than is required under the 1940 Act. In the event that a conversion is approved by the Trustees and the Continuing Trustees as described above, the minimum shareholder vote required under the 1940 Act would be necessary to authorize the conversion. Currently, the 1940 Act would require approval of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” Common Shares and, if issued, preferred shares voting together as a single class, and the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” preferred shares (if issued), voting as a separate class, in order to authorize a conversion.

If the Fund converted to an open-end company the Fund’s Common Shares likely would no longer be listed on the NYSE. In addition, if the Fund were to convert to an open-end company, it would likely have to significantly reduce any leverage it is then employing and would not be able to invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, either or both of which may necessitate a substantial repositioning of the Fund’s investment portfolio, which may in turn generate substantial transaction costs, which would be borne by Common Shareholders, and may adversely affect Fund performance and Fund dividends. Shareholders of an open-end investment company may require the company to redeem their shares on any business day (except in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their net asset value, less such redemption charge, if any, as might be in effect at the time of redemption. In order to avoid maintaining large cash positions or liquidating favorable investments to meet redemptions, open-end companies typically engage in a continuous offering of their shares. Open-end companies are thus subject to periodic asset in-flows and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management.

The repurchase by the Fund of its shares at prices below net asset value will result in an increase in the net asset value of those shares that remain outstanding. However, there can be no assurance that share repurchases or tenders at or below net asset value will result in the Fund’s shares trading at a price equal to their net asset value. Nevertheless, the fact that the Fund’s shares may be the subject of repurchase or tender offers at net asset value from time to time, or that the Fund may be converted to an open-end company, may reduce any spread between market price and net asset value that might otherwise exist.

In addition, a purchase by the Fund of its Common Shares will decrease the Fund’s total assets. This would likely have the effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio. Any purchase by the Fund of its Common Shares at a time when reverse repurchase agreements, borrowings, or preferred shares or other forms of leverage are outstanding will increase the leverage applicable to the outstanding Common Shares then remaining. See the Prospectus under “Principal Risks of the Fund–Leverage Risk.”

 

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Before deciding whether to take any action if the Fund’s Common Shares trade below net asset value, the Board of Trustees would consider all relevant factors, including the extent and duration of the discount, the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio, the effect of any action that might be taken on the Fund or its shareholders and market considerations. Based on these considerations, even if the Fund’s Common Shares should trade at a discount, the Board of Trustees may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders, no action should be taken.

TAX MATTERS

The following discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in Common Shares of the Fund is based on the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, and other applicable authority, as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information. These authorities may be changed, possibly with retroactive effect, or subject to new legislative, administrative, or judicial interpretation. The following discussion is only a summary of some of the important U.S. federal tax considerations generally applicable to investments in Common Shares of the Fund. This summary does not purport to be a complete description of the U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to an investment in Common Shares of the Fund. There may be other U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to particular shareholders. For example, except as otherwise specifically noted herein, we have not described certain tax considerations that may be relevant to certain types of holders subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, including shareholders subject to the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, pension plans and trusts, regulated investment companies, dealers in securities, shareholders holding Common Shares through tax-advantaged accounts (such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts), financial institutions, shareholders holding Common Shares as part of a hedge, straddle, or conversion transaction, entities that are not organized under the laws of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, and persons who are neither citizens nor residents of the United States. This summary assumes that investors hold Common Shares as capital assets (within the meaning of the Code). Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding their particular situation and the possible application of U.S. federal, state, local, foreign or other tax laws.

Taxation of the Fund

The Fund intends to elect to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code and intends each year to qualify and be eligible to be treated as such. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded RICs and their shareholders, the Fund must, among other things: (i) derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as defined below); (ii) diversify its holdings so that at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (a) at least 50% of the value of its total

 

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assets consists of cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. Government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities limited, with respect to any one issuer, to no more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and no more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested in the securities (other than those of the U.S. Government or other RICs) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships; and (iii) distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid—generally, taxable ordinary income and the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses) and net tax-exempt income for such year.

In general, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described in (i) above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the RIC. However, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (a partnership (a) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof and (b) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in (i) above) will be treated as qualifying income. In general, such entities will be treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes because they meet the passive income requirement under Code Section 7704(c)(2). In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.

For purposes of the diversification test described in (ii) above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” will include the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership. Also, for purposes of the diversification test in (ii) above, the identification of the issuer (or, in some cases, issuers) of a particular investment can depend on the terms and conditions of that investment. In some cases, identification of the issuer (or issuers) is uncertain under current law, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to issuer identification for a particular type of investment may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to meet the diversification test in (ii) above.

If the Fund qualifies for treatment as a RIC, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on income distributed to Common Shareholders in a timely manner in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, as defined below). The Fund’s intention to qualify for treatment as a RIC may negatively affect the Fund’s return to Common Shareholders by limiting its ability to acquire or continue to hold positions that would otherwise be consistent with its investment strategy or by requiring it to engage in transactions it would otherwise not engage in, resulting in additional transaction costs. In certain circumstances, it may be difficult for the Fund to meet the income test described in clause (i) or the diversification test set forth in clause (ii) of the third preceding paragraph. If the Fund were to fail to meet the income, diversification, or distribution test described above, the Fund could in some cases cure such failure, including by paying a Fund-level tax, paying interest, making additional distributions, and disposing of certain

 

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assets. If the Fund were ineligible to or otherwise did not cure such failure for any year, or if the Fund were otherwise to fail to qualify as a RIC accorded special tax treatment for such year, the Fund would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, would be taxable to Common Shareholders as dividend income. Such dividend income generally would be eligible for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders and to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of non-corporate shareholders (at least for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013, see discussion below), provided, in both cases, that the shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements in respect of the Fund’s Common Shares (as described below). In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before re-qualifying as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment. Thus failure to qualify as a RIC would likely materially reduce the investment return to the Common Shareholders.

The Fund intends to distribute all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income, its net tax-exempt income (if any) and its net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss, in each case determined with reference to any loss carryforwards) in each taxable year. Any taxable income including any net capital gain retained by the Fund will be subject to tax at the Fund level at regular corporate rates. In the case of net capital gain, the Fund is permitted to designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gain in a notice to its shareholders who would then (i) be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds on a properly filed U.S. tax return to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. If the Fund makes this designation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of Common Shares owned by a shareholder will be increased by an amount equal under current law to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income under clause (i) of the preceding sentence and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. The Fund is not required to, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will, make this designation if it retains all or a portion of its net capital gain in a taxable year.

In determining its net capital gain, including in connection with determining the amount available to support a Capital Gain Dividend (as defined below), its taxable income and its earnings and profits, a RIC generally may elect to treat part or all of any post-October capital loss (defined as the greatest of net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss, in each case attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31 (or a later date if the Fund is permitted to elect and so elects)) or late-year ordinary loss (generally, (i) net ordinary loss from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31 (or a later date if the Fund makes the election referred to immediately above), plus (ii) other net ordinary loss attributable to the portion of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.

 

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A nondeductible excise tax at the rate of 4% will be imposed on the excess, if any, of the Fund’s “required distribution” over its actual distributions in any calendar year. Generally, the required distribution is 98% of the Fund’s ordinary income for the calendar year plus 98.2% of its capital gain net income recognized during the one-year period ending on October 31 (or later if the Fund makes the election referred to in the previous paragraph), plus undistributed amounts from prior years. For purposes of the required excise tax distribution, a RIC’s ordinary gains and losses from the sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of property that would otherwise be taken into account after October 31 (or later if the Fund makes the election referred to in the previous paragraph) generally are treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year. Also, for purposes of the excise tax, the Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it is subject to corporate income tax for the taxable year ending within the calendar year. The Fund intends to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the excise tax, although there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so. The Fund may determine to pay the excise tax in a year to the extent it is deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund (e.g., if the excise tax is de minimis ).

Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against the Fund’s net investment income. Instead, potentially subject to certain limitations, the Fund may carry net capital losses from any taxable year forward to subsequent taxable years to offset capital gains, if any, realized during such subsequent taxable years. Capital loss carryforwards are reduced to the extent they offset current-year net realized capital gains, whether the Fund retains or distributes such gains. The Fund may carry net capital losses forward to one or more subsequent taxable years without expiration. The Fund must apply such carryforwards first against gains of the same character. The Fund’s available capital loss carryforwards, if any, will be set forth in its annual shareholder report for each fiscal year.

Distributions

The Fund intends to make monthly distributions. Unless a shareholder elects otherwise, all distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Common Shares of the Fund pursuant to the Plan. A shareholder whose distributions are reinvested in Common Shares under the Plan will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having received an amount in distribution equal to either (i) if Newly Issued Common Shares are issued under the Plan, generally the fair market value of the Newly Issued Common Shares issued to the shareholder or (ii) if reinvestment is made through Open-Market Purchases under the Plan, the amount of cash allocated to the shareholder for the purchase of Common Shares on its behalf in the open market. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, all distributions are generally taxable in the manner described below, whether a shareholder takes them in cash or they are reinvested pursuant to the Plan in additional shares of the Fund.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment net income are generally taxable to Common Shareholders as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Fund owned the investments that generated the gains, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her Common Shares. In general, the Fund will recognize long-term capital gain or loss on investments it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for more than one year, and short-term capital gain or loss on investments it has owned

 

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(or is deemed to have owned) for one year or less. Distributions of net capital gain that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains. Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013. These reduced rates will expire for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise. Distributions of net short-term capital gain (as reduced by any net long-term capital loss for the taxable year) will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013, the Fund may report certain dividends as derived from “qualified dividend income” which, when received by a non-corporate shareholder, will be taxed at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain, provided holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund levels. This provision will expire for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise. Interest income, short-term capital gain and, generally, REIT distributions, are not qualified dividend income. The Fund does not expect a significant portion of distributions to be derived from qualified dividend income.

Dividends received by corporate shareholders may qualify for the 70% dividends-received deduction to the extent of the amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations and to the extent, if any, that a portion of interest paid or accrued on certain high yield discount obligations owned by the Fund is treated as a dividend, providing holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund levels.

Any distribution of income that is attributable to (i) income received by the Fund in lieu of dividends with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction or (ii) dividend income received by the Fund on securities it temporarily purchased from a counterparty pursuant to a repurchase agreement that is treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a loan by the Fund, will not constitute qualified dividend income to non-corporate shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.

If the Fund makes a distribution in excess of its current and accumulated “earnings and profits” in any taxable year, the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Common Shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of such shares.

A distribution by the Fund will be treated as paid on December 31 of any calendar year if it is declared by the Fund in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid by the Fund during January of the following calendar year. Such distributions will be

 

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taxable to shareholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received.

As required by federal law, detailed federal tax information with respect to each calendar year will be furnished to shareholders early in the succeeding year.

Dividends and distributions on the Common Shares are generally subject to federal income tax as described herein to the extent they do not exceed the Fund’s realized income and gains, even though such dividends and distributions may economically represent a return of a particular shareholder’s investment. Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of Common Shares purchased at a time when the Fund’s net asset value reflects unrealized gains or income or gains that are realized but not yet distributed. Such realized income and gains may be required to be distributed even when the Fund’s net asset value also reflects unrealized losses.

Sales or Exchanges of Shares

The sale or exchange of shares of the Fund by a shareholder may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of shares will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any Capital Gain Dividends received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to those shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be disallowed under the Code’s “wash sale” rule if other substantially identical shares of the Fund are purchased (whether through the automatic reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

From time to time the Fund may make a tender offer for its Common Shares. Shareholders who tender all Common Shares held, or considered to be held, by them will be treated as having sold their shares and generally will realize a capital gain or loss. If a shareholder tenders fewer than all of its Common Shares in certain circumstances, such shareholder will be treated as having received a taxable dividend upon the tender of its Common Shares. In such a case, there is a risk that non-tendering shareholders will be treated as having received taxable distributions from the Fund. The extent of such risk will vary depending upon the particular circumstances of the tender offer, in particular whether such offer is a single and isolated event or is part of a plan for periodically redeeming the Common Shares of the Fund; if isolated, any such risk is likely remote. To the extent that the Fund recognizes net gains on the liquidation of portfolio securities to meet such tenders of Common Shares, the Fund will be required to make additional distributions to its Common Shareholders.

The Fund’s repurchase of Common Shares on the open market similarly results in a percentage increase in the interests of remaining shareholders. In such a case, a selling shareholder would likely have no specific knowledge that he or she is selling his or her shares to the Fund. It is therefore less likely that shareholders whose percentage share interests in the Fund increase as a

 

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result of any such open-market sale will be treated as having received a taxable distribution from the Fund.

Medicare Tax.

For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, Section 1411 of the Code generally imposes a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on the net investment income of certain individuals, trusts and estates over certain threshold amounts. For these purposes, “net investment income” generally includes, among other things, (i) distributions paid by the Fund of net investment income and capital gains as described above, and (ii) any net gain from the sale or exchange of Fund shares. Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this additional tax on their investment in the Fund.

Original Issue Discount, Market Discount, Payment-in-Kind Securities, Preferred Securities and Commodity-Linked Notes

Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance (including zero-coupon bonds) that are acquired by the Fund will be treated as debt obligations that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount (“OID”) is treated as interest income and is included in the Fund’s income (and thus is required to be distributed) over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt obligation. Increases in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will generally be treated as OID.

Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance that are acquired by the Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having “market discount.” Very generally, market discount is the excess of the stated redemption price of a debt obligation (or, in the case of an obligation issued with OID, its “revised issue price”) over the purchase price of such obligation. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt obligation having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt obligation. Alternatively, the Fund may elect to accrue market discount currently. If this election is made, the Fund will be required to include currently any accrued market discount on such debt obligations in the Fund’s taxable income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt obligations, even though payment of those amounts is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt obligations. The Fund reserves the right to revoke such an election at any time pursuant to applicable IRS procedures. The rate at which the market discount accrues, and thus is included in the Fund’s income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects. In the case of higher-risk securities, the amount of market discount may be unclear. See “Higher Risk Securities.”

From time to time, a substantial portion of the Fund’s investments in loans and other debt obligations could be treated as having OID and/or market discount, which, in some cases could be significant.

Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance that are acquired by the Fund may be treated as having OID or, in certain cases, “acquisition discount” (very generally, the excess of the stated redemption price over the purchase price). The Fund will be required to include the OID or acquisition discount in income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt obligation, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt obligation. The rate at which OID or acquisition discount accrues, and thus is included in the Fund’s income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects.

 

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Some preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion, to defer the payment of distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. If the Fund owns a preferred security that is deferring the payment of its distributions, the Fund may be required to report income for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of any such deferred distributions even though the Fund has not yet actually received the cash distribution.

In addition, payment-in-kind securities will, and commodity-linked notes may, give rise to income which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.

By reason of holding the foregoing kinds of securities, the Fund may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount which is greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or by liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary (including when it is not advantageous to do so). The Fund may realize gains or losses from such liquidations. In the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution, if any, than they would in the absence of such transactions.

Higher-Risk Securities

Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues for the Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether or to what extent the Fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount, when and to what extent the Fund may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how the Fund should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by the Fund when, as and if it invests in such securities, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a RIC and does not become subject to federal income or excise tax.

High Yield Discount Obligations

A portion of the interest accrued on certain high yield discount obligations owned by the Fund may not be deductible to the issuer and thus will instead be treated as a dividend paid by the issuer for purposes of the corporate dividends received deduction. In such cases, if the issuer of the high yield discount obligations is a domestic corporation, dividend payments by the Fund may be eligible for the dividends received deduction to the extent attributable to the deemed dividend portion of such accrued interest.

Municipal Bonds

The interest on municipal bonds is generally exempt from U.S. federal income tax . The Fund does not expect to invest 50% or more of its assets in municipal bonds on which the interest is exempt from U.S. federal income tax, or in interests in other RICs. As a result, it does not expect to be eligible to pay “exempt-interest dividends” to its shareholders under the applicable tax rules. As a result, interest on municipal bonds is taxable to shareholders of the Fund when

 

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received as a distribution from the Fund. In addition, gains realized by the Fund on the sale or exchange of municipal bonds are taxable to shareholders of the Fund when distributed to them.

As discussed in “Investment Objectives and Policies,” unlike most municipal bonds, interest paid by an issuer on a Build America Bond is taxable to the bondholder. Thus, the interest the Fund receives on such bonds will be included in the Fund’s taxable income and taxable to shareholders as ordinary income when distributed by the Fund.

If the Fund holds, directly or indirectly, one or more tax credit Build America Bonds (which will have been issued prior to December 31, 2010) on one or more applicable dates during a taxable year, it is possible that the Fund will elect to permit its shareholders to claim a tax credit on their income tax returns equal to each shareholder’s proportionate share of tax credits from the applicable bonds that otherwise would be allowed to the Fund. In such a case, a shareholder will be deemed to receive a distribution of money with respect to its Fund shares equal to the shareholder’s proportionate share of the amount of such credits and be allowed a credit against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability equal to the amount of such deemed distribution, subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code on the credits involved. Even if the Fund is eligible to pass through tax credits to shareholders, the Fund may choose not to do so.

Certain Investments in REITs

Any investment by the Fund in equity securities of REITs may result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Investments in REIT equity securities also may require the Fund to accrue and to distribute income not yet received. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. Dividends received by the Fund from a REIT generally will not constitute qualified dividend income.

The Fund may invest directly or indirectly in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) (including by investing in residual interests in CMOs with respect to which an election to be treated as a REMIC is in effect) or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”). Under a notice issued by the IRS in October 2006 and Treasury Regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively, a portion of the Fund’s income (including income allocated to the Fund from a REIT or other pass-through entity) that is attributable to a residual interest in a REMIC or an equity interest in a TMP — referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”— will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that “excess inclusion income” of a RIC, such as the Fund, will generally be allocated to shareholders of the RIC in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related interest directly. As a result, the Fund may not be a suitable investment for charitable remainder trusts, as noted below.

In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) in the case of a

 

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non-U.S. shareholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax (discussed below), and (iii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) to entities (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or other tax-exempt entity) subject to tax on unrelated business income, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return, to file such a tax return and pay tax on such income.

Income of a RIC that would be UBTI if earned directly by a tax-exempt entity will not generally be attributed as UBTI to a tax-exempt shareholder of the RIC. Notwithstanding this “blocking” effect, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of its investment in the Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Code Section 514(b). A tax-exempt shareholder may also recognize UBTI if the Fund recognizes “excess inclusion income” derived from direct or indirect investments in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs as described above, if the amount of such income recognized by the Fund exceeds the Fund’s investment company taxable income (after taking into account deductions for dividends paid by the Fund).

In addition, special tax consequences apply to charitable remainder trusts (“CRTs”) that invest in RICs that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs. Under legislation enacted in December 2006, if a charitable remainder trust (“CRT”), as defined in Section 664 of the Code, realizes any UBTI for a taxable year, a 100% excise tax is imposed on such UBTI. Under IRS guidance issued in October 2006, a CRT will not recognize UBTI solely as a result of investing in a RIC that recognizes “excess inclusion income.” Rather, if at any time during any taxable year a CRT (or one of certain other tax-exempt shareholders, such as the United States, a state or political subdivision, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, and certain energy cooperatives) is a record holder of a share in a RIC that recognizes “excess inclusion income,” then the RIC will be subject to a tax on that portion of its “excess inclusion income” for the taxable year that is allocable to such shareholders at the highest federal corporate income tax rate. The extent to which this IRS guidance remains applicable in light of the December 2006 legislation is unclear. To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the Fund may elect to specially allocate any such tax to the applicable CRT, or other shareholder, and thus reduce such shareholder’s distributions for the year by the amount of the tax that relates to such shareholder’s interest in the Fund. CRTs and other tax-exempt shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the consequences of investing in the Fund.

Options, Futures, and Forward Contracts, Swap Agreements, and other Derivatives

The U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Fund’s options activity will vary based on the nature and the subject of the options. In general, option premiums from the Fund’s option writing activity are not immediately included in the income of the Fund when received. Instead, in the case of certain options (including options on single stocks, options on certain narrow-based indexes and options not listed on certain exchanges) the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the Fund transfers or otherwise terminates the option. If a call option written by the Fund with respect to individual stocks is exercised and the Fund sells or delivers the underlying stock, the Fund generally will recognize

 

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capital gain or loss equal to (a) the sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the Fund minus (b) the Fund’s adjusted tax basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by the Fund pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the Fund will generally subtract the premium received for purposes of computing its cost basis in the stock purchased. Gain or loss arising in respect of a termination of the Fund’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option and related sale or delivery of the underlying stock will be short-term capital gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the Fund is greater or less than the amount paid by the Fund (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund generally will recognize short-term capital gain equal to the premium received.

The tax treatment of certain options that are listed on a qualified board of exchange (“listed options”) written or purchased by the Fund (including options on futures contracts, broad-based equity indices and debt securities), as well as certain futures contracts, will be governed by Section 1256 of the Code (“Section 1256 contracts”). Gains or losses on Section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, Section 1256 contracts held by the Fund at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the nondeductible 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable. Certain options and futures listed on non-U.S. exchanges will meet the requirements for Section 1256 treatment.

Certain covered call-writing activities of the Fund, if any, may trigger the U.S. federal income tax straddle rules of Section 1092 of the Code, requiring that losses be deferred and holding periods be tolled on offsetting positions in options and stocks deemed to constitute substantially similar or related property. Options on single stocks that are not “deep in the money” may give rise to qualified covered calls, which generally are not subject to the straddle rules; the holding period on stock underlying qualified covered calls that are “in the money” although not “deep in the money” will be suspended while such calls are outstanding. Thus, the straddle rules and the rules governing qualified covered calls could cause gains that would otherwise constitute long-term capital gains to be treated as short-term capital gains, and distributions that would otherwise constitute “qualified dividend income” to fail to satisfy the holding period requirements and therefore to be taxed as ordinary income or to fail to qualify for the 70% dividends received deduction for corporations.

In addition to the foregoing special rules in respect of futures and options transactions, the Fund’s transactions in other derivatives contracts ( e.g. , swap agreements and forward contracts), as well as any of its other hedging, short sale or similar transactions may be subject to one or more special tax rules ( e.g. , notional principal contract, mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules), the effect of which may be, among other things, to accelerate the recognition of income to the Fund, to defer losses to the Fund, to cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, to convert lower taxed long-term capital gains or “qualified dividend income” into higher taxed short-term capital gains or

 

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ordinary income and to convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules, therefore, could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. In particular, the straddle rules require that certain losses be deferred, and the holding period for positions governed by theses rules generally will not begin until after the offsetting position is no longer outstanding.

Because these and other tax rules applicable to these types of transactions are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether the Fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements, to maintain its qualification as a RIC and avoid a Fund-level tax.

The Fund’s use of commodity-linked instruments can be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a RIC, and can limit the Fund’s ability to so qualify. Income from certain commodity-linked instruments does not constitute qualifying income to the Fund. The tax treatment of commodity-linked notes and certain other commodity-linked instruments in which the Fund might invest is not certain, in particular with respect to whether income and gains from such instruments constitutes qualifying income. If the Fund treats income from a particular instrument as qualifying income and the income is later determined not to constitute qualifying income, and, together with any other nonqualifying income, causes the Fund’s nonqualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, the Fund will fail to qualify as a RIC unless it is eligible to and does pay a tax at the Fund level.

Book-Tax Differences

Certain of the Fund’s investments in derivative instruments and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and any of the Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, are likely to produce a difference between its book income and the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any). If such a difference arises and the Fund’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income (including realized capital gains) and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution (if any) of such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining current or accumulated earnings and profits, (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s adjusted tax basis in the shares and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the Fund’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income (including realized capital gains) and net tax-exempt income (if any), the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment.

Foreign Currency Transactions

The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. Any such net gains could require a larger dividend toward the end of the calendar year, and may accelerate Fund distributions to shareholders and increase the distributions taxed to shareholders as ordinary

 

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income. Any such net losses will generally reduce and potentially require the recharacterization of prior ordinary income distributions. Any net ordinary losses so created cannot be carried forward by the Fund to offset income or gains earned in subsequent taxable years.

Non-U.S. Taxation

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax treaties between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes.

If more than 50% of the Fund’s assets at its year end consists of the securities of non-U.S. (foreign) corporations, the Fund may elect to permit shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns for their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to non-U.S. countries in respect of non-U.S. securities the Fund has held for at least the minimum period specified in the Code. In such a case, shareholders will include in gross income from non-U.S. sources their pro rata shares of such taxes. A shareholder’s ability to claim an offsetting non-U.S. tax credit or deduction in respect of non-U.S. taxes paid by the Fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, as a result of which the shareholder might not get a full credit or deduction for the amount of such taxes. Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such non-U.S. taxes. Shareholders that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and those who invest in the Fund through tax-advantaged accounts (including those who invest through individual retirement accounts or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by the Fund.

Special Tax Rules Applicable to Residents of Puerto Rico

Special U.S. tax rules may apply to investors who reside in Puerto Rico. For instance, in the case of individual investors who are bona fide residents of Puerto Rico for the entire taxable year within the meaning of Sections 933 and 937 of the Code, gain on the sale or exchange of Common Shares and Capital Gain Dividends generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes. Residents of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico corporations, and other Puerto Rican entities should, however, consult their tax advisors with respect to the tax treatment of the sale or exchange of Common Shares or Capital Gain Dividends, as well as of other income and gains arising from an investment in the Fund.

Non-U.S. Shareholders

In general, dividends other than Capital Gain Dividends paid by the Fund to a shareholder that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of the Code (such shareholder, a “non-U.S. person” or a “non-U.S. shareholder”) are subject to withholding of federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) even if they are funded by income or gains (such as portfolio interest, short-term capital gains, or non-U.S.-source dividend and interest income) that, if paid to a non-U.S. person directly, would not be subject to withholding. Effective for taxable years of a RIC beginning before January 1, 2012, the RIC was not required to withhold any amounts with respect to (i) properly designated distributions (other than distributions to a non-U.S. person (w) that had not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner was not a United States person, (x) to the extent that the dividend was attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the non-U.S. person was the issuer or was a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (y) that was within certain non-U.S. countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (z) to the extent the dividend was attributable to interest paid by a person that was a related person of the non-U.S. person and the non-U.S. person is a controlled foreign corporation) from U.S.-source interest income of types similar to those that would not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual non-U.S. person, to the extent such distributions were properly reported by the Fund (“interest-related dividends”), and (ii) properly designated distributions (other than (a) distributions to an individual non-U.S. person who was present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year

 

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of the distribution and (b) distributions subject to special rules regarding the disposition of U.S. real property interests, as described below) of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses (“net short-term capital gain dividends”). A RIC was permitted to report such part of its dividends as interest-related and/or short-term capital gain dividends as are eligible, but was not required to do so. In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may have withheld against a payment even if the RIC had reported such payment as interest-related and/or short-term capital gain dividend. This exemption from withholding for interest-related and short-term capital gain dividends has expired for distributions with respect to taxable years of a RIC beginning on or after January 1, 2012. It is currently unclear whether Congress will extend these exemptions for distributions with respect to taxable years of a RIC beginning on or after January 1, 2012, or what the terms of such an extension would be, including whether such extension would have retroactive effect.

Non-U.S. shareholders should contact their intermediaries regarding the application of these rules to their accounts.

Subject to certain exceptions ( e.g. , if the Fund were a “United States real property holding company” as described below), the Fund is generally not required to withhold on the amount of a non-dividend distribution ( i.e. , a distribution that is not paid out of the Fund’s current or accumulated “earnings and profits” for the applicable taxable year) when paid to its non-U.S. shareholders.

Special rules would apply if the Fund were either a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of certain exceptions to the definition thereof. Very generally, a USRPHC is a domestic corporation that holds USRPIs the fair market value of which equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market values of the corporation’s USPRIs, interests in real property located outside the United States, and other assets. USRPIs are generally defined as any interest in U.S. real property and any interest (other than solely as a creditor) in a USRPHC or former USRPHC.

If a RIC were a USRPHC or would be a USRPHC but for the exceptions referred to above, any distributions by the RIC to a non-U.S. shareholder attributable to (i) distributions received by the RIC from a lower-tier REIT that the RIC is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands, or (ii) prior to January 1, 2012, (a) gains realized by the RIC on the disposition of USRPIs or (b) distributions received by an upper-tier RIC from another RIC that the upper-tier RIC is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands, generally would be subject to U.S. withholding tax. In addition, such distributions could result in the non-U.S. shareholder being required to file a U.S. tax return and pay tax on the distributions at regular U.S. federal income tax rates. The consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder, including the rate of such withholding and character of such distributions ( e.g. , as ordinary income or USRPI gain), would vary depending upon the extent of the non-U.S. shareholder’s current and past ownership of the RIC. It is currently unclear whether Congress will extend the expiring “look-through” provisions described in clause (ii) above to distributions by a RIC to a non-U.S. shareholder made on or after January 1, 2012,

 

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and what the terms of any such extension would be, including whether any such extension would have retroactive effect to January 1, 2012.

In addition, if the Fund were a USRPHC or former USRPHC, a greater-than-5% non-U.S. shareholder generally would be required to file a U.S. tax return in connection with the sale of its Fund shares, and pay related taxes due on any gain realized on the sale. Moreover, if the Fund were a USRPHC or former USRPHC, it could be required to withhold on amounts distributed to a greater-than-5% non-U.S. shareholder to the extent such amounts are in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated “earnings and profits” for the applicable taxable year.

The Fund generally does not expect that it will be a USRPHC or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of certain of the special exceptions referred to above. Non-U.S. shareholders should consult their tax advisers and, if holding shares through intermediaries, their intermediaries, concerning the application of these rules to their investment in the Fund.

In order to qualify for any exemptions from withholding described above or for lower withholding tax rates under income tax treaties, or to establish an exemption from backup withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder must comply with special certification and filing requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN or substitute form). Non-U.S. shareholders should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

Under U.S. federal tax law, a beneficial holder of shares who is a non-U.S. shareholder generally is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on the sale of shares of the Fund or on Capital Gain Dividends unless (i) such gain or dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by such holder within the United States, (ii) in the case of an individual holder, the holder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale or receipt of the Capital Gain Dividend and certain other conditions are met, or (iii) the special rules relating to gain attributable to the sale or exchange of USRPIs apply to the non-U.S. shareholder’s sale of Common Shares or to the Capital Gain Dividend the non-U.S. shareholder received (as described above).

If a beneficial holder who is a non-U.S. person has a trade or business in the United States, and the dividends are effectively connected with the conduct by the beneficial holder of a trade or business in the United States, the dividend will be subject to federal net income taxation at regular income tax rates. If a non-U.S. person is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to federal income tax on a net basis only if it is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by such person in the United States.

A beneficial holder of shares who is a non-U.S. person may be subject to state and local tax and to the U.S. federal estate tax in addition to the U.S. federal tax on income referred to above.

 

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Reporting and Withholding for U.S. Shareholders and Non-U.S. Shareholders

Rules enacted in March 2010 require the reporting to the IRS of direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts and foreign entities by U.S. persons. Failure to provide this required information can result in a 30% withholding tax on certain payments (“withholdable payments”), beginning in 2014 or 2015, depending on the type of payment. Specifically, withholdable payments subject to this 30% withholding tax include payments of U.S.-source dividends and interest made on or after January 1, 2014, and payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposal of property that can produce U.S.-source dividends or interest made on or after January 1, 2015.

The IRS has issued preliminary guidance with respect to these rules; this guidance is potentially subject to material change. Very generally, it is possible that all or a portion of a distribution made by the Fund to a shareholder on or after the dates noted above (or such later dates as may be provided in future guidance), including a distribution of income or gains otherwise exempt from withholding under the rules applicable to non-U.S. shareholders described above ( e.g., Capital Gain Dividends and short-term capital gain and interest-related dividends (if such treatment is extended), as described above), will be treated as a withholdable payment subject to withholding. Payments will generally not be subject to withholding under these rules so long as shareholders provide the Fund with certifications or other documentation as the Fund may request including, to the extent required, with regard to their direct and indirect owners. Very generally, payments to a foreign shareholder that is a “foreign financial institution” (as defined under these rules) will be subject to withholding unless such shareholder (i) enters into and complies with a valid and timely information reporting and withholding agreement with the IRS or qualifies for an exception from entering into such an agreement, and (ii) provides the Fund with appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its participating or exempt status (and in some cases the status of its beneficial owners). Persons investing in the Fund through an intermediary should contact their intermediary regarding the application of this reporting and withholding regime to their investments in the Fund.

Shareholders are urged to consult a tax advisor regarding this new reporting and withholding regime, in light of their particular circumstances.

Reporting Requirements regarding Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts

If a shareholder owns directly or indirectly more than 50% by vote or value of the Fund, it should consult its tax advisor regarding its filing obligations with respect to IRS Form TD F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (“FBAR”).

Shareholders could be subject to substantial penalties for failure to comply with this reporting requirement. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of this reporting requirement in light of their individual circumstances.

Backup Withholding

Backup withholding is generally required with respect to taxable distributions or the gross proceeds of a sale or exchange of Common Shares paid to any non-corporate shareholder who

 

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fails to properly furnish a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify that he or she is not subject to such withholding. The backup withholding rate is 28% for amounts paid through 2012. This rate will expire and the backup withholding rate will be 31% for amounts paid after December 31, 2012, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise. Amounts withheld as a result of backup withholding are remitted to the U.S. Treasury but do not constitute an additional tax imposed on the shareholder; such amounts may be claimed as a credit on the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax return, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations

Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

Shares Purchased Through Tax-Qualified Plans

Special tax rules apply to investments through defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the suitability of shares of the Fund as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of an investment on their particular tax situation.

Other Taxation

Distributions also may be subject to additional state, local and non-U.S. taxes, depending on each shareholder’s particular situation. Additionally, most states permit mutual funds, such as the Fund, to “pass through” to their shareholders the state tax exemption on income earned from investments in certain direct U.S. Treasury obligations, as well as some limited types of U.S. government agency securities (such as Federal Farm Credit Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank securities), so long as a fund meets all applicable state requirements. Therefore, shareholders in the Fund may be allowed to exclude from their state taxable income distributions made to them by the Fund to the extent attributable to interest the Fund earned on such investments. The availability of these exemptions varies by state. Investments in securities of certain U.S. government agencies, including securities issued by GNMA and FNMA, and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities generally do not qualify for these exemptions. Moreover, these exemptions may not be available to corporate shareholders. All shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the applicability of these exemptions to their situation. The Fund will provide information annually to shareholders indicating the amount and percentage of its dividend distribution which is attributable to interest on federal

 

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obligations, and will indicate to the extent possible from what types of federal obligations such dividends are derived.

The Fund is organized as a Massachusetts business trust. Under current law, so long as the Fund qualifies for the federal income tax treatment described above, it is believed that the Fund will not be liable for any income or franchise tax imposed by Massachusetts. Shareholders, in any event, are advised to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund.

 

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PERFORMANCE RELATED AND COMPARATIVE INFORMATION

The Fund may quote certain performance-related information and may compare certain aspects of its portfolio and structure to other substantially similar closed-end funds as categorized by Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”), Morningstar Inc. or other independent services. Comparison of the Fund to an alternative investment should be made with consideration of differences in features and expected performance. The Fund may obtain data from sources or reporting services, such as Bloomberg Financial and Lipper, that the Fund believes to be generally accurate.

The Fund, in its advertisements, may refer to pending legislation from time to time and the possible effect of such legislation on investors, investment strategy and related matters. At any time in the future, yields and total return may be higher or lower than past yields and there can be no assurance that any historical results will continue.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. At the time Common Shareholders sell their shares, they may be worth more or less than their original investment.

CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSEMENT AGENT

State Street Bank and Trust Company, 801 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64105, serves as custodian for assets of the Fund. The custodian performs custodial and fund accounting services.

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., P.O. Box 358035, Pittsburgh, PA 15252 serves as the transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursement agent for the Common Shares, as well as agent for the Dividend Reinvestment Plan relating to the Common Shares.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 300 Madison Avenue, New York, New York, 10017 serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provides audit services, tax and other audit related services to the Fund.

COUNSEL

Ropes & Gray LLP, Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02199, passes upon certain legal matters in connection with shares offered by the Fund, and also acts as counsel to the Fund. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017.

 

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REGISTRATION STATEMENT

A Registration Statement on Form N-2, including any amendments thereto (the “Registration Statement”), relating to the Common Shares of the Fund offered hereby, has been filed by the Fund with the SEC, Washington, D.C. The Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information are parts of, but do not contain all of the information set forth in, the Registration Statement, including any exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information with respect to the Fund and the Common Shares offered or to be offered hereby, reference is made to the Fund’s Registration Statement. Statements contained in the Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not

necessarily complete and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. Copies of the Registration Statement may be inspected without charge at the SEC’s principal office in Washington, D.C., and copies of all or any part thereof may be obtained from the SEC upon the payment of certain fees prescribed by the SEC.

 

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LOGO

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of net assets presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “Fund”) at April 16, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This financial statement is the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement based on our audit. We conducted our audit of this financial statement in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

LOGO

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

April 20, 2012

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, PricewaterhouseCoopers Center, 300 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017

T: (646) 471 3000, F: (813) 286 6000, www.pwc.com/us

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund

Statement of Net Assets

April 16, 2012

 

Assets:

  

Cash

   $ 100,012   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 100,012   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets (4,189 shares of $0.00001 per value shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding; unlimited shares authorized)

   $ 100,012   
  

 

 

 

Net asset value per share

   $ 23.875   
  

 

 

 

Notes to Statement of Net Assets:

1. Organization

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on January 19, 2011. The Fund has had no operations to date other than matters relating to its organization and registration as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the sale and issuance to Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. (“AAM”) of 4,189 shares of beneficial interest at an aggregate purchase price of $100,012. Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC (the “Investment Manager”), an affiliate of Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO” of the “Sub-Adviser”), serves as the Fund’s investment manager and is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. (“AAM”). AAM is an indirect, wholly -owned subsidiary of Allianz SE, a publicly traded European insurance and financial services company.

The Fund seeks current income as a primary objective and capital appreciation as a secondary objective.

2. Accounting Policies

The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The Sub-Adviser has agreed to pay the Fund’s organizational expenses of approximately $25,000 as well as the amount by which the Fund’s offering costs (other than the sales load) exceeds $0.05 per common share issued. The Fund’s offering costs are estimated to be $750,000 assuming 12,000,000 shares of beneficial interest are sold in the Fund’s initial offering. Offering costs will be charged to paid-in capital at the time such shares of beneficial interest are issued. The actual number of shares that are sold in the initial public offering, and associated offering costs, may differ significantly from the above estimates.

3. Indemnification

In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations which provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is

 

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unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, the Fund expects the risk of any loss to be remote.

4. Investment Manager/Sub-Adviser

The Fund will enter into an Investment Management Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Investment Manager. Subject to the supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, the Investment Manager is responsible for managing, either directly or through others selected by it, the Fund’s investment activities, business affairs, and other administrative matters. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Investment Manager will receive an annual fee, payable monthly, at the annual rate of 1.15% of the Fund’s average daily total managed assets. Total managed assets means the total assets of the Fund (including assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding) minus accrued liabilities (other than liabilities representing reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings). The Investment Manager has retained the Sub-Adviser, to manage the Fund’s investments. Pursuant to PIMCO’s portfolio management agreement with the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager (and not the Fund) will pay a portion of the fees it receives to PIMCO for PIMCO’s services.

5. Federal Income Taxes

The Fund intends to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies. Accordingly, no provision for U.S. federal income taxes is required.

6. Subsequent Events

The Fund considered subsequent events through the date this report was issued and concluded that no subsequent events of a material effect have occurred from the date of the financial statements through the date this report was issued.

 

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Appendix A

Description of Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures

Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO”)

PIMCO has adopted written proxy voting policies and procedures (“Proxy Policy”) as required by Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act. The Proxy Policy has been adopted by the Fund as the policies and procedures that PIMCO will use when voting proxies on behalf of the Fund. Recognizing that proxy voting is a rare event in the realm of fixed income investing and is typically limited to solicitation of consent to changes in features of debt securities, the Proxy Policy also applies to any voting rights and/or consent rights of PIMCO, on behalf of the Fund, with respect to debt securities, including but not limited to, plans of reorganization, and waivers and consents under applicable indentures.

The Proxy Policy is designed and implemented in a manner reasonably expected to ensure that voting and consent rights are exercised in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Each proxy is voted on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration any relevant contractual obligations as well as other relevant facts and circumstances at the time of the vote. In general, PIMCO reviews and considers corporate governance issues related to proxy matters and generally supports proposals that foster good corporate governance practices. PIMCO may vote proxies as recommended by management on routine matters related to the operation of the issuer and on matters not expected to have a significant economic impact on the issuer and/or its shareholders.

PIMCO will supervise and periodically review its proxy voting activities and implementation of the Proxy Policy. PIMCO will review each proxy to determine whether there may be a material conflict between PIMCO and the Fund. If no conflict exists, the proxy will be forwarded to the appropriate portfolio manager for consideration. If a conflict does exist, PIMCO will seek to resolve any such conflict in accordance with the Proxy Policy. PIMCO seeks to resolve any material conflicts of interest by voting in good faith in the best interest of the Fund. If a material conflict of interest should arise, PIMCO will seek to resolve such conflict in the Fund’s best interest by pursuing any one of the following courses of action: (i) convening a committee to assess and resolve the conflict; (ii) voting in accordance with the instructions of the Board of Trustees; (iii) voting in accordance with the recommendation of an independent third-party service provider; (iv) suggesting to the Board of Trustees that the Fund engage another party to determine how the proxy should be voted; (v) delegating the vote to a third-party service provider; or (vi) voting in accordance with the factors discussed in the Proxy Policy.

Information about how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held during the most recent twelve month period ended June 30th is available without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund’s shareholder servicing agent at (800) 254-5197, on the Fund’s website at http://www.allianzinvestors.com/closedendfunds and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Copies of the written Proxy Policy and the factors that PIMCO may consider in determining how to vote proxies for the Fund are available by calling the Fund’s shareholder servicing agent at (800) 254-5197 or on the Fund’s website at http://www.allianzinvestors.com/closedendfunds.

 

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PART C—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 25: Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

1. Financial Statements:

The Registrant has not conducted any business as of the date of this filing, other than in connection with its organization. Financial Statements indicating that the Registrant has met the net worth requirements of Section 14(a) of the 1940 Act were filed in Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-179887) as filed on April 26, 2012, and are incorporated by reference.

 

2. Exhibits:

 

  a. Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated May 7, 2012—filed herewith.

 

  b. Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant dated May 7, 2012—filed herewith.

 

  c. None.

 

  d.1 Article III (Shares) and Article V (Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings) of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust—filed herewith as Exhibit a.

 

  d.2 Article 10 (Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings) of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant—filed herewith as Exhibit b.

 

  d.3 Form of Share Certificate of the Common Shares—filed herewith.

 

  e. Terms and Conditions of Dividend Reinvestment Plan—filed herewith.

 

  f. None.

 

  g.1 Form of Investment Management Agreement between Registrant and Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC—filed herewith.

 

  g.2 Form of Portfolio Management Agreement between Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC—filed herewith.

 

  h.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement—filed herewith.

 

  h.2 Form of Master Selected Dealer Agreement—filed herewith.

 

  h.3 Form of Master Agreement Among Underwriters—filed herewith.

 

  h.4 Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC—filed herewith.

 

  h.5 Form of Syndication Fee Agreement for Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC—filed herewith.

 

  h.6 Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for Citigroup Global Markets Inc. —filed herewith.

 

  h.7 Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for UBS Securities LLC—filed herewith.

 

  h.8 Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for Wells Fargo Securities, LLC—filed herewith.

 

  h.9 Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated—filed herewith.

 

  h.10 Form of Structuring Fee Agreement with Barclays Capital Inc. —filed herewith.

 

  i None.

 

  j.1 Form of Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company—filed herewith.

 

  j.2 Form of Support Services Agreement between Registrant and Allianz Global Investors Distributors LLC—filed herewith.

 

  j.3 Form of Support Services Agreement between Registrant and PIMCO Investments LLC—filed herewith.

 

  k.1 Form of Transfer Agency Services Agreement between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. —filed herewith.

 

  k.2 Form of Organizational and Offering Expenses Reimbursement Agreement between Registrant and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC—filed herewith.


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  l. Opinion and consent of Ropes & Gray LLP.*

 

  m. None.

 

  n. Consent of Registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm—filed herewith.

 

  o. None.

 

  p. Subscription Agreement—filed herewith.

 

  q. None.

 

  r.1 Amended and Restated Code of Ethics of Registrant—filed herewith.

 

  r.2 Code of Ethics of Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC—filed herewith.

 

  r.3 Code of Ethics of Pacific Investment Management Company LLC—filed herewith.

 

  r.4 Code of Ethics Pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers—filed herewith.

 

  s. Powers of Attorney for Deborah A. DeCotis, Bradford K. Gallagher, James A. Jacobson, Hans W. Kertess, John C. Maney, William B. Ogden, IV and Alan Rappaport—filed herewith.

 

* To be filed by amendment.

 

Item 26: Marketing Arrangements

See the Form of Underwriting Agreement, the Form of Master Selected Dealer Agreement, the Form of Master Agreement Among Underwriters, the Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, the Form of Syndication Fee Agreement for Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, the Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for Citigroup Global Markets Inc., the Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for UBS Securities LLC, the Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, the Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and the Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for Barclays Capital Inc. filed as Exhibit h.1, Exhibit h.2, Exhibit h.3, Exhibit h.4, Exhibit h.5, Exhibit h.6, Exhibit h.7, Exhibit h.8, Exhibit h.9 and Exhibit h.10 respectively, to this Registration Statement.

 

Item 27: Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

 

Securities and Exchange Commission Fees

   $ 34,380   

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Fees

     30,500   

Printing and Postage Expenses

     275,000   

Legal Fees

     350,000   

New York Stock Exchange Fees

     30,000   

Accounting Expenses

     20,000   

Transfer Agent Fees

     3,000   

Marketing Expenses

     25,000   

Miscellaneous Expenses

     7,270   
  

 

 

 

Total

     775,150   

 

 

Item 28: Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant

Not applicable.


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Item 29: Number of Holders of Securities

At April 24, 2012:

 

Title of Class

 

Number of Record Holders

Common Shares, par value $0.00001

  1

 

Item 30: Indemnification

Reference is made to Article VIII, Sections 1 through 4, of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, which is incorporated by reference herein.

The Form of Underwriting Agreement filed herewith provides for each of the parties thereto, including the Registrant and the underwriters, to indemnify others, their directors or trustees, officers, agents, affiliates and persons who control them against certain liabilities in connection with the offering as described herein, including certain liabilities under the federal securities laws.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, its Bylaws or otherwise, the Registrant is aware that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and, therefore, is 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 trustees, officers or controlling persons of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustees, officers or controlling persons 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 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

Reference is made to section 9.4 of the Form of Master Agreement Among Underwriters filed herewith as Exhibit (h.3), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Reference is made to section 3 of the Form of Structuring Fee Agreement with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC filed herewith as Exhibit (h.4), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Reference is made to section 3 of the Form of Syndication Fee Agreement with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC filed herewith as Exhibit (h.5), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Reference is made to section 3 of the Form of Structuring Fee Agreement with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. filed herewith as Exhibit (h.6), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Reference is made to section 3 of the Form of Structuring Fee Agreement with UBS Securities LLC filed herewith as Exhibit (h.7), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Reference is made to section 3 of the Form of Structuring Fee Agreement with Wells Fargo Securities, LLC filed herewith as Exhibit (h.8), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Reference is made to section 6 of the Form of Structuring Fee Agreement with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated filed herewith as Exhibit (h.9), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Reference is made to section 7 of the Form of Structuring Fee Agreement with Barclays Capital Inc. filed herewith as Exhibit (h.10), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 31: Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser

Descriptions of the business of Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC, the Registrant’s investment manager (the “Investment Manager”), and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, the Registrant’s portfolio manager, are set forth under the captions “Investment Manager” and “Portfolio Manager” under “Management of the Fund” in both the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information forming part of this Registration Statement. The Investment Manager is a Delaware limited liability company. The list required by this Item 31 of executive officers and directors of the Investment Manager, together with information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by the Investment Manager and such executive officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated by reference to Form ADV (SEC File No. 801-57798) filed by the Investment Manager pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The following sets forth business and other connections of each director and executive officer (and persons performing similar functions) of Pacific Investment Management Company LLC.

 


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Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

840 Newport Center Drive, Suite 100

Newport Beach, CA 92660

 

Name

  

Position with PIMCO

  

Other Connections

Amey, Mike

   Managing Director   

Arnold, Tammie J.

   Managing Director   


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Name

  

Position with PIMCO

  

Other Connections

Baker, Brian P.

   Managing Director    Director, PIMCO Asia Pte Ltd. and PIMCO Asia Limited (Hong Kong)

Balls, Andrew T.

   Managing Director   

Benz II, William R.

   Managing Director   

Bhansali, Vineer

   Managing Director   

Bodereau, Phillippe

   Managing Director   

Bosomworth, Andrew

   Managing Director   

Bridwell, Jennifer S.

   Managing Director   

Callin, Sabrina C.

   Managing Director    Acting Head of PIMCO Advisory; and Vice President, StocksPLUS Management, Inc.

Cupps, Wendy W.

   Managing Director   

Dada, Suhail H.

   Managing Director   

Dawson, Craig A.

   Managing Director    Director, PIMCO Europe Ltd.

De Leon, Bill

   Managing Director   

Dialynas, Chris P.

   Managing Director   

Durham, Jennifer E.

   Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer    Chief Compliance Officer, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT

El-Erian, Mohamed A.

   Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer and Co- Chief Investment Officer    Senior Vice President, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Formerly President and CEO of Harvard Management Co.

Flattum, David C.

   Managing Director and General Counsel    Chief Legal Officer, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT

Gomez, Michael

   Managing Director   

Gross, William H.

   Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer and Executive Committee Member    Director and Vice President, StocksPLUS Management, Inc., Senior Vice President of PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT

Harris, Brent Richard

   Managing Director and Executive Committee Member    Director and President, StocksPLUS Management, Inc., Trustee, Chairman and President of PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust and PIMCO ETF Trust. Trustee, Chairman and Senior Vice President, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Director, PIMCO Luxembourg S.A. and PIMCO Luxembourg II

Hodge, Douglas M.

   Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer   

Trustee and Senior Vice President, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust and PIMCO ETF Trust; Senior Vice President, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT; Director and Vice President, StocksPLUS Management Inc.; Director, PIMCO Europe Ltd., PIMCO Asia Pte Ltd., PIMCO Australia Pty Ltd, PIMCO Japan Ltd. and PIMCO Asia


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Name

  

Position with PIMCO

  

Other Connections

      Limited (Hong Kong)

Holden, Brent L.

   Managing Director   

Hong, Ki Myung

   Managing Director    Formerly Vice Chairman of Asia Pacific, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Ivascyn, Daniel J.

   Managing Director   

Jacobs IV, Lew W.

   Managing Director   

Kashkari, Neel T.

   Managing Director    Trustee and President, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Formerly Interim Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability, Assistant Secretary for International Economics and Senior Advisor to Secretary Paulson, United States Department of Treasury

Kiesel, Mark R.

   Managing Director   

Lahr, Chuck

   Managing Director   

Lown, David C.

   Managing Director   

Masanao, Tomoya

   Managing Director   

Mather, Scott A.

   Managing Director   

Mattu, Ravi K.

   Managing Director    Formerly, Head of Research and Strategy, Citadel Securities.

McDevitt, Joseph V.

   Managing Director    Director and Chief Executive Officer, PIMCO Europe Limited

Mead, Robert

   Managing Director   

Mewbourne, Curtis A.

   Managing Director   

Miller, John M.

   Managing Director   

Mogelof, Eric

   Managing Director   

Moore, James F.

   Managing Director   

Ongaro, Douglas J.

   Managing Director   

Otterbein, Thomas J.

   Managing Director   

Parikh, Saumil H.

   Managing Director   

Ravano, Emanuele

   Managing Director   

Rodosky, Stephen A.

   Managing Director   

Seidner, Marc Peter

   Managing Director   

Short, Jonathan D.

   Managing Director   

Simon, W Scott

   Managing Director   

Stracke, Christian

   Managing Director   

Strelow, Peter G.

   Managing Director   

Takano, Makoto

   Managing Director    Director and President, PIMCO Japan Ltd.

Wang, Qi

   Managing Director   

Wilson, Susan L.

   Managing Director   

Worah, Mihir P.

   Managing Director   

 

Item 32: Location of Accounts and Records

The account books and other documents required to be maintained by the Registrant pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules thereunder will be maintained at the offices of Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC, 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019, and Pacific


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Investment Management Company LLC, 840 Newport Center Drive, Suite 100, Newport Beach, California 92660 or the Registrant’s custodian, State Street Bank and Trust Company, 801 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64105.

 

Item 33: Management Services

Not applicable.

 

Item 34: Undertakings

1. Registrant undertakes to suspend the offering of its Common Shares until it amends the prospectus filed herewith if (1) subsequent to the effective date of its registration statement, the net asset value declines more than 10 percent from its net asset value as of the effective date of the registration statement, or (2) the net asset value increases to an amount greater than its net proceeds as stated in the prospectus.

 

2. Not applicable.

 

3. Not applicable.

 

4. Not applicable.

 

5. The Registrant undertakes that:

a. For purposes of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant under Rule 497(h) under the 1933 Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and

b. For the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

6. The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any Statement of Additional Information.

NOTICE

A copy of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “Fund”) is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Fund by any officer of the Fund as an officer and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees of the Fund or shareholders of the Fund individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this pre-effective amendment no. 3 to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, and the State of New York on the 11th day of May, 2012.

 

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND
By:   / S /    BRIAN S. SHLISSEL        
Name:   Brian S. Shlissel
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this pre-effective amendment no. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Name

  

Capacity

 

Date

/ S /    B RIAN S. S HLISSEL        

  

President & Chief Executive Officer

  May 11, 2012
Brian S. Shlissel     

/ S /    L AWRENCE G. A LTADONNA        

  

Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

  May 11, 2012
Lawrence G. Altadonna     

    D EBORAH A. D E C OTIS *        

  

Trustee

  May 11, 2012
Deborah A. DeCotis     

    B RADFORD K. G ALLAGHER *        

  

Trustee

  May 11, 2012
Bradford K. Gallagher     

    J AMES A. J ACOBSON *        

  

Trustee

  May 11, 2012
James A. Jacobson     

    H ANS W. K ERTESS *        

  

Trustee

  May 11, 2012
Hans W. Kertess     

    J OHN C. M ANEY *        

  

Trustee

  May 11, 2012
John C. Maney     

    W ILLIAM B. O GDEN , IV*        

  

Trustee

  May 11, 2012
William B. Ogden, IV     

    A LAN R APPAPORT *        

  

Trustee

  May 11, 2012
Alan Rappaport     

 

*By:   / S /    B RIAN S. S HLISSEL        
 

Brian S. Shlissel

Attorney-In-Fact

  Date: May 11, 2012


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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

  

Exhibit Name

(a)    Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated May 7, 2012.
(b)    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant dated May 7, 2012.
(d.3)    Form of Share Certificate of the Common Shares.
(e)    Terms and Conditions of Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
(g.1)    Form of Investment Management Agreement between Registrant and Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC.
(g.2)    Form of Portfolio Management Agreement between Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC.
(h.1)    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
(h.2)    Form of Master Selected Dealer Agreement.
(h.3)    Form of Master Agreement Among Underwriters.
(h.4)    Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC.
(h.5)    Form of Syndication Fee Agreement for Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC.
(h.6)    Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
(h.7)    Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for UBS Securities LLC.
(h.8)    Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.
(h.9)    Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.
(h.10)    Form of Structuring Fee Agreement for Barclays Capital Inc.
(j.1)    Form of Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company.
(j.2)    Form of Support Services Agreement between Registrant and Allianz Global Investors Distributors LLC.
(j.3)    Form of Support Services Agreement between Registrant and PIMCO Investments LLC.
(k.1)    Form of Transfer Agency Services Agreement between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
(k.2)    Form of Organizational and Offering Expenses Reimbursement Agreement between Registrant and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC.
(n)    Consent of Registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm.
(p)    Subscription Agreement.
(r.1)    Amended and Restated Code of Ethics of Registrant.
(r.2)    Code of Ethics of Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC.
(r.3)    Code of Ethics of Pacific Investment Management Company LLC.
(r.4)    Code of Ethics Pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers.
(s)    Powers of Attorney for Debora A. DeCotis, Bradford K. Gallagher, James A. Jacobson, Hans W. Kertess, John C. Maney, William B. Ogden, IV and Alan Rappaport.

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND

AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

May 7, 2012


PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

 

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made this 7th day of May, 2012, by the Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of shares of beneficial interest to be issued hereunder as hereinafter provided amending and restating the Agreement and Declaration of Trust made at Boston, Massachusetts the 19th day of January, 2011, for the purposes of eliminating references to the sole initial trustee, adding Trustees as signatories hereto and making such other changes as the Trustees deemed necessary.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Article IX, Section 7 of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Trustees of the Trust and the holders of all of the beneficial interest of the Trust have determined that the Agreement and Declaration of Trust should be amended and restated in its entirety as hereinafter set forth.

NOW, THEREFORE, this Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust shall take effect as of the time of execution by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and shall be filed with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

WITNESSETH that:

WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an investment company; and

WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as trustees of a Massachusetts business trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all cash, securities and other assets which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustees hereunder IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the pro rata benefit of the holders from time to time of Shares in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.

 

2


ARTICLE I

NAME AND DEFINITIONS

Name

Section 1. This Trust shall be known as “PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund” and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name as they may from time to time determine.

Definitions

Section 2. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:

(a) The “Trust” refers to the Massachusetts business trust established by this Declaration, as amended or restated from time to time;

(b) “Trustees” refers to the Trustees of the Trust named herein or elected in accordance with Article IV hereof;

(c) “Shares” means the equal proportionate transferable units of interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time or, if more than one class or series of Shares is authorized by the Trustees, the equal proportionate transferable units into which each class or series of shares shall be divided from time to time;

(d) “Shareholder” means a record owner of Shares;

(e) The “1940 Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;

(f) The terms “Affiliated Person,” “Interested Person,” and “Principal Underwriter” shall have the applicable meanings given them in the 1940 Act;

(g) “Closed-end company” shall be as defined in the 1940 Act.

(h) “Declaration” shall mean this Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;

(i) “Bylaws” shall mean the Bylaws of the Trust as amended or restated from time to time;

 

3


(j) The term “class” or “class of Shares” refers to the division of Shares into two or more classes as provided in Article III, Section 1 hereof;

(k) The term “series” or “series of Shares” refers to the division of Shares representing any class into two or more series as provided in Article III, Section 1 hereof; and

(l) The term “Continuing Trustee” shall have the meaning given to such term in Article IV, Section 2 hereof.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Trust is to provide investors a managed investment primarily in securities, debt instruments and other instruments and rights of a financial character and to carry on such other business as the Trustees may from time to time determine pursuant to their authority under this Declaration.

ARTICLE III

SHARES

Division of Beneficial Interest

Section 1. The Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, authorize one or more classes of Shares (which classes may be divided into two or more series), Shares of each such class or series having such par value and such preferences, voting powers, terms of redemption, if any, and special or relative rights or privileges (including conversion rights, if any) as the Trustees may determine. Subject to applicable law, the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, authorize the Trust to issue subscription or other rights representing interests in Shares to existing Shareholders or other persons subject to such terms and conditions as the Trustees may determine. The number of Shares of each class or series authorized shall be unlimited, except as the Bylaws may otherwise provide, and the Shares so authorized may be represented in part by fractional shares. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of any class or series into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in the class or series.

Ownership of Shares

Section 2. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent. Except as provided in the Bylaws or as the Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time, no certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the issuance of Share

 

4


certificates, the transfer of Shares and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to who are the Shareholders of each class and series and as to the number of Shares of each class and series held from time to time by each Shareholder.

Investments in the Trust

Section 3. The Trustees shall accept investments in the Trust from such persons and on such terms and, subject to any requirements of law, for such consideration, which may consist of cash or tangible or intangible property or a combination thereof, as the Trustees or the Bylaws from time to time authorize.

No Preemptive Rights

Section 4. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to receive, purchase or subscribe for any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust.

Derivative Claims

Section 5. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring or maintain any court action, proceeding or claim on behalf of the Trust or any series or class of Shares without first making demand on the Trustees requesting the Trustees to bring or maintain such action, proceeding or claim. Such demand shall not be excused under any circumstances, including claims of alleged interest on the part of the Trustees, unless the plaintiff makes a specific showing that irreparable nonmonetary injury to the Trust or a series or class of Shares would otherwise result. Such demand shall be mailed to the Secretary of the Trust at the Trust’s principal office and shall set forth in reasonable detail the nature of the proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential facts relied upon by the Shareholder to support the allegations made in the demand. The Trustees shall consider such demand within 90 days of its receipt by the Trust. In their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders of the Trust or series or class of Shares, as appropriate. Any decision by the Trustees to bring, maintain or settle (or not to bring, maintain or settle) such court action, proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders, shall be made by the Trustees in their business judgment and shall be binding upon the Shareholders.

Direct Claims

Section 6. No group of Shareholders shall have the right to bring or maintain a direct action or claim for monetary damages against the Trust or the Trustees predicated upon an express or implied right of action under this Declaration or the 1940 Act (excepting rights of action permitted under section 36(b) of the 1940 Act), nor shall any single Shareholder who is similarly situated to one or more other Shareholders with respect to the alleged injury have the right to bring such an action, unless the group of Shareholders or Shareholder has obtained

 

5


authorization from the Trustees to bring the action. The requirement of authorization shall not be excused under any circumstances, including claims of alleged interest on the part of the Trustees. A request for authorization shall be mailed to the Secretary of the Trust at the Trust’s principal office and shall set forth with particularity the nature of the proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential facts relied upon by the group of Shareholders or Shareholder to support the allegations made in the request. The Trustees shall consider such request within 90 days of its receipt by the Trust. In their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders of the Trust or series or class of Shares, as appropriate. Any decision by the Trustees to settle or to authorize (or not to settle or to authorize) such court action, proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders, shall be made in their business judgment and shall be binding on all Shareholders.

Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability

Section 7. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this Declaration or the Bylaws. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of this Declaration and the Bylaws and to have become a party hereto and thereto. The death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the same nor entitle the representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but only to the rights of said decedent under this Trust. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust property or right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders partners. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust, shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, nor except as specifically provided herein to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay.

ARTICLE IV

THE TRUSTEES

Number and Classes of Trustees and Term of Office

Section 1. Subject to the voting powers of one or more classes or series of Shares as set forth in the Bylaws, the number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to time by the vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office; provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall in no event be less than three (3) from and after the date when Shares are first sold pursuant to a public offering. The Trustees who are signatories to this Declaration on the date hereof, and such other persons as the Trustee or Trustees then in office shall appoint (to fill a vacancy or otherwise) prior to any sale of Shares pursuant to a public offering, shall each serve until the first meeting of Shareholders at which Trustees are elected (or, if later, until the first meeting of Shareholders at which Trustees of the Class to which such Trustee has been

 

6


assigned are elected) and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until he or she sooner dies, resigns or is removed, subject in each case to the Classes of Trustees and terms created pursuant to this Article IV.

An initial annual meeting of Shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof shall be called to be held not more than twenty-four months after Shares are first sold pursuant to a public offering; subsequent annual meetings of Shareholders or special meetings in lieu thereof (each an “annual meeting”) shall be held as specified in the Bylaws. Prior to any sale of Shares pursuant to a public offering, the Trustees shall classify themselves, with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into the following three classes: Class I, whose term expires at the initial annual meeting; Class II, whose term expires at the next succeeding annual meeting after the initial annual meeting (the “second annual meeting”); and Class III, whose term expires at the next succeeding annual meeting after the second annual meeting. Each Class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of Trustees constituting the entire Board of Trustees. At each annual meeting beginning with the initial annual meeting, the successors of the Class of Trustees whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting held in the third year following the year of their election, with each Trustee holding office until the expiration of the term of the relevant Class and the election and qualification of his or her successor, or until he or she sooner dies, resigns, retires, or is disqualified or removed from office. The Trustees shall assign by resolution from their number Trustees to each of the three Classes. The Trustees may also determine by resolution those Trustees in each Class that shall be elected by Shareholders of a particular class of Shares ( e.g. , by a class of preferred Shares issued by the Fund) prior to the initial public offering of such class of Shares.

If the number of Trustees is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the Classes, as of the annual meeting of Shareholders next succeeding any such change, so as to maintain a number of Trustees in each Class as nearly equal as possible. No reduction in the number of Trustees shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his or her term unless the Trustee is specifically removed pursuant to Section 3 of this Article IV at the time of the decrease. Except as provided in this Section 1 or Section 3 of this Article IV, Trustees shall be elected only at an annual meeting of Shareholders.

Continuing Trustee; Definition

Section 2. For purposes of this Declaration and the Bylaws, the term “Continuing Trustee” shall mean any member of the Board of Trustees who either (a) has been a member of the Board of Trustees for a period of at least thirty-six months (or since the commencement of the Trust’s operations, if less than thirty-six months) or (b) was nominated to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees by a majority of the Continuing Trustees then members of the Board of Trustees.

 

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Vacancies; Resignation; Removal

Section 3. From and after the date when Shares are first sold pursuant to a public offering and subject to any voting powers of one or more classes or series of Shares as set forth in this Declaration or in the Bylaws or by resolution of the Board of Trustees, any vacancies occurring in the Board of Trustees may be filled by the Trustees as set forth below. Prior to the date when Shares are first sold pursuant to a public offering, subject to any limitations imposed by the 1940 Act or other applicable law, any vacancies occurring in the Board of Trustees may be filled by the Trustees without any action by or meeting of Shareholders.

Subject to any limitations imposed by the 1940 Act or other applicable law, any vacancy occurring in the Board of Trustees that results from an increase in the number of Trustees may be filled by a majority of the entire Board of Trustees, and any other vacancy occurring in the Board of Trustees may be filled by a majority of the Trustees then in office, whether or not sufficient to constitute a quorum, or by a sole remaining Trustee; provided, however, that if the Shareholders of any class or series of Shares are entitled separately to elect one or more Trustees, a majority of the remaining Trustees elected by that class or series or the sole remaining Trustee elected by that class or series may fill any vacancy among the number of Trustees elected by that class or series. A Trustee elected by the Board of Trustees to fill any vacancy occurring in the Board of Trustees shall serve until the next annual meeting of Shareholders and until his successor shall be elected and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. At any annual meeting of Shareholders, any Trustee elected to fill any vacancy occurring in the Board of Trustees that has arisen since the preceding annual meeting of Shareholders (whether or not any such vacancy has been filled by election of a new Trustee by the Board of Trustees) shall hold office for a term that coincides with the remaining term of the Class of Trustee to which such office was previously assigned, if such vacancy arose other than by an increase in the number of Trustees, and until his successor shall be elected and shall qualify. In the event such vacancy arose due to an increase in the number of Trustees, any Trustee so elected to fill such vacancy at an annual meeting shall hold office for a term which coincides with that of the Class of Trustee to which such office has been apportioned as heretofore provided, and until his successor shall be elected and shall qualify.

Any Trustee may resign his trust or retire as a Trustee (without need for prior or subsequent accounting except in the event of removal) by an instrument in writing signed by him and delivered to the President or Secretary or a Trustee of the Trust, and such resignation or retirement shall be effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of the instrument. Any Trustee may be removed from office only for “Cause” (as hereinafter defined) and only (i) by action of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the outstanding Shares of the classes or series of Shares entitled to vote for the election of such Trustee, or (ii) by written instrument, signed by at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the remaining Trustees, specifying the date when such removal shall become effective. “Cause” for these purposes shall require willful misconduct, dishonesty or fraud on the part of the Trustee in the conduct of his office or such Trustee being convicted of a felony.

 

8


Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee

Section 4. The death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal, disqualification or incapacity of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration.

Powers

Section 5. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and they shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may adopt Bylaws not inconsistent with this Declaration providing for the conduct of the business of the Trust and may amend and repeal them to the extent and as provided in Article IX, Section 7(c) of this Declaration. Subject to the voting power of one or more classes or series of Shares as set forth in this Declaration or in the Bylaws or by resolution of the Board of Trustees, the Trustees may fill vacancies in or add to their number, including vacancies resulting from increases in their number, and may elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; they may appoint from their own number, and terminate, any one or more committees consisting of one or more Trustees, including an executive committee which may, when the Trustees are not in session, exercise some or all of the power and authority of the Trustees as the Trustees may determine; they may appoint an advisory board, the members of which shall not be Trustees and need not be Shareholders; they may employ one or more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may authorize such custodians to employ subcustodians (including foreign custodians) and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a system or systems for the central handling of securities, retain a transfer agent or a shareholder servicing agent, or both, retain a fund account agent or administrator, or both, provide for the distribution of Shares by the Trust, through one or more principal underwriters or otherwise, set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters, and in general delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any such custodian or underwriter or other duly appointed service provider.

Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have power and authority:

(a) To invest and reinvest cash, and to hold cash uninvested;

(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, write options on and lease any or all of the assets of the Trust;

(c) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;

 

9


(d) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;

(e) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in the name of the Trustees or of the Trust or in the name of a custodian, subcustodian or other depository or a nominee or nominees or otherwise;

(f) To the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the preferences, special or relative rights and privileges of any classes or series of Shares, to allocate assets, liabilities, income and expenses of the Trust to a particular class or classes or series of Shares or to apportion the same among two or more classes or series;

(g) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer, any security of which is or was held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;

(h) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;

(i) To compromise, arbitrate, mediate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust on any matter in controversy, including but not limited to claims for taxes;

(j) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and any other combinations or associations;

(k) To borrow funds;

(l) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust property or any part thereof to secure any of or all of such obligations;

(m) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property such insurance as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Trust, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust and payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies

 

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insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers, sub-advisers or managers, principal underwriters or independent contractors of the Trust individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such person as Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser, sub-adviser or manager, principal underwriter or independent contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability;

(n) To pay pensions for faithful service, as deemed appropriate by the Trustees, and to adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust;

(o) To purchase or otherwise acquire Shares; and

(p) To engage in any other lawful act or activity in which business corporations or voluntary associations organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts may engage, including, but not limited to, any and all acts permitted of a Closed-end company under the 1940 Act.

The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investments by trustees. Except as otherwise provided herein or from time to time in the Bylaws, any action to be taken by the Trustees may be taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of the Trustees (a quorum being present), within or without Massachusetts. Except as otherwise provided herein or from time to time in the Bylaws, any action to be taken by the Trustees may be taken at a meeting held by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting, or by written consents of a majority of the Trustees then in office (or such greater number as may be required by this Declaration, the Bylaws or applicable law).

Payment of Expenses by the Trust

Section 6. The Trustees are authorized to pay, or to cause to be paid out of the principal or income, or partly out of principal and partly out of income, of the Trust as they deem fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust, or in connection with the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees’ compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the Trust’s officers, employees, investment advisers, sub-advisers or managers, principal underwriters, auditors, counsel,

 

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custodians, transfer agents, shareholder servicing agents, and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.

Ownership of Assets of the Trust

Section 7. Title to all of the assets of the Trust and each series and class of Shares shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees.

Advisory, Management and Distribution

Section 8. The Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory and/or management services with one or more corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations (each, a “Manager”), every such contract to comply with such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the Bylaws; and any such contract may provide for one or more sub-advisers or other agents who shall perform all or part of the obligations of the relevant Manager under such contract and contain such other terms interpretive of or in addition to said requirements and restrictions as the Trustees may determine, including, without limitation, authority to determine from time to time what investments shall be purchased, held, sold, or exchanged and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trust’s investments. The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract with one or more Managers or other corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations, appointing it or them exclusive or nonexclusive distributor(s) and/or principal underwriter(s) for the Shares, every such contract to comply with such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the Bylaws; and any such contract may contain such other terms interpretive of or in addition to said requirements and restrictions as the Trustees may determine.

The fact that:

(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, adviser, sub-adviser, principal underwriter or distributor or agent of or for any corporation, partnership, trust, association or other organization, or of or for any parent or affiliate of any organization, with which an advisory, sub-advisory or management contract, or principal underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other agency contract may have been or may hereafter be made or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or that

(ii) any corporation, trust, association or other organization with which an advisory, sub-advisory or management contract or principal underwriter’s or distributor’s contract or transfer, shareholder servicing or other agency contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an advisory, sub-advisory or

 

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management contract, or principal underwriter’s or distributor’s contract or transfer, shareholder servicing or other agency contract with one or more other corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations, or has other business or interests,

shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.

Address of the Trustees and Agent for Service of Process

Section 9. The principal address of the Trustees on the date hereof is c/o Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC, 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019. The name and address of the resident agent of the Trust on the date hereof in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is Corporation Service Company, 84 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. Each Trustee may change his or her principal address, and the Trustees may appoint a new or successor resident agent of the Trust, in each case at any time in his or their sole discretion.

ARTICLE V

SHAREHOLDERS’ VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS

General

Section 1. Except as otherwise provided in this Article V or elsewhere in this Declaration, Shareholders shall have such power to vote as is provided for in, and shall and may hold meetings and take actions pursuant to, the provisions of the Bylaws.

Voting Powers as to Certain Transactions

Section 2.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 2, the affirmative vote or consent of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Trustees of the Trust and at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon shall be necessary to authorize any of the following actions:

(i) the merger or consolidation or share exchange of the Trust or any series or class of Shares with or into any other person or company (including, without limitation, a partnership, corporation, joint venture, business trust, common law trust or any other business organization) or of any such person or company with or into the Trust or any series or class of Shares;

 

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(ii) the issuance or transfer by the Trust or any series or class of Shares (in one or more series of transactions in any twelve-month period) of any securities of the Trust or such series or class to any other person or entity for cash, securities or other property (or combination thereof) having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more, excluding (i) sales of any securities of the Trust or a series or class in connection with a public offering thereof, (ii) issuance of securities of the Trust or a series or class pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan adopted by the Trustees and (iii) issuances of securities of the Trust or a series or class upon the exercise of any stock subscription rights distributed by the Trust or a series or class;

(iii) a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition by the Trust or any series or class of Shares (in one or a series of transactions in any twelve-month period) to or with any person of any assets of the Trust or such series or class having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more, except for transactions in securities effected by the Trust or a series or class in the ordinary course of business;

(iv) any Shareholder proposal as to specific investment decisions made or to be made with respect to the assets of the Trust or a series or class of Shares.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in paragraph (a) of this Section 2, so long as each action is approved by both a majority of the entire Board of Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees, and so long as all other conditions and requirements, if any, provided for in the Bylaws and applicable law have been satisfied, then no Shareholder vote or consent shall be necessary or required to approve any of the actions listed in paragraphs (a)(i), (a)(ii), (a)(iii) or (a)(iv) of this Section 2, except to the extent such Shareholder vote or consent is required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law.

Conversion to Open-End Company

Section 3. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Declaration or the Bylaws, the conversion of the Trust or any series of Shares from a “closed-end company” to an “open-end company,” as those terms are defined in Sections 5(a)(2) and 5(a)(1), respectively, of the 1940 Act (as in effect on the date of this Declaration), together with any necessary amendments to this Declaration to permit such a conversion, shall require the affirmative vote or consent of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of each class of Shares outstanding and entitled to vote on the matter, unless a majority of the Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees entitled to vote on the matter approve such conversion and related actions. In the event of such approval by the Trustees and the Continuing Trustees as referred to in the preceding sentence, the 1940 Act shall govern whether and to what extent a vote or consent of Shares shall be required to approve such conversion and related actions. Any affirmative vote or consent required under this Section 3 shall be in addition to the vote or consent of the Shareholders

 

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otherwise required by law or by any agreement between the Trust and any national securities exchange.

ARTICLE VI

DISTRIBUTIONS AND DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

Distributions

Section 1. The Trustees may each year, or more frequently if they so desire, but need not, distribute to the Shareholders of any or all classes or series of Shares such income and gains, accrued or realized, as the Trustees may determine, after providing for actual and accrued expenses and liabilities (including such reserves as the Trustees may establish) determined in accordance with good accounting practices and subject to the preferences, special or relative rights and privileges of the various classes or series of Shares. The Trustees shall have full discretion to determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as capital and their determination shall be binding upon the Shareholders. Distributions of income for each year or other period, if any be made, may be made in one or more payments, which shall be in Shares, in cash or otherwise and on a date or dates and as of a record date or dates determined by the Trustees. At any time and from time to time in their discretion, the Trustees may distribute to the Shareholders as of a record date or dates determined by the Trustees, in Shares, in cash or otherwise, all or part of any gains realized on the sale or disposition of property or otherwise, or all or part of any other principal of the Trust. Each distribution pursuant to this Section 1 to the Shareholders of a particular class or series shall be made ratably according to the number of Shares of such class or series held by the several Shareholders on the applicable record date thereof, provided that no distribution need be made on Shares purchased pursuant to orders received, or for which payment is made, after such time or times as the Trustees may determine. Any such distribution paid in Shares will be paid at the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with Section 2 of this Article VI, or at such other value as may be specified by the Bylaws or as the Trustees may from time to time determine, subject to applicable laws and regulations then in effect.

Determination of Net Asset Value

Section 2. The net asset value per share of each class and each series of Shares of the Trust shall be determined in accordance with the 1940 Act and any related procedures adopted by the Trustees from time to time. Determinations made under and pursuant to this Section 2 in good faith and in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act shall be binding on all parties concerned.

 

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ARTICLE VII

COMPENSATION AND LIMITATION

OF LIABILITY OF TRUSTEES

Compensation

Section 1. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Trust; they may fix the amount of their compensation. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the Trust’s employment of any Trustee for advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking, underwriting, brokerage or other services and payment for the same by the Trust.

Limitation of Liability

Section 2. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, adviser, sub-adviser, manager or principal underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee, but nothing herein contained shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate, Share or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been executed or done only in or with respect to their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such Trustees or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.

ARTICLE VIII

INDEMNIFICATION

Trustees, Officers etc.

Section 1. The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees and officers (including persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”) against all liabilities and expenses, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees reasonably incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, including any form of alternate dispute resolution, such as, but not limited to, arbitration or mediation, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such Covered Person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Covered Person, except

 

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with respect to any matter as to which such Covered Person shall have been finally adjudicated in a decision on the merits in any such action, suit or other proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in the best interests of the Trust and except that no Covered Person shall be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office. Expenses, including counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), shall be paid from time to time by the Trust in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay amounts so paid to the Trust if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article VIII, provided, that (a) such Covered Person shall provide appropriate security for his or her undertaking, (b) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of such Covered Person’s failure to fulfill his or her undertaking, or (c) a majority of the Trustees who are disinterested persons and who are not Interested Persons of the Trust (provided that a majority of such Trustees then in office act on the matter), or independent legal counsel in a written opinion shall determine, based on a review of readily available facts (but not a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe such Covered Person ultimately will be entitled to indemnification.

Each Covered Person’s right to indemnification vests by virtue of such Covered Person’s status as such, and no repeal or modification of this Article VIII, Section 1 shall adversely affect any rights to indemnification from liabilities or expenses or to the advancement of liabilities or expenses of any Covered Person who is within the definition of “Covered Person” existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

Compromise Payment

Section 2. As to any matter disposed of (whether by a compromise payment, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise) without an adjudication in a decision on the merits by a court, or by any other body before which the proceeding was brought, that such Covered Person either (a) did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in the best interests of the Trust or (b) is liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office, indemnification shall be provided if (x) approved as in the best interests of the Trust, after notice that it involves such indemnification, by at least a majority of the Trustees who are disinterested persons and are not Interested Persons of the Trust (provided that a majority of such Trustees then in office act on the matter), upon a determination, based upon a review of readily available facts (but not a full trial-type inquiry) that such Covered Person acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in the best interests of the Trust and is not liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office, or (y) there has been obtained an

 

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opinion in writing of independent legal counsel, based upon a review of readily available facts (but not a full trial-type inquiry), to the effect that such Covered Person appears to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in the best interests of the Trust and that such indemnification would not protect such Covered Person against any liability to the Trust to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. Any approval pursuant to this Section 2 shall not prevent the recovery from any Covered Person of any amount paid to such Covered Person in accordance with this Section 2 as indemnification if such Covered Person is subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in the best interests of the Trust or to have been liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office.

Rebuttable Presumption

Section 3. For purposes of the determination or opinion referred to in clause (c) of Section 1 of this Article VIII or clauses (x) or (y) of Section 2 of this Article VIII, the majority of disinterested Trustees acting on the matter or independent legal counsel, as the case may be, shall be entitled to rely upon a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person has not engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office.

Indemnification Not Exclusive

Section 4. The right of indemnification hereby provided shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in this Article VIII, the term “Covered Person” shall include such person’s heirs, executors and administrators, and a “disinterested person” is a person against whom none of the actions, suits or other proceedings in question or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending. Nothing contained in this Article VIII shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees or officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any person.

Shareholders

Section 5. In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his or her being or having been a Shareholder and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives or, in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability.

 

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ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

Trustees, Shareholders etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice

Section 1. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or a particular series or class of Shares shall look only to the assets of the Trust or the assets of that particular series or class of Shares for payment under such credit, contract or claim; and neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trust’s officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor. Nothing in this Declaration shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which such Trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee.

Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees or by any officer or officers shall give notice that this Declaration is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall recite that the same was executed or made by or on behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustee or Trustees or as officer or officers and not individually and that the obligations of such instrument are not binding upon any of them or the Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust, and may contain such further recital as he or she or they may deem appropriate, but the omission thereof shall not operate to bind any Trustee or Trustees or officer or officers or Shareholder or Shareholders individually.

Trustees and Officers Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety

Section 2. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested. A Trustee or officer shall be liable for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee or officer, and for nothing else, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees or officers may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such advice. The Trustees and officers shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is required.

For purposes of (a) any standard of care applicable to a Trustee in the discharge of his or her duties as a trustee and (b) indemnification of a Trustee pursuant to Article VIII of this Declaration of Trust, the conduct of the Trustee shall be evaluated solely by reference to a hypothetical reasonable person, without regard to any special expertise, knowledge or other qualifications of the Trustee. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the determination that a Trustee is an “audit committee financial expert” nor the

 

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knowledge, experience or other qualifications underlying such a determination shall result in that Trustee being held to a standard of care that is higher than the standard that would be applicable in the absence of such a determination or such knowledge, experience or qualification, nor shall such a determination or such knowledge, experience or other qualification impose any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than would obtain in the absence of such a determination or such knowledge, experience or qualification.

Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees

Section 3. No person dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon its order.

Duration and Termination of Trust

Section 4. Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. Subject to the voting powers of one or more classes or series of Shares as set forth in the Bylaws, the Trust may be terminated at any time (i) by vote or consent of Shareholders holding at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares entitled to vote or (ii) by vote or consent of majority of the entire Board of Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees upon written notice to the Shareholders. Any series or class of Shares may be terminated at any time (x) by vote or consent of Shareholders holding at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares of such series of class entitled to vote or (y) by vote or consent of majority of the entire Board of Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees upon written notice to the Shareholders of such series or class. For the avoidance of any doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Declaration, Shareholders shall have no separate right to vote with respect to the termination of the Trust or a series of class of Shares if the Trustees (including the Continuing Trustees) exercise their right to terminate the Trust or such series or class pursuant to clauses (ii) and (y) of this Section 4.

Upon termination of the Trust or of any one or more series or classes of Shares, after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and liabilities, whether due or accrued or anticipated, of the Trust or of the particular series or class, as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate reduce the remaining assets to distributable form in cash or shares or other property, or any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the Shareholders of the series or class(es) involved, ratably according to the number of Shares of such series or class held by the several Shareholders on the date of termination, except to the extent otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any classes or series of Shares.

 

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Filing of Copies, References, Headings

Section 5. The original or a copy of this instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust, where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. A copy of this instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be filed by the Trust with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with the Boston City Clerk, as well as any other governmental office where such filing may from time to time be required. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or not any such amendments have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder; and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of any such amendments. In this instrument and in any such amendment, references to this instrument, and all expressions like “herein”, “hereof”, and “hereunder”, shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as amended or affected by any such amendments. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.

Applicable Law

Section 6 . This Declaration is made in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of said Commonwealth. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a Massachusetts business trust, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust.

Amendments

Section 7 . (a) Except to the extent that the Bylaws or applicable law may require a higher vote or the separate vote of one or more classes or series of Shares, and except as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 7, this Declaration may be amended at any time by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees (1) when authorized so to do by a vote of Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares entitled to vote or (2) without Shareholder approval as may be necessary or desirable in order to authorize one or more classes or series of Shares as in Section 1 of Article III hereof. Amendments having the purpose of changing the name of the Trust or of supplying any omission, curing any ambiguity or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision contained herein shall not require authorization by Shareholder vote.

(b) Except to the extent that the Bylaws or applicable law may require a higher vote or the separate vote of one or more classes or series of Shares, no amendment may be made under this Section 7 which shall amend, alter, change or repeal any of the following provisions hereof: Article III, Sections 4, 5, 6 or 7; Article IV, Sections 1, 2 and 3; each Section of Article V; Article VII, Section 2; each Section of Article VIII; or this Article IX, Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 7(b) or

 

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7(c); unless, in each case, the amendment effecting such amendment, alteration, change or repeal shall be effected by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees and shall receive the affirmative vote or consent of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares entitled to vote; provided , however , that such affirmative vote or consent shall be in addition to the vote or consent of the Shareholders otherwise required by applicable law or by the terms of any agreement between the Trust and any national securities exchange.

(c) Except to the extent that the Bylaws or applicable law requires a vote or consent of Shareholders, the Board of Trustees shall have the sole power and authority to adopt, amend, alter, change or repeal any Bylaw of the Trust, if the resolution or writing adopting, amending, altering, changing or repealing any such Bylaw is approved or signed by a majority of the Board of Trustees; provided , however , that the approval of a majority of the Board of Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees shall be required for (i) any amendment, alteration, change or repeal of Section 10 of the Bylaws and (ii) any amendment, alteration, change or repeal of any other Section or provision of the Bylaws designated from time to time by resolution of a majority of the Board of Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees to require such approval.

Address of the Trust

Section 8. As of the date hereof, the principal address of the Trust is c/o Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC, 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019. The Trustees may change the principal address of the Trust to any location within or without The Commonwealth of Massachusetts as they shall determine in their sole discretion.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, all of the Trustees as aforesaid do hereto set their hands this 7th day of May, 2012.

 

/s/ D EBORAH A. D E C OTIS

Deborah A. DeCotis

/s/ B RADFORD K. G ALLAGHER

Bradford K. Gallagher

/s/ J AMES A. J ACOBSON

James A. Jacobson

/s/ H ANS W. K ERTESS

Hans W. Kertess

/s/ J OHN C. M ANEY

John C. Maney

/s/ W ILLIAM B. O GDEN , I V

William B. Ogden, IV

/s/ A LAN R APPAPORT

Alan Rappaport

 

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AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS

of

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND

(Dated as of May 7, 2012)

ARTICLE 1

Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Principal Office

1.1 Principal Office of the Trust . The Trust may have one or more principal offices within or without The Commonwealth of Massachusetts as the Trustees may determine or as they may authorize.

1.2 Agreement and Declaration of Trust . These Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) shall be subject to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time (the “Declaration of Trust”), of PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund, the Massachusetts business trust established by the Declaration of Trust (the “Trust”). Capitalized terms used in these Bylaws and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Declaration of Trust.

ARTICLE 2

Meetings of Trustees

2.1 Regular Meetings . Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held without call or notice at such places and at such times as the Trustees may from time to time determine, provided that notice of the first regular meeting following any such determination shall be given to absent Trustees. A regular meeting of the Trustees may be held without call or notice immediately after and at the same place as an annual meeting of the Shareholders.

2.2 Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Trustees may be held at any time and at any place designated in the call of the meeting when called by the Chairman of the Trustees, the President or the Treasurer or by two or more Trustees, sufficient notice thereof being given to each Trustee by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or by the officer or the Trustees calling the meeting.

2.3 Notice . It shall be sufficient notice to a Trustee of a special meeting to send notice by mail at least forty-eight hours, or by telegram, telex or telecopy or other electronic facsimile transmission method at least twenty-four hours, before the meeting addressed to the Trustee at his or her usual or last known business or residence address (or facsimile number or e-mail address as the case may be) or to give notice to him or her in person or by telephone or voice-mail at least twenty-four hours before the meeting. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Trustee if a written waiver of notice, executed by him or her, before or after the meeting, is filed with the records of the meeting, or to any Trustee who attends the meeting without


protesting prior thereto or at its commencement the lack of notice to him or her. Neither notice of a meeting nor a waiver of a notice need specify the purposes of the meeting.

2.4 Quorum . At any meeting of the Trustees a majority of the Trustees then in office shall constitute a quorum. Any meeting may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.

ARTICLE 3

Officers and Chairman of the Trustees

3.1 Enumeration; Qualification . The officers of the Trust shall be a President, a Treasurer, a Secretary, a Chief Compliance Officer and such other officers, if any, as the Trustees from time to time may in their discretion elect. The Trust may also have such agents as the Trustees from time to time may in their discretion appoint. Any officer may but need not be a Trustee or a Shareholder. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

3.2 Election . The President, the Treasurer, and the Secretary shall be elected annually by the Trustees. Other officers, if any, may be elected or appointed by the Trustees at the same meeting at which the President, Treasurer and Secretary are elected, or at any other time. If required by the 1940 Act, the Chief Compliance Officer shall be elected or appointed by a majority of the Trustees, as well as a majority of the Trustees who are not Interested Persons of the Trust (the “Independent Trustees”), and otherwise in accordance with Rule 38a-1 (or any successor rule) under the 1940 Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time (“Rule 38a-1”). Vacancies in any office may be filled at any time.

3.3 Tenure . The Chairman of the Trustees, if one is elected, the President, the Treasurer, the Secretary and the Chief Compliance Officer shall hold office until their respective successors are chosen and qualified, or in each case until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed with or without cause or becomes disqualified, provided that, if required by the 1940 Act, any removal of the Chief Compliance Officer shall be in accordance with Rule 38a-1. Each other officer shall hold office and each agent of the Trust shall retain authority at the pleasure of the Trustees.

3.4 Powers . Subject to the other provisions of these Bylaws, each officer shall have, in addition to the duties and powers herein and set forth in the Declaration of Trust, such duties and powers as are commonly incident to the office occupied by him or her as if the Trust were organized as a Massachusetts business corporation and such other duties and powers as the Trustees may from time to time designate.

3.5 Chairman of the Trustees . There shall be an office of the Chairman of the Trustees, which shall serve on behalf of the Trustees, but shall not be an officer of the Trust. The office of the Chairman of the Trustees may be held by more than one person. Any Chairman of

 

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the Trustees shall be elected by a majority of the Trustees, as well as a majority of the Independent Trustees if required by the 1940 Act. If required by the 1940 Act, any Chairman of the Trustees shall be an Independent Trustee and may, but need not, be a shareholder. The powers and the duties of the Chairman of the Trustees shall include any and all such powers and duties relating to the operations of the Trustees as, from time to time, may be conferred upon or assigned to such office by the Trustees or as may be required by law, provided that the Chairman of the Trustees shall have no individual authority to act for the Trust as an officer of the Trust. In carrying out the responsibilities and duties of the office, the Chairman of the Trustees may seek assistance and input from other Trustees or Committees of the Trustees, officers of the Trust and the Trust’s investment adviser(s) and other service providers, as deemed necessary or appropriate. The Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees if required by the 1940 Act, may appoint one or more persons to perform the duties of the Chairman of the Trustees, in the event of his or her absence at any meeting or in the event of his or her disability.

3.6 President; Vice President . The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Trust. Any Vice President shall have such duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Trustees or the President.

3.7 Treasurer; Assistant Treasurer . The Treasurer shall be the chief financial and accounting officer of the Trust, and shall, subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and to any arrangement made by the Trustees with a custodian, investment adviser, sub-adviser or manager, or transfer, shareholder servicing or similar agent, be in charge of the valuable papers, books of account and accounting records of the Trust, and shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Trustees or by the President. Any Assistant Treasurer shall have such duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Trustees or the President.

3.8 Secretary; Assistant Secretary . The Secretary shall record all proceedings of the Shareholders and the Trustees in books to be kept therefor, which books or a copy thereof shall be kept at the principal office of the Trust. In the absence of the Secretary from any meeting of the Shareholders or Trustees, an Assistant Secretary, or if there be none or if he or she is absent, a temporary secretary chosen at such meeting shall record the proceedings thereof in the aforesaid books. Any Assistant Secretary shall have such duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Trustees or the President.

3.9 Chief Compliance Officer . The Chief Compliance Officer shall perform the duties and have the responsibilities of the chief compliance officer of the Trust, including if required by the 1940 Act any such duties and responsibilities imposed by Rule 38a-1, and shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Trustees.

3.10 Resignations . Any officer may resign at any time by written instrument signed by him or her and delivered to the Chairman of the Trustees, if any, the President or the Secretary, or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified

 

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to be effective at some other time. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no officer resigning and no officer removed shall have any right to any compensation for any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal.

ARTICLE 4

Committees

4.1 Quorum; Voting . Except as provided below or as otherwise specifically provided in the resolutions constituting a Committee of the Trustees and providing for the conduct of its meetings, a majority of the members of any Committee of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and any action of such a Committee may be taken at a meeting by a vote of a majority of the members present (a quorum being present) or evidenced by one or more writings signed by such a majority. Members of a Committee may participate in a meeting of such Committee by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

With respect to a Valuation Committee of the Trustees, one or more of the Committee members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Except as specifically provided in the resolutions constituting a Committee of the Trustees and providing for the conduct of its meetings, Section 2.3 of these Bylaws relating to special meetings shall govern the notice requirements for Committee meetings, except that it shall be sufficient notice to a Valuation Committee of the Trustees to send notice by telegram, telex or telecopy or other electronic means (including by telephone, voice-message or e-mail) at least fifteen minutes before the meeting.

ARTICLE 5

Reports

5.1 General . The Trustees and officers shall render reports at the time and in the manner required by the Declaration of Trust or any applicable law. Officers and Committees shall render such additional reports as they may deem desirable or as may from time to time be required by the Trustees.

ARTICLE 6

Fiscal Year

6.1 General . Except as from time to time otherwise determined by the Trustees, the initial fiscal year of the Trust shall end on such date as is determined in advance or in arrears by the Trustees or the Treasurer, and the subsequent fiscal years shall end on such date in subsequent years.

 

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ARTICLE 7

Seal

7.1 General . The seal of the Trust shall, subject to alteration by the Trustees, consist of a flat-faced die with the word “Massachusetts,” together with the name of the Trust and the year of its organization cut or engraved thereon; provided, however, that unless otherwise required by the Trustees, the seal shall not be necessary to be placed on, and its absence shall not impair the validity of, any document, instrument or other paper executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Trust.

ARTICLE 8

Execution of Papers

8.1 General . Except as the Trustees may generally or in particular cases authorize the execution thereof in some other manner, all deeds, leases, transfers, contracts, bonds, notes, checks, drafts and other obligations made, accepted or endorsed by the Trust shall be executed by the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or by whomever else shall be designated for that purpose by vote of the Trustees, and need not bear the seal of the Trust.

ARTICLE 9

Uncertificated Shares and Share Certificates

9.1 Uncertificated Shares; Share Certificates . In lieu of issuing certificates for Shares, the Trustees or the transfer agent may either issue receipts therefor or may keep accounts upon the books of the Trust for the record holders of such Shares, who shall in either case be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be the holders of certificates for such Shares as if they had accepted such certificates and shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof.

The Trustees may at any time, but are not required to, authorize the issuance of share certificates. In that event, each Shareholder shall be entitled to a certificate stating the number of Shares owned by him or her, in such form as shall be prescribed from time to time by the Trustees. Any such certificates shall be signed by the President or any Vice President and by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer. Such signatures may be by facsimile if the certificate is signed by a transfer agent, or by a registrar, other than a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust. In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on such certificate shall cease to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Trust with the same effect as if he or she were such officer at the time of its issuance.

9.2 Loss of Certificates . In case of the alleged loss or destruction or the mutilation of a share certificate, a duplicate certificate may be issued in place thereof, upon such terms as the Trustees shall prescribe.

 

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9.3 Issuance of New Certificates to Pledgee . A pledgee of Shares transferred as collateral security shall be entitled to a new certificate if the instrument of transfer substantially describes the debt or duty that is intended to be secured thereby. Such new certificate shall express on its face that it is held as collateral security, and the name of pledgor shall be stated thereon, who alone shall be liable as a Shareholder and entitled to vote thereon.

9.4 Discontinuance of Issuance of Certificates . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 9, the Trustees may at any time discontinue any issuance of share certificates and may, by written notice to each Shareholder, require the surrender of share certificates to the Trust for cancellation. Such surrender and cancellation shall not affect the ownership of Shares in the Trust.

ARTICLE 10

Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings

10.1 Voting Powers . The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the election or removal of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Sections 1 and 3 of the Declaration of Trust, (ii) with respect to any Manager or sub-adviser as provided in Article IV, Section 8 of the Declaration of Trust to the extent required by the 1940 Act, (iii) with respect to certain transactions and other matters to the extent and as provided in Article V, Sections 2 and 3 of the Declaration of Trust, (iv) with respect to any termination of this Trust to the extent and as provided in Article IX, Section 4 of the Declaration of Trust (for the avoidance of any doubt, Shareholders shall have no separate right to vote with respect to the termination of the Trust or a series or class of Shares if the Trustees (including the Continuing Trustees) exercise their right to terminate the Trust or such series or class pursuant to clauses (ii) or (y) of Article IX, Section 4 of the Declaration of Trust), (v) with respect to any amendment of the Declaration of Trust to the extent and as provided in Article IX, Section 7 of the Declaration of Trust, (vi) to the same extent as the stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not a court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders, and (vii) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by law, the Declaration of Trust, these Bylaws or any registration of the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor agency) or any state, or as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote, except as otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust, these Bylaws, or required by applicable law. Except as otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust or in respect of the terms of a class of preferred shares of beneficial interest of the Trust as reflected in these Bylaws or required by applicable law, all Shares of the Trust then entitled to vote shall be voted in the aggregate as a single class without regard to classes or series of Shares. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy with respect to Shares held in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by any one of them unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. The placing of

 

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a Shareholder’s name on a proxy pursuant to telephonic or electronically transmitted instructions obtained pursuant to procedures reasonably designed to verify that such instructions have been authorized by such Shareholder shall constitute execution of such proxy by or on behalf of such Shareholder. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. Until Shares of a particular class or series are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required by law, the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws to be taken by Shareholders as to such class or series.

10.2 Voting Power and Meetings . Except as provided in the third sentence of this paragraph, regular meetings of the Shareholders for the election of Trustees and the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held, so long as Shares are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), on at least an annual basis, on such day and at such place as shall be designated by the Trustees. For the avoidance of doubt, for these purposes, “on at least an annual basis” is intended to permit the Trustees to set the Trust’s annual meetings at anytime within the timeframes required of closed-end investment companies whose shares are listed for trading on the NYSE in accordance with applicable rules of the NYSE (which, as of the date of these Bylaws, require listed companies to hold an annual shareholders’ meeting during each fiscal year). In the event that such a meeting is not held in any annual period if so required, whether the omission be by oversight or otherwise, a subsequent special meeting may be called by the Trustees and held in lieu of such meeting with the same effect as if held within such annual period. Special meetings of the Shareholders or any or all classes or series of Shares may also be called by the Trustees from time to time for such other purposes as may be prescribed by law, by the Declaration of Trust or by these Bylaws, or for the purpose of taking action upon any other matter deemed by a majority of the Trustees and a majority of the Continuing Trustees to be necessary or desirable. A special meeting of Shareholders may be held at any such time, day and place as is designated by the Trustees. Written notice of any meeting of Shareholders, stating the date, time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given or caused to be given by a majority of the Trustees and a majority of the Continuing Trustees at least seven days before such meeting to each Shareholder entitled to vote thereat by leaving such notice with the Shareholder at his or her residence or usual place of business or by mailing such notice, postage prepaid, to the Shareholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Trust. Such notice may be given by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or by any other officer or agent designated for such purpose by the Trustees. Whenever notice of a meeting is required to be given to a Shareholder under the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, executed before or after the meeting by such Shareholder or his or her attorney thereunto authorized and filed with the records of the meeting, shall be deemed equivalent to such notice. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Shareholder who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement the lack of notice to such Shareholder. No ballot shall be required for any election unless required by a Shareholder present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote in such election. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.2, no matter shall be properly before any annual or

 

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special meeting of Shareholders and no business shall be transacted thereat unless in accordance with Section 10.6 of these Bylaws.

10.3 Quorum and Required Vote . Except when a larger quorum is required by any provision of law or the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, thirty percent (30%) of the Shares entitled to vote on a particular matter shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a Shareholders’ meeting, except that where any provision of law or the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws permits or requires that holders of any class or series of Shares shall vote as an individual class or series, then thirty percent (30%) (unless a larger quorum is required as specified above) of Shares of that class or series entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by that class or series. Any lesser number shall be sufficient for adjournments. Any adjourned session or sessions may be held, within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting, without the necessity of further notice. Except when a different vote is required by any provision of law or the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, a plurality of the quorum of Shares necessary for the transaction of business at a Shareholders’ meeting shall decide any questions and a plurality of Shares voted shall elect a Trustee, provided that where any provision of law or of the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws permits or requires that the holders of any class or series of Shares shall vote as an individual class or series, then a plurality of the quorum of Shares of that class or series necessary for the transaction of business by that class or series at a Shareholders’ meeting shall decide that matter insofar as that class or series is concerned.

10.4 Action by Written Consent . Any action taken by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a majority of Shareholders entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of law or the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws) consent to the action in writing and such written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.

10.5 Record Dates . For the purpose of determining the Shareholders who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, or who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, the Trustees may from time to time fix a time, which shall be not more than 90 days before the date of any meeting of Shareholders or the date for the payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, as the record date for determining the Shareholders having the right to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof or the right to receive such dividend or distribution, and in such case only Shareholders of record on such record date shall have the right notwithstanding any transfer of Shares on the books of the Trust after the record date; or without fixing such record date the Trustees may for any of such purposes close the register or transfer books for all or any part of such period.

 

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10.6 Advance Notice of Shareholder Nominees for Trustees and Other Shareholder Proposals .

(a) As used in this Section 10.6, the term “annual meeting” refers to any annual meeting of Shareholders as well as any special meeting held in lieu of an annual meeting as described in the first three sentences of Section 10.2 of these Bylaws, and the term “special meeting” refers to all meetings of Shareholders other than an annual meeting or a special meeting in lieu of an annual meeting.

(b) The matters to be considered and brought before any annual or special meeting of Shareholders shall be limited to only such matters, including the nomination and election of Trustees, as shall be brought properly before such meeting in compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section 10.6. Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 10.6 shall be eligible for election as Trustees, and no proposal to fix the number of Trustees shall be brought before an annual or special meeting of Shareholders or otherwise transacted unless in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 10.6, except as may be otherwise provided in these Bylaws with respect to the right of holders of preferred shares of beneficial interest, if any, of the Trust to nominate and elect a specified number of Trustees in certain circumstances.

(c) For any matter to be properly before any annual meeting, the matter must be (i) specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of a majority of the Trustees and a majority of the Continuing Trustees pursuant to Section 10.2 of these Bylaws, (ii) otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of a majority of the Continuing Trustees (or any duly authorized committee thereof), or (iii) brought before the meeting in the manner specified in this Section 10.6(c) by a Shareholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting or by a Shareholder (a “Beneficial Owner”) that holds Shares entitled to vote at the meeting through a nominee or “street name” holder of record and that can demonstrate to the Trust such indirect ownership and such Beneficial Owner’s entitlement to vote such Shares, provided that the Shareholder was the Shareholder of record or the Beneficial Owner held such Shares at the time the notice provided for in this Section 10.6(c) is delivered to the Secretary.

In addition to any other requirements under applicable law and the Declaration of Trust and these Bylaws, persons nominated by Shareholders for election as Trustees and any other proposals by Shareholders may be properly brought before an annual meeting only pursuant to timely notice (the “Shareholder Notice”) in writing to the Secretary. To be timely, the Shareholder Notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Trust not less than forty-five (45) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the first anniversary date of the date on which the Trust first mailed its proxy materials for the prior year’s annual meeting; provided , however , with respect to the first annual meeting to be held after the initial offering of the Trust’s Common Shares, the Shareholder Notice must be so delivered or mailed and so received on or before January 31, 2013; provided further , however , if and only if the annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period

 

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that commences thirty (30) days before the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year and ends thirty (30) days after such anniversary date (an annual meeting date outside such period being referred to herein as an “Other Annual Meeting Date”), such Shareholder Notice must be given in the manner provided herein by the later of the close of business on (i) the date forty-five (45) days prior to such Other Annual Meeting Date or (ii) the tenth (10 th ) business day following the date such Other Annual Meeting Date is first publicly announced or disclosed.

Any Shareholder desiring to nominate any person or persons (as the case may be) for election as a Trustee or Trustees of the Trust shall deliver, as part of such Shareholder Notice: (i) a statement in writing setting forth (A) the name, age, date of birth, business address, residence address and nationality of the person or persons to be nominated; (B) the class or series and number of all Shares of the Trust owned of record or beneficially by each such person or persons, as reported to such Shareholder by such nominee(s); (C) any other information regarding each such person required by paragraphs (a), (d), (e) and (f) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K or paragraph (b) of Item 22 of Rule 14a-101 (Schedule 14A) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (or the corresponding provisions of any regulation or rule subsequently adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency applicable to the Trust); (D) any other information regarding the person or persons to be nominated that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitation of proxies for election of Trustees or directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (E) whether such Shareholder believes any nominee is or will be an “interested person” of the Trust (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) and, if not an “interested person,” information regarding each nominee that will be sufficient for the Trust to make such determination; and (ii) the written and signed consent of the person or persons to be nominated to be named as nominees and to serve as Trustees if elected. In addition, the Trustees may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as they may reasonably require or deem necessary to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a Trustee. Any Shareholder Notice required by this Section 10.6(c) in respect of a proposal to fix the number of Trustees shall also set forth a description of and the text of the proposal, which description and text shall state a fixed number of Trustees that otherwise complies with applicable law, these Bylaws and the Declaration of Trust.

Without limiting the foregoing, any Shareholder who gives a Shareholder Notice of any matter proposed to be brought before a Shareholder meeting (whether or not involving nominees for Trustees) shall deliver, as part of such Shareholder Notice: (i) the description of and text of the proposal to be presented; (ii) a brief written statement of the reasons why such Shareholder favors the proposal; (iii) such Shareholder’s name and address as they appear on the Trust’s books; (iv) any other information relating to the Shareholder that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in

 

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connection with the solicitation of proxies with respect to the matter(s) proposed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (v) the class or series and number of all Shares of the Trust owned beneficially and of record by such Shareholder; (vi) any material interest of such Shareholder in the matter proposed (other than as a Shareholder); (vii) a representation that the Shareholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the Shareholder meeting to act on the matter(s) proposed; (viii) if the proposal involves nominee(s) for Trustees, a description of all arrangements or understandings between the Shareholder and each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made by the Shareholder; and (ix) in the case of a Beneficial Owner, evidence establishing such Beneficial Owner’s indirect ownership of, and entitlement to vote, Shares at the meeting of Shareholders. As used in this Section 10.6, Shares “beneficially owned” shall mean all Shares which such person is deemed to beneficially own pursuant to Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act.

(d) For any matter to be properly before any special meeting, the matter must be specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of a majority of the Trustees and a majority of the Continuing Trustees pursuant to Section 10.2 of these Bylaws. In the event the Trust calls a special meeting for the purpose of electing one or more Trustees, any Shareholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Trust’s notice of meeting if and only if the Shareholder provides a notice containing the information required in the Shareholder Notice to the Secretary required with respect to annual meetings by Section 10.6(c) hereof, and such notice is delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive office of the Trust not later than the close of business on the tenth (10 th ) day following the day on which the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Trustees to be elected at such meeting are publicly announced or disclosed.

(e) For purposes of this Section 10.6, a matter shall be deemed to have been “publicly announced or disclosed” if such matter is disclosed in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service, in a document publicly filed by the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or in a Web site accessible to the public maintained by the Trust or by its investment adviser or an affiliate of such investment adviser with respect to the Trust.

(f) In no event shall an adjournment or postponement (or a public announcement thereof) of a meeting of Shareholders commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of notice as provided in this Section 10.6.

(g) The person presiding at any meeting of Shareholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall have the power and duty to (i) determine whether a nomination or proposal of other matters to be brought before a meeting and notice thereof have been duly made and given in the manner provided in this Section 10.6 and elsewhere in these Bylaws and the Declaration of Trust and

 

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(ii) if not so made or given, to direct and declare at the meeting that such nomination and/or such other matters shall be disregarded and shall not be considered. Any determination by the person presiding shall be binding on all parties absent manifest error.

(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.6 or otherwise in these Bylaws, unless required by federal law, no matter shall be considered at or brought before any annual or special meeting unless such matter has been approved for these purposes by a majority of the Continuing Trustees and, in particular, no Beneficial Owner shall have any rights as a Shareholder except as may be required by federal law. Furthermore, nothing in this Section 10.6 shall be construed as creating any implication or presumption as to the requirements of federal law.

ARTICLE 11

Amendment to the Bylaws

11.1 General . Except to the extent that the Declaration of Trust or applicable law requires a vote or consent of Shareholders or a higher vote or consent by the Trustees and/or the Continuing Trustees, these Bylaws may be amended, changed, altered or repealed, in whole or part, only by resolution of a majority of the Trustees and a majority of the Continuing Trustees then in office at any meeting of the Trustees, or by one or more writings signed by such Trustees and Continuing Trustees.

 

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ORGANIZED AND EXISTING UNDER AND BY VIRTUE OF

THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

 

Number

   PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND     

Shares

 

COMMON SHARES(S) OF

   THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN                CUSIP TO COME   

BENEFICIAL INTEREST

   THE CITY OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS OR NEW YORK, NEW YORK        SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR  

$0.00001 PAR VALUE PER SHARE

         
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
  

This certifies that                     

is the owner of                                     

FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE COMMON SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST OF

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND, the said shares being issued, received and held under and subject to the terms and provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated as of January 19, 2011, establishing the Fund, and all amendments thereto, copies of which are on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Fund’s Bylaws, and all amendments thereto. The said owner by accepting this certificate agrees to and is bound by all of the said terms and provisions. The common shares represented hereby are transferable in writing by the owner thereof in person or by attorney upon surrender of this certificate to the Fund, properly endorsed for transfer. This certificate is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Fund as Trustees and not individually and the obligations hereof are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Fund individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund. This certificate is not valid until countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

WITNESS the seal of the Fund and the signatures of its duly authorized officers.

DATED:

 

 

TREASURER

         

 

PRESIDENT


The Fund will furnish a copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Bylaws to the holder of this certificate without charge upon written request.

EXPLANATION OF ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations when used in the form of ownership on the face of this certificate shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations. Abbreviations in addition to those appearing below, may be used.

 

Abbreviation

  

Equivalent

  

Abbreviation

    

Equivalent

JT TEN    As joint tenants, with rights of survivorship    TEN IN COM      As tenants in common
   and not as tenants in common    TEN BY ENT      As tenants by the entireties
      UNIF TRANSFERS MIN ACT      Uniform Transfers to Minors Act

Abbreviation

  

Equivalent

  

Abbreviation

    

Equivalent

ADM    Administrator(s)    FDN      Foundation
   Administratrix    PL      Public Law
AGMT    Agreement    TR      (As) trustee(s) for, of
CUST    Custodian for    UA      Under Agreement
EST    Estate, Of estate of    UW      Under will of, Of will of,
EX    Executor(s), Executrix         Under last will & testament
FBO    For the benefit of        

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

TRANSFER FORM

 

 

For value received,                      hereby sell, assign and transfer unto:

(I/We)

     

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER

IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

     

 

 

    

 

Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address (including postal Zip Code of Assignee)

 

 

                                      Common Shares of Beneficial Interest represented by this Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
                                              Attorney, to transfer such beneficial interest on the books of the Fund named therein with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated                      ,         

 

     Signature(s)      

Signature Guaranteed By

     (The signature of this assignment must correspond exactly with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. If more than one owner, all must sign.)

 

(Signature must be guaranteed by a commercial

bank or trust company or member firm of any

national stock exchange.)

    

IMPORTANT NOTICE

When you sign your name to the Transfer Form without filling in the name of your “Assignee” this certificate becomes fully negotiable, similar to a check endorsed in blank. Therefore, to safeguard a signed certificate, it is recommended that you fill in the name of the new owner in the “Assignee” space.

Alternatively, instead of using this Transfer Form, you may sign a separate “stock power” form and then mail the unsigned certificate and the signed “stock power” in separate envelopes. For added protection, use registered mail for a certificate.

ALLIANZ-SPONSORED CLOSED-END FUNDS

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

Holders of common shares of beneficial interest (the “Common Shares”) of each of the Allianz-sponsored closed-end investment companies listed on Appendix A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time (each a “Fund”), whose Common Shares are registered with the Agent (as defined below) (the “Registered Common Shareholders” or “Shareholders”), will automatically be enrolled (those so enrolled, the “Participants”) in the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”) and are advised as follows with respect to each such Fund:

1. THE PLAN AGENT. BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the “Agent”) will act as Agent for each Participant. The Agent will open an account for each Participant under the Plan with respect to the Fund in the same name in which his or her outstanding Common Shares of the Fund are registered with the Agent.

2. AUTOMATIC REINVESTMENT FOR PARTICIPANTS / CASH OPTION ELECTION. On behalf of each Participant, the Agent will automatically reinvest each Fund’s distributions of income, capital gains and returns of capital (together, “Distributions”) in Common Shares as described herein as of the first record date for a Distribution by the Fund to shareholders following the date on which the Participant becomes a shareholder of record of the Fund. In accordance with the foregoing, each Registered Common Shareholder will have all Distributions on his or her Common Shares automatically reinvested in additional Common Shares, unless such Shareholder elects to not be a Participant in the Plan and to receive such Distributions in cash. Registered Common Shareholders who wish to receive Distributions in cash, whether following his or her initial purchase of Common Shares or after having been a Participant in the Plan for some period, should so notify the Agent online at www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/equityaccess ,, by calling (800) 254-5197, by writing to the Agent at P.O. Box 358035, Pittsburgh, PA 15252-8035, or, as applicable, by completing and returning the transaction form attached to each Plan statement, as specified and in accordance with Section 13. hereof.

3. MARKET PREMIUM ISSUANCES. With respect to each Participant, if on the payment date for a Distribution, the net asset value per Common Share of the Fund is equal to or less than the market price per Common Share plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Agent shall cause the Distribution to be invested by receiving newly issued Common Shares (“Additional Common Shares”), including fractions, from the Fund for each Participant’s account. The number of Additional Common Shares to be credited shall be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the Distribution by the greater of (i) the net asset value per Common Share on the payment date, or (ii) 95% of the market price per Common Share on the payment date.

4. MARKET DISCOUNT PURCHASES. With respect to each Participant, and except as provided below, if the net asset value per Common Share of the Fund exceeds the market price per Common Share plus estimated brokerage commissions on the payment date for a Distribution, the Agent (or a broker-dealer selected by the Agent) shall endeavor to apply the amount of such Distribution on such Participant’s Common Shares to purchase Common Shares of the Fund on the open market. Such market purchases will commence on or shortly after the payment date for such Distribution and the Agent shall complete such purchases not more than thirty (30) calendar days after such Distribution payment date, except where temporary curtailment or suspension of purchase is necessary to comply


with applicable provisions of federal securities laws. If the Agent is unable to invest the full amount of a Distribution through open market purchases pursuant to this Section 4. or, if before the Agent has completed the open market purchases, the market price per Common Share of the Fund plus estimated brokerage commissions exceeds the net asset value per Common Share as of the last business day immediately prior to the purchase date (the “prior business day”), the Agent shall cause the remainder of the Distribution to be invested by receiving Additional Common Shares, including fractions, from the Fund for each Participant’s account, the number of which shall be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the remainder (i.e., the uninvested portion) of the Distribution by the greater of (i) the net asset value per Common Share on the prior business day, or (ii) 95% of the market price per Common Share on the prior business day (which, in either case, may be a price greater or lesser than the net asset value per Common Share on the payment date for the applicable Distribution). Participants should note that they will not be able to instruct the Agent to purchase Common Shares at a specific time or at a specific price. Open-market purchases may be made on any securities exchange where Common Shares are traded, in the over-the-counter market or in negotiated transactions, and may be on such terms as to price, delivery and otherwise as the Agent shall determine.

The Agent may commingle all Participants’ amounts to be used for open market purchases of the Fund’s Common Shares. The weighted average price (including brokerage commissions) of all Common Shares purchased on the open market by the Agent as Agent and/or issued by the Fund pursuant to Section 3 shall be the price per Common Share allocable to each Participant.

5. VALUATION. The market price of Common Shares of a Fund on a particular date shall be the last sales price on the securities exchange where the Common Shares are listed on that date (the “Exchange”), or, if there is no sale on such Exchange on that date, then the mean between the closing bid and asked quotations on such Exchange on such date will be used. The net asset value per Common Share on a particular date shall be the amount calculated on that date (or if not calculated on such date, the amount most recently calculated) by or on behalf of the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s current policies.

6. SAFEKEEPING. In order to protect against loss, theft or destruction, if Participants hold Common Shares registered in their own names in certificate form, Participants may deposit such Common Shares into their Plan accounts. Certificates, along with a letter of instruction, should be sent to the Agent by registered mail, insured for 2% of their market value. Participants should not endorse their certificates. There are no fees for this service.

7. TAXATION. The automatic reinvestment of Distributions does not relieve Participants of any taxes which may be payable on Distributions. Participants will receive tax information annually for their personal records and to help them prepare their federal income tax return. For further information as to tax consequences of participation in the Plan, Participants should consult with their own tax advisors.

8. LIABILITY OF AGENT. The Agent shall at all times act in good faith and agrees to use its best efforts within reasonable limits to ensure the accuracy of all services performed under these terms and conditions and to comply with applicable law, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors unless such error is caused by the Agent’s negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of its employees. Each Participant’s uninvested funds held by the Agent will not bear interest. The Agent shall have no liability in connection with any inability to purchase

 

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Common Shares within the time period specified herein, or with the timing of any purchases effected. The Agent shall have no responsibility for the value of Common Shares acquired. The Agent may commingle Participants’ funds.

9. RECORDKEEPING. The Agent may hold each Participant’s Common Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan together with the Common Shares of other Registered Common Shareholders of the Fund acquired pursuant to the Plan in non-certificated form in the Agent’s name or that of the Agent’s nominee. Distributions on fractional shares will be credited to each Participant’s account. Each Participant will be sent a confirmation by the Agent of each acquisition made for his or her account as soon as practicable, but in no event later than sixty (60) calendar days, after the date thereof. For Funds that issue share certificates, upon a Participant’s request, the Agent will deliver to the Participant, without charge, a certificate or certificates for the full Common Shares. Although each Participant may from time to time have an undivided fractional interest (computed to four decimal places) in a Common Share of the Fund, no certificates for a fractional share will be issued. For Funds that issue share certificates, Participants may request a certificate online at www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/ equityaccess , by calling the Agent at (800) 254-5197, by writing to the Agent at P.O. Box 358035, Pittsburgh, PA 15252-8035, or by completing and returning the transaction form attached to each Plan statement. The Agent will issue certificates as soon as possible but in no event more than five (5) business days after receipt of a Participant’s request. Similarly, Participants may request to sell a portion of the Common Shares held by the Agent in their Plan accounts online, by calling the Agent, by writing to the Agent, or by completing and returning the transaction form attached to each Plan statement as specified above. The Agent will sell such Common Shares through a broker-dealer selected by the Agent within five (5) business days of receipt of the request assuming the relevant markets are open and sufficient market liquidity exists (and except where deferral of the sale is required under applicable federal or state laws or regulations). The sale price, which will not be determined until such time as the broker-dealer completes the sale, will equal the weighted average price of all Common Shares sold through the Plan on the day of the sale, less a transaction fee and brokerage commissions. Participants should note that the Agent is unable to accept instructions to sell on a specific date or at a specific price. As an alternative to selling Common Shares through the Agent, a Participant may request that the Agent electronically transfer his or her Common Shares to his or her brokerage account in applicable circumstances. Any share dividends or split shares distributed by the Fund on Common Shares held by the Agent for Participants will be credited to their accounts. In the event that the Fund makes available to its Common Shareholders rights to purchase additional Common Shares, the Common Shares held for each Participant under the Plan will be added to other Common Shares held by the Participant in calculating the number of rights to be issued to each Participant.

10. PROXY MATERIALS. The Agent will forward to each Participant any proxy solicitation material it receives with respect to the Common Shares in the Participant’s Plan account. The Agent will vote any Common Shares held for a Participant first in accordance with the instructions set forth on proxies returned by such Participant to the Fund, and then with respect to any proxies not returned by such Participant to the Fund, in the same proportion as the Agent votes the proxies returned by the Participants to the Fund.

11. BROKERS, NOMINEE HOLDERS, ETC. In the case of Registered Common Shareholders such as a broker, bank or other nominee that holds Common Shares for others who are the beneficial owners, the Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of Common Shares certified by

 

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the nominee/record shareholder as representing the total amount registered in such shareholder’s name and held for the account of beneficial owners who are to participate in the Plan. If a beneficial owner’s broker, bank or other nominee who is the record shareholder for the beneficial owner’s Common Shares is not a Registered Common Shareholder (i.e., the Common Shares are not registered with the Agent), neither the nominee nor the beneficial owner will be a Participant under the Plan and have Distributions automatically reinvested by the Agent (although the broker, bank or other nominee may offer other dividend reinvestment programs independent from this Plan). If a beneficial owner of Common Shares wishes to participate in the Plan, but his or her broker, bank or other nominee is unable or unwilling to become a Registered Common Shareholder and a Participant on behalf of the beneficial owner, the beneficial owner may request that the broker, bank or other nominee arrange to have all or a portion of his or her Common Shares re-registered with the Agent in the name of the beneficial owner, such that the beneficial owner becomes a Registered Common Shareholder and, as such, would be enrolled as a Participant in the Plan unless he or she elects otherwise in accordance with the terms hereof. Participants whose Common Shares are registered in the name of one nominee firm may not be able to transfer the Common Shares to another nominee firm and continue to participate in the Plan.

12. FEES. The Agent’s service fee for handling Distributions will be paid by the Fund. Each Participant will be charged his or her pro rata share of brokerage commissions on all open-market purchases. If a Participant elects to have the Agent sell part or all of his or her Common Shares and remit the proceeds, such Participant will be charged a transaction fee plus his or her pro rata share of brokerage commissions. The Participant will not be charged any other fees for this service.

13. TERMINATION IN THE PLAN / NOTIFICATION OF ELECTION TO RECEIVE CASH DISTRIBUTIONS. Each Registered Common Shareholder may elect to receive Distributions from a Fund in cash and, if a Participant in the Plan, to disenroll from and terminate his or her account under the Plan, by notifying the Agent online at www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/equityaccess ,, in writing at P.O. Box 358035, Pittsburgh, PA 15252, by calling the Agent at (800) 254-5197, or by completing and returning the transaction form attached to each Plan statement. Any such written notification must be in proper order and duly executed by the Participant and any notification online or by telephone must be in accordance with such reasonable requirements as the Agent and the Fund may agree. Any such notification will be effective immediately if proper notice is received by the Agent at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the record date for the Fund’s next Distribution, in which case it will apply to such Distribution; otherwise, a notification will be effective shortly following the Fund’s next Distribution and will apply with respect to the Fund’s next succeeding Distribution thereafter. The Plan may be terminated for a Fund by the Agent or the Fund upon notice in writing mailed to each Participant at least sixty (60) calendar days prior to the effective date of the termination. Upon any termination, the Agent will arrange to deposit all full Common Shares held for each Participant into his or her account, where they will be held in book-entry by the Agent. A cash adjustment will be made for any fraction of a Common Share at the then current market value of the Common Shares to be delivered to him or her without charge. If preferred, a Participant may request the sale of all full and fractional Common Shares held by the Agent in his or her Plan account in order to terminate participation in the Plan in accordance with Section 9 hereof. If a Participant has terminated his or her participation in the Plan but continues to have Common Shares registered in his or her name with the Agent, he or she may re-enroll in the Plan at any time by calling the Agent at (800) 254-5197.

14. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN. These terms and conditions may be amended by the Agent or the Fund at any time but, except when necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law or the

 

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rules or policies of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory authority, only by mailing to each Participant appropriate written notice at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the effective date thereof. The amendment shall be deemed to be accepted by each Participant unless, prior to the effective date thereof, the Agent receives notice of the termination of the Participant’s account under the Plan. Any such amendment may include an appointment by the Agent of a successor Agent, subject to the prior written approval of the successor Agent by the Fund. Upon any such appointment of a successor Agent for the purpose of receiving distributions, the Fund will be authorized to pay to such successor Agent, for each Participant’s account, all Distributions payable on Common Shares of the Fund held in the Participant’s name or under the Plan for retention or application by such successor Agent as provided in these terms and conditions.

15. APPLICABLE LAW. These terms and conditions shall be governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

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Appendix A

Allianz-Sponsored Closed-End Funds

(As of May 7, 2012)

 

FUND

   TICKER   

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND

   PDI   

 

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FORM OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund

This Investment Management Agreement is executed as of             , 2012 by and between PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND, a Massachusetts business trust (the “ Fund ”), and ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS FUND MANAGEMENT LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Manager ”).

WITNESSETH:

That in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

 

1. SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY THE MANAGER TO THE FUND.

(a) Subject always to the control of the Trustees of the Fund and to such policies as the Trustees may determine, the Manager will, at its expense, (i) furnish continuously an investment program for the Fund and will make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund and place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and (ii) furnish office space and equipment, provide bookkeeping and clerical services (excluding determination of net asset value and shareholder accounting services) and pay all salaries, fees and expenses of officers and Trustees of the Fund who are affiliated with the Manager. In the performance of its duties, the Manager will comply with the provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Fund, each as amended or restated from time to time, and the Fund’s stated investment objectives, policies and restrictions.

(b) In the selection of brokers or dealers and the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for the Fund, the Manager shall seek to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, except to the extent it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services as described below. In using its best efforts to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, the Manager, bearing in mind the Fund’s best interests at all times, shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including by way of illustration, price, the size of the transaction, the nature of the market for the security, the amount of the commission, the timing of the transaction taking into account market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the broker or dealer involved and the quality of service rendered by the broker or dealer in other transactions. Subject to such policies as the Trustees may determine, the Manager shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused the Fund to pay a broker or dealer that provides brokerage and research services to the Manager an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio investment transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged

 

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for effecting that transaction, if the Manager determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the Manager’s overall responsibilities with respect to the Fund and to other clients of the Manager as to which the Manager exercises investment discretion. The Fund hereby agrees with the Manager and with any Portfolio Manager selected by the Manager as provided in Section 1(c) hereof that any entity or person associated with the Manager which is a member of a national securities exchange is authorized to effect any transaction on such exchange for the account of the Fund which is permitted by Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder, as amended from time to time (the “ 1934 Act ”).

(c) Subject to the provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Fund and the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, as amended from time to time (the “ 1940 Act ”), the Manager, at its expense, may select and contract with investment advisers (the “ Portfolio Managers ”) for the Fund. The Manager shall retain any Portfolio Manager pursuant to a portfolio management agreement the terms and conditions of which are acceptable to the Fund. If the Manager retains a Portfolio Manager hereunder, then unless otherwise provided in the applicable portfolio management agreement, the obligation of the Manager under this Agreement with respect to the Fund shall be, subject in any event to the control of the Trustees of the Fund, to determine and review with the Portfolio Manager the investment policies of the Fund, and the Portfolio Manager shall have the obligation of furnishing continuously an investment program and making investment decisions for the Fund (or with respect to a portion of the Fund’s assets managed by such Portfolio Manager), adhering to applicable investment objectives, policies and restrictions, and placing all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and other investments for the Fund (or with respect to a portion of the Fund’s assets managed by such Portfolio Manager), as applicable. The Manager (and not the Fund) will compensate any Portfolio Manager for its services to the Fund. Subject to the provisions of the applicable portfolio management agreement with the Portfolio Manager, the Manager may terminate the services of any Portfolio Manager at any time in its sole discretion, and shall at such time assume the responsibilities of such Portfolio Manager unless and until a successor Portfolio Manager is selected.

(d) The Manager shall not be obligated to pay any expenses of or for the Fund not expressly assumed by the Manager pursuant to this Section 1 other than as provided in Section 3.

 

2. OTHER AGREEMENTS, ETC.

It is understood that any of the shareholders, Trustees, officers and employees of the Fund may be a shareholder, partner, director, officer or employee of, or be otherwise interested in, the Manager, and in any person controlled by or under common control with the Manager,

 

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and that the Manager and any person controlled by or under common control with the Manager may have an interest in the Fund. It is also understood that the Manager and persons controlled by or under common control with the Manager have and may have advisory, management service, distribution or other contracts with other organizations and persons, and may have other interests and businesses.

 

3. COMPENSATION TO BE PAID BY THE FUND TO THE MANAGER.

The Fund will pay to the Manager as compensation for the Manager’s services rendered, for the facilities furnished and for the expenses borne by the Manager pursuant to Section 1, a fee, computed and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 1.15% of the average daily total managed assets of the Fund. For purposes of this Section 3, “total managed assets” means the total assets of the Fund (including assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding) minus accrued liabilities (other than liabilities representing reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings). For purposes of calculating “total managed assets,” the liquidation preference of any preferred shares outstanding shall not be considered a liability. By way of clarification, with respect to any reverse repurchase agreement, dollar roll or similar transaction, “total managed assets” includes any proceeds from the sale of an asset of the Fund to a counterparty in such a transaction, in addition to the value of the underlying asset as of the relevant measuring date. The average daily total managed assets of the Fund shall be determined by taking an average of all of the determinations of such amount during such month at the close of business on each business day during such month while this Agreement is in effect. Such fee shall be payable for each month within five (5) business days after the end of such month.

In the event that the Manager has agreed to a fee waiver or an expense limitation or reimbursement arrangement with the Fund, subject to such terms and conditions as the Manager and the Fund may set forth in such agreement, the compensation due the Manager hereunder shall be reduced, and, if necessary, the Manager shall bear expenses with respect to the Fund, to the extent required by such fee waiver or expense limitation or reimbursement arrangement.

If the Manager shall serve for less than the whole of a month, the foregoing compensation shall be prorated.

 

4. ASSIGNMENT TERMINATES THIS AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS OF THIS AGREEMENT.

This Agreement shall automatically terminate, without the payment of any penalty, in the event of its assignment; and this Agreement shall not be amended as to the Fund unless such amendment is approved at a meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, and by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting

 

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on such approval, of a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons of the Fund or of the Manager or of any Portfolio Manager of the Fund.

 

5. EFFECTIVE PERIOD AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.

This Agreement shall become effective upon its execution, and shall remain in full force and effect as to the Fund continuously thereafter (unless terminated automatically as set forth in Section 4) until terminated as follows:

(a) Either party hereto may at any time terminate this Agreement by not more than sixty days’ written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the other party, or

(b) If (i) the Trustees of the Fund or the shareholders by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, and (ii) a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons of the Fund or of the Manager or any Portfolio Manager, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, do not specifically approve at least annually the continuance of this Agreement, then this Agreement shall automatically terminate at the close of business on the second anniversary of its execution, or upon the expiration of one year from the effective date of the last such continuance, whichever is later; provided, however, that if the continuance of this Agreement is submitted to the shareholders of the Fund for their approval and such shareholders fail to approve such continuance of this Agreement as provided herein, the Manager may continue to serve hereunder in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act.

Action by the Fund under (a) above may be taken either (i) by vote of a majority of its Trustees, or (ii) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 5 shall be without the payment of any penalty.

 

6. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.

For the purposes of this Agreement, the “affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares” means the affirmative vote, at a duly called and held meeting of shareholders, (a) of the holders of 67% or more of the shares of the Fund present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to vote at such meeting are present in person or by proxy, or (b) of the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to vote at such meeting, whichever is less.

 

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For the purposes of this Agreement, the terms “affiliated person,” “control,” “interested person,” “investment adviser” and “assignment” shall have their respective meanings defined in the 1940 Act, giving effect to any interpretations of or exemptive relief granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or its staff; the term “specifically approve at least annually” shall be construed in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act; and the term “brokerage and research services” shall have the meaning given in the 1934 Act.

 

7. NONLIABILITY OF MANAGER.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Manager, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder, the Manager, including its officers, directors, members, shareholders, employees and partners, shall not be subject to any liability to the Fund, or to any shareholder, officer, director, partner, employee or Trustee thereof, for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder.

 

8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF THE TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS.

A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Fund as Trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

9. USE OF NAMES AND LOGOS.

It is expressly understood that the names “Allianz,” “Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC,” “PIMCO” and “Pacific Investment Management Company LLC” or any derivation thereof, or any logo associated with those names, are the valuable property of the Manager and its affiliates, and that the Fund shall have the limited right to use such names (or derivations thereof or associated logos) only so long as the Manager shall consent and this Agreement shall remain in effect. Upon reasonable notice from the Manager to the Fund or upon termination of this Agreement, the Fund shall forthwith cease to use such names (or derivations thereof or associated logos) and shall promptly amend its Agreement and Declaration of Trust and other public documents to change its name accordingly. The covenants on the part of the Fund in this Section 9 shall be binding upon it, its Trustees, officers, stockholders, creditors and all other persons claiming under or through it, and shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

10. COUNTERPARTS.

 

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This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original.

[ Remainder of page intentionally blank. ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND and ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS FUND MANAGEMENT LLC have each caused this instrument to be signed in its behalf by its duly authorized representative, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND
By:  

 

Name:   Brian S. Shlissel
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS FUND MANAGEMENT LLC
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT A GREEMENT

FORM OF PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund

This Portfolio Management Agreement is executed as of             , 2012 by and between ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS FUND MANAGEMENT LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Manager ”), and PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Portfolio Manager ”).

WITNESSETH:

That in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

 

1. SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY THE PORTFOLIO MANAGER TO THE FUND.

 

  (a) Subject always to the direction and oversight of the Trustees of PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “ Fund ”), a Massachusetts business trust, and the Manager, the Portfolio Manager, at its expense, will furnish continuously an investment program for the Fund and will make all related investment decisions on behalf of the Fund and place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and all other investments. In the performance of its duties, the Portfolio Manager (1) will comply with the provisions of the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Bylaws, including any amendments thereto or restatements thereof (upon receipt of such amendments or restatements by the Portfolio Manager), and the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund as set forth in its current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (copies of which will be supplied to the Portfolio Manager upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”)), (2) will use its best efforts to safeguard and promote the welfare of the Fund and (3) will comply with other policies which the Trustees or the Manager, as the case may be, may from time to time determine as promptly as practicable after such policies have been communicated to the Portfolio Manager in writing. The Portfolio Manager and the Manager shall each make its officers and employees available to the other from time to time at reasonable times to review the investment policies of the Fund and to consult with each other regarding the investment affairs of the Fund.

 

  (b)

The Portfolio Manager shall be responsible for daily monitoring of the investment activities and portfolio holdings of the Fund in connection with the Fund’s compliance with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund, as set forth in the Fund’s current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. The Portfolio Manager shall also cooperate with and provide sufficient information to the Manager to assist the Manager in its monitoring of the investment activities and portfolio holdings of the Fund in connection with the Fund’s overall compliance with the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, as amended from time to time (the “ 1940 Act ”),

 

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  the Fund’s compliance with the investment objective, policies and restrictions of the Fund as set forth in its current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and the Fund’s satisfaction of quarterly diversification requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations thereunder. Notwithstanding the investment discretion delegated to the Portfolio Manager in paragraph (a) of this Section 1, the Portfolio Manager shall act on any instructions of the Manager with respect to the investment activities of the Fund to ensure the Fund’s compliance with the foregoing.

 

  (c) The Portfolio Manager, at its expense, will furnish (i) all necessary investment and management facilities, including salaries of personnel, required for it to execute its duties hereunder faithfully and (ii) administrative facilities, including bookkeeping, clerical personnel and equipment necessary for the efficient conduct of the investment affairs of the Fund, including verification and oversight of the pricing of the Fund’s portfolio (but excluding determination of net asset value and shareholder accounting services).

 

  (d)

In the selection of brokers or dealers and the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for the Fund, the Portfolio Manager shall use its best efforts to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, except to the extent it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services as described below. In using its best efforts to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, the Portfolio Manager, bearing in mind the Fund’s best interests at all times, shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including, by way of illustration, price, the size of the transaction, the nature of the market for the security, the amount of the commission, the timing of the transaction taking into account market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the broker or dealer involved and the quality of service rendered by the broker or dealer in other transactions. Subject to such policies as the Trustees of the Fund may determine and communicate to the Portfolio Manager in writing, the Portfolio Manager shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused the Fund to pay a broker or dealer that provides brokerage and research services to the Portfolio Manager or its affiliates an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio investment transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Portfolio Manager determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the Portfolio Manager’s overall responsibilities with respect to the Fund and to other clients of the Portfolio Manager and its affiliates as to which the Portfolio Manager and its affiliates exercise investment discretion. The Fund agrees that any entity or person associated with the Portfolio Manager or its affiliates which is a member of a national securities exchange is expressly

 

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  authorized to effect any transaction on such exchange for the account of the Fund which is permitted by Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder, as amended from time to time (the “ 1934 Act ”).

 

  (e) The Portfolio Manager shall not be obligated to pay any expenses of or for the Fund not expressly assumed by the Portfolio Manager pursuant to this Section 1.

 

2. OTHER AGREEMENTS, ETC.

It is understood that any of the shareholders, Trustees, officers and employees of the Fund may be a shareholder, member, director, officer or employee of, or be otherwise interested in, the Portfolio Manager, and in any person controlled by or under common control with the Portfolio Manager, and that the Portfolio Manager and any person controlled by or under common control with the Portfolio Manager may have an interest in the Fund. It is also understood that the Portfolio Manager and persons controlled by or under common control with the Portfolio Manager have and may have advisory, management service or other contracts with other organizations and persons, and may have other interests and businesses.

 

3. COMPENSATION TO BE PAID BY THE MANAGER TO THE PORTFOLIO MANAGER.

The Manager will pay the Portfolio Manager as compensation for the Portfolio Manager’s services rendered and for the expenses borne by the Portfolio Manager pursuant to Section 1, a fee, computed and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 1.025% of the average daily total managed assets of the Fund. For purposes of this Section 3, “total managed assets” means the total assets of the Fund (including assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding) minus accrued liabilities (other than liabilities representing reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings). For purposes of calculating “total managed assets,” the liquidation preference of any preferred shares outstanding shall not be considered a liability. By way of clarification, with respect to any reverse repurchase agreement, dollar roll or similar transaction, “total managed assets” includes any proceeds from the sale of an asset of the Fund to a counterparty in such a transaction, in addition to the value of the underlying asset as of the relevant measuring date. The average daily total managed assets of the Fund shall be determined by taking an average of all of the determinations of such amount during such month at the close of business on each business day during such month while this Agreement is in effect. Such fee from the Manager to the Portfolio Manager shall be payable for each month within 10 business days after the end of the month.

In the event that the Portfolio Manager has agreed to a fee waiver arrangement with the Manager, subject to such terms and conditions as the Manager and the Portfolio Manager may set forth in such agreement, the compensation due the Portfolio Manager hereunder shall be reduced to the extent required by such fee waiver arrangement.

 

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If the Portfolio Manager shall serve for less than the whole of a month, the foregoing compensation shall be prorated.

 

4. ASSIGNMENT TERMINATES THIS AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS OF THIS AGREEMENT.

This Agreement shall automatically terminate, without the payment of any penalty, in the event of its assignment or in the event that the Investment Management Agreement between the Manager and the Fund shall have terminated for any reason; and this Agreement shall not be amended unless such amendment is approved at a meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, and by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, of a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons of the Fund or of the Manager or the Portfolio Manager.

 

5. EFFECTIVE PERIOD AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.

This Agreement shall become effective upon its execution, and shall remain in full force and effect as to the Fund continuously thereafter (unless terminated automatically as set forth in Section 4) until terminated as follows:

 

  (a) The Fund may at any time terminate this Agreement by written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Manager and the Portfolio Manager, or

 

  (b) If (i) the Trustees of the Fund or the shareholders by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, and (ii) a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons of the Fund or of the Manager or of the Portfolio Manager, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, do not specifically approve at least annually the continuance of this Agreement, then this Agreement shall automatically terminate at the close of business on the second anniversary of its execution, or upon the expiration of one year from the effective date of the last such continuance, whichever is later; provided , however , that if the continuance of this Agreement is submitted to the shareholders of the Fund for their approval and such shareholders fail to approve such continuance of this Agreement as provided herein, the Portfolio Manager may continue to serve hereunder in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act, or

 

  (c) The Manager may at any time terminate this Agreement by not less than 60 days’ written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Portfolio Manager, and the Portfolio Manager may at any time terminate this Agreement by not less than 60 days’ written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Manager.

 

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Action by the Fund under (a) above may be taken either (i) by vote of a majority of the Trustees, or (ii) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 5 shall be without the payment of any penalty.

 

6. CERTAIN INFORMATION.

The Portfolio Manager shall promptly notify the Manager in writing of the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) the Portfolio Manager shall fail to be registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended from time to time, (b) the Portfolio Manager shall have been served or otherwise have notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board or body, involving the affairs of the Fund, (c) there is a change in control of the Portfolio Manager or any parent of the Portfolio Manager within the meaning of the 1940 Act, or (d) there is a material adverse change in the business or financial position of the Portfolio Manager.

 

7. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.

For the purposes of this Agreement, the “affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares” means the affirmative vote, at a duly called and held meeting of shareholders, (a) of the holders of 67% or more of the shares of the Fund, as the case may be, present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, as the case may be, entitled to vote at such meeting are present in person or by proxy, or (b) of the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, as the case may be, entitled to vote at such meeting, whichever is less.

For the purposes of this Agreement, the terms “affiliated person,” “control,” “interested person,” “investment adviser” and “assignment” shall have their respective meanings defined in the 1940 Act, giving effect to any interpretations of or exemptive relief granted by the SEC and/or its staff; the term “specifically approve at least annually” shall be construed in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act, giving effect to any interpretations of or exemptive relief granted by the SEC and/or its staff; and the term “brokerage and research services” shall have the meaning given in the 1934 Act, giving effect to any interpretations of or exemptive relief granted by the SEC and/or its staff.

 

8. NONLIABILITY OF PORTFOLIO MANAGER.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Portfolio Manager, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder, the Portfolio Manager, including its officers, directors, members, shareholders, employees and partners, shall not be subject to any liability to the Manager, to the Fund, or to any shareholder, officer,

 

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director, partner, employee or Trustee thereof, for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder.

 

9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF THE TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS.

A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Fund as Trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

10. EXERCISE OF VOTING RIGHTS.

Except with the agreement (which may be evidenced by resolution) or on the specific instructions of the Trustees of the Fund or the Manager, the Portfolio Manager shall not exercise or procure the exercise of any voting right attaching to investments of the Fund.

 

11. COUNTERPARTS.

This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original.

[ Remainder of page intentionally blank. ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS FUND MANAGEMENT LLC and PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC have each caused this instrument to be signed on its behalf by its duly authorized representative, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS FUND MANAGEMENT LLC

   

PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

 

By:

        By:      

Name:

      Name:    

Title:

      Title:    

 

Accepted and agreed to as of the day and year first above written:

 

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND

By:

 

 

Name:

  Brian S. Shlissel

Title:

  President and Chief Executive Officer

P ORTFOLIO M ANAGEMENT A GREEMENT

[ ] Shares

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND

COMMON SHARES, PAR VALUE $0.00001 PER SHARE

FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

May [ ], 2011


May [ ], 2011

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

UBS Securities LLC

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
     1585 Broadway
     New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund, a voluntary association with transferable shares organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (commonly referred to as a Massachusetts business trust) (the “ Fund ”), is a newly organized, non-diversified closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). The Fund proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “ Underwriters ”), for which you are acting as representatives (the “ Representatives ”), [ ] shares of its common shares, par value $0.00001 per share (the “ Firm Shares ”). The Fund also proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters not more than an additional [ ] shares of its common shares, par value $0.00001 per share (the “ Additional Shares ”) if and to the extent that you, as managers of the offering, shall have determined to exercise, on behalf of the Underwriters, the right to purchase such shares granted to the Underwriters in Section 3 hereof. The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Shares .” The common shares, par value $0.00001 per share of the Fund to be outstanding after giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as the “ Common Shares .”

Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC (“ Allianz ”) acts as the Fund’s investment manager pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement, dated as of [ ], between Allianz and the Fund (the “ Investment Management Agreement ”). Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“ PIMCO ” and, together with Allianz, the “ Investment Advisers ”) acts as the Fund’s sub-adviser pursuant to a Portfolio Management Agreement, dated as of [ ], between PIMCO and Allianz, as accepted and agreed to by the Fund (the “ Portfolio Management Agreement ”).


The Fund and Allianz have directed the Underwriters to reserve [ ] Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters at the public offering price to certain portfolio managers, officers and trustees of the Fund and their relatives and the Underwriters have agreed to reserve such Shares.

The Fund has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a notification on Form N-8A (the “ Notification ”) of registration of the Fund as an investment company and a registration statement on Form N-2, including a prospectus and a statement of additional information incorporated by reference in the prospectus, relating to the Shares. The registration statement as amended at the time it becomes effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), is hereinafter referred to as the “ Registration Statement ”; the Fund’s final prospectus, dated [ ], in the form first used to confirm sales of Shares, including the statement of additional information, dated [ ], incorporated therein by reference, each as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497(h) under the Securities Act, is hereinafter referred to as the “ Prospectus .” If the Fund has filed an abbreviated registration statement to register additional Common Shares pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “ Rule 462 Registration Statement ”), then any reference herein to the term “ Registration Statement ” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. The Investment Company Act and the Securities Act are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “ Acts ,” the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, is hereinafter referred to as the “ Advisers Act ” and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Acts, the Advisers Act and under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “ Rules and Regulations .”

For purposes of this Agreement, “Omitting Prospectus” means any advertisement used in the public offering of the Shares pursuant to Rule 482 of the Rules and Regulations (“Rule 482”), “Preliminary Prospectus” means the Fund’s preliminary prospectus, dated April 27, 2012, including the Fund’s preliminary statement of additional information, dated April 27, 2012, incorporated therein by reference, each as filed with the Commission as part of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on April 27, 2012, and “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the Preliminary Prospectus and each Omitting Prospectus identified on Schedule II hereto as a Retail Omitting Prospectus. As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,” “Preliminary Prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus,” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein, including the statement of additional information.

 

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1. Representations and Warranties of the Fund and Allianz . The Fund and Allianz (on its own behalf and on behalf of PIMCO), jointly and severally, represent and warrant to and agree with each of the Underwriters that:

(a) The Fund meets the requirements for the use of Form N-2 under the Acts. The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are, to the knowledge of the Fund or Allianz, pending before or threatened by the Commission.

(b) (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Acts and the applicable Rules and Regulations thereunder, (iii) the Time of Sale Prospectus does not, and at the time of each sale of the Shares in connection with the offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, and at the Closing Date (as defined in Section 5), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (iv) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Fund or the Investment Advisers in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.

(c) The Fund has been duly formed, is validly existing as an unincorporated voluntary association under and by virtue of the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (commonly referred to as a Massachusetts business trust), has the power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in

 

3


good standing (x) would not have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions herein contemplated or (y) would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or operations of the Fund, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (“Fund Material Adverse Effect”). The Fund has no subsidiaries.

(d) The Fund is registered with the Commission as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act and no order of suspension or revocation of such registration has been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission. No person is serving or acting as an officer or trustee of, or investment adviser to, the Fund except in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, no trustee of the Fund is an “interested person” of the Fund or an “affiliated person” of any Underwriter (each as defined in the Investment Company Act).

(e) Each of this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement, the Portfolio Management Agreement, the Custodian Agreement dated as of [ ], between State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “ Custodian ”) and the Fund (the “ Custodian Agreement ”), the Transfer Agency Services Agreement dated as of [ ], between BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the “ Transfer Agent ”) and the Fund (the “ Transfer Agency Agreement ”) and [other agreements TBD] (this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement, the Portfolio Management Agreement, the Custodian Agreement and the Transfer Agency Agreement being referred to herein each as a “ Fundamental Agreement ” and, collectively, the “ Fundamental Agreements ”) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund and complies in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder. The Fund has adopted a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “ Plan ”). Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, each Fundamental Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Fund enforceable against the Fund in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and except as rights to indemnity thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws.

 

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(f) None of (A) the execution and delivery by the Fund of, and the performance by the Fund of its obligations under, each Fundamental Agreement or the adoption by the Fund of the Plan, or (B) the issue and sale by the Fund of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement contravenes or will contravene any provision of (i) applicable law, (ii) the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Fund, as amended or restated from time to time (the “ Declaration ”) and by-laws of the Fund, as amended or restated from time to time (the “ By-Laws ”), or (iii) any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Fund that is material to the Fund, or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Fund, whether foreign or domestic, except in the case of (i) and (iii) above where such contravention (x) would not have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions herein contemplated or (y) would not have a Fund Material Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, authorization, order or permit of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency, self-regulatory organization or court or other tribunal, whether foreign or domestic, is required for the performance by the Fund of its obligations under the Fundamental Agreements or the Plan, except such as have been obtained and as may be required by the Acts, the Advisers Act, the Exchange Act, or the applicable Rules and Regulations, the applicable rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”), or by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states and foreign jurisdictions in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares, and except where the failure to obtain such consent, approval, authorization, order, permit or qualification (x) would not have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions herein contemplated or (y) would not have a Fund Material Adverse Effect.

(g) The authorized capital stock of the Fund conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, and the Declaration and the By-Laws, the Fundamental Agreements and the Plan conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(h) The Declaration and the By-Laws, the Fundamental Agreements and the Plan comply in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder, and all approvals of such documents required under the Investment Company Act by the

 

5


Fund’s shareholders and Board of Trustees have been obtained and are in full force and effect.

(i) The Fundamental Agreements (other than this Agreement) and the Plan are in full force and effect and neither the Fund nor any other party to any such agreement or plan is in default thereunder, and no event has occurred which with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a default thereunder, except where such a default (x) would not have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions herein contemplated or (y) would not have a Fund Material Adverse Effect. The Fund is not currently in breach of, or in default under, any other written agreement or instrument to which it or its property is bound or affected, except where such a breach or default (x) would not have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions herein contemplated or (y) would not have a Fund Material Adverse Effect.

(j) The Common Shares outstanding prior to the issuance of the Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (except as described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus).

(k) The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of the Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights (except as described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus).

(l) The Shares and any Common Shares outstanding prior to the issuance of the Shares have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance. The Fund’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A under the Exchange Act is effective.

(m) Each Omitting Prospectus (i) complies in all material respects with the requirements of Rule 482, (ii) does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this clause (ii) do not apply to statements or omissions in such Omitting Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Fund or Allianz in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein, (iii) complied and will comply in all material respects with the Acts, the Rules

 

6


and Regulations and the rules and regulations of FINRA and (iv) has been duly filed with FINRA and FINRA has issued no unresolved objections with respect thereto. Except for the Omitting Prospectuses identified on Schedule II hereto, the Fund has not prepared, used or referred to and will not, without your prior written consent, prepare, use or refer to any prospectus or other advertising material in reliance upon Rule 482.

(n) The Fund intends to direct the investment of the proceeds of the offering described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and the Fund is eligible to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.

(o) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, prospects or operations of the Fund from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus, and there have been no transactions entered into by the Fund which are material to the Fund other than those in the ordinary course of its business or as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus.

(p) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Fund is a party or to which any of the properties of the Fund is subject (i) other than proceedings accurately described in all material respects in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and proceedings that would not have a Fund Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the power or ability of the Fund to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or (ii) that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus and are not so described; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.

(q) The Fund has all necessary consents, authorizations, approvals, orders (including exemptive orders), certificates and permits of and from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all governmental authorities, self-regulatory organizations and courts and other tribunals, whether foreign or domestic, to own and use its assets and to conduct its business in the manner described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, except to the extent that the failure to obtain or file the foregoing would not have a Fund Material Adverse Effect.

 

7


(r) The Preliminary Prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement complied when so filed in all material respects with the Acts and the applicable Rules and Regulations.

(s) The statement of assets and liabilities included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus presents fairly the financial position of the Fund as of the date indicated and said statement has been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report appears in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and who has certified the financial statements and supporting schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Fund as required by the Acts and the applicable Rules and Regulations.

(t) There are no material restrictions, limitations or regulations with respect to the ability of the Fund to invest its assets as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, other than as described therein.

(u) All advertisements authorized by the Fund for use in the offering of the Shares complied in all material respects and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Acts, the applicable Rules and Regulations and the rules and regulations of FINRA and there are no such advertisements other than (i) the Omitting Prospectuses identified in Schedule II hereto and (ii) any advertisement that complies with Rule 135a of the Rules and Regulations and that you have approved in writing.

(v) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Fund and any person granting such person the right to require the Fund to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Fund or to require the Fund to include such securities with the Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.

(w) The expense summary information set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Summary of Fund Expenses” has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Form N-2 and any fee projections or estimates, if applicable, were reasonable at the time made.

(x) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) the Fund has not incurred any material liability or

 

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obligation, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction; (ii) the Fund has not purchased any of its outstanding capital stock, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock (other than, in the event this representation and warranty is made after the Closing Date, ordinary and customary dividends declared and payable after the Closing Date); and (iii) there has not been any material change in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Fund except in each case under (i), (ii) and (iii) above as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, respectively.

(y) The Fund owns or possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all material patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names currently employed by it in connection with the business now operated by it; provided that the Fund’s right to use the name “Allianz,” “Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC,” “PIMCO” and “Pacific Investment Management Company LLC” or any derivation thereof, or any logo associated with those names, is limited as set forth in Section [9] of the Investment Management Agreement. The Fund does not own any intellectual property concerning such names. The Fund has not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Fund Material Adverse Effect.

(z) The Fund maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, since the date of the Fund’s most recent audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially

 

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affect, the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. The Fund maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 30a-3 under the Investment Company Act) and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective as required by the Investment Company Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations.

(aa) Neither the Fund nor any employee nor agent of the Fund (not including, for these purposes, any Underwriter) has made any payment of funds of the Fund or received or retained any funds, which payment, receipt or retention is of a character required to be disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration Statement, and which has not been so disclosed.

(bb) BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. is duly enrolled as a participant in the Fast Automated Transfer Program (FAST) of The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”).

(cc) The Fund does not own any real property and the Fund does not hold under lease any real property or buildings.

(dd) The Fund represents that neither it nor any trustee or officer of the Fund, nor, to the Fund’s knowledge, any employee, agent or representative of the Fund, has taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any “government official” (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) to influence official action or secure an improper advantage; and to the extent required by applicable law, the Fund has policies and procedures designed to comply with applicable anti-corruption laws including, without limitation, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”), and will continue to maintain these policies and procedures designed to comply with such laws.

(ee) The Fund has policies and procedures reasonably designed to comply with all financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Fund conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines,

 

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issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Anti-Money Laundering Laws ”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Fund with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Fund or the Investment Advisers, threatened.

(ff) (i) The Fund represents that neither it nor any trustee or officer of the Fund, nor, to the Fund’s knowledge, any employee, agent or representative of the Fund, is an individual or entity (“ Person ”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is, the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“ OFAC ”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”).

(ii) The Fund represents and covenants that it will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any joint venture partner or other Person for the purpose of financing the activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions.

(iii) The Fund represents and covenants that, for the past 5 years, it has not knowingly engaged in, is not now knowingly engaged in, and will not knowingly engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, in each case, at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.

2. Representations and Warranties with Respect to the Investment Advisers. Allianz represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters on behalf of itself and, where applicable, on behalf of PIMCO, that, with respect to each such Investment Adviser:

(a) Such Investment Adviser has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware with full limited liability company power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing as a foreign limited liability company in each other jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing (x) would not have a material adverse effect on such Investment Adviser’s ability to provide services to the Fund, perform its

 

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obligations under this Agreement or consummate of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (y) would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business, operations or properties of such Investment Adviser, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (“ Investment Adviser Material Adverse Effect ”).

(b) Such Investment Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act, and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the Investment Company Act from acting (i) in the case of Allianz as an investment adviser to the Fund under the Investment Management Agreement and (ii) in the case of PIMCO as a sub-adviser to the Fund under the Portfolio Management Agreement, each as contemplated by the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and, to Allianz’s knowledge (after consultation with PIMCO), no order of suspension or revocation of such Advisers Act registration has been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission.

(c) Each of this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement, the Portfolio Management Agreement, the Structuring Fee Agreement and the Syndication Fee Agreement between PIMCO and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (the “ Morgan Stanley Fee Agreements ”), the marketing and structuring fee agreements between PIMCO and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, UBS Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (collectively, the “ Representative Fee Agreements ”), [other agreements TBD] (this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement, the Portfolio Management Agreement, the Morgan Stanley Fee Agreements, the Representative Fee Agreements [and other agreements] are referred to herein each as an “ Adviser Agreement ” and collectively, the “ Adviser Agreements ”) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Investment Adviser (if a party thereto) and complies in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder. Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, each Adviser Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of such Investment Adviser (if a party thereto) enforceable against such Investment Adviser in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and except as rights to indemnity thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws. The representations and warranties made by Allianz (on behalf of itself and PIMCO) in this paragraph in regards to the Representative Fee

 

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Agreements are made only as of the date hereof and Allianz makes no representation or warranty as to the enforceability of the Representative Fee Agreements against, or as to a conflict or breach of law or the need for any consent, approval or authorization owing to, or as result of or arising out of the legal or regulatory status of, any Underwriter party to such an agreement.

(d) The execution and delivery by such Investment Adviser of, and the performance by such Investment Adviser of its obligations under the Adviser Agreements to which it is a party, will not contravene any provision of (i) applicable law, (ii) the governing documents of such Investment Adviser, (iii) any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Investment Adviser that is material to such Investment Adviser, or (iv) any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over such Investment Adviser, whether foreign or domestic, except in the case of (i), (iii) and (iv) above where such contravention (x) would not have a material adverse effect on such Investment Adviser’s ability to provide services to the Fund, to consummate the transactions herein contemplated or to perform its obligations under this Agreement or (y) would not have an Investment Adviser Material Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, authorization, order or permit of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency, self-regulatory organization or court or other tribunal, whether foreign or domestic, is required for the performance by such Investment Adviser of its obligations under the Adviser Agreements to which it is a party, except such as have been obtained and as may be required by the Acts, the Advisers Act, the Exchange Act or the applicable Rules and Regulations, the applicable rules and regulations of FINRA or by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states and foreign jurisdictions in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares, and except where the failure to obtain such consent, approval, authorization, order, permit or qualification (x) would not have a material adverse effect on such Investment Adviser’s ability to provide services to the Fund, to consummate the transactions herein contemplated or to perform its obligations under this Agreement or (y) would not have an Investment Adviser Material Adverse Effect.

(e) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which such Investment Adviser is a party or to which any of the properties of such Investment Adviser is subject (i) other than proceedings accurately described in all material respects in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and proceedings that would not have an Investment Adviser Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the power or ability of such Investment Adviser to perform its

 

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obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or (ii) that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described.

(f) Such Investment Adviser has all necessary consents, authorizations, approvals, orders (including exemptive orders), certificates and permits of and from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all governmental authorities, self-regulatory organizations and courts and other tribunals, whether foreign or domestic, to own and use its assets and to conduct its business in the manner described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, except to the extent that the failure to obtain or file the foregoing would not have an Investment Adviser Material Adverse Effect or a Fund Material Adverse Effect.

(g) Such Investment Adviser has the financial resources available to it necessary for the performance of its services and obligations as contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and by the Adviser Agreements to which it is a party.

(h) The Investment Management Agreement and the Portfolio Management Agreement are in full force and effect and neither the Fund nor any Investment Adviser is in default thereunder, and, no event has occurred which with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a default under each such agreement, in each case except to the extent that that any such default (x) would not have a material adverse effect on such Investment Adviser’s ability to provide services to the Fund, to consummate the transactions herein contemplated or to perform its obligations under this Agreement or (y) would not have an Investment Adviser Material Adverse Effect.

(i) All information furnished by such Investment Adviser for use in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, including, without limitation, the description of such Investment Adviser, does not, and on the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(j) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, prospects or operations of such Investment Adviser from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus, and there have been no transactions entered into by such Investment Adviser which are material to such Investment Adviser other

 

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than those in the ordinary course of its business or as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, in each case except to the extent that that any such change or transaction (x) would not have a material adverse effect on such Investment Adviser’s ability to provide services to the Fund, to consummate the transactions herein contemplated or to perform its obligations under this Agreement or (y) would not have an Investment Adviser Material Adverse Effect.

(k) Neither Investment Adviser nor any director or officer, or nor, to Allianz’s knowledge (after consultation with PIMCO), any subsidiary, employee, agent or representative of such Investment Adviser, has taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any “government official” (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) to influence official action or secure an improper advantage; and to the extent required by applicable law, such Investment Adviser and its subsidiaries have policies and procedures designed to comply with applicable anti-corruption laws including, without limitation, the FCPA, and will continue to maintain these policies and procedures designed to comply with such laws.

(l) The Investment Adviser and its subsidiaries have policies and procedures reasonably designed to comply with all Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving such Investment Adviser or any of its subsidiaries with respect to any Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of Allianz (after consultation with PIMCO), threatened.

(m) (i) Such Investment Adviser represents that neither it nor any director or officer thereof, nor, to Allianz’s knowledge (after consultation with PIMCO), any subsidiary, employee, agent or representative of the Investment Adviser, is a Person that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is the subject of any Sanctions.

(ii) Such Investment Adviser represents and covenants that it will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person for the purpose of financing the activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions.

 

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(iii) Such Investment Adviser represents and covenants that, for the past 5 years, it has not knowingly engaged in, is not now knowingly engaged in, and will not knowingly engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that in each case, at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.

3. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Fund hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Fund the respective numbers of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite its name at $23.875 a Share (the “ Purchase Price ”).

On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Fund agrees to sell to the Underwriters the Additional Shares, and the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to [ ] Additional Shares at the Purchase Price, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Fund and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on the Additional Shares. You may exercise this right on behalf of the Underwriters in whole or from time to time in part by giving written notice not later than 45 days after the date of this Agreement. Any exercise notice shall specify the number of Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which such shares are to be purchased. Each purchase date must be at least one business day after the written notice is given and may not be earlier than the closing date for the Firm Shares nor later than ten business days after the date of such notice. Additional Shares may be purchased as provided in Section 5 hereof solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm Shares. On each day, if any, that Additional Shares are to be purchased (an “ Option Closing Date ”), each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional Shares as you may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date as the number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares.

The Fund hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Common Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares or (2) enter

 

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into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) file any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any Common Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (x) during the last 17 days of the 180-day restricted period the Fund issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Fund occurs, or (y) prior to the expiration of the 180-day restricted period, the Fund announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 180-day period, the restrictions imposed in this clause shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event. The Fund will provide Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, on behalf of the Underwriters, with prior notice of any such announcement that gives rise to an extension of the restricted period. The agreements contained in this paragraph shall not apply to the Shares to be sold hereunder or any Common Shares issued pursuant to the Plan.

4. Terms of Public Offering . The Fund and Allianz are advised by you that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have become effective as in your judgment is advisable. The Fund and Allianz are further advised by you that the Shares are to be offered to the public initially at $25.00 a Share (the “ Public Offering Price ”), and to certain dealers selected by you at a price that represents a concession not in excess of $0.75 a Share under the Public Offering Price.

5. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made to the Fund in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Firm Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 A.M. (New York City time), on [ ], 2012, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than [ ], 2012 as shall be designated in writing by Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC on behalf of the Underwriters. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the “ Closing Date .”

Payment for any Additional Shares shall be made to the Fund in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Additional Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 A.M. (New York City time), on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in Section 3 or at such other time on the same or on such other date, in any event not later than [ ], 2012 as shall be designated in writing by Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC on behalf of the Underwriters.

 

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The Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as you shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be delivered to you through the facilities of DTC on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters duly paid, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.

6. Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations . The respective obligations of the Fund and Allianz and the several obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date hereof, or at such later time agreed to in writing by the Fund and
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC on behalf of the Underwriters.

The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following further conditions:

(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, prospects or operations of the Fund or the Investment Advisers, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the effect of which is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse and that makes it, in the Representatives’ judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus.

(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date, of an authorized officer of each of the Fund and Allianz, to the effect that (i) that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are, as of the Closing Date, pending before or threatened by the Commission, (ii) that the representations and warranties of the Fund and Allianz (on behalf of itself and PIMCO) contained in this Agreement (taking into account all materiality qualifiers and other qualifications contained therein) are true and correct as of the Closing Date and (iii) that each of the Fund and the Investment Advisers has complied in all material respects with all of the agreements and satisfied in all material respects all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date. Each officer signing and delivering such a

 

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certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

(c) Each of the Investment Advisers and the Fund shall have performed all of their respective obligations to be performed hereunder on or prior to the Closing Date.

(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP, counsel for the Fund, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Schedule III hereto, or in such other form as is acceptable to Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters.

(e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Thomas J. Fuccillo, Esq., internal counsel for Allianz, substantially in the form of Schedule IV hereto, and an opinion of David C. Flattum, Esq., internal counsel for PIMCO, substantially in the form of Schedule V hereto, or in each case in such other form or forms as are acceptable to
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters.

The opinions described in Sections 6(d) and 6(e) above, respectively, shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the Fund and shall so state therein.

(f) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date the favorable opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, and covering such matters as the Underwriters shall reasonably request.

(g) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate from a duly authorized officer of each of the Custodian and the Transfer Agent, certifying that the Custodian Agreement and the Transfer Agency Agreement, as applicable, is in full force and effect and is a valid and binding agreement of the Custodian or the Transfer Agent, as applicable.

(h) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the Time of Sale Prospectus, provided that the

 

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letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than the date hereof.

(i) All filings, applications and proceedings taken by the Fund and the Investment Advisers in connection with the organization and registration of the Fund and the Shares under the Acts and the applicable Rules and Regulations shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to you and counsel for the Underwriters.

(j) No action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission which would adversely affect the Fund’s standing as a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act or the standing of Allianz or PIMCO as a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act.

(k) The Shares shall have been duly authorized for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance thereof.

The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional Shares hereunder are subject to the delivery to you on the applicable Option Closing Date of such documents as you may reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Fund and the Investment Advisers, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional Shares to be sold on such Option Closing Date and other matters related to the issuance of such Additional Shares, and officers’ certificates and opinions of Ropes & Gray LLP, internal counsel for Allianz and PIMCO, and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP to the effect set forth above, except that such certificates and opinions shall be dated as of the applicable Option Closing Date and statements and opinions above contemplated to be given as of the Closing Date shall instead be made and given as of such Option Closing Date.

7. Covenants of the Fund and Allianz . In further consideration of the agreements of the Underwriters herein contained, the Fund and Allianz (on its own behalf and on behalf of PIMCO), jointly and severally, covenant and agree with each Underwriter as follows:

(a) To notify you immediately, and confirm such notice in writing, (i) of the institution of any proceedings pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Investment Company Act and (ii) of the happening of any event during the period mentioned in Section 7(h) below which in the judgment of the Fund makes any statement in the Notification, the Registration Statement the Time of Sale Prospectus, any Omitting Prospectus or the Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which requires the making of any change in or addition to the Notification, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any Omitting Prospectus or the Prospectus in order to

 

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make the statements therein not misleading in any material respect. If at any time the Commission shall issue any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or an order pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Investment Company Act, the Fund will make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible moment.

(b) To furnish to you at your request, without charge, three signed copies of each of the Notification and the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for delivery to each other Underwriter a conformed copy of each of the Notification and the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and to furnish to you in New York City, without charge, prior to
10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 7(e) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably request.

(c) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object, and to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 497 under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.

(d) To furnish to you a copy of each proposed Omitting Prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Fund and not to use or refer to any proposed Omitting Prospectus to which you reasonably object.

(e) If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Shares at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply in all material respects with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or

 

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supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply in all material respects with applicable law.

(f) The Fund will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares in the manner specified in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(g) The Fund and the Investment Advisers will not take any action designed to cause or result in the manipulation of the price of any security of the Fund to facilitate the sale of Shares in violation of the Acts or the Exchange Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations, or the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states and foreign jurisdictions in connection with the offer and sale of Shares.

(h) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, after consultation with counsel for the Fund, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply in all material respects with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you will furnish to the Fund) to which Shares may have been sold by you on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply in all material respects with applicable law.

(i) To use its best efforts to maintain the Fund’s qualification as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.

(j) To endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably request ; provided, however, that the Fund shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a

 

22


foreign business trust or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

(k) To make generally available to the Fund’s security holders and to you as soon as practicable an earning statement covering a period of at least twelve months covering the first full fiscal year of the Fund occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations, including Rule 158, of the Commission thereunder.

(l) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Fund and the Investment Advisers under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Fund’s counsel and the Fund’s accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the Shares under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Notification, the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, and any Omitting Prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Fund and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 7(j) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the Shares by FINRA, (v) all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the Common Shares and all costs and expenses incident to listing the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, (vi) the cost of printing certificates representing the Shares, (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Fund relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the

 

23


Shares, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Fund and travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Fund and any such consultants (it being understood that all costs and expenses incurred as contemplated by this clause (viii) shall be so incurred at the sole discretion of the Fund and Allianz), (ix) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement and (x) all other reasonable costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Fund hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 8 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution” and the last paragraph of Section 10 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Shares by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

(m) The Fund will not declare or pay any dividend or other distribution on any of the Common Shares unless a holder of such Common Shares that was not a holder of record until the close of business on [ ], 2012 would be entitled to receive the full amount thereof.

8. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) Each of the Fund and Allianz, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, each selling agent of any Underwriter and each director, officer or affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim), caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any Omitting Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Fund or the Investment Advisers in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.

 

24


(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Fund and Allianz, and each of their respective trustees or directors (as the case may be) and each officer of the Fund who signs the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or Allianz within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of the Fund or Allianz within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Fund and Allianz to such Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Fund or Allianz in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any Omitting Prospectus or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto.

(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b), such person (the “ indemnified party ”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “ indemnifying party ”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for (i) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Underwriters and all persons, if any, who control any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, all persons who are selling agents of any Underwriter or all persons who are directors, officers and affiliates of any Underwriters within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, (ii) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Fund, its trustees, its officers who sign the Registration Statement

 

25


and each person, if any, who controls the Fund within the meaning of either such Section or who are affiliates of the Fund within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and (iii) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for Allianz, its directors or trustees, as the case may be, and each person, if any, who controls Allianz within the meaning of either such Section or who are affiliates of Allianz within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In the case of any such separate firm for the Underwriters and such control persons, selling agents, directors, officers and affiliates of any Underwriters, such firm shall be designated in writing by Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. In the case of any such separate firm for the Fund, and such trustees, officers and control persons of the Fund, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Fund. In the case of any such separate firm for Allianz, and such trustees, directors and control persons of Allianz, such firm shall be designated in writing by Allianz. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 8(a) or 8(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or

 

26


payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Fund and Allianz on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by Section 8(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in Section 8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Fund and Allianz on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Fund and Allianz on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Fund and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Fund and Allianz on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Fund or Allianz or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective number of Shares they have purchased hereunder, and not joint. Allianz agrees to pay any amounts that are payable by the Fund pursuant to this paragraph to the extent that the Fund fails to make all contributions required to be made by the Fund pursuant to this Section 8.

(e) The Fund, Allianz and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 8(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the

 

27


public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 8 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Fund and Allianz contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any selling agent of any Underwriter or any director, officer and affiliate of any Underwriter or by or on behalf of Allianz, its officers or directors or any person controlling Allianz or by or on behalf of the Fund, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Fund and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Shares.

9. Termination . The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by you to the Fund, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (ii) trading of any securities of the Fund shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets, currency exchange rates or controls or any calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in your judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.

10. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters . This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

If, on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares that it has

 

28


or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may specify, to purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of Shares that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 10 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Shares without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Shares to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to you and the Fund for the purchase of such Firm Shares are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Fund or the Investment Advisers. In any such case either you or the Fund shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Prospectus, in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on an Option Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Additional Shares and the aggregate number of Additional Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase the Additional Shares to be sold on such Option Closing Date or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional Shares that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such default. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Fund or Allianz to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Fund or Allianz shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Fund and Allianz, jointly and severally, will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket accountable expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by

 

29


such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.

11. Entire Agreement . (a) This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the Shares, represents the entire agreement between the Fund, Allianz and the Underwriters with respect to the preparation of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Shares.

(b) The Fund and Allianz (on its own behalf and on behalf of PIMCO) acknowledge that in connection with the offering of the Shares: (i) the Underwriters have acted at arms length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Fund, the Investment Advisers or any other person, (ii) the Underwriters owe the Fund and the Investment Advisers only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, and (iii) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Fund and the Investment Advisers. The Fund and Allianz (on its own behalf and on behalf of PIMCO) waive to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims any of them may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Shares.

12. Counterparts . This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

13. Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

14. Waiver of Jury Trial . Each of the Fund, Allianz and the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

15. Headings . The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.

16. Disclaimer of Liability of Trustees and Beneficiaries. A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice hereby is given that this Underwriting Agreement is executed on behalf of the Fund by an officer or

 

30


Trustee of the Fund in his or her capacity as an officer or Trustee of the Fund and not individually and that the obligations under or arising out of this Underwriting Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and properties of the Fund.

17. Notices . All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered, mailed or sent to you in care of: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk, with a copy to the Legal Department; and if to the Fund or Allianz, shall be delivered, mailed or sent to 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

31


Very truly yours,
PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

32


Accepted as of the date hereof

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

UBS Securities LLC

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

Acting severally on behalf of themselves and

      the several Underwriters named in

      Schedule I hereto

By:   Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

 

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:   Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
 
By:   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith                      Incorporated
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:   UBS Securities LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:   Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

33


    

SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter

   Number of Firm
Shares To Be
Purchased
  
  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

  
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.   
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated   
UBS Securities LLC   
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC   
Barclays Capital Inc.   
RBC Capital Markets, LLC   
BB&T Capital Markets, a division of Scott &   
Stringfellow, LLC   
Chardan Capital Markets, LLC   
Henley & Company LLC   
J.J.B Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC   
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC   
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.   
Maxim Group LLC   
Wedbush Securities Inc.   
Wunderlich Securities, Inc.   
  

 

Total:

  
  

 

 

I-1


SCHEDULE II

Omitting Prospectuses

 

1. Retail Omitting Prospectus:

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund Client Brochure

 

2. The following documents labeled “For Broker/Dealer Use Only. Not to be Shown or Distributed to Clients” or “For Broker-dealer information only. Not for communication in any form to clients or members of the public”:

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund Financial Advisor Guide

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund Broker-dealer PowerPoint presentation


SCHEDULE III

[Form of Opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP]


SCHEDULE IV

[Form of Opinion of Internal Counsel for Allianz]

 

3


SCHEDULE V

[Form of Opinion of Internal Counsel for PIMCO]

 

4


[FORM OF]

OPTION EXERCISE NOTICE

[OPTION EXERCISE DATE]

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund

Allianz Global Investors Fund

Management LLC

1633 Broadway

New York, New York 10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We refer to the Underwriting Agreement dated [ · ] (the “Underwriting Agreement”) among the PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund, PIMCO, Allianz and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representative of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule I thereto; capitalized terms being used herein as therein defined. We hereby exercise an option to purchase [ · ] Additional Shares, on the basis of the representations and warranties contained in the Underwriting Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions. Such Additional Shares will be purchased on [ · ] (which shall be an Option Closing Date) at the offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York, at 10:00 A.M. (New York City time). [This option exercise is without prejudice to the Underwriters’ right under the Underwriting Agreement to exercise one or more options covering some or all of the remaining Additional Shares.]

 

5


Very truly yours,

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

as representative of the several

underwriters listed in Schedule I to

the Underwriting Agreement

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

6

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

FORM OF MASTER SELECTED DEALERS AGREEMENT

R EGISTERED SEC O FFERINGS

AND

E XEMPT O FFERINGS

(O THER THAN O FFERINGS OF M UNICIPAL S ECURITIES )

June 1, 2011


This Master Selected Dealers Agreement (this “ Master SDA ”), dated as of June 1, 2011, is by and between
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (including its successors and assigns) (“ we ,” “ our ,” “ us ” or the “ Manager ”) and the party named on the signature page hereof (a “ Dealer ,” “ you ” or “ your ”). From time to time, in connection with an offering and sale (an “ Offering ”) of securities (the “ Securities ”), managed solely by us or with one or more other managers or co-managers, we or one or more of our affiliates may offer you (and others) the opportunity to purchase as principal a portion of such securities on the terms set forth herein as a Selected Dealer (as defined below).

References herein to laws, statutory and regulatory sections, rules, regulations, forms and interpretive materials are deemed to include successor provisions. The following provisions of this Master SDA shall apply separately to each individual Offering of Securities. You and we further agree as follows:

1. Applicability of this Master SDA . The terms and conditions of this Master SDA will be applicable to any Offering in which you accept an offer to participate as a Selected Dealer (including through the receipt by you of Securities), whether pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ 1933 Act ”), or exempt from registration thereunder, in respect of which we (acting for our own account or for the account of any underwriting or similar group or syndicate) are responsible for managing or otherwise implementing the sale of Securities to Selected Dealers. A Dealer is a person who meets the requirements of Section 10 hereof. The parties who agree to participate (including by the receipt by such parties of Securities) or are designated a selling concession to Dealers (the “ Selling Concession ”), and reallowance, if any (the “ Reallowance ”), in such Offering as selected Dealers are hereinafter referred to as “ Selected Dealers ”. In the case of any Offering where we are acting for the account of the several underwriters, initial purchasers or others acting in a similar capacity (the “ Underwriters ”), the terms and conditions of this Master SDA will be for the benefit of such Underwriters, including, in the case of any Offering where we are acting with others as representatives of Underwriters, such other representatives.

2. Terms of the Offering . We may advise you orally or by one or more wires, telexes, telecopy or electronic data transmissions, or other written communications (each, a “ Wire ”) of the particular method and supplementary terms and conditions of any Offering (including the price or prices at which the Securities initially will be offered by the several Underwriters, or if the price is to be determined by a formula based on market price, the terms of the formula (the “ Offering Price ”), and any Selling Concession or, if applicable, Reallowance) in which you are invited to participate. Any such Wire may also amend or modify such provisions of this Master SDA in respect of the Offering to which such Wire relates, and may contain such supplementary provisions as may be specified in any Wire relating to an Offering. To the extent such supplementary terms and conditions are inconsistent with any provision herein, such supplementary terms and conditions shall supersede any provision of this Master SDA. Unless otherwise indicated in any such Wire, acceptances and other communications by you with respect to an Offering should be sent pursuant to the terms of Section 19 hereof. Notwithstanding that we may not have sent you a Wire or other form of invitation to participate in such Offering or that you may not otherwise have responded by wire or other written


communication (any such communication being deemed “ In Writing ”) to any such Wire or other form of invitation, you will be deemed to have accepted the terms of our offer to participate as a Selected Dealer and of this Master SDA (as amended, modified or supplemented by any Wire) by your purchase of Securities or otherwise receiving and retaining an economic benefit for participating in the Offering as a Selected Dealer. We reserve the right to reject any acceptance in whole or in part.

Any Offering will be subject to delivery of the Securities and their acceptance by us and any other Underwriters may be subject to the approval of all legal matters by counsel and may be subject to the satisfaction of other conditions. Any application for additional Securities will be subject to rejection in whole or in part.

3. Offering Documents . Upon your request, we will furnish, make available to you or make arrangements for you to obtain copies (which may, to the extent permitted by law, be in electronic form) of each prospectus, prospectus supplement, offering memorandum, offering circular or similar offering document, and any preliminary version thereof, as soon as reasonably practicable after sufficient quantities thereof have been made available by the issuer of the Securities (each, an “ Issuer ”) and any guarantor (each, a “ Guarantor ”) thereof, and, if different from the Issuer, the seller or sellers (each, a “ Seller ”) of the Securities. You agree that you will comply with the applicable United States federal and state laws, and the applicable rules and regulations of any regulatory body promulgated thereunder, and the applicable laws, rules and regulations of any non-United States jurisdiction, governing the use and distribution of offering materials by brokers and dealers. You represent and warrant that you are familiar with Rule l5c2-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ 1934 Act ”), relating to the distribution of preliminary and final prospectuses and agree that your purchase of Securities shall constitute your confirmation that you have delivered and will deliver all preliminary prospectuses and final prospectuses required for compliance therewith. You agree to make a record of your distribution of each preliminary prospectus and, when furnished with copies of any revised preliminary prospectus or final prospectus, you will, upon our request, promptly forward copies thereof to each person to whom you have theretofore distributed a preliminary prospectus. You agree that, in purchasing Securities, you will rely upon no statement whatsoever, written or oral, other than the statements in the final prospectus, offering memorandum, offering circular or similar offering document delivered to you by us. You are not authorized by the Issuer or other Seller of Securities offered pursuant to a final prospectus, offering memorandum, offering circular or similar offering document or by any Underwriters to give any information or to make any representation not contained therein in connection with the sale of such Securities.

4. Offering of Securities .

(a) In respect of any Offering, we will inform you of any Selling Concession and Reallowance, if any. The Offering of Securities is made subject to the conditions referred to in the prospectus, offering memorandum, or offering circular or similar offering document related to the Offering and to the terms and conditions set forth in any Wire. After the initial Offering has commenced, we may change the Offering Price, the Selling Concession and the Reallowance (if any) to Selected Dealers. If a Reallowance is in effect, a reallowance from the Offering Price

 

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not in excess of such Reallowance may be allowed (i) in the case of Offerings of Securities that are not exempted securities (as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the 1934 Act), as consideration for services rendered in distribution to Dealers who are actually engaged in the investment banking or securities business and who are either members in good standing of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”) who agree to abide by the applicable rules of FINRA or non-U.S. banks, brokers, dealers or institutions not eligible for membership in FINRA who represent to you that they will promptly reoffer such Securities at the Offering Price and will abide by the conditions with respect to non-U.S. banks, dealers and institutions set forth in Section 10 hereof, or (ii) in the case of Offerings of Securities that are exempted securities (as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the 1934 Act), as consideration for services rendered in distribution not only to Dealers identified in the immediately preceding clause but also to Dealers who are domestic banks which are not members of FINRA who represent to you that they will promptly reoffer such Securities at the Offering Price and will abide by the conditions with respect to domestic banks set forth in Section 10 hereof.

(b) No expenses will be charged to Selected Dealers. A single transfer tax upon the sale of the Securities by the respective Underwriters to you will be paid by such Underwriters when such Securities are delivered to you. However, you shall pay any transfer tax on sales of Securities by you and you shall pay your proportionate share of any transfer tax or other tax (other than the single transfer tax described above) in the event that any such tax shall from time to time be assessed against you and other Selected Dealers as a group or otherwise.

5. Payment and Delivery . You will deliver to us, on the date and at the place and time specified by us orally or In Writing, payment in the manner and type of currency specified by us orally or In Writing, payable to the order of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (or as we may subsequently inform you), for an amount equal to the Offering Price plus (if not included in the Offering Price) accrued interest, amortization of original issue discount or dividends, if any, specified in the prospectus or offering circular or other similar offering document furnished in connection with the Offering of the Securities. We may, in our sole discretion, retain the applicable Selling Concession in respect of the Securities to be purchased by you for release at a date specified by us. We will make payment to the Issuer or Seller against delivery to us for your account of the Securities to be purchased by you, and we will deliver to you the Securities paid for by you which will have been retained by or released to you for direct sale. If we determine that transactions in the Securities are to be settled through The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) or another clearinghouse facility and payment in the settlement currency is supported by such facility, payment for and delivery of Securities purchased by you will be made through such facility, if you are a participant, or, if you are not a participant, settlement will be made through your ordinary correspondent who is a participant.

6. Over-allotment; Stabilization; Unsold Allotments; Penalty Bids . We may, with respect to any Offering, be authorized to over-allot in arranging sales to Selected Dealers, to purchase and sell Securities for long or short account and to stabilize or maintain the market price of the Securities. You agree that upon our request at any time and from time to time prior to the termination of the provisions of Section 4 hereof with respect to any Offering, you will report to us the amount of Securities purchased by you pursuant to such Offering which then

 

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remain unsold by you and will, upon our request at any such time, sell to us for our account or the account of one or more Underwriters such amount of such unsold Securities as we may designate at the Offering Price less an amount to be determined by us not in excess of the Selling Concession. Prior to the termination of the Manager’s authority to cover any short position in connection with the Offering or such other date as the Manager may specify by Wire, if the Manager determines pursuant to the “Initial Public Offering Tracking System” of DTC that the Manager has purchased, or any of your customers have sold, a number or amount of Securities retained by, or released to, you for direct sale or any Securities sold pursuant to Section 4 hereof for which you received a portion of the Selling Concession, or any Securities which may have been issued on transfer or in exchange for such Securities, which Securities were therefore not effectively placed for investment, then you authorize the Manager to charge your account with an amount equal to such portion of the Selling Concession received by you with respect to such Securities at a price equal to the total cost of such purchase, including transfer taxes, accrued interest, dividends, and commissions, if any.

7. Termination .

(a) The terms and conditions set forth in (i) Section 4, (ii) the second sentence of Section 6, (iii) Section 15 and (iv) Section 16 of this Master SDA (collectively, the “ offering provisions ”) will terminate with respect to each Offering pursuant to this Master SDA at the close of business on the later of (a) the date on which the Underwriters pay the Issuer or Seller for the Securities, and (b) 45 calendar days after the applicable Offering date, unless in either such case the effectiveness of such offering provisions is extended or sooner terminated as hereinafter provided. We may terminate such offering provisions other than Section 6 at any time by notice to you to the effect that the offering provisions are terminated and we may terminate the provisions of Section 6 at any time at or subsequent to the termination of the other offering provisions by notice to you to the effect that the penalty bid provisions are terminated. All other provisions of the Master SDA shall remain operative and in full force and effect with respect to such Offering.

(b) This Master SDA may be terminated by either party hereto upon five business days’ written notice to the other party; provided, however, that with respect to any particular Offering, if we receive any such notice from you after we have advised you of the amount of Securities allotted to you, this Master SDA shall remain in full force and effect as to such Offering and shall terminate with respect to such Offering and all previous Offerings only in accordance with and to the extent provided in subsection (a) of this Section 7.

8. Amendments . This Master SDA may be amended from time to time by consent of the parties hereto. Your consent will be deemed to have been given to an amendment to this Master SDA, and such amendment will be effective, five business days following written notice to you of such amendment if you do not notify us In Writing prior to the close of business on such fifth business day that you do not consent to such amendment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you agree that any amendment, supplement or modification of the terms of this Master SDA by Wire or otherwise In Writing will be effective immediately and your consent will be deemed to have been given to any such amendment, supplement or modification by your purchase of Securities or otherwise receiving and retaining an economic benefit for participating

 

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in the Offering as a Selected Dealer; provided that such amendment, supplement or modification of the terms of this Master SDA shall only be effective with respect to the related Offering.

9. Relationship Among Underwriters and Selected Dealers . We shall have full authority to take such actions as we deem advisable in all matters pertaining to any Offering under this Master SDA. You are not authorized to act as an agent for us, any Underwriter or the Issuer or other Seller of any Securities in offering Securities to the public or otherwise. Neither we nor any Underwriter will be under any obligation to you except for obligations assumed hereby or in any Wire from us in connection with any Offering, and no obligations on our part as the Manager will be implied hereby or inferred herefrom. Nothing contained in this Master SDA or any Wire shall constitute the Selected Dealers an association or partners with us or any Underwriter or with one another, and the obligations of you and each of the other Selected Dealers or any of the Underwriters are several and not joint. If the Selected Dealers, among themselves, with us or with the Underwriters, should be deemed to constitute a partnership for federal income tax purposes, then you elect to be excluded from the application of Subchapter K, Chapter 1, Subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and agree not to take any position inconsistent with such election. You authorize the Manager, in its discretion, to execute on your behalf such evidence of such election as may be required by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. In connection with any Offering, you will be liable for your proportionate share of the amount of any tax, claim, demand or liability that may be asserted against you alone or against one or more Selected Dealers participating in such Offering, or against us or the Underwriters, based upon the claim that the Selected Dealers, or any of them, constitute an association, an unincorporated business or other entity, including, in each case, your proportionate share of the amount of any expense (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in defending against any such tax, claim, demand or liability.

10. FINRA Compliance . You represent and warrant (a) that you are a broker or dealer (as defined by FINRA actually engaged in the investment banking or securities business and that you are either (i) a member in good standing of FINRA or (ii) a non-U.S. bank, broker, dealer or other institution not eligible for membership in FINRA and not registered under the 1934 Act (a “ non-member non-U.S. dealer ”), or (b) only in the case of Offerings of Securities that are exempted securities (as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the 1934 Act), and such other Securities as from time to time may be sold by a “bank” (as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the 1934 Act (a “ Bank ”)), that you are a domestic Bank which is not a member of FINRA that makes the representations and agreements applicable to such institutions contained in this Section 10 hereof as if you were a member of FINRA. You agree that, in connection with any purchase or sale of the Securities wherein a selling concession, discount or other allowance is received or granted, you (aa) will comply, if you are a member of FINRA, with all applicable rules of FINRA, including, without limitation, (i) the requirements of FINRA Rule 5130, and (ii) the requirements of NASD Conduct Rule 2740 (relating to Selling Concessions, Discounts and Other Allowances) or any FINRA successor rules thereto or (bb) if you are a non-member non-U.S. dealer, (i) will comply, as though you were a member of FINRA, with the requirements of the following rules (including any FINRA successor rules thereto): NASD Conduct Rules 2730 (relating to Securities Taken in Trade), 2740 (relating to Selling Concessions), 2750 (relating to Transactions with Related Persons) and FINRA Rule 5130 (relating to Restrictions on the Purchase and Sale

 

5


of Initial Equity Public Offerings) and NASD Conduct Rule 2420 (relating to Dealing with Non-Members) as that Rule applies to a non-member broker/dealer in a non-U.S. country, and (ii) are, and will remain at all relevant times, an appropriately registered or licensed broker-dealer (to the extent required) in a non-U.S. jurisdiction and will not engage in any activities in the United States or with United States persons as would require you to register as a broker-dealer under Section 15 of the 1934 Act or obtain FINRA membership as set forth in NASD Conduct Rule 2420(c). In addition, if you are a domestic bank or a non-member non-U.S. dealer, you agree to comply, as though you were a member of FINRA, and make the representations and agreements applicable to such institutions contained in this Section 10. You represent and warrant that you are fully familiar with the above provisions.

You further represent, by your participation in an Offering, that you have provided to us all documents and other information required to be filed with respect to you, any related person or any person associated with you or any such related person pursuant to the supplementary requirements of FINRA’s interpretation with respect to review of corporate financing as such requirements relate to such Offering.

11. Blue Sky Matters . Upon application to us, we shall inform you as to any advice we have received from counsel concerning the jurisdictions in which Securities have been qualified for sale or are exempt under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of such jurisdictions, but we do not assume any obligation or responsibility as to your right to sell Securities in any such jurisdiction, notwithstanding any information we may furnish to you in that connection.

12. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction . This Master SDA (as it may be modified or supplemented by any Wire) will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the State. You hereby irrevocably: (a) submit to the jurisdiction of any court of the State of New York located in the City of New York or the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of the State of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Master SDA, or any of the agreements or transactions contemplated hereby (each, a “ Proceeding ”), (b) agree that all claims in respect of any Proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (c) waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any immunity from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process therein, (d) agree not to commence any Proceeding other than in such courts, and (e) waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim that such Proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum.

13. Successors and Assigns . This Master SDA will be binding on, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and other persons specified in Section 1 hereof, and the respective successors and assigns of each of them; provided, however, that you may not assign your rights or delegate any of your duties under this Master SDA without our prior written consent.

14. Compliance with Law . You agree that in selling Securities pursuant to any Offering (which agreement shall also be for the benefit of the Issuer or other Seller of such Securities) you will comply with all applicable rules and regulations, including the applicable provisions of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, the applicable rules and regulations of FINRA,

 

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the applicable rules and regulations of any securities exchange having jurisdiction over the Offering and the applicable laws, rules and regulations specified in Section 3(a) and 3(b) hereof.

15. Discretionary Accounts . In the case of an Offering of Securities registered under the 1933 Act by an Issuer that was not, immediately prior to the filing of the related registration statement, subject to the requirements of Section 13(d) or 15(d) of the 1934 Act, you will not make sales to any account over which you exercise discretionary authority in connection with such sale, except as otherwise permitted by us for such Offering In Writing.

16. Offering Restrictions . You will not make any offers or sales of Securities or any other securities in jurisdictions outside the United States except under circumstances that will result in compliance with (a) applicable laws, including private placement requirements, in each such jurisdiction and (b) the restrictions on offers or sales set forth in this Master SDA, any Wire or the prospectus, preliminary prospectus, offering memorandum, offering circular, or preliminary offering memorandum or preliminary offering circular or other similar offering document, as the case may be. It is understood that, except as specified in this Master SDA, the prospectus, offering memorandum or offering circular or other similar offering document, or applicable Wire, no action has been taken by us, the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Seller or any other party to permit you to offer Securities in any jurisdiction other than the United States, in the case of a Registered Offering, where action would be required for such purpose.

17. Prohibition on Money Laundering . The operations of your business and your subsidiaries are and, to your knowledge, have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving you or any of your subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to your knowledge, threatened.

18. Liability of Manager . The Manager will not be liable to you for any act or omission, except for obligations expressly assumed by the Manager In Writing.

19. Notices . Any notice to you will be deemed to have been duly given if mailed, sent by Wire, or delivered in person to you at the address set forth on the signature page hereto (or to such other address, telephone, telecopy or telex as you will be notified by us), or if such address is no longer valid, then at the address set forth in reports filed by you with FINRA. Any such notice will take effect upon receipt thereof. Communications by Wire will be deemed to be “written” communications and made In Writing.

20. Severability . In case any provision in this Master SDA or any Wire is deemed invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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21. Counterparts . This Master SDA may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original, and all of which taken together constitute one and the same instrument. Transmission by telecopy of an executed counterpart of this Master SDA will constitute due and sufficient delivery of such counterpart.

Please confirm by signing and returning to us the enclosed copy of this Master SDA that your subscription to, or your acceptance of any reservation of, any Securities pursuant to an Offering shall constitute (a) acceptance of and agreement to the terms and conditions of this Master SDA (as supplemented and amended pursuant to Section 8 hereof) together with and subject to any supplementary terms and conditions contained in any Wire from us in connection with such Offering, all of which shall constitute a binding agreement between you and us individually or as representative of any Underwriters, (b) confirmation that your representations and warranties set forth herein are true and correct at that time, (c) confirmation that your agreements herein have been and will be fully performed by you to the extent and at the times required thereby and (d) in the case of any Offering described in Section 3 hereof, acknowledgment that you have requested and received from us sufficient copies of the final prospectus, offering memorandum or offering circular, as the case may be, with respect to such Offering in order to comply with your undertakings in Section 3(a) or 3(b) hereof.

(Remainder of page intentionally left blank)

(Signature page follows)

 

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This Master SDA is dated as of June 1, 2011, and executed by and between Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and other party named below.

 

Very truly yours,
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Confirmed as of (date):

CONFIRMED:            , 20    

 

(Legal Name of Selected Dealer)

 

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Address:  
Telephone:  
Facsimile:  
Email:  


Master Selected Dealers Agreement

GUIDE TO DEFINED TERMS

 

Term

  

Section Reference

1933 Act

   1

1934 Act

   3

Bank

   10

Dealer

   Foreward

DTC

   5

FINRA

   4(a)

Guarantor

   3

In Writing

   2

Issuer

   3

Manager

   Foreword

Master SDA

   Foreword

Money Laundering Laws

   17

non-member non-U.S. dealer

   10

Offering

   Foreword

Offering Price

   2

offering provisions

   7(a)

Proceeding

   12

Reallowance

   1

Securities

   1

Selected Dealers

   1

Seller

   3

Selling Concession

   1

Underwriters

   1

Wire

   2

 

10

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

FORM OF

MASTER AGREEMENT AMONG UNDERWRITERS

REGISTERED SEC OFFERINGS

( INCLUDING MULTIPLE SYNDICATE OFFERINGS )

AND

EXEMPT OFFERINGS

(OTHER THAN OFFERINGS OF MUNICIPAL SECURITIES)

June 1, 2011


This Master Agreement Among Underwriters (this “ Master AAU ”), dated as of June 1, 2011, is by and between Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“ Morgan Stanley ,” or “ we ”) and the party named on the signature page hereof (an “ Underwriter ,” as defined in Section 1.1 hereof, or “ you ”). From time to time we or one or more of our affiliates may invite you (and others) to participate on the terms set forth herein as an underwriter or an initial purchaser, or in a similar capacity, in connection with certain offerings of securities that are managed solely by us or with one or more other co-managers. If we invite you to participate in a specific offering and sale of securities (an “ Offering ”) to which this Master AAU will apply, we will send the information set forth in Section 1.1 hereof to you by one or more wires, telexes, telecopy or electronic data transmissions, or other written communications (each, a “ Wire ,” and collectively, an “ AAU ”), unless you are otherwise deemed to have accepted an AAU with respect to such Offering pursuant to Section 1.2 hereof. Each Wire will indicate that it is a Wire pursuant to this Master AAU. The Wire inviting you to participate in an Offering is referred to herein as an “ Invitation Wire .” You and we hereby agree that by the terms hereof the provisions of this Master AAU automatically will be incorporated by reference in each AAU, except that any such AAU may also exclude or revise such provisions of this Master AAU in respect of the Offering to which such AAU relates, and may contain such additional provisions as may be specified in any Wire relating to such AAU. You and we further agree as follows:

I. GENERAL

1.1. Terms of AAU; Certain Definitions; Construction. Each AAU will relate to an Offering, and will identify: (i) the securities to be offered in the Offering (the “ Securities ”), their principal terms, the issuer or issuers (each, an “ Issuer ”) and any guarantor (each, a “ Guarantor ”) thereof, and, if different from the Issuer, the seller or sellers (each, a “ Seller ”) of the Securities, (ii) the underwriting agreement, purchase agreement, standby underwriting agreement, distribution agreement, or similar agreement (as identified in such AAU and as amended or supplemented, including a terms agreement or pricing agreement pursuant to any of the foregoing, collectively, the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) providing for the purchase, on a several and not joint basis, of the Securities by the several underwriters, initial purchasers, or others acting in a similar capacity (the “ Underwriters ”) on whose behalf the Manager (as defined below) executes the Underwriting Agreement, and whether such agreement provides for: (x) an option to purchase Additional Securities (as defined below) to cover sales of shares in excess of the number of Firm Securities (as defined below), or (y) an offering in multiple jurisdictions or markets involving two or more syndicates (an “ International Offering ”), each of which will offer and sell Securities subject to such restrictions as may be specified in any Intersyndicate Agreement (as defined below) referred to in such AAU, (iii) the price at which the Securities are to be purchased by the several Underwriters from any Issuer or Seller thereof (the “ Purchase Price ”), (iv) the offering terms, including, if applicable, the price or prices at which the Securities initially will be offered by the Underwriters (the “ Offering Price ”), any selling concession to dealers (the “ Selling Concession ”), reallowance (the “ Reallowance ”), management fee, global coordinators’ fee, praecipium, or other similar fees, discounts, or commissions (collectively, the “ Fees and Commissions ”) with respect to the Securities, and (v) other principal terms of the Offering, which may include, without limitation: (A) the proposed or actual pricing date (“ Pricing Date ”) and settlement date (the “ Settlement Date ”), (B) any contractual restrictions on the offer and sale of the Securities pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, Intersyndicate Agreement, or otherwise, (C) any co-managers for such


Offering (the “ Co-Managers ”), (D) your proposed participation in the Offering, and (E) any trustee, fiscal agent, or similar agent (the “ Trustee ”) for the indenture, trust agreement, fiscal agency agreement, or similar agreement (the “ Indenture ”) under which such Securities will be issued.

Manager ” means Morgan Stanley, except as set forth in Section 9.9 hereof. “ Representative ” means the Manager and any Co-Manager that signs the applicable Underwriting Agreement on behalf of the Underwriters or is identified as a Representative in the applicable Underwriting Agreement. “ Underwriters ” includes the Representative(s), the Manager, and the Co-Managers. “ Firm Securities ” means the number or amount of Securities that the several Underwriters are initially committed to purchase under the Underwriting Agreement (which may be expressed as a percentage of an aggregate number or amount of Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters, as in the case of a standby Underwriting Agreement). “ Additional Securities ” means the Securities, if any, that the several Underwriters have an option to purchase under the Underwriting Agreement to cover sales of shares in excess of the number of Firm Securities. The number, amount, or percentage of Firm Securities set forth opposite each Underwriter’s name in the Underwriting Agreement plus any additional Firm Securities which such Underwriter has made a commitment to purchase, irrespective of whether such Underwriter actually purchases or sells such number, amount, or percentage of Securities under the Underwriting Agreement or Article XI hereof, is hereinafter referred to as the “ Original Underwriting Obligation ” of such Underwriter, and the ratio which such Original Underwriting Obligation bears to the total of all Firm Securities set forth in the Underwriting Agreement (or, in the case of a standby Underwriting Agreement, to 100%) is hereinafter referred to as the “ Underwriting Percentage ” of such Underwriter. For the avoidance of doubt, each Underwriter acknowledges and agrees that, for all purposes under this Agreement and otherwise (including, to the extent applicable, for purposes of Section 11(e) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “ 1933 Act ”)), each Underwriter’s Underwriting Percentage of the total number, amount, or percentage of Securities offered and sold in the Offering (including any Additional Securities), and only such number, amount, or percentage, constitutes the securities underwritten by such Underwriter and distributed to investors. 1

References herein to laws, statutory and regulatory sections, rules, regulations, forms, and interpretive materials will be deemed to include any successor provisions.

1.2. Acceptance of AAU. You will have accepted an AAU for an Offering if: (a) we receive your acceptance, prior to the time specified in the Invitation Wire for such Offering, by wire, telex, telecopy or electronic data transmission, or other written communication (any such communication being deemed “ In Writing ”) or orally (if promptly confirmed In Writing), in the manner specified in the Invitation Wire, of our invitation to participate in the Offering, or (b) notwithstanding that we did not send you an Invitation Wire or you have not otherwise responded In Writing to any such Wire, you: (i) agree (orally or by a Wire) to be named as an Underwriter in the relevant Underwriting Agreement executed by us as Manager, or (ii) receive

 

 

1  

Meant to clarify mechanics of underwriting for purposes of Section 11(e), and rebut footnote 8 of the WorldCom decision (See In re: Worldcom, Inc. Securities Litigation , U.S. Dist. Ct. (SDNY), slip-op 02 Civ 3288, March 14, 2005 (unpublished).

 

3


and retain an economic benefit for participating in the Offering as an Underwriter. Your acceptance of the invitation to participate will cause such AAU to constitute a valid and binding contract between us. Your acceptance of the AAU as provided above or an Invitation Wire will also constitute acceptance by you of the terms of subsequent Wires to you relating to the Offering unless we receive In Writing, within the time and in the manner specified in such subsequent Wire, a notice from you to the effect that you do not accept the terms of such subsequent Wire, in which case you will be deemed to have elected not to participate in the Offering.

1.3. Underwriters’ Questionnaire. Your acceptance of the Invitation Wire for an Offering or your participation in an Offering as an Underwriter will confirm that you have no exceptions to the Underwriters’ Questionnaire attached as Exhibit A hereto (or to any other questions addressed to you in any Wires relating to the Offering previously sent to you), other than exceptions noted by you In Writing in connection with the Offering and received from you by us before the time specified in the Invitation Wire or any subsequent Wire.

II. OFFERING MATERIALS; OFFERING AGREEMENTS

2.1. Registered Offerings. In the case of an Offering that will be registered in whole or in part (a “ Registered Offering ”) under the 1933 Act, you acknowledge that the Issuer has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement, including a prospectus relating to the Securities. “ Registration Statement ” means such registration statement as amended to the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and, in the event that the Issuer files an abbreviated registration statement to register additional Securities pursuant to Rule 462(b) or 462(e) under the 1933 Act, such abbreviated registration statement. “ Prospectus ” means the prospectus, together with the final prospectus supplement, if any, containing the final terms of the Securities and, in the case of a Registered Offering that is an International Offering, “ Prospectus ” means, collectively, each prospectus or offering circular, together with each final prospectus supplement or final offering circular supplement, if any, relating to the Offering, in the respective forms containing the final terms of the Securities. “ Preliminary Prospectus ” means any preliminary prospectus relating to the Offering or any preliminary prospectus supplement together with a prospectus relating to the Offering and, in the case of a Registered Offering that is an International Offering, “ Preliminary Prospectus ” means, collectively, each preliminary prospectus or preliminary offering circular relating to the Offering or each preliminary prospectus supplement or preliminary offering circular supplement, together with a prospectus or offering circular, respectively, relating to the Offering. “ Free Writing Prospectus ” means, in the case of a Registered Offering, a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act. As used herein the terms “ Registration Statement ,” “ Prospectus ,” “ Preliminary Prospectus ,” and “ Free Writing Prospectus ” will include in each case the material, if any, incorporated by reference therein, and as used herein, the term “ Registration Statement ” includes information deemed to be part thereof pursuant to, and as of the date and time specified in, Rules 430A, 430B, or 430C under the 1933 Act, while the terms “ Prospectus ” and “ Preliminary Prospectus ” include information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to the rules and regulations under the 1933 Act, but only as of the actual time that information is first used or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act. The Manager will furnish, make available to you, or make arrangements for you to obtain copies (which may, to the extent permitted by law, be in electronic form) of each Prospectus and

 

4


Preliminary Prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if applicable, but excluding, for this purpose, unless otherwise required pursuant to rules or regulations under the 1933 Act, documents incorporated therein by reference) as soon as practicable after sufficient quantities thereof have been made available by the Issuer.

As used herein, in the case of an Offering that is an offering of asset-backed securities, the term “ ABS Underwriter Derived Information ” means any analytical or computational materials as described in clause (5) of footnote 271 of Commission Release No. 33-8591, issued July 19, 2005 (Securities Offering Reform) (the “ Securities Offering Reform Release ”).

2.2. Non-Registered Offerings. In the case of an Offering other than a Registered Offering, you acknowledge that no registration statement has been filed with the Commission. “ Offering Circular ” means the final offering circular or memorandum, if any, or any other final written materials authorized by the Issuer to be used in connection with an Offering that is not a Registered Offering. “ Preliminary Offering Circular ” means any preliminary offering circular or memorandum, if any, or any other written preliminary materials authorized by the Issuer to be used in connection with such an Offering. As used herein, the terms “ Offering Circular ” and “ Preliminary Offering Circular ” include the material, if any, incorporated by reference therein. We will either, as soon as practicable after the later of the date of the Invitation Wire or the date made available to us by the Issuer, furnish to you (or make available for your review) a copy of any Preliminary Offering Circular or any proof or draft of the Offering Circular. In any event, in any Offering involving an Offering Circular, the Manager will furnish, make available to you, or make arrangements for you to obtain, as soon as practicable after sufficient quantities thereof are made available by the Issuer, copies (which may, to the extent permitted by law, be in electronic form) of the Preliminary Offering Circular and Offering Circular, as amended or supplemented, if applicable (but excluding, for this purpose, documents incorporated therein by reference).

2.3. Authority to Execute Underwriting and Intersyndicate Agreements. You authorize the Manager, on your behalf: (a) to determine the form of the Underwriting Agreement and to execute and deliver to the Issuer, Guarantor, or Seller the Underwriting Agreement to purchase: (i) up to the number, amount, or percentage of Firm Securities set forth in the applicable AAU, and (ii) if the Manager elects on behalf of the several Underwriters to exercise any option to purchase Additional Securities, up to the number, amount, or percentage of Additional Securities set forth in the applicable AAU, subject, in each case, to reduction pursuant to Article IV; and (b) to determine the form of any agreement or agreements, including, but not limited to, underwriting agreements, between or among the syndicates participating in the Offering or International Offering, respectively (each, an “ Intersyndicate Agreement ”), and to execute and deliver any such Intersyndicate Agreement.

III. MANAGER’S AUTHORITY

3.1. Terms of Offering. You authorize the Manager to act as manager of the Offering of the Securities by the Underwriters (the “ Underwriters’ Securities ”) or by the Issuer or Seller pursuant to delayed delivery contracts (the “ Contract Securities ”), if any, contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement. You authorize the Manager: (i) to purchase any or all of the Additional Securities for the accounts of the several Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) to agree, on your behalf and on behalf of the Co-Managers, to any addition to,

 

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change in, or waiver of any provision of, or the termination of, the Underwriting Agreement or any Intersyndicate Agreement (other than an increase in the Purchase Price or in your Original Underwriting Obligation to purchase Securities, in either case from that contemplated by the applicable AAU), (iii) to add prospective or remove existing Underwriters from the syndicate, (iv) to exercise, in the Manager’s discretion, all of the authority vested in the Manager in the Underwriting Agreement, (v) except as described below in this Section 3.1, to take any other action as may seem advisable to the Manager in respect of the Offering (including, in the case of an Offering of asset-backed securities, the preparation and delivery of ABS Underwriter Derived Information), including actions and communications with the Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ,” formerly known as the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and NASD, Inc., or “ NASD ”), state blue sky or securities commissions , stock exchanges, and other regulatory bodies or organizations. Furthermore, the Manager will have exclusive authority, on your behalf and on behalf of the Co-Managers, to exercise powers and pursue enforcement of the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement and any Intersyndicate Agreement, whether or not actually exercised, except as otherwise specified herein or therein. If, in accordance with the terms of the applicable AAU, the Offering of the Securities is at varying prices based on prevailing market prices, or prices related to prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices, you authorize the Manager to determine, on your behalf in the Manager’s discretion, any Offering Price and the Fees and Commissions applicable to the Offering from time to time. You authorize the Manager on your behalf to arrange for any currency transactions (including forward and hedging currency transactions) as the Manager may deem necessary to facilitate settlement of the purchase of the Securities, but you do not authorize the Manager on your behalf to engage in any other forward or hedging transactions (including interest rate hedging transactions) in connection with the Offering unless such transactions are specified in an applicable AAU or are otherwise consented to by you. You further authorize the Manager, subject to the provisions of Section 1.2 hereof: (i) to vary the offering terms of the Securities in effect at any time, including, if applicable, the Offering Price, Fees, and Commissions set forth in the applicable AAU, (ii) to determine, on your behalf, the Purchase Price, and (iii) to increase or decrease the number, amount, or percentage of Securities being offered. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.1, the Manager will notify the Underwriters, prior to the signing of the Underwriting Agreement, of any provision in the Underwriting Agreement that could result in an increase in the number, amount, or percentage of Firm Securities set forth opposite each Underwriter’s name in the Underwriting Agreement by more than 25% (or such other percentage as will have been specified in the applicable Invitation Wire or otherwise consented to by you) as a result of the failure or refusal of another Underwriter or Underwriters to perform its or their obligations thereunder. The Manager may, at its discretion, delegate to any Underwriter any and all authority vested in the applicable AAU, including, but not limited to, the powers set forth in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 hereof.

3.2. Offering Date. The Offering is to be made on or about the time the Underwriting Agreement is entered into by the Issuer, Guarantor, or Seller and the Manager as in the Manager’s judgment is advisable, on the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus or the Offering Circular, as the case may be, and the applicable AAU. You will not sell any Securities prior to the time the Manager releases such Securities for sale to purchasers. The date on which such Securities are released for sale is referred to herein as the “ Offering Date .”

 

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3.3. Communications. Any public announcement or advertisement of the Offering will be made by the Manager on behalf of the Underwriters on such date as the Manager may determine. You will not announce or advertise the Offering prior to the date of the Manager’s announcement or advertisement thereof without the Manager’s consent. If the Offering is made in whole or in part in reliance on any applicable exemption from registration under the 1933 Act, you will not engage in any general solicitation, announcement, or advertising in connection with the Offering, and will abide by any other restrictions in the AAU or the Underwriting Agreement in connection therewith relating to any announcement, advertising, or publicity. Any announcement or advertisement you may make of the Offering after such date will be your own responsibility, and at your own expense and risk. In addition to your compliance with restrictions on the Offering pursuant to Sections 10.9, 10.10, 10.11, and 10.12 hereof, you will not, in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities in the Offering, without the consent of the Manager, give, send, or otherwise convey to any prospective purchaser or any purchaser of the Securities or other person not in your employ any written communication (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) other than:

(i) any Preliminary Prospectus, Prospectus, Preliminary Offering Circular, or Offering Circular,

(ii) (A) written confirmations and notices of allocation delivered to your customers in accordance with Rules 172 or 173 under the 1933 Act, and written communications based on the exemption provided by Rule 134 under the 1933 Act, and (B) in the case of Offerings not registered under the 1933 Act, such written communications (1) as would be permitted by Section 3.3(v)(D)(1) below were such Offering registered under the 1933 Act, or (2) that the Manager or Underwriting Agreement may permit; provided, however , that such written communication under this clause (B) would not have otherwise constituted “ Issuer Information ” as defined below, or would have qualified for the exemption provided by Rule 134 under the 1933 Act, in each case, if such communication had been furnished in the context of a Registered Offering (“ Supplemental Materials ”),

(iii) any “issuer free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 433(h) under the 1933 Act, an “ Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ”), so long as such issuance or use has been permitted or consented to by the Issuer and the Manager,

(iv) information contained in any computational materials, or in the case of an Offering of asset backed securities, the ABS Underwriter Derived Information, or any other offering materials not constituting a Free Writing Prospectus concerning the Offering, the Issuer, the Guarantor, or the Seller, in each case, prepared by or with the permission of the Manager for use by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering, and, in the case of a Registered Offering, filed (if required) with the Commission or FINRA, as applicable, and

(v) a Free Writing Prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, or used or referred to by, an Underwriter in connection with the Offering, so long as: (A) such Free Writing Prospectus is not required to be filed with the Commission,

 

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(B) the proposed use of such Free Writing Prospectus is permitted by the Underwriting Agreement, (C) such Free Writing Prospectus complies with the legending condition of Rule 433 under the 1933 Act, and you comply with the record-keeping condition of Rule 433, and (D) (1) such Free Writing Prospectus contains only information describing the preliminary terms of the Securities and other pricing data 2 that is not “ Issuer Information ” (as defined in Rule 433(h) under the 1933 Act, including footnote 271 of the Securities Offering Reform Release), or (2) the Issuer has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to file a final term sheet under Rule 433 within the time period necessary to avoid a requirement for any Underwriter to file the Free Writing Prospectus to be used by such Underwriter, and the Free Writing Prospectus used by such Underwriter contains only information describing the terms of the Securities or their offering that is included in such final term sheet of the Issuer and other pricing data that is not Issuer Information (a Free Writing Prospectus meeting the requirements of (A) through (D) above used, or referred to by you, is referred to herein as an “ Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus ” of yours). Without limiting the foregoing, any Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus that you use or refer to will not be distributed by you or on your behalf in a manner reasonably designed to lead to its broad unrestricted dissemination. You will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder in connection with your use of any Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus.

Any advertisement or written information published, given, sent, or otherwise conveyed by you in violation of this Section 3.3 is referred to as “ Unauthorized Material .”

3.4. Institutional and Retail Sales. You authorize the Manager to sell to institutions and retail purchasers such Securities purchased by you pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement as the Manager will determine. The Selling Concession on any such sales will be credited to the accounts of the Underwriters as the Manager will determine.

3.5. Sales to Dealers. You authorize the Manager to sell to Dealers (as defined below) such Securities purchased by you pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement as the Manager will determine. A “ Dealer ” will be a person who is: (a) a broker or dealer (as defined by FINRA) actually engaged in the investment banking or securities business, and (i) a member in good standing of FINRA, or (ii) a non-U.S. bank, broker, dealer, or other institution not eligible for membership in FINRA that, in the case of either clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii), makes the representations and agreements applicable to such institutions contained in Section 10.5 hereof, or (b) in the case of Offerings of Securities that are exempt securities under Section 3(a)(12) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ 1934 Act ”), and such other Securities as from time to time may be sold by a “bank” (as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the 1934 Act (a “ Bank ”)), a Bank that is not a member of FINRA and that makes the representations and agreements applicable to such institutions contained in Section 10.5 hereof. If the price for any such sales by the Manager

 

 

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Meant to permit disclosure of non-Issuer related information, such as benchmark Treasury rate, in preliminary term sheets or price talk.

 

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to Dealers exceeds an amount equal to the Offering Price less the Selling Concession set forth in the applicable AAU, the amount of such excess, if any, will be credited to the accounts of the Underwriters as the Manager will determine.

3.6. Direct Sales. The Manager will advise you promptly, on the Offering Date, as to the Securities purchased by you pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement that you will retain for direct sale. At any time prior to the termination of the applicable AAU, any such Securities that are held by the Manager for sale but not sold may, on your request and at the Manager’s discretion, be released to you for direct sale, and Securities so released to you will no longer be deemed held for sale by the Manager. You may allow, and Dealers may reallow, a discount on sales to Dealers in an amount not in excess of the Reallowance set forth in the applicable AAU. You may not purchase Securities from, or sell Securities to, any other Underwriter or Dealer at any discount or concession other than the Reallowance, except with the prior consent of the Manager.

3.7. Release of Unsold Securities. From time to time prior to the termination of the applicable AAU, at the request of the Manager, you will advise the Manager of the number or amount of Securities remaining unsold which were retained by or released to you for direct sale, and of the number or amount of Securities and Other Securities (as defined below) purchased for your account remaining unsold which were delivered to you pursuant to Article V hereof or pursuant to any Intersyndicate Agreement, and, on the request of the Manager, you will release to the Manager any such Securities and Other Securities remaining unsold: (a) for sale by the Manager to institutions, Dealers, or retail purchasers, (b) for sale by the Issuer or Seller pursuant to delayed delivery contracts, or (c) if, in the Manager’s opinion, such Securities or Other Securities are needed to make delivery against sales made pursuant to Article V hereof or any Intersyndicate Agreement.

3.8. International Offerings. In the case of an International Offering, you authorize the Manager: (i) to make representations on your behalf as set forth in any Intersyndicate Agreement, and (ii) to purchase or sell for your account pursuant to the Intersyndicate Agreement: (a) Securities, (b) any other securities of the same class and series, or any securities into which the Securities may be converted or for which the Securities may be exchanged or exercised, and (c) any other securities designated in the applicable AAU or applicable Intersyndicate Agreement (the securities referred to in clauses (b) and (c) above being referred to collectively as the “ Other Securities ”).

IV. DELAYED DELIVERY CONTRACTS

4.1. Arrangements for Sales. Arrangements for sales of Contract Securities will be made only through the Manager acting either directly or through Dealers (including Underwriters acting as Dealers), and you authorize the Manager to act on your behalf in making such arrangements. The aggregate number or amount of Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters will be reduced by the respective number or amounts of Contract Securities attributed to such Underwriters as hereinafter provided. Subject to the provisions of Section 4.2 hereof, the aggregate number or amount of Contract Securities will be attributed to the Underwriters as nearly as practicable in proportion to their respective Underwriting Percentages, except that, as determined by the Manager in its discretion: (a) Contract Securities directed and

 

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allocated by a purchaser to specific Underwriters will be attributed to such Underwriters, and (b) Contract Securities for which arrangements have been made for sale through Dealers will be attributed to each Underwriter approximately in the proportion that Securities of such Underwriter held by the Manager for sales to Dealers bear to all Securities so held. The fee with respect to Contract Securities payable to the Manager for the accounts of the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement will be credited to the accounts of the respective Underwriters in proportion to the Contract Securities attributed to such Underwriters pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4.1, less, in the case of each Underwriter, the concession to Dealers on Contract Securities sold through Dealers and attributed to such Underwriter.

4.2. Excess Sales. If the number or amount of Contract Securities attributable to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof would exceed such Underwriter’s Original Underwriting Obligation reduced by the number or amount of Underwriters’ Securities sold by or on behalf of such Underwriter, such excess will not be attributed to such Underwriter, and such Underwriter will be regarded as having acted only as a Dealer with respect to, and will receive only the concession to Dealers on, such excess.

V. PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES

5.1. Facilitation of Distribution. In order to facilitate the distribution and sale of the Securities, you authorize the Manager to buy and sell Securities and any Other Securities, in addition to Securities sold pursuant to Article III hereof, in the open market or otherwise (including, without limitation, pursuant to any Intersyndicate Agreement), for long or short account, on such terms as it may deem advisable, and to over-allot in arranging sales. Such purchases and sales and over-allotments will be made for the accounts of the several Underwriters as nearly as practicable to their respective Underwriting Percentages or, in the case of an International Offering, such purchases and sales will be for such accounts as set forth in the applicable Intersyndicate Agreement. Any Securities or Other Securities which may have been purchased by the Manager for stabilizing purposes in connection with the Offering prior to the acceptance of the applicable AAU will be treated as having been purchased pursuant to this Section 5.1 for the accounts of the several Underwriters or, in the case of an International Offering, for such accounts as are set forth in the applicable Intersyndicate Agreement. Your net commitment pursuant to the foregoing authorization will not exceed at the close of business on any day an amount equal to 20% of your Underwriting Percentage of the aggregate initial Offering Price of the Firm Securities, it being understood that, in calculating such net commitment, the initial Offering Price will be used with respect to the Securities so purchased or sold and, in the case of all Other Securities, will be the purchase price thereof. For purposes of determining your net commitment for short account ( i.e. , “naked short”), any short position that can be covered with: (a) Securities that may be purchased upon exercise of any option to purchase Additional Securities, (b) in the case of an International Offering, any Securities or Other Securities that the Manager has agreed to purchase for your account pursuant to any applicable Intersyndicate Agreement, and (c) Securities that may be purchased pursuant to a forward sale contract or similar arrangement with the Issuer or any selling security holder in the Offering, will be disregarded. On demand you will take up and pay for any Securities or Other Securities so purchased for your account and any Securities released to you pursuant to Section 3.7 hereof, and will deliver to the Manager against payment any Securities or Other Securities so sold or over-allotted for your account or released to you. The Manager will notify

 

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you if it engages in any stabilization transaction in accordance with Rule 17a-2 under the 1934 Act, and will notify you of the date of termination of stabilization. You will not stabilize or engage in any syndicate covering transaction (as defined in Rule 100 of Regulation M under the 1934 Act (“ Regulation M ”)) in connection with the Offering without the prior consent of the Manager. You will provide to the Manager any reports required of you pursuant to Rule 17a-2 of the 1934 Act not later than the date specified therein.

5.2. Penalty With Respect to Securities Repurchased by the Manager. If pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.1 hereof and prior to the termination of the Manager’s authority to cover any short position incurred under the applicable AAU or such other date as the Manager may specify in a Wire, either: (a) the Manager purchases or contracts to purchase for the account of any Underwriter in the open market or otherwise any Securities which were retained by, or released to, you for direct sale or any Securities sold pursuant to Section 3.4 hereof for which you received a portion of the Selling Concession set forth in the applicable AAU, or any Securities which may have been issued on transfer or in exchange for such Securities, and which Securities were therefore not effectively placed for investment, or (b) if the Manager has advised you by Wire that trading in the Securities will be reported to the Manager pursuant to the “Initial Public Offering Tracking System” of The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) and the Manager determines, based on notices from DTC, that your customers sold a number or amount of Securities during any day that exceeds the number or amount previously notified to you by Wire, then you authorize the Manager either to charge your account with an amount equal to such portion of the Selling Concession set forth in the applicable AAU received by you with respect to such Securities or, in the case of clause (b), such Securities as exceed the number or amount specified in such Wire, or to require you to repurchase such Securities or, in the case of clause (b), such Securities as exceed the number or amount specified in such Wire, at a price equal to the total cost of such purchase, including transfer taxes, accrued interest, dividends, and commissions, if any.

5.3. Compliance with Regulation M. You represent that, at all times since you were invited to participate in the Offering, you have complied with the provisions of Regulation M applicable to the Offering, in each case as interpreted by the Commission and after giving effect to any applicable exemptions. If you have been notified in a Wire that the Underwriters may conduct passive market making in compliance with Rule 103 of Regulation M in connection with the Offering, you represent that, at all times since your receipt of such Wire, you have complied with the provisions of such Rule applicable to such Offering, as interpreted by the Commission and after giving effect to any applicable exemptions. You will comply with any additional provisions of Regulation M if and to the extent set forth in the Invitation Wire or other Wire.

5.4. Standby Underwritings . You authorize the Manager in its discretion, at any time on, or from time to time prior to, the expiration of the conversion right of convertible securities identified in the applicable AAU in the case of securities called for redemption, or the expiration of rights to acquire securities in the case of rights offerings, for which, in either case, standby underwriting arrangements have been made: (i) to purchase convertible securities or rights to acquire Securities for your account, in the open market or otherwise, on such terms as the Manager determines, and to convert convertible securities or exercise rights so purchased; and (ii) to offer and sell the underlying common stock or depositary shares for your account, in the open market or otherwise, for long or short account (for purposes of such commitment, such

 

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common stock or depositary shares being considered the equivalent of convertible securities or rights), on such terms consistent with the terms of the Offering set forth in the Prospectus or Offering Circular as the Manager determines. On demand, you will take up and pay for any securities so purchased for your account or you will deliver to the Manager against payment any securities so sold, as the case may be. During such period, you may offer and sell the underlying common stock or depositary shares, but only at prices set by the Manager from time to time, and any such sales will be subject to the Manager’s right to sell to you the underlying common stock or depositary shares as above provided and to the Manager’s right to reserve your securities purchased, received, or to be received upon conversion. You agree not to otherwise bid for, purchase, or attempt to induce others to purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, any convertible securities or rights or underlying common stock or depositary shares, provided , however , that no Underwriter will be prohibited from: (a) selling underlying common stock owned beneficially by such Underwriter on the day the convertible securities were first called for redemption, (b) converting convertible securities owned beneficially by such Underwriter on such date or selling underlying common stock issued upon conversion of convertible securities so owned, (c) exercising rights owned beneficially by such Underwriter on the record date for a rights offering, or selling the underlying common stock or depositary shares issued upon exercise of rights so owned, or (d) purchasing or selling convertible securities or rights or underlying common stock or depositary shares as a broker pursuant to unsolicited orders.

VI. PAYMENT AND SETTLEMENT

You will deliver to the Manager on the date and at the place and time specified in the applicable AAU (or on such later date and at such place and time as may be specified by the Manager in a subsequent Wire) the funds specified in the applicable AAU, payable to the order of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, for: (a) an amount equal to the Offering Price plus (if not included in the Offering Price) accrued interest, amortization of original issue discount or dividends, if any, specified in the Prospectus or Offering Circular, less the applicable Selling Concession in respect of the Firm Securities to be purchased by you, (b) an amount equal to the Offering Price plus (if not included in the Offering Price) accrued interest, amortization of original issue discount or dividends, if any, specified in the Prospectus or Offering Circular, less the applicable Selling Concession in respect of such of the Firm Securities to be purchased by you as will have been retained by or released to you for direct sale as contemplated by Section 3.6 hereof, or (c) the amount set forth or indicated in the applicable AAU, as the Manager will advise. You will make similar payment as the Manager may direct for Additional Securities, if any, to be purchased by you on the date specified by the Manager for such payment. The Manager will make payment to the Issuer or Seller against delivery to the Manager for your account of the Securities to be purchased by you, and the Manager will deliver to you the Securities paid for by you which will have been retained by or released to you for direct sale. If the Manager determines that transactions in the Securities are to be settled through DTC or another clearinghouse facility and payment in the settlement currency is supported by such facility, payment for and delivery of Securities purchased by you will be made through such facilities, if you are a participant, or, if you are not a participant, settlement will be made through your ordinary correspondent who is a participant.

 

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VII. EXPENSES

7.1. Management Fee . You authorize the Manager to charge your account as compensation for the Manager’s and Co-Managers’ services in connection with the Offering, including the purchase from the Issuer or Seller of the Securities, as the case may be, and the management of the Offering, the amount, if any, set forth as the management fee, global coordinators’ fee, praecipium, or other similar fee in the applicable AAU. Such amount will be divided among the Manager and any Co-Managers named in the applicable AAU as they may determine. Each Underwriter acknowledges that such fees are being paid by the Underwriters, and are not a benefit received directly or indirectly from the Issuer of the type referred to in Section 11(e) of the 1933 Act.

7.2. Offering Expenses. You authorize the Manager to charge your account with your Underwriting Percentage of all expenses agreed to be paid by the Underwriters in the Underwriting Agreement and all expenses of a general nature incurred by the Manager and Co-Managers under the applicable AAU in connection with the Offering, including the negotiation and preparation thereof, or in connection with the purchase, carrying, marketing, sale and distribution of any securities under the applicable AAU and any Intersyndicate Agreement, including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses, transfer taxes, costs associated with approval of the Offering by FINRA, and the costs of currency transactions (including forward and hedging currency transactions) or, if permitted pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof, any other forward or hedging transactions (including interest rate swaps) entered into to facilitate settlement of the purchase of Securities permitted hereunder.

VIII. MANAGEMENT OF SECURITIES AND FUNDS

8.1. Advances; Loans; Pledges. You authorize the Manager to advance the Manager’s own funds for your account, charging current interest rates, and to arrange loans for your account for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the applicable AAU and any Intersyndicate Agreement, and in connection therewith, to hold or pledge as security therefor all or any securities which the Manager may be holding for your account under the applicable AAU and any Intersyndicate Agreement, to execute and deliver any notes or other instruments evidencing such advances or loans, and to give all instructions to the lenders with respect to any such loans and the proceeds thereof. The obligations of the Underwriters under loans arranged on their behalf will be several in proportion to their respective Original Underwriting Obligations, and not joint. Any lender is authorized to accept the Manager’s instructions as to the disposition of the proceeds of any such loans. In the event of any such advance or loan, repayment thereof will, in the discretion of the Manager, be effected prior to making any remittance or delivery pursuant to Section 8.2, 8.3, or 9.2 hereof.

8.2. Return of Amount Paid for Securities. Out of payment received by the Manager for Securities sold for your account which have been paid for by you, the Manager will remit to you promptly an amount equal to the price paid by you for such Securities.

8.3. Delivery and Redelivery of Securities for Carrying Purposes. The Manager may deliver to you from time to time prior to the termination of the applicable AAU pursuant to Section 9.1 hereof against payment, for carrying purposes only, any Securities or Other

 

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Securities purchased by you under the applicable AAU or any Intersyndicate Agreement which the Manager is holding for sale for your account but which are not sold and paid for. You will redeliver to the Manager against payment any Securities or Other Securities delivered to you for carrying purposes at such times as the Manager may demand.

IX. TERMINATION; INDEMNIFICATION; CONTRIBUTION; SETTLEMENT

9.1. Termination. Each AAU will terminate at the close of business on the later of: (a) the date on which the Underwriters pay the Issuer or Seller for the Securities, and (b) 45 calendar days after the applicable Offering Date, unless sooner terminated by the Manager. The Manager may at its discretion by notice to you prior to the termination of such AAU alter any of the terms or conditions of the Offering to the extent permitted by Articles III and IV hereof, or terminate or suspend the effectiveness of Article V hereof, or any part thereof. No termination or suspension pursuant to this paragraph will affect the Manager’s authority under Section 3.1 hereof to take actions in respect of the Offering or under Article V hereof to cover any short position incurred under such AAU or in connection with covering any such short position to require you to repurchase Securities as specified in Section 5.2 hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, unless otherwise agreed in a Wire or an Intersyndicate Agreement, the Manager’s authority to purchase Securities or Other Securities, for long account, pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, will terminate or be suspended upon the termination or suspension, as the case may be, of the applicable AAU (or any provision and or term thereof in respect of trading, price or offering restrictions as set forth in a Wire that is sent by the Manager following the time the Securities are released for sale to purchasers) or Article V or Section 5.1 hereof pursuant to this paragraph.

9.2. Delivery or Sale of Securities; Settlement of Accounts. Upon termination of each AAU, or prior thereto at the Manager’s discretion, the Manager will deliver to you any Securities paid for by you pursuant to Article VI hereof and held by the Manager for sale pursuant to Section 3.4 or 3.5 hereof but not sold and paid for and any Securities or Other Securities that are held by the Manager for your account pursuant to the provisions of Article V hereof or any Intersyndicate Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the termination of such AAU, if the aggregate initial Offering Price of any such Securities and the aggregate purchase price of any Other Securities so held and not sold and paid for does not exceed an amount equal to 20% of the aggregate initial Offering Price of the Securities, the Manager may, in its discretion, sell such Securities and Other Securities for the accounts of the several Underwriters, at such prices, on such terms, at such times, and in such manner as it may determine. Within the period specified by applicable FINRA Rules or, if no period is so specified, as soon as practicable after termination of such AAU, your account will be settled and paid. The Manager may reserve from distribution such amount as the Manager deems advisable to cover possible additional expenses. The determination by the Manager of the amount so to be paid to or by you will be final and conclusive. Any of your funds under the Manager’s control may be held with the Manager’s general funds without accountability for interest.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Master AAU other than Section 10.11 hereof, upon termination of each AAU, or prior thereto at the Manager’s discretion, the Manager may: (i) allocate to the accounts of the Underwriters the expenses described in Section 7.2 hereof and any losses incurred upon the sale of Securities or Other Securities pursuant to the applicable AAU or any Intersyndicate Agreement (including any losses incurred upon the sale of securities

 

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referred to in Section 5.4(ii) hereof), (ii) deliver to the Underwriters any unsold Securities or Other Securities purchased pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof or any Intersyndicate Agreement, and (iii) deliver to the Underwriters any unsold Securities purchased pursuant to the applicable Underwriting Agreement, in each case in the Manager’s discretion. The only limitations on such discretion will be as follows: (a) no Underwriter that is not the Manager or a Co-Manager will bear more than its share of such expenses, losses, or Securities (such share will not exceed such Underwriter’s Underwriting Percentage and will be determined pro rata among all such Underwriters based on their Underwriting Percentages), (b) no such Underwriter will receive Securities that, together with any Securities purchased by such Underwriter pursuant to Article VI (but excluding any Securities that such Underwriter is required to repurchase pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof) exceed such Underwriter’s Original Underwriting Obligation, and (c) no Co-Manager will bear more than its share of such expenses, losses, or Securities (such share to be determined pro rata among the Manager and all Co-Managers based on their Underwriting Percentages). If any Securities or Other Securities returned to you pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) above were not paid for by you pursuant to Article VI hereof, you will pay to the Manager an amount per security equal to the amount set forth in clause (i) of Article VI, in the case of Securities returned to you pursuant to clause (iii) above, or the purchase price of such securities, in the case of Securities or Other Securities returned to you pursuant to clause (ii) above.

9.3. Certain Other Expenses. You will pay your Underwriting Percentage of: (i) all expenses incurred by the Manager in investigating, preparing to defend, and defending against any action, claim, or proceeding which is asserted, threatened, or instituted by any party, including any governmental or regulatory body (each, an “ Action ”), relating to: (A) the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Offering Circular or Offering Circular (and any amendment or supplement thereto), any Supplemental Materials, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and any ABS Underwriter Derived Information used by any Underwriter other than the Manager, (B) the violation of any applicable restrictions on the offer, sale, resale, or purchase of Securities or Other Securities imposed by U.S. Federal or state laws or non-U.S. laws and the rules and regulations of any regulatory body promulgated thereunder or pursuant to the terms of the applicable AAU, the Underwriting Agreement, or any Intersyndicate Agreement, and (C) any claim that the Underwriters constitute a partnership, an association, or an unincorporated business or other separate entity, and (ii) any Losses (as defined in Section 9.4 hereof) incurred by the Manager in respect of any such Action, whether such Loss will be the result of a judgment or arbitrator’s determination or as a result of any settlement agreed to by the Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you will not be required to pay your Underwriting Percentage of any such expense or liability: (1) to the extent that such expense or liability was caused by the Manager’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; (2) as to which, and to the extent, the Manager actually receives (a) indemnity pursuant to Section 9.4 hereof, (b) contribution pursuant to Section 9.5 hereof, (c) indemnity or contribution pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, or (d) damages from an Underwriter for breach of its representations, warranties, agreements, or covenants contained in the applicable AAU; or (3) of the Manager (other than fees of Syndicate Counsel) that relates to a settlement entered into by the Manager on a basis that results in a settlement of such Action against it and fewer than all the Underwriters . None of the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.3 will relieve any defaulting or breaching Underwriter from liability for its defaults or breach.

 

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Failure of any party to give notice under Section 9.10 hereof will not relieve any Underwriter of an obligation to pay expenses pursuant to the provisions of this Section 9.3.

9.4. Indemnification. Notwithstanding any settlement or the termination of the applicable AAU, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless each other Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”), to the extent and upon the terms which you agree to indemnify and hold harmless any of the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Seller, any person controlling the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Seller, its directors, and, in the case of a Registered Offering, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and, in the case of an Offering other than a Registered Offering, its officers, in each case as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement. You further agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Party from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses not reimbursed pursuant to Section 9.3 hereof (collectively, “ Losses ”) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the breach or violation by you of the terms of Section 3.3 hereof, including any and all Losses under Section 5 of the 1933 Act, and any litigation, investigation, and proceeding (collectively, “ Litigation ”) relating to any of the foregoing. You will also reimburse each such Indemnified Party upon demand for all expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, as they are incurred, in connection with investigating, preparing for, or defending any of the foregoing. You will indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Party from and against any and all Losses related to, arising out of, or in connection with, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus or Supplemental Material of yours or Unauthorized Material used by you, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and any Litigation relating to any of the foregoing, and to reimburse each such Indemnified Party upon demand for all expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, as they are incurred, in connection with investigating, preparing for, or defending any of the foregoing. In addition, you will indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Party from and against any and all Losses related to, arising out of, or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any ABS Underwriter Derived Information used by you, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and any Litigation relating to any of the foregoing, and to reimburse each such Indemnified Party upon demand for all expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, as they are incurred, in connection with investigating, preparing for, or defending any of the foregoing; provided , however , that any Losses, joint or several, paid or incurred by any Underwriter, arising out of or based upon any ABS Underwriter Derived Information which was used only by such Underwriter, or in connection with the preparation of which an Underwriter is found to have acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, will be paid solely by such Underwriter.

Each Underwriter will further indemnify and hold harmless any investment banking firm identified in a Wire as the qualified independent underwriter as defined in FINRA Rule 5121 or any successor rule thereto (in such capacity, a “ QIU ”) for an Offering and each person, if any, who controls such QIU within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, from and against any and all Losses related to, arising out of, or in connection with such investment banking firm’s activities as QIU for the Offering. Each Underwriter will

 

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reimburse such QIU for all expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, as they are incurred, in connection with investigating, preparing for, and defending any Action related to, arising out of, or in connection with such QIU’s activities as a QIU for the Offering. Each Underwriter will be responsible for its Underwriting Percentage of any amount due to such QIU on account of the foregoing indemnity and reimbursement. Such QIU will have no additional liability to any Underwriter or otherwise as a result of its serving as QIU in connection with the Offering. To the extent the indemnification provided to a QIU under this Section 9.4 is unavailable to such QIU or is insufficient in respect of any Losses related thereto, whether as a matter of law or public policy or as a result of the default of any Underwriter in performing its obligations under this Section 9.4, each other Underwriter will contribute to the amount paid or payable by such QIU as a result of such Losses related thereto in proportion to its Underwriting Percentage.

9.5. Contribution. Notwithstanding any settlement or the termination of the applicable AAU, you will pay upon request of the Manager, as contribution, your Underwriting Percentage of any Losses, joint or several, paid or incurred by any Underwriter to any person other than an Underwriter, arising out of or in connection with the breach or violation of the terms of Section 3.3 hereof, including any and all Losses under Section 5 of the 1933 Act, and any Litigation relating to the foregoing. Further, you will pay upon request of the Manager, your Underwriting Percentage of any Losses, joint or several, paid or incurred by any Underwriter to any person other than an Underwriter, arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Offering Circular or Offering Circular (and any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Supplemental Materials, any other materials prepared or used by an Underwriter in accordance with Section 3.3 hereof, or any Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus of yours or Unauthorized Material used by you, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (other than an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company In Writing by the Underwriter on whose behalf the request for contribution is being made expressly for use therein), or any act or omission to act or any alleged act or omission to act by the Manager or, if applicable, a Representative, as the Manager or a Representative, in connection with any transaction contemplated by this Agreement or undertaken in preparing for the purchase, sale, and delivery of the Securities (provided, that you will not be required to pay in any such case to the extent that any such Loss resulted from the Manager’s or such Representative’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), and your Underwriting Percentage of any legal or other expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, as they are incurred, reasonably incurred by the Underwriter (with the approval of the Manager) on whose behalf the request for contribution is being made in connection with investigating or defending any such Loss or any action in respect thereof; provided , however , that no request will be made on behalf of any Underwriter guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) from any Underwriter who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act); provided , further , that any Losses, joint or several, paid or incurred by any Underwriter, arising out of or based upon such Underwriter’s Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus that does not breach Section 3.3 hereof, will be paid by

 

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only the Underwriters that used such Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus (the “ Contributing Underwriters ”), and the amount to be paid by each Contributing Underwriter will be determined pro rata among the Contributing Underwriters based on their Underwriting Percentages. None of the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.5 will relieve any defaulting or breaching Underwriter from liability for its defaults or breach.

In addition, you will pay your Underwriting Percentage of any Losses, joint or several, paid or incurred by any Underwriter to any person other than an Underwriter, arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any ABS Underwriter Derived Information, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (other than an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company In Writing by the Underwriter on whose behalf the request for contribution is being made expressly for use therein) and your Underwriting Percentage of any expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, as they are incurred, reasonably incurred by the Underwriter (with the approval of the Manager) on whose behalf the request for contribution is being made in connection with investigating, preparing for, or defending any such Loss or any action in respect thereof; provided , however , that any Losses, joint or several, paid or incurred by any Underwriter, arising out of or based upon any ABS Underwriter Derived Information which was used only by such Underwriter, or in connection with the preparation of which the Underwriter is found to have acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, will be paid solely by the Underwriter.

9.6. Separate Counsel. If any Action is asserted or commenced pursuant to which the indemnity provided in Section 9.4 hereof or the right of contribution provided in Section 9.5 hereof may apply, the Manager may take such action in connection therewith as it deems necessary or desirable, including retention of counsel for the Underwriters (“ Syndicate Counsel ”), and in its discretion separate counsel for any particular Underwriter or group of Underwriters, and the fees and disbursements of any counsel so retained will be allocated among the several Underwriters as determined by the Manager. Any such Syndicate Counsel retained by the Manager will be counsel to the Underwriters as a group and, in the event that: (a) the Manager settles any Action on a basis that results in the settlement of such Action against it and fewer than all the Underwriters, or (b)(i) a conflict develops between the Manager and the other Underwriters, or (ii) differing defenses are available to the other Underwriters and not available to the Manager, and as a result of either (b)(i) or (b)(ii) such Syndicate Counsel concludes that it is unable to continue to represent the Manager and the other Underwriters, then in each such case, after notification to the Manager and the other Underwriters, Syndicate Counsel will remain counsel to the other Underwriters and will withdraw as counsel to the Manager. The Manager hereby consents to such arrangement and undertakes to take steps to: (i) ensure that any engagement letters with Syndicate Counsel are consistent with such arrangement; (ii) issue a notice to all other Underwriters promptly following receipt of any advice (whether oral or written) from Syndicate Counsel regarding its inability to represent the Manager and the other Underwriters jointly; and (iii) facilitate Syndicate Counsel’s continued representation of the other Underwriters. Any Underwriter may elect to retain at its own expense its own counsel and, on advice of such counsel, may settle or consent to the settlement of any such Action, but only in compliance with Section 9.7 hereof, and in each case, only after notification to every other

 

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Underwriter. The Manager may settle or consent to the settlement of any such Action, but only in compliance with Section 9.7 hereof.

9.7. Settlement of Actions. Neither the Manager nor any other Underwriter party to this Master AAU may settle or agree to settle any Action related to or arising out of the Offering, nor may any other Underwriter settle or agree to settle any such Action without the consent of the Manager, nor may any other Underwriter seek the Manager’s consent to any such settlement agreement, nor may the Manager consent to any such settlement agreement, unless: (A) the Manager, together with such other Underwriters as constitute a majority in aggregate interest based on the Underwriting Percentage of the Underwriters as a whole (including the Manager’s interest), approve the settlement of such Action, in which case the Manager is authorized to settle for all Underwriters, provided , however , that the settlement agreement results in the settlement of the Action against all Underwriters raised by the plaintiffs party thereto; or (B) (i) such settlement agreement expressly provides that the non-settling Underwriters will be given a judgment credit (or credit in settlement) with respect to all such Actions for which the non-settling Underwriters may be found liable (or will pay in subsequent settlement), in an amount that is the greatest of: (x) the dollar amount paid in such initial settlement to settle such Actions, (y) the proportionate share of the settling Underwriter’s fault in respect of common damages arising in connection with such Actions as proven at trial, if applicable, or (z) the amount by which the settling Underwriter would have been required to make contribution had it not settled, under Sections 9.5 and 11.2 hereof in respect of the final non-appealable judgment (or settlement) subsequently entered into by the non-settling Underwriters (such greatest amount of either (x), (y), or (z), the “ Judgment Credit ”); 3 (ii) such settlement agreement expressly provides that in the event that the applicable court does not approve the Judgment Credit as part of the settlement, the settlement agreement will automatically terminate; and (iii) the final judgment entered with respect to the settlement agreement contains the Judgment Credit.

9.8. Survival. Except as set forth in the last sentence of Section 9.1, your agreements contained in Article V and Sections 3.1, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7, 9.8, 9.9, 9.10, and 11.2 hereof will remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any termination of an AAU and: (a) any termination of the Underwriting Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Seller, its directors or officers, or any person controlling the Issuer, the Guarantor or the Seller, and (c) acceptance of any payment for any Securities.

 

 

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Seeks to ensure that there is no harm to non-settling Underwriter due to settlement. For example, assume that plaintiffs have suffered $1,000 in damage in a case in which the Underwriters are 50% at fault and other defendants, all of whom are insolvent, are 50% at fault. Further assume that there were 2 Underwriters, each which underwrote 50% of the offering, and they were equally at fault. If neither Underwriter settles, then each would be required to pay $500 to satisfy the $1,000 verdict for which they are jointly and severally liable (or, if one paid $1,000, Section 9.5 would obligate the other to contribute $500 towards such payment). If the first Underwriter settles for $100, then the second Underwriter will obtain a judgment credit of $500, being equal to the greater of: (a) settlement amount ($100), (b) the first Underwriter’s fault ($250), and (c) the amount which the settling Underwriters would have been required to contribute under the contribution provisions ($500). This formula ensures that the second Underwriter is not harmed by the settlement. By contrast, the judgment credit applied in WorldCom ignored clause (c), resulting in a credit of only $250 and leading the non-settling Underwriter to pay $750, or $250 more than had the first Underwriter not settled.

 

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9.9. Replacement of Manager. If at any time after any Action is brought the Manager settles the Action on a basis that results in the settlement of such Action against it and fewer than all the Underwriters (whether or not such settlement complies with Section 9.7 hereof), the Manager will, at such time, for purposes of Sections 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, and 9.7 hereof, cease to be the Manager. The non-settling Underwriters will, by vote of holders of a majority of the Underwriting Percentage of such non-settling Underwriters, select a new Manager, which will become the new “ Manager ” for all purposes of Sections 9.3, 9.4., 9.5, 9.6, and 9.7 hereof as well as this section; provided that the non-settling Underwriter(s) with the largest Underwriting Percentage will act as Manager until such vote occurs and a new Manager is selected. 4

Notwithstanding such a settlement, the Manager and the other settling Underwriters will remain obligated to the non-settling Underwriters to assist and cooperate fully, in good faith, and at their own expense, in the defense of any Actions, including, without limitation, by providing, upon reasonable request of any non-settling Underwriter, and without the necessity of court process, access to or copies of all relevant records, and reasonable access to all witnesses under control of the Manager or the other settling Underwriters, for the purpose of interviews, depositions, and testimony at trial, subject in each case to the applicable legal and procedural obligations of such Manager and such other settling Underwriter.

In addition, if at any time, the Manager is unwilling or unable for any reason to assume or discharge its duties as Manager under the applicable AAU, whether resulting from its insolvency (voluntary or involuntary), resignation or otherwise, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the remaining Underwriters will, by vote of holders of a majority of the Underwriting Percentage of such Underwriters, be entitled to select a new Manager, which will become the new Manager for all purposes under this Agreement. 5

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Manager replaced pursuant to this Section 9.9 shall continue to benefit from and be subject to all other terms and conditions of this Agreement applicable to an Underwriter.

9.10. Notice. When the Manager receives notice of the assertion of any Action to which the provisions of Sections 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, or 9.7 hereof would apply, it will give prompt notice thereof to each Underwriter, and whenever an Underwriter receives notice of the assertion of any claim or commencement of any Action to which the provisions of Sections 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, or 9.7 hereof would apply, such Underwriter will give prompt notice thereof to the Manager. The Manager also will furnish each Underwriter with periodic reports, at such times as it deems appropriate, as to the status of such Action, and the actions taken by it in connection therewith. If the Manager or any other Underwriter engages in any settlement discussion that involves or contemplates settlement on any basis other than settlement of all Actions against all Underwriters on a pro rata basis according to their Underwriting Percentages, the Manager (or other Underwriter engaging in such discussions) will notify all other Underwriters promptly and provide reasonable details about such discussions.

 

 

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Permits new Manager to replace settling Manager and manage the litigation–related provisions of this agreement.

5

Permits new Manager to replace insolvent Manager and manage all aspects of this MAAU.

 

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X. REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS OF UNDERWRITERS

10.1. Knowledge of Offering. You acknowledge that it is your responsibility to examine the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or the Offering Circular, as the case may be, any amendment or supplement thereto relating to the Offering, any Preliminary Prospectus or Preliminary Offering Circular, and the material, if any, incorporated by reference therein, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Supplemental Materials, and any ABS Underwriter Derived Information, and you will familiarize yourself with the terms of the Securities, any applicable Indenture, and the other terms of the Offering thereof which are to be reflected in the Prospectus or the Offering Circular, as the case may be, and the applicable AAU and Underwriting Agreement. The Manager is authorized, with the advice of counsel for the Underwriters, to approve on your behalf any amendments or supplements to the documents described in the preceding sentence.

10.2. Accuracy of Underwriters’ Information. You confirm that the information that you have given and are deemed to have given in response to the Underwriters’ Questionnaire attached as Exhibit A hereto (and to any other questions addressed to you in the Invitation Wire or other Wires), which information has been furnished to the Issuer for use in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, or Offering Circular, as the case may be, or has otherwise been relied upon in connection with the Offering, is complete and accurate. You will notify the Manager immediately of any development before the termination of the applicable AAU which makes untrue or incomplete any information that you have given or are deemed to have given in response to the Underwriters’ Questionnaire (or such other questions).

10.3. Name; Address. Unless you have promptly notified the Manager In Writing otherwise, your name as it should appear in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or Offering Circular and any advertisement, if different, and your address, are as set forth on the signature pages hereof.

10.4. Compliance with Capital Requirements. You represent that your commitment to purchase the Securities will not result in a violation of the financial responsibility requirements of Rule 15c3-1 under the 1934 Act or of any similar provision of any applicable rules of any securities exchange to which you are subject or, if you are a financial institution subject to regulation by the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency, or the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, will not place you in violation of any applicable capital requirements or restrictions of such regulator or any other regulator to which you are subject.

10.5. FINRA Requirements. (A) You represent that you are a member in good standing of FINRA, or a non-U.S. bank, broker, dealer, or institution not eligible for membership in FINRA or a Bank.

(i) If you are a member of FINRA, you will comply with all applicable rules of FINRA in respect of any Offering of Securities, including, without limitation, the requirements of FINRA Rules 5110, 5121, 5130, 5131 and 5141 (to the extent any or all such rules are applicable to the particular Offering).

 

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(ii) If you are a non-U.S. bank, broker, dealer, or other non-U.S. institution not eligible for membership in FINRA, you represent that you are not required to be registered as a broker or dealer under the 1934 Act and you will not make any offers or sales of the Securities in, or to nationals or residents of, the United States, its territories, or its possessions, except to the extent permitted by Rule 15a-6 under the 1934 Act (or any successor rule thereto adopted by the SEC). In making any offers or sales of the Securities you also agree to comply with the requirements of the following FINRA rules (including any successor rules thereto adopted by FINRA): (a) to the extent that you are acting, in respect of offers or sales of the Securities, as a “conduit” for, or are receiving in connection with such offers and sales any selling commissions, discounts, allowances or other compensation from, or are otherwise being directed with respect to allocations or disposition of the Securities by, a FINRA member, FINRA Rule 5130 and FINRA Rule 5141 as though you are a member of FINRA, and (b) NASD Conduct Rule 2420(c), as that Rule applies to a non-member broker/dealer in a non-U.S. country.

(iii) If you are a Bank, you agree that (a) to the extent you are acting, in respect of offers or sales of the Securities, as a “conduit” for, or are receiving in connection with such offers and sales any selling commissions, discounts, allowances or other compensation from, or are otherwise being directed with respect to allocations or disposition of the Securities by, a FINRA member, you will comply with FINRA Rules 5130 and 5141 as though you are a member of FINRA, and (b) you will not accept any portion of the management fee paid by the Underwriters with respect to any Offering or, in connection with any Offering of Securities that do not constitute “exempted securities” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(12) of the 1934 Act, or purchase any Securities at a discount from the offering price from any Underwriter or Dealer or otherwise accept any Fees and Commissions from any Underwriter or Dealer, which in any such case is not permitted under FINRA rules (including, without limitation, NASD Conduct Rule 2420 or any successor rule thereto adopted by FINRA) or would subject you to registration and regulation as a “broker” or “dealer” under Section 3(a)(4) or 3(a)(5) of the 1934 Act.

(B) With respect to any Offering of Securities that constitutes a “new issue” under FINRA Rule 5131, you agree that, with respect to any Securities trading at a premium to the public offering price that are returned by a purchaser (the “ Returned Securities ”) to you after secondary market trading commences, you will promptly consult with the Manager or Co-Manager that has been appointed to manage the syndicate short position for that Offering (the “ Designated Syndicate Agent ”) to determine the appropriate treatment of the Returned Securities under FINRA Rule 5131(d)(3), and agree to (i) return the Returned Shares to the Designated Syndicate Agent if directed to do so by that entity, or (ii) if no such direction has been provided by the Designated Syndicate Agent, to comply with the provisions of FINRA Rule 5131(d)(3)(B) with respect to the disposition of the Returned Securities.

10.6. Further State Notice. The Manager will file a Further State Notice with the Department of State of New York, if required.

 

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10.7. Compliance with Rule 15c2-8. In the case of a Registered Offering and any other Offering to which the provisions of Rule 15c2-8 under the 1934 Act are made applicable pursuant to the AAU or otherwise, you will comply with such Rule in connection with the Offering. In the case of an Offering other than a Registered Offering, you will comply with applicable Federal and state laws and the applicable rules and regulations of any regulatory body promulgated thereunder governing the use and distribution of offering circulars by underwriters.

10.8. Discretionary Accounts. In the case of a Registered Offering of Securities issued by an Issuer that was not, immediately prior to the filing of the Registration Statement, subject to the requirements of Section 13(d) or 15(d) of the 1934 Act, you will not make sales to any account over which you exercise discretionary authority in connection with such sale, except as otherwise permitted by the applicable AAU for such Offering.

10.9. Offering Restrictions. You will not make any offers or sales of Securities or any Other Securities in jurisdictions outside the United States except under circumstances that will result in compliance with (i) applicable laws, including private placement requirements, in each such jurisdiction and (ii) the restrictions on offers or sales set forth in any AAU or the Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus, Offering Circular, or Preliminary Offering Circular, as the case may be.

It is understood that, except as specified in the Prospectus or Offering Circular or applicable AAU, no action has been taken by the Manager, the Issuer, the Guarantor, or the Seller to permit you to offer Securities in any jurisdiction other than the United States, in the case of a Registered Offering, where action would be required for such purpose.

10.10. Representations, Warranties, and Agreements. You will make to each other Underwriter participating in an Offering the same representations, warranties, and agreements, if any, made by the Underwriters to the Issuer, the Guarantor, or the Seller in the applicable Underwriting Agreement or any Intersyndicate Agreement, and you authorize the Manager to make such representations, warranties, and agreements to the Issuer, the Guarantor, or the Seller on your behalf.

10.11. Limitation on the Authority of the Manager to Purchase and Sell Securities for the Account of Certain Underwriters. Notwithstanding any provision of this AAU authorizing the Manager to purchase or sell any Securities or Other Securities (including arranging for the sale of Contract Securities) or over-allot in arranging sales of Securities for the accounts of the several Underwriters, the Manager may not, in connection with the Offering of any Securities, make any such purchases, sales, and/or over-allotments for the account of any Underwriter that, not later than its acceptance of the Invitation Wire relating to such Offering, has advised the Manager that, due to its status as, or relationship to, a bank or bank holding company such purchases, sales, and/or over-allotments are prohibited by applicable law. If any Underwriter so advises the Manager, the Manager may allocate any such purchases, sales, and over-allotments (and the related expenses) which otherwise would have been allocated to your account based on your respective Underwriting Percentage to your account based on the ratio of your Original Underwriting Obligation to the Original Underwriting Obligations of all Underwriters other than the advising Underwriter or Underwriters, or in such other manner as the Manager will determine.

 

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10.12. Electronic Distribution. By participating in the Offering or accepting the Invitation Wire, you will be deemed to be representing that either: (a) you are not making an online distribution; or (b) if you are making an on-line distribution, you are following procedures for on-line distributions previously reviewed by members of the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Commission, such members raised no objections to the procedures reviewed, and there have been no material changes to your procedures since that review.

10.13. Agreement Regarding Oral Due Diligence . By participating in an Offering, each Underwriter agrees that it, each of its affiliates participating in an Offering as Underwriter or financial intermediary and each controlling person of it and each such participating affiliate are bound by the Agreement Regarding Oral Due Diligence currently in effect between Morgan Stanley and the accounting firm or firms that participate in oral due diligence in such offering.

XI. DEFAULTING UNDERWRITERS

11.1. Effect of Termination. If the Underwriting Agreement is terminated as permitted by the terms thereof, your obligations hereunder with respect to the Offering of the Securities will immediately terminate except: (a) as set forth in Section 9.8 hereof, (b) that you will remain liable for your Underwriting Percentage (or such other percentage as may be specified pursuant to Section 9.2 hereof) of all expenses, and for any purchases or sales which may have been made for your account pursuant to the provisions of Article V hereof or any Intersyndicate Agreement, and (c) that such termination will not affect any obligations of any defaulting or breaching Underwriter.

11.2. Sharing of Liability. If any Underwriter defaults in its obligations: (a) pursuant to Section 5.1, 5.2 or 5.4 hereof, (b) to pay amounts charged to its account pursuant to Section 7.1, 7.2, or 8.1 hereof, or (c) pursuant to Section 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, or 11.1 hereof, you will assume your proportionate share (determined on the basis of the respective Underwriting Percentages of the non-defaulting Underwriters) of such obligations, but no such assumption will relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability to the non-defaulting Underwriters, the Issuer, the Guarantor, or the Seller for its default.

11.3. Arrangements for Purchases. The Manager is authorized to arrange for the purchase by others (including the Manager or any other Underwriter) of any Securities not purchased by any defaulting Underwriter in accordance with the terms of the applicable Underwriting Agreement or, if the applicable Underwriting Agreement does not provide arrangements for defaulting Underwriters, in the discretion of the Manager. If such arrangements are made, the respective amounts of Securities to be purchased by the remaining Underwriters and such other person or persons, if any, will be taken as the basis for all rights and obligations hereunder, but this will not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

XII. MISCELLANEOUS

12.1. Obligations Several. Nothing contained in this Master AAU or any AAU constitutes you partners with the Manager or with the other Underwriters, and the obligations of you and each of the other Underwriters are several and not joint. Each Underwriter elects to be

 

24


excluded from the application of Subchapter K, Chapter 1, Subtitle A, of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Each Underwriter authorizes the Manager, on behalf of such Underwriter, to execute such evidence of such election as may be required by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

12.2. Liability of Manager. The Manager will not be liable to you for any act or omission, except for obligations expressly assumed by the Manager in the applicable AAU.

12.3. Termination of Master AAU. This Master AAU may be terminated by either party hereto upon five business days’ written notice to the other party; provided , however , that with respect to any Offering for which an AAU was sent prior to such notice, this Master AAU as it applies to such Offering will remain in full force and effect and will terminate with respect to such Offering in accordance with Section 9.1 hereof.

12.4. Governing Law. This Master AAU and each AAU will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the State, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. You hereby irrevocably: (a) submit to the jurisdiction of any court of the State of New York located in the City of New York or the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of the State of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Master AAU, or any of the agreements or transactions contemplated hereby (each, a “ Proceeding ”), (b) agree that all claims in respect of any Proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (c) waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any immunity from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process therein, (d) agree not to commence any Proceeding other than in such courts, and (e) waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim that such Proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum.

12.5. Amendments. This Master AAU may be amended from time to time by consent of the parties hereto. Your consent will be deemed to have been given to an amendment to this Master AAU, and such amendment will be effective, five business days following written notice to you of such amendment if you do not notify us In Writing prior to the close of business on such fifth business day that you do not consent to such amendment. Upon effectiveness, the provisions of this Master AAU as so amended will apply to each AAU thereafter entered into, except as otherwise specifically provided in any such AAU.

12.6. Notices. Any notice to any Underwriter will be deemed to have been duly given if mailed, sent by wire, telecopy or electronic transmission or other written communication, or delivered in person to such Underwriter at the address set forth in its Underwriters’ Questionnaire, or if no address is provided in an Underwriters’ Questionnaire, then at the address set forth in reports filed by such Underwriter with FINRA. Any such notice will take effect upon receipt thereof.

12.7. Severability . In case any provision in this Master AAU is deemed invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

25


12.8. Counterparts. This Master AAU may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original, and all of which taken together constitute one and the same instrument. Transmission by telecopy of an executed counterpart of this Master AAU will constitute due and sufficient delivery of such counterpart.

Please confirm your acceptance of this Master AAU by signing and returning to us the enclosed duplicate copy hereof.

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

  (Authorized Officer)

 

Confirmed and accepted as of             , 20    

 

(Legal Name of Underwriter)

 

(Address)

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Title:

  (Authorized Officer)
  ( If person signing is not an officer or a partner, please attach instrument of authorization )

 

26


GUIDE TO DEFINED TERMS

 

Term

   Section Reference  

1933 Act

     1.1   

1934 Act

     3.5   

AAU

     Foreword   

ABS Underwriter Derived Information

     2.1   

Action

     9.3   

Additional Securities

     1.1   

Bank

     3.5   

Co-Managers

     1.1   

Commission

     2.1   

Contract Securities

     3.1   

Contributing Underwriters

     9.5   

Dealer

     3.5   

Designated Syndicate Agent

     10.5   

DTC

     5.2   

Fees and Commissions

     1.1   

FINRA

     3.1   

Firm Securities

     1.1   

Free Writing Prospectus

     2.1   

Guarantor

     1.1   

In Writing

     1.2   

Indemnified Party

     9.4   

Indenture

     1.1   

International Offering

     1.1   

Intersyndicate Agreement

     2.3   

Invitation Wire

     Foreword   

Issuer

     1.1   

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus

     3.3   

Issuer Information

     3.3,3.3   

Judgment Credit

     9.7   

Litigation

     9.4   

Losses

     9.4   

Manager

     9.9,1.1   

Master AAU

     Foreward   

NASD

     3.1   

Offering

     Foreword   

Offering Circular

     2.2,2.2   

Offering Date

     3.2   

Offering Price

     1.1   

Original Underwriting Obligation

     1.1   

Preliminary Offering Circular

     2.2   

Preliminary Prospectus

     2.1   

Pricing Date

     1.1   

Proceeding

     12.4   

Prospectus

     2.1   

 

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Purchase Price

     1.1   

QIU

     9.4   

Reallowance

     1.1   

Registered Offering

     2.1   

Registration Statement

     2.1   

Regulation M

     5.1   

Representative

     1.1   

Returned Securities

     10.5   

Securities

     1.1   

Securities Offering Reform Release

     2.1   

Seller

     1.1   

Selling Concession

     1.1   

Settlement Date

     1.1   

Supplemental Materials

     3.3   

Syndicate Counsel

     9.6   

Trustee

     1.1   

Unauthorized Material

     3.3   

Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus

     3.3   

Underwriters

     1.1, 1.1   

Underwriters’ Securities

     3.1   

Underwriting Agreement

     1.1   

Underwriting Percentage

     1.1   

Wire

     Foreword   

 

28


EXHIBIT A

UNDERWRITERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE

In connection with each Offering governed by the Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC Master Agreement Among Underwriters dated June 1, 2011, except as otherwise indicated in a timely acceptance of the Invitation Wire pursuant to Section 1.2 of the Master Agreement Among Underwriters (“ Master AAU ”) or already expressly disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus or Preliminary Offering Circular, as the case may be, each Underwriter participating in such Offering severally advises the Issuer and the other participating Underwriters (all capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein will have the meanings given to them in the Master AAU) as follows:

(a) neither such Underwriter nor any of its directors, officers, or partners have a material relationship, as “material” is defined in Regulation C under the 1933 Act, with the Issuer, the Guarantor, or the Seller;

(b) if the Registration Statement is on Form S-1, neither such Underwriter nor any “group” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of which such Underwriter is aware is the beneficial (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) owner of more than 5% of any class of voting securities of the Issuer or Guarantor, nor does such Underwriter have any knowledge that more than 5% of any class of voting securities of the Issuer or the Guarantor is held or to be held subject to any voting trust or other similar agreement, nor does such Underwriter have any knowledge that more than 5% of any class of voting securities of the Issuer or the Guarantor is held or to be held subject to any voting trust or other similar agreement;

(c) other than as may be stated in the Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC Master Agreement Among Underwriters dated June 1, 2011, the applicable AAU, the Intersyndicate Agreement or dealer agreement, if any, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Offering Circular, such Underwriter does not know and has no reason to believe that there is an intention to over-allot or that the price of any security may be stabilized to facilitate the offering of the Securities;

(d) other than stated in the Invitation Wire, such Underwriter does not know of (i) any other discounts or commissions to be allowed or paid to the Underwriters or of any other items that would be deemed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”) to constitute underwriting compensation for purposes of FINRA Rule 5110, or (ii) any discounts or commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers, including all cash, securities, contracts, or other consideration to be received by any dealer in connection with the sale of the Securities;

(e) such Underwriter has not prepared any report or memorandum for external use in connection with the Offering;

(f) if the offer and sale of the Securities are to be registered under the 1933 Act pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 or Form F-1, such Underwriter has


not within the past 12 months prepared or had prepared for such Underwriter any engineering, management, or similar report or memorandum relating to broad aspects of the business, operations, or products of the Issuer or the Guarantor. The immediately preceding sentence does not apply to reports solely comprised of recommendations to buy, sell, or hold the Issuer’s or the Guarantor’s securities, unless such recommendations have changed within the past six months, or to information already contained in documents filed with the Commission;

(g) in the case of Registered Offerings and Offerings of Securities exempt under Section 3 of the 1933 Act, such Underwriter does not have a “conflict of interest” with the Issuer or the Guarantor under FINRA Rule 5121. In that regard, such Underwriter specifically confirms that, at the time of such Underwriter’s participation in the subject Offering, (A) such Underwriter is not issuing the Securities in such Offering; (B) neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor controls, is controlled by or is under common control (as the term “control” is defined in FINRA Rule 5121(f)(6)) with such Underwriter or such Underwriter’s “associated persons” (as such term is defined by FINRA); (C) less than five percent of the net proceeds of the Offering, not including Fees and Commissions, are intended to be: (i) used to reduce or retire the balance of a loan or credit facility extended by such Underwriter, its “affiliates” and its “associated persons” (as such terms are defined by FINRA), in the aggregate; or (ii) otherwise directed to such Underwriter, its affiliates and associated persons, in the aggregate, and (D) as a result of such Offering and any transactions contemplated at the time of such Offering: (i) such Underwriter will not become an affiliate of the Issuer or Guarantor; (ii) such Underwriter will not become publicly owned; and (iii) the Issuer or Guarantor will not become a FINRA member or form a broker-dealer subsidiary. Furthermore, such Underwriter specifically confirms that such Underwriter does not, (a) beneficially own 10% or more of the Issuer’s or Guarantor’s outstanding “common equity”, “preferred equity” or “subordinated debt” (as each such term is defined in FINRA Rule 5121), including the right to receive such securities or subordinated debt within 60 days of such Underwriter’s participation in the Offering; (b) in the case of an Issuer or Guarantor which is a partnership, beneficially own a general, limited or special partnership interest in 10% or more of the Issuer’s or Guarantor’s distributable profits or losses, or a right to receive an interest in such distributable profits or losses within 60 days of such Underwriter’s participation in the Offering; or (c) have the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of the Issuer or the Guarantor;

(h) other than as stated in the Invitation Wire, in the case of Registered Offerings and Offerings of Securities exempt under Section 3 of the 1933 Act, neither such Underwriter nor any of its directors, officers, partners, or “persons associated with” such Underwriter (as defined by FINRA) nor, to such Underwriter’s knowledge, any “related person” (defined by FINRA to include counsel, financial consultants and advisors, finders, members of the selling or distribution group, any FINRA member participating in the offering, and any other persons associated with or related to and members of the immediate family of any of the foregoing) or any other broker-dealer: (A) within the last six months have purchased in private transactions, or intend before, at, or within six months after the commencement of the public offering of the Securities to purchase in private transactions, any securities of the Issuer, the Guarantor, or any Issuer

 

2


Related Party (as hereinafter defined), (B) within the last 6 months have had any dealings with the Issuer, the Guarantor, any Seller, or any subsidiary or controlling person thereof (other than relating to the proposed Underwriting Agreement) as to which documents or information are required to be filed with FINRA, or (C) during the 6 months immediately preceding the filing of the Registration Statement (or, if there is none, the Offering Circular), have entered into any arrangement which provided or provides for the receipt of any item of value (including, but not limited to, cash payments, expense reimbursements and rights of first refusal to participate in a future public offering, private placement or other financing transaction) and/or the transfer of any warrants, options, or other securities from the Issuer, the Guarantor, or any Issuer Related Party to you or any related person;

(i) in the case of Registered Offerings and Offerings of Securities exempt under Section 3 of the 1933 Act, there is no association or affiliation between such Underwriter and; (A) any officer or director of the Issuer, the Guarantor or, any Issuer Related Party, or (B) any securityholder of 5% or more (or, in the case of an initial public offering of equity securities, any securityholder) of any class of securities of the Issuer, the Guarantor, or an Issuer Related Party; it being understood that for purposes of paragraph (i) above and this paragraph (j), the term “Issuer Related Party” includes any Seller, any affiliate of the Issuer, the Guarantor, or a Seller, and the officers or general partners, directors, employees, and securityholders thereof;

(j) in the case of Registered Offerings and Offerings of Securities exempt under Section 3 of the 1933 Act, and if the Securities are not issued by a real estate investment trust, no portion of the net offering proceeds from the sale of the Securities will be paid to such Underwriter or any of its affiliates or “persons associated with” such Underwriter (as defined by FINRA) or members of the immediate family of any such person; and

(k) in the case of Securities which are debt securities whose offer and sale is to be registered under the 1933 Act, such Underwriter is not an affiliate (as defined in Rule 0-2 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939) of the Trustee for the Securities or of its parent, if any. Neither the Trustee nor its parent, if any, nor any of their directors or executive officers is a “director, officer, partner, employee, appointee, or representative” of such Underwriter (as those terms are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or in the relevant instructions to Form T-1). Such Underwriter and its directors, partners, and executive officers, taken as a group, did not on the date specified in the Invitation, and do not, own beneficially 1% or more of the shares of any class of voting securities of the Trustee or of its parent, if any. If such Underwriter is a corporation, it does not have outstanding and has not assumed or guaranteed any securities issued otherwise than in its present corporate name.

If an Underwriter notes an exception with respect to material of the type referred to in clauses (e) and (f), such underwriter will send three copies of each item of such material, together with a statement as to distribution, identifying classes of recipients and the number of copies distributed to each such class, and, if relevant, the number of equity securities or the face value of debt securities owned by such person, the date such securities were acquired, and the

 

3


price paid for such securities to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Syndicate Department, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036.

 

4

FORM OF STRUCTURING FEE AGREEMENT

[ ], 2012

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This agreement is between Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (the “ Company ”) and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“ Morgan Stanley ”) with respect to the PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “ Fund ”).

1. Fee . (a) In consideration of advice to the Company and its affiliates relating to, but not limited to, the design and structuring of, and marketing assistance with respect to, the Fund and the distribution of the Fund’s common shares, par value $0.00001 (the “ Shares ”), including without limitation, views from an investor market and distribution perspective on (i) diversification, proportion and concentration approaches for the Fund’s investments in light of current market conditions, (ii) marketing issues with respect to the Fund’s investment policies and proposed investments, (iii) the allocation of the Fund’s assets among its various investment strategies and (iv) the overall marketing and positioning thesis for the Fund’s initial public offering (the “ Offering ”), the Company shall pay a fee to Morgan Stanley equal to $[ ] (the “ Fee ”). The Fee paid to Morgan Stanley shall not exceed [ ]% of the total price to the public of the Shares sold by the Fund in the Offering. In the event the Offering does not proceed, Morgan Stanley will not receive any fees under this Agreement; however, for the avoidance of doubt, accountable expenses actually incurred may be payable to Morgan Stanley pursuant to the terms of the principal underwriting agreement relating to the Offering (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”).

(b) The Company shall accept the invoice for the Fee from Morgan Stanley before the closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement on [ ], 2012 (the “ Closing Date ”). The Company shall pay the Fee to Morgan Stanley by wire transfer to the order of Morgan Stanley on or before the Closing Date. The Company acknowledges that the Fee is in addition to any compensation Morgan Stanley earns in connection with its role as an underwriter to the Fund in the Offering, which services are distinct from and in addition to the marketing and structuring services described above.

2. Term . This Agreement shall terminate upon payment of the entire amount of the Fee, as specified in Section 1 hereof or upon the termination of the Underwriting Agreement without the Shares having been delivered and paid for, except as provided in Section 3.

3. Indemnification . The Company agrees to the indemnification and other agreements set forth in the Indemnification Agreement attached hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference and shall survive the termination, expiration or supersession of this Agreement.


4. Not an Investment Advisor . The Company acknowledges that Morgan Stanley is not providing any advice hereunder as to the value of securities or regarding the advisability of purchasing or selling any securities for the Fund’s portfolio. No provision of this Agreement shall be considered as creating, nor shall any provision create, any obligation on the part of Morgan Stanley, and Morgan Stanley is not agreeing hereby, to: (i) furnish any advice or make any recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of portfolio securities; or (ii) render any opinions, valuations or recommendations of any kind or to perform any such similar services. The Company’s engagement of Morgan Stanley is not intended to confer rights upon any person (including the Fund or any shareholders, employees or creditors of the Company or the Fund) not a party hereto as against Morgan Stanley or its affiliates, or their respective directors, officers, employees or agents, successors, or assigns.

5. Not Exclusive . Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting Morgan Stanley or its affiliates from acting as an underwriter or financial advisor or in any other capacity for any other persons (including other registered investment companies or other investment managers). Neither this Agreement nor the performance of the services contemplated hereunder shall be considered to constitute a partnership, association or joint venture between Morgan Stanley and the Company. In addition, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to constitute Morgan Stanley as the agent or employee of the Company or the Company as the agent or employee of Morgan Stanley, and neither party shall make any representation to the contrary. It is understood that Morgan Stanley is engaged hereunder solely to provide the services described above to the Company and that Morgan Stanley is not acting as an agent or fiduciary of, and Morgan Stanley shall not have any duties or liability to, the current or future partners, members or equity owners of the Company or any other third party in connection with its engagement hereunder, all of which are hereby expressly waived to the extent the Company has the authority to waive such duties and liabilities.

6. Assignment . This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without prior written consent of the other party.

7. Amendment ; Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

8. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim, dispute or proceeding of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement (“ Claim ”), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York. No Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom), which courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters except as provided below. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such Claim and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying

 

2


of the venue of any such Claim in any such court or that any such Claim brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such Claim may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court. Without limiting the foregoing, each party agrees that service of process on such party as provided in Section 10 shall be deemed effective service of process on such party. EACH OF MORGAN STANLEY AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH OF MORGAN STANLEY AND THE COMPANY AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING UPON MORGAN STANLEY AND THE COMPANY, AS THE CASE MAY BE, AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER COURTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF WHICH MORGAN STANLEY OR THE COMPANY ARE OR MAY BE SUBJECT, BY SUIT UPON SUCH JUDGMENT.

9. Entire Agreement . This Agreement (including the attached Indemnification Agreement) embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such determination will not affect such provision in any other respect or any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect.

10. Notices . All notices required or permitted to be sent under this Agreement shall be sent, if to the Company:

Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

840 Newport Center Drive, Suite 100

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Attention: General Counsel

or if to Morgan Stanley:

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

Attention: General Counsel

or such other name or address as may be given in writing to the other parties. Any notice shall be deemed to be given or received on the third day after deposit by certified U.S. mail, postage prepaid, or when actually received, whether by hand, express delivery service or facsimile transmission, whichever is earlier.

11. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one

 

3


agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank]

 

4


This Agreement shall be effective as of the date first written above.

 

Very truly yours,

PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written:

 

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
By:  

 

  Name:   Sue Portelli
  Title:   Executive Director

 

5


FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

[ ], 2012

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the engagement of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“ Morgan Stanley ”) to advise and assist the undersigned (together with its affiliates and subsidiaries, referred to as the “ Company ”) with the matters set forth in the Structuring Fee Agreement dated [ ], 2012, between the Company and Morgan Stanley (the “ Structuring Fee Agreement ”), in the event that Morgan Stanley becomes involved in any capacity in any claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry (including, without limitation, any shareholder or derivative action or arbitration proceeding) with respect to the services performed pursuant to and in accordance with the Structuring Fee Agreement, including, without limitation, related services and activities prior to the date of the Structuring Fee Agreement, the Company has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley’s affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents and each other person, if any, controlling Morgan Stanley or any of Morgan Stanley’s affiliates (Morgan Stanley and each such other person being an “ Indemnified Person ”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities related to, arising out of or in connection with the activities (the “ Activities ”) performed by any Indemnified Person in connection with, or arising out of, or based upon, the Structuring Fee Agreement and/or any action taken by any Indemnified Person in connection therewith (including, without limitation, Activities in the form of a presentation given by the Company and an Indemnified Person relating to the common shares, par value $0.00001 per share (the “ Shares ”) of the PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “ Fund ”)), and will reimburse each Indemnified Person for all reasonable expenses (including fees and expenses of counsel) as they are incurred in connection with investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry related to, arising out of or in connection with the Activities, whether pending or threatened and whether or not any Indemnified Person is a party. The Company will not, however, be responsible for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Indemnified Person. The Company also agrees that no Indemnified Person shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract or tort or otherwise) to the Company for or in connection with the Activities, except for any such liability for losses, claims, damages or liabilities incurred by the Company that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of such Indemnified Person.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be responsible for any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to any Indemnified Person arising from any such claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry in excess of the gross proceeds received by the Fund from the initial public offering of the Shares of the Fund (the “ Offering ”); provided, however,


that the Company shall, as set forth above, indemnify and be responsible for, regardless of the gross proceeds received by the Fund from the Offering, all expenses (including fees and expenses of counsel) incurred in connection with investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry related to, arising out of or in connection with the Activities, whether pending or threatened and whether or not any Indemnified Person is a party, as set forth above.

The Company will not, without Morgan Stanley’s prior written consent, settle, compromise, consent to the entry of any judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Person is a party thereto) unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes a release of each Indemnified Person from any liabilities arising out of such claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry. No Indemnified Person seeking indemnification, reimbursement or contribution under this agreement (the “ Indemnification Agreement ”) will, without the Company’s prior written consent, settle, compromise, consent to the entry of any judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry referred to in the preceding paragraphs.

If such indemnification were not to be available for any reason, the Company agrees to contribute to the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses involved (i) in the proportion appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received or sought to be received by the Company (including the net proceeds from the Shares sold by Morgan Stanley in the Offering before deducting expenses) and its partners and affiliates and other constituencies, on the one hand, and Morgan Stanley, on the other hand, in the matters contemplated by the Structuring Fee Agreement or (ii) if (but only if and to the extent) the allocation provided for in clause (i) is for any reason held unenforceable, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and its partners and affiliates and other constituencies, on the one hand, and the party entitled to contribution, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The Company agrees that for the purposes of this paragraph the relative benefits received, or sought to be received, by the Company and its partners and affiliates, on the one hand, and the party entitled to contribution, on the other hand, of a transaction as contemplated shall be deemed to be in the same proportion that the total value received by or paid to or contemplated to be received by or paid to the Company or its partners or affiliates and other constituencies, as the case may be, as a result of or in connection with the transaction (whether or not consummated) for which Morgan Stanley has been retained to perform financial services bears to the fees paid to Morgan Stanley under the Structuring Fee Agreement; provided that in no event shall the Company contribute less than the amount necessary to assure that Morgan Stanley is not liable for losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in excess of the amount of fees actually received by Morgan Stanley pursuant to the Structuring Fee Agreement. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any alleged untrue statement or omission or any other alleged conduct relates to information provided by the Company or other conduct by the Company (or its employees or other agents (not including for these purposes any Indemnified Person)), on the one hand, or by Morgan Stanley, on the other hand. Notwithstanding the provisions of this

 

2


paragraph, an Indemnified Person shall not be entitled to contribution from the Company if it is determined that such Indemnified Person was guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) and the Company was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation or that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) are determined to have resulted from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Indemnified Person.

This Indemnification Agreement, together with the Structuring Fee Agreement, any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this agreement) that relate to the Offering of the Shares, represents the entire agreement between the Company and the Indemnified Parties with respect to the marketing and structuring fee paid to Morgan Stanley under the Structuring Fee Agreement.

The Company acknowledges that in connection with the Offering of the Shares: (i) Morgan Stanley has acted at arms length, is not an agent of, and owes no fiduciary duties to, the Company, the Fund or any person affiliated with the Fund or the Company, (ii) Morgan Stanley owes the Company only those duties and obligations set forth in this Indemnification Agreement and (iii) Morgan Stanley may have interests that differ from those of the Company. The Company waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims any of the Company, the Fund or any person affiliated with the Fund or the Company may have against Morgan Stanley arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Shares.

The provisions of this Indemnification Agreement shall apply to the Activities and any modification thereof and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any termination or the completion of Morgan Stanley’s services under the Structuring Fee Agreement.

This Indemnification Agreement may not be assigned by either party without prior written consent of the other party. No provision of this Indemnification Agreement may be amended or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto. This Indemnification Agreement and any claim, counterclaim, dispute or proceeding of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Indemnification Agreement (“ Claim ”), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York. No Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom), which courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters except as provided below. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such Claim and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such Claim in any such court or that any such Claim brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such Claim may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court. Without limiting the foregoing, each party agrees that

 

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service of process on such party as provided in Section 10 of the Structuring Fee Agreement shall be deemed effective service of process on such party. EACH OF MORGAN STANLEY AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. EACH OF MORGAN STANLEY AND THE COMPANY AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING UPON MORGAN STANLEY AND THE COMPANY, AS THE CASE MAY BE, AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER COURTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF WHICH MORGAN STANLEY OR THE COMPANY ARE OR MAY BE SUBJECT, BY SUIT UPON SUCH JUDGMENT. This Indemnification Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Indemnification Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

 

4


Very truly yours,
PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT       COMPANY LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above
written:
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
By:  

 

  Name: Sue Portelli
  Title:   Executive Director

 

5

FORM OF SYNDICATION FEE AGREEMENT

[ · ], 2012

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This agreement is between Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (the “ Company ”) and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“ Morgan Stanley ”) with respect to the PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “ Fund ”).

1. Syndication Fee . (a) In consideration of advice to the Company and its affiliates relating to, but not limited to, syndication assistance with respect to the Fund and the distribution of the Fund’s common shares, par value $0.00001 (the “ Shares ”), including without limitation, securing syndicate participants for the Fund’s initial public offering (the “ Offering ”), preparation of marketing and diligence materials for underwriters, conveying information and market updates to syndicate members and coordinating syndicate orders during the Offering, the Company shall pay a fee to Morgan Stanley equal to $[ · ] (the “ Syndication Fee ”). The Syndication Fee paid to Morgan Stanley shall not exceed [ · ]% of the total price to the public of the Shares sold by the Fund in the Offering. In the event the Offering does not proceed, Morgan Stanley will not receive any fees under this Agreement; however, for the avoidance of doubt, accountable expenses actually incurred may be payable to Morgan Stanley pursuant to the terms of the principal underwriting agreement relating to the Offering (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”).

(b) The Company shall accept the invoice for the Syndication Fee from Morgan Stanley before the closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement on [ · ], 2012 (the “Closing Date”). The Company shall pay the Syndication Fee to Morgan Stanley by wire transfer to the order of Morgan Stanley on or before the Closing Date. The Company acknowledges that the Syndication Fee is in addition to any compensation Morgan Stanley earns in connection with its role as an underwriter to the Fund in the Offering, which services are distinct from and in addition to the syndication services described above.

2. Term . This Agreement shall terminate upon payment of the entire amount of the Syndication Fee, as specified in Section 1 hereof or upon the termination of the Underwriting Agreement without the Shares having been delivered and paid for, except as provided in Section 3.

3. Indemnification . The Company agrees to the indemnification and other agreements set forth in the Indemnification Agreement attached hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference and shall survive the termination, expiration or supersession of this Agreement.

4. Not an Investment Advisor . The Company acknowledges that Morgan Stanley is not providing any advice hereunder as to the value of securities or regarding the advisability of


purchasing or selling any securities for the Fund’s portfolio. No provision of this Agreement shall be considered as creating, nor shall any provision create, any obligation on the part of Morgan Stanley, and Morgan Stanley is not agreeing hereby, to: (i) furnish any advice or make any recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of portfolio securities; or (ii) render any opinions, valuations or recommendations of any kind or to perform any such similar services. The Company’s engagement of Morgan Stanley is not intended to confer rights upon any person (including the Fund or any shareholders, employees or creditors of the Company or the Fund) not a party hereto as against Morgan Stanley or its affiliates, or their respective directors, officers, employees or agents, successors, or assigns.

5. Not Exclusive . Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting Morgan Stanley or its affiliates from acting as an underwriter or financial advisor or in any other capacity for any other persons (including other registered investment companies or other investment managers). Neither this Agreement nor the performance of the services contemplated hereunder shall be considered to constitute a partnership, association or joint venture between Morgan Stanley and the Company. In addition, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to constitute Morgan Stanley as the agent or employee of the Company or the Company as the agent or employee of Morgan Stanley, and neither party shall make any representation to the contrary. It is understood that Morgan Stanley is engaged hereunder solely to provide the services described above to the Company and that Morgan Stanley is not acting as an agent or fiduciary of, and Morgan Stanley shall not have any duties or liability to, the current or future partners, members or equity owners of the Company or any other third party in connection with its engagement hereunder, all of which are hereby expressly waived to the extent the Company has the authority to waive such duties and liabilities.

6. Assignment . This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without prior written consent of the other party.

7. Amendment; Waiver . No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

8. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim, dispute or proceeding of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement (“ Claim ”), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York. No Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom), which courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters except as provided below. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such Claim and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such Claim in any such court or that any such Claim brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such Claim may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court.

 

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Without limiting the foregoing, each party agrees that service of process on such party as provided in Section 10 shall be deemed effective service of process on such party. EACH OF MORGAN STANLEY AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH OF MORGAN STANLEY AND THE COMPANY AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING UPON MORGAN STANLEY AND THE COMPANY, AS THE CASE MAY BE, AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER COURTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF WHICH MORGAN STANLEY OR THE COMPANY ARE OR MAY BE SUBJECT, BY SUIT UPON SUCH JUDGMENT.

9. Entire Agreement . This Agreement (including the attached Indemnification Agreement) embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such determination will not affect such provision in any other respect or any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect.

10. Notices . All notices required or permitted to be sent under this Agreement shall be sent, if to the Company:

Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

840 Newport Center Drive, Suite 100

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Attention: General Counsel

or if to Morgan Stanley:

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

Attention: General Counsel

or such other name or address as may be given in writing to the other parties. Any notice shall be deemed to be given or received on the third day after deposit by certified U.S. mail, postage prepaid, or when actually received, whether by hand, express delivery service or facsimile transmission, whichever is earlier.

11. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank]

 

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This Agreement shall be effective as of the date first written above.

 

Very truly yours,

PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT       COMPANY LLC
By:  

 

Name:

Title:

 

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first
above written:
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
By:  

 

  Name: Sue Portelli
  Title:   Executive Director

 

4


FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

[ ], 2012

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the engagement of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“ Morgan Stanley ”) to advise and assist the undersigned (together with its affiliates and subsidiaries, referred to as the “ Company ”) with the matters set forth in the Syndication Fee Agreement dated [ ], 2012, between the Company and Morgan Stanley (the “ Syndication Fee Agreement ”), in the event that Morgan Stanley becomes involved in any capacity in any claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry (including, without limitation, any shareholder or derivative action or arbitration proceeding) with respect to the services performed pursuant to and in accordance with the Syndication Fee Agreement, including, without limitation, related services and activities prior to the date of the Syndication Fee Agreement, the Company has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley’s affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents and each other person, if any, controlling Morgan Stanley or any of Morgan Stanley’s affiliates (Morgan Stanley and each such other person being an “ Indemnified Person ”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities related to, arising out of or in connection with the activities (the “ Activities ”) performed by any Indemnified Person in connection with, or arising out of, or based upon, the Syndication Fee Agreement and/or any action taken by any Indemnified Person in connection therewith (including, without limitation, Activities in the form of a presentation given by the Company and an Indemnified Person relating to the common shares, par value $0.00001 per share (the “ Shares ”) of PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “ Fund ”)), and will reimburse each Indemnified Person for all reasonable expenses (including fees and expenses of counsel) as they are incurred in connection with investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry related to, arising out of or in connection with the Activities, whether pending or threatened and whether or not any Indemnified Person is a party. The Company will not, however, be responsible for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Indemnified Person. The Company also agrees that no Indemnified Person shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract or tort or otherwise) to the Company for or in connection with the Activities, except for any such liability for losses, claims, damages or liabilities incurred by the Company that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of such Indemnified Person.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be responsible for any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to any Indemnified Person arising from any such claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry in excess of the gross proceeds received by the Fund from the initial public offering of the Shares of the Fund (the “ Offering ”); provided, however,


that the Company shall, as set forth above, indemnify and be responsible for, regardless of the gross proceeds received by the Fund from the Offering, all expenses (including fees and expenses of counsel) incurred in connection with investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry related to, arising out of or in connection with the Activities, whether pending or threatened and whether or not any Indemnified Person is a party, as set forth above.

The Company will not, without Morgan Stanley’s prior written consent, settle, compromise, consent to the entry of any judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Person is a party thereto) unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes a release of each Indemnified Person from any liabilities arising out of such claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry. No Indemnified Person seeking indemnification, reimbursement or contribution under this agreement (the “ Indemnification Agreement ”) will, without the Company’s prior written consent, settle, compromise, consent to the entry of any judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry referred to in the preceding paragraphs.

If such indemnification were not to be available for any reason, the Company agrees to contribute to the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses involved (i) in the proportion appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received or sought to be received by the Company (including the net proceeds from the Shares sold by Morgan Stanley in the Offering before deducting expenses) and its partners and affiliates and other constituencies, on the one hand, and Morgan Stanley, on the other hand, in the matters contemplated by the Syndication Fee Agreement or (ii) if (but only if and to the extent) the allocation provided for in clause (i) is for any reason held unenforceable, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and its partners and affiliates and other constituencies, on the one hand, and the party entitled to contribution, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The Company agrees that for the purposes of this paragraph the relative benefits received, or sought to be received, by the Company and its partners and affiliates, on the one hand, and the party entitled to contribution, on the other hand, of a transaction as contemplated shall be deemed to be in the same proportion that the total value received by or paid to or contemplated to be received by or paid to the Company or its partners or affiliates and other constituencies, as the case may be, as a result of or in connection with the transaction (whether or not consummated) for which Morgan Stanley has been retained to perform financial services bears to the fees paid to Morgan Stanley under the Syndication Fee Agreement; provided that in no event shall the Company contribute less than the amount necessary to assure that Morgan Stanley is not liable for losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in excess of the amount of fees actually received by Morgan Stanley pursuant to the Syndication Fee Agreement. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any alleged untrue statement or omission or any other alleged conduct relates to information provided by the Company or other conduct by the Company (or its employees or other agents (not including for these purposes any Indemnified Person)), on the one hand, or by Morgan Stanley, on the other hand. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, an Indemnified Person shall not be entitled to contribution from the Company if it is

 

2


determined that such Indemnified Person was guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) and the Company was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation or that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) are determined to have resulted from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Indemnified Person.

This Indemnification Agreement, together with the Syndication Fee Agreement, any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this agreement) that relate to the Offering of the Shares, represents the entire agreement between the Company and the Indemnified Parties with respect to the syndication fee paid to Morgan Stanley under the Syndication Fee Agreement.

The Company acknowledges that in connection with the Offering of the Shares: (i) Morgan Stanley has acted at arms length, is not an agent of, and owes no fiduciary duties to, the Company, the Fund or any person affiliated with the Fund or the Company, (ii) Morgan Stanley owes the Company only those duties and obligations set forth in this Indemnification Agreement and (iii) Morgan Stanley may have interests that differ from those of the Company. The Company waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims any of the Company, the Fund or any person affiliated with the Fund or the Company may have against Morgan Stanley arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Shares.

The provisions of this Indemnification Agreement shall apply to the Activities and any modification thereof and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any termination or the completion of Morgan Stanley’s services under the Syndication Fee Agreement.

This Indemnification Agreement may not be assigned by either party without prior written consent of the other party. No provision of this Indemnification Agreement may be amended or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto. This Indemnification Agreement and any claim, counterclaim, dispute or proceeding of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Indemnification Agreement (“ Claim ”), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York. No Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom), which courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters except as provided below. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such Claim and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such Claim in any such court or that any such Claim brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such Claim may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court. Without limiting the foregoing, each party agrees that service of process on such party as provided in Section 10 of the Syndication Fee Agreement shall be deemed effective service of process on such party. EACH OF MORGAN STANLEY

 

3


AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. EACH OF MORGAN STANLEY AND THE COMPANY AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING UPON MORGAN STANLEY AND THE COMPANY, AS THE CASE MAY BE, AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER COURTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF WHICH MORGAN STANLEY OR THE COMPANY ARE OR MAY BE SUBJECT, BY SUIT UPON SUCH JUDGMENT. This Indemnification Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Indemnification Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

 

4


Very truly yours,

PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written:
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC

By:

 

 

  Name: Sue Portelli
  Title: Executive Director

 

5

FORM OF STRUCTURING FEE AGREEMENT

[ · ], 2012

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the Underwriting Agreement dated [ · ], 2012 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and among PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “Fund”), Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC (the “Adviser”) and each of the Underwriters named in Schedule I thereto, with respect to the issue and sale of the Fund’s Shares (the “Offering”), as described therein. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Underwriting Agreement.

1. Fee. In consideration of your services in offering advice relating to the structure, design and organization of the Fund and the distribution of its common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Shares”), which may but need not necessarily include views from an investor market and distribution perspective on (i) diversification, allocation and concentration approaches for the Fund’s investments in light of current market conditions, (ii) marketing issues with respect to the Fund’s investment policies and proposed investments and (iii) the overall marketing and positioning thesis for the Fund’s initial public offering, which services may be completed by your affiliate in your sole discretion, Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) shall pay a fee to you in the aggregate amount of $[ · ] (the “Fee”). The Fee shall be paid on or before the closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement on [ · ], 2012. The payment shall be made by wire transfer to the order of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. The Sub-Adviser acknowledges that the Fee is in addition to any compensation you earn in connection with your role as an underwriter to the Fund in the Offering, which services are distinct from and in addition to the marketing and structuring services described above. In the event the Offering does not proceed, you will not receive any fees under this Agreement; however, for the avoidance of doubt, accountable expenses actually incurred may be payable to you pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement.

2. Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the payment of the entire amount of the Fee, as specified in Section 1 hereof, or upon the termination of the Underwriting Agreement without the Shares having been delivered and paid for, except as provided in Section 3.

3. Indemnification. The Sub-Adviser agrees to the indemnification and other agreements set forth in the Indemnification Agreement attached hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference and shall survive the termination, expiration or supersession of this Agreement.


4. Not an Investment Adviser; No Fiduciary Duty. The Sub-Adviser acknowledges that you are not providing any advice hereunder as to the value of securities or regarding the advisability of purchasing or selling any securities for the Fund’s portfolio. No provision of this Agreement shall be considered as creating, nor shall any provision create, any obligation on the part of you, and you are not agreeing hereby, to: (i) furnish any advice or make any recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of portfolio securities; or (ii) render any opinions, valuations or recommendations of any kind or to perform any such similar services. Neither this Agreement nor the performance of the services contemplated hereunder shall be considered to constitute a partnership, association or joint venture between you and the Sub-Adviser. In addition, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to constitute you as the agent or employee of the Sub-Adviser or the Sub-Adviser as your agent or employee, and neither party shall make any representation to the contrary. It is understood that you are engaged hereunder as an independent contractor solely to provide the services described above to the Sub-Adviser and that you are not acting as an agent or fiduciary of, and you shall not have any duties or liability to, the current or future partners, members or equity owners of the Sub-Adviser or any other third party in connection with its engagement hereunder, all of which are hereby expressly waived to the extent the Sub-Adviser has the authority to waive such duties and liabilities. Furthermore, the Sub-Adviser agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the matters covered by this Agreement (irrespective of whether you have advised or are currently advising the Sub-Adviser on related or other matters).

5. Not Exclusive. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting you or your affiliates from acting as an underwriter or financial adviser or in any other capacity for any other persons (including other registered investment companies or other investment managers).

6. Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by any party without prior written consent of the other parties.

7. Amendment; Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

8. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

9. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

[END OF TEXT]

 

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This Agreement shall be effective as of the date first written above.

 

PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Agreed and Accepted:

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
By:  

 

Name:
Title:


Form of Indemnification Agreement

[ · ], 2012

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 100

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the engagement of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (the “Bank”) to advise and assist the undersigned, Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (the “Company”), with respect to the matters set forth in the Structuring Fee Agreement dated [ · ], 2012 between the Company and the Bank (the “Agreement”), in the event that the Bank, any of its affiliates, each other person, if any, controlling the Bank or any of its affiliates, their respective officers, current or former directors, employees and agents or the successors or assigns of any of the foregoing persons (the Bank and each such other person or entity being referred to as an “Indemnified Party”) becomes involved in any capacity in any claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry (including, without limitation, any shareholder or derivative action or arbitration proceeding) (collectively, a “Proceeding”) with respect to the services performed pursuant to and in accordance with the Agreement, the Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold each Indemnified Party harmless to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Indemnified Parties, with respect to the services performed pursuant to and in accordance with the Agreement, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review, that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party. In addition, in the event that an Indemnified Party becomes involved in any capacity in any Proceeding with respect to the services performed pursuant to and in accordance with the Agreement, the Company will reimburse such Indemnified Party for its reasonable expenses (including fees and expenses of counsel and the cost of any investigation and preparation) as such expenses are incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection therewith. Promptly as reasonably practicable after receipt by an Indemnified Party of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding, such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made under this paragraph, notify the Company in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the Company (i) will not relieve the Company from liability under this paragraph to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and (ii) in any event shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this Indemnification Agreement. Counsel to the Indemnified Parties shall be selected by the Bank. The Company may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the Company shall not (except with the consent of the Indemnified Parties) also be counsel to the Indemnified Parties. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body,

 

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commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought hereunder (whether or not the Indemnified Parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

If such indemnification were not to be available for any reason, the Company agrees to contribute to the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses involved (i) in the proportion appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received or sought to be received by the Company and its stockholders and affiliates, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Parties, on the other hand, in the matters contemplated by the Agreement or (ii) if (but only if and to the extent) the allocation provided for in clause (i) is for any reason held unenforceable, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and its stockholders and affiliates, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Parties, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The Company agrees that for the purposes of this paragraph the relative benefits received, or sought to be received, by the Company and its stockholders and affiliates, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Parties, on the other hand, of a transaction as contemplated shall be deemed to be in the same proportion that the total value received by or paid to or contemplated to be received by or paid to the Company or its stockholders or affiliates, as the case may be, as a result of or in connection with the transaction (whether or not consummated) for which the Bank has been retained to perform services bears to the fees paid to the Bank under the Agreement; provided, that in no event shall the Company contribute less than the amount necessary to assure that the Indemnified Parties are not liable for losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in excess of the amount of fees actually received by the Bank pursuant to the Agreement. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any alleged untrue statement or omission or any other alleged conduct relates to information provided by the Company or other conduct by the Company (or its employees or other agents (not including for these purposes any Indemnified Party)), on the one hand, or by the Bank, on the other hand. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, an Indemnified Party shall not be entitled to contribution from the Company if it is determined that such Indemnified Party was guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) and the Company was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Company will not settle any Proceeding in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, whether or not an Indemnified Party is an actual or potential party to such Proceeding, without the Bank’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). The foregoing indemnity and contribution agreement shall be in addition to any rights that any Indemnified Party may have at common law or otherwise.

The Company agrees that no Indemnified Party shall have any liability to the Company or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of the Company with respect to the services performed pursuant to and in accordance with the Agreement, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by the Company resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Bank in performing the services that are the subject of the Agreement.

 

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THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, COUNTERCLAIM OR DISPUTE OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES PERFORMED PURSUANT TO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT (“CLAIM”), DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, NO CLAIM MAY BE COMMENCED, PROSECUTED OR CONTINUED IN ANY COURT OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, WHICH COURTS SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER THE ADJUDICATION OF SUCH MATTERS, AND THE COMPANY AND THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND PERSONAL SERVICE WITH RESPECT THERETO. THE COMPANY HEREBY CONSENTS TO PERSONAL JURISDICTION, SERVICE AND VENUE IN ANY COURT IN WHICH ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT IS BROUGHT BY ANY THIRD PARTY AGAINST THE BANK OR ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY. EACH INDEMNIFIED PARTY AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. THE COMPANY AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING UPON THE COMPANY AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER COURTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF WHICH THE COMPANY IS OR MAY BE SUBJECT, BY SUIT UPON SUCH JUDGMENT.

 

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The foregoing Indemnification Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any termination of the Bank’s engagement under the Agreement. This Indemnification Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

Very truly yours,

PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Agreed and Accepted:

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

FORM OF STRUCTURING FEE AGREEMENT

May [ ], 2012

UBS Securities LLC

299 Park Avenue

New York, New York

10171

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This agreement (the “Agreement”) is between Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (including any successor or assign by merger or otherwise, the “Company”) and UBS Securities LLC (“UBS”) with respect to the PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “Fund”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the principal underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) relating to the Offering (as defined below).

1. Fee. In consideration of certain financial advisory services that UBS has provided to the Company and its affiliates in assisting the Company in structuring, designing and organizing the Fund as well as services related to the sale and distribution of the Shares of the Fund (the “Offering”), it being understood that the ultimate decision with respect to the structure, design and organization of the Fund shall rest with the Company, the Company shall pay a fee to UBS in the aggregate amount of $[ ] (the “Fee”). The Fee shall be paid on or before May [•], 2012 or as otherwise agreed to by the parties. In the event the Offering does not proceed, UBS will not receive any fees under this Agreement; however, for the avoidance of doubt, accountable expenses actually incurred may be payable to UBS pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement.

2. Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the payment of the entire amount of the Fee, as specified in Section 1 hereof, or upon the termination of the Underwriting Agreement, having been delivered and paid for. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sections 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 of this Agreement and the Indemnification Agreement attached hereto shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

3. Indemnification. The Company agrees to the indemnification and other agreements set forth in the Indemnification Agreement attached hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference and shall survive the termination, expiration or supersession of this Agreement.

4. Confidential Advice. Except (a) to the extent legally required (after consultation with, and approval as to form and substance by, UBS and its counsel), none of (i) the name of UBS, (ii) any advice rendered by UBS to the Company, or (iii) the terms of this Agreement or any communication from UBS, each in connection with the services performed by UBS pursuant to this Agreement, will be quoted or referred to orally or in writing, or in the case of (ii) and (iii), reproduced or disseminated, by the Company or any of its affiliates or any of its agents, without UBS’ prior written consent.

5. Information. The Company recognizes and confirms that UBS (a) has used and relied primarily on the information provided by the Company and on information available from

 

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generally recognized public sources in performing the services contemplated by this Agreement without having assumed responsibility for independently verifying the same, (b) has not assumed responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of such information and (c) has not made an appraisal of any assets or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of the Fund. The information provided by the Company contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and each Retail Omitting Prospectus, was true and correct in all material respects and did not contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading. The Company will promptly notify UBS or cause UBS to be notified if it learns of any material inaccuracy or misstatement in, or material omission from, any information provided by the Company to UBS pursuant to this Section 5.

6. Not an Investment Adviser. The Company acknowledges that UBS has not provided any advice hereunder as to the value of securities or regarding the advisability of purchasing or selling any securities for the Fund’s portfolio. The Company acknowledges and agrees that UBS has been retained to act solely as an adviser to the Company, and the Company’s engagement of UBS is not intended to confer rights upon any person (including the Fund or any shareholders, employees or creditors of the Company or the Fund) not a party hereto as against UBS or its affiliates, or their respective directors, officers, employees or agents, successors, or assigns. UBS has acted as an independent contractor under this Agreement, and not in any other capacity including as a fiduciary, and any duties arising out of its engagement shall be owed solely to the Company.

7. Not Exclusive. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting you or your affiliates from acting as an underwriter or financial adviser or in any other capacity for any other persons (including other registered investment companies or other investment managers).

8. Amendment; Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

9. Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement (“Claim”), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. No Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and the Company and UBS consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. EACH OF UBS AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

10. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and UBS and their respective successors and assigns and any successor or assign of any substantial portion of the Company’s or UBS’ respective businesses and/or assets.

11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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This Agreement shall be effective as of the date first written above.

 

PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Agreed and Accepted:
UBS SECURITIES LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[ Signature page to Structuring Fee Agreement ]


Form of Indemnification Agreement

May [ ], 2012

UBS Securities LLC

299 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10171

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the engagement of UBS Securities LLC (“UBS”) to advise and assist the undersigned (including any successor or assign by merger or otherwise, the “Company”) with the matters set forth in the Structuring Fee Agreement, dated May [ ], 2012, between the Company and UBS (the “Agreement”), in the event that UBS becomes involved in any capacity in any claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry (including, without limitation, any shareholder or derivative action or arbitration proceeding) (collectively, a “Proceeding”) in connection with any matter in any way relating to or referred to in the Agreement or arising out of the matters contemplated by the Agreement, including, without limitation, related services and activities provided prior to the date of the Agreement, the Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold UBS harmless to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in connection with any matter in any way relating to or referred to in the Agreement or arising out of the matters contemplated by the Agreement, including, without limitation, related services and activities provided prior to the date of the Agreement, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulted primarily from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of UBS. In addition, in the event that UBS becomes involved in any capacity in any Proceeding in connection with any matter in any way relating to or referred to in the Agreement or arising out of the matters contemplated by the Agreement, the Company will reimburse UBS for its reasonable expenses (including fees and expenses of counsel and the cost of any investigation and preparation) as such expenses are incurred by UBS in connection therewith. If such indemnification were not to be available for any reason, the Company agrees to contribute to the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses involved (i) in the proportion appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received or sought to be received by the Company and its stockholders and affiliates and other constituencies, on the one hand, and UBS, on the other hand, in connection with the matters contemplated by the Agreement or (ii) if (but only if and to the extent) the allocation provided for in clause (i) is for any reason held unenforceable, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and its stockholders and affiliates and other constituencies, on the one hand, and the party entitled to contribution, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The Company agrees that for the purposes of this paragraph the relative benefits received, or sought to be received, by the Company and its stockholders and affiliates and other constituencies, on the one hand, and the party entitled to contribution, on the other hand, in connection with the matters contemplated by the Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same proportion that the total value received or paid or contemplated to be received or paid by the Company or its stockholders or affiliates and other constituencies, as the case may be, as a result of or in connection with the matters (whether or not consummated) for which UBS has been retained to perform financial services bears to the fees paid to UBS under the Agreement; provided that, in no event shall the Company contribute less than the amount necessary to assure that UBS is not liable for losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in excess of the amount of fees actually received by UBS pursuant to the Agreement. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any alleged untrue

 

1


statement or omission or any other alleged conduct relates to information provided by the Company or other conduct by the Company (or its employees or other agents (not including for these purposes UBS or other indemnified parties hereunder)), on the one hand, or by UBS, on the other hand. The Company will not settle any Proceeding in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, whether or not UBS is an actual or potential party to such Proceeding, without UBS’ prior written consent. For purposes of this Indemnification Agreement, UBS shall include UBS Securities LLC, any of its affiliates, each other person, if any, controlling UBS or any of its affiliates, their respective officers, current and former directors, employees and agents, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons. The foregoing indemnity and contribution agreement shall be in addition to any rights that any indemnified party may have at common law or otherwise.

The Company agrees that neither UBS nor any of its affiliates, directors, agents, employees or controlling persons shall have any liability to the Company or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of the Company in connection with or as a result of either UBS’ engagement under the Agreement or any matter referred to in the Agreement, including, without limitation, related services and activities provided prior to the date of the Agreement, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by the Company resulted primarily from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of UBS or any of its affiliates, directors, agents, employees or controlling persons in performing the services that are the subject of the Agreement.

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, COUNTERCLAIM OR DISPUTE OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT (“CLAIM”), DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, NO CLAIM MAY BE COMMENCED, PROSECUTED OR CONTINUED IN ANY COURT OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, WHICH COURTS SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER THE ADJUDICATION OF SUCH MATTERS, AND THE COMPANY AND UBS CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND PERSONAL SERVICE WITH RESPECT THERETO. THE COMPANY HEREBY CONSENTS TO PERSONAL JURISDICTION, SERVICE AND VENUE IN ANY COURT IN WHICH ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IS BROUGHT BY ANY THIRD PARTY AGAINST UBS OR ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY. EACH OF UBS AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. THE COMPANY AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING UPON THE COMPANY AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER COURTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF WHICH THE COMPANY IS OR MAY BE SUBJECT, BY SUIT UPON SUCH JUDGMENT.

The foregoing Indemnification Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any termination of UBS’ engagement. This Indemnification Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and UBS and their respective successors and assigns and any

 

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successor or assign of any substantial portion of the Company’s or UBS’ respective businesses and/or assets. This Indemnification Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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Very truly yours,

PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Agreed and Accepted:
UBS SECURITIES LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[ Signature page to Indemnification Agreement ]

FORM OF STRUCTURING FEE AGREEMENT

[ · ], 2012

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

375 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10152

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the Underwriting Agreement dated [ · ], 2012 (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), by and among PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “ Fund ”), Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC (the “ Investment Manager ”) and each of the Underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), severally, with respect to the issue and sale of the Fund’s common shares, par value $0.00001 (the “ Shares ”), as described therein (the “ Offering ”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Underwriting Agreement.

1. Fee .

In consideration of your services assisting Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) and its affiliates with respect to the structure and design of the Fund and the organization of the Fund as well as services related to the sale and distribution of the Fund’s Shares, the Sub-Adviser shall pay a fee to you in the aggregate amount of $[ · ] (the “ Fee ”). The Fee shall be paid on or before the Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement). The Fee shall be paid by wire transfer to the order of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC. In the event the Offering does not proceed, you will not receive any fees under this Agreement; however, for the avoidance of doubt, accountable expenses actually incurred may be payable to you pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement.

2. Term .This Agreement shall terminate upon the payment of the entire amount of the Fee, as specified in Section 1 hereof, or upon the termination of the Underwriting Agreement without the Shares having been delivered and paid for, except as provided in Section 3.

3. Indemnification .

The Sub-Adviser agrees to the indemnification and other agreements set forth in the Indemnification Agreement attached hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference and shall survive the termination, expiration or supersession of this Agreement.

4. Not an Adviser; No Fiduciary Duty .The Sub-Adviser acknowledges that you are not providing any advice hereunder as to the value of securities or regarding the advisability of purchasing or selling any securities for the Fund’s portfolio. No provision of this Agreement shall be considered as creating, nor shall any provision create, any obligation on the part of you, and you are not agreeing hereby, to: (i) furnish any advice or make any recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of portfolio securities; or (ii) render any opinions, valuations or


recommendations of any kind or to perform any such similar services. The Sub-Adviser hereby acknowledges that your engagement under this Agreement is as an independent contractor and not in any other capacity, including as a fiduciary. Furthermore, the Sub-Adviser agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgment in connection with the matters covered by this Agreement (irrespective of whether you have advised or are currently advising the Sub-Adviser on related or other matters).

5. Not Exclusive .Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting you or your affiliates from acting as an underwriter or financial adviser or in any other capacity for any other persons (including other registered investment companies or other investment advisers).

6. Assignment .This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without prior written consent of the other party.

7. Amendment ; Waiver.No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

8. Governing Law .This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

9. Counterparts .This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

 

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This Agreement shall be effective as of the date first written above.

 

PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Agreed and Accepted:
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
By:  

 

  Name:   Jerry Raio
  Title:   Managing Director

[Structuring Fee Agreement]


Form of Indemnification Agreement

[ · ], 2012

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

375 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10152

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the engagement of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (the “ Bank ”) to assist the undersigned, Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, together with its affiliates and subsidiaries (the “ Company ”) with respect to the matters set forth in the Structuring Fee Agreement dated [ · ], 2012 between the Company and the Bank (the “ Agreement ”), in the event that the Bank, any of its affiliates, each other person, if any, controlling the Bank or any of its affiliates, their respective officers, current and former directors, employees and agents, or the successors or assigns of any of the foregoing persons (the Bank and each such other person or entity being referred to as an “ Indemnified Party ”) becomes involved in any capacity in any claim, suit, action, proceeding, litigation, investigation or inquiry (including, without limitation, any shareholder or derivative action or arbitration proceeding) (collectively, a “ Proceeding ”) with respect to the services performed pursuant to and in accordance with the Agreement, the Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold each Indemnified Party harmless to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses, including the fees and expenses of counsel to the Indemnified Parties, reasonably incurred, with respect to the services performed pursuant to and in accordance with the Agreement, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review, that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulted primarily from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of such Indemnified Party. In addition, in the event that an Indemnified Party becomes involved in any capacity in any Proceeding with respect to the services performed pursuant to and in accordance with the Agreement, the Company will reimburse such Indemnified Party for its legal and other expenses (including the cost of any investigation and preparation) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection therewith. Promptly as reasonably practicable after receipt by an Indemnified Party of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding, such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made under this paragraph, notify the Company in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the Company (i) will not relieve the Company from liability under this paragraph to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and (ii) in any event shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this Indemnification Agreement. Counsel to the Indemnified Parties shall be selected by the Bank. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided , however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the Indemnified Parties) also be counsel to the Indemnified Party. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any Proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought hereunder (whether or not the Indemnified Parties are actual or


potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such Proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

If such indemnification were not to be available for any reason, the Company agrees to contribute to the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses involved (i) in the proportion appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received or sought to be received by the Company and its stockholders and affiliates, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Parties, on the other hand, in the matters contemplated by the Agreement or (ii) if (but only if and to the extent) the allocation provided for in clause (i) is for any reason held unenforceable, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and its stockholders and affiliates, on the one hand, and the party entitled to contribution, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The Company agrees that for the purposes of this paragraph the relative benefits received, or sought to be received, by the Company and its stockholders and affiliates, on the one hand, and the party entitled to contribution, on the other hand, of a transaction as contemplated shall be deemed to be in the same proportion that the total value received or paid or contemplated to be received or paid by the Company or its stockholders or affiliates, as the case may be, as a result of or in connection with the transaction (whether or not consummated) for which the Bank has been retained to perform services bears to the fees paid to the Bank under the Agreement; provided , that in no event shall the Company contribute less than the amount necessary to assure that the Indemnified Parties are not liable for losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in excess of the amount of fees actually received by the Bank pursuant to the Agreement. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any alleged untrue statement or omission or any other alleged conduct relates to information provided by the Company or other conduct by the Company (or its employees or other agents (not including for these purposes any Indemnified Party)), on the one hand, or by the Bank, on the other hand. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, an Indemnified Party shall not be entitled to contribution from the Company if it is determined that such Indemnified Party was guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) and the Company was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Company will not settle any Proceeding in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, whether or not an Indemnified Party is an actual or potential party to such Proceeding, without the Bank’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). The foregoing indemnity and contribution agreement shall be in addition to any rights that any Indemnified Party may have at common law or otherwise.

The Company agrees that no Indemnified Party shall have any liability to the Company or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of the Company with respect to the services performed pursuant to and in accordance with the Agreement, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by the Company resulted primarily from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of such Indemnified Party.

 

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THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, COUNTERCLAIM OR DISPUTE OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES PERFORMED PURSUANT TO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT (“ CLAIM ”), DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, NO CLAIM MAY BE COMMENCED, PROSECUTED OR CONTINUED IN ANY COURT OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, WHICH COURTS SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER THE ADJUDICATION OF SUCH MATTERS, AND THE COMPANY AND THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND PERSONAL SERVICE WITH RESPECT THERETO. THE COMPANY HEREBY CONSENTS TO PERSONAL JURISDICTION, SERVICE AND VENUE IN ANY COURT IN WHICH ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IS BROUGHT BY ANY THIRD PARTY AGAINST THE BANK OR ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY. EACH INDEMNIFIED PARTY AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. THE COMPANY AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING UPON THE COMPANY AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER COURTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF WHICH THE COMPANY IS OR MAY BE SUBJECT, BY SUIT UPON SUCH JUDGMENT.

 

6


The foregoing Indemnification Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any termination of the Bank’s engagement under the Agreement. This Indemnification Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

Very truly yours,
PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Agreed and Accepted:
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
By:  

 

  Name:   Jerry Raio
  Title:   Managing Director

[Indemnification Agreement]

FORM OF STRUCTURING FEE AGREEMENT

STRUCTURING FEE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of [ ], 2012 by and among Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”).

WHEREAS, PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and its common shares are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

WHEREAS, the Fund and Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC, the adviser to the Fund, have entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), dated [ ], 2012 with Merrill Lynch and the other underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”);

WHEREAS, Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC is the investment adviser of the Fund;

WHEREAS, Pacific Investment Management Company LLC is the investment sub-adviser of the Fund;

WHEREAS, Merrill Lynch is acting as a lead underwriter in an offering of the Fund’s common shares, made under the terms of the Fund’s prospectus dated [•], 2012 (the “Prospectus”); and

WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser desires to provide a structuring fee to Merrill Lynch for providing the advice and services described below;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual terms and conditions set forth below, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. In consideration of Merrill Lynch’s providing advice relating to the structure and design and the organization of the Fund as well as services related to the sale and distribution of the Fund’s common shares, the Sub-Adviser shall pay Merrill Lynch an aggregate fee equal to 1.25% of the total price to the public of the Fund’s common shares issued by the Fund sold by Merrill Lynch pursuant to the Prospectus (including all Initial Securities and Option Securities as such terms are described in the Underwriting Agreement) (the “Fee”). The Fee shall be paid on or before the Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement), or as otherwise agreed to by the parties. The sum total of all compensation to or reimbursement of underwriters in connection with the offering, including sales load and all forms of additional compensation, shall not exceed 9% of the total price of the Fund’s common shares sold in the offering. In the event the offering does not proceed, Merrill Lynch will not receive any fees under this Agreement; however, for the avoidance of doubt, accountable expenses actually incurred may be payable to Merrill Lynch pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement.

 

2. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting Merrill Lynch or its affiliates from providing similar or other services to any other clients (including other registered investment companies or other investment Sub-Adviser).

 

3.

The Sub-Adviser acknowledges that Merrill Lynch did not provide and is not providing any advice hereunder as to the value of securities or regarding the advisability of purchasing or selling any securities for the Fund’s portfolio. No provision of this Agreement shall be considered as creating, nor shall any provision create, any obligation on the part of Merrill Lynch, and Merrill

 

1


  Lynch is not hereby agreeing, to: (i) furnish any advice or make any recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of portfolio securities or (ii) render any opinions, valuations or recommendations of any kind or to perform any such similar services in connection with acting as a lead underwriter in an offering of the Fund’s common shares.

 

4. This Agreement shall terminate upon the payment of the entire amount of the Fee, as specified in Paragraph 1 hereof.

 

5. The Sub-Adviser will furnish Merrill Lynch with such information as Merrill Lynch believes appropriate to its assignment hereunder (all such information so furnished being the “Information”). The Sub-Adviser recognizes and confirms that Merrill Lynch (a) has used and relied primarily on the Information and on information available from generally recognized public sources in performing the services contemplated by this Agreement without having independently verified the same and (b) does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the Information and such other information. To the best of the Sub-Adviser’s knowledge, the Information furnished by the Sub-Adviser, when delivered, was true and correct in all material respects and did not contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading. The Sub-Adviser will promptly notify Merrill Lynch if it learns of any material inaccuracy or misstatement in, or material omission from, any Information delivered to Merrill Lynch.

 

6. The Sub-Adviser agrees that Merrill Lynch shall have no liability to the Sub-Adviser or the Fund for any act or omission to act by Merrill Lynch in the course of its performance under this Agreement, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of Merrill Lynch. The Sub-Adviser agrees to the terms set forth in the Indemnification Agreement attached hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference and shall survive the termination, expiration or supersession of this Agreement.

 

7. This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement (“Claim”) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

8. No Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund, Pacific Investment Management Company LLC and Merrill Lynch consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. Each of Merrill Lynch and the Sub-Adviser waives all right to trial by jury in any proceeding (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser agrees that a final judgment in any proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Sub-Adviser and may be enforced in any other courts to the jurisdiction of which the Sub-Adviser is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.

 

9. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other party.

 

10.

This Agreement (including the attached Indemnification Agreement) embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such determination will not affect such

 

2


  provision in any other respect or any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect. This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by Merrill Lynch and the Sub-Adviser.

 

11. All notices required or permitted to be sent under this Agreement shall be sent, if to Pacific Investment Management Company LLC:

Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

840 Newport Center Drive, Suite 100

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Attention: General Counsel

or if to Merrill Lynch:

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

            Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Attention: Angela Fannon

or such other name or address as may be given in writing to the other parties. Any notice shall be deemed to be given or received on the third day after deposit in the U.S. mail with certified postage prepaid or when actually received, whether by hand, express delivery service or facsimile electronic transmission, whichever is earlier.

 

12. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

[ signatures on following page ]

 

3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Structuring Fee Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

PACIFIC INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC
    MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER &
SMITH INCORPORATED
By:         By:    
  Name:       Name:
  Title:       Title:

 

4


Form of Indemnification Agreement

[ ]. 2012

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the engagement of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) to advise and assist the undersigned (together with its affiliates and subsidiaries, the “Company”) with the matters set forth in the Structuring Fee Agreement dated [ ], 2012 between the Company and Merrill Lynch (the “Agreement”), in the event that Merrill Lynch becomes involved in any capacity in any claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry (including, without limitation, any shareholder or derivative action or arbitration proceeding) (collectively, a “Proceeding”) in connection with any matter in any way relating to or referred to in the Agreement or arising out of the matters contemplated by the Agreement, the Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Merrill Lynch harmless to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in connection with any matter in any way relating to or referred to in the Agreement or arising out of the matters contemplated by the Agreement, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review, that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulted solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Merrill Lynch. In addition, in the event that Merrill Lynch becomes involved in any capacity in any Proceeding in connection with any matter in any way relating to or referred to in the Agreement or arising out of the matters contemplated by the Agreement, the Company shall reimburse Merrill Lynch for its legal and other expenses (including the cost of any investigation and preparation) as such expenses are incurred by Merrill Lynch in connection therewith, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review, that such legal and other expenses resulted solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Merrill Lynch. Promptly as reasonably practicable after receipt by Merrill Lynch of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding, Merrill Lynch will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made under this paragraph, notify the Company in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure to so notify the Company (i) will not relieve the Company from liability under this paragraph to the extent its is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and (ii) in any event shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this Indemnification Agreement. Counsel to Merrill Lynch shall be selected by Merrill Lynch. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however , that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of Merrill Lynch) also be counsel to Merrill Lynch. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Merrill Lynch, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought hereunder (whether or not Merrill Lynch is an actual or potential party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of Merrill Lynch from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation or Proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of Merrill Lynch.

If such indemnification were not to be available for any reason, the Company agrees to contribute to the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses involved (i) in the proportion appropriate to reflect

 

5


the relative benefits received or sought to be received by the Company and its stockholders and affiliates and other constituencies, on the one hand, and Merrill Lynch, on the other hand, in the matters contemplated by the Agreement or (ii) if (but only if and to the extent) the allocation provided for in clause (i) is for any reason held unenforceable, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and its stockholders and affiliates, on the one hand, and Merrill Lynch, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The Company agrees that for the purposes of this paragraph the relative benefits received, or sought to be received, by the Company and its stockholders and affiliates, on the one hand, and Merrill Lynch, on the other hand, of a transaction as contemplated shall be deemed to be in the same proportion that the total value received or paid or contemplated to be received or paid by the Company or its stockholders or affiliates, as the case may be, as a result of or in connection with the transaction (whether or not consummated) for which Merrill Lynch has been retained to perform services bears to the fees paid to Merrill Lynch under the Agreement; provided , that in no event shall the Company contribute less than the amount necessary to assure that Merrill Lynch is not liable for losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in excess of the amount of fees actually received by Merrill Lynch pursuant to the Agreement. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any alleged untrue statement or omission or any other alleged conduct relates to information provided by the Company or other conduct by the Company (or its employees or other agents), on the one hand, or by Merrill Lynch, on the other hand.

The Company shall not settle any Proceeding in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, whether or not Merrill Lynch is an actual or potential party to such Proceeding, without Merrill Lynch’s prior written consent. For purposes of this Indemnification Agreement, Merrill Lynch shall include Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, any of its affiliates, each other person, if any, controlling Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or any of its affiliates, their respective officers, current and former officers, directors, employees and agents, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons. The foregoing indemnity and contribution agreement shall be in addition to any rights that any indemnified party may have at common law or otherwise.

The Company agrees that neither Merrill Lynch nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors, agents, employees or controlling persons shall have any liability to the Company or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of the Company in connection with or as a result of either Merrill Lynch’s engagement under the Agreement or any matter referred to in the Agreement, including, without limitation, related services and activities prior to the date of the Agreement, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by the Company resulted solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Merrill Lynch in performing the services that are the subject of the Agreement.

For clarification, the parties to this Indemnification Agreement agree that the term “affiliate” as used in the definition of “Company” herein does not include any registered investment company, except for the Fund, for which the Company or any of its affiliates serves as investment adviser.

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, COUNTERCLAIM OR DISPUTE OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT (“CLAIM”), DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, NO CLAIM MAY BE COMMENCED, PROSECUTED OR CONTINUED IN ANY COURT OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, WHICH COURTS SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER THE ADJUDICATION OF SUCH MATTERS,

 

6


AND THE COMPANY AND MERRILL LYNCH CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND PERSONAL SERVICE WITH RESPECT THERETO. THE COMPANY HEREBY CONSENTS TO PERSONAL JURISDICTION, SERVICE AND VENUE IN ANY COURT IN WHICH ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IS BROUGHT BY ANY THIRD PARTY AGAINST MERRILL LYNCH OR ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY. EACH OF MERRILL LYNCH AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. THE COMPANY AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING UPON THE COMPANY AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER COURTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF WHICH THE COMPANY IS OR MAY BE SUBJECT, BY SUIT UPON SUCH JUDGMENT.

 

7


The foregoing Indemnification Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any termination of Merrill Lynch’s engagement. This Indemnification Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

Very truly yours,

 

PACIFIC INVESTMENT

MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

By:

 
 

 

  Name:
  Title:

Accepted and agreed to as of

the date first above written:

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                                INCORPORATED

By

 
 

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

8

FORM OF STRUCTURING FEE AGREEMENT

Barclays Capital Inc.

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10166

STRUCTURING FEE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of [ ], 2012, between Barclays Capital Inc. (“Barclays”) and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”).

WHEREAS, PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and its common shares, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Common Shares”) are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

WHEREAS, the Fund and Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC, the adviser to the Fund, have entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), dated [ ], 2012 with Barclays and the other underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”);

WHEREAS, Pacific Investment Management Company LLC is the investment sub-adviser of the Fund;

WHEREAS, Barclays is acting as one of the underwriters in an offering of the Fund’s Common Shares; and

WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser desires to provide additional compensation to Barclays for providing the advice and services described below;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual terms and conditions set forth below, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. In consideration of Barclays’s services providing advice relating to the sale and distribution of the Fund’s Common Shares, including without limitation, idea generation and assessment of the investment opportunity and advice related to positioning, marketing and distribution strategy, the Sub-Adviser shall pay Barclays a fee in the aggregate amount of $[ ] (the “Fee”). The Fee shall be paid on or before the Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement). In the event the offering does not proceed, Barclays will not receive any fees under this Agreement; however, for the avoidance of doubt, accountable expenses actually incurred may be payable to Barclays pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement.

 

2. The Sub-Adviser acknowledges that Barclays did not provide and is not providing any advice hereunder as to the value of securities or regarding the advisability of purchasing or selling any securities for the Fund’s portfolio. No provision of this Agreement shall be considered as creating, nor shall any provision create, any obligation on the part of Barclays, and Barclays is not hereby agreeing, to: (i) furnish any advice or make any recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of portfolio securities or (ii) render any opinions, valuations or recommendations of any kind or to perform any such similar services in connection with the transactions contemplated herein.

 

3. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting Barclays or its affiliates from providing similar or other services to any other clients (including other registered investment companies or other investment advisers).


4. Except as otherwise set forth herein, this Agreement shall terminate upon the payment of the entire amount of the Fee, as specified in Section 1 hereof.

 

5. The Sub-Adviser has furnished Barclays with such information as Barclays believes appropriate to its assignment hereunder (all such information so furnished being the “Information”). The Sub-Adviser recognizes and confirms that Barclays (a) has used and relied primarily on the Information and on information available from generally recognized public sources in performing the services contemplated by this Agreement without having independently verified the same and (b) does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the Information and such other information. The Information furnished by the Sub-Adviser, when delivered, was true and correct in all material respects and did not contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading. The Sub-Adviser will promptly notify Barclays if it learns of any material inaccuracy or misstatement in, or material omission from, any Information delivered to Barclays pursuant to this Section 5.

 

6. It is understood that Barclays is being engaged hereunder solely to provide the services described above to the Sub-Adviser and that Barclays is not acting as an agent or fiduciary of, and shall have no duties or liability to the current or future shareholders of the Fund or any other third party in connection with its engagement hereunder, all of which are hereby expressly waived.

 

7. The Sub-Adviser agrees that Barclays shall have no liability to the Sub-Adviser or the Fund for any act or omission to act by Barclays in the course of its performance under this Agreement, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of Barclays. The Sub-Adviser agrees to the terms set forth in the Indemnification Agreement attached hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference and shall survive the termination, expiration or supersession of this Agreement.

 

8. This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement (“Claim”) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

9. No Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and the Sub-Adviser and Barclays consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. Each of Barclays and the Sub-Adviser waives all right to trial by jury in any proceeding (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser agrees that a final judgment in any proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Sub-Adviser and may be enforced in any other courts to the jurisdiction of which the Sub-Adviser is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.

 

10. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other party.

 

11.

This Agreement (including the attached Indemnification Agreement) embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such determination will not affect such provision in any other respect or any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full


  force and effect. This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by both Barclays and the Sub-Adviser.

 

12. All notices required or permitted to be sent under this Agreement shall be sent, if to the Sub-Adviser:

Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

840 Newport Center Drive, Suite 100

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Attention: General Counsel

or if to Barclays:

Barclays Capital Inc.

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10166

Attention: Paul Mottola

or such other name or address as may be given in writing to the other parties. Any notice shall be deemed to be given or received on the third day after deposit in the U.S. mail with certified postage prepaid or when actually received, whether by hand, express delivery service or facsimile electronic transmission, whichever is earlier.

 

13. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

[ signatures on following page ]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Structuring Fee Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

PACIFIC INVESTMENT

MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  


Form of Indemnification Agreement

[ ], 2012

Barclays Capital Inc.

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10166

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the engagement of Barclays Capital Inc. (“Barclays”) to advise and assist the undersigned (together with its affiliates and subsidiaries, referred to as the “Company”) with the matters set forth in the Structuring Fee Agreement dated [ ], 2012 between the Company and Barclays (the “Agreement”), in the event that Barclays becomes involved in any capacity in any claim, suit, action, proceeding, investigation or inquiry (including, without limitation, any shareholder or derivative action or arbitration proceeding) (collectively, a “Proceeding”) in connection with any matter in any way relating to or referred to in the Agreement or arising out of the matters contemplated by the Agreement, including without limitation, related services and activities prior to the date of the Agreement, the Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Barclays harmless to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in connection with any matter in any way relating to or referred to in the Agreement or arising out of the matters contemplated by the Agreement, including, without limitation, related services and activities prior to the date of the Agreement, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review, that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulted solely from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of Barclays. In addition, in the event that Barclays becomes involved in any capacity in any Proceeding in connection with any matter in any way relating to or referred to in the Agreement or arising out of the matters contemplated by the Agreement, including, without limitation, related services and activities prior to the date of the Agreement, the Company will reimburse Barclays for its legal and other expenses (including the cost of any investigation and preparation) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by Barclays in connection therewith. Promptly as reasonably practicable after receipt by Barclays of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding, Barclays will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made under this paragraph, notify the Company in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure to so notify the Company (i) will not relieve the Company from liability under this paragraph to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and (ii) in any event shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this Indemnification Agreement. The Company shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the Company’s choice at the Company’s expense to represent Barclays in any Proceeding for which indemnification is sought (in which case the Company shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by Barclays or parties except as set forth below); provided , however , that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to Barclays. Notwithstanding the Company’s election to appoint counsel to represent Barclays in a Proceeding, Barclays shall have the right to employ one separate counsel (including local counsel), and the Company shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Company to represent Barclays would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such Proceeding include both Barclays and the Company and Barclays shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the Company, (iii) the Company shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to Barclays to represent Barclays within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such Proceeding or (iv) the Company shall authorize Barclays to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Company. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of Barclays, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any


litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought hereunder (whether or not Barclays is an actual or potential party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of Barclays from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation or Proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of Barclays.

If such indemnification were not to be available for any reason, the Company agrees to contribute to the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses involved (i) in the proportion appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received or sought to be received by the Company and its shareholders, members and affiliates and other constituencies, on the one hand, and Barclays, on the other hand, in the matters contemplated by the Agreement or (ii) if (but only if and to the extent) the allocation provided for in clause (i) is for any reason held unenforceable, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and its shareholders, members and affiliates and other constituencites, on the one hand, and Barclays, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, Barclays shall not be entitled to contribution from the Company if it is determined that Barclays was guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) and the Company was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Company agrees that for the purposes of this paragraph the relative benefits received, or sought to be received, by the Company and its shareholders, members and affiliates, on the one hand, and Barclays, on the other hand, of a transaction as contemplated shall be deemed to be in the same proportion that the total value received or paid or contemplated to be received or paid by the Company or its shareholders, members or affiliates and other constituencies, as the case may be, as a result of or in connection with the transaction (whether or not consummated) for which Barclays has been retained to perform services bears to the fees paid to Barclays under the Agreement; provided , that in no event shall the Company contribute less than the amount necessary to assure that Barclays is not liable for losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in excess of the amount of fees actually received by Barclays pursuant to the Agreement. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any alleged untrue statement or omission or any other alleged conduct relates to information provided by the Company or other conduct by the Company (or its employees or other agents), on the one hand, or by Barclays, on the other hand.

The Company will not settle any Proceeding in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, whether or not Barclays is an actual or potential party to such Proceeding, without Barclays’ prior written consent. For purposes of this Indemnification Agreement, Barclays shall include Barclays Capital Inc., any of its affiliates, each other person, if any, controlling Barclays Capital Inc. or any of its affiliates, their respective officers, current and former officers, directors, employees and agents, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons. The foregoing indemnity and contribution agreement shall be in addition to any rights that any indemnified party may have at common law or otherwise.

The Company agrees that neither Barclays nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors, agents, employees or controlling persons shall have any liability to the Company or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of the Company in connection with or as a result of either Barclays’ engagement under the Agreement or any matter referred to in the Agreement, including, without limitation, related services and activities prior to the date of the Agreement, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by the Company resulted solely from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of Barclays in performing the services that are the subject of the Agreement.


For clarification, the parties to this Indemnification Agreement agree that the term “affiliate” as used in the definition of “Company” herein does not include any registered investment company, except for the Fund, for which such Company or any of its affiliates serves as investment adviser.

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, COUNTERCLAIM OR DISPUTE OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (“CLAIM”), DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, NO CLAIM MAY BE COMMENCED, PROSECUTED OR CONTINUED IN ANY COURT OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, WHICH COURTS SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER THE ADJUDICATION OF SUCH MATTERS, AND THE COMPANY AND BARCLAYS CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND PERSONAL SERVICE WITH RESPECT THERETO. THE COMPANY HEREBY CONSENTS TO PERSONAL JURISDICTION, SERVICE AND VENUE IN ANY COURT IN WHICH ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT IS BROUGHT BY ANY THIRD PARTY AGAINST BARCLAYS OR ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY. EACH OF BARCLAYS AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. THE COMPANY AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING UPON THE COMPANY AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER COURTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF WHICH THE COMPANY IS OR MAY BE SUBJECT, BY SUIT UPON SUCH JUDGMENT.


The foregoing Indemnification Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any termination of the Agreement. This Indemnification Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

Very truly yours,

PACIFIC INVESTMENT

MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

Accepted and agreed to as of

the date first above written:

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

C USTODIAN A GREEMENT

This Agreement, dated as of             , 2012, is between PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND a business trust organized and existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the “ Fund ”), and STATE STREET BANK and TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company (the “ Custodian ”).

WITNESSETH: that in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

S ECTION  1. E MPLOYMENT OF C USTODIAN AND P ROPERTY TO BE H ELD BY I T .

The Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of its assets, including securities which the Fund desires to be held in places within the United States (“ domestic securities ”) and securities it desires to be held outside the United States (“ foreign securities ”). The Fund agrees to deliver to the Custodian all securities and cash owned by it, and all payments of income, payments of principal or capital distributions received by it with respect to all securities owned by it from time to time, and the cash consideration received by it for such new or treasury shares of beneficial interest of the Fund (“ Shares ”) as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of the Fund held or received by the Fund and not delivered to the Custodian. With respect to uncertificated shares (the “ Underlying Shares ”) of registered “investment companies” (as defined in Section 3(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time (the “ 1940 Act ”)), whether in the same “group of investment companies” (as defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the 1940 Act) or otherwise, including pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “ Underlying Portfolios ”) the holding of confirmation statements that identify the shares as being recorded in the Custodian’s name on behalf of the Fund will be deemed custody for purposes hereof.

Upon receipt of “ Proper Instructions ” (as such term is defined in Section 6 hereof), the Custodian shall from time to time employ one or more sub-custodians located in the United States, but only in accordance with an applicable vote by the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “ Board ”). The Custodian may employ as sub-custodian for the Fund’s foreign securities the foreign banking institutions and foreign securities depositories designated in Schedules A and B hereto, but only in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and 4. The Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or liability to the Fund on account of any actions or omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than any such sub-custodian has to the Custodian.

 

S ECTION  2. D UTIES OF THE C USTODIAN WITH R ESPECT TO P ROPERTY OF THE F UND H ELD B Y THE C USTODIAN IN THE U NITED S TATES .

S ECTION 2.1 H OLDING S ECURITIES . The Custodian shall hold and physically segregate for the account of the Fund all non-cash property, to be held by it in the United States, including all domestic securities owned by the Fund other than (a) securities which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.8 in a clearing agency which acts as a securities depository or in a book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (each, a “ U.S. Securities System ”) and (b) Underlying Shares owned by the Fund which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.13 hereof in an


account with State Street Bank and Trust Company or such other entity which may from time to time act as a transfer agent for the Underlying Portfolios and with respect to which the Custodian is provided with Proper Instructions (each, an “ Underlying Transfer Agent ”).

S ECTION 2.2 D ELIVERY OF S ECURITIES . The Custodian shall release and deliver domestic securities owned by the Fund held by the Custodian, in a U.S. Securities System account of the Custodian, or in an account at the Underlying Transfer Agent, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:

 

  1) Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Fund and receipt of payment therefor;

 

  2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase agreement related to such securities entered into by the Fund;

 

  3) In the case of a sale effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 hereof;

 

  4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for securities of the Fund;

 

  5) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

  6) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Fund or into the name of any nominee or nominees of the Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or into the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1; or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units; provided that, in any such case, the new securities are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

  7) Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the Fund, to the broker or its clearing agent, against a receipt, for examination in accordance with “street delivery” custom; provided that in any such case, the Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct;

 

  8) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;


  9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

  10) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by the Fund, but only against receipt of adequate collateral as agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund, which may be in the form of cash or obligations issued by the United States government, its agencies or instrumentalities, except that in connection with any loans for which collateral is to be credited to the Custodian’s account in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Custodian will not be held liable or responsible for the delivery of securities owned by the Fund prior to the receipt of such collateral;

 

  11) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund, but only against receipt of amounts borrowed;

 

  12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ Exchange Act ”) and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”, formerly known as The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund;

 

  13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian, and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“ CFTC ”) and/or any contract market, or any similar organization or organizations, regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Fund;

 

  14) Upon receipt of instructions from the transfer agent for the Fund (the “ Transfer Agent ”) for delivery to such Transfer Agent or to the holders of Shares in connection with distributions in kind, as may be described from time to time in the Fund’s currently effective prospectus and statement of additional information (the “ Prospectus ”), in satisfaction of requests by holders of Shares for repurchase or redemption;

 

  15) For delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund;

 

  16) In the case of a sale processed through the Underlying Transfer Agent of Underlying Shares, in accordance with Section 2.13 hereof; and


  17) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying the securities of the Fund to be delivered and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.

S ECTION 2.3 R EGISTRATION OF S ECURITIES . Domestic securities held by the Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of any nominee of the Fund or of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively to the Fund, unless the Fund has authorized in writing the appointment of a nominee to be used in common with other registered investment companies having the same investment advisor as the Fund, or in the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or in the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1. All securities accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the Fund under the terms of this Agreement shall be in “street name” or other good delivery form. If, however, the Fund directs the Custodian to maintain securities in “street name”, the Custodian shall utilize its best efforts only to timely collect income due the Fund on such securities and to notify the Fund on a best efforts basis only of relevant corporate actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls, maturities, tender or exchange offers.

S ECTION 2.4 B ANK A CCOUNTS . The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate bank account or accounts in the United States in the name of the Fund, subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall hold in such account or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by it from or for the account of the Fund, other than cash maintained by the Fund in a bank account established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the 1940 Act. Monies held by the Custodian for the Fund may be deposited by it to its credit as Custodian in the banking department of the Custodian or in such other banks or trust companies as it may in its discretion deem necessary or desirable; provided , however, that every such bank or trust company shall be qualified to act as a custodian under the 1940 Act and that each such bank or trust company and the monies to be deposited with each such bank or trust company shall be approved by vote of a majority of the Board. Such monies shall be deposited by the Custodian in its capacity as Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the Custodian only in that capacity.

S ECTION 2.5 C OLLECTION OF I NCOME . Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with respect to registered domestic securities held hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business, and shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with respect to bearer domestic securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or its agent thereof and shall credit such income, as collected, to the Fund’s custodian account. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall detach and present for payment all coupons and other income items requiring presentation as and when they become due and shall collect interest when due on securities held hereunder. Income due the Fund on securities loaned pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 (10) shall be the responsibility of the Fund. The Custodian will have no duty or responsibility in connection therewith, other than to provide the Fund with such information or data as may be necessary to assist the Fund in arranging for the timely delivery to the Custodian of the income to which the Fund is properly entitled.


S ECTION 2.6 P AYMENT OF F UND M ONIES . Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out monies of the Fund in the following cases only:

 

  1) Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts for the account of the Fund but only (a) against the delivery of such securities or evidence of title to such options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts to the Custodian (or any bank, banking firm or trust company doing business in the United States or abroad which is qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian and has been designated by the Custodian as its agent for this purpose) registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of a nominee of the Custodian referred to in Section 2.3 hereof or in proper form for transfer; (b) in the case of a purchase effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 2.8 hereof; (c) in the case of a purchase of Underlying Shares, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 2.13 hereof; (d) repurchase agreements entered into between the Fund and the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a member of FINRA, (i) against delivery of the securities either in certificate form or through an entry crediting the Custodian’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank with such securities or (ii) against delivery of the receipt evidencing purchase by the Fund of securities owned by the Custodian along with written evidence of the agreement by the Custodian to repurchase such securities from the Fund; or (e) for transfer to a time deposit account of the Fund in any bank, whether domestic or foreign; such transfer may be effected prior to receipt of a confirmation from a broker and/or the applicable bank pursuant to Proper Instructions from the Fund as defined herein;

 

  2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of securities owned by the Fund as set forth in Section 2.2 hereof;

 

  3) For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued as set forth in Section 5 hereof;

 

  4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Fund, including but not limited to the following payments for the account of the Fund: interest, taxes, management, accounting, transfer agent and legal fees, and operating expenses of the Fund whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;

 

  5) For the payment of any dividends on Shares declared pursuant to the governing documents of the Fund;

 

  6) For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of securities sold short;

 

  7) For delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund; and


  8) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying the amount of such payment and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

S ECTION 2.7 A PPOINTMENT OF A GENTS . The Custodian may at any time or times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or trust company which is itself qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian, as its agent to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as the Custodian may from time to time direct; provided , however, that the appointment of any agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities or liabilities hereunder. The Underlying Transfer Agent shall not be deemed an agent or sub-custodian of the Custodian for purposes of this Section 2.7 or any other provision of this Agreement.

S ECTION 2.8 D EPOSIT OF F UND A SSETS IN U.S. S ECURITIES S YSTEMS . The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by the Fund in a U.S. Securities System in compliance with the conditions of Rule 17f-4 of the 1940 Act, as amended from time to time.

S ECTION 2.9 S EGREGATED A CCOUNT . The Custodian shall upon receipt of Proper Instructions establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of the Fund, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or securities, including securities maintained in an account by the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof, (i) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of FINRA (or any futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or the CFTC or any registered contract market), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund, (ii) for purposes of segregating cash or government securities in connection with options purchased, sold or written by the Fund or commodity futures contracts or options thereon purchased or sold by the Fund, (iii) for the purposes of compliance by the Fund with the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”), or interpretative opinion of the staff of the SEC, relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies, and (iv) for any other purpose upon receipt of Proper Instructions.

S ECTION 2.10 O WNERSHIP C ERTIFICATES FOR T AX P URPOSES . The Custodian shall execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with respect to domestic securities of the Fund held by it and in connection with transfers of securities.

S ECTION 2.11 P ROXIES . The Custodian shall, with respect to the domestic securities held hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by the registered holder of such securities, if the securities are registered otherwise than in the name of the Fund or a nominee of the Fund, all proxies, without indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall promptly deliver to the Fund such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating to such securities.

S ECTION 2.12 C OMMUNICATIONS R ELATING T O F UND S ECURITIES . Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund all written information (including,


without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of domestic securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options written by the Fund and the maturity of futures contracts purchased or sold by the Fund) received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities being held for the Fund. With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund all written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer. The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power in connection with domestic securities or other property of the Fund at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian is in actual possession of such domestic securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur at least three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take action to exercise such right or power. The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the Fund all written information received by the Custodian regarding any class action or other litigation in connection with securities or other assets issued in the United States and then held, or previously held, during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian for the account of the Fund, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms. For avoidance of doubt, upon and after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to so transmit any information under this Section 2.12.

S ECTION 2.13 D EPOSIT OF F UND A SSETS WITH THE U NDERLYING T RANSFER A GENT . Underlying Shares beneficially owned by the Fund shall be deposited and/or maintained in an account or accounts maintained with an Underlying Transfer Agent and the Custodian’s only responsibilities with respect thereto shall be limited to the following:

 

  1) Upon receipt of a confirmation or statement from an Underlying Transfer Agent that such Underlying Transfer Agent is holding or maintaining Underlying Shares in the name of the Custodian (or a nominee of the Custodian) for the benefit of the Fund, the Custodian shall identify by book-entry that such Underlying Shares are being held by it as custodian for the benefit of the Fund.

 

  2) In respect of the purchase of Underlying Shares for the account of the Fund, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall pay out monies of the Fund as so directed, and record such payment from the account of the Fund on the Custodian’s books and records.

 

  3) In respect of the sale or redemption of Underlying Shares for the account of the Fund, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall transfer such Underlying Shares as so directed, record such transfer from the account of the Fund on the Custodian’s books and records and, upon the Custodian’s receipt of the proceeds therefor, record such payment for the account of the Fund on the Custodian’s books and records.

The Custodian shall not be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund resulting from the maintenance of Underlying Shares with an Underlying Transfer Agent except for losses resulting directly from the fraud, negligence or willful misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or of any of its or their employees.


S ECTION  3. P ROVISIONS R ELATING TO R ULES 17 F -5 AND 17 F -7 .

S ECTION 3.1. D EFINITIONS . As used throughout this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the indicated meanings:

“Country Risk” means all factors reasonably related to the systemic risk of holding Foreign Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to, such country’s political environment, economic and financial infrastructure (including any Eligible Securities Depository operating in the country), prevailing or developing custody and settlement practices, and laws and regulations applicable to the safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in custody in that country.

“Eligible Foreign Custodian” has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule 17f-5, including a majority-owned or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank (as defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of an Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other appropriate action of the SEC, or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act) meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act; the term does not include any Eligible Securities Depository.

“Eligible Securities Depository” has the meaning set forth in section (b)(1) of Rule 17f-7.

“Foreign Assets” means any of the Fund’s investments (including foreign currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Fund’s transactions in such investments.

“Foreign Custody Manager” has the meaning set forth in section (a)(3) of Rule 17f-5.

“Rule 17f-5” means Rule 17f-5 promulgated under the 1940 Act.

“Rule 17f-7” means Rule 17f-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act.

S ECTION  3.2. T HE C USTODIAN AS F OREIGN C USTODY M ANAGER .

3.2.1 D ELEGATION TO THE C USTODIAN AS F OREIGN C USTODY M ANAGER . The Fund, by resolution adopted by its Board, hereby delegates to the Custodian, subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the responsibilities set forth in this Section 3.2 with respect to Foreign Assets held outside the United States, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund.

3.2.2 C OUNTRIES C OVERED . The Foreign Custody Manager shall be responsible for performing the delegated responsibilities defined below only with respect to the countries and custody arrangements for each such country listed on Schedule A to this Agreement, which list of countries may be amended from time to time by the Fund with the agreement of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager shall list on Schedule A the Eligible Foreign Custodians selected by the Foreign Custody Manager to maintain the Fund’s assets, which list of Eligible Foreign Custodians may be amended from time to time in the sole discretion of the Foreign Custody


Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager will provide amended versions of Schedule A in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereof.

Upon the receipt by the Foreign Custody Manager of Proper Instructions to open an account or to place or maintain Foreign Assets in a country listed on Schedule A, and the fulfillment by the Fund of the applicable account opening requirements for such country, the Foreign Custody Manager shall be deemed to have been delegated by the Board responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to that country and to have accepted such delegation. Execution of this Agreement by the Fund shall be deemed to be a Proper Instruction to open an account, or to place or maintain Foreign Assets, in each country listed on Schedule A in which the Custodian has previously placed or currently maintains Foreign Assets pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. Following the receipt of Proper Instructions directing the Foreign Custody Manager to close the account of the Fund with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager for that country shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the Custodian shall immediately cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund with respect to that country.

The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the Fund. Thirty days (or such longer period to which the parties agree in writing) after receipt of any such notice by the Fund, the Custodian shall have no further responsibility in its capacity as Foreign Custody Manager to the Fund with respect to the country as to which the Custodian’s acceptance of delegation is withdrawn.

3.2.3 S COPE OF D ELEGATED R ESPONSIBILITIES :

(a) S ELECTION OF E LIGIBLE F OREIGN C USTODIANS . Subject to the provisions of this Section 3.2, the Foreign Custody Manager may place and maintain the Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in each country listed on Schedule A, as amended from time to time. In performing its delegated responsibilities as Foreign Custody Manager to place or maintain Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian, the Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign Assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the country in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that Eligible Foreign Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation the factors specified in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).

(b) C ONTRACTS W ITH E LIGIBLE F OREIGN C USTODIANS . The Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the contract governing the foreign custody arrangements with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager will satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(2).

(c) M ONITORING . In each case in which the Foreign Custody Manager maintains Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager, the Foreign Custody Manager shall establish a system to monitor (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such Eligible Foreign Custodian and (ii) the contract governing the custody arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible Foreign Custodian. In the event the Foreign Custody Manager determines that the custody arrangements with an Eligible


Foreign Custodian it has selected are no longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager shall notify the Board in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereunder.

3.2.4 G UIDELINES FOR THE E XERCISE OF D ELEGATED A UTHORITY . For purposes of this Section 3.2, the Board shall be deemed to have considered and determined to accept such Country Risk as is incurred by placing and maintaining the Foreign Assets in each country for which the Custodian is serving as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund.

3.2.5 R EPORTING R EQUIREMENTS . The Foreign Custody Manager shall report the withdrawal of the Foreign Assets from an Eligible Foreign Custodian and the placement of such Foreign Assets with another Eligible Foreign Custodian by providing to the Board an amended Schedule A at the end of the calendar quarter in which an amendment to such Schedule has occurred. The Foreign Custody Manager shall make written reports notifying the Board of any other material change in the foreign custody arrangements of the Fund described in this Section 3.2 after the occurrence of the material change.

3.2.6 S TANDARD OF C ARE AS F OREIGN C USTODY M ANAGER OF THE F UND . In performing the responsibilities delegated to it, the Foreign Custody Manager agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of assets of management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act would exercise.

3.2.7 R EPRESENTATIONS W ITH R ESPECT TO R ULE 17 F -5 . The Foreign Custody Manager represents to the Fund that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5. The Fund represents to the Custodian that the Board has determined that it is reasonable for the Board to rely on the Custodian to perform the responsibilities delegated pursuant to this Agreement to the Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund.

3.2.8 E FFECTIVE D ATE AND T ERMINATION OF THE C USTODIAN AS F OREIGN C USTODY M ANAGER . The Board’s delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall remain in effect until terminated at any time, without penalty, by written notice from the terminating party to the non-terminating party. Termination will become effective thirty (30) days after receipt by the non-terminating party of such notice. The provisions of Section 3.2.2 hereof shall govern the delegation to and termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund with respect to designated countries.

SECTION 3.3 E LIGIBLE S ECURITIES D EPOSITORIES .

3.3.1 A NALYSIS AND M ONITORING . The Custodian shall (a) provide the Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment advisor) with an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Eligible Securities Depositories set forth on Schedule B hereto in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(A) of Rule 17f-7, and (b) monitor such risks on a continuing basis, and promptly notify the Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment advisor) of any material change in such risks, in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(B) of Rule 17f-7.


3.3.2 S TANDARD O F C ARE . The Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence in performing the duties set forth in Section 3.3.1.

 

S ECTION  4.  D UTIES OF THE C USTODIAN WITH R ESPECT TO P ROPERTY OF THE F UND H ELD O UTSIDE THE U NITED S TATES .

S ECTION 4.1 D EFINITIONS . As used throughout this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the indicated meanings:

“Foreign Securities System” means an Eligible Securities Depository listed on Schedule B hereto.

“Foreign Sub-Custodian” means an Eligible Foreign Custodian.

S ECTION 4.2. H OLDING S ECURITIES . The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the Fund the foreign securities held by each Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System. The Custodian may hold foreign securities for all of its customers, including the Fund, with any Foreign Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for the benefit of its customers, provided however, that (i) the records of the Custodian with respect to foreign securities of the Fund which are maintained in such account shall identify those securities as belonging to the Fund and (ii), to the extent permitted and customary in the market in which the account is maintained, the Custodian shall require that securities so held by the Foreign Sub-Custodian be held separately from any assets of such Foreign Sub-Custodian or of other customers of such Foreign Sub-Custodian.

S ECTION 4.3. F OREIGN S ECURITIES S YSTEMS . Foreign securities shall be maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a designated country through arrangements implemented by the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian, as applicable, in such country.

S ECTION 4.4. T RANSACTIONS I N F OREIGN C USTODY A CCOUNT .

4.4.1. D ELIVERY O F F OREIGN A SSETS . The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Fund held by the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System account, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:

 

  (i) upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Fund in accordance with commercially reasonable market practice in the country where such foreign securities are held or traded, including, without limitation: (A) delivery against expectation of receiving later payment; or (B) in the case of a sale effected through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation of the Foreign Securities System;

 

  (ii) in connection with any repurchase agreement related to foreign securities;


  (iii) to the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for foreign securities of the Fund;

 

  (iv) to the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;

 

  (v) to the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign
Sub-Custodian or of any nominee of the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian) or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units;

 

  (vi) to brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination or trade execution in accordance with market custom; provided that in any such case the Foreign Sub-Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the Foreign
Sub-Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct;

 

  (vii) for exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement;

 

  (viii) in the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities;

 

  (ix) for delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund;

 

  (x) for delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund;

 

  (xi) in connection with the lending of foreign securities; and

 

  (xii) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying the foreign securities to be delivered and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.

4.4.2. P AYMENT OF F UND M ONIES . Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or the respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of the Fund in the following cases only:

 

  (i)

upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Fund, unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, by (A) delivering money to the seller thereof or to a dealer


  therefor (or an agent for such seller or dealer) against expectation of receiving later delivery of such foreign securities; or (B) in the case of a purchase effected through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation of such Foreign Securities System;

 

  (ii) in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of foreign securities of the Fund;

 

  (iii) for the payment of any expense or liability of the Fund, including but not limited to the following payments: interest, taxes, investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees under this Agreement, legal fees, accounting fees, and other operating expenses;

 

  (iv) for the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or foreign exchange contracts for the Fund, including transactions executed with or through the Custodian or its Foreign Sub-Custodians;

 

  (v) for delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund;

 

  (vi) for payment of part or all of the dividends received in respect of securities sold short;

 

  (vii) in connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign securities; and

 

  (viii) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying the amount of such payment and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

4.4.3. M ARKET C ONDITIONS . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received for the account of the Fund and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for the account of the Fund may be effected in accordance with the customary established securities trading or processing practices and procedures in the country or market in which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation, delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of receiving later payment for such Foreign Assets from such purchaser or dealer.

The Custodian shall provide to the Board the information with respect to custody and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian described on Schedule C hereto at the time or times set forth on such Schedule. The Custodian may revise Schedule C from time to time, provided that no such revision shall result in the Board being provided with substantively less information than had been previously provided hereunder.

S ECTION 4.5. R EGISTRATION OF F OREIGN S ECURITIES . The foreign securities maintained in the custody of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of the Custodian or in the name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any nominee of the foregoing, and the Fund agrees to hold any such nominee harmless from


any liability as a holder of record of such foreign securities. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall not be obligated to accept securities on behalf of the Fund under the terms of this Agreement unless the form of such securities and the manner in which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable market practice.

S ECTION 4.6 B ANK A CCOUNTS . The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the Fund cash (including cash denominated in foreign currencies) deposited with the Custodian. Where the Custodian is unable to maintain, or market practice does not facilitate the maintenance of, cash on the books of the Custodian, a bank account or bank accounts shall be opened and maintained outside the United States on behalf of the Fund with a Foreign Sub-Custodian. All accounts referred to in this Section shall be subject only to draft or order by the Custodian (or, if applicable, such Foreign Sub-Custodian) acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to hold cash received by or from or for the account of the Fund. Cash maintained on the books of the Custodian (including its branches, subsidiaries and affiliates), regardless of currency denomination, is maintained in bank accounts established under, and subject to the laws of, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

S ECTION 4.7. C OLLECTION OF I NCOME . The Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to the Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled and shall credit such income, as collected, to the Fund. In the event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the Fund and the Custodian shall consult as to such measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures.

S ECTION 4.8 S HAREHOLDER R IGHTS . With respect to the foreign securities held pursuant to this Section 4, the Custodian will use reasonable commercial efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights, subject always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the country where such securities are issued. The Fund acknowledges that local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability of the Fund to exercise shareholder rights.

S ECTION 4.9. C OMMUNICATIONS R ELATING TO F OREIGN S ECURITIES . The Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information with respect to materials received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Fund (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith). With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information with respect to materials so received by the Custodian from issuers of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange is sought or from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer. The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power in connection with foreign securities or other property of the Fund at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian or the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian is in actual possession of such foreign securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur at least three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take action to exercise such right or power. The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the Fund all written information received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Fund


regarding any class action or other litigation in connection with foreign securities or other assets issued outside the United States and then held, or previously held, during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian for the account of the Fund, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms. For avoidance of doubt, upon and after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to so transmit any information under this Section 4.9.

S ECTION 4.10. L IABILITY OF F OREIGN S UB -C USTODIANS . Each agreement pursuant to which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall, to the extent possible, require the Foreign Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties, and to indemnify, and hold harmless, the Custodian from and against any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out of or in connection with the Foreign Sub-Custodian’s performance of such obligations. At the Fund’s election, it shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claims against a Foreign Sub-Custodian as a consequence of any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim.

S ECTION 4.11 T AX L AW . The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund or the Custodian as custodian of the Fund by the tax law of the United States or of any state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be the responsibility of the Fund to notify the Custodian of the obligations imposed on the Fund or the Custodian as custodian of the Fund by the tax law of countries other than those mentioned in the above sentence, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting. The sole responsibility of the Custodian with regard to such tax law shall be to use reasonable efforts to assist the Fund with respect to any claim for exemption or refund under the tax law of countries for which the Fund has provided such information.

S ECTION 4.12. L IABILITY OF C USTODIAN . The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign Sub-Custodian to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians generally in the Agreement and, regardless of whether assets are maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or a Foreign Securities System, the Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim resulting from nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war or terrorism, or any other loss where the Sub-Custodian has otherwise acted with reasonable care.

 

S ECTION  5. P AYMENTS FOR S ALES OR R EPURCHASES OR R EDEMPTIONS OF S HARES .

The Custodian shall receive from the distributor for the Shares or from the Transfer Agent and deposit into the Fund’s such payments as are received for Shares thereof issued or sold from time to time by the Fund. The Custodian will provide timely notification to the Fund and the Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of payments for Shares of the Fund.

From such funds as may be available for the purpose, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds available for payment to holders of Shares who have delivered to the Transfer Agent a request for redemption or repurchase of their Shares. In


connection with the redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian is authorized upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent to wire funds to or through a commercial bank designated by the redeeming shareholders. In connection with the redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian shall honor checks drawn on the Custodian by a holder of Shares, which checks have been furnished by the Fund to the holder of Shares, when presented to the Custodian in accordance with such procedures and controls as are mutually agreed upon from time to time between the Fund and the Custodian.

 

S ECTION  6. P ROPER I NSTRUCTIONS .

Proper Instructions, which may also be standing instructions, as used throughout this Agreement, shall mean instructions received by the Custodian from the Fund, the Fund’s investment manager, or a person or entity duly authorized by either of them. Such instructions may be in writing signed by the authorized person or persons or may be in a tested communication or in a communication utilizing access codes effected between electro-mechanical or electronic devices or may be by such other means and utilizing such intermediary systems and utilities as may be agreed to from time to time by the Custodian and the person or entity giving such instructions, provided that the Fund has followed any security procedures agreed to from time to time by the Fund and the Custodian, including, but not limited to, the security procedures selected by the Fund in the Funds Transfer Addendum to this Agreement, the terms of which are hereby agreed to. Oral instructions will be considered Proper Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them to have been given by a person authorized to give such instructions with respect to the transaction involved. The Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in writing. For purposes of this Section, Proper Instructions shall include instructions received by the Custodian pursuant to any multi-party agreement which requires a segregated asset account in accordance with Section 2.10 of this Agreement. The Fund or the Fund’s investment manager shall cause its duly authorized officer to certify to the Custodian in writing the names and specimen signatures of persons authorized to give Proper Instructions. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon the identity and authority of such persons until it receives notice from the Fund to the contrary.

 

S ECTION  7. A CTIONS P ERMITTED W ITHOUT E XPRESS A UTHORITY .

 

  The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the Fund:

 

  1) make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this Agreement, provided that all such payments shall be accounted for to the Fund;

 

  2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in definitive form;

 

  3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments; and

 

  4) in general, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with the securities and property of the Fund except as otherwise directed by the Board.


S ECTION  8. E VIDENCE O F A UTHORITY .

The Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions, notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf of the Fund. The Custodian may receive and accept a copy of a resolution of the Board, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Fund (“ Certified Resolution ”), as conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of any person to act in accordance with such resolution or (b) of any determination or of any action by the Board as described in such resolution, and such resolution may be considered as in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of written notice to the contrary.

 

S ECTION  9. D UTIES OF C USTODIAN W ITH R ESPECT TO T HE B OOKS OF A CCOUNT AND C ALCULATION OF N ET A SSET V ALUE A ND N ET I NCOME .

The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to the entity or entities appointed by the Board to keep the books of account of the Fund and/or compute the net asset value per Share of the outstanding Shares or, if directed in writing to do so by the Fund, shall itself keep such books of account and/or compute such net asset value per Share. If so directed, the Custodian shall also calculate daily the net income of the Fund as described in the Prospectus and shall advise the Fund and the Transfer Agent daily of the total amounts of such net income and, if instructed in writing by an officer of the Fund to do so, shall advise the Transfer Agent periodically of the division of such net income among its various components. The Fund acknowledges and agrees that, with respect to investments maintained with the Underlying Transfer Agent, the Underlying Transfer Agent is the sole source of information on the number of shares of a fund held by it on behalf of the Fund and that the Custodian has the right to rely on holdings information furnished by the Underlying Transfer Agent to the Custodian in performing its duties under this Agreement, including without limitation, the duties set forth in this Section 9 and in Section 10 hereof; provided, however, that the Custodian shall be obligated to reconcile information as to purchases and sales of Underlying Shares contained in trade instructions and confirmations received by the Custodian and to report promptly any discrepancies to the Underlying Transfer Agent. The calculations of the net asset value per Share and the daily income of the Fund shall be made at the time or times described from time to time in the Prospectus.

 

S ECTION  10. R ECORDS .

The Custodian shall create and maintain all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the obligations of the Fund under the 1940 Act, with particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder. All such records shall be the property of the Fund and shall at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund and employees and agents of the SEC. The Custodian shall, at the Fund’s request, supply the Fund with a tabulation of securities owned by the Fund and held by the Custodian and shall, when requested to do so by the Fund and for such compensation as shall be agreed upon between the Fund and the Custodian, include certificate numbers in such tabulations.


S ECTION  11. O PINION OF F UND S I NDEPENDENT A CCOUNTANT .

The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund may from time to time request, to obtain from year to year favorable opinions from the Fund’s independent accountants with respect to its activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund’s Form N-1A, and Form N-SAR or other annual reports to the SEC and with respect to any other requirements thereof.

 

S ECTION  12. R EPORTS TO F UND BY I NDEPENDENT P UBLIC A CCOUNTANTS .

The Custodian shall provide the Fund, at such times as the Fund may reasonably require, with reports by independent public accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including securities deposited and/or maintained in a U.S. Securities System or a Foreign Securities System (either, a “ Securities System ”), relating to the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement; such reports, shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail, as may reasonably be required by the Fund to provide reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the reports shall so state.

 

S ECTION  13. C OMPENSATION OF C USTODIAN .

The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services and expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from time to time between the Fund and the Custodian.

 

S ECTION  14. R ESPONSIBILITY OF C USTODIAN .

So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement and shall be held harmless in acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties, including any futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a three-party futures or options agreement. The Custodian shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, but shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence, including, without limitation, acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction. It shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for any loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by anything that is part of Country Risk (as defined in Section 3 hereof), including without limitation nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, insolvency of a Foreign Sub-Custodian, acts of war, revolution, riots or terrorism.

Except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct or the negligence or willful misconduct of a
sub-custodian or agent, the Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for any loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by; (i) events or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian or any sub-custodian or Securities System or any agent or nominee of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, the interruption, suspension


or restriction of trading on or the closure of any securities market, power or other mechanical or technological failures or interruptions, computer viruses or communications disruptions, work stoppages, natural disasters, or other similar events or acts; (ii) errors by the Fund or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment advisor in their instructions to the Custodian provided such instructions have been in accordance with this Agreement; (iii) the insolvency of or acts or omissions by a Securities System; (iv) any delay or failure of any broker, agent or intermediary, central bank or other commercially prevalent payment or clearing system to deliver to the Custodian’s sub-custodian or agent securities purchased or in the remittance or payment made in connection with securities sold; (v) any delay or failure of any company, corporation, or other body in charge of registering or transferring securities in the name of the Custodian, the Fund, the Custodian’s sub-custodians, nominees or agents or any consequential losses arising out of such delay or failure to transfer such securities including non-receipt of bonus, dividends and rights and other accretions or benefits; (vi) delays or inability to perform its duties due to any disorder in market infrastructure with respect to any particular security or Securities System; and (vii) any provision of any present or future law or regulation or order of the United States of America, or any state thereof, or any other country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court of competent jurisdiction. The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign Sub-Custodian to the same extent as set forth with respect to
sub-custodians generally in this Agreement.

If the Fund requires the Custodian to take any action with respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or which action may, in the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or its nominee assigned to the Fund being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some other form, the Fund, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to it.

If the Fund requires the Custodian, its affiliates, subsidiaries or agents, to advance cash or securities for any purpose (including but not limited to securities settlements, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement), or in the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its nominee’s own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, or if the Fund fails to compensate the Custodian pursuant to Section 13 hereof, any property at any time held for the account of the Fund shall be security therefor and should the Fund fail to repay the Custodian promptly, the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of the Fund’s assets to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.

In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect, special or consequential damages.

 

S ECTION  15. E FFECTIVE P ERIOD , T ERMINATION AND A MENDMENT .

This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for an initial term ending             , 2017 (the “ Initial Term ”). After the expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive 3-year terms (each, a “ Renewal Term ”) unless a written notice of non-renewal is delivered by the non-renewing party no later than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term, as the case may be. During the Initial Term and thereafter, either party may terminate this Agreement: (i) in the event of the other party’s material breach of a material


provision of this Agreement that the other party has either (a) failed to cure or (b) failed to establish a remedial plan to cure that is reasonably acceptable, within 60 days’ written notice of such breach, or (ii) in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the other party or upon the happening of a like event to the other party at the direction of an appropriate agency or court of competent jurisdiction. Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to this paragraph with respect to any Fund or Portfolio, the applicable Fund shall pay Custodian its compensation due and shall reimburse Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements.

In the event of: (i) any Fund’s termination of this Agreement with respect to such Fund or its Portfolio(s) for any reason other than as set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph or (ii) a transaction not in the ordinary course of business pursuant to which the Custodian is not retained to continue providing services hereunder to a Fund or Portfolio (or its respective successor), the applicable Fund shall pay the Custodian its compensation due through the end of the then-current term (based upon the average monthly compensation previously earned by Custodian with respect to such Fund or Portfolio) and shall reimburse the Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements. Upon receipt of such payment and reimbursement, the Custodian will deliver such Fund’s or Portfolio’s securities and cash as set forth hereinbelow. For the avoidance of doubt, no payment will be required pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph in the event of any transaction such as (a) the liquidation or dissolution of a fund or Portfolio and distribution of such Fund’s or Portfolio’s assets as a result of the Board’s determination in its reasonable business judgment that the Fund or Portfolio is no longer viable (b) a merger of a Fund or Portfolio into, or the consolidation of a Fund or Portfolio with, another entity, or (c) the sale by a Fund or Portfolio of all, or substantially all, of its assets to another entity, in each of (b) and (c) where the Custodian is retained to continue providing services to such Fund or Portfolio (or its respective successor) on substantially the same terms as this Agreement.

Termination of this Agreement with respect to any one particular Fund or Portfolio shall in no way affect the rights and duties under this Agreement with respect to any other Fund or Portfolio. The provisions of Sections 4.11, 13 and 14 of this Agreement shall survive termination of this Agreement for any reason.

This Agreement may be amended at any time in writing by mutual agreement of the parties hereto.

 

S ECTION  16. S UCCESSOR C USTODIAN .

If a successor custodian for the Fund shall be appointed by the Board, the Custodian shall, upon termination, deliver to such successor custodian at the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for transfer, all securities of the Fund then held by it hereunder and shall transfer to an account of the successor custodian all of the securities of the Fund held in a Securities System or at the Underlying Transfer Agent.

If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall, in like manner, upon receipt of a Certified Resolution, deliver at the office of the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other properties in accordance with such resolution.


In the event that no written order designating a successor custodian or Certified Resolution shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a “bank” as defined in the 1940 Act, doing business in Boston, Massachusetts, or New York, New York, of its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits, as shown by its last published report, of not less than $25,000,000, all securities, funds and other properties held by the Custodian hereunder and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto and all other property held by it under this Agreement on behalf of the Fund, and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian all of the Fund’s securities held in any Securities System or at the Underlying Transfer Agent. Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement.

In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to failure of the Fund to procure the Certified Resolution to appoint a successor custodian, the Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services during such period as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds and other properties and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.

 

S ECTION  17. I NTERPRETIVE A ND A DDITIONAL P ROVISIONS .

In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and the Fund may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by both parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no such interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of the Fund’s *[Declaration of Trust/Articles of Incorporation/other governing documents]. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.


S ECTION 18.  A SSIGNMENT . This Agreement may not be assigned by (a) any Fund without the written consent of the Custodian or (b) by the Custodian without the written consent of each applicable Fund.

S ECTION 19.  S EVERABILITY . If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

S ECTION 20.  C OUNTERPARTS . This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

S ECTION 21.  M ASSACHUSETTS L AW TO A PPLY .

This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

S ECTION  22.  P RIOR A GREEMENTS .

This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all prior Agreements between the Fund and the Custodian relating to the custody of the Fund’s assets.

 

S ECTION  23.  N OTICES .

Any notice, instruction or other instrument required to be given hereunder may be delivered in person to the offices of the parties as set forth herein during normal business hours or delivered prepaid registered mail or by telex, cable or telecopy to the parties at the following addresses or such other addresses as may be notified by any party from time to time.

 

To the Fund:

   *[FUND NAME]   
   *[address]   
   Attention: [contact]   
   Telephone: *   
   Telecopy: *   

To the Custodian:

   STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY   
   *[address]   
   Attention: [unit head]   
   Telephone: 617-*   
   Telecopy: 617-*   

Such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed to have been served in the case of a registered letter at the expiration of five business days after posting, in the case of cable twenty-four


hours after dispatch and, in the case of telex, immediately on dispatch and if delivered outside normal business hours it shall be deemed to have been received at the next time after delivery when normal business hours commence and in the case of cable, telex or telecopy on the business day after the receipt thereof. Evidence that the notice was properly addressed, stamped and put into the post shall be conclusive evidence of posting.

 

S ECTION  24. C ONFIDENTIALITY .

The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other party regarding its business and operations. All confidential information provided by a party hereto shall be used by any other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering or receiving services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information (i) that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through a breach of this Agreement, or that is independently derived by any party hereto without the use of any information provided by the other party hereto in connection with this Agreement, (ii) that is required in any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process, or by operation of law or regulation, or (iii) where the party seeking to disclose has received the prior written consent of the party providing the information, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Custodian and its affiliates may report and use nonpublic portfolio holdings information of its clients, including a Fund, on an aggregated basis with all or substantially all other client information and without specific reference to any Fund.

 

S ECTION  25. R EPRODUCTION O F D OCUMENTS .

This Agreement and all schedules, addenda, exhibits, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

 

S ECTION  26. R EMOTE A CCESS S ERVICES A DDENDUM .

The Custodian and the Fund agree to be bound by the terms of the Remote Access Services Addendum attached hereto.

S ECTION 27. R EGULATION GG . The Fund hereby represents and warrants that it does not engage in an “Internet gambling business,” as such term is defined in Section 233.2(r) of Federal Reserve Regulation GG (12 CFR 233) (“ Regulation GG ”). The Fund hereby covenants and agrees that it shall not engage in an Internet gambling business. In accordance with Regulation GG, the Fund is hereby notified that “restricted transactions,” as such term is defined in Section 233.2(y) of Regulation GG, are prohibited in any dealings with the Custodian pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise between or among any party hereto.


S ECTION 28. Data Privacy. The Custodian will implement and maintain a written information security program that contains appropriate security measures to safeguard the personal information of the Fund’s shareholders, employees, directors and/or officers that the Custodian receives, stores, maintains, processes or otherwise accesses in connection with the provision of services hereunder. For these purposes, “personal information” shall mean (i) an individual’s name (first initial and last name or first name and last name), address or telephone number plus (a) social security number, (b) drivers license number, (c) state identification card number, (d) debit or credit card number, (e) financial account number or (f) personal identification number or password that would permit access to a person’s account or (ii) any combination of the foregoing that would allow a person to log onto or access an individual’s account. Notwithstanding the foregoing “personal information” shall not include information that is lawfully obtained from publicly available information, or from federal, state or local government records lawfully made available to the general public.

 

S ECTION  29. S HAREHOLDER C OMMUNICATIONS E LECTION .

SEC Rule 14b-2 requires banks which hold securities for the account of customers to respond to requests by issuers of securities for the names, addresses and holdings of beneficial owners of securities of that issuer held by the bank unless the beneficial owner has expressly objected to disclosure of this information. In order to comply with the rule, the Custodian needs the Fund to indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian to provide the Fund’s name, address, and share position to requesting companies whose securities the Fund owns. If the Fund tells the Custodian “no”, the Custodian will not provide this information to requesting companies. If the Fund tells the Custodian “yes” or does not check either “yes” or “no” below, the Custodian is required by the rule to treat the Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all securities owned by the Fund or any funds or accounts established by the Fund. For the Fund’s protection, the Rule prohibits the requesting company from using the Fund’s name and address for any purpose other than corporate communications. Please indicate below whether the Fund consents or objects by checking one of the alternatives below.

 

YES    ¨    The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions.
NO    x    The Custodian is not authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions.


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , each of the parties has caused this instrument to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative under seal as of the date first above-written.

 

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

SUPPORT SERVICES AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT made this     day of             , 2012, by and between Allianz Global Investors Distributors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“AGID”) and each of the investment companies listed on Appendix A hereto (each a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”), in each case acting and agreeing with AGID severally and neither jointly nor jointly and severally with any other Fund.

WHEREAS , each of the Funds is a closed-end investment company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “1940 Act”), and has its common shares listed for public trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”); and

WHEREAS , AGID, a broker-dealer registered with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “1934 Act”), and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), is an affiliate of Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC (“AGIFM”), the investment manager of each of the Funds, and an affiliate of the various investment sub-advisers (the “Sub-Advisers”) retained by AGIFM to provide day-to-day portfolio management services to the Funds; and

WHEREAS , each Fund and AGID wish to enter into this Agreement to memorialize arrangements whereby the Fund authorizes and retains AGID to provide various marketing, shareholder support and other services on behalf of the Funds upon the terms and conditions specified herein.

NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, AGID and each Fund hereby agree as follows:

1. Services . Each Fund hereby authorizes and retains AGID to provide the following services: shareholder and financial intermediary support (but no financial intermediary support with respect to Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO”) sub-advised Funds), marketing and communications support, support for Fund boards and internal boards, as well as providing support for (but not underwriting) initial public and secondary offerings of the Funds (limited support with respect to initial public and secondary offerings of PIMCO sub-advised Funds) (the “Services”), which Services may be amended from time to time, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The parties agree that AGID shall be under no obligation to provide any minimum level of the Services hereunder.

2. Compensation . AGID shall provide the Services hereunder at its own expense and shall not be entitled to any compensation from the Funds under this Agreement.


3. Term and Termination . This Agreement will become effective upon the date first set forth above and will continue in effect indefinitely with respect to a Fund unless terminated as set forth below. This Agreement may be terminated with respect to a Fund upon 30 days’ written notice by the Fund to AGID or upon 30 days’ written notice by AGID to the Fund.

4. Compliance with Law and Fund Policies . In all matters pertaining to the performance of this Agreement, AGID (i) will act in conformity with the reasonable directions of the applicable Fund and its Board of Directors/Trustees and officers and AGIFM and (ii) will conform to and comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the 1934 Act, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “1933 Act”), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including, without limitation, rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC and FINRA.

5. Regulation FD . AGID hereby agrees to conform to and comply with each Fund’s policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with Regulation FD under the 1934 Act, as from time to time amended (“Regulation FD Policies”), as provided by the Fund to AGID. AGID and the Funds acknowledge and agree that AGID and its officers, employees and registered representatives are persons who owe a duty of trust or confidence to each Fund, within the meaning of Rule 100(a)(2)(i) of Regulation FD, in providing the Services hereunder, and therefore that a Fund or persons acting on its behalf may disclose material nonpublic information regarding the Fund or its securities to AGID and such officers, employees and registered representatives and the requirements of Rule 100(a) of Regulation FD will not apply to such disclosures.

6. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of AGID .

(a) AGID represents and warrants that: (i) it has the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, (ii) this Agreement, when signed by it or on its behalf, shall be validly executed and delivered and shall be valid, binding and enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, (iii) there are no restrictions, agreements or understandings, oral or written, to which it is a party or by which it is bound that prevent or make unlawful its execution or performance of this Agreement and (iv) its performance of this Agreement and its conduct in connection with the provision of the Services on behalf of the Funds do not, and will not, violate any applicable provision of law, statute, rule or regulation to which it is subject.

(b) AGID represents and warrants that it has obtained all necessary registrations, licenses and approvals in order to perform the Services on behalf of each Fund hereunder. In addition, AGID represents and warrants that it is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and is a member firm in good standing with FINRA, and is registered in and/or has provided any required notification to any state or other jurisdiction where such registration or notification is required. AGID covenants to maintain all necessary registrations, licenses and approvals in effect during the term of this Agreement.

(c) AGID covenants that it shall promptly notify the Funds (i) in the event that the SEC, FINRA or any other regulatory authority has found AGID to have violated any applicable law, rule or regulation directly applicable to the Services, suspended or revoked any of its registrations, licenses or approvals such that it cannot perform the Services, or has commenced

 

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proceedings that are reasonably likely to result in any of these actions and (ii) of any change to AGID that materially and adversely affects its ability to perform the Services under this Agreement.

7. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Funds .

(a) Each Fund represents and warrants that: (i) it has the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, (ii) this Agreement, when signed by it or on its behalf, shall be validly executed and delivered and shall be valid, binding and enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, (iii) there are no restrictions, agreements or understandings, oral or written, to which it is a party or by which it is bound that prevent or make unlawful its execution or performance of this Agreement and (iv) its performance of this Agreement does not, and will not, violate any applicable provision of law, statute, rule or regulation to which it is subject.

(b) Each Fund covenants that it shall promptly notify AGID (i) in the event that the SEC or any other regulatory authority has found the applicable Fund to have violated any applicable law, rule or regulation directly applicable to the Services, suspended or revoked any of its registrations, licenses or approvals such that it cannot receive the Services, or has commenced proceedings that are reasonably likely to result in any of these actions and (ii) of any change to a Fund that materially and adversely affects its ability to receive the Services under this Agreement.

8. Services Not Exclusive . The services to be provided hereunder by AGID are not deemed to be exclusive, and AGID and each of its members, officers, employees, registered representatives and affiliates are free to render such services to other funds or clients.

9. Limitation of Liability . AGID shall not be liable to a Fund for any action taken or omitted by it or its officers, employees or registered representatives in the absence of bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it or its officers, employees or registered representatives of its or their obligations and duties under this Agreement.

10. Notices .

Any notice provided hereunder shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified mail to the party required to be served with such notice at the following address:

(a) if to AGID, to it at Allianz Global Investors Distributors LLC, 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019-7585, Attention: President; and

(b) if to a Fund, to it at [Name of Fund], care of Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC, 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019-7585, Attention: President, or at such other address as a party may from time to time specify in writing to the other party pursuant to this Section 10.

11. Assignment .

 

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This Agreement and a party’s rights and duties hereunder may not be assigned (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) by either a Fund or AGID except by the specific written consent of such other party. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

12. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

13. Miscellaneous.

(a) Paragraph headings in this Agreement are included for convenience only and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.

(b) This Agreement constitutes the complete agreement of the parties hereto as to the subject matter covered by this Agreement, and supersedes all prior negotiations, understandings and agreements bearing upon the subject matter covered by this Agreement.

(c) If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise invalid, the remaining portion or portions shall be considered severable and not be affected, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if this Agreement did not contain such part, term or provision.

(d) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(e) No amendment to this Agreement shall be valid with respect to a Fund unless made in writing and executed by both the Fund and AGID.

(f) For each Fund which is a Massachusetts business trust, a copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Fund as Trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.

 

Allianz Global Investors Distributors LLC

By:

   

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

Each Fund Listed on Appendix A hereto
(with respect to each Fund, severally and neither jointly nor jointly and severally with any other Fund)

By:

   

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

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Appendix A

 

FUNDS

   NYSE Ticker Symbol

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND

   (“PDI”)

 

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SUPPORT SERVICES AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT made this     day of             , 2012, by and between PIMCO Investments LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“PI”) and each of the investment companies listed on Appendix A hereto (each a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”), in each case acting and agreeing with PI severally and neither jointly nor jointly and severally with any other Fund.

WHEREAS , each of the Funds is a closed-end investment company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “1940 Act”), and has its common shares listed for public trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”); and

WHEREAS , PI, a broker-dealer registered with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “1934 Act”), and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), is an affiliate of Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO”), which has been retained as a sub-adviser to provide day-to-day portfolio management services to the Funds; and

WHEREAS , each Fund and PI wish to enter into this Agreement to memorialize arrangements whereby the Fund authorizes and retains PI to provide various marketing, support and other services on behalf of the Funds upon the terms and conditions specified herein.

NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, PI and each Fund hereby agree as follows:

1. Services . Each Fund hereby authorizes and retains PI to provide the following services: financial intermediary support and marketing support, as well as providing support for (but not underwriting) initial public and secondary offerings of the Funds (the “Services”), which Services may be amended from time to time, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The parties agree that PI shall be under no obligation to provide any minimum level of the Services hereunder.

2. Compensation . PI shall provide the Services hereunder at its own expense and shall not be entitled to any compensation from the Funds under this Agreement.

3. Term and Termination . This Agreement will become effective upon the date first set forth above and will continue in effect indefinitely with respect to a Fund unless terminated as set forth below. This Agreement may be terminated with respect to a Fund upon 30 days’ written notice by the Fund to PI or upon 30 days’ written notice by PI to the Fund.

4. Compliance with Law and Fund Policies . In all matters pertaining to the performance of this Agreement, PI (i) will act in conformity with the reasonable directions of the applicable Fund and its Board of Directors/Trustees and officers and PIMCO and (ii) will conform to and comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the 1934 Act, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “1933 Act”), and all other applicable


federal and state laws and regulations, including, without limitation, rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC and FINRA.

5. Regulation FD . PI hereby agrees to conform to and comply with each Fund’s policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with Regulation FD under the 1934 Act, as from time to time amended (“Regulation FD Policies”), as provided by the Fund to PI. PI and the Funds acknowledge and agree that PI and its officers, employees and registered representatives are persons who owe a duty of trust or confidence to each Fund, within the meaning of Rule 100(a)(2)(i) of Regulation FD, in providing the Services hereunder, and therefore that a Fund or persons acting on its behalf may disclose material nonpublic information regarding the Fund or its securities to PI and such officers, employees and registered representatives and the requirements of Rule 100(a) of Regulation FD will not apply to such disclosures.

6. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of PI .

(a) PI represents and warrants that: (i) it has the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, (ii) this Agreement, when signed by it or on its behalf, shall be validly executed and delivered and shall be valid, binding and enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, (iii) there are no restrictions, agreements or understandings, oral or written, to which it is a party or by which it is bound that prevent or make unlawful its execution or performance of this Agreement and (iv) its performance of this Agreement and its conduct in connection with the provision of the Services on behalf of the Funds do not, and will not, violate any applicable provision of law, statute, rule or regulation to which it is subject.

(b) PI represents and warrants that it has obtained all necessary registrations, licenses and approvals in order to perform the Services on behalf of each Fund hereunder. In addition, PI represents and warrants that it is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and is a member firm in good standing with FINRA, and is registered in and/or has provided any required notification to any state or other jurisdiction where such registration or notification is required. PI covenants to maintain all necessary registrations, licenses and approvals in effect during the term of this Agreement.

(c) PI covenants that it shall promptly notify the Funds (i) in the event that the SEC, FINRA or any other regulatory authority has found PI to have violated any applicable law, rule or regulation directly applicable to the Services, suspended or revoked any of its registrations, licenses or approvals such that it cannot perform the Services, or has commenced proceedings that are reasonably likely to result in any of these actions and (ii) of any change to PI that materially and adversely affects its ability to perform the Services under this Agreement.

7. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Funds .

(a) Each Fund represents and warrants that: (i) it has the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, (ii) this Agreement, when signed by it or on its behalf, shall be validly executed and delivered and shall be valid, binding and enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, (iii) there are no restrictions, agreements or understandings, oral or written, to which it is a party or by which it is bound that prevent or make unlawful its execution or performance of this Agreement and (iv) its performance of this

 

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Agreement does not, and will not, violate any applicable provision of law, statute, rule or regulation to which it is subject.

(b) Each Fund covenants that it shall promptly notify PI (i) in the event that the SEC or any other regulatory authority has found the applicable Fund to have violated any applicable law, rule or regulation directly applicable to the Services, suspended or revoked any of its registrations, licenses or approvals such that it cannot receive the Services, or has commenced proceedings that are reasonably likely to result in any of these actions and (ii) of any change to a Fund that materially and adversely affects its ability to receive the Services under this Agreement.

8. Services Not Exclusive . The services to be provided hereunder by PI are not deemed to be exclusive, and PI and each of its members, officers, employees, registered representatives and affiliates are free to render such services to other funds or clients.

9. Limitation of Liability . PI shall not be liable to a Fund for any action taken or omitted by it or its officers, employees or registered representatives in the absence of bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it or its officers, employees or registered representatives of its or their obligations and duties under this Agreement.

10. Notices .

Any notice provided hereunder shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified mail to the party required to be served with such notice at the following address:

(a) if to PI, to it at PIMCO Investments LLC, 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019-7585, Attention: Chairman; and

(b) if to a Fund, to it at [Name of Fund], care of Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC, 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019-7585, Attention: President,

or at such other address as a party may from time to time specify in writing to the other party pursuant to this Section 10.

11. Assignment .

This Agreement and a party’s rights and duties hereunder may not be assigned (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) by either a Fund or PI except by the specific written consent of such other party. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

12. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

13. Miscellaneous .

(a) Paragraph headings in this Agreement are included for convenience only and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.

 

- 3 -


(b) This Agreement constitutes the complete agreement of the parties hereto as to the subject matter covered by this Agreement, and supersedes all prior negotiations, understandings and agreements bearing upon the subject matter covered by this Agreement.

(c) If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise invalid, the remaining portion or portions shall be considered severable and not be affected, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if this Agreement did not contain such part, term or provision.

(d) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(e) No amendment to this Agreement shall be valid with respect to a Fund unless made in writing and executed by both the Fund and PI.

(f) For each Fund which is a Massachusetts business trust, a copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Fund as Trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

- 4 -


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.

 

PIMCO Investments LLC

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Each Fund Listed on Appendix A hereto

(with respect to each Fund, severally and neither jointly nor jointly and severally with any other Fund)

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

- 5 -


Appendix A

 

FUNDS

  

NYSE Ticker Symbol

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND

   (“PDI”)

 

- 6 -

TRANSFER AGENCY SERVICES AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made as of April     , 2012, by and between BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (“BNYM”), and PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund, Inc., (the “Fund”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as a closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and

WHEREAS, the Fund wishes to retain BNYM to serve as transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent and BNYM wishes to furnish such services.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement :

 

  (a) “1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

  (b) “1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

  (c) “Authorized Person” means any officer of the Fund and any other person duly authorized by the Fund’s Board of Trustees to give Oral Instructions and Written Instructions on behalf of the Fund. An Authorized Person’s scope of authority may be limited by setting forth such limitation in a written document signed by both parties hereto.

 

  (d) “CEA” means the Commodities Exchange Act, as amended.

 

  (e)

“Oral Instructions” mean oral instructions received by BNYM from an Authorized Person or from a person reasonably believed by BNYM to be an


  Authorized Person. BNYM may, in its sole discretion in each separate instance, consider and rely upon instructions it receives from an Authorized Person via electronic mail as Oral Instructions.

 

  (f) “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

  (g) “Securities Laws” mean the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act and the CEA.

 

  (h) “Shares” mean the shares of beneficial interest of any series or class of the Fund.

 

  (i) “Written Instructions” mean (i) written instructions signed by an Authorized Person and received by BNYM or (ii) trade instructions transmitted (and received by BNYM) by means of an electronic transaction reporting system access to which requires use of a password or other authorized identifier. The instructions may be delivered by hand, mail, tested telegram, cable, telex or facsimile sending device.

 

2. Appointment . The Fund hereby appoints BNYM to serve as transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent to the Fund in accordance with the terms set forth in this Agreement. BNYM accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish such services. BNYM shall not bear, or otherwise be responsible for, any fees, costs or expenses charged by any third party service providers engaged by the Fund or by any other third party service provider to the Fund.

 

3. Delivery of Documents . The Fund has provided or, where applicable, will provide BNYM with the following:

 

  (a) At BNYM’s request, certified or authenticated copies of the resolutions of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, approving the appointment of BNYM or its affiliates to provide services to the Fund and approving this Agreement;

 

  (b) A copy of the Fund’s most recent effective registration statement;

 

2


  (c) A copy of the advisory agreement with respect to the Fund;

 

  (d) A copy of the distribution/underwriting agreement with respect to each class of Shares of the Fund;

 

  (e) A copy of the Fund’s administration agreements if BNYM is not providing the Fund with such services;

 

  (f) Copies of any distribution and/or shareholder servicing plans and agreements made in respect of the Fund;

 

  (g) A copy of the Fund’s organizational documents, as filed with the state in which the Fund is organized; and

 

  (h) Copies (certified or authenticated where applicable) of any and all amendments or supplements to the foregoing.

 

4. Compliance with Rules and Regulations . BNYM undertakes to comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Laws and any laws, rules and regulations of governmental authorities having jurisdiction with respect to the duties to be performed by BNYM hereunder. Except as specifically set forth herein, BNYM assumes no responsibility for such compliance by the Fund or any other entity.

 

5. Instructions .

 

  (a) Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, BNYM shall act only upon Oral Instructions or Written Instructions.

 

  (b)

BNYM shall be entitled to rely upon any Oral Instruction or Written Instruction it receives from an Authorized Person or from a person reasonably believed by BNYM to be an Authorized Person pursuant to this Agreement. BNYM may assume that any Oral Instruction or Written Instruction received hereunder is not in any way inconsistent with the provisions of organizational documents or this Agreement or of any vote, resolution or proceeding of the Fund’s Board of

 

3


  Trustees or of the Fund’s shareholders, unless and until BNYM receives Written Instructions to the contrary.

 

  (c) The Fund agrees to forward to BNYM Written Instructions confirming Oral Instructions so that BNYM receives the Written Instructions by the close of business on the same day that such Oral Instructions are received. The fact that such confirming Written Instructions are not received by BNYM or differ from the Oral Instructions shall in no way invalidate the transactions or enforceability of the transactions authorized by the Oral Instructions or BNYM’s ability to rely upon such Oral Instructions. Where Oral Instructions or Written Instructions reasonably appear to have been received from an Authorized Person, BNYM shall incur no liability to the Fund in acting in conformance with such Oral Instructions or Written Instructions provided that BNYM’s actions comply with all other provisions of this Agreement.

 

6. Right to Receive Advice .

 

  (a) Advice of the Fund . If BNYM is in doubt as to any action it should or should not take, BNYM may request directions or advice, including Oral Instructions or Written Instructions, from the Fund.

 

  (b) Advice of Counsel . If BNYM shall be in doubt as to any question of law pertaining to any action it should or should not take, BNYM may request advice from counsel of its own choosing (who may be counsel for the Fund, the Fund’s investment adviser or BNYM, at the option of BNYM).

 

  (c)

Conflicting Advice . In the event of a conflict between directions or advice or Oral Instructions or Written Instructions BNYM receives from the Fund, and the

 

4


  advice it receives from counsel, BNYM may rely upon and follow the advice of counsel, and BNYM shall promptly notify the Fund of such reliance. Reliance on such advice, however, does not excuse BNYM from its duties under this Agreement.

 

  (d) Protection of BNYM . BNYM shall be protected in any action it takes or does not take in reliance upon directions or advice or Oral Instructions or Written Instructions it receives from the Fund or from counsel, (in accordance with Sections 6(b) and 6(c) above), and which BNYM believes, in good faith, to be consistent with those directions or advice or Oral Instructions or Written Instructions; provided, however, that any failure by BNYM to provide the notification required by Section 6(c) shall not abrogate the protection afforded to BNYM by this Section 6(d) unless such failure adversely affected the rights of the Fund. Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to impose an obligation upon BNYM (i) to seek such directions or advice or Oral Instructions or Written Instructions, or (ii) to act in accordance with such directions or advice or Oral Instructions or Written Instructions unless, under the terms of other provisions of this Agreement, the same is a condition of BNYM’s properly taking or not taking such action.

 

7.

Records; Visits . The books and records pertaining to the Fund, which are in the possession or under the control of BNYM, shall be the property of the Fund. Such books and records shall be prepared and maintained as required by the 1940 Act and other applicable federal securities laws, rules and regulations. The Fund and Authorized Persons shall have access to such books and records at all times during BNYM’s normal

 

5


  business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Fund, copies of any such books and records shall be provided by BNYM to the Fund or to an Authorized Person, at the Fund’s expense.

 

8 .

Confidentiality . Each party shall keep confidential any information relating to the other party’s business (“Confidential Information”) except receiving party may disclose Confidential Information to its directors, officers, employees, agents, subcontractors, consultants or representatives who have a need to know such information in connection with the performance of the Agreement, and its applicable regulatory authorities and auditors. Confidential Information shall include (a) any data or information that is competitively sensitive material, and not generally known to the public, including, but not limited to, information about product plans, marketing strategies, finances, operations, customer relationships, customer profiles, customer lists, sales estimates, business plans, and internal performance results relating to the past, present or future business activities of the Fund or BNYM, their respective subsidiaries and affiliated companies and the customers, clients and suppliers of any of them; (b) any scientific or technical information, design, process, procedure, formula, or improvement that is commercially valuable and secret in the sense that its confidentiality affords the Fund or BNYM a competitive advantage over its competitors; (c) all confidential or proprietary concepts, documentation, reports, data, specifications, computer software, source code, object code, flow charts, databases, inventions, know-how, and trade secrets, whether or not patentable or copyrightable; and (d) anything designated as confidential. Notwithstanding the foregoing, information shall not be subject to such confidentiality obligations if it: (a) is already known to the receiving party at the time it is obtained and

 

6


  was obtained through some means other than through the performance of an agreement between BNYM and an affiliate of the Fund; (b) is or becomes publicly known or available through no wrongful act of the receiving party; (c) is rightfully received from a third party who, to the best of the receiving party’s knowledge, is not under a duty of confidentiality; (d) is released by the protected party to a third party without restriction; (e) is requested or required to be disclosed by the receiving party pursuant to a court order, subpoena, governmental or regulatory agency request or law; (f) is relevant to the defense of any claim or cause of action asserted against the receiving party; (g) is necessary for BNYM to release such information in connection with the provision of services under this Agreement; or (h) has been or is independently developed or obtained by the receiving party. In addition, BNYM shall be permitted to release Fund information in connection with an independent third party compliance review initiated on or at the request of the Fund or performed by BNYM’s independent auditor; provided, however, that such permission shall not otherwise impair BNYM’s obligation to keep such Fund information confidential pursuant to the terms of this Section 8. BNYM agrees that it will not, at any time during the term of this Agreement or after its termination, reveal, divulge, or make known to any person or entity, unless required by law, any list of shareholders of the Fund or any personal information relating to such shareholders.

 

9. Cooperation with Accountants . BNYM shall cooperate with the Fund’s independent public accountants and shall take all reasonable actions in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement to ensure that the necessary information is made available to such accountants for the expression of their opinion, as required by the Fund.

 

7


10. BNYM System . BNYM shall retain title to and ownership of any and all data bases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, derivative works, inventions, discoveries, patentable or copyrightable matters, concepts, expertise, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, and other related legal rights utilized by BNYM in connection with the services provided by BNYM to the Fund.

 

11. Disaster Recovery . BNYM shall enter into and shall maintain in effect with appropriate parties one or more agreements making reasonable provisions for emergency use of electronic data processing equipment to the extent appropriate equipment is available. In the event of equipment failures, BNYM shall, at no additional expense to the Fund, take reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions. BNYM shall have no liability with respect to the loss of data or service interruptions caused by equipment failure, provided such loss or interruption is not caused by BNYM’s own intentional misconduct, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of its duties or obligations under this Agreement.

 

12. Compensation .

(a) As compensation for services rendered by BNYM during the term of this Agreement, the Fund will pay to BNYM a fee or fees as may be agreed to from time to time in writing by the Fund and BNYM. The Fund acknowledges that BNYM may receive float benefits and/or investment earnings in connection with maintaining certain accounts required to provide services under this Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding the limitation of liability provisions of this Agreement or the termination of this Agreement, the Fund shall remain responsible for paying to BNYM the fees set forth in the applicable fee letter.

 

8


13. Indemnification . The Fund agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless BNYM and its affiliates, including their respective officers, directors, agents (provided BNYM exercised reasonable care in selecting such agents) and employees, from all reasonably foreseeable taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and liabilities arising under the Securities Laws and any state and foreign securities and blue sky laws) arising directly or from any action or omission to act which BNYM takes in connection with the routine provision of services to the Fund. Neither BNYM, nor any of its affiliates, shall be indemnified against any liability (or any expenses incident to such liability) caused by BNYM’s or its affiliates’ own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, provided that in the absence of a finding to the contrary the acceptance, processing and/or negotiation of a fraudulent payment for the purchase of Shares shall be presumed not to have been the result of BNYM’s or its affiliates own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of such duties and obligations. The provisions of this Section 13 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

14. Responsibility of BNYM .

 

  (a)

BNYM shall be under no duty to take any action hereunder on behalf of the Fund except as specifically set forth herein or as may be specifically agreed to by BNYM and the Fund in a written amendment hereto. BNYM shall be obligated to exercise customary care and diligence in the performance of its duties hereunder and to act in good faith in performing services provided for under this Agreement. BNYM shall be liable only for any damages arising out of BNYM’s

 

9


  failure to perform its duties under this Agreement to the extent such damages arise out of BNYM’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of such duties.

 

  (b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or of any other provision of this Agreement, (i) BNYM shall not be liable for losses beyond its control, including without limitation (subject to Section 11), delays or errors or loss of data occurring by reason of circumstances beyond BNYM’s control, provided that BNYM has acted in accordance with the standard set forth in Section 14(a) above and has otherwise fulfilled its obligation under this Agreement; and (ii) BNYM shall not be under any duty or obligation to inquire into and shall not be liable for the validity or invalidity or authority or lack thereof of any Oral Instruction or Written Instruction, notice or other instrument which conforms to the applicable requirements of this Agreement, and which BNYM reasonably believes to be genuine.

 

  (c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) neither party nor its affiliates shall be liable for any consequential, punitive, special or indirect losses or damages, whether or not the likelihood of such losses or damages was known by the party or its affiliates and (ii) excluding fees owed by the Fund under this Agreement for services rendered by BNYM, a party’s cumulative liability for all losses, claims, suits, controversies, breaches or damages for any cause whatsoever (including but not limited to those arising out of or related to this Agreement) and regardless of the form of action or legal theory shall not exceed $100,000 plus reasonable attorney’s fees.

 

10


  (d) Each party shall have a duty to mitigate damages for which the other party may become responsible.

 

  (e) The provisions of this Section 14 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

15. Description of Services .

 

  (a) Services Provided on an Ongoing Basis, If Applicable.

 

  (i) Maintain shareholder registrations;

 

  (ii) Provide toll-free lines for shareholder and broker-dealer use;

 

  (iii) Provide periodic shareholder lists and statistics;

 

  (iv) Mailing of year-end tax information; and

 

  (v) Periodic mailing of shareholder dividend reinvestment plan account information and Fund financial reports.

 

  (b) Dividends and Distributions . BNYM must receive Written Instructions authorizing the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions. Upon receipt of the resolution, BNYM shall issue the dividends and distributions in cash, or, if the resolution so provides, pay such dividends and distributions in Shares. Such issuance or payment shall be made after deduction and payment of the required amount of funds to be withheld in accordance with any applicable tax laws or other laws, rules or regulations. BNYM shall timely send to the Fund’s shareholders tax forms and other information, or permissible substitute notice, relating to dividends and distributions, paid by the Fund as are required to be filed and mailed by applicable law, rule or regulation.

BNYM shall maintain and file with the United States Internal Revenue Service and other appropriate taxing authorities reports relating to all dividends above a

 

11


stipulated amount (currently $10.00 accumulated yearly dividends) paid by the Fund to its shareholders as required by tax or other law, rule or regulation. In accordance with the Prospectus and such procedures and controls as are mutually agreed upon from time to time by and among the Fund, BNYM and the Fund’s Custodian, BNYM shall process applications from Shareholders relating to the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“Dividend Reinvestment Plan”) and will effect purchases of Shares in connection with the Dividend Reinvestment Plan. As the dividend disbursing agent, BNYM shall, on or before the payment date of any such dividend or distribution, notify the fund accounting agent of the estimated amount required to pay any portion of said dividend or distribution which is payable in cash, and on or before the payment date of such distribution, the Fund shall instruct the custodian to make available to the dividend disbursing agent sufficient funds for the cash amount to be paid out. If a shareholder is entitled to receive additional Shares, by virtue of any distribution or dividend, appropriate credits will be made to his or her account and/or certificates delivered where requested, all in accordance with the Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

 

  (c) Communications to Shareholders . Upon timely written instructions, BNYM shall mail all communications by the Fund to its shareholders, including:

 

  (i) Reports to shareholders;

 

  (ii) Monthly or quarterly dividend reinvestment plan statements;

 

  (iii) Dividend and distribution notices;

 

  (iv) Proxy material; and

 

  (v) Tax form information.

 

12


BNYM will receive and tabulate the proxy cards for the meetings of the Fund’s shareholders.

 

  (d) Records . BNYM shall maintain records of the accounts for each shareholder showing the following information:

 

  (i) Name, address and United States Tax Identification or Social Security number;

 

  (ii) Number and class of shares held and number and class of shares for which certificates, if any, have been issued, including certificate numbers and denominations;

 

  (iii) Historical information regarding the account of each shareholder, including dividends and distributions paid and the date and price for all transactions on a shareholder’s account;

 

  (iv) Any stop or restraining order placed against a shareholder’s account;

 

  (v) Any correspondence relating to the current maintenance of a shareholder’s account;

 

  (vi) Information with respect to withholdings; and

 

  (vii) Any information required in order for the transfer agent to perform any calculations contemplated or required by this Agreement.

 

  (e) Shareholder Inspection of Stock Records . Upon requests from Fund shareholders to inspect stock records, BNYM will notify the Fund and require instructions granting or denying each such request. Unless BNYM has acted contrary to the Fund’s instructions, the Fund agrees to release BNYM from any liability for refusal of permission for a particular shareholder to inspect the Fund’s shareholder records.

 

16.

Duration and Termination . (a) This Agreement shall continue until terminated by the

 

13


  Fund or by BNYM on sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to the other party. In the event a party hereto gives notice of termination to the other party, all expenses associated with movement (or duplication) of records and materials and conversion thereof to a successor transfer agent or other service provider, and all trailing expenses incurred by the party receiving notice of termination, directly attributable to termination, will be borne by the terminating party; provided, however, that: (i) if the Agreement has been terminated by BNYM and BNYM has cited in the notice of termination events or circumstances reasonably constituting a breach of the Agreement or a material increase in the risks associated with providing services contemplated by the Agreement, such expenses shall be borne by the Fund; and (ii) in the event that the Agreement is terminated by reason of the parties’ inability to agree to a new fee schedule, such expenses shall be split evenly between BNYM and the Fund.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, BNYM may in its sole discretion terminate this Agreement immediately by sending notice thereof to the Fund upon the happening of any of the following: (i) the Fund commences as debtor any case or proceeding under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, or there is commenced against the Fund any such case or proceeding; (ii) the Fund commences as debtor any case or proceeding seeking the appointment of a receiver, conservator, trustee, custodian or similar official for the Fund or any substantial part of its property or there is commenced against the Fund any such case or proceeding; (iii) the Fund makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (iv) the Fund states in any medium, written, electronic or otherwise, any public communication or in any other public manner its inability to pay debts as they come due. BNYM may exercise its termination right under

 

14


this Section 16(b) at any time after the occurrence of any of the foregoing events notwithstanding that such event may cease to be continuing prior to such exercise, and any delay in exercising this right shall not be construed as a waiver or other extinguishment of that right. Any exercise by BNYM of its termination right under this Section 16(b) shall be without any prejudice to any other remedies or rights available to BNYM and shall not be subject to any fee or penalty, whether monetary or equitable. Notwithstanding Section 17, notice of termination under this Section 16(b) shall be considered given and effective when given, not when received.

 

17.

Notices . Notices shall be addressed (a) if to BNYM, at 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, Attention: President, and with a copy at the same address Attention: Legal Department; (b) if to the Fund, at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 47 th Floor, New York, New York, 10105 Attention: Secretary or (c) if to neither of the foregoing, at such other address as shall have been given by like notice to the sender of any such notice or other communication by the other party. If notice is sent by confirming telegram, cable, telex or facsimile sending device, it shall be deemed to have been given immediately. If notice is sent by first-class mail, it shall be deemed to have been given three days after it has been mailed. If notice is sent by messenger, it shall be deemed to have been given on the day it is delivered.

 

18. Amendments . This Agreement, or any term thereof, may be changed or waived only by a written amendment, signed by the party against whom enforcement of such change or waiver is sought.

 

19.

Delegation; Assignment; Subcontracting . BNYM may assign its rights and delegate its duties hereunder to any affiliate of BNYM, provided that BNYM gives the Fund 30 days

 

15


  prior written notice of such assignment or delegation. In addition, BNYM may, in its sole discretion without notice or consent of the Fund, engage agents (subcontractors) to perform any of the obligations contained in this Agreement to be performed by BNYM, provided, however, BNYM shall remain responsible for the acts or omissions of any such subcontractors.

 

20 . Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

21 . Further Actions . Each party agrees to perform such further acts and execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof.

 

22. Miscellaneous .

 

  (a) Entire Agreement . This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof, provided that the parties may embody in one or more separate documents their agreement, if any, with respect to delegated duties.

 

  (b)

No Changes that Materially Affect Obligations . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Fund agrees not to make any modifications to its registration statement or adopt any policies which would affect materially the obligations or responsibilities of BNYM hereunder without the prior written approval of BNYM, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The scope of services to be provided by BNYM under this Agreement shall not be increased as a result of new or revised regulatory or other

 

16


  requirements that may become applicable with respect to the Fund, unless the parties hereto expressly agree in writing to any such increase.

 

  (c) Captions . The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.

 

  (d) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made in Delaware and governed, construed and enforced under Delaware law, without regard to principles of conflicts of law.

 

  (e) Partial Invalidity . If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

 

  (f) Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

  (g) No Representations or Warranties . Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, each party hereby disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, made to the other party or any other person, including, without limitation, any warranties regarding quality, suitability, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or otherwise (irrespective of any course of dealing, custom or usage of trade), of any services or any goods provided incidental to services provided under this Agreement. Each party disclaims any warranty of title or non-infringement except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement.

 

  (h)

Facsimile Signatures . The facsimile signature of any party to this Agreement

 

17


  shall constitute the valid and binding execution hereof by such party.

 

  (i) Compliance with Law. Each of BNYM and the Fund agrees to comply in all material respects with the respective laws, rules, regulations and legal process applicable to the operation of its business (“Applicable Laws”). The Fund agrees that BNYM is not obligated to assist the Fund with compliance, or to bring the Fund into compliance, with the Fund’s Applicable Laws, and that the Fund is solely responsible for such compliance, except where BNYM has expressly agreed to provide that compliance service as a service hereunder.

 

  (j) Privacy . Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that, subject to the reuse and re-disclosure provisions of Regulation S-P, 17 CFR Part 248.11, it shall not disclose the non-public personal information of investors in the Fund obtained under this Agreement, except disclosures in connection with carrying out the services set forth in this Agreement or as otherwise permitted by law or regulation. BNYM agrees to implement and maintain appropriate security measures to protect “personal information”, as that term is defined in 201 CMR 17.00: Standards For The Protection Of Personal Information Of Residents Of The Commonwealth (“Massachusetts Privacy Regulation”), consistent with the Massachusetts Privacy Regulation and any applicable federal regulations.

 

  (k)

Customer Identification Program Notice . To help the U.S. government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, U.S. Federal law requires each financial institution to obtain, verify, and record certain information that identifies each person who initially opens an account with that financial institution on or after October 1, 2003. Certain of BNYM’s affiliates are financial

 

18


  institutions, and BNYM may, as a matter of policy, request (or may have already requested) the Fund’s name, address and taxpayer identification number or other government-issued identification number, and, if such party is a natural person, that party’s date of birth. BNYM may also ask (and may have already asked) for additional identifying information, and BNYM may take steps (and may have already taken steps) to verify the authenticity and accuracy of these data elements.

 

19


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

BNYM INC.

By:

 

 

Title:

 

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund

By:

 

 

Title:

 

 

20

ORGANIZATIONAL AND OFFERING EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT made this [    ] day of [            ], 2012, by and between PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND, a Massachusetts business trust (the “ Fund ”), and PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Sub-Adviser ”).

WHEREAS, the Fund and ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS FUND MANAGEMENT LLC (the “ Adviser ”) have separately entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement dated [            ], 2012 (the “ Management Contract ”); and

WHEREAS, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser have separately entered into a Portfolio Management Agreement dated [            ], 2012 (the “ Portfolio Management Agreement ”) pursuant to which the Sub-Adviser will provide portfolio management services to the Fund.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter contained, and in connection with the establishment and commencement of operations of the Fund, it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:

 

1. The Sub-Adviser agrees to pay all of the Fund’s organizational expenses. The Sub-Adviser also agrees to pay, if the initial public offering occurs, the amount by which the Fund’s offering costs of the initial offering of common shares of beneficial interest of the Fund (“shares”) exceed $0.05 per share. The offering costs for which the Fund is being reimbursed pursuant to this Agreement do not include (x) management fees payable by the Fund pursuant to the terms of the Management Contract or fees payable to the Sub-Adviser under the Portfolio Management Agreement and (y) any sales load or underwriting discount paid by shareholders, but do include any applicable portion of the Fund’s reimbursement of expenses incurred by the Fund’s underwriters in connection with the initial public offering.

 

2. This Agreement may be terminated only by the vote of (a) the Board of Trustees of the Fund, including the vote of the members of the Board who are not “interested persons” of the Fund within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and (b) a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.

 

3. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remainder shall not be thereby affected.

 

4. The Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, including any amendments thereto, is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This Agreement is executed on behalf of the Fund by an officer of the Fund as an officer and not individually and the obligations imposed upon the Fund by this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Fund’s Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank. ]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund and the Sub-Adviser have caused this Agreement to be executed on the day and year first above written.

 

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND
By:  

 

Name:   Brian S. Shlissel
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form N-2 of PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund of our report dated April 20, 2012, relating to the Statement of Net Assets of PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund, which appears in such Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in such Registration Statement.

 

LOGO

New York, New York

May 11, 2012

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND

Subscription Agreement

This Subscription Agreement made as of April 13, 2012, by and between PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund, a Massachusetts business trust (the “ Fund ”), and Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. (the “ Subscriber ”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Fund has been formed for the purposes of carrying on business as a closed-end management investment company; and

WHEREAS, the Subscriber is the parent company of Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC, the investment manager to the Fund; and

WHEREAS, the Subscriber wishes to subscribe for and purchase, and the Fund wishes to sell to the Subscriber, 4,189 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.00001 (the “ Shares ”), for a purchase price of $23.875 per share.

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

1. The Subscriber subscribes for and agrees to purchase from the Fund the Shares for a purchase price of $23.875 per Share and an aggregate purchase price of $100,012.38. The Subscriber agrees to make payment for the Shares at such time as demand for payment may be made by an officer of the Fund.

2. The Fund agrees to issue and sell said Shares to the Subscriber promptly upon its receipt of the aggregate purchase price.

3. To induce the Fund to accept its subscription and issue the Shares subscribed for, the Subscriber represents that it is informed as follows:

(a) That the Shares being subscribed for have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “ Securities Act ”), or registered or qualified under the securities laws of any state;

(b) That the Shares will be sold by the Fund in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act;

(c) That the Fund’s reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is predicated in part on the representations and agreements contained in this Subscription Agreement;

(d) That, when issued, the Shares will be “restricted securities” as defined in paragraph (a)(3) of Rule 144 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (“ Rule 144 ”) and cannot be sold or transferred by Subscriber unless they are subsequently


registered under the Securities Act or unless an exemption from such registration is available; and

(e) That there do not appear to be any exemptions from the registration provisions of the Securities Act available to the Subscriber for resale of the Shares. In the future, certain exemptions may possibly become available, including an exemption for limited sales in accordance with the conditions of Rule 144.

The Subscriber understands that a primary purpose of the information acknowledged in subparagraphs (a) through (e) above is to put the Subscriber on notice as to certain restrictions on the transferability of the Shares.

4. To further induce the Fund to accept its subscription and issue the Shares subscribed for, the Subscriber:

(a) Represents and warrants that the Shares subscribed for are being and will be acquired for investment for its own account and not on behalf of any other person or persons and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any public distribution thereof;

(b) Agrees that any certificates representing the Shares subscribed for may bear a legend substantially in the following form:

The shares represented by this certificate have been acquired for investment and have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or any other federal or state securities law. These shares may not be offered for sale, sold or otherwise transferred unless registered under said securities laws or unless some exemption from registration is available; and

(c) Consents, as the sole holder of the Fund’s common shares of beneficial interest and pursuant to Section 23(b)(2) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, to the issuance by the Fund of common shares of beneficial interest at a price per share as set forth in the underwriting agreement relating to the public offering of the common shares of beneficial interest of the Fund.

5. This Subscription Agreement and all of its provisions shall be binding upon the legal representatives, heirs, successors and assigns of the parties hereto. This Subscription Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original for all purposes.

6. The Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, including any amendments thereto, is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This Subscription Agreement is executed on behalf of the Fund by an officer of the Fund as an officer and not individually, and the obligations imposed upon the Fund by this Subscription Agreement are not binding upon any of the Fund’s Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Subscription Agreement has been executed by the parties hereto as of the day and date first above written.

 

PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FUND

By:

 

/s/ Lawrence G. Altadonna

Name:

  Lawrence G. Altadonna

Title:

  Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

By:

 

/s/ Brian S. Shlissel

Name:

  Brian S. Shlissel

Title:

  Managing Director

Allianz Global Investors Fund Management Sponsored Closed-End Funds

and The Korea Fund, Inc.

( each a Fund and, together, the Funds )

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CODE OF ETHICS

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Fiduciary Duty

This Code of Ethics (the Code ) is applicable to Access Persons (as defined below) of one or more Funds, and is based on the principle that, you, as an Access Person of the Funds, owe a fiduciary duty to the shareholders ( Shareholders ) of the Funds. Accordingly, you must avoid activities, interests, and relationships that might interfere or appear to interfere with making decisions in the best interests of Shareholders.

At all times, you must:

 

  1. Place the interests of Shareholders first. In other words, as a fiduciary you must scrupulously avoid serving your own personal interests ahead of the interests of Shareholders. You may not cause a Fund to take action, or not to take action, for your personal benefit rather than the benefit of Shareholders. For example, you would violate this Code if you caused a Fund to purchase a Security you owned for the purpose of increasing the price of that Security. If you are an Advisory Person (as defined below), you would also violate this Code if you made a personal investment in a Security that might be an appropriate investment for a Fund without first considering the Security as an investment for the Fund.

 

  2.

Conduct all of your personal Securities transactions in full compliance with this Code. The Funds encourages you and your family to develop personal investment programs. However, you must not take any action in connection with your personal investments that could cause even the appearance of unfairness or impropriety. Accordingly, you must comply with the policies and procedures set forth in this Code under the heading Personal Securities 1 Transactions . Failure to comply with this Code may result in disciplinary action including, but not limited to, fines, disgorgement

 

1  

The term Securities, which is later defined in this policy, also includes any share of an Allianz Global Investors Fund Management Sponsored Closed-End Fund or The Korea Fund, Inc., for which you are an independent Trustee/Director. Transactions in such Securities must be pre-cleared using the form at Appendix I of this policy. The purpose is to confirm that the transaction is in compliance with the Funds’ Code of Ethics and Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, Rule 10b-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Transactions in other Securities (other than Exempt Transactions, as defined), which do not meet the Special Exempt Transaction Rule (as defined) must be pre-cleared using the form at Appendix II of this policy. See Transactions Requiring Preclearance for further information.


of profits or other sanctions deemed appropriate by the Audit Oversight and Compliance Committees of the Funds (each, an Audit Committee ). In addition, you must comply with all other applicable laws and regulations including those concerning insider trading. Doubtful situations should be resolved against your personal trading. Situations that are questionable may be resolved against your personal interests.

 

  3. Avoid taking inappropriate advantage of your position. The receipt of investment opportunities, gifts or gratuities from persons seeking business with the Funds, Shareholder or affiliate could call into question the independence of your business judgment. Accordingly, you must comply with the policies and procedures set forth in this Code under the heading Fiduciary Duties . Doubtful situations should be resolved against your personal interest. Situations that are questionable may be resolved against your personal interests.

 

  4. Comply with applicable federal securities laws and regulations. In connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, of a Security, you are not permitted to: (i) engage in any manipulative practices with respect to Securities, including price manipulation; or (ii) otherwise violate applicable federal securities laws (including without limitation, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act, any rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) under these statutes, the U.S.A. Patriot Act, as it applies to mutual funds and investment advisers, and any rules adopted there under by the Commission or the Department of Treasury). In the event that you are unsure of any such laws or regulations, then you must consult the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer or Chief Legal Officer, or, if you are an Independent Trustee (as defined below), counsel to the Independent Trustees/Directors.

As an officer or Trustee of the Funds, you must promptly report any violations or suspected violation of the federal securities laws, as well as any violations or suspected violations of this Code, to the Chief Compliance Officer of the Funds. The Chief Compliance Officer will in turn report any such violations or suspected violations to the Chair of the Audit Committee or, if the violation or suspected violation involves the Chair of the Audit Committee, to the Chair of the Boards of Trustees/Directors of the Funds ( each, a Board and collectively, the Boards) . Alternatively, if you are an Independent Trustee, you may report any such violations or suspected violations directly to the Chair of the Audit Committee and/or the Chair of the Board.

Application

Certain officers and Trustees/Directors of the Funds are officers of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. ( AAM LP ), Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC ( AGI US ), Allianz Asset Management of America LLC ( AAM LLC ), Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC ( AGIFM ), the investment adviser to the AGIFM Sponsored Closed-End Funds, RCM Capital Management LLC ( RCM ), the investment adviser to The Korea Fund, Inc. and/or Allianz Global Investors Distributors LLC ( AGID ), a broker-dealer.

With respect to the AGIFM Sponsored Closed-End Funds, AGIFM is responsible for providing advice and guidance with respect to the Funds and for managing, either directly or through other advisory firms approved by the Trustees, the investments of the Funds. The subadvisers, Pacific Investment


Management Company LLC ( PIMCO ), Allianz Global Investors Capital LLC (AGIC) and NFJ Investment Group LLC (NFJ) manage the day-to-day investment affairs of their respective Funds, save AGIC’s management of the convertible component of the NFJ Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund.

With respect to The Korea Fund, Inc., RCM is the investment adviser and has retained RCM Asia Pacific Limited ( RCM AP ) to manage the day-to-day investment affairs of the fund and AGIFM to provide administrative services to the fund.

AAM LP, AGI US, AAM LLC, AGIFM, AGID, AGIC and NFJ ( except for PIMCO, RCM and RCM AP) are governed by the Code of Ethics of AAM LP (the AAM Code ) pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”). The AAAM Code has been approved by the Boards, including a majority of the Independent Trustees/Directors. Any trustee or officer of the Funds or any person who would otherwise be subject to this Code, who also is subject to the AAM Code and who complies with the AAM Code (each such person, an Allianz Person ), shall not be subject to the provisions of this Code. Any changes to the AAM Code will be reported to the Boards promptly after the effectiveness of such change.

Certain persons ( PIMCO Persons, RCM Persons and RCM AP Persons ) who would otherwise be subject to this Code are officers or employees of PIMCO, RCM or RCM AP and are subject to the Code of Ethics of PIMCO ( the PIMCO Code) , RCM ( the RCM Code) or RCM AP ( the RCM AP Code, and collectively, the PIMCO-RCM-RCM AP Code ), respectively, adopted pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the Act. The PIMCO-RCM-RCM AP Code has been approved by the Boards, including a majority of the Independent Trustees/Directors. Any person who would otherwise be subject to this Code who also is subject to the PIMCO-RCM-RCM AP Code and who complies with such PIMCO-RCM-RCM AP Code, shall not be subject to the provisions of this Code.

Any officer, trustee or other Access Person of the Funds that is not subject to the AAM Code or the PIMCO-RCM-RCM AP Code (each, a Non-Allianz Person) shall be subject to and required to comply with the terms of this Code. It is expected that all Access Persons of the Funds other than the Independent Trustees/Directors will either be Allianz Persons, PIMCO Persons, RCM Persons or RCM AP Persons and, therefore, only the Independent Trustees/Directors will be subject to this Code .

Questions

Questions regarding this Code should be addressed to the Funds’ Chief Legal Officer or the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer, or, if you are an Independent Trustee, to counsel to the Independent Trustees/Directors.

Compliance with Laws, Rules, and Regulations

You must comply at all times with all applicable federal and state securities laws. In the event that you are unsure of any such laws or regulations, then you must consult with the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer before engaging in the contemplated activity. If you are an Independent Trustee, you may instead consult with the Funds’ Chief Legal Officer or counsel to the Independent Trustees/Directors.

Definitions

Certain capitalized terms used in this Code are defined when first used. Others are defined below under “Definitions.”


Appendices

The following appendices are attached to this Code and are a part of this Code:

 

  I. Form for Preclearance of Fund Transaction

 

  II. Form for Preclearance of Securities Transactions

 

  III. Form of Report of Personal Securities Transactions/Brokerage Account Report

 

  IV. Privacy Policy of the Funds

 

  V. Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policies and Procedures of the Funds

 

  VI. Form of Acknowledgement of Receipt of Code of Ethics

 

  VII. Form for Annual Certification of Compliance

PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

Trading in General

General. You, as an Access Person, may not engage, and may not permit any other person or entity to engage, in any purchase or sale of a Security (other than an Exempt Security) in which you have, or such other person or entity has, or by reason of the transaction will acquire, Beneficial Ownership, unless (i) the transaction is an Exempt Transaction (as defined below) or (ii) you have complied with the procedures set forth under Transactions Requiring Preclearance .

Special Exempt Transaction Rule for Transactions by Independent Trustees/Directors ( the following Exempt Transaction Rule does not apply to transactions in shares of Allianz Global Investors Fund Management Sponsored Closed-End Funds or The Korea Fund, Inc. to the extent you are a Trustee/Director who serves on the Board of the applicable Fund. Such transactions must be pre-cleared as required by the procedures to the extent you are a Trustee/Director who serves on the Board of the applicable Fund) . Notwithstanding the foregoing, any transaction in Securities by an Independent Trustee shall be considered an Exempt Transaction and shall not be subject to the preclearance and reporting requirements under the Code, so long as such Independent Trustee did not know and, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duties as a trustee, should not have known, that during the 15-day period immediately preceding or after the date of the transaction, such Securities were purchased or sold, or considered for purchase or sale, on behalf of a Fund. Transactions in Securities (other than Exempt Securities) which do not meet the foregoing exception and which are not otherwise Exempt Transactions shall be subject to the preclearance and reporting requirements set forth in this Code.

Please note that if you knowingly have any direct or indirect beneficial interest in, or are designated as trustee, executor, or guardian of any legal interest in, any security issued by Allianz SE (the ultimate parent of Allianz Asset Management, Allianz Global Investors U.S. and its subsidiaries), you will be an “interested person” of the Funds and will not be an Independent Trustee for purposes of the Act.

Exempt Transactions

The following Exempt Transactions are not subject to the preclearance requirements under the Code, although they are still subject to the reporting requirements under the Code except where specifically identified as exempt.


  1. Any transaction in Securities in an account over which you do not have any direct or indirect influence or control. There is a presumption that you can exert some measure of influence or control over accounts held by members of your immediate family sharing the same household, but this presumption may be rebutted by convincing evidence subject to review and approval by the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer. Such transactions are also exempt from the Code’s reporting requirements.

 

  2. Transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan or dividend reinvestment plan. Such transactions are also exempt from the reporting requirements unless a transaction overrides the pre-set schedule or allocations of the plan. In such cases, the transaction(s) must be included in a quarterly transaction report.

 

  3. Purchases of Securities by exercise of rights issued to the holders of a class of Securities pro rata , to the extent they are issued with respect to Securities of which you have Beneficial Ownership.

 

  4. Acquisitions or dispositions of Securities as the result of a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, merger, consolidation, spin-off or other similar corporate distribution or reorganization applicable to all holders of a class of Securities of which you have Beneficial Ownership.

 

  5. Acquisitions or dispositions of Securities of a private issuer . A private issuer is an issuer which has no outstanding publicly traded Securities, and no outstanding Securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for, or represent the right to purchase or otherwise acquire, publicly traded Securities. Note that Allianz Persons will be subject to the restrictions on investments in private placements included in the AAM Code and PIMCO Persons, RCM Persons or RCM AP Persons will be subject to any applicable restrictions set forth in the relevant PIMCO-RCM-RCM AP Code. However, you will have Beneficial Ownership of Securities held by a private issuer whose equity Securities you hold, unless you are not a controlling equity holder and do not have or share investment control over the Securities held by the entity.

 

  6. Transactions in Securities traded within the preceding fifteen days for a Fund provided that (i) the trading for the Fund has been completed and (ii) the trade in which the trustee or officer has or acquires Beneficial Ownership is not contrary to the trade done for the Fund.

 

  7. On a case-by-case basis, the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer may exempt a specific transaction from any of the provisions of this Code except for the provisions set forth below under Reporting . All requests to exempt a transaction must be in writing and forwarded to the Chief Compliance Officer for approval prior to your executing the transaction.

 

  8. Purchases or sales of up to $100,000 per calendar month per issuer of fixed-income Securities.

 

  9. Any purchase or sale of fixed-income Securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the Government of the United States.


  10. Purchases or sales of up to $1,000,000 per calendar month per issuer of fixed-income Securities issued by qualified foreign governments . A qualified foreign government is a national government of a developed foreign country with outstanding fixed-income securities in excess of $50 billion.

 

  11. Purchases or sales that do not exceed 2,000 shares per day, per issuer, of issuers with a total market capitalization of $5 billion or greater at the time of investment. If you are unsure whether a security meets the market capitalization criteria, contact the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer.

 

  12. Purchases or sales up to the lesser of 1,000 shares or $10,000 per calendar week, per issuer, of stock of issuers with market capitalizations below $5 billion at the time of investment.

 

  13. Transactions described as being considered “Exempt Transactions” under “Special Exempt Transaction Rule for Transactions by Independent Trustees/Directors.”

The list of qualified foreign governments and a company’s capitalization size will change from time to time. Accordingly, you may purchase Securities in an Exempt Transaction, only to find that you cannot sell them later in an Exempt Transaction. In that case, you will be able to sell them only if you preclear the sale in compliance with the procedures set forth in the Code.

Transactions Requiring Preclearance

If an Access Person has (or wishes to acquire) Beneficial Ownership of Securities which are not Exempt Securities and which cannot be acquired or sold in Exempt Transactions, such Securities may be sold (or acquired) in compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section.

Preclearance Procedures for Allianz Persons, PIMCO Persons, RCM Persons and RCM AP Persons : The preclearance procedures for transactions by Allianz Persons, PIMCO Persons, RCM Persons and RCM AP Persons are set forth in the AAM Code and the PIMCO-RCM-RCM AP Code, respectively.

Fund shares may only be acquired or sold in compliance with the procedures set forth in this section.

Preclearance Procedures for Non-Allianz Persons. If a Securities transaction requires preclearance:

 

  1. The Securities may not be purchased or sold if at the time of the preclearance you knew or should have known that a Fund would be trading in that Security or an equivalent Security on the same day or if you have access to non-public information regarding that Security. An equivalent Security of a given Security is (i) a Security issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of the given Security, or (ii) a Security exercisable to purchase, convertible into or exchangeable for the given Security, or (iii) a Security otherwise representing an interest in or based on the value of the given Security.

 

  2. The Securities may be purchased or sold only if you have requested the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer to preclear the purchase or sale, the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer has given you preclearance in writing, and the purchase or sale is executed by the close of business on the day preclearance is given. The preclearance request must be in writing on the applicable forms attached to this Code as Appendix I or II . Preclearance will not be given unless a determination is made that the purchase or sale complies with this Code and the foregoing restrictions.


Other Restrictions

Allianz Persons, but not Non-Allianz Persons, are also subject to the restrictions on short-term trading, derivative transactions and short sales, investments in private placements and initial public offerings and trading in closed-end funds set forth in the AAM Code. PIMCO Persons, RCM Persons and RCM AP Persons will be subject to any applicable restrictions set forth in the PIMCO-RCM-RCM AP Code.

REPORTING

Reporting Requirements for Allianz Persons, PIMCO Persons, RCM Persons and RCM AP Persons . The personal Securities transaction reporting requirements for Allianz Persons, PIMCO Persons, RCM Persons and RCM AP Persons are set forth in the AAM Code and the PIMCO-RCM-RCM AP Code, respectively.

Reporting Requirements for Independent Trustees/Directors . If you are an Independent Trustee, you do not need to provide the initial, periodic and annual reports described below but you must provide a quarterly report of any transaction in Securities (other than Exempt Securities) of which you had, or by reason of the transaction acquired, Beneficial Ownership, and as to which you knew, or in the ordinary course of fulfilling your duties as a trustee should have known, that during the 15-day period immediately preceding or after the date of the transaction, such Securities were purchased or sold, or considered for purchase or sale, on behalf of a Fund. The report must be provided to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer hereunder within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter. The form for this purpose is attached to this Code as Appendix III.

Reporting Requirements for Non-Allianz Persons Other than Independent Trustees/Directors.

Reportable Accounts. The following types of brokerage or trading accounts are required to be reported by Access Persons. Transactions in such accounts are also required to be pre-cleared unless the transaction is for an Exempt Security or the transaction qualifies as an Exempt Transaction.

 

  1. Accounts in the name of or for the direct or indirect benefit of:

 

  (a) An Access Person; or

 

  (b) An Access Person’s spouse, domestic partner, minor children and any other person to whom the Access Person provides significant financial support, as well as to transactions in any other account over which the Access Person exercises investment discretion, regardless of beneficial ownership.

 

  2. Accounts that have the ability to hold securities reportable under the Code other than Exempt Securities even if such accounts currently only hold Exempt Securities.

Excluded from reportable accounts are the following:

 

  1. Accounts that are fully managed by a third party where the Access Person does not have any direct or indirect influence or control over the account (for example, the Access Person may not have influence or control over investment selections for the account through recommendations, advice, prior review or otherwise). In cases where the Access Person reports a brokerage or trading account that is independently managed, the Access Person must provide the Chief Compliance Officer with written evidence that the Access Person does not have any direct or indirect influence or control over the account.


  2. Accounts which exclusively hold Exempt Securities and are unable to hold any non-Exempt Securities.

 

  3. Non-Allianz 401(k) and deferred compensation plan accounts.

Use of Broker-Dealers. You may not engage, and may not permit any other person or entity to engage, in any purchase or sale of publicly traded Securities (other than Exempt Securities) of which they have, or by reason of the transaction will acquire, Beneficial Ownership, except through a registered broker-dealer.

Reporting of Transactions and Brokerage Accounts. You must report on brokerage accounts and all Securities transactions except (i) Exempt Transactions that have been designated as not being subject to the reporting requirements, or (ii) transactions in Exempt Securities. To satisfy these requirements, (i) you must cause each registered broker-dealer who maintains an account for Securities of which you have Beneficial Ownership to provide to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer, within 30 days of the end of each calendar quarter, duplicate copies of: (a) confirmations of all transactions in the account and (b) periodic statements for the account and (ii) you must report to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer, within 10 days of the occurrence, the opening of any brokerage account and all transactions effected without the use of a registered broker-dealer in Securities (other than Exempt Securities) of which you have Beneficial Ownership.

The confirmations and statements required by (i)(a) and (i)(b) above must in the aggregate provide all of the information required by the Personal Securities Transactions/Brokerage Account Report attached to this Code. If they do not, you must complete and submit a Personal Securities Transactions/Brokerage Accounts Report within 30 days of the end of each calendar quarter.

Initial and Annual Reports . You must disclose your holdings of all Securities (other than Exempt Securities) of which you have Beneficial Ownership no later than 10 days after becoming an Access Person, and annually thereafter.

Disclaimer

Anyone filing a report required hereunder may disclaim Beneficial Ownership of any Security listed thereon.

FIDUCIARY DUTIES

Service as a Director

Unless you are an Independent Trustee , you may not serve on the board of directors or other governing board of a publicly traded company, unless you have received the prior written approval of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of the Funds. Approval will not be given unless a determination is made that your service on the board would be consistent with the interests of the Funds. If you are permitted to serve on the board of a publicly traded entity, you will be isolated from those portfolio employees who make investment decisions with respect to the securities of that entity, through an “Information Barrier” or other procedures.

This provision of the Code is not intended to supersede or modify any policy of the Board of Trustees/Directors regarding service by a Trustee as a director/trustee of any other entity.


Privacy Policy

You must abide by the privacy policy that applies to the Funds ( the Funds Privacy Policy ) which is attached to this Code of Ethics as Appendix IV. The Funds Privacy Policy is designed to protect personal and account information of Shareholders from disclosure to any non-affiliated third parties, except as permitted under the Funds Privacy Policy. You will be responsible for attesting to your compliance with the Funds Privacy Policy in your Annual Certification of Compliance.

Allianz Persons, PIMCO Persons, RCM Persons and RCM AP Persons are also subject to the AAM Privacy Policy or the privacy policy of PIMCO, RCM or RCM AP.

Disclosure of Non-Public Portfolio Holdings Information

If you have access to non-public portfolio holdings information of a Fund, you must treat such information in accordance with the Funds’ Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policies and Procedures, which are attached to this Code of Ethics as Appendix V. In addition, Allianz Persons are subject to the restrictions on the disclosure of confidential portfolio holdings information set forth in the AAM Code, and PIMCO Persons, RCM Persons and RCM AP Persons are subject to any such restrictions set forth in the applicable PIMCO-RCM-RCM AP Code.

COMPLIANCE

Certificate of Receipt

You are required to acknowledge receipt of your copy of this Code. A form for this purpose is attached to this Code as Appendix VI.

Certificate of Compliance

You are required to certify when you become an Access Person subject to this Code, and at least annually thereafter, that you have read and understand this Code and recognize that you are subject to this Code. Each annual certificate will also state that you have complied with the requirements of this Code during the prior year, and that you have disclosed, reported, or caused to be reported all holdings and transactions during the prior year in Securities of which you had or acquired Beneficial Ownership and which are required to be reported hereunder. A form for this purpose is attached to this Code as Appendix VII.

Role of Audit Committee

Subject to the supervision of the Audit Committee, the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for administering this Code. The Audit Committee is responsible for resolving interpretive questions that may arise under this Code and for imposing any sanctions under this Code. As noted above, the Chief Compliance Officer will report any violations or suspected violations of this Code to the Chair of the Audit Committee or, if the violation or suspected violation involves the Chair of the Audit Committee, to the Chair of the Board.

Remedial Actions

If you violate this Code, you are subject to remedial actions, which may include, but are not limited to, fines, disgorgement of profits or other sanctions deemed appropriate by the Audit Committee.


Reports to Trustees/Directors

Reports of Remedial Action

The Trustees/Directors of the Funds will be informed on a timely basis (no later than the next regularly scheduled quarterly meeting) of each remedial action taken in response to a violation of this Code.

Periodic Reports

Management of the Trust, AAM LP, AGI US, AAM LLC, AGIFM and AGID will report in writing periodically to the Trustees/Directors of the Funds with regard to efforts to ensure compliance by the officers and employees of AAM LP, AGI US, AAM LLC, AGIFM and AGID with their fiduciary obligations to their clients, including the Funds. Such reports will include the annual report described below as well as any reports required to be submitted by management of the Funds, AAM LP, AGI US, AAM LLC, AGIFM and/or AGID under Rule 17j-1 under the Act, the terms of any applicable regulatory settlements or other applicable law.

The annual report referred to above will be submitted by management of the Funds, will include the matters required to be included under Rule 17j-1 under the Act and will, at a minimum:

 

  1. Describe any issues arising under the Code since the last report to the Board, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the Code or procedures and sanctions imposed in response to such violations; and

 

  2. Certify that the Funds have adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the Code.

DEFINITIONS

Access Person means: (i) all of the directors, officers, general partners (if any) and Trustees/Directors of the Funds, AAM LP, AGI US, AAM LLC, AGIFM or any subadviser of the Funds, (ii) any Advisory Person of the Funds, AGIFM, or any Subadviser of the Funds, and (iii) any director, officer or general partner (if any) of AGID who, in the ordinary course of business, makes, participates in or obtains information regarding, the purchase or sale of Securities by any Fund, or whose functions or duties in the ordinary course of business relate to the making of any recommendation to any Fund regarding the purchase or sale of Securities.

Advisory Person means:

 

  (i) any director, officer, general partner or employee of the Funds or AGIFM or any Subadviser (or any company in a control (as defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the Act) relationship to the Funds or AGIFM or any Subadviser) 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 any Fund, including any portfolio manager and any employee whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales; or


  (ii) any natural person who controls (as defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the Act) the Funds or AGIFM or any Subadviser and who obtains information concerning recommendations made to any Fund regarding the purchase or sale of securities by any Fund.

Beneficial Ownership. The following definition is designed to give you a practical guide with respect to Beneficial Ownership. However, for purposes of this Code, Beneficial Ownership shall be interpreted in the same manner as it would be under Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) in determining whether a person is the beneficial owner of a security for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

You are considered to have Beneficial Ownership of Securities if you have or share a direct or indirect Pecuniary Interest in the Securities.

You have a Pecuniary Interest in Securities if you have the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in the Securities.

The following circumstances constitute Beneficial Ownership by you of Securities held by a fund:

 

  1. Your ownership of Securities as a trustee where either you or members of your immediate family have a vested interest in the principal or income of the fund.

 

  2. Your ownership of a vested beneficial interest in a fund.

 

  3. Your status as a settler of a fund, unless the consent of all of the beneficiaries is required in order for you to revoke the fund.

The following are non-exhaustive examples of an indirect Pecuniary Interest in Securities:

 

  1. Securities held by members of your immediate family or domestic partners sharing the same household; however, this presumption may be rebutted by convincing evidence that profits derived from transactions in these Securities will not provide you with any economic benefit subject to review and approval by Compliance.

Immediate family means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, domestic partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, and includes any adoptive relationship.

 

  2. Securities held by any individual for whom you provided significant economic support during the immediately preceding 12-month period, even if such individual does not share the same household.

 

  3. Your interest as a general partner in Securities held by a general or limited partnership.

 

  4. Your interest as a manager-member in the Securities held by a limited liability company.


You do not have an indirect Pecuniary Interest in Securities held by a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which you hold an equity interest, unless you are a controlling equity holder or you have or share investment control over the Securities held by the entity.

Exempt Securities means the following securities, which are exempt from both the preclearance and reporting requirements under the Code:

 

  1. Direct obligations of the Government of the United States.

 

  2. Bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements.

 

  3.

Shares of registered open-end investment companies that are not advised or sub-advised by affiliates of AAM LP. 2 This exemption does not apply to an exchange-traded fund organized as an open-end investment company.

 

  4. Shares issued by unit investment funds that are invested exclusively in one or more mutual funds that are not advised or sub-advised by affiliates of AAM LP. This exemption does not apply to an exchange-traded fund organized as a unit investment fund .

 

  5. Shares of Money Market Funds.

Independent Trustee means a trustee who is not an “interested person” (as defined by Section 2(a)(19) of the Act) of the Funds.

Purchase or Sale of a Security The purchase or sale of a Security includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a Security.

Securities include 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, 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 shares of open-end and closed-end investment companies (also including the Allianz Global Investors Fund Management Sponsored Closed-End Fund and The Korea Fund, Inc.), or shares of any pooled or commingled investment vehicles, 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 security.

The following are not Securities: commodities, futures and options traded on a commodities exchange, including currency futures.

 

2  

Allianz Global Investors open-end mutual funds include funds available through the Allianz Global Investors 401(k) Plan, Auto Invest Program and Deferred Compensation Plan. For a listing of open-end mutual funds advised by affiliates of AAM LP, please contact the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer.


Appendix I

ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS FUND MANAGEMENT LLC

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS

PRECLEARANCE OF AGI CLOSED-END FUND

and THE KOREA FUND TRANSACTION FORM

(To be submitted to AGIFM Compliance)

 

(1)

   Name of trustee/director requesting authorization:          

(2)

   Name of the account where the trade will occur (if different from #1):          

(3)

   Relationship of (2) to (1):          

(4)

   Name of fund and type of security (e.g. common or preferred shares):          

(5)

   Ticker Symbol:          

(6)

   Intended number of shares:          

(7)

   Is the transaction being requested a purchase or sale?          
      ( NOTE: short sales are not permitted)

(8)

   Has the fund completed all its initial common and preferred shares offerings and is not otherwise engaged in an offering of its shares?    ¨ Yes    ¨ No

(9)

   Do you possess material nonpublic information regarding the security or the issuer of the security?    ¨ Yes    ¨ No

(10)

   If the requested transaction is a sale, have the shares been held at least 6 months?    ¨ Yes    ¨ No

NOTE: If you have any questions about how to complete this form please contact Al Pisano, CCO of AGIFM, at (212) 739-3231.

Approvals are valid until the close of business on the day approval has been granted. Accordingly GTC (good till canceled) orders are prohibited. If a trade is not executed by the close of business, you must submit a new preclearance request. Obtaining preclearance satisfies the preclearance requirements of the Funds’ Code of Ethics (the “Code”) and does not imply compliance with the Code’s other provisions.

By signing below, the undersigned certifies the following: The undersigned agrees that the above requested transaction is in compliance with the Funds’ Code of Ethics and Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.


Trustee/Director Signature
   

Date Submitted

 

Authorized _____ Not Authorized _____
By:    
Printed Name:    
Date:    


Appendix II

Allianz Global Investors Fund Management Sponsored Closed-End Funds

and The Korea Fund, Inc.

PRECLEARANCE OF SECURITIES TRANSACTION FORM

 

(1)

   Name of person requesting authorization:     

(2)

   Entity employed by (if Trustee of the Funds, write “Trustee”):     

(3)

   If different from #1, name of the account where the trade will occur:     

(4)

   Relationship of (3) to (1):     

(5)

   Name of the firm at which the account is held:     

(6)

   Name of Security:     

(7)

   Maximum number of shares or units to be purchased or sold or amount of bond:     

(8)

   Check those that are applicable:     

             Purchase                  Sale                  Market Order                  Limit Order (Price of Limit Order:              )

 

     COLUMN I    COLUMN II

(8)

 

Do you possess material nonpublic information regarding the security or the issuer of the security?

   ¨ Yes    ¨ No

(9)

 

To your knowledge, are the securities or “equivalent securities” subject to a pending buy or sell order by any Fund?

   ¨ Yes    ¨ No

(10)

 

To your knowledge, are there any outstanding purchase or sell orders for this security or any equivalent security by any Fund?

   ¨ Yes    ¨ No

(11)

 

To your knowledge, are the securities or equivalent securities being considered for purchase or sale for any Fund?

   ¨ Yes    ¨ No


Appendix II (Cont’d)

PRECLEARANCE OF SECURITIES TRANSACTION FORM

 

         COLUMN I    COLUMN II
(12)   Are the securities being acquired in an initial public offering?    ______ Yes    ______ No
(13)   Are the securities being acquired in a private placement?    ______ Yes    ______ No
(14)   If you are a Portfolio Manager, has any account you manage purchased or sold these securities or equivalent securities within the past three calendar days or do you expect the account to purchase or sell these securities or equivalent securities within three calendar days of your purchase or sale?    ______ Yes    ______ No

I have read the Allianz Global Investors Fund Management Sponsored Closed-End Funds and The Korea Fund, Inc. Amended and Restated Code of Ethics dated              , 20          and believe that the proposed trade fully complies with the requirements of the Code.

   
Employee Signature
   
Print Name
   
Date Submitted

Authorized by:                                             

Date:                                             


Appendix III

 

Allianz Global Investors Fund Management Sponsored Closed-End Funds

and The Korea Fund, Inc.

Personal Securities Transactions/Brokerage Account Report                 Quarter Ended:                     

Unless you are an Independent Trustee, you must cause each broker-dealer who maintains an account for Securities of which you have Beneficial Ownership to provide to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer, within 30 days of the end of each calendar quarter, duplicate copies of confirmations of all transactions in the account and duplicate statements for the account and you must report to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer, within 10 days of the occurrence, all transactions effected without the use of a registered broker-dealer in Securities (other than transactions in Exempt Securities).

Unless you are an Independent Trustee, you have opened a new account with a broker-dealer since your last report, you must complete the following information for each such account:

 

Name

   Broker    Account Number    Date Account Opened
        

Please provide information concerning non-Exempt Transactions not otherwise reported directly to the Funds by a registered broker-dealer.

 

Security’s Name*

   Transaction Date    Buy or Sell?    No. of Shares    Price Per Share    Broker’s Name
              

 

* Including interest rate, principal amount and maturity date, if applicable.

Unless I am an Independent Trustee, by signing this document, I am certifying that I have caused duplicate confirmations and duplicate statements to be sent to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer for every brokerage account that trades in Securities other than Exempt Securities (as defined in the Allianz Global Investors Fund Management Sponsored Closed-End Funds and The Korea Fund Inc. Code of Ethics).

 

Print Name:

            Signature:                 Date:        

Return to: Youse Guia, Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC ,680 Newport Center Drive, Suite 250 , Newport Beach, CA 92660


Privacy Policy and Procedures

Appendix III (Cont’d.)

PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS/BROKERAGE ACCOUNT REPORT

 

1. Transactions required to be reported. You should report every transaction in which you acquired or disposed of any beneficial ownership of any security during the calendar quarter. The term “beneficial ownership” is the subject of a long history of opinions and releases issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and generally means that you would receive the benefits of owning a security. The term includes, but is not limited to the following cases and any other examples in the Code:

 

  (A) Where the security is held for your benefit by others (brokers, custodians, banks and pledgees);

 

  (B) Where the security is held for the benefit of members of your immediate family sharing the same household;

 

  (C) Where securities are held by a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, investment club or other entity in which you have an equity interest if you are a controlling equity holder or you have or share investment control over the securities held by the entity;

 

  (D) Where securities are held in a fund for which you are a trustee and under which either you or any member of your immediate family have a vested interest in the principal or income; and

 

  (E) Where securities are held in a fund for which you are the settlor, unless the consent of all of the beneficiaries is required in order for you to revoke the fund.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the following transactions need be reported:

 

  (A) Transactions in securities which are direct obligations of the United States; or

 

  (B) Transactions effected in any account over which you have no direct or indirect influence or control.

 

2. Security Name. State the name of the issuer and the class of the security (e.g., common stock, preferred stock or designated issue of debt securities), including the interest rate, principal amount and maturity date, if applicable. In the case of the acquisition or disposition of a futures contract, put, call option or other right (hereinafter referred to as “options”), state the title of the security subject to the option and the expiration date of the option.

 

3. Futures Transactions. Please remember that duplicates of all Confirmations, Purchase and Sale Reports, and Month-end Statements must be sent to the firm by your broker. Please double check to be sure this occurs if you report a futures transaction. You should use the address below.

 

4. Transaction Date. In the case of a market transaction, state the trade date (not the settlement date).

 

1


Appendix III (Cont’d.)

 

5. Nature of Transaction (Buy or Sell). State the character of the transaction (e.g., purchase or sale of security, purchase or sale of option, or exercise of option).

 

6. Amount of Security Involved (No. of Shares). State the number of shares of stock, the face amount of debt securities or other units of other securities. For options, state the amount of securities subject to the option. If your ownership interest was through a spouse, relative or other natural person or through a partnership, trust, other entity, state the entire amount of securities involved in the transaction. In such cases, you may also indicate, if you wish, the extent of your interest in the transaction.

 

7. Purchase or Sale Price. State the purchase or sale price per share or other unit, exclusive of brokerage commissions or other costs of execution. In the case of an option, state the price at which it is currently exercisable. No price need be reported for transactions not involving cash.

 

8. Broker, Dealer or Bank Effecting Transaction. State the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through whom the transaction was effected.

 

9. Signature. Sign the form in the space provided.

 

10. Filing of Report. A report should be filed NOT LATER THAN 30 CALENDAR DAYS after the end of each calendar quarter with:

 

Youse Guia

Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC

680 Newport Center Drive, Suite 250

Newport Beach, CA 92660


Appendix IV

See Trust’s Amended and Restated Privacy Policy and Procedures


Appendix V

See Trust’s Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policies and Procedures

 

1


Appendix VI

Allianz Global Investors Fund Management Sponsored Closed-End Funds

and The Korea Fund, Inc.

Form of Acknowledgement of Receipt of Code of Ethics

I hereby certify that I have read and understand the Allianz Global Investors Fund Management Sponsored Closed-End Funds and The Korea Fund, Inc. Amended and Restated Code of Ethics dated              , 20      . Pursuant to such Code, I recognize that I must disclose or report all personal securities holdings and transactions required to be disclosed or reported thereunder and comply in all other respects with the requirements of such Code. I also agree to cooperate fully with any investigation or inquiry as to whether a possible violation of the foregoing Code has occurred.

 

Date:            
        Signature
         
        Print Name

 

1


Appendix VII

Allianz Global Investors Fund Management Sponsored Closed-End Funds

and The Korea Fund, Inc.

ANNUAL CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE

I hereby certify that I have complied with the requirements of the Allianz Global Investors Fund Management Sponsored Closed-End Funds and The Korea Fund, Inc. Amended and Restated Code of Ethics dated                      , 20      for the year ended December 31, 20      . I understand that I have a fiduciary duty to the Trust and to the shareholders of the Funds. Furthermore, I will promptly report any violation of the federal or state securities laws to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer. Pursuant to such Code, I have disclosed or reported all holdings and personal securities transactions required to be disclosed or reported thereunder and complied in all other respects with the requirements of such Code, including the Funds’ Privacy Policy contained therein. I also agree to cooperate fully with any investigation or inquiry as to whether a possible violation of the foregoing Code has occurred.

 

Date:            
        Signature
         
        Print Name

 

1

Allianz Asset Management

of America L.P.

Code of Ethics

ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA LP (“AAM LP”)

ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA LLC (“AAM LLC”)

ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS DISTRIBUTORS LLC (“AGID”)

ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS FUND MANAGEMENT LLC (“AGIFM”)

ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS MANAGED ACCOUNTS LLC (“AGIMA”)

ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS CAPITAL LLC (“AGIC”)

ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS CAPITAL LTD (“AGIC UK”)

ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS SOLUTIONS LLC (“AGIS”)

ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS U.S. LLC (“AGI US”)

NFJ INVESTMENT GROUP LLC

Effective: October 1, 2009 (San Diego Based Employees)

November 1, 2009 (All Other Employees)


Table of Contents

 

INTRODUCTION

     4   

A DOPTION OF THE C ODE OF E THICS

     4   

S TANDARDS OF B USINESS C ONDUCT

     4   

Q UESTIONS

     5   

GENERAL DEFINITIONS

     5   

S UPERVISED P ERSONS

     5   

REPORTABLE ACCOUNTS

     6   

PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

     7   

T RADING IN G ENERAL

     7   

Securities

     7   

Purchase or Sale of a Security

     8   

Beneficial Ownership

     8   

Exempt Securities – No Pre-Clearance or Reporting Required

     9   

Exempt Transactions – No Pre-Clearance Required but Reporting Required

     9   

Generally Permitted Transactions – Pre- Clearance and Reporting Required

     10   

B LACKOUT P ERIODS – P ROHIBITED T RANSACTIONS

     11   

Short-Term Trading Restrictions

     12   

C IRCUMSTANCES R EQUIRING P RE - CLEARANCE

     12   

G ENERAL P RE - CLEARANCE P ROCEDURES

     12   

Use of CCH iTrade

     13   

P RE - CLEARANCE P ROCEDURES FOR AGI C LOSED -E ND F UNDS AND N ON -P ROPRIETARY S UB -A DVISED C LOSED -E ND F UNDS

     13   

B LACKOUT P ERIODS – A LLIANZ S HARES

     13   

A LLIANZ SE R ESTRICTED L IST

     13   

I NITIAL P UBLIC O FFERINGS

     14   

P RIVATE P LACEMENTS

     14   

REPORTING

     14   

U SE OF D ESIGNATED B ROKER -D EALERS

     14   

D ESIGNATED B ROKER

     15   

R EPORTING OF N ON -D ESIGNATED B ROKERAGE A CCOUNTS

     15   

I NITIAL R EPORTING AND C ERTIFICATION FOR N EW S UPERVISED P ERSONS

     15   

A NNUAL R EPORTING AND C ERTIFICATION

     16   

R EVIEW

     16   

GIFTS AND BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT

     16   

G IFTS

     16   

B USINESS E NTERTAINMENT

     18   

P OLITICAL AND C HARITABLE C ONTRIBUTIONS

     19   

P RIVACY P OLICY

     19   

O UTSIDE B USINESS A CTIVITIES

     19   

Service as Director of a Public Company

     20   

COMPLIANCE AND REMEDIAL ACTIONS

     20   

REPORTS TO MANAGEMENT AND TRUSTEES

     20   

REPORTING OF APPARENT OR SUSPECTED VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS (“Whistleblower Policy”)

     21   

RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS

     21   

APPENDIX I. INSIDER TRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

     23   

APPENDIX II. PRIVACY POLICY

     29   

APPENDIX III. GUIDANCE ON BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

     31   

APPENDIX IV. GUIDANCE ON SHORT TERM PROFIT RECOVERY

     32   

 

2


APPENDIX V. AGIMA PERSONAL TRADING PRE-CLEARANCE FORM

     33   

APPENDIX VI. TRANSACTIONS IN AGI CLOSED-END FUNDS

     34   

APPENDIX VII. AGI CLOSED-END FUNDS PRE-CLEARANCE FORM

     36   

APPENDIX VIII. NON-PROPRIETARY CLOSED-END FUND PRE-CLEARANCE FORM

     37   

APPENDIX IX. PRIVATE PLACEMENT APPROVAL REQUEST FORM

     39   

APPENDIX X. QUARTERLY TRANSACTION REPORT

     41   

APPENDIX XI. INITIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF CODE OF ETHICS

     43   

APPENDIX XII. INITIAL REPORT OF PERSONAL SECURITIES HOLDINGS AND BROKERAGE ACCOUNTS

     44   

APPENDIX XIII. ANNUAL CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE AND LISTING OF SECURITIES HOLDINGS

     47   

APPENDIX XIV. REPORT OF GIFT GIVEN OR RECEIVED

     49   

APPENDIX XV. REPORT OF BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT RECEIVED

     50   

APPENDIX XVI. OUTSIDE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

     51   

APPENDIX XVII. CODE OF ETHICS SANCTION GUIDELINES

     55   

 

3


ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

CODE OF ETHICS

 

 

INTRODUCTION

A DOPTION OF THE C ODE OF E THICS

This Code of Ethics (the “Code”) has been adopted by AAM LP and its affiliated subsidiaries or divisions listed on the Title Page of this Code (each, a “Company”) in accordance with Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). Rule 204A-1 requires, at a minimum, that an adviser’s code of ethics set forth standards of conduct, require compliance with federal securities laws, and address personal trading by advisory personnel.

S TANDARDS OF B USINESS C ONDUCT

Fiduciary Duty

The Code is applicable to all partners, officers, directors, and employees of the Company, including interns and temporary employees (collectively, “Employees”), and consultants (together with Employees, “Supervised Persons”). The Code is based on the principle that in addition to the fiduciary obligations of the Company, you owe a fiduciary duty to the shareholders of the registered investment companies (the “Funds” ) and other clients (together with the Funds, the “Advisory Clients” ) for which the Company serves as an adviser or sub-adviser. Accordingly, you must avoid activities, interests and relationships that could interfere or appear to interfere with making decisions in the best interests of Advisory Clients.

At all times, you must:

 

  1. Place the interests of Advisory Clients first. As a fiduciary, you must scrupulously avoid serving your own personal interests ahead of the interests of our Advisory Clients. You may not cause an Advisory Client to take action, or not to take action, for your personal benefit rather than for the benefit of the Advisory Client. For example, you would violate this Code if you caused an Advisory Client to purchase a security you owned for the purpose of increasing the price of that Security. If you are an Investment Person of the Company (as defined under the heading General Definitions ), you would also violate this Code if you made a personal investment in a security that might be an appropriate investment for an Advisory Client without first considering the security as an investment for the Advisory Client. Investment opportunities of limited availability that are suitable for Advisory Clients also must be considered for purchase for such Advisory Client accounts before personally trading in them by any Investment Person. Such opportunities include, but are not limited to, investments in initial public offerings and private placements.

 

  2. Conduct all of your personal securities transactions in full compliance with this Code and the Company Insider Trading Policy and Procedures . The Company encourages you and your family to develop personal investment programs. However, you must not take any action in connection with your personal investments that could cause even the appearance of unfairness or impropriety. Accordingly, you must comply with the policies and procedures set forth in this Code under the heading Personal Securities Transactions . Failure to comply with this Code may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to, fines, disgorgement of profits, suspension of trading privileges, and/or termination of employment. In addition, you must comply with the policies and procedures set forth in the Company Insider Trading Policy and Procedures, which is attached to this Code as Appendix I. Situations that are questionable may be resolved against your personal interests.

 

4


  3. Avoid taking inappropriate advantage of your position. The receipt of investment opportunities, gifts or gratuities from persons seeking business with the Company directly or on behalf of an Advisory Client of the Company could call into question the independence of your business judgment. In addition, information concerning the identity of security holdings and financial circumstances of an Advisory Client is confidential. You may not use personal or account information of any Advisory Client of the Company except as permitted by the Company’s Privacy Policy, which is attached to this Code as Appendix II. Accordingly, you must comply with the policies and procedures set forth in this Code under the heading Fiduciary Duties . Situations that are questionable may be resolved against your personal interests.

 

  4. Comply with applicable federal securities laws and regulations. You are not permitted to: (i) defraud an Advisory Client in any manner; (ii) mislead such client, including making a statement that omits material facts; (iii) engage in any act, practice or course of conduct which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon such client; (iv) engage in any manipulative practice with respect to such client; (v) engage in any manipulative practices with respect to securities, including price manipulation; or (vi) otherwise violate applicable federal securities laws (including without limitation, the Advisers Act, the 1940 Act, the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, any rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) under these statutes, and the U.S.A. Patriot Act and Bank Secrecy Act as it applies to mutual funds and investment advisers, and any rules adopted thereunder by the Commission or the Department of Treasury). In addition if you are a registered representative of AGID, you may not violate applicable NASD/FINRA rules. In the event that you are unsure of any such laws or regulations, then you must consult the Company’s Legal Department.

As a Supervised Person of the Company, you must promptly report any suspected violation of the federal securities laws, as well as any violations or suspected violations of this Code, to the Chief Compliance Officer or Chief Legal Officer of your Company.

In addition to the requirements contained in this Code, you must also comply with any supplemental policies and procedures associated with the Code.

Q UESTIONS

Questions regarding this Code should be addressed to the Chief Compliance Officer of your Company or his or her designee.

GENERAL DEFINITIONS

S UPERVISED P ERSONS

The following persons are considered to be “Supervised Persons” under the Code:

 

  1. Any partner, officer, director (or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions), and employee of the Company;

 

  2. All Employees of entities affiliated with an operating entity of the Company that have been authorized by the Company to act in an official capacity on behalf of another Company, sometimes referred to as “dual” employees;

 

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  3. Certain persons who are employed by the Company as a consultant, contractor, intern or temporary employee and are subject to the Company’s supervision and control as defined more fully below; and

 

  4. All Access Persons, Non-Access Persons, and Investment Persons as defined below.

Supervised Persons will be placed in one or more of the following categories based upon the individual’s activities and role within the Company. Provisions of the Code pertaining to the pre-clearance requirements and certain prohibited transactions may apply to more than one category.

 

  A. “Access Person” means any partner, officer, director, Investment Person, or employee of the Company, or any consultant, contractor or temporary employee (whose tenure with the Company exceeds 60 days) and who:

 

  (1) in connection with their regular duties, makes, participates in, or has access to non-public information regarding the purchase or sale of securities by the Advisory Clients of the Company, or has access to non-public information regarding the portfolio holdings of any Advisory Client; or

 

  (2) is involved in making securities recommendations to Advisory Clients or who has access to such recommendations that are non-public.

 

  B. “Investment Person” means a subset of Access Person who, in connection with his/her regular functions and duties, makes, or participates in making, recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities on behalf of any Advisory Client, provides information or advice to a portfolio manager, or helps execute a portfolio manager’s recommendations. Generally, Investment Persons include, but are not limited to, portfolio managers, research analysts and traders.

 

  C. “Non-Access Person” means any Supervised Person of the Company that is NOT an Access Person. Because you do not receive non-public information about Advisory Client portfolios, you are subject only to the Standards of Business Conduct, Excessive Trading (in mutual fund shares); Closed-End Fund Pre-Clearance Restrictions; Blackout Periods-Allianz Shares, the Whistleblower Policy, Gifts and Entertainment, Political and Charitable Contributions, IPOs and Private Placements, Outside Business Activities, Service as a Director of a Public Company, and the Insider Trading Policy and Procedures of this Code.

Your category may be subject to change if your position within your Company changes or if you have been transferred to another Company. If you have any questions about your classification, please contact your Chief Compliance Officer. In addition, a Company’s Chief Compliance Officer, or his or her designee, may determine that certain provisions of the Code do not apply to consultants or temporary employees in consideration of the scope of their employment with the Company.

REPORTABLE ACCOUNTS

The following types of brokerage or trading accounts (“Accounts”) are required to be reported by Access Persons.

 

  1. Accounts in the name of or for the direct or indirect benefit of:

(a) An Access Person; or

(b) An Access Person’s spouse, domestic partner, minor children and any other person to whom the Access Person provides significant financial support, as well as to transactions in any other Account over which the Supervised Person exercises investment discretion, regardless of beneficial ownership. The term “Beneficial Ownership” is described below.

 

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  2. Accounts that are fully managed by a third party where the Access Person does not have discretion over investment selections for the account through recommendation, advice, pre-approval or otherwise. The Supervised Person must certify that the account is separately managed by a third party and Compliance may separately verify this fact.

 

  3. Accounts that have the ability to hold securities other than Exempt Securities even if the Account currently holds only Exempt Securities.

Excluded from reportable Accounts are the following:

1. Accounts which can only hold Exempt Securities. If you are a registered representative of AGID, you must report all brokerage accounts including accounts which can only hold Exempt Securities.

PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

T RADING IN G ENERAL

As an Access Person, you may not engage, and you may not permit any other person or entity to engage, in any purchase or sale of a Security (other than an Exempt Security) in which you have, or by reason of the transaction will acquire, Beneficial Ownership, unless (i) the transaction is an Exempt Transaction or (ii) you have complied with the procedures set forth under Pre-clearance Procedures.

Securities

The following are Securities :

Any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, pre-organization 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 shares of open-end and closed-end investment companies, or shares of any pooled or commingled investment vehicles, in general, variable life insurance and variable annuities, any exchange-traded fund (ETF) or exchange-traded note (ETN), 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 security.

The following are not Securities :

Commodities, futures and options traded on a commodities exchange, including currency futures. However, securities futures 1 and futures and options on any group or index of Securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) are Securities.

 

1  

A security future is a contract of sale for future delivery of a single security or a narrow-based security index.

 

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Purchase or Sale of a Security

The purchase or sale of a Security includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a Security.

Beneficial Ownership

The following section is designed to give you a practical guide with respect to Beneficial Ownership. However, for purposes of this Code, Beneficial Ownership shall be interpreted in the same manner as it would under Rule 16a-1(a)(2) of the Exchange Act in determining whether a person is the beneficial owner of a security for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

You are considered to have Beneficial Ownership of Securities if you have or share a direct or indirect Pecuniary Interest in the Securities.

You have a Pecuniary Interest in Securities if you have the opportunity to directly benefit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in the Securities.

The following circumstances constitute Beneficial Ownership by you of Securities held by a trust:

 

  1. Your ownership of Securities as a trustee where either you or members of your immediate family have a vested interest in the principal or income of the trust.

 

  2. Your ownership of a vested beneficial interest in a trust.

 

  3. Your status as a settlor of a trust, unless the consent of all of the beneficiaries is required in order for you to revoke the trust.

The following are examples of an indirect Pecuniary Interest in Securities:

 

  1. Securities held by members of your immediate family sharing the same household unless it can be established that profits derived from transactions in these Securities will not provide you with any economic benefit, subject to review and approval by Compliance.

Immediate family means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, domestic partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, and includes any adoptive relationship.

 

  2. Securities held by any individual for whom you provided significant economic support during the immediately preceding 12-month period, even if such individual does not share the same household.

 

  3. Your interest as a general partner in Securities held by a general or limited partnership.

 

  4. Your interest as a manager-member in the Securities held by a limited liability company.

You do not have an indirect Pecuniary Interest in Securities held by a corporation, partnership, limited-liability company or other entity in which you hold an equity interest, unless you are a controlling equity holder or you have or share investment control over the Securities held by the entity.

Additional guidance relating to Beneficial Ownership can be found in Appendix III.

 

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Exempt Securities – No Pre-Clearance or Reporting Required

The following securities are defined as Exempt Securities. Exempt Securities are exempt from both the pre-clearance and reporting requirements under the Code:

 

  1. Direct obligations of the Government of the United States.

 

  2. Bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high quality short-term debt instruments (defined as any instrument that has a maturity at issuance of less than 366 days and that is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization, or which is unrated but of comparable quality), including repurchase agreements.

 

  3. Shares of money market funds.

 

  4. Shares of registered open-end investment companies that are not advised by AGIFM or its U.S. affiliates or sub-advised by your Company (“Non-Affiliated Mutual Funds”). This exemption does not apply to an exchange-traded fund organized as an open-end investment compan y.

 

  5. Shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more Non-Affiliated Open-End Mutual Funds. This exemption does not apply to an exchange-traded fund organized as a unit investment trust .

Exempt Transactions – No Pre-Clearance Required but Reporting Required

The following Exempt Transactions are not subject to the pre-clearance requirements under the Code, although they are still subject to the reporting requirements under the Code unless noted otherwise.

 

  1. Any transaction in Securities made in an Account over which you do not have any direct or indirect influence or control. Such transactions are also exempt from the reporting requirements.

 

  2.

Transactions effected through an automatic investment plan or dividend reinvestment plan pursuant to a pre-set amount and pre-determined schedule. 2

 

  3. Purchases of Securities by exercise of rights issued to the holders of a class of Securities pro rata , to the extent they are issued with respect to Securities of which you have Beneficial Ownership.

 

  4. Acquisitions or dispositions of Securities as the result of a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, merger, consolidation, spin-off or other similar corporate distribution or reorganization applicable to all holders of a class of Securities of which you have Beneficial Ownership.

 

  5. Transactions in securities of closed-end investment companies that are not advised by AGIFM or its U.S. affiliates or sub-advised by your Company (“Non-Affiliated Closed End Funds”).

 

  6.

Transactions in shares of AGI registered open-end investment companies that are advised by AGIFM or its U.S. affiliates (“Affiliated Open-End Mutual Funds”). 3

 

 

2  

Investments made outside of any pre-set amount and pre-determined schedule are subject to pre-clearance.

3  

Affiliated Open-End Mutual Funds available through the Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. 401(k) Savings and Retirement Plan and the Allianz/PIMCO Auto Invest Program are separately available to compliance and are not required to be separately reported.

 

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  7. Transactions in 529 Plans, including 529 Plans distributed by AGID.

 

  8. Such other class of transactions as may be exempted from time to time by Compliance based upon a determination that the transactions do not involve any realistic possibility of a violation of Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act 1940, or a violation of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. Compliance may exempt designated classes of transactions from any of the provisions of this Code except the provisions set forth below under Reporting .

 

  9. Such other specific transactions as may be exempted from time to time by your Chief Compliance Officer based upon a determination that the transaction(s) do not interfere or appear to interfere with making decisions in the best interest of our Advisory Clients. On a case-by-case basis, a Chief Compliance Officer may exempt a specific transaction from any of the provisions of this Code except for the provisions set forth below under Reporting . All requests to exempt a transaction must be in writing and forwarded to your Chief Compliance Officer for approval prior to your executing the transaction.

Generally Permitted Transactions - Pre- Clearance and Reporting Required

The following classes of Permitted Transactions are subject to the pre-clearance requirements under the Code, although authorization for the transactions (absent short term trading restrictions, or legal or internal restrictions) will be granted.

 

  1. Purchases or sales that, in the aggregate, do not exceed 2,000 shares per day, per issuer with a total market capitalization of $5 billion or greater at the time of investment. If you are unsure whether a security meets the market capitalization criteria, contact your Chief Compliance Officer. Purchases or sales that, in the aggregate, exceed 2,000 shares per day, per issuer are subject to normal pre-clearance requirements under the Code.

 

  2. Purchases or sales of fixed-income Securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the Government of the United States.

 

  3. Purchases or sales of up to $100,000 in the aggregate per calendar month of municipal securities.

 

  4 Purchases or sales of up to $1,000,000 per calendar month per issuer of fixed-income Securities issued by qualified foreign governments .

A qualified foreign government is a national government of a developed foreign country with outstanding fixed-income securities in excess of $50 billion.

 

  5. Short sales of any Permitted Transaction Securities or puts, calls, straddles, or options where the underlying amount of Securities controlled is an amount otherwise permitted in this section.

 

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CAUTION

Qualified foreign governments and issuer market capitalization amounts may change from time to time. Accordingly, you may purchase Securities in a Permitted Transaction, only to find that you cannot sell them later in another Permitted Transaction. In that case, you will be able to sell them only if you pre-clear the sale in compliance with all of the other procedures set forth in the Code.

B LACKOUT P ERIODS – P ROHIBITED T RANSACTIONS

The following blackout periods on transactions are applicable to Access Persons and Investment Persons as described below.

 

  1. AGIC; AGIC UK; AGIS; NFJ

 

  A. Access Persons

Access Persons may not purchase or sell Securities (except for Exempt Securities or Permitted Transaction securities) if, at the time of pre-clearance (i) there is a pending buy or sell order on the relevant trading desk for an Advisory Client in the same Security or an equivalent Security; or (ii) the same Security or an equivalent Security has been purchased or sold by an Advisory Client during the period beginning 5 business days before the day on which the Access Person requests pre-clearance to trade in the same Security or an equivalent Security.

 

  B. Investment Persons

Investment Persons may not purchase or sell Securities (except for Exempt Securities or Permitted Transaction securities) if, at the time of pre-clearance (i) there is a pending buy or sell order on the relevant trading desk for an Advisory Client in the same Security or an equivalent Security; or (ii) the same Security or an equivalent Security has been purchased or sold by an Advisory Client during the period beginning 5 business days before and 5 business days after the day on which the Investment Person requests pre-clearance to trade in the same Security or an equivalent Security.

Note: In determining whether there has been a violation of the post trade 5 business day blackout period, consideration will be given to whether the Investment Person knew or had reason to have known of the Advisory Client account transaction. An Investment Person who pre-clears, receives approval, and then trades in a Security, and who had no knowledge of and had no reason to have known about the Advisory Client account transaction in the same (or an equivalent) Security, will not be viewed as violating the post trade 5 business day blackout period.

 

  2.

AAM LP; AAM LLC; AGID; AGIFM; AGI US 4

Access Persons may not purchase or sell the same Security (except for Exempt Securities or Permitted Transaction securities) or an equivalent Security for 5 business days beginning the day an Advisory Client trade in the same Security (except for Exempt Securities or Permitted Transaction securities) or an equivalent Security is reported to the Company (currently, T+2).

 

  3. AGIMA

Access Persons of AGIMA may not purchase or sell Securities (except for Exempt Securities or Permitted Transaction securities) if, at the time of preclearance (i) there is a pending buy or sell order on the AGIMA trading desk ( tradeblotter.net ) in the same Security or an equivalent Security;

 

4  

Employees of one Company assigned to support a different Company may be subject to that Company’s blackout periods in lieu of the blackout periods set forth in this section. or (ii) during the period beginning 5 business days after any purchase or sale in the same Security or an equivalent Security that was triggered by a portfolio manager’s investment decision on behalf of any of the managed account models.

 

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Note: Even if you receive pre-clearance to trade a Security, you may not purchase or sell that Security (unless it is an Exempt Security or a Permitted Transaction security) if, at the time of pre-clearance, you knew or should have known that an Advisory Client would be trading in the same Security or an equivalent Security on the same day .

Short-Term Trading Restrictions

Access Persons and Investment Persons may not profit from the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, within 30 calendar days, of the same Securities or Equivalent Securities ( other than Exempt Securities, ETFs or ETNs (and options thereon) ) of which they have Beneficial Ownership. Any such short-term trade must be unwound, or, if that is not practical, any profits realized on the transaction must be disgorged to a charity in accordance with your Company’s procedures.

You are considered to profit from a short-term trade if Securities of which you have Beneficial Ownership are sold for more than their purchase price, even though the Securities purchased and the Securities sold are held of record or beneficially by different persons or entities. Additional guidance relating to short-term profit recovery can be found in Appendix IV attached to this Code.

In addition, excessive trading in Open-End Mutual Funds is strictly prohibited. No Supervised Person may engage in transactions that are in violation of a fund’s stated policy as disclosed in its prospectus and statement of additional information.

Definition of Equivalent Security

An “equivalent” Security means any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege at a price related to the subject security, or similar securities with a value derived from the value of the subject security. Notwithstanding the foregoing, equivalent securities do not include: (i) hedged options transactions in which there is a purchase and simultaneous sale of an option or a sale and simultaneous purchase of an option, on the same underlying security. For example hedged options transactions would include: the sale of a BTU call with a strike price of 50 and the purchase of a BTU call with a strike price of 60 and same expiration date; the sale of a DIS put with a strike price of 30 and the purchase of a DIS put with a strike price of 20 and same expiration date; the purchase of a PG call option with a strike price of 50 and the sale of a PG call option with a strike price of 60 and same expiration date; and the purchase of an IRM put with a strike price of 30 with an October expiration and a sale of an IRM put with a strike price of 30 with a November expiration. Because of the many variations and the complexities of hedged options transactions, you are strongly urged to seek guidance from the Compliance Department before entering into these transactions.

C IRCUMSTANCES R EQUIRING P RE - CLEARANCE

If you wish to transact in Securities which are not Exempt Securities and which cannot be acquired or sold in an Exempt Transaction, you must comply with the procedures set forth under General Pre-clearance Procedures.

G ENERAL P RE - CLEARANCE P ROCEDURES

All pre-clearance approvals for securities traded on a U.S. Stock Exchange are effective until the close of business on the day that your pre-clearance request has been approved. All pre-clearance approvals for securities traded on a Non-U.S. Stock Exchange are effective until the close of business on the day immediately following the business day that pre-clearance was given. If the individual submitting the request wishes to execute a trade after the time period for which approval is granted, a new pre-clearance request must be submitted (e.g., in the case of a limit order that has not been executed or is only partially filled within the approved time period). Good Till Canceled (GTC) orders are not permitted.

 

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Use of CCH iTrade

All Access Persons and Investment Persons must pre-clear all personal transactions in Securities (other than Exempt Securities or Exempt Transactions) by submitting a Trade Request Form through CCH iTrade. Instructions on the use of the CCH iTrade system are available on your Company’s intranet. If you have any questions regarding the use of CCH iTrade, please contact your local Compliance Department.

AGIMA employees are required to complete the AGIMA Personal Trading Pre-Clearance Form prior to pre-clearance through CCH iTrade for all transactions and submit the form for approval to the AGIMA Trading Desk. The pre-clearance form is attached to this Code as Appendix V. Final trade pre-clearance is not deemed valid until the employee has received approval both on the AGIMA Personal Trading Pre-Clearance Form as well as through CCH iTrade.

If you are out of the office and are unable to access CCH iTrade through your Company’s Intranet, please contact your local Compliance Department.

P RE - CLEARANCE P ROCEDURES FOR AGI C LOSED -E ND F UNDS AND N ON -P ROPRIETARY

S UB -A DVISED C LOSED -E ND F UNDS

Please refer to the Compliance section of the Company Intranet for the respective blackout periods relating to AGI Closed-End Funds.

Supervised Persons who wish to invest in a closed-end fund advised by AGIFM (“Closed End Fund”) must complete a pre-clearance form and submit it to their local Compliance Department for approval. The policy relating to trading in AGI Closed-End Funds is attached to this Code as Appendix VI and the pre-clearance form is attached to this Code as Appendix VII.

Supervised Persons who wish to invest in a non-proprietary closed-end fund for which their Company acts as the sub-adviser must also complete a pre-clearance form and submit it to their local Compliance Department for approval. The pre-clearance form is attached to this Code as Appendix VIII.

B LACKOUT P ERIODS – A LLIANZ S HARES

Please refer to the Compliance section of the Company Intranet for the respective blackout periods relating to Allianz SE securities.

Supervised Persons are prohibited from trading in Allianz SE securities (including ADRs) during certain periods of the year, generally surrounding the release of annual financial statements and quarterly results. This restriction also applies to transactions that completely or in part refer to Allianz SE company shares (or derivatives thereof) which involve the exercise of cash settled options or any kind of rights granted under compensation or incentive programs such as Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”), Phantom Stocks or Participation Schemes. Any exercise with direct cash-out payments are equivalent to the outright sale of Allianz shares held by a Supervised Person and therefore, would not be permitted during such blackout period.

A LLIANZ SE R ESTRICTED L IST

The Allianz SE Restricted List includes companies in which the trading of securities is restricted for certain types of accounts. Such restrictions may be applicable to trades for Advisory Clients, trades for proprietary accounts and/or for personal securities transactions. Issuers may be added to the Restricted List for a variety of reasons, such

 

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as the following: (i) the issuer being a traded affiliate; (ii) an affiliated Company having inside information about a particular issuer; or (iii) to ensure that the aggregate group holding does not breach a particular threshold. Supervised Persons are prohibited from trading in any securities issued by the issuers on the Restricted List if such restrictions apply to personal account dealings.

I NITIAL P UBLIC O FFERINGS

Supervised Persons may purchase securities that are the subject of an Initial Public Offering (“IPO”) only after receiving prior transaction clearance in writing from their Chief Compliance Officer. For purposes hereof, “Initial Public Offering” (also referred to as a “new Issue” under FINRA Rule 5130) means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act to file public periodic reports with the SEC.

In considering such a request, the Chief Compliance Officer will determine whether the proposed transaction presents a conflict of interest with any of the Company’s Advisory Clients or otherwise violates the Code. The Chief Compliance Officer will also consider whether: (i) the purchase is made through the Supervised Person’s regular broker; (2) the number of shares to be purchased is commensurate with the normal size and activity of the Supervised Person’s account; and (3) the transaction otherwise meets the requirements of FINRA restrictions, as applicable, regarding the sale of a new issue to an account in which a “restricted person” as defined in FINRA Rule 5130, has a beneficial interest. The Chief Compliance Officer may consult with the CIO or his or her designee in making his or her determination, and requests from Investment Persons must be approved from the CIO or his or her designee.

In addition to receiving approval from the Chief Compliance Officer, a Supervised Person must also pre-clear the trade through CCH iTrade on the day the offering is priced before purchasing in the IPO. The trade will not be permitted if an Advisory Client order has been received.

P RIVATE P LACEMENTS

A Supervised Person may not acquire Beneficial Ownership of any Securities offered in a private placement , unless prior written approval is received from his or her immediate supervisor, CIO (or COO if your Company does not have a CIO), and Chief Compliance Officer. Approval will be not be given unless a determination is made that the investment opportunity is not suitable for Advisory Clients, and that the opportunity to invest has not been offered to you solely by virtue of your position. The form for requesting private placement approval is attached to this Code as Appendix IX.

For purposes hereof, “private placement” means an offering that is exempted from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(2) or Section 4(6) or pursuant to Rule 504, 505 or 506 under the Securities Act.

If you are an Investment Person and you have acquired Beneficial Ownership of Securities in a private placement, you must disclose your investment when you play a part in any consideration of an investment by an Advisory Client in the issuer of the Securities, and any decision to make such an investment must be independently reviewed by your Company’s CIO or a portfolio manager who does not have Beneficial Ownership of any Securities of the issuer.

REPORTING

U SE OF D ESIGNATED B ROKER -D EALERS

You may not engage, and you may not permit any other person or entity to engage, in any purchase or sale of publicly-traded Securities (other than Exempt Securities) of which you have, or by reason of the transaction will acquire, Beneficial Ownership, except through a registered broker-dealer.

 

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D ESIGNATED B ROKER

To assist in the implementation of the Code and meet regulatory requirements, all Access Persons must maintain their personal Accounts (which they are deemed to have Beneficial Ownership) with a “Designated Broker” (currently for most operating entities Charles Schwab). If you are a new Access Person, you are required to transfer your brokerage account(s) to a Designated Broker within a reasonable period of time from your initial commencement of employment.

If you are maintaining an Account other than with a Designated Broker, you are required to immediately disclose this to your local Compliance Department. Based upon the determination by your Chief Compliance Officer, certain limited exemptions may be granted that would allow the employee to continue maintaining his or her personal Accounts with a non-designated broker.

R EPORTING OF N ON -D ESIGNATED B ROKERAGE A CCOUNTS

Every Access Person must report their personal Accounts and all Securities transactions that are not Exempt Transactions or transactions in Exempt Securities. To satisfy these requirements, you must cause each non-designated registered broker-dealer, who maintains an account for Securities of which you have Beneficial Ownership, to provide to your local Compliance Department within 30 days of the end of each calendar quarter, duplicate copies of: (a) confirmations of all transactions in the Account and (b) periodic statements for the Account. Access Persons are excused from submitting Quarterly Transaction Reports (attached to this Code as Appendix X) only if doing so would duplicate information contained in trade confirmations or account statements that the Company holds in its records, provided the Company has received those confirmations or statements not later than 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which the transaction takes place.

The confirmations and statements required by (a) and (b) above must in the aggregate provide all of the information required by the Quarterly Transaction Report. If they do not, you must complete and submit a Quarterly Transaction Report

Most broker-dealers require that the Company provide a NYSE Rule 407/NASD Rule 3050 letter which acknowledges that your account is held by such broker-dealer and requests that the broker-dealer provide the relevant Compliance Department with duplicate client account statements and transactional confirms. Your local Compliance Officer or his or her designee will execute this letter for any of your Beneficially Owned Accounts that have been approved by Compliance.

You must promptly notify your local Compliance Officer or his or her designee prior to opening any new brokerage accounts. The notification must be in writing and must include the name of the broker-dealer and the account number.

I NITIAL R EPORTING AND C ERTIFICATION FOR N EW S UPERVISED P ERSONS

Within 10 days following the commencement of employment at the Company, all Supervised Persons are required to complete and submit the Initial Acknowledgement Certification and Access Persons are required to complete and submit the Initial Listing of Personal Securities Holdings, Mutual Fund and Brokerage Accounts forms to their local Compliance Department (See Appendix XI and XII). The information supplied must be current as of a date no more than 45 days before becoming an employee.

 

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A NNUAL R EPORTING AND C ERTIFICATION

On an annual basis, all Access Persons are required to complete and submit the Annual Listing of Securities Holdings and Certification of Compliance form to your local compliance department (See Appendix XIII). Non-Access Persons are required to complete and submit a Certification of Compliance. Compliance will notify Supervised Persons when the annual certifications are due. The information supplied must be current as of a date no more than 45 days before the annual report is submitted. For all Access Persons who are required to pre-clear personal securities transactions through CCH iTrade, this requirement is satisfied by certifying the Code of Ethics Certification and the Brokerage Account Certification through CCH iTrade and separately submitting the Annual Holdings Certification . For all Non-Access Persons, the requirement to complete and submit a Certification of Compliance is satisfied by certifying the Code of Ethics Certification through CCH iTrade.

You will also receive a copy of the Code whenever there are material amendments made to the Code. At such time, you will be required to acknowledge receipt of the amended Code and certify that you have read and understand the amended Code. A copy of the most recent Code of Ethics can be found in the Compliance section of your Company’s intranet and also may be viewed within CCH iTrade.

R EVIEW

All reports and certifications submitted by Supervised Persons pursuant to this Code shall be reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Supervised Person’s Company or by his or her designee.

GIFTS AND BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT

No Supervised Person of the Company shall receive (or give) any gift (including gifts of nominal value as noted below), entertainment, or other consideration in merchandise, service, or otherwise that is excessive in value or frequency from (or to) any person, firm, corporation, association or other entity (“Outside Entity”) that does business with or on behalf of an Advisory Client or the Company. As described more fully below, gifts are generally subject to a $100 limit. Notwithstanding the guidance set forth below, please note that giving or receiving gifts or entertainment to or from federal, state or local government officials, and state or local pension or retirement plan officials, may be subject to more stringent requirements. Please consult with your local Compliance or Legal Departments for further guidance.

Gifts . The term “gift” includes the giving or receipt of gratuities, merchandise, service, and the enjoyment or use of property or facilities for personal use. The term “gift” does not include “business entertainment” as defined more fully below, but does include meals, tickets to events and other entertainment that does not qualify as “business entertainment.”

 

  a. Gifts must be reasonable in terms of frequency and value. It may be reasonable to give or receive gifts at a more frequent basis under certain limited circumstances, i.e ., holiday season.

 

  b. Do not accept gifts, favors, or other things of value which could influence your decision-making or make you feel beholden to a person or an Outside Entity.

 

  c. Do not offer gifts, favors, or other things of value that could be viewed as overly generous or aimed at influencing decision-making or making an Outside Entity feel beholden to the Company.

 

  d. Gifts should not be sent to a Supervised Person’s home. If they are, the Supervised Person must request that the gift giver discontinue this practice in the future.

 

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  e. You may RECEIVE gifts from an Outside Entity so long as their aggregate annual value does not exceed the equivalent of $100. You may GIVE gifts to an Outside Entity so long as the aggregate annual value does not exceed the equivalent of $100.

 

  f. To determine an item’s value, you should use the higher of cost, face, or market value ( i.e., what it would cost to purchase on the open market).

 

  g. If a department (as opposed to an individual) receives a gift that is valued in excess of the $100 limit, it can be shared among Supervised Persons, provided no single Supervised Person’s pro rata share of the gift exceeds the $100 limit.

 

  h. Under no circumstances should cash gifts be given to or accepted from an Outside Entity. A gift card or gift certificate not in excess of the $100 limit ( i.e., American Express Gift Cards, Starbuck Gift Cards, etc .) can be accepted from an Outside Entity if the gift certificate is not convertible into cash, except for amounts under $10 not spent when the gift certificate or card is used.

 

  i. Any gift received that is prohibited should be refused; however, if it is not possible in the interest of business, the gift should be donated to a charitable organization after consultation with your immediate supervisor and Compliance. Alternatively, with the approval of your Chief Compliance Officer, the gift can be awarded to the winner of a random drawing of an identified group of employees of an appropriate size.

 

  j. This policy applies to gifts given to or received by family and friends on behalf of employees, vendors or clients.

 

  k. Gifts of nominal value that either have our logo or the giving firm’s logo are excluded from this policy as long as the value of the gift does not exceed $50.00 ( i.e. , such items will not count toward the annual $100 limit from an Outside Entity and need not be reported). Nonetheless, as noted previously in this Code, the giving or receipt of gifts of nominal value should not be so frequent as to raise any question of impropriety.

 

  l. Gifts offered or received in connection with a bona fide personal relationship are excluded from this policy (e.g., personal gift given in recognition of a life event, such as a baby or wedding gift).

Exceptions. If a Supervised Person believes that it would be appropriate to give a gift with a value exceeding the $100 limit, he or she must submit a written request to, and obtain written approval from, his or her Chief Compliance Officer before (whenever feasible) the gift is given. The request should specify (i) the name of the giver; (ii) the name of the intended recipient and his or her employer, if applicable; (iii) a description of the gift; (iv) the gift’s monetary value; (v) the nature of the business relationship; and (vi) the reason the gift is being given. No exceptions will be granted for gifts subject to FINRA’s $100 gift limit. 5

Reporting of Gifts. All Supervised Persons are required to complete a record of gifts given and received within thirty days. If your Company uses CCH iTrade for reporting purposes, you should report the gift accordingly. If your Company does not use CCH iTrade for this purpose, you should use the Report of Offer or Receipt of Gift form attached to this Code as Appendix XIV for this purpose. You are required to send these forms to your local Compliance Department within thirty days. All departmental gifts and their disposition must be appropriately documented by the division head or his or her designee.

 

5   FINRA Rule 3220, Influencing or Rewarding Employees of Others, provides : “No member or person associated with a member shall, directly or indirectly, give or permit to be given anything of value, including gratuities, in excess of one hundred dollars per individual per year to any person, principal, proprietor, employee, agent or representative of another person where such payment or gratuity is in relation to the business of the employer of the recipient of the payment or gratuity. A gift of any kind is considered a gratuity.”

 

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Business Entertainment . Business entertainment is considered part of a business relationship and occurs when a Company’s employee is in the presence of an Outside Business contact (either when the business contact is being entertained by a Company’s employee or vice versa). If a Company’s employee and the Outside Business contact do not both plan to be present, the item will be considered a gift and be subject to the gift restrictions and reporting requirements noted above.

 

  a. Entertainment must be reasonable in terms of frequency and value.

 

  b. Do not accept entertainment of value which could influence your decision-making or make you feel beholden to a person or an Outside Entity.

 

  c. Do not offer entertainment of value that could be viewed as overly generous or aimed at influencing decision-making or making an Outside Entity feel beholden to the Company.

 

  d. Entertainment involving personnel associated with Outside Entities may only be used to foster and promote business relationships with Outside Entities.

 

  e. You may attend business meals, business related conferences, sporting events and other entertainment events at the expense of the giver, so long as the expense is reasonable and both you and the giver are present.

 

  f. You may not accept or offer air transportation nor may you accept hotel or other accommodations without obtaining prior written approval from your Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee. You must also obtain prior written approval from your supervisor (the person to whom you report) for all air travel, conferences, and business events that require overnight accommodations.

 

  g. This policy applies to entertainment given to or received by family and friends on behalf of employees, vendors or clients.

 

  h. Entertainment offered or received in connection with a bona fide personal relationship is excluded from this policy (e.g., dinner at the home of a long-time personal friend).

Reporting of Business Entertainment. Business entertainment received from an Outside Entity that exceeds $100 in the aggregate per quarter should be reported within thirty days after the quarter end. If your Company uses CCH iTrade for reporting purposes, you should report business entertainment received accordingly. If your Company does not use CCH iTrade for this purpose, you should use the Report of Receipt of Business Entertainment form attached to this Code as Appendix XV for this purpose. You are required to send these forms to your local Compliance Department within thirty days after the calendar quarter end. Business entertainment given should be reported in accordance with your Company’s expense policies and procedures. As a reminder, the giver of any entertainment must be present in order to be considered business entertainment. If the giver is not present, the entertainment will be considered a gift and must comply with the requirements applicable to gifts as noted above.

Illegal Payments

Federal, State, and laws of other countries prohibit the payment of bribes, kickbacks, inducements or other illegal gratuities or payments by or on behalf of any of the Companies. Each Company, through its policies and practices, is committed to comply fully with these laws. The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act makes it a crime to

 

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corruptly give, promise or authorize payment, in cash or in kind, for any service to a foreign government official or political party in connection with obtaining or retaining business. If you are solicited to make or receive an illegal payment, or have any questions regarding whether any solicitation to receive or make a payment is illegal, contact your Chief Legal Officer or Chief Compliance Officer.

P OLITICAL AND C HARITABLE C ONTRIBUTIONS

In support of the democratic process, Employees are encouraged to exercise their rights as citizens by voting in all elections. Certain restrictions and obligations, however, are placed on Employees in connection with their political contributions and solicitation activities. In particular, Employees may not make political contributions to candidates or officeholders in a position to direct public business to the Funds or your Company for the purpose of obtaining or retaining advisory business with government entities (“pay to play”). If you make contributions above $2,000 in any calendar year (each contribution individually, or contributions cumulatively at the point the particular contribution would cause total contributions for the year to exceed $2,000) to any candidate or officeholder, you must pre-clear the contribution with your Chief Legal Officer or Chief Compliance Officer. The person requesting approval on behalf of the Company will be required to certify that the contribution is not for the purpose of influencing public business for the Funds or for the purpose of obtaining or retaining advisory business from government entities.

Election laws in many jurisdictions generally prohibit political contributions by corporations to candidates. Many local laws also prohibit corporate contributions to local political campaigns. In accordance with such laws, no Company may make direct contributions to national or local offices where applicable laws make such contributions illegal. Any Company that seeks to make a political contribution must obtain approval from its Chief Legal Officer or Chief Compliance Officer. The person requesting approval on behalf of the Company will be required to certify that the contribution is not for the purpose of directing public business to the Funds or for the purpose of obtaining or retaining advisory contracts with government entities.

Charitable contributions that are solicited or directed by Advisory Clients or prospective clients or made on behalf of Advisory Clients or prospective clients or made for the purpose of influencing the award or continuation of a business relationship with such Advisory Client or prospective client must be pre-approved by your supervisor and your Chief Compliance Officer.

Depending on the state in which you live or the state in which you are soliciting business, additional requirements may apply. If you are an AGID registered representative, additional restrictions may apply as well. For any questions relating to political and charitable contributions, contact your Chief Compliance Officer.

P RIVACY P OLICY

You must abide by the Company Privacy Policy (the “Privacy Policy”) which is attached to this Code of Ethics as Appendix II. The Privacy Policy is designed to protect personal and account information of Advisory Clients from disclosure to any non-affiliated third parties, except as required or permitted by law or certain circumstances and when duly authorized by a Compliance Officer or director of the Company. You will be responsible for attesting to your compliance with the Privacy Policy in your Annual Certification of Compliance.

O UTSIDE B USINESS A CTIVITIES

Your outside activities must not reflect adversely on the Company or give rise to a real or apparent conflict of interest with your duties to the Company or its Advisory Clients. You must be alert to potential conflicts of interest and be aware that you may be asked to discontinue the outside activity if a potential conflict arises. You may not, directly or indirectly:

(a) Accept a business opportunity from someone doing business or seeking to do business with the Company that is made available to you because of your position within the Company;

 

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(b) Take for oneself a business opportunity belonging to the Company; or

(c) Engage in a business opportunity that competes with any of the Company’s business.

You must obtain pre-approval from your immediate supervisor and your CCO (or his or her designee) for any outside business activities. A form for this purpose is attached to this Code as Appendix XVI. You must seek new clearance for a previously approved activity whenever there is any material change in relevant circumstances, whether arising from a change in your job or association with the Company or in your role with respect to that activity or organization. You must also notify your immediate supervisor and Compliance of any material change in the terms of your outside activity or when your outside activity terminates.

Service as Director of a Public Company

You may not serve on the board of directors or other governing board of a publicly traded entity, unless you have received the prior written approval of your Chief Compliance Officer by completing and submitting the form attached to the Code as Appendix XVI. Approval will not be given unless a determination is made that your service on the board would be consistent with the interests of the Advisory Clients. If you are permitted to serve on the board of a publicly traded entity, you will be required to comply with your Company’s procedures concerning you and those Investment Persons who make investment decisions with respect to the securities of that entity.

COMPLIANCE AND REMEDIAL ACTIONS

Compliance with this Code is considered a basic condition of employment with the Company. A breach of the Code may constitute grounds for remedial actions, which may include, but are not limited to, a letter of caution, warning, or censure, recertification of the Code, disgorgement of profits, imposition of a fine, suspension of trading privileges, termination of officer title, suspension or termination of employment, and/or referral to governmental authorities. The Code of Ethics Sanction Guidelines is attached to this Code as Appendix XVII.

REPORTS TO MANAGEMENT AND TRUSTEES

In connection with any Company-advised Funds, the Chief Compliance Officer of the Company or his or her designee will report promptly any material violations of the Code by Access Persons of the Funds to the Funds’ Board of Directors or Trustees as well as Senior Management and AGIC will report all violations of the Code by Access Persons of the Funds, at a minimum, on a quarterly and annual basis.

A material violation would include instances where there is an impact on an Advisory Client account, including the Funds, or where a significant remedial action has been taken in response to a violation of the Code. A significant remedial action means any action that has a significant impact on the violator, such as a material disgorgement of profits, imposition of a significant fine, suspension of trading privileges, suspension or termination.

The quarterly and annual report will, at a minimum:

 

  1. Describe any issues arising under the Code or its procedures since the last report to the Funds’ Board, as the case may be, including, but not limited to, information about violations of the Code or procedures and any sanctions imposed in response to such violations;

 

  2. Certify that the Company has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the Code; and

 

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  3. Certify whether there have been any amendments to the Code of Ethics or its procedures since the last report to the Funds’ Board.

REPORTING OF APPARENT OR SUSPECTED VIOLATIONS OF THE

FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS (“Whistleblower Policy”)

All Supervised Persons are required to promptly report “apparent” or “suspected” violations in addition to actual or known violations of the federal securities laws or this Code to the Chief Compliance Officer of their Company. Examples of the types of reporting required include, but are not limited to, noncompliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; fraud or illegal acts involving any aspect of the Company’s business; material misstatements in regulatory filings, internal books and records, client records or reports; activity that is harmful to Advisory Clients, including Fund shareholders; and deviations from required controls and procedures that safeguard Advisory Clients and the Company. All such reports will be treated confidentially to the extent permitted by law and investigated promptly and appropriately. Retaliation against an individual who reports a violation is prohibited and constitutes a further violation of this Code. You are encouraged to seek advice from your local Legal Counsel with respect to any action which may violate the Code. For any questions relating to the reporting of violations, please refer to the Policy for Reporting Suspicious Activity and Concerns found in the Compliance section of the Company intranet. You may also contact the Company Group Compliance Manager at (949) 219-2217.

RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS

The Company shall maintain and preserve in an easily accessible place:

 

  A. A copy of this Code, or any other Code of Ethics, that was in effect within the previous 5 years.

 

  B. A record of any violation of this Code and of any action taken as a result of such violation for a period of 5 years following the end of the reporting year in which the violation occurs.

 

  C. A record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, that were used to approve a trade that was deemed an exception to the provisions of this Code.

 

  D. A record of all written acknowledgements of receipt of the Code and amendments for each person covered under the Code within the past 5 years. These records must be kept for 5 years after the individual ceases to be an employee of the Company.

 

  E. A copy of each report submitted under this Code for a period of 5 years.

 

  F. A list of all persons who are, or within the past 5 years were, subject to the reporting requirements of the Code.

 

  G. A record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, that were used to approve an employee’s investment in a private placement for at least 5 years after the reporting year in which approval was granted.

 

  H. A record of persons responsible for reviewing Access Persons’ reports during the last 5 years.

 

  I. A copy of reports provided to a Fund’s Board of Directors or Trustees regarding the Code during the last 5 years.

 

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Requests for Exemptions

Any person may apply for an exemption from a provision of the Code to the Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee. Such a request must be in writing and must fully describe the basis upon which the request is being made. As part of the reconsideration process, the Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee will determine if any Advisory Client of the Company may be disadvantaged by the request and will consider any other relevant factors in determining whether to grant or deny the request.

 

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ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX I. INSIDER TRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

S ECTION I. P OLICY S TATEMENT ON I NSIDER T RADING

 

A. Policy Statement on Insider Trading

AAM LP (“the Company”) and its affiliated divisions or subsidiaries (collectively, “the Company”) forbid any of their officers, directors or employees from trading, either personally or on behalf of others (such as, mutual funds and private accounts managed by the Company), on the basis of material non-public information or communicating material non-public information to others in violation of the law. This conduct is frequently referred to as “insider trading”. This is a group wide policy.

The term “insider trading” is not defined in the federal securities laws, but generally is used to refer to the situation when a person trades while aware of material non-public information or communicates material non-public information to others in breach of a duty of trust or confidence.

While the law concerning insider trading is not static, it is generally understood that the law prohibits:

 

  (1) trading by an insider, while aware of material, non-public information; or

 

  (2) trading by a non-insider, while aware of material, non-public information, where the information was disclosed to the non-insider in violation of an insider’s duty to keep it confidential; or

 

  (3) communicating material, non-public information to others in breach of a duty of trust or confidence.

This policy applies to every such officer, director and employee and extends to activities within and outside their duties at the Company. Every officer, director and employee must read and retain this policy statement. Any questions regarding this policy statement and the related procedures set forth herein should be referred to your local Chief Compliance Officer .

The remainder of this memorandum discusses in detail the elements of insider trading, the penalties for such unlawful conduct and the procedures adopted by the Company to implement its policy against insider trading.

 

1. T O W HOM D OES T HIS P OLICY A PPLY ?

This Policy applies to all employees, officers and directors (direct or indirect) of the Company (“Covered Persons”), as well as to any transactions in any securities participated in by family members, trusts or corporations controlled by such persons. In particular, this Policy applies to securities transactions by:

 

   

the Covered Person’s spouse;

 

   

the Covered Person’s minor children;

 

   

any other relatives living in the Covered Person’s household;

 

   

a trust in which the Covered Person has a beneficial interest, unless such person has no direct or indirect control over the trust;

 

   

a trust as to which the Covered Person is a trustee;

 

   

a revocable trust as to which the Covered Person is a settlor;

 

   

a corporation of which the Covered Person is an officer, director or 10% or greater stockholder; or

 

   

a partnership of which the Covered Person is a partner (including most investment clubs) unless the Covered Person has no direct or indirect control over the partnership.

 

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2. W HAT IS M ATERIAL I NFORMATION ?

Trading on inside information is not a basis for liability unless the information is deemed to be material. “Material information” generally is defined as information for which 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 company’s securities.

Although there is no precise, generally accepted definition of materiality, information is likely to be “material” if it relates to significant changes affecting such matters as:

 

   

dividend or earnings expectations;

 

   

write-downs or write-offs of assets;

 

   

additions to reserves for bad debts or contingent liabilities;

 

   

expansion or curtailment of company or major division operations;

 

   

proposals or agreements involving a joint venture, merger, acquisition;

 

   

divestiture, or leveraged buy-out;

 

   

new products or services;

 

   

exploratory, discovery or research developments;

 

   

criminal indictments, civil litigation or government investigations;

 

   

disputes with major suppliers or customers or significant changes in the relationships with such parties;

 

   

labor disputes including strikes or lockouts;

 

   

substantial changes in accounting methods;

 

   

major litigation developments;

 

   

major personnel changes;

 

   

debt service or liquidity problems;

 

   

bankruptcy or insolvency;

 

   

extraordinary management developments;

 

   

public offerings or private sales of debt or equity securities;

 

   

calls, redemptions or purchases of a company’s own stock;

 

   

issuer tender offers; or

 

   

recapitalizations.

Information provided by a company could be material because of its expected effect on a particular class of the company’s securities, all of the company’s securities, the securities of another company, or the securities of several companies. Moreover, the resulting prohibition against the misuses of “material” information reaches all types of securities (whether stock or other equity interests, corporate debt, government or municipal obligations, or commercial paper) as well as any option related to that security (such as a put, call or index security).

Material information does not have to relate to a company’s business. For example, in Carpenter v. U.S. , 108 U.S. 316 (1987), the Supreme Court considered as material certain information about the contents of a forthcoming newspaper column that was expected to affect the market price of a security. In that case, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal was found criminally liable for disclosing to others the dates that reports on various companies would appear in the Journal and whether those reports would be favorable or not.

 

3. W HAT IS N ON - PUBLIC I NFORMATION ?

In order for issues concerning insider trading to arise, information must not only be “material”, it must be “ non-public ”. “Non-public” information is information which has not been made available to investors generally. Information received in circumstances indicating that it is not yet in general circulation or where the recipient knows or should know that the information could only have been provided by an “insider” is also deemed “non-public” information.

 

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At such time as material, non-public information has been effectively distributed to the investing public, it is no longer subject to insider trading restrictions. However, for “non-public” information to become public information, it must be disseminated through recognized channels of distribution designed to reach the securities marketplace.

To show that “material” information is public, you should be able to point to some fact verifying that the information has become generally available, for example, disclosure in a national business and financial wire service (Dow Jones or Reuters), a national news service (AP or UPI), a national newspaper ( The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times or The Financial Times ), or a publicly disseminated disclosure document (a proxy statement or prospectus). The circulation of rumors or “talk on the street”, even if accurate, widespread and reported in the media, does not constitute the requisite public disclosure. The information must not only be publicly disclosed, there must also be adequate time for the market as a whole to digest the information. Although timing may vary depending upon the circumstances, a good rule of thumb is that information is considered non-public until the third business day after public disclosure.

Material non-public information is not made public by selective dissemination. Material information improperly disclosed only to institutional investors or to a fund analyst or a favored group of analysts retains its status as “non-public” information which must not be disclosed or otherwise misused. Similarly, partial disclosure does not constitute public dissemination. So long as any material component of the “inside” information possessed by the Company has yet to be publicly disclosed, the information is deemed “non-public” and may not be misused.

Information Provided in Confidence . It is possible that one or more directors, officers, or employees of the Company may become temporary “insiders” because of a duty of trust or confidence. A duty of trust or confidence can arise: (1) whenever a person agrees to maintain information in confidence; (2) when two people have a history, pattern, or practice of sharing confidences such that the recipient of the information knows or reasonably should know that the person communicating the material non-public information expects that the recipient will maintain its confidentiality; or (3) whenever a person receives or obtains material non-public information from certain close family members such as spouses, parents, children and siblings. For example, personnel at the Company may become insiders when an external source, such as a company whose securities are held by one or more of the accounts managed by the Company, discloses material, non-public information to the Company’s portfolio managers or analysts with the expectation that the information will remain confidential.

As an “insider”, the Company has a duty not to breach the trust of the party that has communicated the “material, non-public” information by misusing that information. This duty may arise because the Company has entered or has been invited to enter into a commercial relationship with the company, client or prospective client and has been given access to confidential information solely for the corporate purposes of that company, client or prospective client. This duty remains whether or not the Company ultimately participates in the transaction.

Information Disclosed in Breach of a Duty . Analysts and portfolio managers at the Company must be especially wary of “material, non-public” information disclosed in breach of corporate insider’s duty of trust or confidence that he or she owes the corporation and shareholders. Even where there is no expectation of confidentiality, a person may become an “insider” upon receiving material, non-public information in circumstances where a person knows, or should know, that a corporate insider is disclosing information in breach of a duty of trust and confidence that he or she owes the corporation and its shareholders. Whether the disclosure is an improper “tip” that renders the recipient a “tippee” depends on whether the corporate insider expects to benefit personally, either directly or indirectly, from the disclosure. In the context of an improper disclosure by a corporate insider, the requisite “personal benefit” may not be limited to a present or future monetary gain. Rather, a prohibited personal benefit could include a reputational benefit, an expectation of a “quid pro quo” from the recipient or the recipient’s employer by a gift of the “inside” information.

A person may, depending on the circumstances, also become an “insider” or “tippee” when he or she obtains apparently material, non-public information by happenstance, including information derived from social situations, business gatherings, overheard conversations, misplaced documents, and “tips” from insiders or other third parties.

 

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Investment Information Relating to our Proprietary Funds and Private Accounts is Non-Public Inside Information . In the course of your employment, employees may learn about the current or pending investment activities of our proprietary and sub-advised registered and unregistered funds and private clients (e.g. actual or pending purchases and sales of securities). Using or sharing this information other than in connection with the investment of client accounts is considered acting on inside information and therefore prohibited. The Board of the Funds (proprietary and sub-advised) have adopted Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policies to prevent the misuse of material non-public information relating to the Funds and to ensure all shareholders of the Funds have equal access to portfolio holdings information. In that regard, employees must follow the Funds’ policy on disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information unless disclosure is specifically permitted under other sharing of investment-related information.

 

4. I DENTIFYING M ATERIAL I NFORMATION

Before trading for yourself or others, including investment companies or private accounts managed by the Company, in the securities of a company about which you may have potential material, non-public information, ask yourself the following questions:

 

i. Is this information that an investor could consider important in making his or her investment decisions? Is this information that could substantially affect the market price of the securities if generally disclosed?

 

ii. To whom has this information been provided? Has the information been effectively communicated to the marketplace by being published in The Financial Times , Reuters , The Wall Street Journal or other publications of general circulation?

Given the potentially severe regulatory, civil and criminal sanctions to which you, the Company and its personnel could be subject, any director, officer and employee uncertain as to whether the information he or she possesses is “material non-public” information should immediately take the following steps:

 

i. Report the matter immediately to the Chief Compliance Officer or the Chief Legal Officer of your Company;

 

ii. Do not purchase or sell the securities on behalf of yourself or others, including investment companies or private accounts managed by the Company; and

 

iii. Do not communicate the information inside or outside the Company, other than to your Chief Compliance Officer or Chief Legal Officer.

After the Chief Compliance Officer or Chief Legal Officer has reviewed the issue, you will be instructed to continue the prohibitions against trading and communication or will be allowed to trade and communicate the information.

 

5. P ENALTIES FOR I NSIDER T RADING

Penalties for trading on or communicating material non-public information are severe, both for individuals involved in such unlawful conduct and their employers. A person can be subject to some or all of the penalties below even if he or she does not personally benefit from the violation. Penalties include: civil injunctions, treble damages, disgorgement of profits, jail sentences, 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 benefited, and fines for the employer or other controlling person of up to the greater of $1,000,000 or three times the amount of the profit gained or loss avoided.

In addition, any violation of this policy statement can be expected to result in serious sanctions by the Company, including dismissal of the persons involved.

 

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S ECTION II. P ROCEDURES TO I MPLEMENT THE P OLICY A GAINST I NSIDER T RADING

 

A. Procedures to Implement the Policy Against Insider Trading

The following procedures have been established to aid the officers, directors and employees of the Company in avoiding insider trading, and to aid the Company in preventing, detecting and imposing sanctions against insider trading. Every officer, director and employee of the Company must follow these procedures or risk serious sanctions, including dismissal, substantial personal liability and criminal penalties.

T RADING R ESTRICTIONS AND R EPORTING R EQUIREMENTS

 

1. No employee, officer or director of the Company who is aware of material non-public information relating to the Company , including Allianz SE, may buy or sell any securities of the Company, including Allianz SE, or engage in any other action to take advantage of, or pass on to others, such material non-public information.

 

2. No employee, officer or director of the Company who is aware of material non-public information which relates to any other company or entity in circumstances in which such person is deemed to be an insider or is otherwise subject to restrictions under the federal securities laws may buy or sell securities of that company or otherwise take advantage of, or pass on to others, such material non-public information.

 

3. No employee, officer or director of the Company shall engage in a securities transaction with respect to the securities of Allianz SE, except in accordance with the specific procedures published from time to time by the Company.

 

4. No employee shall engage in a personal securities transaction with respect to any securities of any other company, except in accordance with the specific procedures set forth in the Company’s Code.

 

5. Employees shall submit reports concerning each securities transaction in accordance with the terms of the Code of Ethics and verify their personal ownership of securities in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Code.

 

6. Because even inadvertent disclosure of material non-public information to others can lead to significant legal difficulties, officers, directors and employees of the Company should not discuss any potentially material non-public information concerning the Company or other companies, including other officers, employees and directors, except as specifically required in the performance of their duties.

 

B. Information Barrier Procedures

The Insider Trading and Securities Fraud Enforcement Act in the US require the establishment and strict enforcement of procedures reasonably designed to prevent the misuse of “inside” information. Accordingly, you should not discuss material non-public information about the Company or other companies with anyone, including other employees, except as required in the performance of your regular duties. In addition, care should be taken so that such information is secure. For example, files containing material non-public information should be sealed; access to computer files containing material non-public information should be restricted.

 

C. Resolving Issues Concerning Insider Trading

The federal securities laws, including the US laws governing insider trading, are complex. If you have any doubts or questions as to the materiality or non-public nature of information in your possession or as to any of the applicability or interpretation of any of the foregoing procedures or as to the propriety of any action, you should contact your Chief Compliance Officer. Until advised to the contrary by your Chief Compliance Officer, you should presume that the information is material and non-public and you should not trade in the securities or disclose this information to anyone.

 

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S ECTION III. N OTIFYING C OMPLIANCE

The obligation to notify Compliance of an insider trading violation applies even if the employee knows or has reason to believe that Compliance has already been informed by other employees.

 

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ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX II. PRIVACY POLICY

We consider customer privacy to be a fundamental aspect of our relationship with clients and are committed to maintaining the confidentiality, integrity and security of our current, prospective and former clients’ personal information. To ensure our client’s privacy, we have developed policies that are designed to protect this confidentiality, while allowing client needs to be served.

Obtaining Personal Information

In the course of providing clients with products and services, we may obtain non-public personal information about clients which may come from sources such as account applications and other forms, from other written, electronic or verbal correspondence, from client transactions, from a client’s brokerage or financial advisory firm, financial adviser or consultant, and/or from information captured on our internet web sites.

Respecting Your Privacy

As a matter of policy, we do not disclose any personal or account information provided by clients or gathered by us to non-affiliated third parties, except as required for our everyday business purposes, such as to process transactions or service a client’s account, or permitted by law. As is common in the industry, non-affiliated companies may from time to time be used to provide certain services, such as preparing and mailing prospectuses, reports, account statements and other information, and gathering shareholder proxies. We may also retain non-affiliated financial services providers, such as securities broker-dealers, to market our products, and we may enter into joint marketing arrangements with them and other financial companies. We may also retain marketing and research service firms to conduct research on client satisfaction. These companies may have access to a client’s personal and account information, but are solely permitted to use this information to provide the specific service or as otherwise permitted by law. We may also provide a client’s personal and account information to their respective brokerage or financial advisory firm, custodian, and/or to their financial adviser or consultant.

Sharing Information with Third Parties

We reserve the right to disclose or report personal information to non-affiliated third parties, in limited circumstances, where we believe in good faith that disclosure is required under law to cooperate with regulators or law enforcement authorities, to protect our rights or property or upon reasonable request by any mutual fund in which a client has chosen to invest. In addition, we may disclose information about a client or a client’s accounts to a non-affiliated third party only if we receive a client’s written request or consent.

Sharing Information with Affiliates

We may share client information with our affiliates in connection with our affiliates’ everyday business purposes, such as servicing a client’s account, but our affiliates may not use this information to market services or products to you except in conformance with applicable laws or regulations. The information we share includes information about our experiences and transactions with a client and may also include, for example, a client’s participation in our mutual funds or other investment programs, a client’s ownership of certain types of accounts (such as IRAs), or other data about a client’s transactions or accounts. Our affiliates, in turn, are not permitted to share client information with non-affiliated entities, except as required or permitted by law.

Procedures to Safeguard Private Information

We take seriously our obligation to safeguard client non-public personal information. In addition to this policy, we have also implemented procedures that are designed to restrict access to a client’s non-public personal information only to internal personnel who need to know that information in order to provide products or services to such clients.

 

29


In addition, we have physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards in place to guard a client’s non-public personal information.

Disposal of Confidential Records

We will dispose of records that are knowingly derived from data received from a consumer reporting agency regarding an Advisory Client that is an individual in a manner that ensures the confidentiality of the data is maintained. Such records include, among other things, copies of consumer reports and notes of conversations with individuals at consumer reporting agencies.

 

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ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX III. GUIDANCE ON BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

1. Securities Held By Family Members

 

  (a) Example 1-A:

X and Y are married. Although Y has an independent source of income from a family inheritance and segregates her funds from those of her husbands, Y contributes to the maintenance of the family home. X and Y have engaged in joint estate planning and have the same financial adviser. Since X and Y’s resources are clearly significantly directed towards their common property, they will be deemed to be beneficial owners of each other’s securities.

 

  (b) Example 1-B:

X and Y are separated and have filed for divorce. Neither party contributes to the support of the other. X has no control over the financial affairs of his wife. Neither X nor Y is a beneficial owner of the other’s securities.

 

  (c) Example 1-C:

X’s adult son Z lives in X’s home. Z is self-supporting and contributes to household expenses. X is a beneficial owner of Z’s securities.

 

  (d) Example 1-D:

X’s mother A lives alone and is financially independent. X has power of attorney over his mother’s estate, pays all her bills and manages her investment affairs. X borrows freely from A without being required to pay back funds with interest, if at all. X takes out personal loans from A’s bank in A’s name, the interest from such loans being paid from A’s account. X is a significant heir of A’s estate. X is a beneficial owner of A’s securities.

2. Securities Held by a Company

 

  (a) Example 2-A:

O is a holding company with 5 shareholders. X owns 30% of the shares of the company. Although O does no business on its own, it has several wholly-owned subsidiaries which manufacture oil- related products. X has beneficial interest in the securities owned by O.

3. Securities Held in Trust

 

  (a) Example 3-A:

X is trustee of a trust created for his two minor children. When both of X’s children reach 21, each will receive an equal share of the corpus of the trust. X is a beneficial owner of the securities in the trust.

 

  (b) Example 3-B:

X is trustee of an irrevocable trust for his daughter. X is a director of the issuer of the equity securities held by the trust. The daughter is entitled to the income of the trust until she is 25 years old, and is then entitled to the corpus. If the daughter dies before reaching 25, X is entitled to the corpus. X should report the holdings and transactions of the trust as his own.

 

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ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX IV. GUIDANCE ON SHORT TERM PROFIT RECOVERY

The Prohibited Transactions section of the Code provides for the disgorgement of any profit realized by Access Persons and Investment Persons on transactions in the same or equivalent security within 30 days. This applies to the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) of a security within a 30-day period in any beneficially owned account. The following are various questions and answers to help you understand this provision. If you have any further questions regarding this provision, you should contact your Chief Compliance Officer.

 

Q. How is the 30-day period measured?

 

  A. A purchase or sale is ordinarily deemed to occur on trade date. If the purchase is considered to be made on day 0, day 31 is the first day a sale of those securities may be made without regard to the profit of recovery rule.

 

Q. How are profits measured when there is a series of purchases and sales within the 30 calendar day period?

 

  A. A series of purchases and sales will be measured on a last-in, first-out basis until all purchases and sale transactions within a 30-day period are matched. The sum of the profits realized on these paired purchases and sales will be subject to disgorgement. No reduction will be made for losses.

 

Q. In calculating the amount of profit that can be recovered, does it matter in what order the transactions occur?

 

  A. No, even if the sale precedes the purchase, these transactions will be matched if they occur with a 30-day period.

 

Q. Is the short sale of a security considered a sale?

 

  A. Yes, a short sale is considered a sale for all purposes (reporting, pre-clearance, and the 30-day profit recovery rule). It is important to keep in mind that when the profits are computed under the 30-day rule, the order of the transactions is not relevant in calculating profit; for example, a sale (or short sale) can be matched against a subsequent purchase. Please note that naked short sales are prohibited under the Code of Ethics.

Derivative Transactions

For the purposes of reporting, pre-clearance and the 30-day profit recovery rule, a transaction in any put or call option (except an option on an Exempt Security or index) or any future on a security (except a future on an Exempt Security or index), will be treated as a derivative transaction. For the purposes of this Code, derivative transactions will be divided into two categories: “call equivalent positions” and “put equivalent positions”. A “call equivalent position” is treated as a purchase of the underlying security. Conversely, a “put equivalent position” is treated as a sale of the underlying security. Please note that writing or acquiring naked options are prohibited under the Code of Ethics.

 

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ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX V. AGIMA PERSONAL TRADING PRE-CLEARANCE FORM

This Form must be completed for all personal trades prior to obtaining pre-clearance through CCH iTrade.

 

Employee requesting authorization (Please Print):

    

Ticker Symbol (or CUSIP):

    

Purchase or sale ( provide quantity ):

   ______ Buy    ______ Sell

To the best of your knowledge are any orders to purchase or sell this security by any clients currently open?

   ______ Yes    ______ No

To the best of your knowledge are any new account openings or account terminations being processed which will create orders in this security?

   ______ Yes    ______ No

Approval to trade requires approval of this form as well as approval through CCH iTrade. Approvals for securities traded on a U.S. Stock Exchange are valid until the close of business on the day approval is granted; approvals for securities traded on a Non-U.S. Exchange are valid until the close of the next business day.

By signing below you certify that the above requested transaction is in compliance with the Code of Ethics. You also understand that final approval to trade is not granted until you have received approval through CCH iTrade.

 

           
Employee Signature     Date

Must be completed by Trading Manager or his/her designee

 

1.    Does the security qualify for any Code Exemption? If yes, please approve the trade. If no, proceed to the remaining questions.   

 

______ Yes

  

     ______ No      
2.    To the best of your knowledge are any orders in the same security currently open on tradeblotter.net or OMS)?      ______ Yes         ______ No      
3.    Were any additional conflicts identified which require Compliance review?      ______ Yes         ______ No      

 

APPROVED ¨    DENIED ¨

 

         
Trading Manager or his/her Designee       Date

 

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ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX VI. TRANSACTIONS IN AGI CLOSED-END FUNDS

 

 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE : December 19, 2005 (last revised January 7, 2008)

APPLICABLE POLICY :

Employees are permitted, within the restrictions described below, to purchase or sell closed-end funds for which AGIFM, or any affiliate, acts as adviser or sub-adviser (each an “AGI Closed-End Fund”).

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES :

Prior to purchasing or selling shares in any AGI Closed-End Fund, the employee must complete a pre-clearance form (the “PRECLEARANCE OF AGI CLOSED-END FUND TRANSACTION FORM”) and submit it for approval to their Chief Compliance Officer. In determining whether to clear the trade, the Chief Compliance Officer (either the officer to whom the form was submitted or another officer to whom it was assigned for attention) will make an assessment as to whether the transaction complies with the Code of Ethics, including the conditions and standards of business conduct described below.

In order to make an initial purchase of an AGI Closed-End Fund, such fund must have completed all of its initial common and preferred shares offerings and not otherwise be engaged in an offering of its shares. Purchases in the primary market are strictly prohibited. No trades are permitted in:

 

  (i) a particular AGI Closed-End Fund within a three business day period before and a two business day period after such AGI Closed-End Fund’s dividend declaration press release (see Closed-End Dividend Blackout Calendar on the Compliance Tab of the AGI Intranet for dividend blackout dates for each AGI Closed-End Fund); and

 

  (ii) a particular AGI Closed-End Fund within a five business day period before and a two business day period after such AGI Closed-End Fund’s quarterly earnings release.

If Compliance approves the requested transaction (which must be a market order or limit order that expires no later than 4:00pm EST the business day the clearance is granted), you will have until 4:00pm EST the business day the clearance is granted to purchase or sell the AGI Closed-End Fund. After that time, the pre-clearance will have expired and you will be required to pre-clear the transaction on the next business day.

APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIODS :

Employees may not profit from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) of an AGI Closed-End Fund within a thirty (30) day period. Section 16 persons (refer to the section below) may not profit from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) of an AGI Closed-End Fund within a six (6) month period. If an employee violates a holding period, any profit realized by the employee must be subject to disgorgement.

REQUIREMENTS FOR OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS :

AGI Closed-End Funds are registered under Section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). As such, there are specific reporting requirements under Sections 16(a) and 16(b) of the Exchange Act and Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”) for officers, directors, principal stockholders (i.e., those owning 10% or more of the outstanding shares of the issuer), investment advisers and their affiliates (collectively, “Section 16 Persons”). If you fall under any of these categories, then you must file electronically the following forms with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the exchange, if applicable, on which the securities are listed:

 

   

Form 3 , “Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities,” is required to be filed within ten (10) days after you become an officer, director or principal stockholder or other reporting person.

 

34


   

Form 4 , “Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership,” is required to be filed within two (2) business days following the day on which your transaction is executed.

 

   

Form 5 , “Annual Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership of Securities,” must be filed within forty five (45) days of the closed-end fund’s fiscal year.

Each officer, director, or principal stockholder is personally responsible for insuring that his or her transactions comply fully with any and all applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, the restrictions imposed under Sections 16(a) and 16(b) of the Exchange Act and Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act. The date of filing with the SEC or exchange is the date the form is received by the SEC or exchange.

NOTE: While individuals are personally responsible to file the forms under Section 16, personnel in the AAM LP Legal & Compliance Group will manage the actual Section 16 filings on behalf of those individuals with the legal obligation to make such filings. If you are a Section 16 filer, you must ensure that your pre-cleared trade information is given to your Chief Compliance Officer within one business day for filing purposes.

 

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ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX VII. AGI CLOSED-END FUNDS PRE-CLEARANCE FORM

To be submitted to your Company’s Chief Compliance Officer (or his/her designee)

 

(1)    Employee requesting authorization (please print):     
(2)    Name on the account where the trade will occur:     
(3)    Relationship of (2) to (1):     
(4)    Name of brokerage firm and account number:     
(5)    Name of Fund and Ticker Symbol of Fund:     
(6)    Intended number of shares:     
(7)   

Type of transaction (purchase or sale)?

( NOTE: short sales are not permitted)

    
(8)    Does the requested transaction violate the Closed-End Dividend Blackout Calendar posted on the Intranet?    ¨ Yes    ¨ No
(9)    Do you possess material non-public information regarding the Fund?    ¨ Yes    ¨ No
(10)    Are you transacting in the opposite direction of a trade executed in the last 30 days in the same fund (i.e. did you buy and are now selling or vice versa)?    ¨ Yes    ¨ No
(11)    Are you a Section 16 reporting person with respect to the Fund?    ¨ Yes 1    ¨ No
  

(a)      If yes, are you transacting in the opposite direction of a trade executed in the last six months in the same fund (i.e. did you buy and are now selling or vice versa)?

   ¨ Yes    ¨ No

NOTE: If you have any questions about how to complete this form, please contact your Company’s Chief Compliance Officer (or his/her designee).

Approvals are valid until the close of business on the day approval has been granted. If a trade is not executed by the close of business, you must submit a new pre-clearance request.

By signing below, you certify that the above requested transaction is in compliance with the Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct.

 

           
Signature of Employee     Date Submitted

 

For Company Compliance Only

  

   For AGIFM Compliance Only      
Print Name of
Compliance Officer
                     Print Name of Compliance Officer                  

Signature:

                     Signature:                  

Date:

                     Date:                  

Pre-Clearance Request Status:

   ¨  Approved       ¨  Not Approved       Pre-Clearance Request Status:    ¨  Approved       ¨  Not Approved   

 

1

If you are a Section 16 filer, upon pre-clearance approval and trade execution, you must ensure that the trade details are given to your Company Chief Compliance Officer (or his/her designee) within one business day for SEC filing purposes.

 

36


ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX VIII. NON-PROPRIETARY CLOSED-END FUND PRE-CLEARANCE FORM

(To be submitted to local compliance officer of Company that advises or sub-advises the fund.)

 

(1)

   Name of employee requesting authorization:     

(2)

   If different from #1, name of the account where the trade will occur:   

(3)

   Relationship of (2) to (1):     

(4)

   Name of brokerage firm and account number:     

(5)

   Name of fund and type of security   
   (e.g. common or preferred shares):     

(6)

   Ticker Symbol:     

(7)

   Intended number of shares:     

(8)

   Is the transaction being requested a purchase or sale?     
      ( NOTE: short sales are not permitted)

(9)

   Does the requested transaction violate the Closed-End Dividend Blackout Calendar attached to this form?    ¨ Yes    ¨ No

(10)

   Do you possess material nonpublic information regarding the security or the issuer of the security?    ¨ Yes    ¨ No

(11)

   Have you bought or sold this fund within the last 30 days?    ¨ Yes    ¨ No

(12)

   Are you a Section 16 reporting person with respect to the fund you wish to buy or sell?    ¨ Yes    ¨ No
   (a) If yes, have you bought or sold this fund within the last six months?    ¨ Yes    ¨ No

NOTE: If you have any questions about how to complete this form please contact a local compliance officer.

Approvals are valid until the close of business on the day approval has been granted. Accordingly GTC (good till canceled) orders are prohibited. If a trade is not executed by the close of business, you must submit a new preclearance request. Obtaining preclearance satisfies the preclearance requirements of the Code of Ethics (the “Code”) and does not imply compliance with the Code’s other provisions.

(Signature Requirement on Next Page)

 

37


By signing below, the employee certifies the following: The employee agrees that the above requested transaction is in compliance with the Company Code of Ethics.

 

   
Employee Signature
 
Employee Name (Print)
 
Date Submitted

 

Authorized _____ Not Authorized_____
By:    
Printed Name:    
Date:    
LOCAL COMPLIANCE OFFICER
 

 

38


ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX IX. PRIVATE PLACEMENT APPROVAL REQUEST FORM

(Must attach a copy of the private placement memorandum, offering memorandum or any other relevant documents)

Date Submitted:          /          /              Employee Name (Print):                                                              

Dpt/Job Title:                                                          

 

 

 

1. Name of the sponsor’s corporation, partnership or other entity:

 

     __________________________________________________________________________

a) Name of private placement:                                                                  

 

2. The sponsor’s corporation, partnership, or other entity is:     ¨   Public     ¨   Private

 

3. Describe the business to be conducted by the issuer of the private placement:

 

     ___________________________________________________________________________

 

4. Nature of your participation: ¨ Stockholder     ¨ Selling Agent     ¨ General Partner     ¨ Limited Partner

         ¨ Other:                             

 

5. Have you received, or will you receive “selling compensation” in connection with the transaction?

 

   ¨   YES     ¨   NO If yes, describe the nature of your compensation:

 

     ___________________________________________________________________________

 

6. Size of offering (if a fund-provide size of fund):                                                                                       

 

7. Dollar amount of your participation:                             

 

8. Size of your participation as a percentage of total shares or units outstanding:                         

 

9. Have you or do you intend to recommend, refer, or solicit others in any way in connection with this investment?
     ¨   YES     ¨   NO

 

   If yes, please describe:

 

     ____________________________________________________________________________

 

10. Has this private placement been made available to any client account where either you, or the person

 

     you report to, exercise investment discretion? ¨   YES     ¨   NO

 

   If no, state why:

 

     _____________________________________________________________________________

 

11. Describe how you became aware of this private placement:                                                                      

 

12. To the best of your knowledge, will this private placement result in an IPO within the next 12-18 months?   ¨   YES     ¨   NO

 

39


13. Are you aware of any conflicts or potential conflicts as a result of your position in the Company and your participation in this private placement?
     ¨   YES   ¨ NO

If YES, please describe in detail.                                                                                           

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

 

   
Employee Signature

 

 

Approved ¨      Disapproved ¨                                                   Date:          /          /         

        Immediate Supervisor

Approved ¨      Disapproved ¨                                                   Date:          /          /         

        Chief Investment Officer

        (where applicable)

Approved ¨      Disapproved ¨                                                   Date:          /          /         

        Chief Operating Officer

        (where applicable)

Approved ¨      Disapproved ¨                                                   Date:          /          /         

        Chief Compliance Officer

 

 

FOR NFJ INVESTMENT GROUP L.L.C. ONLY

Approved ¨      Disapproved ¨                                                   Date:          /          /         

        Chief Compliance Officer

Approved ¨      Disapproved ¨                                                   Date:          /          /         

        Executive Committee Member

        (investment professional)

 

40


ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX X. QUARTERLY TRANSACTION REPORT

As an Access Person, you are required to report your personal security transactional information to your local Compliance Department no later than 30 calendar days after the end of each calendar quarter unless the personal security transaction(s), executed in your brokerage or Mutual Fund account(s), meets one of the following criteria:

 

  1) Your account is maintained with a designated broker whereby your local Compliance Department is aware of and has access to your personal security transactions via confirms and personal account statements;

 

  2) Your account is maintained with a non-designated broker that has been approved by your local Compliance Department whereby the Compliance Department is receiving duplicate copies of your transactional confirms and personal account statements; or

 

  3)

Your quarterly security transactions involved securities that are exempt 1 from the reporting provisions pursuant to the Company Code even though such security transactions were executed in an account maintained with an approved non-designated broker that is unable to provide duplicate confirms or personal account statements.

Complete the section of this Form if you have effected a Security transaction in your beneficially owned brokerage, Mutual Fund or trading account that does not meet any of the above criteria. You must provide this information on such security transactions to your local compliance department no later than the 30 th calendar day following the end of the calendar quarter.

 

 

The following are my Securities transactions (other than Exempt Transactions) that have not been reported to my local Compliance Department:

 

Date

  

Buy/Sell

  

Security Name and
Ticker or CUSIP (if
applicable, interest &
maturity date)

   Number of Shares
and Principal
Amount
(if applicable)
   Unit Price   

Broker
Name

   Account
Number
                 

[Signature required on next page]

 

41


By signing this document, I am certifying that I have met the quarterly reporting requirements pursuant to the Allianz Asset Management of America’s Code in regards to disclosing my beneficially owned brokerage account(s) and any securities transactions that were effected in such account(s) for this quarterly reporting period.

         /          /                 
Date     Signature
         
    Print Name

 

1  

You do not have to report any transactions that were executed in the following securities: 1) U.S. Government Securities, 2) Bank Certificates of Deposit, 3) Banker’s Acceptances, 4) Commercial Paper, 5) High Quality Short-Term Debt Instruments (including repurchase agreements), 6) U.S. Government Agency Securities, 7) Money Market Funds, and 8) Shares of Registered Open-End Investment Companies that are not advised by AGIFM or sub-advised by your Company.

 

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ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX XI. INITIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF CODE OF ETHICS

I hereby certify that I have read and understand the Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. Code of Ethics, and its related policies, including the Insider Trading Policies and Procedures (collectively, the “Code”). I understand that I have a fiduciary duty to the Company’s Advisory Clients and that I have an obligation to promptly report suspected violations of the federal securities laws to the Chief Compliance Officer or Chief Legal Officer of my Company. Pursuant to such Code, I recognize that if I am deemed an Access Person, I must disclose or report all personal securities holdings and transactions required to be disclosed or reported thereunder and comply in all other respects with the requirements of the Code. Pursuant to the Code, I recognize that if I am a Non-Access Person, I must comply with the requirements of the Code applicable to me as a Non-Access Person. I also agree to cooperate fully with any investigation or inquiry as to whether a possible violation of the Code has occurred. I understand that any failure to comply in all aspects with the foregoing and these policies and procedures may lead to sanctions, including dismissal.

 

Date:            
        Signature
         
        Print Name

 

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ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX XII. INITIAL REPORT OF PERSONAL SECURITIES HOLDINGS

AND BROKERAGE ACCOUNTS

I hereby certify that the following is a complete and accurate listing as of the date hereof, of all beneficially owned brokerage accounts or Mutual Fund accounts and Securities held therein. I understand that I must provide this information to my local Compliance Department no later than ten (10) calendar days after my start date . The information supplied must be current as of a date no more than forty-five (45) days before becoming an employee. Failure to comply within this time period will be considered a violation of the Company Code of Ethics.

 

I. Brokerage and Mutual Fund Accounts Maintained : I currently maintain the following brokerage accounts or Mutual Fund accounts with brokerage facilities (list below and attach the most recent account statement containing ALL information required below):

 

Name on Account

   Name of Brokerage Firm    Account Number(s)    Relationship to
Account Holder
        

 

IA. I currently do not maintain any accounts required to be reported under the Code:              (Initial)

 

II. Securities Owned : List each Security required to be reported under the Code below, including investments in privately placed securities. For Securities held in account(s) listed above, you may alternatively attach the most recent brokerage or Mutual Fund account statement(s) containing ALL information required below:

 

Security Name

   Security Type
(CS, Bond, MF,  etc.)
   # of Shares    Market Value or
Principal Amount
   Date Acquired
           

Use additional sheets if necessary.

 

IIA. I currently do not own any Securities required to be reported under the Code:              (Initial)

Except where exceptional circumstances exist, accounts are required to be held with a Designated Broker. Accordingly, unless I am granted approval to maintain these accounts outside of a Designated Broker, I agree to transfer them as soon as possible (generally thirty days or less) to a Designated Broker. Pending transfer of these accounts to a Designated Broker, I will not effect any brokerage transactions in these accounts and I will arrange for my local Compliance Department to receive a duplicate copy of monthly statements for each such account.

 

44


Request to Maintain Fully Discretionary Managed Accounts : The account(s) listed below from Section I are fully discretionary managed accounts and I am not involved in investment selections through recommendation, advice, pre-approval or otherwise, or I am a passive beneficiary of the account and am not involved in the investment decisions. I understand that once approved, and on an annual basis thereafter, I will need to re-certify that nothing has changed as it relates to this account.

III.

 

Name of Account(s):       
        

Account #(s):

             
           

Name of Discretionary Firm(s) Account is Held:

             
           

Address and Phone Number of Firm(s):

         
           
             
             

 

Name of Individual(s) with Discretion to Manage Assets at the Firm:

         
           

 

IV. Request to Maintain Outside Brokerage Accounts (Other than Fully Discretionary Managed Accounts) : I hereby request approval to maintain one or more of the brokerage accounts listed in Section I above, based on the following: Please check the appropriate box(es).

 

  ¨ A participant in the account is employed by another asset management firm or brokerage firm that requires the account to be maintained at such firm. I will arrange for duplicate confirmations and monthly statements to be sent to my local Compliance Department.

 

List account(s):

             
           

 

¨        Other (explain)

              
            
            

 

List account(s):

             
           

 

45


V. Acknowledgment and Certification

By signing this form, I acknowledge that the information provided is complete and accurate. I agree to promptly notify my Compliance Department of any changes to the above information.

 

   
Employee Signature

         /          /              

Date

   
(Print Name)
   
(Employee Position/Title)

 

 

LOCAL COMPLIANCE GROUP:

¨ Approved                     ¨   Not Approved

   
Signature

Reason for Not Approving Account(s):

      
      
    

Date Notified Employee:                                              

 

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ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX XIII. ANNUAL CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE AND

LISTING OF SECURITIES HOLDINGS

I hereby acknowledge that I have read and understand the Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. Code of Ethics, and its related policies, including the Insider Trading Policies and Procedures (collectively, the “Code”), and recognize the responsibilities and obligations incurred by my being subject to the Code. I understand that I have a fiduciary duty to the Company’s Advisory Clients and that I have an obligation to promptly report suspected violations of the federal securities laws to the Chief Compliance Officer or Chief Legal Officer of my Company. Furthermore, I certify that I have complied with the requirements of the Code for the year ended December 31,              , and that I have disclosed or reported all personal securities holdings and transactions required to be disclosed or reported thereunder, and complied in all other applicable respects with the requirements of the Code. I also agree to cooperate fully with any investigation or inquiry as to whether a possible violation of the Code has occurred.

If I have been designated an Access Person under the Code, for personal securities account(s) held at Charles Schwab & Co. or a pre-approved non-designated broker(s), I hereby authorize delivery of transactional confirms and account statement(s) in such account(s) to my local compliance department as deemed necessary pursuant to Rule 204-2(a)(12) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. I acknowledge that all of my personal securities accounts are reflected completely and accurately as shown below and all securities beneficially owned by me are reflected accurately in such accounts (see below). I also agree to cooperate fully with any investigation or inquiry as to whether a possible violation of the Code has occurred.

 

 

 

A. Brokerage and Mutual Fund Accounts Maintained by Access Persons : I maintain the following brokerage accounts or Mutual Fund accounts with brokerage facilities (list below or attach the most recent account statement containing ALL information required below):

 

Name of Account

   Account Held At    Account Number    Relationship
to Account Holder
        

Use additional sheets if necessary.

 

B. Securities Owned by Access Persons : Check the applicable box

 

  ¨ My local Compliance Department has access to my transactions in Securities that are held and traded in my personal securities account(s) with Charles Schwab & Co. or with any other brokerage firm that is providing duplicate copies of transactional confirmations and account statements for my personal securities account(s) to my local Compliance Department as shown above.

 

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  ¨ My local Compliance Department does not receive any securities holdings or transactional information on my beneficially owned account(s). Therefore, I have attached a list of all Securities (other than Exempt Securities) that are beneficially owned by me in such account(s) that are shown above.

Date:          /          /         

   
Signature
   
Print Name

 

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ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX XIV. REPORT OF GIFT GIVEN OR RECEIVED

 

NAME/TITLE (Please Print)

  

BUSINESS UNIT

DATE OF GIFT   
NAME OF PERSON/INSTITUTION GIVING OR RECEIVING GIFT   
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PERSON OR INSTITUTION   
DESCRIBE GIFT IN DETAIL, INCLUDE APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE IN US$ (THE HIGHER OF COST, FACE, OR MARKET) AND STATE WHETHER IT IS A PROMOTIONAL ITEM. IF GIFT WAS RECEIVED BY YOU STATE LOCATION WHERE GIFT WAS DELIVERED.   
OCCASION OR EVENT, IF ANY, FOR WHICH GIFT HAS BEEN GIVEN OR RECEIVED   
STATE WHETHER THE SAME PERSON/ORGANIZATION HAS GIVEN YOU ANY OTHER GIFTS DURING THE CURRENT CALENDAR YEAR   

¨ NO

 

¨ YES (Describe prior gift and approximate retail value, and the occasion for the gift.)

NAME OF SUPERVISOR AND TITLE   

SIGNATURE OF EMPLOYEE AND

DATE OF REPORT

  

 

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ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX XV. REPORT OF BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT RECEIVED

 

NAME/TITLE (Please Print)

  

BUSINESS UNIT

DATE OF ENTERTAINMENT   
NAME OF PERSON/INSTITUTION GIVING ENTERTAINMENT   
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PERSON OR INSTITUTION   
DESCRIBE ENTERTAINMENT RECEIVED AND INCLUDE APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE IN US$   
STATE WHETHER THE SAME PERSON/ORGANIZATION HAS ENTERTAINED YOU DURING THE CURRENT CALENDAR YEAR   

¨ NO

 

¨ YES (Describe prior entertainment and whether you have previously reported it.)

NAME OF SUPERVISOR AND TITLE   

SIGNATURE OF EMPLOYEE AND

DATE OF REPORT

  

 

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ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX XVI. OUTSIDE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

Outside business activities must not reflect adversely on the firm or give rise to real or apparent conflicts of interest with an employee’s duties and responsibilities to the firm. Employees must alert Compliance of potential conflicts of interest when they become aware of them. The firm may ask an employee to discontinue any outside activity if a potential conflict arises.

Outside business activity is not permitted if:

 

  1. It engages in a business opportunity that competes with any of the firm’s businesses; or

 

  2. You take for yourself a business opportunity belonging to the firm.

Pre-Clearance is required for outside activities, including but not limited to:

 

   

Outside activity which you will be paid, including a second job;

 

   

Any affiliation with another for profit or not-for-profit business as a director, officer, advisory board member, general partner, owner, consultant, holder of % or more of the business voting equity interests or in any similar position;

 

   

Any governmental position, including as an elected official and as a member, director, officer or employee of a governmental agency, authority, advisory board, or other board (e.g. school or library board); and

 

   

Candidate for Elective Office.

You must seek new clearance for a previously approved activity whenever there is any material change in relevant circumstances, whether arising from a change in your position at Allianz, or in your role with respect to the activity or organization.

You must also advise Compliance when you terminate your relationship with the organization.

(Request Form Appears on Next Page)

 

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Request to Engage in Outside Business Activity with a

Profit or Not-For-Profit Organization

 

To:    Compliance   
From:        
Title:        
Business Unit:        
Phone:        
Date Of Request:        

 

 

 

1. I would like to become a(n) [Check all that apply]

 

 

¨       Director

 
 

¨       Trustee

 
 

¨       Officer

 
 

¨       Member of Advisory Board

 
 

¨       General Partner

 
 

¨       Limited Partner

 
 

¨       Controlling Person

 
 

¨       Consultant/Sole Proprietor

 
 

¨       Employee

 
 

¨       Other

     
       
       

2.      Name of Entity:

     

3.      Term of Office:

     

4.      Starting Date:

     

5.      Honorarium, Stipend or Salary (if inapplicable, please so state)

 
       
       
       

6.      Are you serving at the request of Allianz or an Affiliated Entity (check one)?

  ¨          Yes                     ¨          No  

 

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7.      If yes, identify the name of the individual and affiliated legal entity requesting you to serve:

   
   
     

8.      Does the organization have a current business relationship with Allianz or any of its affiliates, including but not limited to a client relationship or vendor relationship?

    ¨          Yes                     ¨          No  

 

9.      If yes, describe the nature of the relationship.

   
   
     

 

10.    Do you have a direct or indirect responsibility for any aspect of the relationship?

    ¨          Yes                     ¨          No  

11.    If yes, describe your involvement with the relationship.

   
   
     

 

12.    In connection with your association with this organization, will you be involved in any of the following? Please check the applicable categories.

¨       Making Investment Decisions

¨       Giving Investment Advice

¨       Managing money

13.    If any of the categories noted in 11 apply, please describe the nature of the investment decisions, advice or management of money you will be giving:

   
   
     

 

14.    Approximately how many hours per month do you anticipate devoting to this entity?

 

Please be advised that should this request be approved, you must notify compliance immediately of any real or apparent conflicts of interest that may arise due to your association with this organization. You must also notify Compliance of any changes to the answers that you have provided in response to the questions above.

 

           
Signature of Employee    

Date

 

         
Print Name of Employee    

 

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Print Name of Immediate Supervisor     Signature of Immediate Supervisor

 

         
Date Immediate Supervisor Approved    

 

 

For Compliance Department Only

 

        ¨ Approved         ¨ Not Approved
Date Reviewed    

 

           
Name of Compliance Officer     Signature of Compliance Officer

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ALLIANZ ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AMERICA L.P.

APPENDIX XVII. CODE OF ETHICS SANCTION GUIDELINES

Compliance with the Code is considered a basic condition of employment with the Company. A variety of sanctions may be imposed for violating any provision of the Code. The sanctions listed below are only a guide with respect to violations committed within any calendar year. Depending on the circumstances, and at the discretion of the Compliance Committee, a violation of the Code may result in a more severe or less severe sanction. Repeated violations of the code, even inadvertent violations that do not harm funds or clients, will be viewed as disregarding principals of the Code, and the sanctions can be more severe.

Violations Involving Personal Securities Transactions

First Offense

 

   

Written warning

 

   

Employee to reread and recertify the Code

Second Offense

 

   

Written warning

 

   

Supervisor notified

 

   

Fine imposed ($500 for Investment Personnel and $100 all others)

 

   

Employee to reread and recertify the Code

Third Offense

 

   

Written warning

 

   

Supervisor notified

 

   

Fine imposed ($750 for Investment Personnel and $150 all others)

 

   

Trading suspension of 30 days

 

   

Employee to reread and recertify the Code

Fourth Offense

 

   

Written warning

 

   

Supervisor notified

 

   

Fine imposed ($1000 for Investment Personnel and $200 all others)

 

   

Trading suspension of at least 60 days

 

   

Employee to reread and recertify the Code

In the event of additional offenses, the Compliance Committee will convene to determine appropriate remedial sanctions. The Compliance Committee has authority to impose any and all sanctions.

Disgorgement of Profits. If any Access Person fails to pre-clear a trade, violates any applicable blackout period, or violates the prohibition on the purchase or sale of a security on a restricted list, other remedies, including reversal of the trade and/or disgorgement of any profits, will apply in addition to the sanctions listed above.

Violations of the Insider Trading Policy and Procedures

Any violation of the Company’s Insider Trading Policy and Procedures will be subject to review by the Chief Legal Officer of the Company and the General Counsel of AAM LP for consideration of the appropriate sanction up to and including termination of employment and reporting to the appropriate regulatory agency.

 

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Other Violations

For all other violations, the Compliance Committee will convene to determine the appropriate sanctions(s).

Materiality of Violations

Compliance, in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer as appropriate, will determine whether any one violation or series of violations constitutes a material violation of the Code.

No person, including any member of the Compliance Committee, shall participate in a determination of (i) whether he or she personally has committed a violation of the Code, or (ii) the imposition of any sanction in the event he or she committed a violation of the Code.

 

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PIMCO’S CODE OF ETHICS:

SUMMARY OF CONDUCT AND PERSONAL TRADING RULES *

PIMCO’s Code of Ethics contains the rules that govern your conduct and personal trading. These rules are summarized below. Please see the Code for more details.

You have the following Fundamental Responsibilities:

 

   

You have a duty to place the interests of Clients first

 

   

You must avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest

 

   

You must not take inappropriate advantage of your position at PIMCO

 

   

You must comply with all applicable Securities Laws

You must preclear and receive approval for your personal investments by the following two-step process:

Step 1: To preclear a trade, you must input the details of the proposed trade into the CCH iTrade System (listed below) and follow the instructions.

http://us-pimcopal/sites/pimco/Departments/Department_code.aspx

Step 2: You will receive notification as to whether your proposed trade is approved or denied. If your proposed trade is approved, the approval is valid for 48 hours, unless the information in your preclearance request materially changes. If you do not execute your transaction within the 48 hour period, you must repeat the preclearance process prior to undertaking the transaction.

Certain types of transactions, such as purchases or sales of government securities and open-end mutual funds do not require preclearance and approval. See Sections II.B.2 and II.B.3 of the Code for specific guidance.

Black-Out Periods for Portfolio Persons:

 

   

Purchases within seven days before a Client purchase of the same security

 

   

Sales within seven days before a Client sale of the same security

 

   

Purchases and sales within three days following a Client trade in the same security

Provisions that may restrict your personal investments:

 

   

When there are pending client orders in the same security

 

   

Initial public offerings (with certain exceptions for fixed income and other securities)

 

   

Private Placements and hedge funds

 

   

Investments in Allianz SE

 

   

Black-out periods in closed-end funds advised or subadvised by PIMCO

 

   

Securities on PIMCO’s Trade Restricted Securities List

 

   

Section 16 holding periods

The Code has other requirements in addition to those summarized above. Please review the Code. Remember that you can be sanctioned for failing to comply with the Code. If you have any questions, please ask the Compliance Officer.

 

* Capitalized terms are defined in the Code.

 

 

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PIMCO LLC

CODE OF ETHICS

Effective: May 1, 2009

INTRODUCTION

This Code of Ethics (this “Code”) sets out standards of conduct to help PIMCO’s directors, officers and employees (each, an “Employee” and collectively, the “Employees”) 1 avoid potential conflicts that may arise from their actions and their personal investments. You must read and understand this Code. 2 Your local Compliance Officer is the person responsible for administering this Code and can assist you with any questions.

 

I. YOUR FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

PIMCO insists on a culture that promotes honesty and high ethical standards. This Code is intended to assist Employees in meeting the high ethical standards PIMCO follows in conducting its business. The following general fiduciary principles must govern your activities:

 

   

You have a duty to place the interests of Clients first

 

   

You must avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest

 

   

You must not take inappropriate advantage of your position at PIMCO

 

   

You must comply with all applicable Securities Laws

If you violate this Code or its associated policies and procedures PIMCO may impose disciplinary action against you, including fines, disgorgement of profits, and possibly suspension and/or dismissal.

 

II. PERSONAL INVESTMENTS

 

  A. In General

In general, when making personal investments you must exercise extreme care to ensure that you do not violate this Code and your fiduciary duties. You may not take inappropriate advantage of your position at PIMCO in connection with your personal investments. This Code covers the personal investments of all Employees and their Immediate Family Members ( e.g. , persons sharing the same household as the Employee). 3 Therefore, you and your Immediate Family Members must conduct all your personal investments consistent with this Code.

 

 

1  

PIMCO’s supervised persons include certain employees of PIMCO Investments, PIMCO’s affiliated broker-dealer. Those persons do not have access to client transactions or holdings. As a result, such persons are subject to the PIMCO Investments Code of Ethics (the “PI Code”) rather than the substantive provisions of this Code, and the provisions of the PI Code, with respect to such persons, are incorporated by reference into this Code.

2  

Capitalized terms in this Code are defined in the Glossary contained in Appendix I.

3  

See Appendix I for the definition of “Immediate Family Member.”

 

 

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  B. Preclearance and Approval of Personal Investments

You must preclear and receive prior approval for all your personal investments unless your personal investment is subject to an exception under this Code. The details of the preclearance and approval process are described below. The Preclearance and Approval Process described below applies to all Employees and their immediate family members.

 

  1. Preclearance and Approval Process

Preclearance and approval of personal investments helps PIMCO prevent certain investments that may conflict with Client trading activities. Except as provided in Sections II.B.2 and II.B.3 below, prior to executing a personal investment, you must preclear and receive approval for all personal investment transactions by following the two-step preclearance and approval process:

The Preclearance and Approval Process is a two-step process:

Step 1: To preclear a trade, you must input the details of the proposed trade into the CCH iTrade System (listed below) and follow the instructions. See Sections II.B.2 and II.B.3 for certain transactions that do not require preclearance and approval.

http://us-pimcopal/sites/pimco/Departments/Department_code.aspx

Step 2: You will receive notification as to whether your proposed trade is approved or denied. If your proposed trade is approved, the approval is valid for 48 hours, unless the information in your preclearance request materially changes, in which case, you must complete the preclearance process prior to undertaking the transaction. If you do not execute your transaction within the 48 hour period, you must repeat the preclearance process prior to undertaking the transaction. The Compliance Officer will maintain a log of all preclearance requests and approvals or denials.

 

  2. Transactions Excluded from the Preclearance and Approval Requirement (but still subject to the Reporting Requirements).

You are not required to preclear and receive approval for the following personal investment transactions, although you are still responsible for complying with the reporting requirements of Section IV of this Code (each, an “Exempt Reportable Transaction”) for these transactions:

 

  a. Purchases or sales of commodity futures and options thereon; currencies as investments, currency futures, currency forwards and options thereon; futures on broad-based indices, options on futures and options on broad-based indices; swaps with respect to currencies, interest rates or broad-based indices; and commodities as investments;

 

  b. The acquisition or disposition of a security as the result of a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, merger, consolidation, spin-off or other similar corporate distribution or reorganization applicable to all holders of a class of securities;

 

  c. Purchases or sales of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”);

 

 

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  d. Transactions in open-end mutual funds managed or sub-advised by PIMCO (i.e. funds managed or sub-advised by PIMCO must be reported but do not need to be precleared). The holdings in your PIMCO 401(k) plan and deferred compensation plan are reported automatically to the PIMCO Legal and Compliance Department; and

 

  e. Transactions in any account (a) over which neither you nor an Immediate Family Member exercises investment discretion, (b) have no notice of transactions prior to execution, or (c) otherwise have no direct or indirect influence or control. You must still report the account, including the name of any broker, dealer or bank with which you have an account; however, transactions in the account need not be reported. You must contact the Compliance Officer if you have this type of account

 

  3. Transactions Excluded from the Preclearance and Approval Requirement and Reporting Requirements.

All personal investment transactions by Employees must be reported under the Code with a few limited exceptions set forth below. The following investments are exempt from the reporting requirement pursuant to Section IV of the Code (each, an “Exempt Transaction”):

 

  a. Purchases or sales of direct obligations of the U.S. Government or any other national government and futures and options with respect to such obligations;

 

  b. Purchases or sales of bank certificates, bankers acceptances, commercial paper and other high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements;

 

  c. Purchases which are made by reinvesting cash dividends including reinvestments pursuant to an Automatic Investment Plan;

 

  d. Purchases or sales of open-end mutual funds not managed or sub-advised by PIMCO (i.e. open–end mutual funds are not required to be reported unless the fund is managed or sub-advised by PIMCO. Transactions in open-end funds do not need to be precleared); or

 

  e. Purchases or sales of unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end mutual funds that are not advised or sub-advised by PIMCO.

 

  C. Additional Requirements Applicable to Portfolio Persons

If you are a “Portfolio Person” 4 with respect to a Client transaction, you are subject to the following blackout periods: 5

 

 

4  

See Appendix I for the definition of “Portfolio Person.” Generally, a Portfolio Person with respect to a Client trade includes the generalist portfolio manager for the Client account, the specialist portfolio manager or trading assistant with respect to the transactions in that account attributable to that specialist or trading assistant, and any research analyst that played a role in researching or recommending a particular security.

5  

Transactions that do not require preclearance under Sections II.B.2 and II.B 3 of the Code are not subject to these blackout periods.

 

 

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  1. Purchases within seven days before a Client purchase . A Portfolio Person may not purchase a security within seven calendar days before a Client account purchases the same security if the Portfolio Person intends, or knows of another Portfolio Person’s intention, to purchase the same security for the Client.

 

  2. Sales within seven days before a Client sale . A Portfolio Person may not sell a security within seven calendar days before a Client sells the same security if the Portfolio Person intends, or knows of another Portfolio Person’s intention, to sell the same security for the Client.

 

  3. Purchases and sales within three days following a Client trade . A Portfolio Person may not purchase or sell a security within three days (a) after purchasing or selling the same security for a Client or (b) after the Client’s trade if he knows that another Portfolio Person has purchased or sold such security for the Client.

Prior to transacting, Portfolio Persons must represent in their preclearance request that they are not aware of any pending trades or proposed trades in the next seven days in the same security for any Clients. Please consider the timing of your personal trades carefully.

 

  D. Provisions that May Restrict Your Trading. If your personal investment falls within one of the following categories, it will generally be denied by the Compliance Officer. It is your responsibility to initially determine if any of the following categories apply to your situation or transaction:

 

  1. Pending Orders. If the aggregate market value of your transaction in the security or a derivative requiring preclearance over a 30 day period across all your Personal Brokerage Accounts exceeds $25,000 and (i) the security is being considered for purchase or sale by a Client or (ii) there is a pending Client order then you CANNOT trade the security and approval will be denied following submission of your preclearance request .

 

  2. Initial Public Offerings, Private Placements and Investments in Hedge Funds. As a general matter, you should expect that most preclearance requests involving initial public offerings (except for fixed-income, preferred, business development companies, registered investment companies, commodity pools and convertible securities offerings) will be denied. If your proposed transaction is an initial public offering, a private placement or an investment in a hedge fund, the Compliance Officer will determine whether the investment opportunity should be reserved for Clients and whether the investment opportunity has been offered to you by virtue of your position with PIMCO, and generally will be denied.

 

  3. Allianz SE Investments. You may not trade in shares of Allianz SE during any designated blackout period. In general, the trading windows end six weeks prior to the release of Allianz SE annual financial statements and two weeks prior to the release of Allianz SE quarterly results. This restriction applies to the exercise of cash-settled options or any kind of rights granted under compensation or incentive programs that completely or in part refer to Allianz SE. The Compliance Officer will check with Allianz SE to determine whether a blackout period is in effect.

 

 

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  4. Blackout Period in any Closed End Fund Advised or Sub-Advised by PIMCO. You may not trade any closed end fund advised or sub-advised by PIMCO during a designated blackout period. A list of such blackout periods is available at:

http://us-pimcopal/sites/pimco/PTCiTradePreClearance/2011%20Closed-End%20Funds%20Blackout%20Dates.pdf

 

       The Compliance Officer will check to determine whether a blackout period is in effect.

 

  5. Trade Restricted Securities List. The Legal and Compliance Department maintains and periodically updates the Trade Restricted Securities List that contains certain securities that may not be traded by Employees. You are generally prohibited from purchasing or selling any security on the Trade Restricted Securities List.

 

  6. Section 16 Holding Periods. If you are a reporting person under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, with respect to any closed end fund advised or subadvised by PIMCO, you are subject to a six month holding period and you must make certain filings with the SEC. It is your responsibility to determine if you are subject to Section 16 requirements and to arrange for appropriate filings. Please consult the Compliance Officer for more information.

 

  E. Your Actions are Subject to Review by a Compliance Officer. The Compliance Officer may undertake such investigation as he or she considers necessary to determine if your proposed trade complies with this Code, including post-trade monitoring. The Compliance Officer may impose measures intended to avoid potential conflicts of interest or to address any trading that requires additional scrutiny.

 

  F. Consequences for Violations of this Code

 

  1. If determined appropriate by the General Counsel and/or Compliance Officer you may be subject to remedial actions (a) if you violate this Code, or (b) to protect the integrity and reputation of PIMCO even in the absence of a proven violation. Such remedial actions may include, but are not limited to, full or partial disgorgement of the profits you earned on an investment transaction, imposition of a fine, censure, demotion, suspension or dismissal, or any other sanction or remedial action required by law, rule or regulation. As part of any remedial action, you may be required to reverse an investment transaction and forfeit any profit or to absorb any loss from the transaction.

 

  2. PIMCO’s General Counsel and/or Compliance Officer shall have the authority to determine whether you have violated this Code and, if so, the remedial actions they consider appropriate or required by law, rule or regulation. In making their determination, the General Counsel and/or Compliance Officer may consider, among other factors, the gravity of your violation, the frequency of your violations, whether any violation caused harm or the potential of harm to a Client, your efforts to cooperate with their investigation, and your efforts to correct any conduct that led to a violation.

 

III. YOUR ONGOING OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS CODE

This Code imposes certain ongoing obligations on you. If you have any questions regarding these obligations please contact the Compliance Officer.

 

 

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  A. Insider Trading. The fiduciary principles of this Code and Securities Laws prohibit you from trading based on material, non-public information received from any source or communicating this information to others. If you believe you may have access to material, non-public information or are unsure about whether information is material or non-public, please consult a Compliance Officer and the PIMCO Insider Trading Policy and Procedures (see link below). Any violation of PIMCO’s Insider Trading Policy may result in penalties that could include termination of employment with PIMCO.

http://us-pimcopal/sites/pimco/LegalCompPandP/MNPI%20Policy%20Mar%202011.pdf

 

  B. Compliance with Securities Laws. You must comply with all applicable Securities Laws.

 

  C. Duty to Report Violations of this Code. You are required to promptly report any violation of this Code of which you become aware, whether your own or another Employee’s. Reports of violations other than your own may be made anonymously and confidentially to the Compliance Officer.

 

IV. YOUR REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

 

  A. On-Line Certification of Receipt and Annual Compliance Certification. You will be required to certify your receipt of this Code. On a quarterly basis you must certify that any personal investments effected during the quarter were done in compliance with this Code. You will also be required to certify your ongoing compliance with this Code on an annual basis.

 

  B. Reports of Securities Holdings. You and your Immediate Family Members must report all your Personal Brokerage Accounts and all transactions in your Personal Brokerage Accounts unless the transaction is an Exempt Transaction. You must agree to allow your broker-dealer to provide the Compliance Officer with electronic reports of your Personal Brokerage Accounts and transactions and to allow the Compliance Department to access all Personal Brokerage Account information.

 

  1. Approved Brokers. You and your Immediate Family Members must maintain your Personal Brokerage Accounts with an Approved Broker. The list of Approved Brokers is found at:

http://us-pimcopal/sites/pimco/Departments/Department_code.aspx

If you maintain a Personal Brokerage Account at a broker-dealer other than at an Approved Broker, you will need to close those accounts or transfer them to an Approved Broker within a specified period of time as determined by the Compliance Officer. Upon opening a Personal Brokerage Account at an Approved Broker, Employees are required to disclose the Personal Brokerage Account to the Compliance Officer. By maintaining your Personal Brokerage Account with one or more of the Approved Brokers, you and your Immediate Family Member’s quarterly and annual trade summaries will be sent directly to the Compliance Department for review.

 

  2. Initial Holdings Report . Within ten days of becoming an Employee, you must submit to the Compliance Officer an Initial Report of Personal Brokerage Accounts and all holdings in securities except Exempt Transactions. Please contact the Compliance Officer if you have not already completed this Initial Report of Personal Brokerage Accounts.

 

  3. Quarterly and Annual Holdings Report . If you maintain Personal Brokerage Accounts with broker-dealers who are not on the list of Approved Brokers, please contact the Compliance Officer to arrange for providing quarterly and annual reports.

 

 

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  4. Changes in Your Immediate Family Members . You must promptly notify a Compliance Officer of any change to your Immediate Family Members ( e.g ., as a result of a marriage, divorce, legal separation, death, adoption, movement from your household or change in dependence status) that may affect the Personal Brokerage Accounts for which you have reporting or other responsibilities.

 

V. COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

 

  A. Authority to Grant Waivers of the Requirements of this Code

The Compliance Officer, in consultation with PIMCO’s General Counsel, has the authority to exempt any Employee or any personal investment transaction from any or all of the provisions of this Code if the Compliance Officer determines that such exemption would not be against the interests of any Client and is consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act and Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act. The Compliance Officer will prepare and file a written memorandum of any exemption granted, describing the circumstances and reasons for the exemption.

 

  B. Annual Report to Boards of Funds that PIMCO Advises or Sub-Advises

PIMCO will furnish a written report annually to the directors or trustees of each fund that PIMCO advises or sub-advises. Each report will describe any issues arising under this Code, or under procedures implemented by PIMCO to prevent violations of this Code, since PIMCO’s last report, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of this Code, procedures and sanctions imposed in response to such material violations, and certify that PIMCO has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent its Employees from violating this Code.

 

  C. Maintenance of Records

The Compliance Officer will keep all records at PIMCO’s primary office for at least two years and will otherwise keep in an easily accessible place for at least five years from the end of either the fiscal year in which the document was created or the last fiscal year during which the document was effective or in force, whichever is later. Such records include: copies of this Code and any amendments hereto, all Personal Brokerage Account statements and reports of Employees, a list of all Employees and persons responsible for reviewing Employees reports, copies of all preclearance forms, records of violations and actions taken as a result of violations, and acknowledgments, certifications and other memoranda relating to the administration of this Code.

 

VI. ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF PIMCO

 

  A. Approval of Activities Outside of PIMCO

 

  1. You may not engage in full-time or part-time service as an officer, director, partner, manager, consultant or employee of any business organization or non-profit organization other than PIMCO, PIMCO Investments or a fund for which PIMCO is an adviser (whether or not that business organization is publicly traded) unless you have received the prior written approval from PIMCO’s General Counsel.

 

 

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  2. Without prior written approval, you may not provide financial advice ( e.g., through service on a finance or investment committee) to a private, educational or charitable organization (other than a trust or foundation established by you or an Immediate Family Member) or enter into any agreement to be employed or to accept compensation in any form ( e.g., in the form of commissions, salary, fees, bonuses, shares or contingent compensation) from any person or entity other than PIMCO or one of its affiliates.

 

  3. PIMCO’s General Counsel may approve such an outside activity if he or she determines that your service or activities outside of PIMCO would not be inconsistent with the interests of PIMCO and its Clients. If you are permitted to serve on the board of a publicly traded entity, you will be isolated from those officers and employees who make investment decisions with respect to the securities of that entity, through an “Ethical Wall” or other procedures.

 

VII. Independent Contractors

Persons who are not Employees but who have access to current information regarding Client trading (such as independent contractors) are considered “Employees” for purposes of this Code. The Compliance Officer may exempt such persons from any requirement hereunder if the Compliance Officer determines that such exemption would not have a material adverse effect on any Client account.

Effective Date: 5/01/09

Revised Date: 04/4/11

 

 

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APPENDIX I

Glossary

The following definitions apply to the capitalized terms used in this Code:

Approved Broker – means a broker-dealer approved by the Compliance Officer. The list of Approved Brokers for each PIMCO location is found at the link listed below or can be obtained from the Compliance Officer.

http://us-pimcopal/sites/pimco/Departments/Department_code.aspx

Automatic Investment Plan – means a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation. An Automatic Investment Plan includes a dividend reinvestment plan.

Beneficial Ownership – means when a person has or shares direct or indirect pecuniary interest in accounts or securities. Pecuniary interest means that a person has the ability to profit, directly or indirectly, or share in any profit from a transaction. Indirect pecuniary interest extends to, unless specifically excepted by a Compliance Officer, an interest in a Security held by: (1) a joint account to which you are a party, (2) a partnership in which you are a general partner, (3) a partnership in which you or an Immediate Family Member holds a controlling interest and with respect to which Security you or an Immediate Family Member has investment discretion, (4) a limited liability company in which you are a managing member, (5) a limited liability company in which you or an Immediate Family Member holds a controlling interest and with respect to which Security you or an Immediate Family Member has investment discretion, (6) a trust in which you or an Immediate Family Member has a vested interest or serves as a trustee with investment discretion, (7) a closely-held corporation in which you or an Immediate Family Member holds a controlling interest and with respect to which Security you or an Immediate Family Member has investment discretion, or (8) any account (including retirement, pension, deferred compensation or similar account) in which you or an Immediate Family has a substantial economic interest.

Client – means any person or entity to which PIMCO provides investment advisory services.

Immediate Family Member of an Employee – means: (1) any of the following persons sharing the same household with the Employee: a person’s 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; (2) any person sharing the same household with the Employee that holds an account in which the Employee is a joint owner or listed as a beneficiary; or (3) any person sharing the same household with the Employee in which the Employee contributes to the maintenance of the household and the financial support of such person.

Initial Public Offering – means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, 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.

Personal Brokerage Account – means (1) any account (including any custody account, safekeeping account and any account maintained by an entity that may act as a broker or principal) in which an Employee has any direct or indirect beneficial interest, including Personal Brokerage Accounts and trusts for the benefit of such persons; and (2) any account maintained for a financial dependent. Thus, the term “Personal Brokerage Accounts” also includes among others:

 

  (i) Trusts for which the Employee acts as trustee, executor or custodian;

 

  (ii) Accounts of or for the benefit of a person who receives financial support from the Employee; and

 

  (iii) Accounts of or for the benefit of an Immediate Family Member.

 

 

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PIMCO – means “Pacific Investment Management Company LLC”.

PIMCO Investments – means “PIMCO Investments LLC.”

Portfolio Person – means an Employee, including a portfolio manager with respect to an account, who: (1) provides information or advice with respect to the purchase or sale of a Security, such as a research analyst, or (2) helps execute a portfolio manager’s investment decisions. Generally, a Portfolio Person with respect to a Client trade includes the generalist portfolio manager for the Client, the specialist portfolio manager or trading assistant with respect to the transactions in that account attributable to that specialist or trading assistant, and any research analyst that played a role in researching or recommending a particular security.

Private Placement – means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 4(2) or Section 4(6) or pursuant to SEC Rules 504, 505 or 506 under the Securities Act of 1933, including hedge funds or private equity funds or similar laws of non-U.S. jurisdictions.

Securities Laws – means the securities laws of any jurisdiction applicable to any Employee, including for any employee located in the U.S. or employed by PIMCO, the following laws: Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, any rules adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under any of these statutes, the Bank Secrecy Act as it applies to funds, broker-dealers and investment advisers, and any rules adopted thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

 

 

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APPENDIX II

PIMCO COMPLIANCE OFFICERS

David Flattum

General Counsel

Jennifer Durham

Chief Compliance Officer

Steven Ludwig

Deputy Chief Compliance Officer

Arin Stancil

Senior Compliance Officer

 

 

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CODE OF ETHICS PURSUANT TO SECTION 406 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 FOR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE AND SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS

AUGUST 19, 2003

(As Amended April 7, 2010)

 

I. Covered Officers/Purpose of the Code

This Code of Ethics (the “Code”) pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been adopted by the Trusts 1 and their respective series (each a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”). This Code applies to the President and Chief Executive Officer, and Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer (the “Covered Officers”) of the Funds or persons (if any) performing similar functions. Each Covered Officer is identified in Exhibit A.

This Code has been adopted for the purpose of promoting:

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations;

 

   

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

 

   

accountability for adherence to the Code.

Each Covered Officer should adhere to a high standard of business ethics and should be sensitive to situations that may give rise to conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof.

 

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

A “conflict of interest” occurs when a Covered Officer’s private interest interferes with the interests of, or his service to, the relevant Fund. For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of the Covered Officer’s family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of the Covered Officer’s position with the relevant Fund. Other conflicts of interest may arise out of relationships between Covered Officers and the relevant Fund that are subject to conflict of interest provisions and procedures in the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and other applicable law. This Code does not, and is not intended to, address conflicts that fall outside of this Code.

 

1  

Allianz Funds, Allianz Funds Multi-Strategy Trust, Allianz Global Investors Fund Management Sponsored Closed-end Funds, Allianz Global Investors Managed Accounts Trust and The Korea Fund, Inc. each of which is a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act 1940


III. Disclosure and Compliance

 

   

no Covered Officer should knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the relevant Fund to others, whether within or outside such Fund, including to such Fund’s Board and auditors, and to governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations;

 

   

each Covered Officer should, to the extent appropriate within his area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of the Funds and the Service Providers or with counsel to the Funds with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the registration statements or periodic reports that the Funds file with, or submit to, the SEC; and

 

   

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

 

IV. Reporting and Accountability

Each Covered Officer must:

 

   

upon becoming a Covered Officer affirm in writing to the relevant Fund that he has received, read and understands the Code;

 

   

annually thereafter affirm in writing that he has complied with the requirements of the Code;

 

   

provide full and fair responses to all questions asked in any Trustee and Officer Questionnaire provided by the relevant Fund as well as with respect to any supplemental request for information; and

 

   

notify the President of the relevant Fund promptly if he is convinced to a moral certainty that there has been a material violation of this Code (with respect to violations by a President, the Covered Officer shall report to the Chairman of the Trustees of the relevant Fund).

The President of each Fund is responsible for applying this Code in consultation with the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and has the authority to interpret this Code. However, any approvals or waivers sought by the President will be considered by the Chairman of the Trustees of the relevant Fund.

The Funds will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code:

 

   

the President will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential material violations reported to him, which actions may include the use of internal or external counsel, accountants or other personnel;

 

   

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

 

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any matter that the President believes is a material violation will be reported to the Fund’s CCO;

 

   

if the CCO concurs that a material violation has occurred, he will inform and make a recommendation to the Fund’s Board of Trustees, which will consider appropriate action, which may include review of, and appropriate modifications to applicable policies and procedures; notification to appropriate personnel of a Service Provider or its board; or a recommendation to dismiss the Covered Officer; and

 

   

the Board of Trustees may grant waivers under this Code, as it deems appropriate.

 

V. Public Disclosure of Changes and Waivers

Any amendments to or waivers under this Code relating to a Covered Officer will, to the extent required by the SEC’s rules, be disclosed on the Fund’s website or in the Form N-CSR.

 

VI. Other Policies and Procedures

This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the Funds for purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and forms applicable to registered investment companies thereunder. Insofar as other policies or procedures of the Funds or the Funds’ Service Providers govern or purport to govern the behavior or activities of the Covered Persons who are subject to this Code, they are superseded by this Code to the extent that they conflict with the provisions of this Code. The Funds’ and their Service Providers’ codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and the Service Providers’ more detailed compliance policies and procedures are separate requirements applying to the Covered Persons and others, and are not part of this Code.

 

VII. Amendments

Any material amendments to this Code must be approved or ratified by a majority vote of each Funds board of Trustees, including a majority of independent Trustees.

 

VIII. Confidentiality

All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to this Code will be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly. Except as otherwise required by law or this Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone except as permitted by the Board.

 

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Exhibit A

Covered Officers

Allianz Funds and Allianz Funds Multi-Strategy Trust

 

Brian Shlissel    President of the Funds
Lawrence Altadonna    Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

Allianz Global Investors Managed Accounts Trust

Allianz Global Investors Fund Management Sponsored Closed-End Funds

 

Brian Shlissel    President and Chief Executive Officer
Lawrence Altadonna    Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

The Korea Fund, Inc.

 

Christian Pachtner    President and Chief Executive Officer
Brian Shlissel    Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

 

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POWER OF ATTORNEY

We, the undersigned Trustees of PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (the “ Trust ”), hereby severally constitute and appoint each of Thomas J. Fuccillo, Brian S. Shlissel, Lawrence G. Altadonna, Wayne Miao and David C. Sullivan, and each of them singly, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, our true and lawful attorney, with full power to him to sign for us, and in our names and in the capacities indicated below, any Registration Statement of the Trust on Form N-2, all Pre-Effective Amendments to any such Registration Statement of the Trust, any and all subsequent Post-Effective Amendments to such Registration Statement, any and all supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and any subsequent Registration Statements for the same offering which may be filed under Rule 462(b), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the securities regulators of the appropriate states and territories and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the issuance of rights and the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust, and generally to do all such things in our names and on our behalves in connection therewith as such attorney deems necessary or appropriate to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, the Investment Company Act of 1940, all related requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and all related requirements of the appropriate state and territorial regulators, granting unto such attorney full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney lawfully could do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

CAUTION TO THE PRINCIPAL: Your Power of Attorney is an important document. As the “principal,” you give the person whom you choose (your “agent”) authority to spend your money and sell or dispose of your property during your lifetime without telling you. You do not lose your authority to act even though you have given your agent similar authority.

When your agent exercises this authority, he or she must act according to any instructions you have provided or, where there are no specific instructions, in your best interest. “Important Information for the Agent” at the end of this document describes your agent’s responsibilities.

Your agent can act on your behalf only after signing the Power of Attorney before a notary public.

You can request information from your agent at any time. If you are revoking a prior Power of Attorney by executing this Power of Attorney, you should provide written notice of the revocation to your prior agent(s) and to the financial institutions where your accounts are located.

You can revoke or terminate your Power of Attorney at any time for any reason as long as you are of sound mind. If you are no longer of sound mind, a court can remove an agent for acting improperly.

Your agent cannot make health care decisions for you. You may execute a “Health Care Proxy” to do this.


The law governing Powers of Attorney is contained in the New York General Obligations Law, Article 5, Title 15. This law is available at a law library, or online through the New York State Senate or Assembly websites, www.senate.state.ny.us or www.assembly.state.ny.us.

If there is anything about this document that you do not understand, you should ask a lawyer of your own choosing to explain it to you.

 

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Name    Capacity   Date

/ S / D EBORAH A. D E C OTIS

    
Deborah A. DeCotis    Trustee   May 7, 2012

/ S / B RADFORD K. G ALLAGHER

    
Bradford K. Gallagher    Trustee   May 7, 2012

/ S / J AMES A. J ACOBSON

    
James A. Jacobson    Trustee   May 7, 2012

/ S / H ANS W. K ERTESS

    
Hans W. Kertess    Trustee   May 7, 2012

/ S / J OHN C. M ANEY

    
John C. Maney    Trustee   May 7, 2012

/ S / W ILLIAM B. O GDEN , IV

    
William B. Ogden, IV    Trustee   May 7, 2012

/ S / A LAN R APPAPORT

    
Alan Rappaport    Trustee   May 7, 2012

STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NEW YORK ss.:

On the 7th day of May in the year 2012, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said State, personally appeared the above-named individuals, each personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individuals whose names are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that they executed the same in their capacities, and that by their signatures on the instrument, the individuals, or the person upon behalf of which the individuals acted, executed the instrument.

 

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

/s/ H OWARD F. S MITH J R .

Notary Public: State of New York

 

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE AGENT

When you accept the authority granted under this Power of Attorney, a special legal relationship is created between you and the principal. This relationship imposes on you legal responsibilities that continue until you resign or the Power of Attorney is terminated or revoked. You must:

(1) act according to any instructions from the principal, or, where there are no instructions, in the principal’s best interest;

(2) avoid conflicts that would impair your ability to act in the principal’s best interest;

(3) keep the principal’s property separate and distinct from any assets you own or control, unless otherwise permitted by law;

(4) keep a record or all receipts, payments, and transactions conducted for the principal; and

(5) disclose your identity as an agent whenever you act for the principal by writing or printing the principal’s name and signing your own name as “agent” in either of the following manner: (Principal’s Name) by (Your Signature) as Agent, or (Your Signature) as Agent for (Principal’s Name).

You may not use the principal’s assets to benefit yourself or give major gifts to yourself or anyone else unless the principal has specifically granted you that authority in this Power of Attorney or in a Statutory Major Gifts Rider attached to this Power of Attorney. If you have that authority, you must act according to any instructions of the principal or, where there are no such instructions, in the principal’s best interest. You may resign by giving written notice to the principal and to any co-agent, successor agent, monitor if one has been named in this document, or the principal’s guardian if one has been appointed. If there is anything about this document or your responsibilities that you do not understand, you should seek legal advice.

Liability of Agent:

The meaning of the authority given to you is defined in New York’s General Obligations Law, Article 5, Title 15. If it is found that you have violated the law or acted outside the authority granted to you in the Power of Attorney, you may be liable under the law for your violation.

 

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ATTORNEY’S SIGNATURE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF APPOINTMENT

AS AGENT AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT

Each of the undersigned has read the foregoing Power of Attorney and is the person identified as agent for the individuals named herein. Each of the undersigned acknowledges his or her legal responsibilities.

 

/s/ T HOMAS J. F UCCILLO

Thomas J. Fuccillo

/s/ B RIAN S. S HLISSEL

Brian S. Shlissel

/s/ L AWRENCE G. A LTADONNA

Lawrence G. Altadonna

/s/ W AYNE M IAO

Wayne Miao

/s/ D AVID C. S ULLIVAN

David C. Sullivan

STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NEW YORK ss.:

On the 7th day of May in the year 2012, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said State, personally appeared the above-named individuals, each personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individuals whose names are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that they executed the same in their capacities, and that by their signatures on the instrument, the individuals, or the person upon behalf of which the individuals acted, executed the instrument.

 

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

/s/ H OWARD F. S MITH J R .

Notary Public: State of New York

 

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